HARSH TRUTH

He couldn't seem to sit still. Maybe it was his nerves, or him just trying to compensate for how still she was being. He didn't know where to put his hand, to sit or stand. After he laid the girl on one of the infirmary's many beds he stood over her, checking to make sure she was breathing, worried that Sirius wouldn't get Madame Pomfrey here quick enough. He'd run his hands through his hair before he decided to sit on the set next to the bed, getting a closer look to see the rise and fall of her chest. He picked at his finger nails, trying to resist the urge to check her pulse for the tenth time. Sitting up a little straighter, he didn't see the harm in checking her injures.

At first he was tempted to just try do what he could to heal her many cuts before Madame Pomfrey came, having experience from fixing up Remus. But he truly didn't know where to start. She was covered in cuts, and consequently blood, which he was sure covered bruises. His first thought was to make sure the grotesque vandalism of her arm shouldn't be covered, but as soon as he rolled up her jumper sleeve he wonder if this was wrong, if that it should be covered to try and stop the bleeding. Not being use to second guessing himself he tried too stick with his decision, but the problem with second guessing yourself is that when you start, its hard to stop. So now James was wondering if he had done something he shouldn't have. Should he have laid her down, should he have even moved her in the first place?

Just about when James was going to have a nervous break down, Madame Pomfrey burst in to the infirmary, a sharp remark for James about why she was missing the feast on her lips. But at the sight of the young woman, covered in blood, speech failed her. She was quick to span out her surprise, being use to the unlikely situations she has found herself in whilst working at Hogwarts. Her stride only flattering for a moment before resuming with added vigor.

"What happened, Mr Potter?" she asked with a brisk tone, muttering diagnostic spells whilst waiting for an answer.

"I...Well, I just. I found her by the lake, she was already like this," he made a vague gesture to the girl, "so I thought it would be best to carry her up here." James explained, trying to mimic Madame Pomfrey's professional and impassive tone, not quiet succeeding.

"Very well. Did you see any one else?" she inquired, starting to peel back the girls sleeves.

"No, I didn't look " James admitted, a sinking feeling of guilt settling in his gut. Why didn't he look? The person that hurt the girl could do it some one else and it would be his fault.

"Never mind that Mr Potter, you did very well in saving her. If you didn't find her she might of just died. Now off you go, you're doing no good here and you'll just get in my way. Out. Out." she dismissed he, only leaving James with a small sense of pride at her words for a second.

Staring at the heavy oaks doors, James really didn't know what to do. He couldn't leave, not without knowing if the girl was going to be all right or not, but it was killing him to stay not knowing if someone had followed the girl to Hogwarts.

He started to pace. A bad habit he had started over the holidays which he was sure annoyed the hell out of Sirius. Personally, he didn't see what was wrong with it. He knew Dumbledore paces, and isn't he the greats wizard of all time? But he couldn't stand still, different scenarios playing through his head, all of them bad.

Streaking past him, a bright burst of a light lit the corridor for a second in a silvery glow, and brought James at of his mental monologue. Staring after the light James made his decision. Contrary to popular belief, James wasn't one to jump in to something stupid just because he was a Gryffindor...well, sometimes.

Sprinting past portraits and tapestries, James flew down secret passage-ways and short cuts to get to the Gryffindor common room twice as fast, thankful he knew the password from the perfects meeting. Paying no heed to the many stare he received from the occupants of the room, or the attempt from Sirius to stop him, he took the stairs two at a time to reach his dorm room. Saying a silent prey of thanks in his head to the house elves, James through his trunk open, rifling through his clothes until he found a carefully folded piece of blank parchment.

Through his made search, James never saw the short boy sat on a nearby bed, similar to his own, nor the boys confused and slightly scarred face aimed at the boys frantic behaviour. Slowly getting up, the boy followed James down the stairs, but instead of like James, taking one at a time. Standing at the base of the staircase, he watched as James ran back through the portrait hole, receiving cries of out rage when he failed to miss knocking in to someone.

The biggest shout came from a red-headed girl who was stood close to chairs by the fire, a murderous glint in her eyes. "POTTER!" she shrieked, many students wisely backing away from her. Of course James didn't hear and had jump out of the portrait hole before she could get her hands on him.

"What the hell is that boy doing being head boy? I swear when I get my hands on him..." she continued to mutter.

"I wish you wouldn't Lily. He hasn't had the best of summers and well, I think he deserves a bit of slack on the first day." Remus quietly injected, staring at her from the armchair near the fire.

"Bad summer", Lily scoffed. "Why, what happened? Did one of his broom's twig snap?" her voice was viciously laced with sarcasm.

Unnoticed by Lily, Sirius Black's face morphed in to one of anger and disgust, the near by fire sending sharp shadows across his face. Alarming, it quickly smoothed in to one of calm and indifference before he asked quiet calmly, "Did you read the paper of the holidays Evans?"

Thrown by the quick subject changed from the boy she didn't even one was there ,her face portrayed her confusion, "What?"

"The Prophet? Did you read it?" Sirius snapped, impatience peeking out from behind his unemotional façade.

Crossing her arms defensively, she replied, "No, actually. My sister doesn't like the owl post."

