No reviews for the last chapter makes me a little sad. I guess you guys weren't that interested in what was going to happen.

Betas for this chapter are: LittleDrummerGirl2010 and Prongs Smitch. You guys are great.

Chapter 18: Danger leads to Pain

"I asked you what was going on," Parker demanded when Lily and Mandy didn't answer. Parker knew something was going on in Hogsmeade that had both Lily and Mandy worried but they weren't saying much of anything.

"There's been an attack in Hogsmeade," Lily said softly. "James, Remus, Sirius, and possibly Shelly were fighting. They just told us to leave. I'm going to go talk to McGonagall to see if I can find out anything—"

"Oww!" Mandy nearly screamed. She gripped her shoulder and bent double. Suddenly everyone in the common room turned their attention to her.

"Mandy?" Lily asked.

"What's wrong?" Parker asked. Both girls turned to Mandy and saw the pain all over her face.

"I don't know. It just hurts," Mandy said. Then Mandy realized what it was. James was hurt.

"Where? Is it—" Parker started but Mandy cut her off.

"No, forget it. It's gone." Mandy shook off her sister's concern and stood up.

"Where are you going?" Lily asked.

"For a walk," Mandy answered.

Just as Mandy was going to leave, the portrait swung opn and Jason entered with Tiff by his side. "Miss Evans, please do a head count of the Gryffindor students and report to the Headmaster's office with a list of the students missing from your house. Everyone else is to remain in the Common Room," Jason explained.

"Jason, where's James?" Mandy asked, stopping her brother from leaving.

"Mr. Potter, Mr. Lupin, and Mr. Black are all in the hospital wing," Jason answered.

Mandy nodded then headed for the exit. "Where are you going?" Parker asked.

"Did I or didn't I just tell you to stay put?" Jason asked.

"I can't stay put if he's in the hospital. I'm going whether you like it or not." Mandy left the Common Room with only one thing on her mind: to see James. She didn't care who tried to stop her or who she was disobeying; her only thought was to find him and make sure he was okay.

"She loves him Professor Hunter, there was no way to stop her," Lily said.

"But the question remains: James or Sirius?" Jason asked.

"James," Parker answered.

"Sirius," Lily replied at the same time. The girls looked at each other and wondered who was right.

"You can see my point," Jason said. "I'll leave you to that head count Miss Evans. I have to go meet up with the other professors."

Lily and Parker nodded and said good bye, then he left.

Meanwhile as Mandy walked down the stairs, she pulled out the map again and saw her way to the hospital was clear. More importantly all three dots were in the hospital. James, Sirius, and Remus. That slowed Mandy's worried heart—the map never showed dead people. Mandy took a deep breath, stowed the map in her pocket, and walked the rest of the way to the hospital wing. Even though Mandy was still extremely nervous about the conditions she would find her very good friends in, she wasn't so worried because they were alive. By the time she had reached the fourth floor she was being followed, but not by a teacher or any pet. No, the thing following her was Peeves the Poltergeist.

"If it isn't Mad Mandy Hunter—" Peeves started in on her.

"Peeves, I'm seriously not in the mood right now. You heard about what happened in the village right? My best friend was hurt. We love your pranks more than probably anyone else here," Mandy spun to look at the spirit, "remember who took the blame for locking Filch's cat in a broom cupboard and dropping dungbombs outside of it two years ago?"

"You did," Peeves said regretfully. It was almost as if he felt bad for taunting her now.

"Because Slughorn and the Baron found her and you knew they wouldn't go easy on you. Just back off, alright?" Mandy asked. Peeves swept the belled cap off his head and bent into a bow.

Mandy smiled and continued into the hospital wing. She paused outside the door, taking in the last minute she had to change her mind, but the stinging in her shoulder reminded her that she had to see James. Mandy took one final deep breath then slipped inside, preparing herself for the worst. The first thing she saw was Remus's back as he stood facing Shelly. The girl was sitting on a bed being looked over by the matron. Mandy's eyes took in the rest of the wing; scanning over Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff sixth and seventh years before finally settling on McGonagall and Dumbledore halfway down the wing on the right hand side. Mandy couldn't tell who they were talking to but as she scanned the wing again her heart sank into her stomach not seeing either familiar head of dark hair. Then she realized the only bed she couldn't see was the one the professors were at, meaning only one of the two was severely injured. Mandy moved towards them pausing briefly to talk to Remus.

