Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Hold on Tight	By : cls2256 Category: HP Canon Characters paired with Original Characters > Het - Male/Female Views: 7315 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of its characters. This fic is for entertainment purposes only!

Chapter List
- 1-one
- 2-two
- 3-three
- 4-four
- 5-five
- 6-six
- 7-seven
- 8-eight
- 9-nine
- 10-ten
- 11-eleven
- 12-twelve
- 13-thirteen
- 14-fourteen
- 15-fifteen
- 16-sixteen
- 17-seventeen
- 18-eighteen
- 19-nineteen
- 20-twenty
- 21-twenty one
- 22-twenty two
- 23-twenty three
- 24-twenty four
- 25-twenty five
- 26-twenty six
- 27-twenty seven
- 28-twenty eight
- 29-Twenty nine
- 26
- 27
- 28
"—Just this week, we're at seven. That makes thirteen this month already."
Mad-Eye Moody's wooden leg thunked on the stone floor as he paced at the head of 12 Grimmauld Place's kitchen table. With Dumbledore out of the country, news to the Order of the Phoenix when they arrived for the meeting today, Moody was left in charge of facilitating. The rest of the Order filled every chair, plus a few standing off to the side. Mostly empty plates of Molly's hot water crust game pie were piled up in the sink to be attended to later.
"Seven disappearances this week," Molly bellowed. "It's getting worse."
Sirius sat leaned back in his chair, arm draped loosely around Allie as she leaned her body weight against him. He twirled a stray curl of her hair around his index finger, which was usually something he'd be swatted for and scolded for making her hair frizz. He suspected his fidgeting was comforting to her, as the mention of seven disappearances just this week had made her posture tense.
"Are we noticing any patterns with who is going missing?" Sirius said. "Job type, family type—"
"Appears to be blood status," Arthur interjected, tossing a pamphlet onto the table. "I've found these being circulated around."
Brazened on the front of the trifold pamphlet was large red text reading:
Squib: An Infection in the Magical Bloodlines
"Not only this, but an article was published in Witch Weekly last week against muggle-borns."
Arthur flipped open last week's addition to a bi-page spread, featuring a picture of a young child next to an automobile. The article's title read:
Muggle Born: Where their magic REALLY comes from.
"It's all Death Eater propaganda," Arthur continued. "They're targeting audiences they've never targeted before. The pureblood housewife reads this with her morning coffee and fears her children's magic is actually being stolen. A family is given a pamphlet while out walking in Diagon Alley, and suddenly they fear their squib neighbor is a threat."
"Just the other day, I got into an altercation with a customer because he was treating one of our servers poorly," Sirius added. "Didn't want a squib serving them."
"The Leaky Cauldron is such a central location," Kingsley said. "I'm surprised that the Death Eater's haven't used it as a meeting place more often. They probably would if Sirius didn't work there."
"Maybe Sirius needs to quit so they'll use it," Moody muttered. "Besides, that'd free him up to help Dumbledore with added security at Hogwarts while he's away on weekends."
Sirius glanced to the empty chair at the head of the table where Dumbledore usually sat during Order meetings. No one chose to sit in his seat, despite not having enough chairs for everyone to sit tonight.
"But If Sirius quit, then we wouldn't have an inside person to listen in," Tonks interjected.
"It's not like I can hear anything from the kitchen anyway," Sirius shrugged. "My face isn't exactly good for business, so I don't anticipate working the bar anytime soon."
"Maybe we need one of Fred and George's extendable ears," Arthur suggested. "They work pretty well."
"They're not exactly discreet," Remus said. "Servers would be tripping over them left and right."
"Hmm… sounds like a problem, huh, Fred?" George asked his twin brother with an excited grin.
"A real problem; someone should think of a way to fix that," Fred added.
"Oh, what are you two blubbering about?" Moody snapped.
Fred and George had the largest, most pleased grins plastered to their faces.
"Think we should unveil it now?" George asked Fred eagerly.
"Ready if you are," Fred nodded.
"You all are the first to see our brand new product," George said, tossing a burgundy briefcase onto the table and flicking the latches open. "Lucky we had the prototype with us today."
George set out two blue velvet boxes onto the table before stowing the briefcase away. He took hold of one as Fred took hold of the other.
