Chapter Seven: Hospital Wings and Hogsmeade

"You can get more with a kind word and a gun than you can with a kind word alone."

- Al Capone (1899-1947)

October 30

Today is the last day in this dreadful place. Its white walls are moving as if to close in on me and suffocate me. My breath is coming in longer intervals now, and my endless labored puffing had ceased. These walls are a contrast to those that I had been looking upon for quite a while. The paintings are lively, the bed sheets unbearably white, and even the cracks in the corners are appallingly white. Though it is a much better environment, I find the lack of color variety (even though white is, as the Muggle scientists say, all colors) dull and lackluster. Must they put the patients in so much mental pain?

I have had visitors occasionally. Sandy and Damien are the most common around my bedside. Lily has stopped by often. Even Sirius, James, Remus, and Peter have come by to fill me in on the gossip. Sirius sometimes comes to tell me of his progress in the adjoining of Lily and James.

It's odd… I'm referring to them in first-name terms. Remus insisted, and Sirius and I have called a truce. He's actually quite a pleasurable company, if you put aside his irritating consistency in stealing the Chocolate Frogs Lily had given me.

Sirius Black.

How can I describe him? Now that my opinion is not as biased (yes, I admit… it was rather influenced by our rivalry, my opinion of him) as it previously was. He's intelligent, kudos to the kid. He's mischievous, as we all know. Cough eh-hem. He's (agh… Sandy would be overcome with giggling fits if ever she read this, which she probably won't) good-looking, in the aristocratic Black way, mixed in with a boyish flair. He obviously takes care of himself, for never in my life has he actually reeked like some of the Slytherins in my year ) have a tendency to. Actually, he smells quite pleasantly, although the cologne is a bit strong on the nostrils.

I'm forever thankful to him. Although Lily, Sandy, and Damien are delightful company, I am forever laughing in Sirius's presence. He brings about humor with his every visit – and the other three are ever so solemn.

Going to Hogsmeade today. Of course, it isn't a Hogsmeade weekend, but who ever said it was an official day for everyone? Sirius offered Lily and I a chance to shop for our Ball costumes, because of my abduction, courtesy of himself. Lily was grudging to agree, but once she had learned that I had given my consent, she chose to as well.

Ah. One of my longest entries yet. It's showing in my paining hand joints. Must put down quill and leave, for Lily and Sirius will be here at any moment.

- Delayna Warbeck

Hospital Wing Prisoner

I placed the diary on my bedside carefully. I breathed for a moment, and opened my mouth to call for my special friend. "Misty," I whispered. A soft crack resounded in the Hospital Wing and I smiled warmly as Misty the house-elf appeared. As soon as she saw my face, her face widened in delight.

"Mistress Warbeck! Oh, Mistress Warbeck, it is wonderful to see you again!" she bubbled joyfully. "It wasn't very lively at the Warbeck Estate, Mistress. It is very exciting to see you up and about once again! I had heard through the grapevine that you had been abducted! I cried despairingly that night. Oh, the woe of losing you, Mistress!"

"It's quite alright, Misty," I murmured softly. "I'm here, now." I turned and grabbed the book off my side table. "Here, Misty. Please take this up to my dormitory? Have a Chocolate Frog, if you wish." She nodded eagerly, and took the offered candy. She curtsied and with a small pop, she vanished.

Misty isn't like other house-elves. For one, she's free, and works for my family out of her own will. We've never believed in enslaving others, although we have great pride in our blood. She is also one of the few house-elves who don't refer to herself and other people in third-person grammar. She is simply an eccentric friend that does me favors, for I do some for her as well. I nursed her back to health the summer after my third year, when she had caught a rare house-elf sickness that was spreading. She's been my personal house-elf ever since, and has never left my side unless my mother or Dumbledore or any other circumstances bid her to.

"Squeaky thing, huh?" a low voice whispered huskily in my ear. I jolted, startled, and breathed a sigh of relief as Sirius appeared from under James's Invisibility Cloak with a small whishing sound. His face was bright and cheery, which I find impossible at this time of night. His cheeks were also lightly flushed, and I could practically hear his slightly labored breathing in this unbearably quiet part of the castle. I guess he was running late?

"Do you always have to make these dramatic entrances?" I hissed, slightly upset. I don't like being surprised. I find that shock is too much of an emotion to show to others, and can be a weakness. We Slytherins don't like showing a possible soft spot, because we aren't very brave (we're Slytherins, repeat after me, Slytherins) and if they do get past our defenses, we're left bare and open for attack.

"Sure do!" he claimed, loudly, presenting himself with an arrogant air. My eyes formed a glare, and I hissed a harsh 'Shhh!' in hopes to placate him. It wouldn't do to be caught by Madame Pomphrey. Who knows what she would do to me? I winced and my eyes screwed shut as I imagined more days in this – pardon – hellhole.

