Chapter 10 - A turn for the worst
Sera got up very early the next morning. Kreacher, as usual, was standing beside her bed with huge adoring eyes staring directly at her. His face broke into a huge smile when he saw that she was awake. She had never particularly like the small creature, thinking him quite useless, but gave him odd little jobs to keep him occupied, and gave fond remarks where required to stop him from becoming disgruntled. She couldn't very well set him free, knowing the secrets that he kept for the order.
"Would miss like some breakfast?" he asked eagerly.
"No, not right now. Can you go and clean the drawing room?" she asked.
Molly was a much better cook and she preferred to keep him busy away from where the others were considering his lack of respect for Hermione and Tonks. Kreacher left the room happily and Sera yawned and stretched before getting out of bed. She got dressed quickly and made her way to Harry's room to check how he was.
She found Sirius asleep on the chair next to Harry's bed. She sighed. Sirius looked just as bad as he had when he had walked in the night before. She walked over to him quietly, noticing that Harry's condition had not changed overnight before shaking Sirius gently. Sirius awoke with a start and looked madly around him. Sera put her finger to his lips to stop him from speaking and motioned for him to follow her. They walked out to the backyard of the house. It had been enchanted long ago to prevent muggles being able to see into it, so neither of them feared being seen. Sera stood quietly looking out at the yard for a moment.
"Why did you come back Sera?" Sirius asked. "After everything I did to protect you, why did you risk being seen again?"
Sera turned to him.
"It's not that I wasn't grateful. I just couldn't keep running forever. You know as well as I do that we can't just sit around and watch. I saw an article in the daily prophet about Voldemort and I came back to see if I could help" she said simply.
Sirius nodded. He too looked out at the yard. It had been many years since he had stood out here.
"Remember the last time we stood out here together" he said.
She nodded.
"It was one of the worst days of my life" Sirius admitted.
"It was the worst day of my life" Sera said softly.
Sirius looked at her strangely. Sera turned her gaze to meet his eyes.
"I'm sorry I didn't go with you" she said softly. "I realised as soon as you'd left that I'd made the wrong decision. I was foolish and scared. Can you forgive me?"
He studied her for a moment.
"You did nothing wrong. You were a child. I should never have asked you to make that decision." He said softly.
Sera's eyes filled with tears and Sirius reached out and embraced her. Both were relieved, for now that their problems were behind them, they could begin to rebuild the closeness they once had.
"You look terrible Sirius. You'll scare Harry if he sees you like that. Have a shower and I'll get you some clean robes." Sera said, pulling him back into the house.
"Here" she said, thrusting a towel in his direction which she had just pulled out of the linen cupboard.
She pushed him into the bathroom and he looked as if he was about to object, but saw his reflection in the mirror and sighed resignedly, knowing it was for the best. While he went to have a shower, Sera found some plain black robes in the depth of her cupboard and waited outside the door to the bathroom. When Sirius came out of the bathroom he was freshly shaven, with the towel wrapped around him. She handed him the robes. He took them and went into his own room to change. When he came back out, Sera gave him and evil grin, holding up a hairbrush and a pair of scissors. He looked at her mutinously as she dragged him into the bathroom and plonked him down on a stool so that she could do his hair.
"There we are" she said approvingly as she finished her work and marvelled at her masterpiece.
He was still very thin and pale, but he was well groomed and looked almost human again. She handed him a mirror and even he was impressed at the vast improvement. He smiled cheerfully as he made his way down to the kitchen, where he could hear Molly making breakfast. Sera followed close behind.
Molly gave a start when she saw Sirius. He looked much different from the night before. She quickly recovered and placed a plate of food in front of him. Sirius noticed that she had gone to a lot of trouble and realised that it was probably because she had felt guilty for fighting with him before he fell through the veil. He was about to say something when an owl flew in through the window and landed on the table. It was carrying a copy of the daily prophet.
"Oh, that must be Harry's subscription" Mrs Weasley said as Sera pulled out a few knuts and paid the bird, which flew off again out the window.
Sera reached for a glass of water and spat it out when she read the headline of the day. The others looked at her curiously as she jumped up and dropped the paper as if it had burned her. Her eyes were very wide and she was very pale.
"What's the matter?" asked Sirius, concerned, as he picked up the paper.
Sera didn't respond but she didn't need to. Sirius read the article that she had just been reading.
"Known deatheater returns in broad daylight"
Seraphim Black, long suspected of being one of you-know-who's closest supporters, was sighted yesterday during a deatheater attack in Diagon Alley. As many readers may recall, Seraphim disappeared shortly after you- know-who's demise 15 years ago, after her fiancé went to the ministry of magic giving evidence that she was one of You Know Who's closest confidants. She is considered highly dangerous and has no regard for life. She is even suspected of the deaths of her own mother and father. Her return is thought to be a result of you-know-who's return, and the fact that she broadcasted herself so publicly yesterday has put fear into the wizarding community. It is believed by ministry officials that Seraphim has been hiding out with her brother, the infamous, yet elusive, Sirius Black. Many believe that more deatheaters will come out of hiding to join their master, and do not feel safe leaving their homes.