"I believe these—" George said as he and Fred flicked their boxes open simultaneously. "Are the answer to your dilemma!"
"Uh, Fred, George," Tonks said awkwardly. "The boxes are empty…"
"They look empty," Fred said, grinning ear to ear. "Meet our new and improved Extendable Ears, Now stringless and invisible!"
"Much more stealthy," George added. "Much less likely to get caught eavesdropping!"
"Part one fits over your ear," Fred said, attaching the invisible device over his outer ear. "As you can see, or can't see, it is completely invisible."
"I can see it," Moody gruffed impatiently. "Go on."
"Invisible to the naked eye," George added. "Part two sticks anywhere you put it. You can put this on a table centerpiece, on someone's fridge or an alarm clock, and listen in without them ever knowing you're eavesdropping!"
"Just don't forget where you put it," Fred said. "They can be tricky to find if you misplace either piece."
"So we could plant one of those at a table of Death Eaters," Sirius said. "And I could hear the entire conversation from the kitchen?"
"Right you are, Sirius," George said proudly. "We enhanced the sound quality too, so conversations should still be audible in a room full of ambient noise, or if someone is whispering."
"It's genius," Remus said.
"Isn't it?" Fred and George said in unison.
"I can get your sister to plant them for me," Sirius said to Allie. "Now that your mum moved her into the dining room."
"Pending no one starts throwing food at her again," Allie whispered, giving him a frown.
"Here, Sirius, take 'em," Fred said, placing the devices back in their boxes and sliding them over to Sirius. "Just try not to lose them, alright? This is the only set we have currently since George lost the first prototype."
"I didn't lose them," George argued. "I just don't remember exactly where I stuck piece two, that's all…"
Throughout the rest of the meeting, Sirius found himself glancing over at Snape at the other end of the table. Had he finished the journal yet? He figured Snape would've owled if he found a countercurse by now, but he was on pins and needles over it since the week before.
Snape appeared to be one foot out the door the entire meeting, hovering against the wall and seeming to inch closer and closer to the fireplace as he sensed the meeting nearing a close. Sirius wanted the chance to ask him, so the moment the meeting disbanded, Sirius jumped up from his chair, putting himself in Snape's direct path to the fireplace.
"Hey, uh, Severus," Sirius said, attempting to sound casual. "Could I have a moment?"
Snape sighed heavily. "What is it you need?"
Sirius lowered his voice. "I was hoping you'd maybe had cracked that journal by now?"
"I'm very busy, Black," Snape sneered. "Despite you thinking you're the most important thing in this world right now, I've got other matters to attend to before working on your little pet project."
Sirius fought down the flash of irritation, remembering that Snape held power in this situation. "I didn't mean it like that; I was just wondering if you had finished with it."
"No, I haven't."
Damnit. Sirius needed to unload this journal but couldn't give it back without a countercurse.
"You've… you've started working on it, though, right?"
"And what would you do if I said I hadn't," Snape drawled, testing him.
Sirius let out a long exhale. "I spoke with Lenore last week. She cornered me and demanded the journal back. She gave me a week, or she would retaliate, and I know what she's capable of."
"Are you afraid of her?" Snape raised an eyebrow. "Sirius Black, afraid of a challenge?"
"I am afraid of her hurting the people I love," Sirius admitted honestly. "She's done it before, and I have no doubt she'll do it again. I don't want to give the journal back without figuring out what she cursed me with in the first place, but—" Sirius swallowed. He felt very vulnerable at this moment and hated that Snape was the one to witness it. "I'm scared of what she'll do if I won't give it back to her."
Snape studied him for a moment before his shoulders relaxed. "I have started on it, but I don't know what she cursed you with yet. I'll need a little bit more time."
"Ok, just maybe don't take too long?" Sirius asked, pleading.
Snape looked annoyed once more. "Do not forget that this is the second favor you've asked of me."
"I haven't forgotten," Sirius said. "Name your price. What do you need?"
"I'll let you know when I'm in the market for a favor," Snape said, turning away and walking towards the floo. "I'll be in touch."
A firm hand clasped on Sirius's shoulder as he watched Snape floo away. Sirius flinched.
"Sorry," Remus said, chuckling, "What was that about?"
