The sound of the bell resounded throughout the hallways, but neither of us made any attempt to move, let alone say anything. The bastard just stood there, his fist still clenched, glaring at me, either in extreme confusion or utter hatred. I think we were both surprised at what we'd done and said, although we weren't close to admitting it.
I was clutching my nose, feeling the warm blood flow down my arm and drip to the floor in a constant, rythmic pattern. I was starting to feel cold, as if I were being stripped of my clothes in the dead of winter, and I couldn't seem to focus on anything real. Bright pixels invaded my sight ever so slowly and I remembered the feeling that came over me the morning after I'd gotten drunk, that same morning I'd awoken in a bed that was not mine. My head felt considerably heavier than usual. So heavy, in fact, that I couldn't seem to keep it up, as if the muscles in my neck had never supported the rest of me before ; it was like learning to think all over again.
I must've passed out because when my eyelids finally had the will and power to lift open, all lights had been blown out and I found myself, once again, on a bed other than my own. It took only a moment, though, to realise I'd been transported to the Hospital Wing. I'd begun to memorise the atmosphere, the feel of the place, having been here many times before. Something had been moved, however, and I couldn't quite place it. That was until I saw the crooked smile on a certain boy's face in the corner of my eye.
-What the fuck are you doing here?» He wiped the smile off his face.
-I suppose I just couldn't just leave you here on your own.» he replied in the same annoyed sort of tone, turning away from where I was lying. I could tell he was torn between staying mad and being the usual happy guy he was. I'd really hurt him. Psychologically, I mean.
Oh, Brother. There was no hurting this man physically. If you wanted to win a challenge, you had to know how to talk evil. He was as hard as a boulder. A fucking sexy boulder. I loved the way his slender body twitched with excitement and how his arms curled around me protectively when the occasion called for it...What am I thinking? I'm supposed to hate this guy
-…You alright?» he asked, worry printed on his face. I must say I wasn't of any comfort : I'd started hitting my forehead with my pillow. See? This is what a guy does to you! It's bad for anyone's health.
-Um, yeah. Fine. Why?» he yawned. Ah. It seemed he hadn't gotten a wink of sleep in the past few hours. «What time is it?»
-2 in the morning, on the spot.» I hadn't noticed the bell of the clocktower was ringing.
-Sirius?»
Yeah?»
-When I said… well…I'm…er…sorry…I- I didn't mean it.»
-I know.»
-But… Why did it affect you so much?»
-Stop asking questions. You need to sleep.»
-But I want to know.» Who's the cat now?
-But you don't need to know. Go to sleep.»
My eyes burned from lack of good sleep, but I didn't think closing my eyes might improve things. I needed to have clear thoughts to sleep well, and I'd been burdened enough in an entire day to suffer from heavy insomnia for the rest of my days…well, maybe I'm exaggerating a bit... I needed drugs.
-Sirius, do you do you drugs?»
-What?»
-Didn't think so.» Then again, everything seemed possible. These last few days had proven it.
-Why ask me a question like that?» I shrugged. Sirius always seemed to have varying moodswings : he'd go from pathetically happy to fuming faster than you could say PMS which, by the way, stood for permanent mood swings, as everyone knew it so well. I'd figured drugs was the only reason, yet, I'd known him for quite a while, and trust me, drugs wasn't part of the story. Come to think of it, I didn't know the real story. Sirius always seemed to manage to change the subject so subtely. He was good.
-You can sleep if you want to. I'm fine now.» I told him. I thought what I said was clear, but Sirius didn't seem to have heard.
-Sirius?» No answer. « Damn it, Black, say something!» Still no answer. «You know, Black, if you want to ignore me, go ahead! At least show some sign of life.» God, was he even breathing?
I jumped out of the bed to shake some sense into him. I flopped the blankets to the side and stepped on the floor. The wet floor. The smell of blood filled the air, my eyes widened, my heart raced. What was going on? The sound of something dripping caught my attention. There was a stain over his heart, it was soaking its way down the white shirt, the school uniform. Shit. I shivered, out of excitement and pure horror at the same time, taking a cautious step forward. My fingers reached out for the freshly killed carcass. Had I been the one to hurt him?
-Dawn…» he called out. So he wasn't dead. He called my name again, louder this time. And again, and again.
My eyes flickered open. I was, once again, in the Hospital Wing, this time in broad daylight. The partially blinding rays were golden and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. The place seemed happy.
-Dawn, you're finally awake.» Pomfrey stood over me, a chunk of chocolate in her palm big enough to feed an entire throng of trolls.
-Looked like you were having somekind of fit. What was it you dreamed, dear?» I sighed.
-The usual. Blood. Death. Gore.» Riveting, I know. A wave of dizzyness caught me again, and I felt nauseated. I hadn't taken yesterday's potion. Where had I left it? It wasn't in my pocket. I hopped out of bed and ran for the door. I had a hunch, and that hunch was most likely in the common room. Pomfrey made no attempt to keep me in bed ; I was way too fast for the poor lady.
-So there is a spell to figure out what this is…»
-Yeah, but it'll take some time. I have to practice first.» Black and Lupin were having a conversation…about my potion. I walked up to him.
-Why is it, Black, that you always have to stick your ruddy nose in other people's business? In my business!» It took some time for Sirius to pick himself up and think of a sorry excuse.
-… » Convincing, isn't it. « I… was curious… And I didn't want you to be taking drugs.»
-Pomfrey giving me drugs...wow...I'm impressed.»
-…Why are you keeping secrets from me?» WHY?
-Because it's something you don't need to know!»
-You don't trust me.»
-Not a bit. Give me my potion.»
-If you trusted me, would you tell me?»
-Even the best of friends hold secrets from each other. Trust me, it's for your own good.»
-Wait, why should I trust you, if you don't trust me?» Shit. I was falling into his trap and he knew it.
-How do you know it's for my own good?» he continued as he sat down in the nearest chair, proud of his achievement. «Either you tell us straight up, or we keep you little vial for examination.»
For lack of a better comeback:
-Fuck you.»
Lunch had just ended and students came fluttering in, bellies satisfied, ready for their afternoon classes.
-Oh my God, Dawn! Did you really sleep with…ooh...» She'd spotted the man on the couch. Why is it more than half the girls in Hogwarts can't say more to him than a timid «…hi…»?
-Sirius, what do you suggest?»
-Meet me in my dorm. I trust you're familiar with it by now.» I shot him a killer look. He got up from the worn leather couch and walked up the stairs. I had a bad feeling about this. I'd sworn to myself that yesterday was the one and only time I'd find myself up there.