A/N: Thank you to all who reviewed and who are reading. Being new to this fandom, I'd like to ask my readers if they have any suggestions of other stories that they think I might enjoy. Feel free to e-mail or IM me, or to simply respond in a review! And thank you in advance- I greatly value your opinions!
Descent into Madness
III. Revelation
Sirius couldn't sleep. His wrist was throbbing so painfully now that waves of heat seemed to cascade over his body. No matter how he lay his aching limb continued to shriek in pain. He knew that all he had to do was find Madam Pomfrey for the pain to stop. McGonagall had no doubt told her that a student would be spending the night in the hospital wing. Yet his pride and fear of the pain walking might cause his arm kept him where he was, cradling his wrist. The tears eventually stopped, and in the early hours of the morning the pain became a dull throbbing and he drifted into an uneasy sleep.
Much too soon he was being urged to wake. After a few moments of confusion he recognized the voice as belonging to Madam Pomfrey. He blinked several times, trying to see her face clearly through the haze of his eyes and the veil of his bangs. She'd stopped speaking now and he noticed with a slight start that her hand was moving over his forehead. As her face came into focus he noticed fine lines of concern.
"You've got a fever, child." She sounded surprised. Her eyes were racing over his visible form. She gently prodded his split lip and bruised eye, her eyes narrowed. He tried to speak yet only a hoarse whisper ground out. "What was that, dear?"
"My… my arm hurts."
Her eyes raced to the limb resting slightly awkwardly on the mattress. He couldn't suppress a groan as she unbuttoned his pajama sleeve and tugged the cuff down his arm. "Oh…"
She prodded it a bit more while Sirius wondered viciously why she had to wake him in the first place. Sleep had been relatively pain free. "I think it's broken, that's why you have a fever. The bones have been pulled out of place; I'll have to set them straight."
She gingerly lay his arm back down. "I don't think you'll be attending class today, Mr. Black." She bustled away from his bed. "I'm just going to get you some painkiller before I go about setting that arm right."
Setting that arm right sounded none too pleasant to Sirius.
Pomfrey returned with a potion which she measured out into a small glass then helped him drink. Within minutes the effects endowed him with coherence. Pomfrey helped him to sit up and as he did he winced, his back aching with the pain of a deep bruise. Pomfrey narrowed her eyes. "What else hurts?"
He shook his head.
"No use trying to hide your injuries, Mr. Black. I'm a healer – it's what I do. Your head of house already told me you were in a fight last night. Now let me have a look at your back."
Sirius cradled his arm in his right hand and grimaced as he shifted, still feeling dizzy and drowsy while the potion worked. Without another word Pomfrey eased his back away from the pillow and made a nervous sound. "There's a bloodstain on your pajamas, Black. I'm going to need to look under them."
She gently lifted the material off his back, frowning when she saw the broken skin surrounded by bruised flesh. "Looks like you had a nasty fall. Well, nothing that I won't be able to clear up soon enough." She began to lower his top once more when she noticed a slightly raised line. Scrutinizing it for a moment she noticed that there was another, and another. She traced her fingers gently over the scarred flesh. Her voice was quiet. "Where did you get these marks on your back, Black?"
Sirius blinked to clear his vision. His thoughts had been drifting from the events of the previous night to the fortune of missing classes that day, yet when he felt her fingers trail over the flesh of his back his reality and coherence slammed back into him with panic force. "Don't touch me," she shifted feebly away from her.
Immediately releasing the fabric of his pajamas Pomfrey pulled back. She took a moment to compose herself, grateful that she was seated behind the student so he couldn't see the shock in her eyes. "Alright then, Mr. Black. I'll just be seeing to your arm, but I wonder why you didn't tell anyone about it last night."
"I didn't hurt then," he lied as she came back into view. She noted how he watched her like a defensive dog, waiting for the scolding it knew would be coming.
"I'll get the supplies I need. Excuse me." She left the room and as she hunted down the needed potions she scratched out a note to Minerva McGonagall.
ooo00ooo ooo00ooo ooo00ooo ooo00ooo ooo00ooo ooo00ooo ooo00ooo
"Mr. Potter?"
James paused, slowing Remus and Peter as they headed for lunch. He eyed his head of house wearily, not wanting to have to relive the previous night's events again.
"A word, if you please?"
After a moment James nodded. "Of course."
She beckoned him into her office, noting the look of concern in Remus' uncannily wise eyes. She inclined her head to him and he reluctantly looked away before continuing toward the great hall with Peter.
Once inside, McGonagall offered him a piece of Scottish shortbread. His stomach rumbling at the hour, he gratefully took one then was seated opposite her.
"I wish to speak with you about Sirius Black, Potter."
James swallowed his mouthful of shortbread around the tightness of his throat. He chewed more slowly now.
"I understand that he's had a change of residence over this summer."
James nodded, swallowing again. "Yes, Professor. He stayed with me for the second half of the summer holidays."
"Potter, while this may sound exceedingly personal to you, why did he leave his home?"