"Oh, nothing, just Snivellus being Snivellus," Sirius forced a smile. "You heading out?"
"I was, but there's some insistent ladies here that are requesting ice cream."
Allie gave a shy little wave from the table as Tonks stuck her bottom lip out like a child begging for a toy.
"I could run out and get some," Remus offered, running his hand through his hair as if he were trying to act casual. "That's if you have some time to hang around, Dor—er, Tonks."
Tonks's cheeks turned a twinge of pink. "Yeah, yeah, I've got some time.”
Sirius grinned at their awkward interaction. "How about I go with you?" Sirius said, "I'll buy."
They set out to the muggle corner store just a few blocks away, bundled up in their thick winter cloaks, scarfs and mittens. It was rather cold outside, but no wind which made it bearable.
"So, on a nick-name basis with Tonks, hm?" Sirius said, grinning.
Remus's ears were bright red as he laughed under his breath. "We've been spending a bit more time together lately."
"So you two are finally doing the old rumpy-pumpy?" Sirius grinned. "On the regular?"
"I've spent the night with her almost every night since New Years'," Remus admitted. "Minus a few days around the full moon, of course."
"Good for you," Sirius said as they approached the corner store. "You deserve a good bit of fun, yeah?"
The shop was not busy, reckoning most people were probably not interested in ice cream in the dead of winter. They were the only people in the shop, minus the female cashier who looked like she'd rather be anywhere but there. She stared at them in annoyance as she blew large bubblegum bubbles, smacking her gum and tapping her acrylic nails on the counter impatiently. Remus quickly picked out fudge ripple and peanut butter brittle and took them to the counter.
"Better get a few extras," Sirius said, grabbing pints of chocolate chip, rocky road, and raspberry truffle. "Allie goes through ice cream like water."
Both of their arms were full of ice cream as they walked back, taking all of the streets illuminated by streetlights and avoiding dark alleys.
"Allie and I are going to try for another baby," Sirius casually mentioned at a natural pause in their conversation.
"Yeah?" Remus asked, perking up in interest. "Do you think it's too soon?"
"I told her it's on her timeline," He said, "we've talked about getting married too. I just haven't gone out and gotten a ring yet."
"Anything stopping you?"
"No, no, I want to marry her," Sirius said quickly. "I don't know, it seems like things just keep popping up and distracting me, like I saw Lenore last week, and I've hardly been able to think about anything else since then."
"You forgot to take your potion?"
"No..."
Remus stopped and looked at Sirius.
"She cornered me in an alley on my way home from work," Sirius said. "she wants her journal back. She threatened Allie."
"What'd you tell her?" Remus said.
"I told her I didn't have it," Sirius said. "And she told me to get it back and then give it to her. She gave me until tomorrow to do it."
"Is Snape finished with it?"
"No, that’s what we were discussing earlier," Sirius said. "She was very serious."
"I mean, at least Allie is pretty safe."
"How do you mean?"
"All she does is go to school right now," Remus said. "She isn't out walking the streets to work or perusing London by herself. If she's not at home, she's protected by being at school. Lenore can't just walk into Hogwarts and hex her."
Upon arriving back at 12 Grimmauld Place, they were greeted like military heroes returning home from war.
"Took you two long enough," Tonks teased. “We’re starving over here!”
"We were only gone 20 minutes!" Remus laughed as he grabbed bowls from the cupboard. "I think we were rather timely."
Before Sirius could grab spoons out of the silverware drawer, Allie and Tonks had already cracked open each pint of ice cream, observing the assortment.
"Bleh," Tonks scoffed as she sniffed the pint of peanut butter brittle, "there's something wrong with this ice cream."
"What?" Remus wrinkled his nose as he spooned a bite from the top. He sniffed it and took a bite. "This tastes fine."
"It smells like vomit," she said, waving it away from her. "Gimme the rocky road."
Sirius reckoned Tonks must be coming down with something, as the peanut butter brittle tasted fine to him.
"Tonks suggested we get a room at the Three Broomsticks next week," Allie said to Sirius as she scooped herself a mountain of ice cream. "It could be an early Valentine's Day celebration since most likely you'll have to work that actual weekend."
"That's Hogwarts' Hogsmeade weekend, right?" Sirius said. "Harry asked me to come by for lunch that day."
