Chapter 11 – The hospital wing

Warm.

Safe.

Clinging.

Having to let go.

Angry voices.

Cold.

Clean.

Silence.

When Remus opened his eyes, he was lying in the hospital wing. His head and left shoulder were aching. He must've hit his shoulder when he fell, Remus thought disoriented.

The hospital wing was clean, cold and white as usual. It was completely empty, which wasn't usual.

The morning-sun lit up the room, but brought no warmth. It was like lying in the snow on a cold winter-day.

Remus hated the hospital wing. He associated it with the day after a transformation. It meant that someone had to take care of him and that he couldn't hide and curl into a ball.

Madam Pomfrey entered the room. She wore her usual white dressrobes and strict stare, that would sense every form of non-relaxing. Madam Pomfrey had been the one escorting Remus to the shrieking shack when he was in his first and partly second year.

"You're awake," Madam Pomfrey stated, starting to fuss over Remus. Tucking his blanket in. Pressing a cool hand to his forehead. Looking inspectingly at him. When she was finally satisfied she said: "You'll be up and around before tonight"

"What happened?" Remus croaked.

"You seem to have exhausted yourself. You were brought in by your friend. Quite a temper he has. He refused to leave. Started yelling when I tried to force him. Look, he left this for you, said it would help or something, as if he knew anything about that…" Madam Pomfrey said with a resignedly shake of her head, and handed Remus a chocolate bar.

"Who? Where is he now?" Remus asked confused.

"He left half an hour ago, when you started moving around" she answered, neglecting the first question, "Now rest" The last part was said in a strict voice.

Remus obediently lay down and closed his eyes. When she seemed to be satisfied she left him alone.

The second she left the room Remus flung his eyes open and begun inspecting the bar of chocolate. It was plain, dark chocolate, a muggle-brand. It had to be Sirius who'd brought him in. This was Sirius' kind of chocolate. Remus unwrapped it and broke it into pieces. Why would Sirius leave before Remus woke up? Remus head still hurt, his thoughts wasn't linked, his mind was a mess. Remus decided to stop thinking and ate his chocolate instead.

The chocolate immediately made Remus feel better and he went back to sleep.

When Remus woke up for the second time, the hospital wing was rather dark, the only light came from a small bedside lamp. He felt better. He was still tired, but at least his head had stopped aching.

Remus wanted to go back to the dorm, he didn't think he could bare staying here much longer. He kept perfectly still while Madam Pomfrey tended to another patient, who'd come during the day. When she was done, Remus gave a light cough and asked in a small voice: "Madam Pomfrey? Can I leave now?"

She looked at him as if judging whether or not he'd die if she allowed him to go. Finally she nodded "Yes, but take care, okay? Remember to sleep and eat. And by any means, don't exhaust yourself or I'm going to lock you in here for at least another month, understood?" Remus nodded eagerly. "Off you go then"

Remus immediately got to his feet. His clothes were in a bit of a mess, but he quickly rearranged them. Suddenly he hesitated "Madam? What day is it?"

"It's Tuesday. The time's 8:30 PM" She answered

"Thank you" Remus said and went for the door.

Remus took a deep inhale of air, the second he got out of the hospital wing. The air was… softer out here; he'd left the clean, hospital-like smell behind him together with the cold, hard air, when he'd closed the door.

Remus couldn't claim to be surprised that he'd fainted yesterday. He had barely slept for days, he hadn't eaten and he'd cried and run a lot. Things like that had always affected Remus more than it affected others. He was what others might call fragile, even though he didn't like to admit it.

The instant Remus entered the commonroom five heads shot up.

"Remus!" James cheered, "Back from the dead, I see"

All of them gathered around him. It was unbelievable, every time even the smallest thing happened to him, everyone made a fuss, Remus embarrassed thought.

"You gave me a fright" Amy said accusingly "There was a loud bang and suddenly you just lay on the floor"

"I think he frightened all of us" Sirius said, almost amused, but with a hint of something else "You're a heavy little bastard" Sirius continued, confirming Remus' suspicion, that it was indeed Sirius who'd carried him.

"Sorry" Remus said in a small voice.

He watched as the five persons around him raised their eyebrows in unison.

"You're sorry?" Lily said in a voice that clanged of astonishment. "You faint and have to spend a day in the hospital wing and you're sorry? Oh Remus" She shook her head and hugged Remus tightly.

"I think I'll go to bed. I'm a bit tired" Remus said and made his way through his friends.

Remus was confused. Why was it weird, that he was sorry? He'd scared them and made Sirius carry him all the way to the hospital wing. Remus' cheeks grew hot at the thought. It was extremely embarrassing.

Remus took of his clothes and climbed into his bed. He was fast asleep from the moment his head touched the pillow. Madam Pomfrey would've approved.

I'm actually not satisfied with this chapter. The idea was to write it kind of fragmented to resemble Remus' mind, but I don't think it went very well... I'm sorry about that. I hope that one day you'll find it in you hearts to forgive me *starts crying*

Anyway, a huge thank you for reviewing to the persons who reviewed my last chapters, it means a lot to me ^^

I'll try to write and upload the next chapter soon. I think it'll be about the trip to Hogsmeade, because I want to write it o.o

See you ^^