Hospital Visits
Chapter 33
Monday, November 4
Harry was woken up in the morning by Ron, who seemed to be in a better mood than last night for which he was grateful; he did not think he could handle a moody, aggressive Ron along with an equally upset Hermione. When Ron had gone to shower, Harry pulled out his mirror and called for Sirius again – to no reply. He couldn't understand why Sirius was not available. It was early enough in the morning for Harry to be sure Sirius was at home.
Briefly, Harry wondered if something had happened to him. But he quickly cast aside the idea as soon as he had thought of it. He must be over-reacting.
Wouldn't be the first time, Harry thought darkly.
Sirius was probably in some mission for the Order and had left behind the mirror at home. Yes, that seemed more plausible.
Thinking that he would try calling Sirius one more time tonight, he got up from his bed to get dressed.
Ron and Harry went down to the Great Hall for breakfast, where Hermione was conspicuously absent. Ron did not seem affected by this as he ate his breakfast, but after fifteen minutes, Hermione had entered the Hall and taken a seat beside Harry.
Harry thought he saw Ron glancing at her out of the corner of his eyes, but a loud distraction came in the form of Lavender, who squealed, "Won-Won!"
Ron turned a brilliant shade of crimson as students nearby in the Hufflepuff table laughed openly. Hermione joined in their amusement and this seemed to rile Ron up, because he leaned in to kiss Lavender 'very affectionately'.
Hermione picked up a sandwich and hurried out of the Hall, looking upset. Neville, who had been sitting opposite to her, glanced at Harry inquisitively. Harry grimaced in answer – he hated it when people asked him what was going on between Ron and Hermione. He couldn't effectively blame either of them in front of the others, so he contented himself with eating his breakfast, refusing to acknowledge the snogging couple beside him. He had a feeling it was going to be a long day.
oOo
Harry didn't see Hermione at all that day, other than during classes. Knowing her, Harry guessed she must be in the library. He left the common room, and Ron didn't even notice, wrapped up as he was with Lavender by the fire.
He found Hermione sitting alone in a corner of the library, with books and parchment sprawled out around her, looking like some sort of mad scientist.
"Where have you been all day?" whispered Harry as he took the seat opposite her, pushing away some of the parchments on the desk. They had to speak in whispers as Madam Pince, the librarian prowled the shelves nearby.
Hermione scowled but didn't raise her head to look at him, fully concentrating on her homework, "I couldn't possibly get anything done in the common room."
Harry understood plainly the implication, that she couldn't watch Ron and Lavender kissing all the time. He took out his Potions book and began his homework and the two lapsed into silence.
Harry was vaguely wondering why Sirius hadn't at least called him himself. True, Sirius always preferred for Harry to call him as he didn't want to intrude with his school schedule. And, they did usually talk only about once a week. He tried to reassure himself that he was getting unnecessarily worried over him. Sirius was a free man now and Harry should stop worrying about his godfather getting chucked into Azkaban like he had done so for the past two years. For all he knew, Sirius could be going to a pub for a night out and God knows he deserved it too. Harry couldn't possibly expect him to always be available at his beck and call.
He distracted himself with the essay, checking the Half-Blood Prince's copy for tips and hints.
Hermione's whisper cut through the silence, "Incidentally, you need to be more careful."
"For the last time," said Harry, speaking in a slightly hoarse tone after three-quarters of an hour of silence, "I am not giving back this book. I've learned more from the Half-Blood Prince than Snape or Slughorn have taught me in —"
"I'm not talking about your stupid so-called Prince," said Hermione, giving his book a nasty look as though it had been rude to her. "I'm talking about earlier. I went into the girl's bathroom before I came here and there were about a dozen girls in there, including that Romilda Vane, trying to decide how to slip you a love potion. They're all hoping they're going to get you to take them to Slughorn's party, and they all seem to have bought Fred and George's love potions, which I'm afraid to say probably work —"
"Why didn't you confiscate them then?" demanded Harry, astounded. Wasn't she always the one going on about upholding the rules?
"They were just discussing tactics and they didn't actually have the potions with them in the bathroom," said Hermione scornfully. "As I doubt even the Half-Blood Prince," she gave the book another nasty look, "could dream up an antidote for a dozen different love potions at once, I'd just invite someone to go with you. That'll stop all the others thinking they've still got a chance."
"But, I have!" exclaimed Harry, "I asked Parvati last night and she said yes."
"Really?" she said, her eyes widened before narrowing again. "But… it seems outrageous that Parvati didn't tell anyone yet. Knowing her, she should have probably let the whole school know by now."
