Chapter 31 - Recovery

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Even though Madame Pomfrey was against it, Maria and James were free to leave the hospital wing.

"Headmaster, do you really think this is the best thing to do? Miss Ravenwood has a large bump on the backside of her head, and I'm sure Mr. Potter must be feeling it as well - !"

Headmaster O'Leary shook his head. "You have already treated Miss Ravenwood. I'm sure her friends will take care of her from here."

"But, Headmaster," Madame Pomfrey lowered her voice, "you're sending her back to the dormitory? I mean – I know it wasn't Mr. Black's fault, but what if – "

"It's alright, Poppy. Everything is under control."

"Well, fine, but I still think you are putting those children in more danger then necessary!" Poppy fumed before flouncing back to her office.

The headmaster smiled.

- - - - - - - -

"Maria, are you sure you can walk?" James asked.

"I'm fine, James. It was my head that was injured, not my legs. Where did you say they were waiting?"

"Well, they were supposed to meet us here…"

Maria frowned. "Well, that's odd. Shall we just go on back?"

"Yes, I think so. Maybe they ran into Malfoy and Snape."

James and Maria started up the stairs back to Gryffindor Tower, arms around each other's shoulders for support. They had no lasting damage, except for the bump on Maria's head, and that would go away in a week or so. They were just glad that nothing permanent had happened.

"Maria! James!"

Lily came running down the stairs toward them, looking panicked.

"What's wrong, Lil?" Maria asked, putting a hand on the stair rail.

Lily bit her lip. "It's Sirius. He's locked himself in the dormitory, and he won't come out. He won't speak to us, either! All we can get out of him is, 'My fault, my fault. She was so perfect!'"

James and Maria looked perplexed.

"Well, it's not like I'm dead or anything!" Maria stated.

Lily shrugged. "Well, he seems to be going through a state of trauma. He adores you guys. To know that he hurt you is killing him inside…or so Noel says. She's feeling extra strain thanks to the charm."

"Well, let's go up there." James said. "Didn't you guys tell him that we were getting out today?"

"We tried. He wouldn't listen."

They jogged the last few stairwells to the tower and Lily gave the password (dulcis exsultatia). They found Noel and Remus sitting outside the door to the sixth-year boys' dorm, looking forlorn.

"He still hasn't budged." Noel informed them. "We can hear him in there pacing and muttering things."

James stepped up to the door. "Siri, it's me, mate. Let me in, okay? Sirius?"

No one answered.

"Maybe he fell asleep." James suggested. "Maria, you try."

Maria stepped up to the door. "Did you guys already try alohomora?"

Remus nodded.

Maria sighed. "Sirius, sweetheart…open the door?"

Still no answer.

"Sirius…please…"

Silence.

Maria grew frustrated. Whipping out her wand, she pointed it at the door. Sparks flew from it, and through the keyhole. The door creaked open.

They all looked at each other, fearing the worst.

Noel gave James a little shove forward. "Go see what's wrong!" she whispered.

James nodded and pushed the door open further, stepping inside.

Sirius was sprawled on his bed, asleep. His black hair was tangled, as if he'd been raking his fingers through it over and over again. His cheeks had trails of tears, and there were dark circles under his eyes. James knelt by his side.

"Sirius…why are you doing this to yourself?" he said softly.

Sirius shifted in his sleep, as if he could hear James' voice, moving closer to it. James sighed as Maria sat quietly beside him, and Lily, Noel, and Remus sat on the edge of the bed.

"Guys, this is bad." James said.

"It wasn't his fault, though," Remus said. "He couldn't help it…he can't help his bloodline."

"Yes, but that doesn't make him feel any better," Noel protested. She, better than anyone, knew what he was feeling.

"We have to do something." Lily said desperately.

"But what?" Maria asked sadly. "We can't do anything to his mind. He has to over come it himself."

They all looked at her.

"The only thing we can do…is stand by him." She got up, moving Sirius so that he was lying in a straight line. Then she laid down beside him, taking one of his hands and placing it over her stomach. "It's late. All we can do now is sleep."

The beds were large. James followed her lead, taking Sirius' other side. Noel lay next to her brother, and Lily next to Maria. Remus curled up at all their feet, and soon they were all asleep.

- - - - - - - -

Sirius awoke the next morning to find Maria pressed up against his side. When he tried to move, he found James clutching one of his arms. Remus was lying across his legs, snoring with his mouth wide open. Lily's legs were tangled with Maria's, and Noel somehow ended up with her head at the foot of the bed, a hand thrown on Remus' chest.

Sirius shook his head. He sure had weird friends.

"Hey, James…" he tried. "Uh…I'm kind of hungry. Can you move?"

James grunted, clasping Sirius' arm all the more tighter. Sirius sighed.

"Remus, buddy, you're on my legs."

Remus just snored louder.

Sirius decided that this was getting him nowhere. "That's it, no more staying up late for them." He declared. He tried to tug his arm away from James, who whimpered and started mumbling about Snitches. When that didn't work, he hit him with a pillow. James promptly shrieked like a girl and fell off the bed, taking Noel with him. She screamed, too, waking up Lily, who tired to go to her but found her legs tangled in Maria's, resulting in her falling off the other side of the bed and swinging Maria around so that her head collided with Remus'.

"Aaaaand I'm free." Sirius said, smiling.

- - - - - - - -

"Honestly, Sirius, you could have just shaken us or something." James said as they walked down to the Hall.

"I tried. Remus was snoring too loudly, and you were talking about Quidditch again! Why were you guys piled on my bed like that, anyway?"

His friends exchanged curious glances.

"Sirius, you locked yourself in the dorm." Maria told him.

"I did?"

"Uh. Yes."

Now it was Sirius' turn to look mystified. "Why did I do that?"

"We don't know! We were hoping you would tell us!" Lily cried.

Sirius shrugged. "Well…I remember…Maria and James. I was so upset. And then…I heard a voice, telling me to go to sleep. I heard you guys through my dreams…" he shuddered.

"What dreams?" Remus asked.

Sirius shook his head. "I don't remember." He said darkly.

Silence. Then Noel spoke. "Well, we can discuss it later. Let's just eat for now."

They sat down, still feeling unsettled. But Sirius seemed fine throughout the meal.

And of course, no one noticed the headmaster and Dumbledore watching them.

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a/n: Poor Sirius. Is he mental? Or are his friends worrying for nothing? And when are we gonna get back to the fluff!?