"They're okay." were the first words out of Remus's mouth when he saw her. He knew just by the look on her face that she knew exactly what had happened in the village. Even though Sirius hadn't told her, Remus knew Mandy had found out somehow so the best he could do was calm her down.

"Are you sure?" Mandy asked nervously.

"Mostly minor spell damage. We ended up on the better side. I don't think they were expecting so many students to stand up to them. Plus McGonagall, Dumbledore and some other teachers showed up so they were quickly overpowered. I think James and Sirius took the worst of it but you know them," Remus explained.

"Forever protective," Mandy said, "I'm glad you're okay."

"Miss Taylor, Mr. Lupin, you two are free to head back to your Common Room," Madame Pomfrey said. "Miss Hunter, are you injured?" Pomfrey asked, slightly shocked to see the girl.

"No ma'am, I came to see James," Mandy answered then added as an afterthought, "and Sirius."

"Mr. Potter is fine. So is Mr. Black. No reason for you to be concerned," the matron answered in her most convincing voice. Unfortunately it did nothing to calm Mandy's fears.

"No offense, but she's not going to calm down until she sees him. It's just how they are," Remus explained. Madame Pomfrey nodded then motioned the bed whose occupant Mandy couldn't see.

She thanked the matron and walked over as Dumbledore stepped back. That's when her heart sank. Lying on the bed, looking paler than she had ever seen him, was James. Sirius was sitting in a chair next to James's bed. Sirius didn't look any worse for wear but Mandy knew that didn't always mean anything. Sometimes magic didn't leave a trace.

Mandy's steps were slow and hesitant as she approached her best friend. Though she knew he was still alive, it was hard for her to see her normally strong best friend so weak. She reached his side as Dumbledore turned to walk away. "Miss Hunter, you shouldn't be here," McGonagall said. "You were told to stay in your Common Room."

"Yes, well, I had to make sure he was okay. I'm sorry," Mandy answered. "Is he okay?"

"Miss Hunter," McGonagall said sternly.

"I know. I should have stayed—especially with what happened in Hogsmeade today but he is my best friend. I've known him since I was five years old. Please let me stay," Mandy begged looking from McGonagall to Dumbledore and back. "Please?"

The professors looked at each other. "Miss Hunter, I understand that you want to be here but for now you need to be in your Common Room with the other students," McGonagall said.

"Just give me an hour, please." The girl pleaded. She had to figure out what she could say to get the professors to let her stay.

"One hour," Dumbledore agreed.

Mandy smiled and stepped up to the bed. She took his hand and brushed some hair back off his forehead. "He's going to be fine," Sirius said softly. "Pomfrey says it looks like spell damage. She'll know for sure when he wakes up," Sirius explained.

"Do you know who did this to him?" McGonagall asked.

"Not by name, no," Sirius said. "If we remember anything else, we'll let you know, Professor."

McGonagall agreed then she and Dumbledore left.

"So tell me the truth," Mandy demanded.

"We really don't know, Mandy. They were wearing masks and dark robes. I don't know. I wish I did but Merlin, I don't."

"Is he really okay?"

"Pomfrey thinks so. At the last second someone shot a stunner and he hit his head."

Mandy looked down at James and perched on the edge of his bed. His black t-shirt stood out even more against his pale skin from up close. She lifted the left sleeve to see a nasty red mark across his shoulder and knew that was what caused the pain in her arm earlier. "What happened?" Mandy asked.

"Banishing charm threw him into a wall." Mandy looked at him in shock and Sirius nodded.

"It looks painful."

"We don't know if he actually feels anything. If he does he's not showing it."

"Was anyone captured?"

