Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or anything in it!

Hi, soooooo sorry about the long wait. I have had loads of homework, y'know?

Chapter 9-Hexes and hospitals

The week after the ball was a quiet one, everyone was exhausted, and occasionally bad tempered because of lack of sleep. On Christmas Day the Marauders, Daphne, Lily and Carla were sat in the Common Room, about to open presents.

Daphne received a bag of stink pellets from James, a huge box of mince pies from her mum, a book from Lily, Honeydukes sweets from Remus, and makeup from Carla, From Sirius she got a card that said 'I'll give you yours later'

"Hmm, I've got one from my mum," said Sirius suspiciously, "why on earth has she sent me one? Oh, probably to hex us all or something!"

"Yeah, open it though!" said Daphne.

Sirius opened the black wrapping paper and took out a box, he opened it and out jumped a ferocious little creature with fangs as long as its body. It took one look at Sirius and then launched itself at him, scratching and biting at his hand. Sirius drew back in astonishment, his hand bleeding badly.

"Crap," he muttered. "We'll take it down to Hagrid later."

"We'd better go to the hospital wing to get your hand looked at," grumbled Remus.

In the hospital wing Madam Pomfrey stared at the cuts on Sirius' hand.

"What on earth happened?" she asked.

"My mother's present 'happened'" said Sirius irritably.

"Oh, again?" said Madam Pomfrey "Why do you still open them they're nothing but trouble, every year"

"I know,"

Madam Pomfrey bandaged up his hand and then told them to get Hagrid to take away the creature.

When they reached the Common Room, they found the creature had made itself a nest in the cushion on the sofa. Sirius ran to the cushion before it could attack him and wrapped it up in the remnants of the cushion.

When they reached Hagrid's cabin they showed him the strange thing. It didn't seem to want to hurt anyone now. Hagrid was very excited when they said the creature was Hagrid's Christmas present from them and that he could keep it. He then invited them in for tea and what Hagrid called 'cakes' although they looked nothing like any cake the Marauders had ever seen before!

On Boxing day Daphne and Carla were walking down a corridor. Daphne was singing 'Deck the halls with bows of holly' very loudly and Carla was laughing at her friend's pantomime antics. Suddenly Snape appeared from behind a portrait and yelled a curse that she had never heard of before 'Sectusempra'.

Her arm was suddenly gashed and blood poured out onto the floor. Carla screamed and Snape said simply,

"You deserve it. And anyway, I have my orders..." then he walked off, still muttering.

Carla managed to support Daphne to the Hospital wing then ran to tell the others. They rushed to the hospital wing, Sirius muttering death threats to Snape, although he wasn't there, all the way.

Daphne was lying in a bed when they got there, she was very pale and seemed to be only just awake. For the first time ever, there were shining tear stains on her face. Her arm was bandaged up and Madam Pomfrey told them not to stay long. When all the others had gone however, Sirius stayed there, holding her hand, until he fell asleep, his head resting on her bedside table.

She awoke the next day, a little quieter than normal, but bright. As soon as she spoke Sirius woke up and smiled. After two days in the Hospital wing, she was allowed to go. Sirius had stayed with her virtually the whole time, but the others had hardly seen her and were extremely excited to see her up and about again.

"Oh, Daph, we haven't seen you for soooo long!" gushed Carla.

"It's only been two days!" laughed Daphne, "What would you have been like if I had been in there for a week!"

"I have so much to tell-" started Lily,

"WE, have so much to tell you." corrected Carla, "A lot has happened in two days..."

Once Carla and Lily had dragged Daphne up to the girl's dormitories, Carla announced,

"You have missed so much Daph!"

"Yeah, James and I are OFFICIALLY going out!" squealed Lily.

"Yeah, that, and-"

Carla was interrupted again, this time by Daphne,

"Oh Lils that is so sweet!"

"AS I was saying," said Carla, obviously ticked off "Jake kissed ME!"

Squeals and giggles ruled the dormitories for several hours while Daphne caught up on all the gossip she had missed, well, girls have to have their fun!

Well, hope you liked it, a more serious plot should start to happen soon... watch this space!

Blackfishy xxx