A/N: Only a few chapters left to go.
Chapter 15: Waiting
Harry landed in the St. Mungo's lobby and called out to the reception witch. "Call spell damage. Tell them an auror has been injured, a bone breaking curse. Have them call Healer Granger as well."
Harry barely heard the "yes sir, Mr. Potter." before he carried Sirius through the crowd to the lift.
When they reached their floor he was relieved to turn his godfather over to two senior healers and collapsed onto a bench in the waiting area, his head in his hands.
A few minutes later Hermione came barreling down the hallway as white as a sheet. "They said you brought in a injured auror, what happened?"
Harry put his arm around her shoulders and guided her to sit down on the bench, "Remus was kidnapped. Sirius and I went to rescue him. Sirius threw himself in front of a bone-breaking curse meant for me."
Harry could tell Hermione was trying to stay calm.
"Who is in there with him?" she said, her voice thick.
Harry sighed and ran a hand through his hair; "It's Pye and Vance."
"Well, that's a bit of a relief. They are the best at what they do. I'm sure they can save him." Hermione said and Harry had the impression she was trying to convince her self as well as him.
"I had to leave Remus, he made me promise not to come back until morning. As soon as Sirius is stable I'll go. They hurt him badly Hermione, they would have tortured and killed him."
Hermione could hear the deep strain in his voice. She put her arms around him and he returned her embrace.
"They are both going to be fine. They are going to recover and we are all going to live happily ever after." she said with authority.
Harry forced a smile, "So have you made you move yet?"
"Harry! That's none of your business." She blushed and muttered something Harry couldn't hear.
"What was that, Mione? I didn't quite hear you."
"I said that we were interrupted, my beeper went off just when he was going to kiss me, or at least I think he was. Now he's in there and I can't do anything, and I haven't told him how I feel."
Harry patted her arm. "You'll have your chance, just don't waste any more time."
Before Hermione could reply Healer Vance came out to talk to them. Hermione grabbed Harry's hand and he gave her a reassuring squeeze before turning his attention to the healer.
"Mr. Black will make a full recovery, but he will be unconscious for quite a while. We've given him some extremely strong painkillers while the skele-gro does its work. I can let one person in the room for now. He should be ready for more visitors in the morning," said Healer Vance. Both Harry and Hermione thanked the healer before she returned to her patient.
Hermione looked shyly at Harry and he smiled. "You go ahead. I'm going to go wait outside the door for Remus to transform, then I'll bring him here."
"Thank you. I'll arrange for an empty bed in Sirius's ward and find some open-minded Healers on duty for tomorrow morning, " she said.
"Take care of him, Mione. He saved my life, again, " said Harry heading to the lift.
Harry left St. Mungo's and apparated to the cottage he shared with his godfather. His hands had stopped shaking since Sirius had been declared stable but it still felt like his heart was beating out of his chest. He quickly grabbed the rucksack he used when the Arrows were on a short road trip and filled it with a change of clothes for both his lover and his godfather. Deciding he would need a distraction he grabbed a book from his bedside table and taking the soft blanket from the living room sofa he took a deep breath and went to wait for sunrise.
After a few warming and cushioning charms Harry was as comfortable as he could be under the circumstances. He figured he had about three hours to wait until it was safe to take Remus to the hospital, so he forced himself calm and opened his book.
After what seemed like days the sun was finally starting to edge over the horizon. Completely pale, and with tears in his eyes Harry cast silencing charms to keep the muggles from hearing the mix of screams and howls coming from inside the warehouse.
When the sun was fully up and the noise had stopped Harry tentatively opened the door. Remus was limp on the floor covered in sweat tinged with blood. A gentle cleaning charm later Harry wrapped his lover in the blanket and apparated to St.Mungo's.
As expected, the healers were waiting and Remus was placed in the bed across from a curtained off area Harry recognized as Sirius's bed. With Remus's care out of his hands Harry moved over to check on his godfather. He moved aside the curtain and was about to greet his friend when he realized Hermione was fast asleep. She had pulled a chair right up to Sirius's bedside and was curled up in it like a cat one hand still holding his godfather's. Sirius seemed to be resting comfortably and not wanting to wake them Harry tiptoed away to wait for news on Remus.
