Chapter 4

As Sirius stumbled out of the fireplace, quite disorientated, he looked around to find himself standing in the middle of the Hogwarts hospital wing. Dumbledore and Madam Pomfrey were standing waiting for them.

On seeing Sirius, Madam Pomfrey rushed forward grabbing him under the arm and steered him towards the nearest bed. Behind him he could hear more sets of feet arriving. Turning slightly, he could see that James had followed him, followed by Lily and Ebony and finally Peter and Remus.

"What in God's name has happened!" Madam Pomfrey shrieked looking at them all and escorting them to beds either side of Sirius.

Dumbledore walked forwards, looking at them all intently, as Madam Pomfrey fussed over Ebony, trying to repair her broken ribs.

"Poppy, may I have a word with the students alone please."

"But Professor-"

"It will not take long, but I must speak with them immediately."

Madam Pomfrey opened her mouth to protest, but shut it knowing it was no use.

"Fine," she muttered haughtily, and, turning on her heel, bustled back into heroffice.

Dumbledore, looking weary, turned back and stared at Sirius. "I really need to know what happened."

Breathing deeply, Sirius began to retell what had happened, not stopping until he had finished, for fear of not being able to continue if he was stopped.

Dumbledore looked troubled, but said "Very well Sirius, thank you. Now we better let Madam Pomfrey come and sort you out before she has me carted off to Azkaban!"

Madam Pomfrey, right on cue, hurried back down the wing, muttering incoherent curses under her breath.

"Oww!"

"Stop your whining Mr. Potter. Your nose and head will be fine come tomorrow morning. Ms Wallis, those ribs will not fix themselves. Will you please lie still!

Ebony scowled as Madam Pomfrey bustled back to her office. "Like it doesn't bloody hurt lying still!"

James grinned, "You're a girl after my own heart."

"Oh, so now you realise I'm not a Miss Goody-goody two shoes!"

"Ouch, sarcasm!" Remus winked, grinning at Sirius.

"Feisty," Peter laughed.

"More along the lines of grouchy actually," winced Ebony.

"Tell me something I don't know," Lily giggled.

"Hey, I'm in pain here!"

"Aren't we all," retorted Lily, " but you just happen to be the world's biggest sarcastic cow as well!"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah."

Sirius, James, Remus and Peter laughed. "You two are like an old married couple. What are Prongs and I supposed to do?" Sirius said.

"Oh, I don't know Padfoot. I think you and Moony would make a lovely couple, though I think Wormtail's a bit sweet for you Prongs. Maybe Prongs could get together with Snape!" Ebony smiled, with a wicked glint in her eye.

"Ehh, Snivellus!"

"I dunno Prongs," Peter winced. "You might come to find all that grease sexy. You certainly wouldn't need to go and buy any, to grease yourselves up!"

James made a retching noise.

"Mmm, maybe you're right. We'll have to keep our eyes open," Lily pondered mockingly.

James threw a pillow at her, catching the side of her head.

"Hey!"

Two days later, they all left the hospital wing. Lily was back to her normal beautiful self, her injuries having healed quickly whilst James' nose was still slightly red, making him resemble Rudolf the red-nosed Reindeer. Sirius was still nursing a headache, feeling like he'd just downed several bottles of Firewhisky in one go, and Ebony, though her ribs had heeled, still felt like she'd been hit by the Hogwarts Express.

Remus and Peter were with them, having refused to leave the wing until Madam Pomfrey, finally giving up, had pulled out two camp beds. She had refused point-blank to let them have the other beds in case there happened to be a 'genuine' emergency.

Sirius wondered, as they left, whether Dumbledore had had anything to do with it. Madam Pomfrey wouldn't normally have allowed uninjured students to stay in the wing, especially two Marauders. They had all had many run ins with her in the past over such requests to stay, when Remus had been seriously injured after his nights as a Werewolf.

