A/N) I had a little bit of trouble with this chapter. It was really hard to write. With that said, thank you to everyone who has reviewed. The next chapter has already been written and the chapter of that, I am nearly finished with writing, so an update will be quite quick after this one. Enjoy!

Chapter Forty-One: Searching for Sirius

"SIRIUS!" yelled Remus. He ran towards the crumbling building, completely ignoring the fact that he had turned his back on five very dangerous Death Eaters, and skidded to a halt, as before him, the entire building fell. Dust was flown up, getting up his nostrils as he coughed. As it cleared, he risked a glance behind him. The Death Eaters had gone, and shoppers who had taken refuge in other shops during the battle were now starting to emerge, looking terrified.

Remus started scrabbling at the debris of the ruined shop, pulling away the wood and bricks as fast as possible. Somewhere, beneath all that, Sirius was buried. Oh god, please don't be dead... don't be dead...

He was shaking as he worked. No one was helping him, choosing to let him do it all by himself. Obviously they did not know who could be buried underneath... He could have yelled for help, but he knew it would be fruitless. He threw another brick over his shoulder. He could have done this work with his wand but it was more difficult to do. Most Wizards when confronted with a situation like this reverted to their basic instincts and used muscle rather than magic. There was always the threat of lifting the pile up, seeing something you didn't want to see, and in your shock dropping the whole pile down onto the victim which could kill them if they were still alive. He would not risk Sirius' life like that.

He didn't know how long he had been working, but he looked up when a shadow fell over him.

"Remus?" asked Bill, kneeling down beside him. "I've alerted Dumbledore. He is sending people to help you."

"How does he know?" breathed Remus.

Bill shrugged. "I don't know. He just knew that something had happened to Sirius and you needed help." He glanced at the pile of rubble Remus had been digging through. "Are you sure he couldn't have apparated out?"

Remus shook his head. "No. The Death Eaters put up Anti-Apparition Wards around the Alley. No one could get out unless you used the exit through the Leaky Cauldron. I'm presuming you got Molly there and away?"

Bill nodded. "Mum is safe at home. We haven't told Harry yet... we figured we'd tell him when we knew more. I think he suspects something though."

"He would do," said Remus ruefully. "He is James and Lily's son. And you and Arthur coming here are not going to help his suspicions either." He looked towards Arthur Weasley, who had taken his place with pulling out bits of the rubble while Remus spoke to Bill. "I'm not going to sit here while Sirius is buried underneath all this. Are you going to help me or not?"

Bill nodded. "That's why we've came. We'll be the first helpers, and I suspect others will join us shortly after Dumbledore has finished briefing them of the current situation."

Remus nodded and turned back to his task, not even caring that his muscles ached. Please be alive...

"Something's happened to Sirius, and they aren't telling me," growled Harry under his breath, as he kicked a small ball around Hermione's room.

"He'll be fine, Harry," she said, as way of placating him.

"Really? So where is he then? Why did Ron's mum come back looking all huffed and haggard? She was terrified! You saw it! And Bill went almost immediately, taking Mr Weasley with him! I'm telling you Hermione, Sirius is not alright! If he was, he'd be back now."

Hermione didn't know what to say to placate her friend. He was concerned. They all knew that You-Know-Who was after Sirius as a way to get to Harry. What if he had finally succeeded? Hermione Granger didn't even want to think what the consequences would be if Harry's worst nightmare ever came true. She hoped, for Harry's sake, that Sirius Black was fine and that nothing untoward had happened to him.

It was a few hours later that a breakthrough happened. Arthur had been scrabbling away at the rubble, his hands and robes covered in dust and grime, when he had uncovered a hand. A bloody one at that, but he knew instantly it was Sirius. A few other Aurors had joined them in their effort to free Sirius – and all bystanders had been removed from Diagon Alley – allowing them to work quickly and efficiently at removing the rubble.

Remus rushed over as Arthur called to him. Without even pausing to look at the uncovered hand, Remus flung himself onto the pile and started to pull bricks and wood away as quickly as possible. Sirius had been buried for a few hours... If he hadn't been killed on impact he could have suffocated...