"No, they got everyone out before it came to that. The bad guys also disappeared before the Aurors showed up so we didn't get anyone either." Mandy stared down at her hands as they lapsed into silence. She wasn't sure if she should tell Sirius what Regulus had wanted that morning but decided that she shouldn't. He'd probably be even angrier if he found out she had known what was going to happen. Instead she sat on the edge of James bed holding the unconscious boy's hand and hoping he'd wake up sooner rather than later. "You know," Sirius said softly, breaking the silence, "I wasn't expecting you to leave. I really thought you were going to fight me on that and stay in the village but I'm glad you left."

"Yeah, I know. I'm pretty reckless, especially when it comes to this gift, but I don't know. Something just got to me and I felt like ... almost like I had to go. I don't know if it was because you seemed so insistent about your love for me and this gift, or maybe it was James's urgency or maybe even with what—I mean with these hormones," Mandy had almost spilled what Regulus had told her that morning which wouldn't have been good. "I don't know what it was—just that I had to go. I'm five months pregnant; I shouldn't be so reckless or uncaring when it comes to this baby. You're right, normally I would have fought you but for some reason, I just had to go today."

When Madame Pomfrey ushered them out at close to nine that night, the boy hadn't moved an inch but his wounds had been healed. Mandy and Sirius returned to the Common Room in desolate spirits, not wanting to give their friends, especially Lily, bad news. When they entered, Lily was instantly on her feet then sank back to the couch when she saw Mandy's sad face. "No change?" Lily asked. Mandy shook her head then looked to Remus who nodded. He had told her James's condition earlier. "Can we see him?"

"In the morning," Sirius answered, "for now she wants us to get some sleep. Said there was no point in waiting up because of the slim chance for change overnight." Lily nodded before she and the rest of the girls went to bed.

Mandy didn't get much sleep that night as she waited for James to regain consciousness, but the boy never did. Mandy was up before the rest the following morning and a short time later found her way to the Hospital Wing. She climbed into the right side of James's bed and curled up next to him. She'd be lying if she said she slept well but knew that it had nothing to do with the baby. She wasn't sleeping because she was worried about James. It felt like hours had dragged past when she felt someone stroking her hair and figured that it was probably Sirius, but when she looked around the wing was still empty save her and James. Suddenly she sat up and peered down at James. "You're awake," she breathed. He grinned his normal cocky, arrogant grin and Mandy breathed a sigh of relief. All the tension, worry and stress blew out of her body with that breath.

"Of course I'm awake. Feel like I was hit with a bludger, but I'll be okay," James answered. "Now, why are you in my hospital bed?"

"I couldn't sleep last night. You were hurt, I was hurt," Mandy answered simply.

"Mandy, Mandy, Mandy, Mandy, I'm fine." James said, smirking at his friend. He wasn't surprised she was worried but it was silly of her to get so worked up about it.

"Oh yeah? Then why did my shoulder feel like it's on fire?"

He rolled his eyes and hugged her to him. "I'm fine, or I will be soon. I expected Lily to be here."

Mandy looked at him curiously. "How long have you two actually been dating?"

"Over a month. Okay, I get it. I've loved her for ages, but this is still new to her." James nodded getting the fact that he shouldn't expect Lily to come rushing to his side while he was injured so soon after they started dating no matter how strong their feelings were. "Speaking of, you?"

"My love? I don't get it. Do you mean Sirius? You were the one with the worst injuries. Everyone was released yesterday but you."

"You don't love Sirius?" James asked, sitting them both up. Mandy looked down at her lap as she curled her feet up beside her. "What's going on, Mandy? Tell me the truth."

Mandy sighed heavily and looked at James. "I don't love him."

One simple sentence knocked all the air out of James. He slumped back against his pillows and stared up at the ceiling. This wasn't supposed to happen. His two best friends were supposed to fall deeply and madly in love then spend the rest of their lives together. He and Mandy were supposed to have the most perfect lives. Their kids would grow up next door to each other, be best friends, and progress through the next several generations in this manner. Mandy wasn't supposed to fall out with his other best friend and throw everything off kilter. "What do you mean you don't love Sirius?" James asked after a moment, pushing himself up on his elbows to look at her.

