A/N: Since my computer keeps shutting down because of the many storms of late, I've decided to write the chapter down in a journal before I type it up! Hopefully this technique will bring earlier chapter!

Sirius was practically dragging a reluctant Professor McGonagall through the entrance doors and out towards the Forbidden Forest. He wanted to run to his friend, to run as fast as his legs could carry him. But he held on to McGonagall's sleeve while she trotted behind.

"We have to hurry, Professor," Sirius insisted. "James could be dying!"

"How do you expect me to go any faster, Mr. Black? I can hardly see anything at all." Despite her words, she lengthened her strides.

She was nearly level with Sirius, so he quickened his pace, hoping she would follow suit. The forest and the place where James lay were looming just ahead.

By the time they finally reached James, Sirius was worried that it might be too late. James was laying quite still, except for his shallow breathing.

"Oh dear…" McGonagall pulled out her wand and magicked a stretcher out of no where. James was put on the stretcher and they began to walk quickly back to the castle.

McGonagall led the way through the Entrance Hall, all the way to the Hospital Wing. She rushed James inside, with Sirius at her heel.

Madam Pomfrey was going to lecture about knocking first, until she spotted James, on the stretcher.

"You're back! …But what happened?" She asked, taking James off the stretcher and onto an unoccupied bed. "How did he get like this? I don't need to know, but it would probably be easier for his recovery if I did."

McGonagall looked at Sirius and said with surprising tenderness to the shaking boy, "Do you have any idea who – or what – attacked him?"

He shook his head slowly. "No, Professor."

"Very well," McGonagall said. "Come along. I do believe it would be best to let young Potter rest in peace."

Sirius nodded, worrying about his friend, He followed McGonagall out the Hospital Wing doors and down the corridor. "Erm – Professor? Where are we going?"

"Naturally, we must inform the headmaster of what is happening."

"Do I have to go, Professor?"

"Yes, Black, I'm afraid you do."

"Why?"

"You'll have to save your questions for later. We're here." They had come to the stone gargoyle. McGonagall said to the statue, "Acid pops." The gargoyle leapt aside.

McGonagall led Sirius up the stairs that led to Dumbledore's office. She knocked.

"Enter." The voice that came from behind Dumbledore's door sounded powerful, commanding and even majestic to Sirius.

McGonagall opened the door and went in. Sirius followed her.

"Sit, sit… I see you've returned." Dumbledore nodded at the two chairs in front of his desk. He was sitting on the other side.

McGonagall and Sirius sat. He continued, "And where might Mr. Potter be, then?"

Sirius looked up at McGonagall, but she merely raised an eyebrow. So he replied, "He's in the Hospital Wing, sir."

"Is he, now? Hm, may I ask what happened?"

"I'm not really sure, sir."

Dumbledore stroked his beard, evidently thinking hard. "Minerva, would you so kindly tell the house elves to prepare a dinner for Mr. Black before checking up on Mr. Potter?"

McGonagall stood up to leave. "Of course, Headmaster," she said before shutting the door behind her as she left.

"Mr. Black, I must inform you that any information you can give me is crucial."

Sirius did not answer, but instead gazed behind Dumbledore, at the past headmasters. They were all wide awake and curious. He caught Phineas Nigellus' eyes before looking down at his feet.

"I do insist that you take as long as you like, but please do tell me your story."

Sirius took a deep breath and began to tell him everything, beginning with the plan to get out of the Hospital Wing and ending with how he had run to get someone to help James.

When Sirius finished speaking, Dumbledore asked tenderly, "Did anything specific happen just before Mr. Potter fell?"

Sirius thought a moment. "Yes – but we were both tired. We had been walking all day. I doubt it was anything important. I probably just imagined it."

"Please tell me. As I previously stated, any information you can give me is crucial."

"Well," Sirius began. "It was getting sort of… sort of hard to breathe, you know? I had to breath harder than I usually do."

"Is that all?"

"No, I guess not. There was a noise – like a rubber band snapping, sort of… but I don't see how any of that could be important."

Dumbledore looked as though he was thinking. He had a sort of dreamy expression plastered on his face. "It is farm more important than you appear to suspect, Mr. Black"

Just then, a knock came at the door. "Enter." Dumbledore's voice went from being dream-like to sounding quite stern.

