Serena couldn't believe her eyes. Bellatrix Black and Rodolphus Lestrange? How did they get here? How did they know we'd be here?
Those thoughts flashed through her mind as she raised her wand, using a Shield Charm just as Bellatrix sent a curse at her. She darted a quick glance at Sirius, and her eyes caught his right before he ducked to avoid Lestrange's hex. He had looked as confused as she felt – but also determined.
Serena tried to open the door to leave the room, but it was locked somehow. "I don't think so," Lestrange said, walking closer to her.
Serena felt a flash of panic. I'm cornered. I have nowhere to go. What am I going to do?
She quickly shook the thoughts from her head, reminding herself that they were all cornered. All four of them were locked into this room. Could she and Sirius out-maneuver two Death Eaters? We'll have to, Serena told herself.
Bellatrix and Sirius were dueling, and Lestrange was firing curses at Serena. She knew her Shield Charm wouldn't hold much longer. They, too, started dueling, yelling hexes at each other. She could hear Bellatrix scream, and Sirius grunt in pain. Serena didn't have time to turn around and check on him, though, because she was quickly running out of ideas to use against Lestrange.
She twisted wildly in the air to avoid a curse Lestrange sent her way. "Give up, my prize," he taunted her. "You're no match for me – and I'm tired of waiting to have you…although I'm sure you know enough tricks to make it up to me."
Ignoring his disgusting words, Serena found her opening. "STUPEFY!" she screamed.
At almost the same time, Serena heard Sirius yell and someone on the other side of the room slumped to the floor. Lestrange also fell to the floor, due to the force with which she had hurled her spell at him. Serena darted forward and grabbed his wand, then whirled.
Her eyes took in Sirius lying in a pool of blood and Bellatrix, breathing heavily, standing over him. No! her mind cried, her hand letting go of Lestrange's wand without even noticing.
Bellatrix looked up and noticed Serena pointing her wand at her, but Bellatrix raised her own wand arm too slowly. "Crucio!" Serena screamed, her voice full of hate.
Bellatrix began shrieking in pain, falling to the floor, and still Serena didn't let up. Suddenly she heard a noise and the door to the room was thrown open. "Enough!" a man yelled.
Serena stopped, Bellatrix unmoving on the floor. "Who are you?" she asked, pointing her wand at him and breathing heavily.
"I know you," the blue-eyed man said. "You're Alastor's niece. I want to help you."
"That doesn't answer my question," Serena said evenly.
He held up his hands in surrender. Serena looked at him. His eyes seem so familiar…
Suddenly there was a loud crack. Serena whirled to find that while the man had distracted her, Lestrange and Bellatrix had Disapparated. "Fuck!" she exclaimed.
Her eyes fell on Sirius, who still hadn't gotten up. She felt a moment of hysterics; blood was seeping from his chest onto the floor. She fell to her knees beside him, not noticing that the hem of her dress was now soaked in his blood, and put a finger on his neck to check for a pulse. It was there, but weak. His eyes were closed, his face pale, and his breathing shallow. Serena wouldn't let herself panic; not now. She had to figure out a way to get Sirius help. She looked back at the man in the hallway, deciding he was her only shot. "He needs medical attention," she said, gesturing towards Sirius.
"Take him to Madam Pomfrey."
Serena hesitated. "The way I came here…they knew I was coming. The passage might be compromised."
"I have another way," the man said.
Serena didn't want to trust him, but she had no choice. Sirius needed help. "Hurry," she said, levitating Sirius.
She, an unconscious Sirius, and the man went downstairs and up to a portrait. The man waved a hand to it. "Go through here."
Serena stared at him. "Into a picture? This is your way of helping me?"
"It will take you to Hogwarts," the man said.
Eyeing him disbelievingly, Serena touched the painting…and felt herself falling into it. The still-levitating body of Sirius followed her. Shaking her head but not having time to ask questions, Serena ran down the passageway that had appeared.
She finally exited, finding herself in a small room. She left the room, orienting herself, and took off towards the medical wing with Sirius floating behind her. "Help!" Serena gasped out upon entering.
