Chapter 7 - Discoveried & Sacrafices

"I still can't believe you let her go into the forest." James was whispering to Lily outside the hospital wing.

"James, I told you, we were trying to stop her. She ran out of the dance on us. There was nothing we could do."

"Why did you have to follow her? Do you know what could have happened to you?! I couldn't take it if I lost you. I love you!"

"I know James, I love you too. I'm so sorry, but not even you would let your friend run in their alone." Lily fought back sternly.

"I know Lily, I just got scared." James pulled her into his arms and held her tight.

xxx

"Jen..." It was Kevin, he was waiting in the shadow of the doorway to the castle.

His voice made Jen jump and bump into Sirius. Sirius looked down at her then up at Kevin. "I'll be at the hospital wing." He said before walking off through the doors.

"Kevin." She walked to him, tear streams still stained to her cheeks. "I'm so glad your here."

"What was all that?" He said angrily.

Jen looked at him shocked. "All what Kev? What are you talking about? Did you not see them walk by just now with Kate?"

"Why was Sirius all over you."

"My god Kevin, my best friend comes floating by, probably near death and you are mad I hugged Sirius? If you'll excuse me I want to go to Kate now." She said trying to push by him.

He held out his arm and stopped her. His hands closed around her arms tightly. "Kevin, let go. Please. That hurts."

"Why was he all over you?!" He now asked through gritted teeth.

Jen stared at him.

"Let me go Kevin, it hurts." She said meaningfully.

"Why?!" He said angrier yet.

Jen's mind was reeling, she didn't like this side of him. Where did this come from? "He gave me a hug because I was a mess seeing my best friend bleeding and unconcious!" She said angrily at him "Now let me go!"

"I will when I'm finished with you! Who does he think he is touching you!" Kevin was livid now. "You're my girlfriend not his! I want you to stay away from him from now on Jen!"

"You're nuts. NOW LET ME GO!" She yelled pulling her arms away harshly, only to have him tighten his grip.

Kevin was just staring at her, she could see him fuming. "No." He said calmy.

Sirius was walking up the staircase toward the hospital wing, he was purposly walking slow so Jen could catch back up, when he heard the yell. "NOW LET ME GO!" This made him stop dead in his tracks. He turned and made his way quickly back to Jen. That was her voice after all.

"She said let her go mate." Sirius said in a deathly voice as he reached the doors.

Kevin stared at Sirius for a moment, as if deciding if he was worth it, then when he looked down, he spotted Sirius's wand pointing at him. Kevin slowly let go of Jen and stormed off through a door by the staircase.

Jen stood in shock holding her arms where Kevin had them grimped just moments ago.

Sirius was fuming. There's a few things he don't tolerate from anyone, whether he knows the girl or not, he will NEVER stand for any girl getting treating so wrongly. "Are you ok?"

"Yes, I'm fine. Thank you Sirius, but I could have handled it you know." Jen said walking past him.

Sirius was so confused, didn't he just help her? He shook it off and ran to catch up to her. "He's a jerk."

"Sirius, that's uncalled for. He was just concerned about me. He's only scared. It's not his fault."

How could she stand up for him after that? "Sorry..."

They reached the hospital wing after a few more minutes.

"Oh Jen! What took you so long?" Lily had run up to her and threw her arms around her.

"I'm so sorry Lils, I just got caght up. Have we heard anything yet?"

"No, Madame Pomphrey won't let us in yet."

Just then the doors opened. "Professor Dumbledore!"

"Would all please step inside?" He asked of them.

James, Lily, Sirius, Peter and Jen moved inside to have the doors shut behind them.

"Miss Evans, Miss Johnson. I must ask you too keep what you saw tonight a secret."

They nodded. With that he left the room.

"Is she going to be ok?" Lily asked Madame Pomphrey.

"She should be fine. The cuts her deep and hard to clean, but I managed the best I could. She may not wake for a while and she'll be very weak and will need to spend the week here."

