Chapter Twelve

Lily checked around to check if anyone saw her before going inside the Hospital Wing. She smiled politely at Madam Pomfrey. "Hello, Madam Pomfrey," she said. "Um, I know I might sound queer but I just wanna know if Sam's here."

"Why'd you ask?" Madam Pomfrey asked, her face growing pale. Lily laughed and tucked strands of her long red hair behind her ear.

"Well, you see, it's sort of stupid, but last night Sam didn't come and Snape just went babbling on about Sam and a Muggle disease which is impossible, I must say—"

"If you find it impossible, then why'd you ask?" Pomfrey snapped. Lily took a step back, a bit surprised. "I'm sorry, Miss Evans, but if you have no other business here, I must ask you to leave."

"Is that Sam?" Lily asked, turning her head towards the bed near the window. Madam Pomfrey took Lily's hand and led her to her office. "Madam Pomfrey, what is going on with her?"

"Miss Evans, Miss Livingston is ill. You can't talk to her and you weren't supposed to find out from me." Madam Pomfrey sighed. "I promise she'll tell you and your friends soon enough. But for now only Misters Lupin and Claremont should know."

"Alright," Lily said uncertainly. Tears formed behind her eyes. "But will she be okay?"

"I don't know," Madam Pomfrey said honestly. "I don't know."

Sam coughed and slumped against the pillows. Madam Pomfrey approached her and handed her a glass of water. "There's a visitor for you. You have fifteen minutes."

"Thanks, Madam Pomfrey." She closed her eyes tiredly. As she opened her eyes, Sirius stood before her, looking as if he went numb. "Sirius? What are you doing here?"

"I came to see you," he said simply, yet his voice sounded terribly shaky. Sam tried sitting up but only failed at the attempt. He sat down by her bed and looked at her. "God, I… I don't want to see you like this."

"Then why are you here?" she questioned, her hair falling into her eyes. Sirius leaned over and gently tucked those strands behind her ear. "Sirius, how'd you know I was here?"

"There are things that have to remain unknown," he replied wisely. He propped up her pillows. "Now, Sam, would you care to tell me what happened to you?"

"No."

"Samantha," he warned, taking her hand in his. Sam felt shivers down her spine. She didn't meet his eyes. "Sam, please… You're my best friend. Come on."

"I don't want to talk about it."

Lily numbly walked to the dormitory, her eyes glazed over. Suddenly, someone stopped her in her tracks. "Well, if it isn't Perfect Prefect Evans," Trisha Kramer sneered in disgust. Her cronies giggled very high-pitched and fake laughs.

"Trisha," she retorted. "Look, I'm not in the mood to talk to you or your other plastics. Just leave me alone."

"Of course not, after what you did to poor Jamie," Trisha snapped. "You brainwashed him into liking you, didn't you? Of all people, you, the Mudblood? Why would he want you when he could have me?"

"Um, because I'm not a slut?" Lily said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. The group of girls gasped. Trisha glared at her.

"You will regret you ever said that, Evans. Stay away from James or there will be serious consequences. And I mean serious." She turned on her heel and walked away, her cronies following her.

Lily's face turned slightly pale. She had just received a dangerous threat.

James was walking up to the dormitory, worrying about Sam. "Where has she been lately?" he wondered aloud, messing up his hair. "I passed my Charms exam, and I can't tell her."

"Why, hello, Jamie," a voice said, her figure enshrouded in the shadows. James turned around, his glasses slightly askew. Trisha Kramer stepped out of the shadows, smirking slightly at him.

"Uh, hi Trisha," he answered slowly. She moved closer to him, and he took a step back. "Um, what do you need?"

"Nothing, James," she replied, moving closer and receiving another step back from James. "Aw, don't move away, Jamie, it's just me. Remember what happened to us during fifth year? Our night alone in the Astronomy Tower?"

James felt regret rush through him. "Um, no."

"But we had so much fun then," Trisha cooed. "Wasn't it wonderful, James? You said I was beautiful; I was so wonderful and exciting… Didn't you enjoy it?"

James gulped and stepped away. "Get away from me, Trisha." He glared at her. "That was before. I don't like you anymore."

"But you think that Evans does? She just wants popularity, James; I just don't want you to get hurt." Trisha moved so fast James didn't have time to react. His senses blurred and somehow, he enjoyed the sensation of kissing her back.

What he didn't know was that Mattie was there, watching everything with an evil eye.

Sam tiredly closed her eyes and coughed. It hurt her throat so badly; she started coughing more. She covered her mouth, gasping for air. Once she released her hand, blood stained her hands.

"Shit." She tried getting the piece of cloth on her night stand, her efforts in vain. She glanced at her hand nervously. She crashed her hand against the night stand and a large bruise formed on her knuckles. She groaned in frustration.

"Sam…?" Adam rushed to her side. He glanced at her hand, blood stained and bruised. "Hey, what happened? Let me clean that."

He got a piece of cloth and gently wiped at her hand. "Thanks, Adam…" Sam whispered tiredly, closing her eyes. Adam sighed and got a bandage to wrap around her bruise.

"You take care of yourself. Sirius will kill you." He grinned slightly. "So will I."

Sam laughed and examined her bruise. "Adam… If I die this year, promise me you'll watch over Lily and Mattie for me. Keep an eye on the Marauders for me too."

"Hey, don't say that," Adam said softly, hugging her gently. "I promise. And I know you'll live, okay? You just can't… study."

"Adam," Sam reassured softly. "I'll be fine… But it's highly possible I'm saying goodbye this year because of this."

"Don't say that."

"Don't lie to yourself, Adam. You know for a fact I'm dying."

You guys, here's the long awaited update! I had a bad case of writer's block, and I still hate Biology here, because I started school again… Urgh. I miss you all! Thanks for reviewing!

Thanks a LOT to Tiggerbelle, IamSiriusgrl, Fairy-GYAKUTENNO-Megami, imfeelingthis182, dreamergirl86, Angela Caldwell, crazy turtle, LJ4eva, Padfoot in Purple, Steelo, Flame of Desire, KawaiiMegami86, outoftheordinary, nikka (LOL, love ya cousin:D) Lils-X and Amelia.

Outoftheordinary, I won't abandon this! It's my prized possession. LOL:D And I'm reading HP6 while I'm at it! Urgh! How dare she call my love "Serious" Black! URGH! XD

Much love from

Siriuslypadfooted