"Where are we meeting Lily?" I inquired silently. Sirius explained that Lily was waiting in the Gryffindor common room.

"Do you know the way?" he asked, his eyebrows furrowed slightly. I stared at him and tilted my head, clearly saying 'No, I've never been in there. That's why you see me all the time with Lily, of all people, in the – ahem – Gryffindor common room.'

"Yeah, yeah, dumb question," he mumbled, shaking his head. I crossed my arms. "Stop that! I am not dumb!" I bore my eyes into his further. For Slytherins, entertainment is in the form of making another squirm soundlessly, and Sirius sure is squirming. "Alright!" He threw up his hands in frustration. "I give up!" he yelled, for the entire world to hear. My lips tilted slightly as he 'squirmed' quite thoroughly in triumph and satisfaction. It's astonishing how much control I hold above Sirius, and the power is exhilarating in my veins.

I raised my arms in the air, pouting imploringly for Sirius to assist me. I do need the help, though. I'm still quite shaky, since I have not been exercising my legs very much recently. He slipped his arm underneath my own, and I slowly placed my heels on the floor. I felt an involuntary shiver pass through my spine as I touched cold, hard stone.

"Do you happen to have any slippers?" I whispered, my voice quavering from the chill. Of course, being the master at Transfiguration (actually, James is, but he's with those at the top), he Transfigured the vase on my side table into a pair. I thanked him gratefully and slipped them on. I felt around my ponytail, searching for the wand I had stuck in between the band and my scalp. Finding it, I murmured a soft 'Silencio' to silence our movements. I can only do the smallest of magic, like that, for now, until I ease myself back into it again. Ugh... This is just swell.

The walk to the Gryffindor common room was executed in a rather professional manner. I'm quite proud of myself over this feat, but quickly realized the consequence of having to move so much after being immobile for quite a while. I was instantly exhausted and I settled myself on my usual warm, plush chair by the fireplace. I propped my feet upon the wooden table in front of me and sighed, taking deep gulps of oxygen to regain control of my breathing.

"Layna?" I heard Lily's soft voice whisper softly to my left. I turned towards the direction of the sound and smiled slightly. "Are you sure you're up to this?" I smiled slightly, trying to reassure her doubts.

"Yes, I think I'm quite well, Lils," I replied. "Unlike you, I have not such a bleak outlook on my health." Lily laughed and shook her head, silently grinning.

"Yes, you are quite the same peace murderess as before," she commented. With some help, my arms were placed around both of their shoulders, and we were huddled together underneath the thin fabric of the Invisibility Cloak. Lily herself had a Disillusionment Charm placed upon herself, the expert of Charms she is, and only Sirius and I were truly covered by the Cloak.

Sirius led us through a maze of hallways, some that were familiar and some completely foreign to my eyes. The portraits surrounding us were rather beautiful, but unfortunately, the floors were atrocious. The new caretaker must not have been doing such a good job as Dumbledore had presented him as. It was seldom we had to stop on my behalf, because I was not fully rested just yet, I had reluctantly admitted to myself. I cursed Madame Pomphrey for her accuracy.

Sirius stopped at a statue of a humpbacked witch. He muttered a spell and tapped it several times. To my wonder, it began to move to show slim hole that lead to a passageway beneath. Sirius put his hands on his hips in pride of his work.

"Well done," I said, patting him on the shoulder with a grin. Again, I held my hands out, pleading for help. My energy reserve was very slowly waning, and I needed help going down. Sirius placed his hands on my waist and easily slipped me through the hole. Ah, the wonders of being petite. We worked our way through the passageway and Sirius called for a stop. I, being the slow person I was, didn't, and ran smack into a dirt wall.

"Ow," I murmured, rubbing my forehead gingerly. Sirius chuckled slightly. I glared at him.

"Y'okay, love?" he inquired consolingly. I rolled my eyes, nodding. I didn't even have to ask this time for him to pull me up, he did so on his own. I thank him silently.

It struck me really, really odd that he was being so... gentlemanly tonight. It's like he's trying to charm me. What's to charm, really? Maybe it's just my imagination. I have not a clue!

Did you know I absolutely hate being clueless?

Anyways, we reached the end of the clearing. We knew because I had unexpectedly crashed into it, again injuring myself. Have I ever told you that I'm not all that graceful when I'm walking in a dark, dirty tunnel? If you said no, you're probably right. That's because I have too much dignity to place myself in a dark tunnel. But now that I'm in here, the only way to get out is to reach the end, or turn back. I'm not exactly willing to move myself all the way back just to hold my pride. I'd rather get where I'm going and still get out.

"Klutz," Sirius and Lily muttered in my direction teasingly.