"You could have lunch with Harry and dinner with us," Tonks said. "Whatcha think, Remus? Dinner next weekend in Hogsmeade?"
Remus appeared to be counting in his head for a moment before responding. "Yes, next weekend is good." He said finally. "It's just after the full moon."
The ladies began chattering off about the local restaurants near Hogsmeade station, Tonks giving her' expert opinion' on who had the best dinner specials.
"...After all, I am stationed there, so I've eaten my way around," she said
Remus gave Sirius a kick in the shin under the table, then silently pointed to his ring finger. He then gestured with his eyes to Allie and shrugged his shoulders. Sirius interpreted this as Remus suggesting he take the plunge and propose to Allie while in Hogsmeade.
He grinned back at Remus and gave him a wink. It wasn't a bad idea; not a bad idea at all.
Sirius instinctively felt the pocket of his trousers, ensuring the square-shaped box was still in his pocket. He'd fidgeted with his pocket probably 25 times since arriving in Hogsmeade, fearing that one wrong move would cause it to fall out and be lost to the ethers.
He was going to propose to Allie this weekend, preferably tonight, if all went well. He'd had plans to drop to one knee after taking her on a stroll by the river after dinner with Tonks and Remus, hoping that the snow sparkling in the moonlight would give a pleasant backdrop. He would've stowed the ring upstairs, but when he and Allie checked in with Madam Rosmerta, their room wasn't ready just yet.
He watched as shot glasses of firewhisky zoomed by them, landing on a table where two portly gentlemen seemed to be having a merry time. Sirius watched as they downed their shot, slammed their glass on the table, and laughed with each other. Sirius could almost feel the burn of fire whisky if he imagined hard enough, craving the sharpness on his tongue, the cinnamon kick on the roof of his mouth…
He looked away abruptly, reminding himself that he wasn't a good drunk these days, and took a large swig of his frothy butterbeer. He grimaced as he swallowed, coughing slightly on the thick frothy foam coating the back of his throat.
"You alright?" Harry asked him with a wry grin.
"The butterbeer is sweeter than I remember," He said, straining. "I don't know if I can drink a whole one of these."
"When was the last time you'd had it?" Harry asked
"I was probably about your age. Once I'd developed a taste for whisky, I'd hardly drank anything else."
"I think it's quite good," Allie said softly, taking a large sip and leaving a whipped cream mustache on her upper lip. "I always admired Madam Rosmerta's recipe over many others."
"Allie will also eat pure granulated sugar by the spoonful," Sirius said to Harry, giving Allie a playful wink.
Her cheeks turned a twinge of pink as she rolled her eyes at Sirius. "Have either of you seen Tonks yet?" Her eyes scanned the crowd. "She said she'd be here by now."
Just then, the door to the pub opened, and Tonks stepped inside, shaking the snow off her turquoise hair. She waved to their table, hung her cloak on the coat rack, then made her way over.
"Wotcher, Harry, Sirius—" She nodded.
"Sorry, I was just sitting here until you got here," Allie smiled. "Here, we can move over here-"
"You ladies are welcome to join us," Sirius said. "Harry said Ron and Hermione would be along here in a moment."
"Thanks, Sirius," Tonks said. "But Allie and I have some things to discuss. Girl stuff, you know."
"Well, before you go off and get lost in gossip, can you help me test out the new ears?"
"New ears?" Harry asked.
"A new Weasley product," Sirius said. "Cordless and invisible extendable ears. Allie, could you-"
Allie pulled the boxes of extendable ears out of her bag and handed Sirius box one. She gave him a kiss on the cheek before trotting after tonks to their small corner table. He watched as she fastened the invisible item to the centerpiece of the table, then flipped open the box and felt around for the earpiece. It was harder to put on than he thought, not seeing which way was up or down.
"Can you hear us?" Tonks cried.
"OW!" Sirius grasped his ear and shot Tonks a look.
"Sorry," she said, lowering her voice back down to a normal speaking level. "How about now? Is that better?"
Sirius gave a thumbs up before looking at Allie.
"How's it sound? Can you hear me alright over the restaurant noise?"
Sirius flashed her another thumbs up. The ears worked very well, picking up the voices nearby and dimming out the sound around them, even with Allie's natural speaking voice being hushed.