"Well, here, borrow mine" Sirius said, slamming the Daily Prophet on the table, a picture of a young woman, laughing and smiling up at them on the front page. His indifferent mask fell to reveal his true anger toward Lily. Turing his back on a speechless Lily, Sirius stormed towards the staircase.

"Wormtail, what was he doing up there?" he asked, indicting up the stairs, his voice a little softer now he was talking to his friend.

"Getting the Map I think. Didn't even see I was sitting there." Peter explained before turning around and going back upstairs, Sirius following close behind.

After running out of things to talk about, both boys were left sat on their beds, silently waiting for some one to break the silence. Fortunately, Remus just walked in to the room. Unfortunately, he was wearing a scowl, which, as usual, was aimed at Sirius.

"You shouldn't have done that." he said, giving Sirius a stony look.

"She deserved it" he reasoned, sending an equally awful look his way.

"She practically crying down stairs, how the hell do you think she's feeling right now?" he spat back.

"Oh boo hoo. So Evans has feelings. 'bout time she learnt so does every one else."

"How the hell was she suppose to know about Abbey? She's been living as a muggle for the past six weeks." he challenged.

Instead of answering, Sirius laid down and rolled on to his side, forging sleep. With a sigh, Remus started to get dressed for bed; Peter following close behind. Only once Remus was laid I bed, staring at the ceiling did he try to talk to Sirius.

"Look, I know you were just looking out for James, but you gotta lay off Lily. She isn't going through the best of times at the minute, and she really didn't know about Abbey." Remus try to reason, only receiving a nonchalant grunt. Deciding to leave it there until the morning Remus laid over and went to sleep, only briefly waking to hear his other dorm-mate, Jerry, stumble in.

Panting heavily, James flew round the corner. Fatigue had finally caught up with him, from both running and carrying the girl. Stopping at a small alcove in the wall, James hid in the shadows, his arms aching as he brought a blank piece of parchment closer to his face. Carefully peeling the parchment open, he bought the tip of his wand to the centre, whispering "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good" as he tapped the parchment.

Instantly, the familiar scrip writing appeared, followed by the straight lines of Hogwarts rooms and corridors. Small, scroll-shaped labels followed foot steps, all of which stated the name of the own of the footsteps. Hastily, James checked to see if anything was out of place, but soon relief flooded him, as everyone seemed to be where they should, their common rooms, and only he was on a corridor.

Slowly, his eyes were drawn to the infirmary, where four labels were gathered. One, Madame Pomfrey's, was moving around a bed, and in James' minds eye he could almost see her fussing around the girl's bed as she has to for him after his many Quidditch injuries. The other two were stood beside each other, Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall.

Taking a shaky breath, his eyes fell to the last label, his heart beat increasing as he uncovered the mystery as to her the girls was.

Hermione Granger

"How could she of got through the wards Albus?" Professor McGonagall asked for the third time.

"I truly do not know Professor, but it is not how she came here that is bothering me, but as to why." Dumbledore calmly replied, his eyes fixed on the sleeping girl.

Mention of the girl brought McGonagall's eyes back to the infirmary's only patient. A slight crease appeared in-between the woman's eyebrows, worry and concerned over the girl even after being reassured by Poppy that she will, physically, be all right.

"Just who could she be?" McGonagall questioned the room hoping at least some one knew.

"Hermione Granger" came a response from behind them at the infirmary's doors, causing both McGonagall and Pomfrey to whip there head round in surprise. Not surprised by James appearence, Dumbledore calmly asked, "And how do you know that Mr Potter?"

"He was the one who found the girl Professor" interrupted Madame Pomfrey.

"Ah, James?" replied Dumbledore, inviting James to explain.

"Well, I was by the lake and I heard this really loud band, and so, I, you know, went to go see what it was and I fond her, laid by the water's edge, as if she just appeared out of thin air. She was barely conscious and I just got her name out of her before she passed out," James recounted, staying as close as to the truth without revealing the secrets of the map, "oh, and she also said another name, "Harry", I think it was." James added, not wanting to exclude any details which may help.

"Harry, you say?" Dumbledore inquired.

"Yeah, but it was more like she was calling me it."

"Hmm, interesting. Well, for you tremendous work on your first day I think house points are in order, Professor McGonagall?"

"Yes, yes. Thirty house points for your good work Potter," she said, giving James a small nodded, but talking more to herself added, "but Merlin knows what you where doing by the lake when you should have attended the feast"

"What a busy first day? But I think it is about time will all retired to bed and let Poppy get on, if that is all right with you dear?" Dumbledore asked.

"Of course headmaster. " Madame Pomfrey assured.

"But shouldn't some one stay with her" questioned James, feeling suddenly responsible for the girl no one knew.

"I doubt she will wake any time soon, and besides Madame Pomfrey is more than capable to deal with her. Come, you have done enough tonight James." Insisted Dumbledore.

Still feeling uneasy about leaving her James gave a nonchalant shrug of his shoulders, already planning away to sneak back in to the infirmary. Guessing James plans Dumbledore promised: "I'm sure someone will notify you if she wakes"

Once James had noddy, Dumbledore left with McGonagall following, and after a second of looking at the girl, James followed too.