All of them walked down to the Great Hall for breakfast. The hall was nearly empty. They'd have the castle pretty much to themselves until the rest of the students arrived back on the train the following day. Only four students, it seemed, had stayed at Hogwarts for Christmas, two skinny Slytherin boys, a plump Hufflepuff boy and a fifth year Ravenclaw girl.

The rest of the day was spent outside having magical snowball fights, or in the Gryffindor tower making additions to the Marauder's map, though out of the sight of Lily and Ebony, and trying to finish off their holiday homework.

None of them had spoken much about what had happened at Sirius' house. Like before, there seemed to be a silent agreement that nothing needed to be said. All of them wanted to enjoy what was left of the Christmas holidays and Sirius found himself having such a good time with his best friends that, for the most part, he didn't think about it. The only time it caught up with him was at night, in his dreams. He, more than once, had woke up drenched in a cold sweat, feeling like his mother had performed the Cruciatus curse on him over and over again, his whole body tense and aching. He'd lie awake for hours pondering, before again being engulfed by more turbulent sleep.
The night before the rest of the school returned, he woke to find Remus sitting on his bed trying to shake him awake.

"Are you okay?" muttered Remus, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes, his face white with concern, as Sirius came out of his dream.

"Yeah, it was just a nightmare," Sirius mumbled.

"You don't look okay," Remus shrugged, as he moved off the bed. "You look bloody awful."

"Thanks a lot mate!"

"I'm being serious. If I didn't know any better, I could have sworn I was looking in the mirror."

"What are you blabbering about?"

"Lets not talk here. I don't want to wake the others." Remus, grabbing a thick fleecy blanket off his bed, headed for the door. Sirius followed reluctantly. They settled on the sofa next to the fire, its embers glowing dimly. Remus stared at them for a while before turning to Sirius. "Tell me the truth. I'm your friend."

"I'm fine-"

"I don't believe you," said Remus simply. "I know when someone's in pain, I can see it in their eyes."

"But-"

"But nothing. Sirius, do you know how I can see it, see the pain buried deep inside someone?"

"No."

"Because I suffer too. I'm a Werewolf Sirius, do you think it's a pleasant experience to transform every month-"

"No! Of course I don't. I've seen what you look like the day after remember!"

"I know, but do you understand! The pain is unimaginable. It rips through every inch of your body, your heart pounds, you feel like you want to die. It's hell and it doesn't ever stop. The full moon was two weeks ago and I'm still recovering. It never ceases! Tell me!"

Sirius looked into his friend's eyes. He saw a loneliness he'd never seen before. He looked tired and somehow old, even though he was barely sixteen.

"I've seen you thrashing and muttering in your sleep ever since we came back. I didn't want to say anything, but you won't talk to anyone."

Sirius looked away, his eyes resting on the dying embers. He pulled his blanket further around him, there was a definite chill in the air now.

"Sirius-"

"All right, all right. It's just that every time I close my eyes, my mother's waiting to use the Cruciatus curse on me. Every time she does, my body becomes consumed in pain, my blood pounds in my head, my mind goes blank and it feels like I can't breathe," he paused for a moment before continuing. "She haunts my sleep, that's all, I swear!"

Remus looked at him sympathetically and said softly, "She can't hurt you anymore. None of them can," and with that he threw his arm around Sirius' shoulder.

They sat in silence, both lost in thought for a while, before Remus returned to the dormitories. Sirius continued to sit alone staring into space before he too returned, feeling like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders as he dragged his feet slowly up the cold spiral staircase.

The rest of the students arrived the following evening on the train. The Gryffindor common room, which had been exceptionally quiet, was soon packed and noisy again. Everyone was talking and laughing, catching up after the holiday.

A fifth year was showing off his new broomstick to an admiring audience, whilst over in the corner several second years were enthralled in a particularly violent game of Wizard's chess.

After the evening feast, the students became somewhat subdued and sleepy. Sirius was sure the house elves had put something in it to knock the students out as he yawned and fell back onto his bed. Lessons started again the following morning. I need another holiday, he thought as sleep grabbed him with ravenous hands. This time, a bit more relaxing though.