"Alright then," Tonks said, a little loud so that Sirius put his hand on his ear again. "No eavesdropping on us over here," she took the invisible device and shoved it back in its box.
Sirius laughed and took the earpiece off, placing it back in the box. "They don't want us listening in on their girl talk."
"Girl talk?" Harry asked, chuckling.
"I've learned not to ask," Sirius said, grinning. "So, your owl seemed urgent. What was it that you needed to speak to me about?"
"Uhm, well," Harry took a breath, seeming to steady himself before speaking. "I feel like you haven't been honest with me."
Sirius's eyebrows rose into his hairline. "About what?"
"About what's been going on the past few months," Harry clasped his hands together and placed them on the table. "Allie was poisoned, but you said you don't know why. Is that true? And then the remark from New Years about being followed. You've never mentioned that the Order has been being followed this whole time."
Sirius set his butterbeer down and took a breath as Harry continued.
"And then," Harry went on. "I overhear something that you can't sleep without a special sleeping draught, 'because she'll torture him or worse.'"
It was true; he hadn't been honest with Harry. He hadn't wanted to worry him, to burden him with what had been going on with him and Allie for the last three months. Partially too, the last few times he'd spent with Harry, he'd gotten too drunk to have a conversation about any of it.
"I want to know what happened. I want to know why Allie lost the baby, why you're taking these potions, what you know about the Death Eaters, and what's been going on."
Sirius nodded. "Ok, ok. No more secrets."
Sirius started at the beginning. He told him about Lenore, her poisoning Allie, how she'd made comments that Sirius was not to be killed per Voldemort's orders, about the sleeping draughts he had to take due to her ability to invade his dreams. He explained all about her journal and how Snape was working on it for him, but she wanted it back. He told him just how much he'd been drinking, how as Allie was pulling out of her depression, he was settling into his.
"Every day feels different," He admitted. "Some days I do fine with it, some days I don't. She's the same, I think. I catch her crying in the nursery when she thinks I'm not paying attention."
Harry nodded, processing everything for a moment before speaking. "Why didn't you tell me any of this?"
"I— I didn't want to worry you," Sirius said. "You're my godson, I'm supposed to be, well, I could never take James's place, but—"
"I'm not a child, Sirius," Harry said, firmly but kindly. "You've never treated me as one until now. I stopped being a child the moment I stepped foot into that graveyard the night Voldemort returned. I don't need to be sheltered from what's happening in your life."
He was right, Sirius was always adamant about Harry being treated like an adult, yet here he was, attempting to shelter him like Molly insisted he needed to be. He would be of age this summer, and he was the exact age that Sirius was on his own. He deserved to be treated like a man.
"You're right," Sirius said. "I haven't been treating you like the man you are. I know you're not a child, and I'll do right to remember it."
Harry smiled and raised his butterbeer. "Cheers."
They clinked glasses, then both took a hearty sip. Sirius smacked his tongue in dissatisfaction one again, thinking the butterbeer would be much better spiked with a bit of rum.
"On a happier note, I want to show you something," He said, glancing over his shoulder to make sure Allie wasn't looking in this direction. He pulled the small velvet ring box from his pocket and pushed it under the table to Harry. "Don't hold this up to high. I don't want Allie to see it."
Harry opened the box under the table, smiled broadly, snapped it shut, and handed it back to Sirius. "You're finally going to ask her?"
"Yeah, it's about time," Sirius said, leaning back in his chair and grinning playfully. "Might as well."
Harry laughed. "I'm really happy for you. And her. Both of you."
This time, Sirius raised his butterbeer. "Cheers."
The Hogwarts students were long back at school before Sirius and Allie could get into their room at the Three Broomsticks.
"I had a maid quit on me last week," Madam Rosmerta had exclaimed. "You'll have to excuse the wait, but I figured you'd prefer clean sheets…"
The room had an antique Scottish cabin feel to it, with its graying wooden furniture and comforter made of rabbit skins. An iron grate fireplace sat across from the bed, and a small cozy bathroom was tucked off to the side. A dressing table was nestled underneath the window, adorned with a small desktop mirror, and the floor creaked with every step.
"It's charming," Allie smiled.