"I know I'm clumsy, there is no need to repeat it," I grumbled moodily. I reached my hands above my head and grasped a handle. I tugged it downwards. It budged slightly, but not nearly enough. I repeated this process again and again fruitlessly. Sighing in frustration, I turned to Sirius expectantly. Sirius grinned boyishly and ushered me behind him. I watched with my mouth agape as he pulled it down effortlessly with one tug.

He held his arm out in a gentlemanly fashion, smirking smugly. Lily pushed past me, eager to leave. Sirius lifted the cement block above us over his head and out of the way. He jumped out of the tunnel, and held his hand out to help Lily and I. We lifted ourselves out of the dank tunnel and I gazed in slight wonder at my surroundings. Sure, I've been to Hogsmeade plenty, and I've been to Honeydukes occasionally (at least, I think this place is Honeydukes... what other store had candy in it after all?) but I had never been inside the cellar. Come to think of it, most of our school (with the exception of the Marauders obviously) hasn't been in here.

As I exited the passageway, I muffled a yelp as the cold wrapped around me and nearly suffocated me. I was only wearing a shirt and a pair of pants, and it's late October. What was I thinking? I swear, it's those potions that Madame Pomphrey gave me. They made me lose my common sense. Of all the things they had to take, they had to take the most important thing for my well-being.

"Cold, much?" Lily quipped as she wrapped her warm cloak tightly around her figure. I sneered. Way to rub it in my face, Lily.

"Here," Sirius offered his cloak with an amused grin. I thanked him and wrapped it around my shivering form snugly. "Come on, womenfolk, we need to get moving."

The three of us moved swiftly and silently towards Gladrags Wizardwear. Lily and I left Sirius at Zonko's, the shop next door, and waltzed in to Gladrags. As soon as we entered, a group of salespeople glided down upon us with smiles and 'Do you need any help finding anything?'. We declined their offers, choosing to find our own costumes of our own accord.

I searched the racks endlessly, rejecting many costumes. I heard Lily squeal behind me and disappear in the Fitting Rooms with a flurry of cloth. My eyes widened as I came across the perfect outfit. I smirked to myself as I read the description that came with it. Hurriedly, I pulled it out of the rack and paid for it with the currency I had. They wrapped it in a bundle for me, and I held it under my arm. This was just too sweet...

I chuckled as Lily and Sirius argued next to me. Sirius had pulled a prank a few weeks back and had spun a tale on how they had done it. Unfortunately, Lily, being the girl she is, began telling him off.

"Lily, you can't really argue that rules are most important now, can you?" Sirius remarked.

"Why not?" Lily said, somewhat confused. "They are!"

"But Lily, doll, you just broke about a dozen rules just coming here," I cut in. Sirius and I smirked evilly as Lily sputtered indignantly. She huffed and poked me between the ribs. I yelped and glared at her.

"Nasty carrothead of a Gryffindor," I threw at her.

"Evil bitch of a Slytherin," she shot back. Sirius gasped dramatically across from us.

"Lily! Wash out that mouth with soap!" He mimicked a high-pitched tone. As we laughed, I couldn't stop myself from remembering one question I've been meaning to ask somebody when I had awoken.

"Lily, Sirius..." I began, "Who was it that had saved me?" The cheery mood vanished, and Lily bit her lip while Sirius regarded me warily. He cast a spell with his wand quickly before slipping it into his robe pocket once again.

"Dumbledore had sent someone to save you when Lily had come to him, saying you were gone," Sirius began in a low note. "I'm not sure who it was, but I'm guessing it was a Prewett brother..." He glanced around quickly. Seeing that the Three Broomsticks was quite empty, he continued in the same low tone. "Dumbledore has a spy within the Death Eaters' ranks."

My eyes narrowed. "And how do you know all this information?" I inquired suspiciously. Dumbledore wouldn't trust just anybody with this type of information. Sirius cleared his throat somewhat guiltily, and Lily, who had been quiet, spoke up.

"We... I mean, Sirius, James, Remus, and I... are -- how do I say this? -- more trusted students," Lily explained hurriedly. Sirius shot her a warning glance and she sunk back into her seat. "I'm sorry, but we can't tell you much more without getting in serious trouble..."

I too sat back in my chair and sipped from my mug of Butterbeer. 'More trusted students'? The Slytherin in me woke up and began pounding at the walls of my brain. 'Investigate!' the thing screamed, and investigate I will...

Author's Note: Yes, I know... This chapter isn't my best and goes far too slow, but it is a result of close to no inspiration. I don't like the ending either, but I've worked with it far too many times and I can't seem to fix it. And yes, I know... Two months between updates is somewhat insane, but remember, writing isn't my main priority at the moment, since school is in session.

- Cerulean Asphodel