They all gathered chairs around her bed and sat in silence for the remainder of the night.

xxx

The light was streaming through the windows now. Each one of them had fallen asleep in their chairs hoping Kate would wake. James now woke and looked around. Morning had come. And per usual after the full moon, there was Remus in a bed. Today though, he looked worse than ever. James moved over to his bed, he was awake, unmoving, staring at the ceiling.

"How you feeling?" James asked him quietly. Sirius was now awake and making his way over.

Remus didn't look at them. "Kate?" he whispered.

"She's gonna be fine mate." James told him.

"I almost killed her." He choked out.

"Kate!" Lily said loudly over by her bed. "Your awake! Thank god!"

Jen was at her side now, "Oh Kate, we were so scared!" They both hugged her.

James and Sirius made their way over now. "How are you feeling?" Sirius asked her.

"I hurt. But I think I'm fine. Where's Remus?"

"He's right... Hey James, wasn't he just there?" Sirius asked.

They all turned to Remus's bed, he had left. "I can't believe he didn't tell me. That was a huge thing to keep secret." Kate said.

"We're sorry Kate. He's just insecure about it. He never told us either, He figured it out by our second year and only told him we knew just last year." James told her.

They all fell silent.

"Jen, what happen to your arms?" James asked her. "You didn't have those when we left the forest did you? I thought you and Lily were safe."

Jen stared at James. All eye's were on her now. Sirius could tell from the look on her face she was thinking quick.

"She had those when we left the forest mate, didn't you see her fall against the tree's trying to jump out of Remus's way?" Sirius chimed in for her.

Jen turned to Sirius. Everyone accepted this. She mouthed a small thank you and took a seat by Kate's bed.

"Listen Kate, do you want us to try and find Remus?" Lily asked her.

Kate thought for a moment. "No, I just want to be alone you guys. Thank you for being here, but I'm fine now, really."

"You sure?"

"I'm sure." With that they all left the wing and made their way back to their common room.

"Jen, I've been looking all over for you, listen, can we talk please?" It was Kevin.

Sirius wanted to step in, but thought it would be best not to. Jen moved toward him. "Of course."

They moved away from the rest and found a small area to talk privately.

xxx

"Hey mate, if you saw a girl being treated wrong would you step in?" Sirius asked James quietly.

"Why? Who are you talking bout Padfoot?" He glanced back where Jen and just disappeared. "Do you mean Jen?"

"No! God now, just a ransom person I saw, don't know who she was, but should I do something? I mean i tried to help her at the time, but she only got angry at me."

"Just the way some people are, when they don't want help, there's nothing you can do. Best to just put it out of your mind mate."

Sirius nodded as they went through the portrait hole. They followed the girls to the couch by the fireplace. The common room was empty, everyone would be at breakfast right about now.

"Wonder where Moony is." James said aloud.

"No idea, probably won't want to be found though." Peter said.

"Yea, best to just let him be on his own until he's ready to come back around us." Sirius agreed. "You remember what he was like last year when someone came close to him. He wasn't quite as bad then though."

"He also didn't nearly kill his own girlfriend last time you dunce." James said.

xxx

"I'm so sorry about last night, I don't know what got into me. I would never hurt you Jen, I love you so much. Please forgive me." Kevin begged of her.

"It's ok baby. I love you too." She said giving him a kiss. "Please don't think there was anything between Sirius and I. Sure I used to like him, but that was before I met you."

"You liked him?"

"Yea, but he never liked me back, and I met you. I got over him."

"Jen, you love me and I love you. If we are going to make us work, Sirius can't be involved."

Jen thought this might come up again. "Kevin, you can't ask me to give up my friend..."

"If you love me, you'd pick me." He said.

He was so sincere and so nice about it, Jen felt guilty. "Kevin..."

"Please Jen, it can't be us both."

"I don't..."

"Jen. I love you."

"I love you too Kevin, I just..."