Madam Pomfrey bustled into the front room, took one look at Sirius, and paled. "Get him into this bed," she said immediately, her voice businesslike. "Go get Professor Dumbledore, and – "
But no sooner had the words left her mouth than Dumbledore was in the hospital wing. "Professor?" Serena asked, confused.
"I heard about what happened," he said.
"It was Bellatrix, Professor. She and Lestrange knew we were – "
But Dumbledore shook his head at her. "Later, Miss Ashby. Poppy, how is he looking?"
Serena looked at Madam Pomfrey hopefully, but she was shaking her head. "It's Dark magic…I don't know if I know enough to – "
"St. Mungo's, then," Dumbledore said.
Serena felt scared. How had Dumbledore found out so quickly? He seemed so worried. And what kind of magic had Bellatrix used that even Madam Pomfrey didn't know how to heal Sirius?
Dumbledore and Madam Pomfrey were preparing to bring Sirius to the hospital when Serena spoke. "Let me come with, Professor. Please," she begged as Dumbledore looked at her.
After a moment, Dumbledore spoke. "All right."
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Serena felt like she was short of breath. She and Dumbledore had accompanied Sirius – who had not regained consciousness and whose breathing was shallow at best – to St. Mungo's. Dumbledore had told Serena she had to wait outside, and he had gone into the room to speak with the healers.
That had been an hour ago, and Dumbledore had yet to reappear. Serena was trying to stay positive, but her thoughts were racing.
There was so much blood. I can't believe it was his own cousin who did that to him. What curse did she use? Is the curse supposed to kill him, or just injure him?
Serena tried to think about something else. How did they know we were there? No one knew. I didn't even book the room under either of our names. And who was that man there? He said he owned the place, but why would he help us? When it comes to Death Eaters, most people want to stay out of the way. And why does he have access to Hogwarts?
Serena started rocking back and forth. Please let him be okay, please let him be okay, please let him be okay…
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After another hour passed, Dumbledore came out to where Serena was sitting. "Professor!" she said, standing up and blurting out questions as quickly as she thought of them. "How is he? What's happened? Is he awake? Is he going to be – "
"One question at a time please, Miss Ashby," Dumbledore said calmly.
"How is he?" she asked, more slowly this time.
"We remain optimistic."
Serena had never felt like hexing Dumbledore before, but suddenly it was the only thing on her mind. "What does that mean?" she asked, irritation coming through in her voice.
To his credit, Dumbledore ignored her tone. "The healers are doing everything they can. He's no longer losing blood, which is something, but if – until – until he regains consciousness, we can't know for sure the extent of the damage."
Serena sank down into her chair. "If? If he regains consciousness?" she repeated hollowly.
"When," Dumbledore reiterated. "When he does, we'll know more."
He sat down next to her. "Can you tell me what happened?"
"They were waiting for us," Serena said dumbly. "Waiting. They knew we were coming. How did they know? I was fighting Lestrange, and he was fighting Bellatrix, and the next thing I knew – "
"Serena Ashby!" a voice thundered. "What the hell happened tonight?"
Serena looked up and saw her uncle moving as quickly as he could towards her and Dumbledore. Dumbledore stood up at his arrival, but Serena remained seated. "I don't know," Serena told him, her voice cracking. "I don't know."
"Don't give me that. I taught you better than that. Tell me what happened, and we can fix it."
Despite everything, Serena found herself believing him. If Dumbledore and her uncle couldn't fix it, after all, then who could? And Serena refused to think that this couldn't be fixed. "Start at the beginning," her uncle instructed.
Serena felt her face turn a little bit red. "Sirius and I were going to Hogsmeade."
"Hog's Head?" her uncle verified.
Serena nodded. "We, uh, wanted a drink away from everyone," she lied, sure that Dumbledore and her uncle would be able to see through her lie but not wanting to say what she and Sirius had really gone to Hogsmeade for.