McGonagall entered, with no other than Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew just behind. "These two boys insisted upon seeing you, Headmaster." There was what Sirius thought to be a flicker of a smile on her face, but it was gone too quickly to be sure.

Remus said quietly, "We came as soon as we found out where you were, mate."

"It took a lot of hard work to figure everything out!" Peter squeaked.

Sirius grinned. He knew that he had two great friends right next to him. Two great friends that would risk their lives for him if they had to. (A/N: Well, he's half right, anyway.)

Remus walked timidly up to Sirius and hugged him. Though rather shocked at first, Sirius soon returned the hug. It was nice, really, to know that he was loved.

Remus nodded and said, "We'd better get back to the dorm. Can you come now? Or will you be there later?"

Sirius looked up at the headmaster. He answered Sirius' unanswered question, "We still have a bit of information to discuss, but after you eat you can go back to your dorm, Mr. Black."

Remus nodded and said, "See you later then, Sirius!"

McGonagall followed the two boys out the door with a swift nod to Professor Dumbledore.

There was an unnatural silence for a long while, before Sirius took a deep breath and said recklessly, "I want to know what's been happening. I want to know what that creature is, and how James and I got in that cave."

Dumbledore looked carefully at Sirius over his half-moon spectacles and said, "I'll tell you come time."

"I want to know now." Sirius said, regretting his words even as they came out. He looked ashamedly down at his feet. A thick silence followed his words.

Sirius glanced up at Dumbledore, surprised to see that, despite his worries, his eyes were twinkling merrily. "Do you really want to know that bad, Mr. Black?"

He nodded uncomfortably. "If it's ok, sir," he mumbled.

The professor chuckled. "Yes, Black, I think you should learn a bit. Not everything, yet, mind, but some things."

Dumbledore thought a moment before saying, "You and Mr. Potter are in grave danger, Sirius." He stared hard at Sirius. "That creature – it is called a Laiglen. It was thought that they were all gone; their fur was priceless and their claws were very useful in potions."

"Is it after anyone else, Professor? Other than me and James, that is."

"No, the Laiglen hasn't tried to attack anyone else."

"Why not? What does it have against me and James?" Sirius furrowed his brow.

Dumbledore pondered his thoughts. "…I think it might be what is wants from you. I doubt it doesn't like you, anyhow."

"You're saying it's attacking us because it likes us?"

"I'm saying, that's what I think. There is a difference, Mr. Black, between what I think and what is the truth." He smiled.

Sirius thought a moment. Something didn't fit in his mind. "Sir, I thought you were always right."

Dumbledore laughed, and Sirius flushed. "My dear child, no one could possibly always be right. No one is perfect. I'm no exception."

Sirius still looked disbelieving, but he changed the subject. "Sir, this Laiglen – why would it come after us? I mean, I know it likes us," here he wrinkled his brow, "but why? What would it like us for? We're just kids."

Dumbledore laughed. That's right, he laughed. Sirius sat stunned as Dumbledore wiped his teary eyes and replied, "Just kids? My dear, dear boy… Age could not possibly matter. Why, I'll bet that some children will be much more powerful than many wizards much older than them."

Sirius didn't answer, but Dumbledore stood up. "I think that it is time to go eat your supper, don't you?"

Sirius got up, but said, "I still have one more question, sir."

"And what would that be, Mr. Black?"

"How did we get to the cave in the forest?"

Dumbledore watched him through expert eyes and replied slowly, "The Laiglen has powerful magic, but the question is a mystery," he saw Sirius' expression and clarified, "even to me."

Eyes twinkling, Dumbledore led Sirius to the Great Hall to eat.

Well, it took a lot longer than I expected it to, honestly, but it isn't the latest I've ever had, right? Right.

Now, before I reply to reviews, I'd like everyone to take notice to my friend's first-ever fanfic, "Cho So In Love." It's a wonderful story about Harry and Cho! Shall we see how it works out? The author, a dear friend of mine, is called Hotfloridagirl. Please be nice about her first fic, please, please, please! Now for the reviews…

FontGirl: I'm glad it's interesting. I'm not really sure if I'd like it, but I probably would if I didn't know what was going to happen! ;) And, you're fic is awesome!

Jamie88: Naw, I don't mind repetitiveness! I'm perfectly happy to hear that I've written lots of great chapters:p

KicKstand: Haha, I'm evil! Sorry I couldn't have updated sooner! I hope you like this information-filled chapter!

Thanks to everyone who read my story!