"When Jason entered the Common Room and I asked about you he told me that the three of you were down here," the hospital wing was down three floors from the Gryffindor Common Room, "my heart stopped and not because of what you're thinking."

"What am I thinking?" James asked.

"You're thinking I was worried about him. James, my heart stopped because I thought you were in trouble. It wasn't about him, I didn't care at that moment what was going on with him, you just had to be alright. I've seen my parents in love, my aunt and uncle, your parents, you and Lily, and you've all told me how that feels and I never feel it. It just doesn't happen." Tears formed in the corners of Mandy's eyes.

"Mandy," James started.

"James, I'm serious, I don't feel it when it comes to him." Her brow furrowed with worry and she looked at her best friend hoping he'd reassure her. "I wish I could love him but if he died today my life would still go on. I wouldn't feel what I felt when my parents died or when Marco died, my heart wouldn't stop, I'd be sad–don't get me wrong–but my life wouldn't shatter because he died," Mandy said. "Should I tell him?"

James looked at her carefully. Truthfully, had it been any other boy the yes would have been out of his mouth before she finished her question but this time, something stopped him. He looked away from her for a moment gathering his thoughts. Those thoughts suddenly stopped when the hospital wing door flew open. When James saw who it was, his eyes shot to Mandy. The worried crease in her forehead disappeared and suddenly her eyes filled with that one emotion that was undeniable as she saw who it was as well. The one emotion he had seen every time his parents looked at each other. For some reason Mandy was denying it but it was there. He reached out and shook her leg causing her to look at him. "Don't tell him," James hissed harshly.

"That's not fair!" Mandy snapped softly. She wasn't angry, she just didn't understand.

"Don't tell him. Not yet," James said forcefully. She couldn't ruin this until James could get it through her head that she did love Sirius. As said boy dropped into a chair on James's left, hazel eyes stared intently into blue and Mandy finally nodded. "Mornin' mate," James grinned at Sirius. "Where's everyone else?"

"Breakfast. I told them to eat then to come up. I wanted to make sure you were up. There was no need for a bunch of people to sit around staring at your lump if you weren't up to stare back," Sirius answered. "Morning, Love."

Mandy glanced at James but smiled at Sirius. "Morning," she answered.

They spent the rest of the morning until the others arrived going over what had happened in Hogsmeade; like how, when the three boys had arrived, some of the shop owners, Shelly, and some Ravenclaws were already locked in battle with the Death Eaters. It had only been about 15 minutes or so until the professors had shown up and told James to get the others to safety because they'd take care of everything. James said his biggest mistake was refusing to leave because that's how he had gotten hurt. Eventually it came to the point that the Death Eaters had realized they were surrounded and one fired one last stunner at James before they all left. Mandy could feel the action and excitement in their words and was sad that she had missed it.

Just as Sirius and James finished their tale, Remus, Lily, Peter, and Shelly had walked in. Mandy noticed right off that Remus and Shelly were holding hands. She didn't know when this had happened but she knew that she couldn't ask him in front of everyone else. It was best to wait. Sirius hopped up instantly as Lily approached the bed and offered her his seat. She smiled and sat down taking James's hand.

"I'm fine, beautiful, no nasty scars or terrible wounds for you to tend to this time," James said stroking Lily's knuckles with the pad of his thumb.

"Miss Hunter!" a voice exclaimed. Mandy and James looked at each other and smirked. "Off the bed. They are for patients only!" Madame Pomfrey said, hurrying over.

"She's not hurting anything. Besides there's not enough chairs," James said. Madame Pomfrey motioned to the three additional empty chairs in the wing.

"But those are so uncomfortable!" Mandy whined.

"You're not supposed to be comfortable, you're supposed to want out of here," Pomfrey said.

"I do by the way," James said.

"Not yet, Mr. Potter," the matron answered. The boy huffed and the matron walked away not bothering to tell the girl to get off the bed again. It would just be a waste of breath.