James blinked at his head of house. Not even Remus of Peter knew the reason and he was expected to tell a teacher? "Professor-"
"You can trust that any information you provide is strictly confidential and that I would not be inquiring were I under different circumstances."
James swallowed again although there was no shortbread in his mouth this time.
"Why did Sirius Black come to stay with you over the summer?"
He parted his lips but curiously no words came. "He… they…"
McGonagall took her seat behind the desk. The trouble he was clearly having telling her was confirmation enough. She felt the tension in the room intensify. "Mr. Potter, was Sirius Black injured in any way when he came to your home this summer?"
James' eyes darted sharply to hers. He offered a reluctant "yes." To his surprise, she did not stop there.
"Did he tell you who hurt him?"
James shot a futile glance about her office, feeling increasingly uneasy about the situation. Sirius never had named the perpetrators specifically. He hadn't needed to. James had known. He'd always known. "No, Professor."
She sighed and leaned back in her chair. For a moment, she, too let her gaze linger out the window.
"But I… I mean, he never needed to tell me."
Her eyes met his and her gaze was soft. "Thank you, Mr. Potter. You may go to lunch now."
James began to rise but paused, looking at McGonagall inquisitively. "Professor? Might I ask why you've asked me this?"
McGonagall began to unnecessarily straighten the items on her desk. "After your duel last night I escorted Mr. Black to the hospital wing. As Madam Pomfrey tended to his injuries she noticed some odd scars on his back, apparently from previous injury."
James' face blanched. He didn't feel hungry anymore. "Wh-What are you going to do, Professor?" he hastily added her title to his quietly spoken query.
She did not meet his gaze. "As of now I am quite unsure. There isn't much I can do, I'm afraid."
When James did not move her eyes found his again. She smiled in attempt to assuage the concern and fear in his eyes. "Yet be assured that is not my final word on the matter."
James observed her, wanting to believe her.
"Good day to you, Mr. Potter. I expect to see you in Transfiguration after lunch."
"Of course, Professor."
Please Review!
Review Responses:
Padfoot: How utterly Sirius indeed! Poor guy, huh? Love ya mellon-nïn! ;o)
RubyRasin: Thank you so much for your feedback, my friend! And I'm also very relieved to hear that you consider my portrayal of "the boys'" relationship as realistic. As I said in the prologue, I'm not all that familiar with this fandom, but I have read nearl all the books twice, so I am greatly encouraged by observations such as yours. Thank you so much. I hope you're well and that you enjoyed this chapter!
Allacaya: Thank you so much for reading! I'm so glad that you like this story- and I shall certainly try to update again within a few days! Thank you so much for your kind words and your support. It means a lot to me. Take care and I hop you enjoyed this chapter:o)
paige-rossi-black: LOL- you make me laugh, my friend! "Mean mean mean" and you're right, if they all just made up right away there wouldn't be much of a story, would there:o) I hope you liked this chapter. It's a small step forward, right? Be sure to tell me what you think, sweetie!
EsScaper: What a lovely review you left me, my friend! I was most pleased! And I'm glad to hear that you did like the last few chapters, and hopefully this one, although, I suppose that with content like this, it might be moe appropriate to say that you don't like it? LOL. Before I confuse myself further... thank you so much for your positive comments. It really helps to hear what worked in a piece of writing. I could see the fight scene all in my head, and I'm glad that it transfered to the page for you. And yes, Sirius' pride is slowly getting the better of him, isn't it? And I loved your expression: "Poor puppy"! LOL- So darling.
And taps her foot in admonishment I most certainly DID read your bio, missy! lol. And I've even begun reading Robin4's stories. As I'm sure you're all sick of hearing by now, I'm horribly new to this fandom and haven't read much fanfiction, so I've mostly been following leads of suggestions. Thank you so much for yours! And I can most certainly understand how motherhood takes up the majority of one's time, however, I still feel that you are able to accomplish great things if you try. I would be more than willing to help you write any story you like, my dear. I'm sur eyou will do wonderfully! Take care, and I selfishly hope that you shall continue reading. :o)
Saiyanwizardgurl: Thank you so much for your kind review! You have given me the encouragement I feel that I need to keep writing in this fandom. Like yourself, I have encountered few Sirius-centered stories that were not slash, and so have resorted to just following recommendations of stories from other readers. Not that I have anything against slash, it's just not a realistic portrayal of the characters, you know? But I'm glad you like this story and I hope you continue to. Take care and I hope to hear from you again soon!
Me: LOL- Lovely name. ;o) I'm glad you like it, sweetie, and I most certainly WILL continue it! Don't worry- I have the whole thing finished already. ;o) I hope you keep reading and keep liking! Take care!
Phinea: Thank you so much for reading and for your encouragement! I was a bit nervous about writing the relationship between Sirius and his mother, mostly because I was doing a lot of reading between the lines, as it were. But I hope it's satisfactory. Thank you again, and I ardently hope that you enjoyed this chapter!