Harry knew what she meant. While Parvati was okay, she and Lavender did gossip a lot. He didn't know if he felt grateful or not that she hadn't boasted about him asking her out to the whole school yet.
Hermione cut through his thoughts, speaking grimly, "But be careful what you drink, because Romilda Vane looked like she meant business."
"Hang on a moment," he said slowly, after a moment of silence. "I thought Filch had banned anything bought at Weasley's Wizard Wheezes?"
"And when has anyone ever paid attention to what Filch has banned?" asked Hermione.
"But aren't all the owls being searched? How come these girls are able to bring love potions into the school?"
"Fred and George send them disguised as perfumes and cough potions," said Hermione. "It's part of their Owl-order service."
"You seem to know a lot about it."
Hermione gave him a nasty look, the kind she had just given to his copy of Advanced Potion Making.
"It was all on the back of the bottles they showed Ginny and me in the summer," she said coldly, "I don't go around putting potions in people's drinks… or pretending too either, which is just as bad…"
Harry interrupted, "The point is, Filch is being fooled, isn't he? These girls are getting stuff into the school disguised as something else! So why couldn't Malfoy have brought the necklace into the school —?"
"Oh, Harry… not that again…" she rolled her eyes exasperatedly.
"Come on, why not?" demanded Harry.
"Look," sighed Hermione, "Secrecy Sensors detect jinxes, curses, and concealment charms, don't they? They're used to find dark magic and dark objects. They'd have picked up a powerful curse, like the one in the necklace, within seconds. But something that's just been put in the wrong bottle wouldn't register — anyway Love potions aren't dark or dangerous -"
"Easy for you to say," muttered Harry, thinking of Romilda Vane.
"— so it would be down to Filch to realize it wasn't a cough potion, and he's not a very good wizard, I doubt he can tell one potion from —"
Hermione stopped dead; Harry had heard it too. Somebody had moved close behind them among the dark bookshelves. They waited, and a moment later the vulture-like countenance of Madam Pince appeared around the corner, menacingly.
She was outraged at the sight of the Half-Blood Prince's copy of the book, covered with scribbles and Harry tried to assure her that it wasn't the library's. But, she looked as though she might have a seizure; Hermione, who had hastily packed her things, grabbed Harry by the arm and frog-marched him away.
"She'll ban you from the library if you're not careful. Why did you have to bring that stupid book?"
"It's not my fault she's barking mad, Hermione. Or d'you think she overheard you being rude about Filch? I've always thought there might be something between them…"
"Oh, ha ha…"
Enjoying the fact that they could speak normally again, they made their way along the deserted lamp-lit corridors back to the common room, arguing whether or not Filch and Madam Pince were secretly in love with each other.
"Hi, Harry!" said Romilda Vane, the moment he had climbed through the portrait hole. "Fancy a gillywater?"
Hermione gave him a "what-did-I-tell-you?" look over her shoulder.
"No thanks," said Harry quickly. "I don't like it much."
Romilda wasn't deterred; she insisted Harry take some of the Chocolate Cauldrons her grandmother had sent her. Harry extricated himself from her and he hurried off behind Hermione.
"Told you," said Hermione succinctly. "Why didn't you just let slip you're going with Parvati? That should have kept her off—"
But her face suddenly turned blank; she had just spotted Ron and Lavender, who were intertwined in the same armchair where they had been an hour ago when Harry had left to search for Hermione.
"Well, good night, Harry" said Hermione, though it was only eight o'clock in the evening, and she left for the girls' dormitory without another word.
Harry was growing tired of his friends' behaviour already . He headed straight to his dorm to find it empty as all the boys were in the common room. He chucked the Chocolate Cauldrons that Romilda had given him into his trunk and hastily pulled out the mirror from his pocket and called for Sirius.
There was still no response.
A slight bubble of anxiety was swirling in his stomach now. It wasn't like Sirius to ignore him. He took a moment to think of what he could do. It wouldn't do him any good if he simply assumed things, like the last time when he had gone to the Ministry…
He shook his head to clear that memory. Harry had sent a letter yesterday along with Sirius' birthday present and Hedwig hadn't returned yet. He wondered if he could use a school owl, but quickly dismissed the thought. Their home was under the Fidelius and hadn't Dumbledore told him that they wouldn't be able to find it?
Harry was left with the only option of calling him by Floo. But, he couldn't do it from the common room as it was packed with students. He would have to wait till they cleared out, which could take until late after midnight or he could ask one of the teachers, maybe Professor McGonagall, to use the Floo in her office.
It seemed like a better plan, so he took off down the stairs and was met with surprise.
A hush had fallen over the entire common room and Harry was startled to see that Professor McGonagall herself had just entered through the portrait hole.