"So I had arranged for us to have a room. But when we went upstairs, Bellatrix and Lestrange were sitting there. They were sitting there. They knew we were coming, they even knew what room we were coming to. How did they know?"
Her uncle was looking at her like she was an idiot. "Well, if you reserved a room, then it's not really a surprise that – "
"I didn't use my name!" Serena said defensively. "Not Sirius', either. I'm not a complete moron. I used my friend Isabelle's name."
Dumbledore's eyes narrowed a bit and he spoke for the first time since Serena had begun her story. "Who knew about your plans for tonight?"
"No one," Serena said.
She paused. "Well, Isabelle did, of course. She helped me get the room. But no one else."
"No one," Dumbledore repeated. "Not Miss Evans? Sirius didn't tell Mr. Potter?"
"Sirius didn't know what I had planned," Serena said quietly. "It was a surprise."
Dumbledore and Moody exchanged a look, but Serena didn't feel up to deciphering what it meant. "It's late," Dumbledore said. "We should get back to Hogwarts. Perhaps tomorrow we can – "
"I'm not leaving," Serena interrupted.
Her uncle gave her a look like he couldn't believe she had interrupted Dumbledore, but Serena didn't care. She wasn't leaving. She couldn't. Sirius would need her there. "Miss Ashby, I don't think that's a good idea. You need rest."
"Professor Dumbledore," Serena said. "If a student was hurt, you would call his parents, wouldn't you? And the parents would get to stay here with him. Sirius – Sirius doesn't have that. But he has me. And I'm already here."
Dumbledore didn't look convinced, but Serena had one more trick up her sleeve. "Please," she begged, and she started crying.
It wasn't all a ploy, of course, because she had been fighting tears since she had seen Sirius lying in a pool of blood. She just chose to release these tears at the most opportune moment. Moody looked uncomfortable, and Dumbledore finally released a sigh. "All right. But you can't go in until the morning, anyway. You'll have to wait out here."
"That's fine," Serena said immediately, sniffing back her tears.
"Can I talk to you for a minute?" Moody asked Dumbledore.
The two men left Serena by herself, and she quickly conjured up some parchment and a quill to scribble out a note.
James –
Sirius and I went off to Hogsmeade. We were supposed to spend the night at Hog's Head, but when we got there Bellatrix and Lestrange were sitting in the room waiting for us. We dueled with them, but they Disapparated and Sirius was hurt. He was hurt badly, James. I don't even know how badly. I'm at St. Mungo's with him right now, but I can't see him until morning. I don't – I don't know, James. I just don't know. I'm sorry.
- Serena
Dumbledore and Moody came back over to Serena. "I'm going back to Hogwarts," Dumbledore said.
Serena handed him her note. "Can you – can you give this to James?"
"Yes," Dumbledore said, looking solemn. "I'll talk to the Gryffindors tomorrow."
With that, he left. Moody sat down next to Serena. "Are you hurt?" he asked her.
Serena shook her head. "I'm fine," she said.
She hadn't yet inspected the damage under her dress, but knew she was pretty bruised. Her side must be bruised especially badly, because it hurt if she breathed too deeply. Compared to Sirius' injuries, though, Serena knew bruises were nothing to worry about. "Why this Isabelle girl?" he asked next. "I've never even heard you mention her before."
Serena shrugged. "She's been really upset since Rosie – a friend of ours – was killed over Christmas break. I thought she'd feel included, or something, if I got her to help me with my surprise. She seemed happier when we were planning."
Her uncle didn't say anything else, and Serena didn't ask. She could only think about Sirius right now. "It's revenge, isn't it," Serena said quietly.
"What?"
"They want revenge on me. Because of what I helped do, luring…you know…to Hogsmeade that night."
"They were always going to come after you," Moody said flatly. "Black, too."
Serena nodded, unconvinced, as her uncle left.
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The next morning, a nurse came out and told Serena she could see Sirius. Serena stood slowly, her bruised body stiff from sitting in the uncomfortable hospital chairs all night. She hadn't been able to fall asleep, but was instead reliving every moment of the fight and seeing if there was something else she could have done.