The article continued, but Sirius put it down and stared at his sister. She sank back down into her seat and put her head in her hands. Mrs Weasley looked at them both questioningly and Sirius handed her the paper. She took one look at it and put her hand over her mouth to stifle a gasp. Sera didn't say anything. She felt like she was going to be sick.
"What were you doing in Diagon Alley?" Sirius asked, disbelieving.
"Emily had a vision that the deatheaters would attack while Harry and the others were there. Severus and I were the only ones here and there wasn't much time. Emily went to get Mel, Severus and I went to help Harry and the others" she said quietly.
She looked up at him with tears in her eyes.
"It's alright" Sirius said, putting a reassuring arm over her shoulders. "Everything will be alright"
She put her head back into her hands and stared at the table, willing herself not to cry. Mrs Weasley looked over at Sera with a strange expression. Sirius noticed and took her into the other room.
"She's never been a deatheater Molly" he reassured her.
Mrs Weasley looked up at him.
"How can you be sure?" she asked.
"I am" he said firmly.
Mrs Weasley didn't look convinced, but nodded resignedly.
"We should go and check on Harry" Sirius said suddenly.
He had a bad feeling in his gut and was suddenly very worried. They both ran upstairs to Harry's room. He was sweating uncontrollably and shaking. His skin was clammy and he was murmuring something that neither of them could understand.
"We need to get him to a doctor!" Mrs Weasley screamed and ran to get someone to help them. Sirius wrapped a blanket firmly around Harry's thin frame and lifted him up. He went downstairs and placed Harry on the couch beside the fire just as Mr Weasley, Sera, Tonks and Remus came in with Mrs Weasley talking quickly and hysterically behind them. Remus, Tonks and Mr Weasley had arrived while Sirius and Mrs Weasley had been upstairs.
"We'll take him to St Mungos" Remus said. "That's the best place. I'm sorry you cant come too Sirius" he said softly.
Sirius nodded and looked down at Harry anxiously. Fear gripped his heart as he placed Harry into Mr Weasley's arms and Tonks led Mr Weasley and Remus out to the car. Sirius watched from the doorway as they sped him away to St Mungos. He soon dragged himself away from the door and sat beside Sera in the living room. He was so cold inside from seeing Harry in that he almost thought that there were dementors around the house. He hoped that Harry would be alright. His insides were full of fear for Harry, and for himself. He was scared of what he would do if anything happened to Harry.
Sera got up very early the next morning. Kreacher, as usual, was standing beside her bed with huge adoring eyes staring directly at her. His face broke into a huge smile when he saw that she was awake. She had never particularly like the small creature, thinking him quite useless, but gave him odd little jobs to keep him occupied, and gave fond remarks where required to stop him from becoming disgruntled. She couldn't very well set him free, knowing the secrets that he kept for the order.
"Would miss like some breakfast?" he asked eagerly.
"No, not right now. Can you go and clean the drawing room?" she asked.
Molly was a much better cook and she preferred to keep him busy away from where the others were considering his lack of respect for Hermione and Tonks. Kreacher left the room happily and Sera yawned and stretched before getting out of bed. She got dressed quickly and made her way to Harry's room to check how he was.
She found Sirius asleep on the chair next to Harry's bed. She sighed. Sirius looked just as bad as he had when he had walked in the night before. She walked over to him quietly, noticing that Harry's condition had not changed overnight before shaking Sirius gently. Sirius awoke with a start and looked madly around him. Sera put her finger to his lips to stop him from speaking and motioned for him to follow her. They walked out to the backyard of the house. It had been enchanted long ago to prevent muggles being able to see into it, so neither of them feared being seen. Sera stood quietly looking out at the yard for a moment.
"Why did you come back Sera?" Sirius asked. "After everything I did to protect you, why did you risk being seen again?"
Sera turned to him.
"It's not that I wasn't grateful. I just couldn't keep running forever. You know as well as I do that we can't just sit around and watch. I saw an article in the daily prophet about Voldemort and I came back to see if I could help" she said simply.
Sirius nodded. He too looked out at the yard. It had been many years since he had stood out here.
"Remember the last time we stood out here together" he said.
She nodded.
"It was one of the worst days of my life" Sirius admitted.
"It was the worst day of my life" Sera said softly.
Sirius looked at her strangely. Sera turned her gaze to meet his eyes.
"I'm sorry I didn't go with you" she said softly. "I realised as soon as you'd left that I'd made the wrong decision. I was foolish and scared. Can you forgive me?"
He studied her for a moment.
"You did nothing wrong. You were a child. I should never have asked you to make that decision." He said softly.
Sera's eyes filled with tears and Sirius reached out and embraced her. Both were relieved, for now that their problems were behind them, they could begin to rebuild the closeness they once had.
"You look terrible Sirius. You'll scare Harry if he sees you like that. Have a shower and I'll get you some clean robes." Sera said, pulling him back into the house.
