Chapter 2 : Eternal Sleep
A/N: I am so sorry for not updating. I've been caught up in my lessons; extra classes, tuition classes, extra private tutoring at home and all that I could barely breathe! I'm taking my last secondary school exam in 2004 so I'll be very busy. So, this is a very short chapter. Hope you all like it. Thank you for your reviews. I never got more than ten reviews for one chapter because I know my grammar and vocabulary sucks (I wish I could take literature subjects instead of only science ones).  I appreciate them XD. Review this chapter, please? Also, please have a look at my Sirius Black diary at . You may also join as an author! You may check for updates in my LiveJournal () or in my weblog ().

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   Remus was staring at James as if the bespectacled young man held all the answers in the world. "James? What do you mean by 'as good as dead'? What happened to Sirius?" The werewolf asked, his voice started to shake. It was than that Remus and Peter saw a single tear trickled down James' sullen face. "He accidentally swallowed the *Potion of Eternal Sleep." Remus' eyes widened and he paled at the revelation. Peter had his hands on his mouth in horror. "The Potion of Eternal Sleep?! Where did he get it? It's illegal! How could it be an accident?!"  Remus almost yelled the words out of his system. This could not be true. Sirius didn't take that potion! It's not possible! James sighed, wiping another tear off his eyes.

   "Remember the earthquake when we were on the rain earlier?"

   The other two nodded silently.

   "Dumbledore told me that Sirius was in the Potions Dungeon when it happened. A first year Hufflepuff girl, who happened to be his fan, found him in there and tried to talk to him beforehand. When the earthquake struck, the potions rack was falling onto the girl but Sirius…He…He pushed the girl out of the way and the rack landed on him instead. Well… The girl went to get help as soon as the earthquake subsided. Dumbledore said, she told them that Sirius did not answer her calls. When Dumbledore and Flitwick arrived there, they quickly removed the rack. Obviously, almost all of the potions splattered onto the floor. Only a few phials left unbroken. Dumbledore said… The Potion of Eternal Sleep was splashed all over Sirius and he accidentally swallowed some of them along with some other potions. Madame Pomfrey confirmed it. They've even called the medi-wizards and medi-witches from St. Mungo's. They..They…" At this point, James was almost sobbing.

   "They couldn't do anything. Nothing they did could wake him up! They told me there is no cure for the potion! Oh, God! They said that Sirius would be asleep forever! He's not even breathing!!" Remus and Peter went to hug James, crying all the same.

   The Potion of Eternal sleep was invented thousands of years ago. The effect of the potion was so powerful that whoever swallowed a whole phial of it would appear to be as good as dead. A drop of it would cause a person to sleep for at least fifty years or so. The potion had the ability to make the ones who took it look like they were dead. They would stop breathing in or out but their heart would keep on beating. Some people compared the effect of the potion to the Dementor's Kiss. After taking the Potion of Eternal Sleep, one's soul would be lost to God knows where. Currently, no antidote could be found for the potion. Therefore, the Ministry of Magic classified the potion as illegal. Still, seventh years at Hogwarts learn about the potion. A few samples were kept in the dungeons and could only be tested on animals.

   But Sirius Black is no animal…

   'This isn't happening! This isn't happening!' Remus kept chanting the same sentence in his mind. Breaking the group hug, he ran out of the Common Room to the Hospital Wing. All the way there, he prayed that it all had been a mistake and that Sirius did not have the Potion of Eternal Sleep in his system. Sure, he was angry at the other boy but he certainly did not want him to leave! He just needed some time to heal before completely forgiving Sirius. Damn it! He knows that he was in love with the other boy deep inside his heart. That was why it had hurt so much when Sirius betrayed his trust. When he reached the infirmary, he was already out of breath. He didn't care if Madame Pomfrey screamed at him to get out. He just wanted to see Sirius. Inside, the almost all of the teachers were discussing silently among themselves. He ran to the bed where they placed Sirius and took the other boy's hand into his own.

   Madame Pomfrey made a move to halt him but Dumbledore stopped her, shaking his head. "Sirius?" Remus whispered lightly. "Sirius…Padfoot…It's me, Moony. C'mon, Padfoot. Open your eyes; wake up! Please!"  Nothing happened. The hand Remus was holding was as cold as eyes. Sirius' whole figure was as pale as a corpse. It could not be true… James and Peter appeared a minute later and they both went to hug Remus. The three of them started sobbing.

   Dumbledore sighed and slowly, he approached the boys. He waited until the trio stopped sobbing before speaking his words. "We all know that there is no antidote for the Potion of Eternal Sleep, Misters Potter, Lupin and Pettigrew. However, there is a charm; a spell that could help break the curse of the potion." The trio's eyes widened. "R- - Really?" The stuttered in unison. Dumbledore smiled softly and nodded his head. "It will require your help, though. Well, this is not the right place to discuss this. Let's bring this matter up to my office, shall we?"

   "Yes, Headmaster."

== TO BE CONTINUED ==

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In next chapter, Albus will tell the boys what the potion really does and how to wake Sirius up. Remus will go to the Dungeons and find… Well, take a guess! (Hint: What was Sirius doing before the earthquake?) *wink* Reviews, please???