Serena followed the nurse inside and couldn't stop a gasp from escaping her lips when she saw Sirius. He didn't have a shirt on, but his strong chest was covered with white gauze bandages. He was still pale, paler than she had ever seen him, and she stared at his chest for a good five minutes before she could finally discern that it was in fact moving up and down as he took a breath. His breathing was so shallow that the movement was almost imperceptible.
Finally urging her shaking legs forward, Serena sank into the chair next to Sirius' bed. She leaned forward, brushing his hair back from his forehead with a gentle hand, then took hold of one of his cold hands with both of hers. "They got away," Serena finally said softly.
Sirius didn't move or make any sign that he could hear her. Serena bit her lip, then continued speaking. "I tried to stop them. I thought they were both unconscious, but they must have came to enough to Disapparate. I'm sorry I couldn't stop them."
Serena brought his hand to her lips, gently kissing it and then lowering her head to rest against his arm. "Please wake up," she whispered against his skin, then started to cry.
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A little while later, an older woman came into the room. "Hello," she greeted Serena.
Serena straightened. Her eyes were red and her makeup smeared from crying, tearstains visible on her cheeks. "Who are you?" Serena asked suspiciously.
"I'm a healer," the woman answered gently, taking pity on the poor girl.
"Oh."
Serena looked at Sirius, biting her lip, then looked back at the woman. "Can you make him wake up soon?" she asked hopefully.
"I'm going to do my best," the woman replied.
Serena nodded. "I'm Serena," she introduced herself.
"Elizabeth," the woman replied. "Serena, I'm going to have to ask you to leave for a bit. I need to perform some healing spells."
But Serena was shaking her head. "I – "
Elizabeth, however, was no novice when it came to dealing with the family members of her patients. She knew which buttons to push to get the family member to leave. "I need all of my concentration to be focused on him," Elizabeth said. "I don't know if I can do that if you're in here with me."
Serena immediately stood. "All right. But I – I'll be right outside. I can come in as soon as you're done, right?"
Elizabeth nodded. Serena looked at Sirius again, then at Elizabeth, who gave her an encouraging smile. Serena gave her a nod, then left.
Serena sat in a chair right outside the door to Sirius' room. She had been there for less than ten minutes when she saw a familiar figure heading towards her. "James," she said, standing up.
Except where Lily was concerned, Serena had never seen him look so worried. "I got your note," he said, stopping in front of her. "Dumbledore talked to me, Remus, and Peter this morning, but he'd only let one of us come. What – "
"A healer is in with him now," Serena said. "She just kicked me out of his room. Hopefully he'll be better after she leaves."
Serena felt tears well up in her eyes and started blinking rapidly. "It's not good, James," she said, her voice scratchy.
To her surprise, James took a step closer and enveloped her in his arms. She winced as he pressed against her bruised side, but she accepted his comfort nonetheless. "He'll be fine," James said with a confidence he didn't really feel. "This is Sirius we're talking about, Serena. You think he'd let Bellatrix get the better of him?"
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Two hours later, Serena was feeling even guiltier. The healer had finally left and had said Sirius was still unconscious, but that he could have a visitor. James had taken a step forward before looking back at Serena, but she had nodded that it was all right with her if James went in to see him first. James had come out a half an hour later looking shaken. "Go ahead," he said, gesturing towards the door with his hand.
Serena got the feeling that James wanted to be alone, and she wanted to see Sirius. So she left him without a backwards glance and resumed her vigil at Sirius' bedside. She didn't know what spells the healer had performed, but Sirius didn't seem to be doing any better. "James is worried about you," Serena said softly, her voice seeming loud in the otherwise-silent room. "You – and Lily – are the most important people to him. You need to wake up, so you can make fun of him for being so concerned."
Sirius didn't make any signs that he could hear her, and Serena drew in a shuddering breath, making a face at the discomfort it caused her. "You're going to make me cry again," she scolded him shakily. "You don't want that, do you?"