"A little rustic," Sirius said, forcing a smile. "But yeah, charming, I guess."
Allie kissed him on the cheek. "I need a shower; I'll be quick."
Sirius grinned. "Need some company?"
"I'm actually showering," She said, walking into the bathroom. "I'll be out before you can even undress."
"What's the fun in that??"
"Not only do we not have time," She called as she turned on the shower. "But we have this room for the rest of tonight," She popped her head out of the bathroom door and smiled. "We don't want to ruin the fun this early, do we?"
Sirius tossed his suitcase onto the bed, chucking under his breath. He pulled out a fresh pair of black trousers, an aubergine sweater, and a black sport coat. He looked over his shoulder before pulling the velvet ring box from his pocket. He very quickly opened it to admire the rose gold vintage-style ring, imagining how nice it would look adorned on her finger. He quickly slid the ring into the pocket of the trousers, then changed into the evening's outfit.
"You're wearing a sport coat?" Allie asked, now standing in the doorway to the bathroom in a towel, curls knotted on top of her head to keep them out of the water. "I brought jeans…"
"Jeans, I'm sure are fine," Sirius said, "I don't think the restaurant is that fancy."
"But what if I'm underdressed?"
Sirius smiled. "I think I'll be the one overdressed if anything. I can lose the coat if it makes you feel better?"
Allie came over and pulled out an emerald sweater and dark jeans. "No, it's ok. I'll just put some makeup on."
Sirius couldn't help but smile as he watched Allie struggle to wiggle into her jeans, stopping every inch and sucking in her breath to make them fit.
"Did you pack the wrong pair…?"
"I thought these would fit by now," she grumbled, yanking the jeans back off and outstretching her hand. "I'm going to have to wear the ones I wore today."
"What's wrong with those?" Sirius asked. "They look nice on you."
"I just wanted to wear this darker pair," Allie said softly, sliding back into her jeans she wore this afternoon. She ran her hand along her belly and looked in the mirror, frowning. "They were my pre-pregnancy jeans."
"And they'll fit one day again.." He stood and wrapped his arms around her middle, kissing her cheek and nuzzling his head into the crook of her neck. "You're beautiful. A few pounds doesn't change that."
"A few dozen pounds," she scoffed.
"So what? I'd still shag you."
Allie snorted playfully and made to turn around and smack him, laughing as her hair stuck in his stubble. It took a moment before they were untangled, his beard pulling out a piece of hair from her top knot. Her hair sprung free as she removed her hair tie, slightly frizzed from the steam of the shower.
"You need a shave," She said, rubbing her thumb across his stubble where her hair was velcro-ed a moment before. "Now, before dinner."
"I thought I'd grow it out," Sirius said, rubbing his jaw. "Maybe take on a mountain man type look."
Allie scrunched her nose and shook her head. "No, not for you."
They laughed, then Sirius retreated to the bathroom to shave while Allie finished getting dressed.
"Don't take too long," she called to him. "Remus and Tonks are coming by our room to get us in a few."
"I'm going as fast as I can," Sirius called from the bathroom, albeit dragging his straight razor against his neck slowly and deliberately, as to not cut his flesh. "So are those two officially an item now, or…?"
"Tonks said they're not putting a label on themselves," Allie said. "But I guess he let her see him the day after the full moon, which he never really lets anyone see him in that state."
"Sounds serious, then—"
An unexpected knock at the door made him jump, causing him to knick his chin with his razor. He hissed in pain, dabbing the tiny cut with the back of his hand.
"I wonder if that's them," Allie said. "Hurry up, I'll get the door."
After the door opened, Sirius heard a faint conversation for a moment before the door closed again.
"Aww, Sirius," Allie called, the bed making a springy creaking noise as she sat down. "Did you do this?"
"Did I do what?"
He heard the sound of a box opening and the crinkling of cellophane.
"Ooh, are these honey lavender? You know these are one of my favorites."
Sirius stopped shaving, still holding the razor in mid-air. "Your favorite what?"
There was more crinkling of cellophane as she replied.
"Macarons, silly! I don't want to spoil dinner, but I'm going to have just one."
