Hello! So I felt bad about the cliffhanger so I'm updating a bit early. (You all can thank me by REVIEWING please!)
Thank you to the wonderful reviewers from last chapter. gspratt10807, xXMizz Alec VolturiXx, GhostWriter1864, RowanReader, themysteriousnicole, Guest, abishop47, and Raven that flies at night, you all Rock! Especially, GhostWriter1864, themysteriousnicole , and Raven that flies at night who have been loyal reviewers. You have no idea how much I appreciate your encouraging words and continued interest in my little tale. It keeps me motivated to keep going and I'm loving where the story is going. I hope you all do too. And Mizz Alec, I hope this chapter kind of answers your question. =)
PS. This chapter has become a bit longer than most. Hope that's okay. Enjoy!
"Amelia? AMELIA!"
Sirius stopped short as he heard his professor's screams. He raced back to the hallway that he just left and found McGonagall on her knees cradling Hermione's face.
"Amelia. Amelia, what happened? Who did this?" McGonagall begged as she wiped blood from Hermione's face.
Sirius fell to his hands and knees next to the professor and examined some of the cuts.
"I…I don't remember. I know the spell that they used though," Hermione began to cough. Minerva noticed that the mucus was laced with blood.
"We have to get her to the Hospital Wing." Sirius didn't wait for a response from McGonagall. He pushed his professor out of the way and gently picked Hermione up in his arms. Sirius' chest tightened painfully when she released an agonizing moan. Hermione moved her good hand to clutch the edge of Sirius' robes. "It's alright, I've got you," he whispered as he followed McGonagall up the stairs.
When they arrived at the infirmary, Poppy was ready and waiting, "I heard screaming. What's happened?"
McGonagall motioned for Sirius to put the now unconscious Hermione down, "It's a spell I've never seen before. It looks like she's been cut all over her body. She's lost a great amount of blood."
Sirius stood back and helplessly watched the school nurse quickly assess the damage. The healing spells that she performed didn't seem to be working. "Wait, she said she knew the spell. Amelia said she knew what the spell was; maybe she knows the counter."
Madame Pomfrey set up a blood transfusion and conjured some smelling salts to wake the patient.
Hermione woke with a jolt. She looked around the room terrified, but then saw the familiar faces that surrounded her. Hermione closed her eyes and tensed her face in pain; the cuts were excruciating and her broken arm throbbed. Sirius grabbed her good hand in both of his and squeezed lightly.
Sirius sat down in a chair next her bed and leaned over so that he was level with Hermione's head. "Amelia? Blondie? Do you know the counter to the spell that hit you?"
Hermione angrily shook her head.
Sirius signed, "Do you know someone who does know the counter curse?"
"Snape. He knows." Sirius' eyes glowed with hatred. He looked up at McGonagall who only wore a face of concern.
McGonagall acted quickly so that Sirius would not have time to disagree, "Black, you stay here with Amelia. I am going to fetch Horace and Severus. Poppy, make sure he doesn't go anywhere."
Professor Slughorn, Severus Snape and Professor McGonagall entered the Hospital wing moments later. Sirius released Hermione's hand and made a mad rush for Severus, but McGonagall stepped in between the boys and ordered Sirius to sit down again.
"But Amelia said that Snape knew the counter, so he obviously knows the curse itself. It's probably one of the deranged spells he made up himself!" Sirius almost growled as he stared daggers at Severus.
Hermione turned her head toward the noise, "Sirius, stop. Please. It wasn't him. Severus didn't do this."
"No. I didn't. But Black is correct, it is my spell. I unfortunately shared it with a few of my classmates; which was irresponsible of me in hindsight. I am very sorry Professor McGonagall." Severus addressed Minerva almost professionally.
"Well, who did you share this bloody hex with that would have done this? Who wanted to hurt her?" Sirius' harsh voice was beginning to give Hermione a headache; or maybe it was her body coping with the severe blood lose and unset bones.
"I have no idea," Severus spoke only to McGonagall; he felt no need to communicate with the Marauder. "I haven't noticed anyone taking a special interest in Amelia. Black and his cohorts seem to be acting as guards for his girlfriend most of the time. But if I hear anything suspicious I will inform Professor Slughorn immediately."
"She's not my girlfriend you twit, she's my friend and we've been trying to protect her from your lot," Sirius attempted again to get past McGonagall.
Severus finally turned his glaring eyes to Sirius, "Well, you didn't do a very good job, now did you?"
Sirius lunged past Professor McGonagall and grabbed Severus by the collar of his robes. Sirius shook the boy violently as he tried to wrestle Snape to the ground.