"There's too much history, even if it wasn't on his part, for him to be a part of us."

Jen sighed. She knew he had a point, she did still really like Sirius, but she loved Kevin. "Ok." Defeat. She had no idea ow her friend would take this, but they had to understand, Lily would do this for James. Kate seems to be accepting Remus for what he is. Why can't she give up one friend for Kevin?

"Thank you baby." He said kissing her. "I want to do something special for you. Can you meet me tonight? I realize today you probably want to spend time with Kate. After dinner? Meet me in the entrance hall?"

"Ok, I'll be there." She kissed him again and left for the common room.

xxx

The portrait hole opened not long after they had all sat down around the fire. Jen had returned.

Now or never. "Sirius, can we talk for a minute?" Jen said strolling over.

He nodded. "Upstairs maybe?" She asked him.

"Sure." Together they made their way into the boys dormitory.

"Whats up girly?" He said taking a seat at the foot of his bed.

"Well, there's really no easy way to put his, but I can't be your friend anymore." Jen felt terrible.

Sirius was shocked. "What?" He chuckled. "Why not?" He said disbelievingly.

"Sirius, I've always liked you so much, but you've never noticed me. Finally, I find someone who makes me forget about you and I can't give him all I have if your still around reminding me of what I felt for you for so long."

"Wow. I'm sorry, I never knew."

"Of course you didn't." Jen said sadly.

"Jen, you can't really end our friendship over him?"

"Sirius, we haven't been friends forever, and like I said, how can I be with him with not completely getting over you?"

Sirius stared at her. How could he have never known she liked him so much? Most girls just wanted him for his fun ecantric ways, but she genuinely liked him. He didn't know what else to say. "You're going to do this either way aren't you?"

"Yes, I'm sorry Sirius." A tear had fallen down her cheek.

Sirius made his way over to her and hugged her. "If that's the way you want it." With that Sirius made his way outof the room.

"So what was that about mate?" James asked him. Sirius did not answer but kept on walking until he had proceeded out the dormitory.

Jen had come down a moment later and taken a seat on the chair by the fire. "Jen? What happen?" Lily asked.

"Nothing."

"Like hell that was nothing, why did he leave?" James asked her.

"James! Be nice." Lily told him. "Jen?"

"Sirius and I just aren't friends anymore ok?"

"And why not?" James asked.

"Whats it matter? We just aren't ok?"

"Jen, if this is over Kevin not liking him, that's just nuts. You know you can't chose someone when they are the ones asking you to chose." Lily told her.

"I never said Kevin did anything of the sort! Why must you all always be out to get him?! He's wonderful! I just wish you guys would accept that, but no, all of you go around judging him! Lily! You just want me to still try for Sirius because you think he can change, well he won't! I told him how I used to feel! He didn't care! Kevin loves me! Sirius never will!" Jen exclaimed and left the common room quickly.

"Taking it she loves Sirius then?" James said.

"Pretty much." Lily answered.

"Wow." Said Peter.

xxx

Part of him wanted to find Kevin and curse him like no tomorrow. Sirius had his wand out and was wondering the corridors jinxing anything that moved. He knew he shouldn't take his anger out on every one and every thing else, but he couldn't help it.

FLICK

That first year should have ties his shoes anyway, he could have just as easily tripped over them.

How the bloody hell did he not know Jen had feelings for him? Girls never had feelings for him. Girls liked his body, kind of why he always slept with them and never dated. Somehow he had donned the cover of the man who was amazing at sex, he just went with it, he enjoyed it.

He didn't have tons of friends, he had his small group who he trusted more than anyone else. There was James, his brother. Remus, trustworthy, loyal, reliable. Peter, trustworthy, loyal, reliable to not understand anything they said. Now he had Lily, Jen and Kate. James loved Lily and Remus loved Kate. That accepts them in Sirius's book. If they earn the love of his best friends they must be good people. Then Jen, or so he thought. He took more of a bond to her because James was spending more time with Lily now and Remus more time with Kate. He could spend more time with Peter, but let's face it, Jen was SO much more interesting than him.