There was no response from Sirius' still form. Tears began silently rolling down Serena's cheeks.
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James and Serena had spent the day alternating between who got to sit with Sirius. By nine o'clock that evening, Elizabeth had shown up again and made them both wait in the hallway. Neither James nor Serena spoke, and while they were waiting to hear what Elizabeth had to say Dumbledore came up to them.
Dumbledore took a look at their faces and didn't ask how Sirius was doing. "Is a healer in with him now?" he asked them.
They nodded. "Her name's Elizabeth," Serena spoke up.
Dumbledore nodded. He, too, sat down, and a few minutes later Elizabeth came out of the room. Seeing Dumbledore sitting with the two teens, she came over to them. "He's stable," she said. "That's a good sign."
"But he still hasn't regained consciousness," James pointed out.
Elizabeth frowned slightly. "No, he hasn't. Once he does, we can assess the damage."
"So he will wake up?" Serena asked hopefully.
Elizabeth gave her a gentle look. "It's important we all believe that he will."
"Thank you," Dumbledore said, and the healer hurried off to see to another patient.
He looked at James and Serena. James looked somber, his eyes staring straight ahead, and Serena's lips were pressed together in an attempt to hold in her sobs. "I've come to take you back to Hogwarts," Dumbledore said to them.
James shook his head and Serena said, "Professor, we can't. I can't. What if – if something happens during the night? I have to be here."
"Miss Ashby, you heard what the healer said. He's in stable condition, and – "
"So what if he wakes up?" Serena interrupted. "He can't wake up and be alone. I need to be here."
"It's not like we have class tomorrow," James said, reminding Dumbledore that the next day would only be Sunday.
Dumbledore looked at the two of them. He was silent for a moment, seeming to consider what they had said. Then he gave a quick nod. "All right. You can both stay. For tonight," he said, emphasizing the last word.
Serena ignored him and James gave him a nod in return. "I'll be back to check on you all tomorrow," Dumbledore said.
He hesitated, then left. "We won't be able to go in during the night," Serena told James dully.
"Right. I'll go in now, then, and after you can? Before visiting hours are up."
Serena nodded, her eyes on the floor.
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James woke up very early the next morning. He was sitting in a chair outside Sirius' room and, looking to his right, he saw Serena still sitting in the chair next to him. "Did you get any sleep?" he asked her.
She shook her head, and James frowned a bit. Serena was still wearing her black dress – there was a dark stain on the hem that James didn't want to think about – and he could see the numerous bruises on her. She hadn't slept for two nights now. James had managed to get in a few hours of rest, but Serena just sat there staring off into nothing.
James stood up, stretching. "I'm going to find some food," he said. "Do you want anything?"
Serena shook her head. James opened his mouth as if to say something, then seemed to think better of it and disappeared down the hallway. Seeing the clock tick to six o'clock, Serena stood and went into Sirius' room. "Hey love," she said, softly closing the door behind her. "Visiting hours have started again."
She leaned over him, running a hand along his forehead and down the side of his face. Biting her lip, she sat down in the chair next to his bed. "James and I stayed the night, though, in case you woke up. We had to sit outside. But I'm just telling you because if you do wake up during the night, it's okay. I'll be here waiting for you; you won't be alone."
Serena rubbed her thumb in circles on his limp hand, but he didn't even twitch at her words or her movement. "I'm alone, though," she added, her voice breaking. "I feel alone without you. Please wake up."
She heard the door open behind her and Elizabeth came in. "Morning," she said cheerfully. "How's our boy doing today?"
Serena stood slowly. "The same," she said miserably.
Elizabeth nodded. "Can you wait outside, please?"
Serena looked at Sirius, then left without saying a word. She found James, Dumbledore, and Remus waiting outside. "Remus," Serena said, surprised.
"Couldn't stop him from coming this time," Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling slightly.
But Remus was staring at Serena. "Serena – are you all right?" he asked.
"I'm not the one in the hospital bed, Remus," she responded.
Remus looked worried. "But you have bruises all over."