"Mr. Potter, could you follow me please."
Harry walked forward numbly, dread swirling in the pit of his stomach, making him feel uneasy.
A few of the students were whispering but Harry couldn't care as Professor McGonagall ushered him to the portrait hole and outside. He was surprised to find Tonks, with a very urgent expression on her face.
Harry found himself asking, "What's happened?"
Tonks answered hurriedly, "It's Sirius! He's hurt."
oOo
The fireplace burst into green flames spitting out Harry and Tonks into what seemed to be a corridor that connected to a reception area. Tonks was walking fast with Harry in tow, and they reached the Inquiries desk where they impatiently waited in line.
They had both left immediately through the fireplace in Professor McGonagall's office. Harry had asked Tonks what had happened to Sirius, but she seemed as clueless as he was.
"I got the message from Kingsley. He didn't specify and I'm not even sure if you should be allowed here," she had said.
Harry noted the portrait of Dilys Derwent, behind the Inquiries desk, watching them with great interest as they reached the front of the queue and Tonks spoke to the witch at the reception, "We're here to see Sirius Black."
The witch looked sharply at her and then Harry before snapping back to Tonks, "He was moved to a private ward thirty minutes ago. First floor, last door on the left."
Tonks nodded and ushered Harry through the double doors and into the familiar narrow corridors that Harry had passed through just last year to visit Mr. Weasley. He couldn't admire the floating bubbles with candles inside that lit up the portraits lining the wall or the odd sounds and sights from inside the public wards as witches and wizards in lime-green robes walked in and out of the doors they passed. A strange sense of disconnect seemed to have befallen him as he followed Tonks.
Finally, at the end of the corridor, which was much quieter, stood Alastor Moody and a woman that Harry remembered as Hestia Jones from the Order, who seemed to be wearing a splint around her right arm.
Moody growled on seeing them, and pointed at Harry accusingly. "Why did you bring him here?"
Harry spoke over him, "Where is he?"
"Later, Mad-Eye," said Hestia, pushing Moody out of the way and held the door open for Harry and Tonks. Harry briefly read the plaque 'Private Ward 110' and the handwritten Healer-in-charge: Mildred Peyton.
Harry didn't know what to expect and the knot in his stomach clenched as he entered. The room was small and dingy but had only one bed propped to a wall along with a side-table and a couple of chairs for visitors. Sirius was fast-asleep or unconscious, Harry didn't know. The blankets were tucked up to his waist, exposing his heavily-bandaged chest.
He felt a small hand rest on his shoulder and felt Tonks whispering, "What happened, Hestia?"
"We were doing our shifts as usual around the Longbottom's house," came the answering whisper from Hestia. "Then, we got a patronus call from Sirius. We hurried to help and there were six death Eaters taking down the shield we had set up. We must really find something more powerful, you know, if Bellatrix and the others could take it down that quickly. Anyway, we were duelling, but we were outnumbered two to one. Thank goodness the Longbottoms came to help. I didn't actually see how it happened, but I think it was Bellatrix that cast that Incendio on Augusta. Sirius pushed her out of the way at the last minute, but he took the brunt of it. Backup arrived at that time, so the Death Eaters were forced to retreat. We brought Sirius straight over here. The healers say he's got second-degree burns, but it looked awful. He was in so much pain they decided to put him out of it."
Moody had entered the room, and spoke in a low growl, "The Minister is aware that Sirius is here. We had Healers within a quarter of an hour offering to move Sirius to a private ward. I wouldn't be surprised if we have Aurors stationed outside for security by tomorrow."
"What's all the fuss for?" asked Tonks, curiously.
Moody looked pointedly at Harry. "It's Potter's godfather, isn't it? Would be a fine target for the Death Eaters if he's here all trussed up and unconscious..."
Harry felt cold at the realisation that Sirius would be targeted just because he was his godfather. He walked forward and pulled up a chair to sit beside Sirius. He seemed so… pale and still, without the spark in his eyes, or his mischievous smirk. Harry could only remember the last time he saw Sirius like this: beside the lake with hundreds of dementors surrounding them. He suppressed a shiver at the memory.
"…which is also why you shouldn't have brought him here," Moody was saying to Tonks. "If Dumbledore had been at school, he wouldn't have allowed it. You should take him home, Tonks."
"I'm not going anywhere," said Harry heatedly, turning in his chair to look at them.
Tonks said reasonably, "Harry has more right to be here than any of us, Mad-Eye."
"I'm not saying that isn't true," said Moody, not unkindly. "But, you must understand that this is a public building…"
"I'm an Auror if you've forgotten, Mad-Eye. I'll stay here with him," she said looking at Harry. Harry felt a rush of gratitude for her and allowed himself a small smile.