Sirius was now wondering outside. It was a snowy day, beautiful by Sirius's standards. Normally him and his friends would be out jinxing snowballs to hit any Slytherin they saw wondering by. And speaking of Slytherins... Snivellus... He should make Sirius feel better. He was all alone too.

"Hey Snivellus! What's the matter, lose all your lame friends?" He called over to him.

"Go away Black." Snape answered drawing his wand.

"Now Now Snivellus, that's not very nice. I just wanted to say hello."

He eyed him evilly.

"What's the matter Snivelly? Not brave enough to fight back?" Sirius was now pointing his want at him.

"Shove it Black!" He growled at Sirius.

"Too much of a coward to play? Thought you were one of the death eaters, thought they had to be brave?" Sirius teased.

FLASH

Next thing Sirius knew he was on the ground in more agony then he could ever remember being in.

"Never...Call...Me...A...COWARD!!" Snape yelled as he fled the scene.

Sirius lay on the ground, unable to move, pain ravaging his body. He could see. Things were going dark. He could feel the blood flowing from his wounds. His wand lay a few feet away.

xxx

Jen had wondered back to the hospital wing to see Kate. She knew she wanted to be alone, but Jen felt maybe she could try talking to her.

She entered the wing to see Kate still just lying in bed. "Kate?" Jen said softly as she approached.

"Hey."

"Thought you might want to talk." She said pulling up a chair.

Kate shrugged. "Why hasn't Remus come to see me? Have you seen him?"

"No, no one has. Sorry."

"It's ok, I just wish he would come see me. I'm not mad at him."

"I Know Kate, I wish I knew where he was."

"Are you ok Jen? You look kind of down."

"Don't worry about me, your kind of the one who's not doing so well here." Jen said chuckling.

"Don't be silly Jen, I'm gonna be fine, What's the matter?"

"Ok, Ok, fine. Well see, there was a small fight with Kevin last night over Sirius..."

Kate interrupted, "Again? Why does he hate him so much?"

"Well, I realized I can't feel like I do for them both and Kevin loves me and I want to be with him, so Sirius and I are not friends anymore."

"Jen! That's ridiculous!"

"It's my choice."

Kate sighed. "You're right. It's you're choice." Kate couldn't argue, if that's what her friend wanted, she had to support her.

"Jen, can you close those curtains? Its so bright in here, I have such a headache."

"Sure."

"Thanks."

Jen moved to the window, she glanced out onto the grounds before closing the curtains and saw Sirius. He was talking to... couldn't be... Snape? They hated each other. Probably arguing. Wait...

"Oh my god!" Jen exclaimed. "SIRIUS!" Kate jumped and looked at Jen to see her pulling her wand and running from the wing.

xxx

Sirius was waking now. He was so stiff. That light was so bright. His head hurt alot. Where was he? Oh god when he found Severus Snape, he would kill him! He slowly opened his eyes.

"Jen" He managed to struggle out.

"Sirius? Are you ok?" Jen leaned forward over him.

"How?"

"I saw Snape hit you with that curse. He's in Dumbledore's office now. Madame Pomphrey healed you as best she could, though she said there will be alot of scaring. I'm so sorry Sirius." Jen said sadly.

Scaring, so much for the girls liking his body. "Thank you Jen. For coming."

"Of course Sirius."

"We're still not friends though are we?" He asked her painfully.

Jen didn't know what to say to that.

"Like this would change anything. I wish you would have told me before how you felt. But given the circumstances, you should probably just go now. Kevin won't like you here with me. Thank you for everyhing." Sirius said closing his eyes again.

Jen was stunned. Sure she ended the friendship, but she didn't expect him to say that. She sighed and looked ove at Kate. She shrugged. Jen took that to mean, best just let it be, and left.