The morning was bright but bitter. More snow had fallen overnight, making the castle feel like a giant freezer. Sirius groaned, as he woke up after another restless night, and quicklypulled on his robes, goose pimples covering his smooth arms and chest, and rushed down to breakfast.

The owls arrived in the middle of breakfast, looking flustered after the night's storm. They dropped their parcels on to the students laps and flew hastily away to rest in the Owlery.

A large tawny owl swept down to Ebony, dropping a letter into her porridge. She gave the owl a stroke on the beak and a rasher of bacon before it flew away.

Turning to the letter, after watching the bird fly back out of one of the high windows, she opened it.

"Eww, what's that smell!" Lily exclaimed, clamping her hand over her nose.

Ebony didn't respond though. She just continued to stare down at the letter horrified.

"What does it say," Sirius asked, leaning over her shoulder to read it himself. His jaw fell open.

"What the bloody hell-" but he was interrupted by Ebony's muffled cries.

"Oww. What is this stuff. Oww, it stings!"

Tears came to her eyes as her hands began to swell and erupt into boils.

Sirius leant forward and sniffed. "Ehh, that looks and smells like undiluted Bubotuber pus. You better get up to the hospital wing quickly," he said, going slightly pale as Ebony's hands began to blister and tears trickled down her cheeks.

"Here, look after my bag. Oww!" she winced, before dashing out of the hall, trying desperately to remove the pus from her hands with her robes.

"What does the note say?" Lily muttered after Ebony was gone.

Sirius tossed it over the table for her to read.

"You dirty little whore!" she read under her breath. "What, who sent this?" she said angrily.

"I don't know," Sirius frowned.

Ebony arrived at Potions nearly an hour late, her hands heavily bandaged. She sunk into the chair next to Lily looking thoroughly miserable and upset.

"You okay?" Lily asked.

"No." Ebony muttered sharply. "Whoever sent that horrible letter made sure it would cause a lot of damage. When Madam Pomfrey finally managed to get that stuff off, half my skin came off with it. My hands are red raw."

Lily pulled a face and shuddered. "I never was very good around things like that."

James, Sirius, Remus and Peter caught up with them when they all sat down to eat lunch in the Great Hall.

"Do you know who sent it," Peter asked.

"Of course not. If I did, I wouldn't be sitting here talking to you, I'd be kicking their ass Muggle style, dummy." Ebony retorted sarcastically.

"Touchy." James muttered grinning.

"So would you be, if you'd had your skin ripped off!"

"Yikes! Okay, okay, I surrender!"

Sirius laughed, though secretly he had a bad feeling about the mystery letter. It didn't feel right and it gave him the creeps. It wasn't like Ebony had any enemies. He wondered whether there would be anymore to prove his suspicions.

As the owls arrived dropping letters, newspapers and packages to the right students, another large tawny owl swooped down in front of Ebony again. This time, the letter it was carrying was red and they all knew what it was. It was a Howler.

Ebony looked down at it ominously, her hands still recovering from the Bubotuber letter two days before.

"You'd better open it. They're awful if you let them burst open on their own," said James. "Trust me, I've had years of experience in this department."

Slowly, and with great difficulty, Ebony broke the seal.

The Howler opened out and a booming voice pierced the air. It was a voice they all knew well. "HOW DARE YOU STEAL MY SON," Mrs. Black cried angrily, as the hall fell silent.

The Howler, which had opened like a mouth, bared its teeth and latched on to Ebony's nearest hand. "Oww get it off!" she cried.

Sirius had gone white as a ghost and rigid in his seat. Howler's don't have teeth, he thought angrily. Not normal ones in any case. He seized the edge of the Howler, trying to prize it off Ebony's hand, but it wouldn't budge. Suddenly it burst into flames, scalding both of them before it was reduced to cinders on the wooden table.