"Enough, Mr. Black." Professor Slughorn raised his wand and magically separated the two students. "I will deal with my house accordingly. I do not need your help disciplining my students. Now Mr. Snape, just to clarify, you had nothing to do with this and you do not know of who could have done this?"
"No, professor," Severus stood a little straighter and brushed some nonexistent dust off his arms. "I would never be brash enough to attack a student so mercilessly. And I would never have attacked Professor McGonagall's niece simply out of respect for the professor. If I find out who did this, I may deal with them myself."
Slughorn suspiciously eyed his student, but accepted the statement. "Do you know the counter curse Mr. Snape?"
"Yes, sir. I can perform it more quickly if Madame Pomfrey assists." Poppy nodded her head and the two began weaving their wands around Hermione's body.
"Vulnera Sanentur."
Hermone's open wounds were soon made into freshly scared lines. Madame Pomfrey quickly gave her some potions to help heal the scars faster and hopefully help them disappear altogether. She also set Hermione's arm and forced her to drink a few drops of Skelo-Gro to mend the break. Hermione was still weak, but the pain was gone and she appeared more at ease. She closed her eyes and absentmindedly gripped the loose bedsheets searching for Sirius' hand; the fatigue began to creep in.
Before she fell into an effortless sleep she whispered, "Thank you so much Severus." Severus and Sirius both gazed at her in utter shock.
"Of course," Severus mumbled, "I hope you are feeling better soon." He turned and left without another word.
"Horace, please inform your house that if I find out who did this, or if I find anyone performing this spell, I will see to it personally that they are expelled from Hogwarts." Professor McGonagall stood very tall as she addressed her fellow faculty member.
Professor Slughorn looked embarrassed, "Yes Minerva. I will make sure they all understand the severity of this action." Horace left to escape the awkward tension.
McGonagall's shoulders slumped as she turned back to her 'niece.' Sirius had reclaimed his seat next to Hermione's bed and now watched her sleep. "You should probably get back to the dormitories Mr. Black. I'm sure your friends are worried by your absence."
Sirius shook his head, "I'm not leaving."
Minerva's mouth twitched slightly upwards, "Am I to understand that you are dating my niece? You seem very attached to her."
"No, we're just friends," Sirius turned and smiled sadly at his professor. "Would it be so terrible if we were dating?"
"Of course not Mr. Black," Minerva clapped his shoulder encouragingly. "I would have just been a little disappointed in Amelia for not telling me. But I must still insist that you go back to the Tower. I need to go address the House and you need a change of clothes."
Sirius glanced down at his shirt; it was covered in streaks of bright red. "Oh… I guess a new shirt might be in order," he mumbled to himself.
"Amelia won't miss us while she's asleep. I'm sure Mr. Potter can lend you something so you can visit her later." McGonagall looked knowingly at Sirius as she motioned for him to follow her out the door.
Professor McGonagall stood in front of the whole of Gryffindor House. She explained the horrendous act that had taken place an hour earlier. She told them that Amelia was recovering well and would be returning to the tower in a few days. Minerva left out any suspicions that she had and focused on the fact that her niece was recovering. She did however encourage her students to be vigilant and to travel in groups since the culprit was still at large.
As McGonagall spoke to the Gryffindors, Sirius snuck upstairs to change his clothes and wash Hermione's blood off his arms. Lily and the other Marauders noticed him slip up to the dormitories and followed. Lily was beside herself when she saw Sirius' shirt and he told the group what happened. He made sure to include that he believed one of the Sytherins had ambushed their friend. Sirius begrudgingly admitted that Severus had helped save her. He acknowledged that without him, Hermione would still be bleeding. Sirius found a discarded shirt and quickly asked James for the invisibility cloak before he returned to the common room.
Sirius noticed that the joyful triumphant air had been sucked out of the Gryffindor common room as he made for the portrait hole. McGonagall met him outside of the tower entrance, "If you insist on staying with her tonight, all I ask is that you make no attempt to bring your own brand of justice on anyone. Just stay with her and come get me if she wakes. I'll come by in the morning and take over so you can get some rest."
Sirius nodded and threw the cloak over himself as McGonagall walked away to patrol the castle.
Hermione woke to find the Hospital wing in utter darkness except for a dim lamp next to her bed. A shadowy figure sat in the chair next to her bed snoring. She forced herself to sit up, testing her tired muscles. Hermione groaned as she noticed her arm was in a sling.
"Good morning Blondie," Sirius yawned as he leaned over to stretch his back.
"Not quite morning yet," Hermione looked down at her exposed arms and noticed that the cut marks were healing nicely and she could barely see some of them anymore. Hermione was also grateful to see that Poppy or Minerva had changed her into the same flannel pants and black shirt from her last visit to the hospital wing.
