Disclaimer: See the first chapter

Chapter 3

Sirius arrived outside the Hogwarts parameters, not being able to apparate directly into the school. 'Damn those wards,' he thought as he ran, keeping a firm but gentle hold around Harry. He burst through the school doors and proceeded to run to the infirmary, bursting through those doors once he got to them also.

"Poppy!" he yelled, hoping to Merlin that she would be there. "Poppy!" As soon as he yelled the second time, Madame Pomfrey came out of her office.

"Sirius Black what are you doing here?! Yelling at me over summer break! I don't…" Sirius cut her off with another yell.

"Harry needs your help!" he exploded, indicating the body he held in his arms.

"Oh my…what happened to him now?" she asked as he bustled around Harry after Sirius set him down on the nearest bed.

"His 'family' happened," Sirius replied grimly.

~~~~~~~~~

At the same time Sirius was heading to Madame Pomfrey, Remus was heading to Dumbledore's office.

"Pumpkin juice," he said to the stone gargoyle guarding Dumbledore's office.

As he was about to knock on his office door, he heard a rumbling voice say "come in." He really hated how Dumbledore always knew when someone was at his door…he never got a chance to knock.

"Ah Remus, what do I owe this pleasure to? Lemon Drop?" Dumbledore asked.

"No thanks," Remus replied hurriedly. "Harry has been hurt and Sirius has taken him to Poppy."

"Ahhh…fell off his broom playing Quiditch?" Dumbledore said with a twinkle in his eyes.

"No," Remus said and took a deep breath. "His 'family' beat him almost to death. Sirius received a letter from Harry, and Hedwig dipped it into some of Harry's blood before delivering it…her way of letting us know something was wrong. He was and still probably is unconscious." After hearing those words, Dumbledore's eyes lost their usual sparkle.

"Oh my," he said softly. "Are you sure it was them?" he asked, staring at Remus.

"Until Harry is awake, we can't be completely sure, but that is definitely how it seems."

"Well I think we should go check on Mr. Potter," Dumbledore said. He stood up from his chair and walked to the door. "Coming Remus?" Both of them walked out of his office, worry making them move quietly and quickly.