A witch with blonde hair in lime-green robes, presumably a Healer, entered at that moment and said sharply, "Not more than two visitors."
Moody and Hestia walked out and the witch looked at Harry sitting in the chair. "Are you family?"
Harry said firmly, "Yes."
The witch seemed a little flustered, but quickly composed herself. "I'm the Healer-in-charge, Millie Peyton."
Tonks nodded in greeting before asking, "How long does he have to stay here?"
"About four days. The inflamed skin has to slough off and only then can he be given the potion for skin regeneration," she said. "He's under a very strong Sleeping Draught. I estimate it'll work for about eight to nine hours. I'll be back in the morning to check on him."
She checked the bandages on Sirius then left as fast as she had come and Tonks said, "Well, looks like we're in for a long night."
oOo
The first thing Sirius realized when he came to was that he was cold.
Something icy cold was pressing down on him on the left side of his torso. He brought a hand to the side of his chest and was not surprised to find bandages there. He could remember everything vividly – the searing heat of the flames eating at his flesh, the skin around it feeling like he was continuously bathed in fire and the potion that the Healers had made him take that had made him fall asleep very quickly.
The charmed bandages were soothing on his inflamed skin, even though it made him numb in other places. He opened his eyes to see that he was in a different room from before. Earlier, it had been a public ward with two more beds beside him holding some very curious patients. He had been annoyed at that and was grateful that they had moved him elsewhere. He turned his head to the left to see Harry, sound asleep on the chair with his head resting on the window.
Tonks, who had been staring off into space, jerked at the sight of Sirius being awake and immediately stood up from her chair. "Wotcher. Do you need anything?"
"No," said Sirius hoarsely, then cleared his throat. "When did you both get here?"
Tonks, pulled her chair closer to Sirius and sat down. "About eight hours ago."
"You should both go home and get some sleep," said Sirius, nodding at Harry.
"We wanted to make sure you were doing okay," said Tonks before yawning hugely. This however woke Harry, who blinked blearily and rubbed his eyes underneath the glasses.
His eyes widened. "Sirius, you're awake! Are you okay?"
"I'm alright. These bloody bandages are really cold but I can't feel a thing," said Sirius, smiling. He hadn't even realized how happy he was that Harry was here.
The door to the private ward opened and the Healer from earlier entered with a clipboard in hand and a wand in the other, bringing up a hovering tray. "Ah, you're awake, Mr. Black!" she said in a voice that sounded both cheerful and clinical.
"Is there any pain?" she asked as she floated the tray containing the potions to the side-table.
"No, I simply feel numb," said Sirius, rolling his eyes at the repeated question.
"Good, good." She proceeded to give him three potions that he was supposed to take every hour and placed them on the side-table. Announcing that she would be back within a couple of hours to change the bandages, she left.
Harry said, "I've been trying to contact you through the mirror since yesterday. Didn't you have it with you?"
Sirius looked abashed as he glanced at Tonks before answering, "I forgot to take it with me."
"You forget to take the thing just once and look what happened!" said Tonks jovially, eliciting snickers from both of them.
"I'm surprised Dumbledore allowed you to come, Harry," said Sirius.
"Well, he wasn't at school…" started Harry.
Sirius looked at Tonks with wide eyes. "You didn't smuggle my godson out of Hogwarts, did you?"
"Of course not!" scoffed Tonks. "Professor McGonagall was all for Harry coming to see you."
"Always did like that woman," said Sirius, smirking. "So, tell me, Harry. Did you win the match?"
"Yes, we did," said Harry, grinning.
"Ha! I knew it!" exclaimed Sirius and he tried to sit up. He hissed as he felt the skin pull against the bandages. Harry was instantly at his side, helping him up and looking worried. "What's wrong?"
"Burns like hell, alright," said Sirius, through gritted teeth. Tonks propped up the pillows and Sirius leaned against it gratefully.
There was a knock on the door and Tonks opened it to find Charlie and Mrs. Weasley, carrying what seemed to be a basket full of homemade goodies.
"Sirius! And oh, Harry dear, you're here too," she said, hugging Harry briefly before going up to Sirius and placing the basket on the side-table.
"How are you feeling, Sirius? I wanted to visit last night, but Mad-Eye was insistent we visit only in the morning."
"That's no problem, Molly. I feel loads better," said Sirius, beaming.
Charlie made a motion for Tonks to scoot over and took her chair. "Bill was part of the backup, along with Kingsley last night. Kingsley was saying this morning that the Minister has ordered Aurors for your security. You'll technically be watched round the clock from now on along with your visitors."
Sirius scowled. "Wonderful."
