Author's Note: Thank you for reading and reviewing! I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Chapter Twelve

Friends Tell

"James, Sirius, wait up!"

Remus and Peter had to break into a run in order to catch up with their friends. James was still angry, it was obvious. He refused to look at any of them, and refused to stop, until they reached the Gryffindor Dormitory. Everyone they passed along the way moves aside hurriedly, as if James was exuding an aura so intimidating they could not stand to be in his path. And upon reaching the portrait of The Fat Lady, James could not even calm himself down enough to speak the password clearly. It was Sirius who spoke up for him and led the group inside.

There were only three other Gryffindors in the common room. Sirius scared them off with a glare and they rushed upstairs or outside. Once the room was empty, the interrogation began.

"What's going on, Prongs?"

It was Remus who asked, his gaunt face filled with concern for his friend.

James turned to face him, his face filled with unrestrained irritation, before sinking down into one of the armchairs littered around.

"I'm willing to bet my fingers off that you aren't irked because of Molly…" Peter mumbled, his hands twitching at his lap as he took a seat on one of the many armchairs.

Sirius sighed and was about to say something when James interrupted.

"Well, at least you have a brain enough to notice that!"

Peter looked away, berated.

"I'm sorry," James said, his expression softening.

"Tell us what's wrong," Remus urged.

"What am I doing here…? I have to go to the Hospital Wing," James muttered, pushing himself off the armchair, only to be shoved back onto it by Sirius.

"You have to tell them, James." Remus and Peter were throwing him questioning stares.

James pressed the palm of his hand against his forehead and leaned back against the armchair. "There's nothing to tell, Padfoot. I love her…" he said, almost inaudibly, looking at each of his friends. His hand, balled into a fist, moved down to his chest. "I love her. This is magic, that's what it is. This is real magic right here." His lips curved into a broken sort of smile. "I want to see her. She's hurt. I have to see her."

Sirius groaned. "I'm worried, too, but she isn't dying, Prongs. It's a broken shoulder, at worst. Still, I am so mad at Molly. She should not be trusted with a weapon of any sort. But she is one brilliant Beater."

"Whose side are you on?" James queried. "Moony, sit down won't you?"

"How did this happen…?" was Remus careful question as he took a seat on the couch, beside Peter. "What about Lily…?"

"I love them both. A different kind of love for each," James answered. "Lily is this and that… And Narcissa is just something else, everything else…" He sighed, at which his friends twitched and raised their eyebrows.

"That did not help," Sirius said, brushing his hands through his hair.

Truth was that James simply could not explain. He could not even remember clearly when or how it began. Was it when they shared that first kiss? Was it a couple of years back? Was it when he started to notice how she was growing up to be stunningly beautiful? All he knew now was that he was in love with Narcissa Black, a love doomed to end in tragedy, but still a love worth risking everything for.

"Alright then. I think I'll go see her now," he said, hurriedly getting up and leaving before Sirius can stop him. Remus and Peter watched him walk out the doorway and turned to Sirius for an explanation.

"If he could not explain it, neither can I," he said.

"So he loves Narcissa, that's great," Peter said.

"It is not great, because James should be with Lily," Remus countered.

Peter's hands began twitching. "Narcissa is prettier than Lily."

"Lily is smarter," Remus pointed out.

"Narcissa is good at Quidditch."

"Lily is ---"

Sirius yelled in annoyance. "Quit it, you two! It was never up to us to decide, it's all James."

"Then this is alright with you?" the question came from both Remus and Peter.

"No. But Narcissa loves him, too," Sirius grinned. "I'd be damned if I tried to stop her. Oh, but I must say I have tried."

Remus frowned, knowing Sirius and James were saying a lot less than what really needed to be said. Peter, on the other hand, did not seem to care half as much.

The Hospital Wing was a buzz of noise and movement as the Slytherins filed in with Narcissa. They were angry. What if Narcissa could not play for the next game? They were arguing amongst themselves. The Beaters should have been keeping a closer watch on her. The Chasers weren't helping her at all. The Seeker was downright useless. The Keeper kept letting the Quaffle slip through. There was no end to their bickering. That was roughly an hour ago. Irritated by the racket, Madam Dolley was forced to kick everyone out.

"Tut tut, you've broken it."

Narcissa winced when her shoulder was touched, despite the tenderness with which it was done.

"Now, sweetie, this won't hurt one bit. But you mustn't move much now, alright? If you do while the bones are setting, I can't say it still won't hurt one bit," Madam Dolley explained. She was mixing several unknown ingredients into a small pot of boiling water.

"What is that…?" Narcissa asked as an acrid odor filled the room.

"Oh, it's an old remedy but it'll put you right."

The pungent smell grew stronger and Narcissa coughed.

"It tastes a lot better than it smells, dear," the nurse chuckled.

Narcissa could not find it in herself to believe it. Madam Dolley was proficient in healing spells and charms. Unfortunately, she loved Potions and chose that over using her wand whenever she could. This was one of those opportunities. She handed Narcissa a steaming mug of the concoction.

"Drink it down to the last drop," she said, clapping her hands together once. "And then we'll keep you overnight and see how things go in the morning. Yes?"

"Yes," Narcissa replied uncertainly. She had looked into the mug and the purple liquid bubbling in it did not look very appealing. She downed it as quickly as she could, the gripping sensation reminding her slightly of the first time she tasted firewhiskey. The taste, sadly, was not as thrilling. It was like swallowing bunches of bubblegum that had been flavored with bitter crushed leaves. Resisting the urge to gag, she placed the empty mug on the bedside table.

Madam Dolley, satisfied that her patient had done as she was told, left to retire to her own office. And just as she shut the door behind her, Narcissa had a visitor. It was not, however, neither who she expected nor wanted to see.

"Hello, Narcissa," the voice was as slimy as the person from whom it came.