By the time lunch had rolled around the group had nearly run out of topics to discuss so James sent the girls and Peter to get something to eat. He wanted a word with Sirius and Remus and told Peter that by going with the girls it showed how much he trusted Peter. When Sirius and Remus both agreed, Peter nodded and scampered out of the hospital wing following the girls. "So mate, when do you get out of here?" Sirius asked.

"Hopefully before dinner. I can't stand being in here any longer even though the house elves bring delicious food straight to me," James answered.

"James, I have something to ask you," Remus said hesitantly, "but I don't think you want to talk about it."

"No secrets, mate, you know that. Especially not now."

Remus looked around and seeing the wing deserted except the three of them, he looked back at James. "You and Mandy are very close and I know you've been friends for ages, that does account for some of it, but there are things that just don't make sense."

"What do you mean Remus?" James asked confused. It wasn't like his friend to babble on.

"Like two summers ago when you knew she had been bitten," Sirius added, getting what his friend was talking about.

"And a few months ago when you were feeling sick a lot, but couldn't explain what was wrong."

"And just yesterday Parker told me about the same time that you hit the wall, Mandy yelped in pain then brushed it off like it was nothing."

"Then there's the time Professor Hunter had us dueling and you and she took up the entire class period going back and forth and neither gained any ground because you anticipated each other so well. Almost as if you were reading each other's minds. James, it's like you can feel her pain and she can feel yours. The only way that's possible is if ..." Remus trailed off trying to figure out whether or not it was possible.

"You didn't do anything stupid did you?" Sirius asked.

"Recently? No," James answered affronted. Remus and Sirius didn't look like they believed him. "It wasn't," James said earnestly. It had been years ago.

"If it wasn't recently, how long ago was it?" Sirius asked. He had just realized James had said that it hadn't been recent but never denied doing something stupid.

"It depends on what you mean by stupid," James said, tucking his hands behind his head. "Some would consider becoming an animal to accompany a werewolf every full moon, stupid."

"James—" Remus prompted.

"I was 13, not long after my birthday and a couple months after we broke up." James looked up at the ceiling ignoring the looks coming from his best friends. "We knew that even though us dating didn't work, we were always going to be good friends. We wanted a way to ... I don't know what we wanted really, but we ended up in the Restricted Section of the library. She comes across this book and a really old spell inside it. Not just any old spell but one that was part of a tradition years and years ago."

"I have a feeling this isn't going to be good," Sirius muttered.

"What do you know about soul blood bonds?" James asked casually.

"Are you insane?" Remus snapped in disbelief.

"No. We were kids and thought nothing was cooler than an actual blood bond," James answered.

"Please tell me you just cut yourself and pressed your arms together and consider that a blood bond," Sirius begged.

"Not exactly."

"You used magic?" Remus asked. James only nodded. He knew his friends wouldn't be happy–they would think he was insane–but he loved Mandy and he wasn't willing to regret anything he had done with her. "You actually performed a soul blood bond like the ones they used to do centuries ago in marriage?" James nodded again. "You're crazy. You do know that if she dies before you do or vice versa, it will kill you, right?"

"It may not kill him; it'll just rip his soul in two. Could drive him crazy too. They have a ward at Mungo's for people like that. The newly named Janus Thickey Ward. It's for people who are crazy," Sirius said nonchalantly.

"Isn't that the guy who left his wife a note saying he'd been killed by a Lethifold and then turned up with the keeper of the Green Dragon pub or something like that?" James asked.

"Not the point," Remus snapped. "You did something really dangerous and really stupid—I can't believe that you're just sitting here acting like it's nothing."

"It's not nothing, Remus but I love Mandy and I refuse to let you make me feel bad for something I did five years ago. I was stupid, reckless and I thought nothing was cooler. I don't plan on dying any time soon and I know she's not either so I think we'll be ok. Besides we can handle it."

Sirius and Remus looked at each other and sighed, knowing nothing they said could change his mind about what he had done. As not to make their friend feel ostracized they let it go. For the moment at least.

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