No, don't think of that...

They worked quickly until they had uncovered Sirius's upper body and head. Carefully, Remus laid a hand against his friend's neck... "There's a pulse, but its weak..."

Arthur nodded and glanced towards his son and the other Aurors. "Can we risk lifting some of this rubble with magic just so we can get him out quickly?"

One of the Aurors gave a slight nod. "We can. Jenkins, help Lupin pull Black free."

A brown-haired Auror who gave Remus a careful look ran towards him and stood beside him. The two Wizards placed their hands underneath Sirius's arms and waited. With a flick of their wands the rubble that covered Sirius flew up into the air and Remus and Jenkins hauled the Auror free from the rubble, gently laying him down on the cobbled street.

Sirius's chest was moving up and down, but it was clear that he had injuries but the extent of them Remus couldn't even begin to guess. His face was bloody with cuts and bruises.

"We need to get him to St. Mungo's," said Arthur.

Remus shook his head. "No. Voldemort would be expecting us to do that. If we take Sirius there we are putting the rest of the patients in danger. We take him to Hogwarts. Madam Pomfrey has more than adequate experience to deal with injuries such as this." His eyes flashed as one of the Auror's appeared to want to disagree with him, but seeing the dangerous look in the Werewolf's eye, the Auror thought better of challenging him.

Quickly they conjured a stretcher and levitated Sirius onto it and with Arthur and Bill escorting him out, Remus made his way to The Leaky Cauldron where he hoped he'd be able to Apparate with Sirius to outside of Hogwarts gates.

Harry had just fallen asleep when he found himself being shaken awake by Molly. He blinked his eyes rapidly before awareness fully returned to him. "Mrs Weasley?"

"Harry, dear, Sirius is at Hogwarts. He's alive and he's okay, but he has been hurt."

"Can I go and see him?" asked Harry immediately.

"Arthur and I do not think that would be wise..." she trailed off when she saw Harry's mouth fall open.

"He's my godfather! I have every right to see him!" he shouted angrily.

"I know," said Molly gently, "but he is injured and Madam Pomfrey was still working on him when Arthur left to tell us the news."

"Then I should go and see him!" replied Harry. "He could die!"

Molly bit her lip. "I am told his injuries are not as severe as that..."

"It doesn't matter to me," said Harry quietly. "I have to see him, Mrs Weasley, just for my own piece of mind."

Harry pushed open the doors to the hospital wing and stepped inside. Madam Pomfrey was sitting in her office and glanced up as Harry entered but did not rise. Harry walked towards the middle bed on the left hand side of the hospital wing which was occupied by one figure. He swallowed as he ran his eyes over the bandaged form of his godfather.

Sirius's eyes flickered open as he sat down in the chair beside him. "Hey," he whispered.

"What happened?" asked Harry. "No one has told me anything..."

"Death Eaters attacked me in Diagon Alley. I fought but a building collapsed on top of me. Broke a few ribs and an arm but I'm fine, really."

Harry raised his eyebrows. "I hate seeing you get hurt."

"Better me, then you kid."

"Will you be out soon?"

"I've got to stay the night. All my bones are healed but Madam Pomfrey has ordered me to stay in bed for twenty-four hours before I can return home. She has also signed me off sick from the Aurors for a few weeks, meaning that I can't go out on dangerous missions."

"Good," whispered Harry, softly. That was reassuring.

"But it doesn't mean I can't go in to the office though," continued Sirius.

"Can't you stay at home with me for the rest of the summer? You'll be able to get back to doing dangerous things when I've gone back to school..." said Harry. "It's the 9th August today, it's just over three weeks. While I'm at school I won't be able to see you. Who knows when I next will? You already missed the first thirteen years of my life..."

Harry had thrown the trump card and he knew it.

Sirius scowled. "No fair, Harry. I wish I could change that but I can't." With his right hand he brushed the hair out of his face. "Fine, you have my word. I won't go back to work until you're back at Hogwarts."

"Thanks."

To be continued...

Please let me know what you think!

Next chapter: Return to Hogwarts - in which Harry's fifth year finally begins!

Coming very soon,

the-writer1988