Dumbledore looked at her as well. "Yes, perhaps we should have someone take a look at you," he said, concerned.
"I'm fine," Serena said shortly.
True, her side did have a stabbing pain in it sometimes, but mostly she just felt numb. "Here," James said, thrusting a croissant at her.
Serena took it and began fiddling with it, but didn't eat it. She listened as Dumbledore, James, and Remus spoke and waited for Elizabeth to come out again.
Finally the healer reappeared, gave another similarly disappointing report, and left. To Serena's surprise, it was Dumbledore who stood up. "I'll be back out soon," he said, leaving the three teens sitting together.
James was filling in Remus on what had happened the previous day, and Serena got up to throw out her croissant. She sat back down, wincing slightly at the pain in her side, then turned her attention to what James and Remus were saying. Remus still had a worried expression on his face when he looked at her, but he didn't say anything.
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James, Remus, and Serena took turns sitting with Sirius for the rest of the day. Dumbledore was also there all day, although he didn't go in to see Sirius again. When Serena was in with Sirius right before visiting hours were over, Dumbledore took the opportunity to speak with James and Remus. "You all need to come back to Hogwarts with me tonight," Dumbledore said quickly.
James looked like he wanted to protest, but Dumbledore held up a hand. "I need you to help me convince Miss Ashby to come with us. She won't want to, but she has to get some rest. She can't stay here indefinitely."
He looked directly at James. "And I know Sirius wouldn't want that."
James and Remus exchanged a look, then nodded. When visiting hours were over, Serena exited Sirius' room and came over to them. "Ready to go back to Hogwarts?" Dumbledore asked briskly.
Serena shook her head. "Professor, I can't. I just – I can't."
Her eyes pleaded with him to understand. "I think we should go back," Remus said.
Serena glared at him, then looked to James for support. But he was nodding along with Remus. "James – " Serena began.
He interrupted her, his voice curt. "You should go back to school, Serena. Get some rest. Change clothes."
"I can't, what if – "
"Do it," James commanded her, his voice harsh. "I can't look at his blood on your dress, Serena. I can't look at it anymore."
Serena looked down at her dress. She had forgotten all about the bloodstain. "Oh," she said, her voice small.
She looked at Remus, who nodded at her encouragingly. "All right," she finally agreed.
"We'll Floo back," Dumbledore said as he led the three teens to a large fireplace in the St. Mungo's lobby.
Remus went first, then Serena, then James, and finally Dumbledore. Serena fell to the floor, her side shooting a blinding pain through her, before she finally managed to stand, feeling like she was about to throw up. "Serena?" Remus asked, the only one who saw her fall.
"I'm fine," she said quickly.
He didn't look like he believed her, but once again kept his thoughts to himself. James and Dumbledore arrived, and Dumbledore tried to convince the three teens they should attend class the following day. His heart wasn't in it, though, and they were all adamant in their refusal.
James, Remus, and Serena left Dumbledore's office. Serena was walking slowly, not wanting to go back and have to deal with everyone's questions and their concern, but Remus put an arm around her to keep her moving.
Luckily it was very late, and as they hadn't told anyone they were coming back, none of their friends were waiting up for them. Serena followed James and Remus up to their room. "I just want to grab something," she said quietly, and they nodded.
Serena went in, making sure to stay quiet since Peter and Frank were sleeping, and grabbed a white button-up shirt of Sirius'. Ignoring the looks James and Remus sent her way, she scurried out of the room.
Now moving even more silently, she went to her own room. Careful not to wake up her sleeping roommates, Serena eased her bruised body out of her dress. She pulled on a pair of loose-fitting khaki pants and buttoned up Sirius' shirt, then went downstairs.
She sat on a couch in front of the fire. The flames' warmth helped banish the coldness she had felt in her bones since she had seen Sirius' body on the floor. She lowered her face to the shirt's collar and inhaled deeply. It smelled like him, which comforted her. The shirt could have been a dress on her, but she didn't care.
Serena closed her eyes and tried to fall asleep.