Ebony grabbed the nearest jug of chilled water and shoved her hand into it, telling Sirius to do the same. The whole school was silent, watching them for several moments, before returning to their conversations. As they did so, Ebony rounded on Sirius.

"It's your bloody mother that's doing all this! Why can't she just leave you alone! Someone really needs to teach her a lesson."

"Now don't start getting ideas," Sirius began. "My family knows more dark magic than any of us may care to dream about. They're all in support of this Lord Voldemort guy and his ideas. Don't go giving them the incentive to go and become his faithful sidekicks to curse you off the face of the planet."

"Hey, I know, we heard their ravings remember. If she cares to perform the Cruciatus curse on her own son, I dread to think what she'd do to anyone else who rubbed her up the wrong way!"

"My hands are freezing."

"Well take them out the water you idiot!"

"Reckon we should go up to the hospital wing."

"Definitely. My hands are killing me. Again!" Sirius smirked guiltily as they left the hall and made their way up the marble staircase. "Hey don't fret about it. It's not you asked her to do this, is it? I just wonder whether she's through yet?"

"I doubt it. My mother isn't one to regain control of her temper in a hurry. She's vindictive and manipulative. Look what she's done already."

Ebony looked down at her red stinging hands and bit her lip nervously. "I wonder what she'll do next!"

Sirius didn't say anything. He knew his mother wouldn't back down without a fight. She was worse than his father when it came to being stubborn.

Sirius hated to admit it, but that was all they had in common anymore, being stubborn. He realised how much he took after her in this personality trait, as he had always refused to talk about his family with his friends, especially after they had witnessed his parents physically assault him. He would never admit his feelings about those situations, not as long as he lived. Instead he would always try to project the appearance of a cool composure, a confidence and self assurance which he had always had in some respects, but had not felt inside.

"You again!" Madam Pomfrey exclaimed, as Sirius and Ebony entered the hospital wing. "What is it with you lot? Can't you stay out of trouble for five minutes?"

Sirius returned to reality to hear Ebony say, "It's not like we go looking for trouble, trouble usually finds us."

Sirius smiled. He had to hand it to himself and his mates, they had certainly had an impact on Ebony. She'd become a law unto herself. She had to be the most sarcastic and quick-witted person he'd ever had the pleasure to meet.

Showing Madam Pomfrey their hands, she handed them the same cream she had given Mr. Potter in November and within half an hour, they were walking down the corridor to their Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson.

Apologising for being late, Sirius and Ebony made their way to the back of the class where Lily and James were sitting. Remus and Peter were sitting behind them examining the Marauder's map.

"You spying on us," Sirius grinned, nodding at the map resting in Remus' lap, as he took a seat.

"No of course not," Remus said trying to look innocent.

"You finally given up trying to work in Defense class then," Sirius laughed, still trying to look at the map.

"Well someone's got to work on it," Remus sighed rolling his eyes and looking down at his lap.

"Lover boy over there's got his mind on other things at the moment," he grinned wickedly.

"I heard that!" growled James out of the corner of his mouth.

"Well, I'm not stating anything that isn't already obvious am I?"

James gave a sarcastic scowl before wrapping his arm around Lily.

"She still won't go out with him," Remus sighed. "But he won't give up, or change tact, its becoming painful to watch. His idea of a romantic date is a pint of Butterbeer and a game of Snooker!"

Ebony rolled her eyes. "Tell me about it," she whispered. "And it's not like Lily hasn't given him any hints. One of our friends is going to a romantic little café in Hogsmeade with her boyfriend the next time there's a visit and Lily's spoken in a loud clear voice, 'I'd love to go there,' but it's gone straight over Prongs' head."

Sirius laughed. "Well what can I say, Prongs has all the subtlety of a stampeding rhinoceros, and when it comes to subtle hints he flounders pitifully."

"I heard that!" James growled slightly louder.

Lily was shaking slightly. Sirius caught a glimpse of her face and saw that she was sitting in silent hysterics. Remus, also noticing, bit down on his lip trying not to grin.

