Chapter 15

"Sirius!"

Sirius turned around. James was coming down the corridor towards him.

"When did you get out of the hospital wing, Padfoot?"

"Just a few minutes ago. Where are you off to?"

"Detention for McGonagall, and I'm late. Apparently scrubbing out the dungeons will" he put on a high-pitched Scottish accent "reform my character for the better."

Sirius laughed.

"What did you do?"

"Oh, just caused a bit of healthy mayhem at breakfast, you know, spiders in the porridge, frogspawn in the tea." Said James casually. "Look mate, I know it's lashing outside, but would you mind getting my broom? I left it on the Quidditch pitch after practise earlier."

"No problem," said Sirius. "See you later."

When James was out of sight around the corner, Sirius continued on towards the common room. He had just turned another corner when he bumped into Lily, who was coming from the opposite direction. When she saw him, she stopped and folded her arms.

"You're out of the hospital wing I see."

"Yes," said Sirius stiffly.

"Where are you going?"

"To look for Roseline."

Lily raised her eyebrows.

Sirius sighed. "I want to say sorry."

"Well," said Lily, sounding decidedly waspish. "She's not in the common room. For your information, she's out flying."

"Flying?" said Sirius incredulously. "In this weather?"

"Yes," said Lily. "Funny isn't it? I believe she wanted to be alone."

She glared at Sirius, but when she spoke again she used the same voice of determined innocence.

"I wonder why that could be. You wouldn't have any idea, I suppose?" Lily's words were dripping with sarcasm and she had fixed Sirius with an almost painfully accusatory stare.

"I'll see you later, Lily," said Sirius quickly, brushing past her. He took the shortest route back down to the Entrance Hall, and within minutes he was running across the grounds towards the Quidditch pitch, his feet slipping and sliding on the wet and muddy ground. The rain was pelting down and a gale was howling loudly. The sky was dark and stormy but was lit up by occasional flashes of lightning.

Sirius reached the Quidditch pitch and went flying as he tried to stop. Shielding his eyes with his hand he scanned the raging sky, trying to pinpoint Roseline. Then he saw her- a lone dark figure circling the further goal hoops. He looked around madly, trying to find James' broomstick, but just as his fingers closed around the handle he saw another mounted figure swoop down on Roseline. He jumped onto the broom, but even as he kicked off he saw the second figure hit Roseline with a curse and she flew backwards of her broom. She fell ten, twenty, thirty feet, then hit the ground with a thud.

"Roseline!" Sirius yelled, his voice lost among the storm. But even as he dived towards her, the second figure cut in front of him. Severus Snape stopped in mid-air and grinned maliciously at Sirius.

"I told you you'd regret your childish pranks," he sneered. "But I hope for your sake the mudblood's all right, or you'll be packing your bags tomorrow." Before Sirius could utter a single curse or insult in reply, Snape was gone, speeding off towards the castle. With his heart in his mouth, Sirius sped towards the ground, jumping off early and running over to the still figure.

"Roseline, please be all right, please be all right!" He whispered frantically as he knelt down beside her. He grabbed her wrist and his heart soared as he felt a pulse, but his problems were by no means solved. He picked her up and put her arm around his shoulder. Grabbing the two brooms in his free hand, Sirius half carried, half dragged Roseline back up to school.

He arrived at the hospital wing five minutes later. Madam Pomfrey bustled over.

"Dear, dear, you two, back again so soon. What happened this time?"

Sirius deposited the unconscious Roseline on a bed, then turned to Madam Pomfrey.

"She was hit by a curse and fell off her broomstick, she fell about thirty feet."

Madam Pomfrey tutted and shook her head as she bent over her patient.

"Did you see who cursed her?"

Sirius clenched his fist. He knew he couldn't tell or there'd be hell to pay.

"No."

"Well then," said the nurse, straightening up. "She'll be out cold for a while longer I'm afraid. After that it looks like nothing worse than a broken shoulder. I can fix that up when she comes round. She'll be out in a day or two. Now, run along!"

Sirius slowly made his way back up to the common room. Severus Snape will soon wish he'd never been born, he thought savagely.

(A/N: I'm going away for ten days and I'm probably going to be REALLY tired when I get back (don't ask) so there won't be any more updates till a few days after I get back, k? But don't worry, it shouldn't be too long, coz I know what's going to happen in the next chapter. Byez for now! Doodleflip.)