"Here" she said, thrusting a towel in his direction which she had just pulled out of the linen cupboard.
She pushed him into the bathroom and he looked as if he was about to object, but saw his reflection in the mirror and sighed resignedly, knowing it was for the best. While he went to have a shower, Sera found some plain black robes in the depth of her cupboard and waited outside the door to the bathroom. When Sirius came out of the bathroom he was freshly shaven, with the towel wrapped around him. She handed him the robes. He took them and went into his own room to change. When he came back out, Sera gave him and evil grin, holding up a hairbrush and a pair of scissors. He looked at her mutinously as she dragged him into the bathroom and plonked him down on a stool so that she could do his hair.
"There we are" she said approvingly as she finished her work and marvelled at her masterpiece.
He was still very thin and pale, but he was well groomed and looked almost human again. She handed him a mirror and even he was impressed at the vast improvement. He smiled cheerfully as he made his way down to the kitchen, where he could hear Molly making breakfast. Sera followed close behind.
Molly gave a start when she saw Sirius. He looked much different from the night before. She quickly recovered and placed a plate of food in front of him. Sirius noticed that she had gone to a lot of trouble and realised that it was probably because she had felt guilty for fighting with him before he fell through the veil. He was about to say something when an owl flew in through the window and landed on the table. It was carrying a copy of the daily prophet.
"Oh, that must be Harry's subscription" Mrs Weasley said as Sera pulled out a few knuts and paid the bird, which flew off again out the window.
Sera reached for a glass of water and spat it out when she read the headline of the day. The others looked at her curiously as she jumped up and dropped the paper as if it had burned her. Her eyes were very wide and she was very pale.
"What's the matter?" asked Sirius, concerned, as he picked up the paper.
Sera didn't respond but she didn't need to. Sirius read the article that she had just been reading.
"Known deatheater returns in broad daylight"
Seraphim Black, long suspected of being one of you-know-who's closest supporters, was sighted yesterday during a deatheater attack in Diagon Alley. As many readers may recall, Seraphim disappeared shortly after you- know-who's demise 15 years ago, after her fiancé went to the ministry of magic giving evidence that she was one of You Know Who's closest confidants. She is considered highly dangerous and has no regard for life. She is even suspected of the deaths of her own mother and father. Her return is thought to be a result of you-know-who's return, and the fact that she broadcasted herself so publicly yesterday has put fear into the wizarding community. It is believed by ministry officials that Seraphim has been hiding out with her brother, the infamous, yet elusive, Sirius Black. Many believe that more deatheaters will come out of hiding to join their master, and do not feel safe leaving their homes.
The article continued, but Sirius put it down and stared at his sister. She sank back down into her seat and put her head in her hands. Mrs Weasley looked at them both questioningly and Sirius handed her the paper. She took one look at it and put her hand over her mouth to stifle a gasp. Sera didn't say anything. She felt like she was going to be sick.
"What were you doing in Diagon Alley?" Sirius asked, disbelieving.
"Emily had a vision that the deatheaters would attack while Harry and the others were there. Severus and I were the only ones here and there wasn't much time. Emily went to get Mel, Severus and I went to help Harry and the others" she said quietly.
She looked up at him with tears in her eyes.
"It's alright" Sirius said, putting a reassuring arm over her shoulders. "Everything will be alright"
She put her head back into her hands and stared at the table, willing herself not to cry. Mrs Weasley looked over at Sera with a strange expression. Sirius noticed and took her into the other room.
"She's never been a deatheater Molly" he reassured her.
Mrs Weasley looked up at him.
"How can you be sure?" she asked.
"I am" he said firmly.
Mrs Weasley didn't look convinced, but nodded resignedly.
"We should go and check on Harry" Sirius said suddenly.
He had a bad feeling in his gut and was suddenly very worried. They both ran upstairs to Harry's room. He was sweating uncontrollably and shaking. His skin was clammy and he was murmuring something that neither of them could understand.
"We need to get him to a doctor!" Mrs Weasley screamed and ran to get someone to help them. Sirius wrapped a blanket firmly around Harry's thin frame and lifted him up. He went downstairs and placed Harry on the couch beside the fire just as Mr Weasley, Sera, Tonks and Remus came in with Mrs Weasley talking quickly and hysterically behind them. Remus, Tonks and Mr Weasley had arrived while Sirius and Mrs Weasley had been upstairs.
"We'll take him to St Mungos" Remus said. "That's the best place. I'm sorry you cant come too Sirius" he said softly.
Sirius nodded and looked down at Harry anxiously. Fear gripped his heart as he placed Harry into Mr Weasley's arms and Tonks led Mr Weasley and Remus out to the car. Sirius watched from the doorway as they sped him away to St Mungos. He soon dragged himself away from the door and sat beside Sera in the living room. He was so cold inside from seeing Harry in that he almost thought that there were dementors around the house. He hoped that Harry would be alright. His insides were full of fear for Harry, and for himself. He was scared of what he would do if anything happened to Harry.