Trudging back up to the Gryffindor common room the following evening, after yet another detention with Professor McGonagall, Sirius pulled out a cake he'd swiped from the Great Hall at dinner and took a bite, thoroughly disgruntled.

"So what if I gave Snivellus enormous bat ears in her Transfiguration class, he deserved it," he muttered angrily. "I'll get that snivelling little weasel back if it's the last thing I do!"

He gave the fat lady the password, "Animagus," and clambered through the portrait hole.

"Hey, there's the man of the hour!" James called, rushing over to meet him. "I've never seen such inspired transfiguration in my life. You're getting as good as me! Snivellus. My god, the look on his face, and just as the bell rang too. You do realise the git had to walk up five crowded flights of stairs and along six corridors looking like he had elephantitus of the ears! Classic!"

"Yeah, well you didn't have to sit through a two hour detention with old McGonagall screaming at you!"

"It was for a good cause. Snivellus will think twice before insulting Lily, Ebony or any other Muggle-born in the school from now on. You totally humiliated him," James chuckled.

"If he wants to live, he shouldn't remind me of my family. He'll have to keep his vicious trap shut or I swear I'll curse him into oblivion."

"Ahh well, at least Wormtail had that special magical camera his mother bought him for Christmas on him. We got some superb moving shots of the greasy git looking stupid, though that's never hard. We tailed him all the way up to the hospital wing. Peter's sticking up the results all around the school as we speak, but keep quiet, I'm supposed to be preoccupying the Prefects," he said pointing to Lily and Remus. "Prefects are such a pain in the arse, especially when they're nosy friends."

"Well it shouldn't be too hard for you Romeo. Just charm the pants off them like you normally do."

James gave him a playful punch on the shoulder and winked knowingly.

Sirius rolled his eyes. How much rejection can one guy take, he thought to himself as James made his way back to where Lily and Remus were sitting.

Sirius, knowing full well Lily didn't approve of the raging war between the Marauders and Severus, headed for the boy's dormitories instead of following James knowing full well, if he did, he'd be facing yet another lecture. All he wanted to do was crawl into his bed and curl up and go to sleep, he was exhausted. What with Snape being an arrogant foul-mouthed swine and McGonagall's wrath, his blood was simmering, his temper barely under control.

The next morning Sirius awoke feeling groggy and tired. James, however, was bounding around the room like he had springs in his shoes.

"What is it with you?" growled Remus, who looked like Sirius felt. "Do you secretly down hundreds of bottles of Butterbeer while we're all asleep?"

Sirius struggled out of his bed, fighting with the bed sheets which had wrapped round his ankle.
"You lot are cheerful today," said James sarcastically. "It's nearly the weekend, and if you must know, I'm making headway with Evans."

"What? She's stopped thinking you're an arrogant toad," retorted Remus in shock-horror.

"Exactly!"

Peter rolled his eyes and muttered, "Still doesn't mean she's going to go out with you!"

"It'll be in the bag by Christmas," James smiled with glee. "Come on, I'm starving, I don't want to be late for breakfast."

"Giving yourself a whole twelve months I see!" laughed Remus.

Slowly, dragging their feet after him, Sirius, Remus and Peter followed James down to the Great Hall still rubbing the sleep out of their eyes.

They'd just sat down when the post arrived. One rather old and sick looking owl dive-bombed past it's intended student and landed beak first in Sirius' porridge and toast.

"Ehh," groaned Sirius, pulling the little owl out of his bowl by its feet, grabbing a napkin to wipe the porridge off its face and reviving it in the process.

A timid second year Gryffindor girl came tottering over and muttered, "That's for me," looking embarrassed, her cheeks glowing. She took the exhausted looking owl out of Sirius' hands and headed back to her seat, her face blushing to the roots.

"What is up with everyone today?" said James. "First you and Moony and now that bloody owl. Is everyone suffering from fatigue or something-"

Remus picked up a piece of toast and rammed it into James' mouth in a bid to shut him up. Ebony, who was sitting opposite them, smiled as James began to cough and splutter bread crumbs at Remus and Sirius, the latter of whom caught her eye.