"Have you remembered anything else about the attack?" Sirius stood up and stretched his legs a bit too.
"No, I don't remember who it was," Hermione wasn't sure if she should tell Sirius who had hexed her. "What time is it? Have you been here all night?"
Sirius glanced around the room, "I think it's about three in the morning now. Yea, I've been here a while." He rubbed his face in an attempt to wipe away the tiredness. "You gave everyone a real fright last night and I wanted to make sure you were safe."
"Was Aunt Minerva here? Have the others been by?" Hermione dangled her legs over the edge of the bed and gingerly stood up; her legs were still a bit unsteady from the slashes and blood loss and Sirius caught her before she fell. She smiled at him thankfully.
Sirius mirrored her smile, "Um, well McGonagall has popped in here a few times now. She was patrolling the castle for a while, trying to find the arse that did this. But I think she's gone to bed finally; said she needed some rest so she could come sit with you later."
Hermione attempted to take a step, but was still too weak by herself, "Sirius, would you help me walk around a bit. I can't stand just lying in that bed."
Sirius maneuvered his right arm so that it went under her left and behind her back. Hermione rested her hand on his shoulder and leaned her weight against his side. They walked around the Hospital wing once before Hermione had to sit down again. Hermione huffed, "I hate being the damsel in distress."
Sirius laughed, "What are you on about?"
Hermione glared at Sirius as he chuckled, "I don't like having to rely on other people to take care of me; makes me feel helpless."
"You are the furthest thing from helpless, Blondie," Sirius sat down next to Hermione on the cot.
"Ha! How would you know Sirius? I think I spent more time in the hospital the first month I've been here than most students spend here in a whole term."
"Yea, well that just makes you unlucky not helpless," Sirius tried to smile encouragingly but burst out laughing instead.
"Oh, you are an arse, Black." But Hermione began laughing as well.
As the laughter died down, curiosity pulled at Hermione. "So, why have you been here by yourself all night?"
Sirius leaned in and whispered in her ear, "I wanted to make sure you were safe, remember?"
"And that's the only reason?" Hermione smiled slyly at the handsome Marauder beside her. She had begun to really notice his gaze a week or so ago during Defense against the Dark Arts. They had been doing a practical exam and Hermione had blown everyone away with one of her counter curses. Since then she had caught him staring at her a few times, and Hermione had been caught doing the same. No one spoke about it, but the other Marauders and Lily had noticed as well.
Neither Hermione or Sirius really knew how to proceed. Hermione had only had one real boyfriend and a few dates. Sirius only had experience with flings and he knew that she was more than just a fling; the idea of that slightly horrified him.
"Well it was terrifying to see you dying," Sirius began, "and maybe I needed to make sure you were safe because…I fancy you a bit…"
Hermione laughed at the higher octave his voice had taken, "So you fancy me a bit. Care to elaborate? And truth only; no charming lines to make me swoon."
"Merlin you're difficult," Sirius laughed as he leaned forward, not looking at Hermione directly. "Well, you're extremely bright; brightest of our year possibly. You can definitely handle yourself; you're not a pushover. You're gorgeous; without being showy. And you refuse to fall for my crap; as evident by this horrible speech you've forced me to make."
The young witch sat there in stunned silence for a few seconds, "And what will you do with all these observations?"
"Um…" He stalled a bit to collect his thoughts, "Hopefully convince you that I'm not the wanker that most girls think I am, and get you to agree to go out with me?" Sirius signed and tilted his head toward Hermione. She looked shocked still, but quickly regained composure.
"I don't think you're a wanker, Sirius," Hermione said softly as she grinned.
"Well, that's good I suppose." He leaned back to lie down on the bed and raised both his hands and placed them on his forehead. "Did you know you're incredibly intimidating?"
Hermione snorted, "I'm intimidating?"
"Yes. You're insanely smart; I have no bloody idea what to say around you. And to top it off, you're McGonagall's niece." He covered his face now, "I've never met a girl that I can't talk to. It's infuriating."
"I'm confused Sirius, do you like me or hate me?" Hermione began to laugh.
"There's a very fine line Blondie." He sat up again and turned to directly face her, "Would you go to Hogsmeade with me next weekend?"
"I thought you weren't taking anyone to Hogsmeade so you could prove Remus wrong?" Hermione noticed how easily her smiles seemed to form in his company now.
"Well, let's just say I'll be alright conceding this one time; if you said yes," Sirius couldn't help but giving one of his flirty winks to the blonde.
Hermione snickered at his ridiculous effort, "I'll say 'yes' if you refrain from any more absurd winking."
"Done!" Sirius' smile was blinding.
Yay! That chapter was so fun to write. Please let me know what you all thought as well.
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Love, Misha