At that precise moment a proud brown owl landed in the bowl of margarine in front of them carrying a red letter in its mouth.

Ebony glanced over at Sirius before muttering, "What is with your mother?"

She took the letter out of the owl's beak, who immediately took off showering them with specks of margarine, and looked at it with a feeling of dread.

She looked up to see that all eyes were watching her. Lily who was sitting next to her leant in for a closer look and Remus, James, Sirius and Peter followed.

"You better open it," said Peter nervously.

"Yeah," Lily agreed.

Slowly, Ebony tentatively opened the red Howler, dreading what was to come.

There was a painful silence before the now familiar cry of Mrs. Black who now screamed at the top of her lungs. "I'M GOING TO KILL YOU, YOU FILTHY LITTLE MUDBLOOD!"

The voice reverberated around the Great hall, drowning out every other sound. There was a shocked silence in which every student and teacher turned to look at the Gryffindor table where Ebony was sitting flushed and angry still looking at the vibrating Howler.

"Your mother's not in a good mood today is she," Ebony began sarcastically, glancing at Sirius' angry and humiliated face.

At that moment, Mrs. Black's Howler started to contort.

"What the hell-" Ebony muttered, watching as it contorted and transfigured.

Sirius, realising what was happening a split second before everyone else, shouted "RUN!"

Ebony, looking horrified, stared down at where the Howler had been moments before. In its place now stood a large quivering kitchen knife pointing ominously at Ebony.

"She wasn't joking in the howler," Sirius yelled, as the knife shot forwards, Ebony just managing to duck in time. "RUN!"

Ebony leapt up off the bench and started to run towards the door which led out into the Entrance Hall, frantically looking behind her at the knife.

As the knife, suspended in mid air for a moment, searched out its target, Sirius scrambled over the table, sending orange juice, porridge, bacon, eggs and toast flying in every direction. As he made a grab for it, closing his fingers around its smooth wooden handle, a surge of electricity shot through his body making his hair stand on end. He yelped, letting it go, his limbs buckling beneath him, and he slid off the table colliding with the hard stone floor.

The knife, free from Sirius' grasp, flew after Ebony, point raised ready to strike.

"Stupefy!" Dumbledore bellowed, appearing out of nowhere beside a startled Sirius, who was now struggling to his feet.

The spell bounced off the knife as though it was protected by some invisible shield. Dumbledore hurriedly muttered other spells and jinxes, but nothing seemed to be able to penetrate its defense. Professor McGonagall, who had joined him, wasn't having any success either.

Sirius, acting impulsively, chased after the knife, his blood pounding in his ears, anger coursing through his veins. Behind him he could vaguely make out Lily's frantic footsteps and calls. More footsteps echoed behind him as James, Remus and Peter followed.

The hall sat in a horrified silence, unable to move, staring transfixed at what was happening, mouths open. It had only been seconds, but it felt like hours as they watched Ebony running towards the doors of the Great Hall, but she didn't make it. The knife struck with deadly aim, lodging itself between her shoulder blades. Ebony felt light-headed, as a searing pain shot up her spine as the knife struck, her legs buckling beneath her.

"No!" yelled Sirius and Lily in unison.

Sirius skidded to a halt collapsing to his knees beside Ebony's limp body. He pushing her thick damp hair out of her face, looking for a sign of life, Dumbledore and Lily beside him. Lily was pale with fright.

"God mother, what have you done!" Sirius muttered under his breath. "Come on Ebony, open your eyes!"

Ebony opened her eyes a fraction, gazing up at Sirius' unfocused but worried face.

"Pull it out," she slurred, as though she had drank a whole bottle of Firewhisky.

Dumbledore, looking at the knife still embedded in her back, frowned. A pale liquid was glittering on the knife's blade. Touching it and bringing some of it up to his nose, he smelled it, muttering under his breath incoherently. He turned to Madam Pomfrey, who'd just collapsed beside him, slightly out of breath.

"What...is it...Professor?"

"Poison," he replied gravely. "Deadly poison I fear, not unlike that of several hundred bites of the most toxic Black Widow spider.

"But...but," Madam Pomfrey whispered frantically, "I don't have any medicine strong or effective enough to counteract that sort of potency.

Dumbledore turned back to the knife and firmly fixed his hand around it. A surge of electricity shot through his body, as it had with Sirius, making his long beard and hair stand on end but he didn't let go. Instead he pulled gently, but it wouldn't budge.

"Oww!" Ebony cried out weakly, her vision becoming even more hazy.

Madam Pomfrey checked her pulse, a frown stretching across her face. "Her pulse is weak Professor. We need to hurry or..." she trailed off.

Sirius winced. He didn't want to hear anymore. Instead, he lay down beside Ebony on the floor of the Great Hall and tried to think of something to say that would keep her attention. "Emm. This is nice," he said pathetically, looking up at the enchanted ceiling which today was a clear greyish-blue. "Though it's a bit uncomfortable on the old head."

Ebony smiled at him slightly as he kept drifting in and out of focus.

"Trouble sure does tend to find us doesn't it," he smiled, wincing at Madam Pomfrey, who made gestures as if to say keep going.

"My body's gone numb. I can't feel anything," whispered Ebony breathlessly.

Sirius could see out of the corner of his eye that Lily was crying silently, James' arm wrapped around her for support.

"Here," said Sirius nervously, sliding his hand into Ebony's which lay beside him, slowly interlocking his fingers with hers. "Come on fight. You're not going to let my psychotic mother win are you," he continued, a sense of panic visible in his voice as he looked up to see Remus wide-eyed with fear and Peter, next to him, shaking slightly.

Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall were continuing to try to remove the knife that was still embedded in Ebony's back. Professor McGonagall white-faced in concentration, was looking increasingly fraught and Dumbledore's frown was becoming ever more pronounced.

Madam Pomfrey again checked Ebony's pulse and looked nervously up at them.
"Dumbledore!"

Sirius tried to block out the panic that was rising up inside him, his hand firmly gripping Ebony's, as he looked up at Madam Pomfrey's helpless face. She smiled weakly at him and he returned it weakly, his dark wavy hair falling roughly into his eyes.

Ebony's body shuddered, her eyes flickering and her hand clenching Sirius' before her grip became slack. Sirius, who was still lying beside her, looked at her through watery eyes.

"Hold on!" he whispered softly, as Ebony's body became motionless beside him, her eyes nearly closed. He brushed her cheek with his free hand and kissed her gently on the forehead.

Sirius hated his family for what they stood for, especially after Christmas, but now he despised them. He'd never despised anyone in his life. Well maybe with the exception of Snape. But he hated his mother for this. This, he would never forgive.

Across the room somewhere, he thought, Regulus was sitting, probably smiling, egging the poison, which was surging through Ebony's body, on, willing her, a so called Mudblood, to die. Thus his mother's wish of destroying life would succeed.

Sirius' mother had found a way, like she always did, to hurt him where it hurt the most. She'd tried at Christmas, but had failed, yet this time it looked like she was going to win, to succeed in making his life as miserable as possible. Who was next he thought. Remus, Lily, James, Peter! Who would she try to destroy next.

Ebony's hand rested loosely in his. The hall was silent. Madam Pomfrey looked grave as she said, "Professor, I fear it is too late! I can barely feel a pulse."

Dumbledore, looking weary, made one last attempt to pull the knife out. Slowly but surely it allowed itself to be dragged free.

"Most peculiar," Dumbledore sighed deeply. "It seems to have known when it had done the most damage. A point from which there seems no possible means of recovery."
The hall sat in a suffocating silence, staring down at them, some with tears trickling down their cheeks.

"What medicine or antidote can help her now Professor? I do not have a remedy of the strength needed to achieve this miracle!"

Dumbledore thought for a moment, a twinkle creeping into his eye as he shouted, "Fawkes!"
Out of nowhere, a beautiful golden Phoenix appeared. It flew down to rest on Ebony's back, looking at Dumbledore who pointed down at the gash.

The phoenix bent its beautiful head and slowly elegant silvery tears ran down its beak and dripped on to the wound, each tear disappearing into the skin before their eyes.

Ebony's breathing slowly became stronger, the colour, which had drained from her tanned complexion, crept back into her cheeks. Finally the wound itself closed and healed, leaving only a small pool of tears visible on the skin.

Dumbledore smiled down at Fawkes and stroked his beautiful plumage. Speaking to himself more than anyone else he muttered, "Phoenix tears have incredible healing powers. I think you just saved her life my feathered friend."

The Phoenix took flight and landed on Dumbledore's shoulder, who handed Fawkes a piece of toast from the Gryffindor table.

"I think this girl needs to go to the hospital wing," he said, looking down at Ebony's unconscious form.

After gently turning her over, Dumbledore summoned up a floating stretcher and guided Ebony, Madam Pomfrey, Sirius, Lily, James, Remus and Peter out of the hall and up the marble staircase.

As Ebony lay unconscious on the bed in the hospital wing, Dumbledore beckoned Sirius over to Madam Pomfrey's empty office and ushered him inside. Dumbledore took a seat and stared intently at Sirius, who had collapsed into a seat opposite him. There was silence for a long time, in which Dumbledore's gaze rested upon Siriusand he stared at the floor, twisting his hands in his lap nervously.

"Sirius, are you sure that was your mother's doing," said Dumbledore, finally breaking the silence.

"Yes sir," Sirius mumbled, "Bu I don't understand why!"

"Why she would do such a thing?" replied Dumbledore.

"Yes sir," said Sirius, still staring at the floor, tears threatening to spill down his cheeks.

Stop it, he thought. God how many times have I cried in the last few months? I'm turning into an emotionally unstable girl!

"I'm going to have to speak with your parents then-"

"But sir, it'll only make things worse!"

"Sirius, you do realise the seriousness of what you mother has done? She almost killed one of my students. One of your friends-"

"Yes I know, but it'll only make things worse. It'll only make her more intent on seeing her plan through," pleaded Sirius.

"I know how you must feel Sirius. I know you're afraid to make matters worse, but she could have ended up in Azkaban!

"Then you won't report her?" said Sirius.

"That depends on Ebony and her parents and also on her behaviour when I go to see here. Now you better get to lessons."

"Please sir, I would like to stay. After all it's my fault Ebony's lying in that bed."

"It is not your fault Sirius-"

"But-"

"Sirius," said Dumbledore decisively. "You are not responsible for your mother's behaviour. She may be upset or angry with you, but she's an adult. She should be able to have some self control. This sort of behaviour is not acceptable. It is not your fault. Think Sirius. Think. Look back at the last couple of months, decide for yourself who is to blame. Sirius, you are still very young, you can not shoulder this burden by yourself. Think and act as you see fit, not by the standards others set. You are not to blame!"

Dumbledore stood up to leave the office, Sirius followed.

"Madam Pomfrey, I am going to speak with Mr. and Mrs. Black. Young Mr. Black here will be allowed to stay in the wing today.

"But Professor."

"He shall stay. He has a lot of thinking to do and he needs to be away from the rest of the school to do it. I shall be back shortly."

With that Dumbledore turned and swooped out of the wing, his robes billowing out behind him.

"Well," said Madam Pomfrey, slightly flustered, "the rest of you should go back to lessons right now. Ebony will be fine. No arguing, I will allow you in to see her at break and lunch time."

With that, she ushered an unwilling Lily, James, Remus and Peter out of the wing and closed the door behind them and then returned to her office.

Sirius sank into an armchair beside Ebony's bed, closing his eyes and trying to think. His head was pounding, his temples throbbing. He put his head into his hands, kneading his temples, trying to concentrate.