Sirius's brow furrowed, and he set the razor down on the sink. "Allie, I didn't send—"
As he stepped out of the bathroom, Allie began to choke. She started coughing, crumbs of macaron spitting out from her lips. She pounded at her chest with her fist before grasping at her neck as she struggled for breath.
"Allie? Allie?!"
Allie stuck her fingers down her throat, appearing to make herself vomit, but wasn't successful. Her face turned blue, her eyes went bloodshot, and she fell to the floor. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head and she began to seize, foam pouring from her mouth as Sirius ran to her side.
"ALLIE?!"
Hours. Hours went by, and Sirius wondered how in the world he could find himself here again. He had deja vu, staring at the goldenrod yellow walls, studying the watercolor painting of a witch riding a broom by seven-year-old Augustine Chambers. He'd stared at this painting the last time he was in the private waiting room of St. Mungo's, studying its every color variant and brushstroke by the talented child artist. Still, today it seemed different than he remembered. More muted, maybe? More melancholy?
Remus and Tonks were here with him this time, which he was thankful for. Remus sat in the waiting room with Sirius, remaining silent as he stared at the floor and fidgeted with his hands. Tonks was moving around the hospital, using her Auror status to speak with the Healers and find out as much information as possible about Allie and her condition. Sirius hoped too that Tonks's presence would save him from a team of investigative Aurors coming by and interrogating him on how Allie ended up in the hospital again. He was sure Auror Payne, the Ministry elitist Auror with a chip on his shoulder, would've been thrilled at the chance to accuse Sirius of something to send him back to prison.
Sirius's stomach growled loudly. He was starving, but he didn't want to eat. He didn't care that he was sitting here half-shaven, half-dressed, and half-sane. He wasn't doing anything until he knew Allie would be alright.
"She's going to be ok," Remus said quietly, seeming to see Sirius's increasing anxiety.
After a moment of silence. "Is she?"
He was certain this was Lenore's doing. This was his punishment for blowing her off, for not returning her journal, and not listening to her threat.
"This is my fault…" He added softly. "All my fault…"
"No, you couldn't have known those macarons were hexed,"
"But I should've known!" Sirius snapped. "I should've stopped her before she had a chance to eat one! Hell, I should've just demanded that journal back from Snape and turned it over to Lenore, then we wouldn't even be in this mess!"
"If you had, then all hope of a countercurse would be lost."
"But Allie would be alive,"
"You don't know she's not," Remus said gently.
Sirius let out a groan of frustration and stood, beginning to pace the room.
"What's taking so long," Sirius barked. "I can't just sit here and wait. We've been here for hours."
Sirius paced the room for what felt like another period of eternity, thinking he may wear out the floor if he didn't get some answers soon. Remus had asked him a couple of times to sit down, but he refused.
"I'm going to find her and kill her," Sirius gritted through his teeth. "I'm going to hunt her down…"
"You're not doing anything rash," Remus said. "You need to just sit down and relax—"
"I can't!"
Another few minutes went by without a word spoken between Remus and Sirius before Tonks returned, cups of coffee in both hands. She handed one to Remus and then to Sirius.
"Allie is stable for now," she said, "They have her sedated with a sleeping potion."
"That's all you found out?" Sirius snapped.
Tonks didn't even blink an eye at Sirius's rudeness. "Those macarons she ate were definitely hexed. They were meant to harm whoever ate them."
"I could've told you that," Sirius grumbled. "I know it was Lenore that sent them."
"I've got to fill out a ton of incident reports on this," Tonks said heavily. "Sirius, you'll probably be questioned again by an investigative team, same with Allie."
"Sure, fine, whatever," Sirius waved his hand. "Is she going to be alright? When can I see her?"
Just then, A Healer popped his head in the private waiting room.
"Miss Murphy can have guests now," the man said. "If you'd like to follow me."
They left their coffee cups and followed the Healer down the fall to a private hospital room. Sirius's stomach flip-flopped as he saw Allie sleeping in the bed in front of him, skin a twinge of gray and purple capillaries burst all over her face and neck.
"She'll be out for several hours," The Healer said. "I know she doesn't look terrific, but she is stable, and we're expecting her coloring to be much better by morning."
"Thank you," Remus said to the Healer quietly.
Sirius had hardly noticed the conversation exchange behind him. He sank down into a chair next to her bedside, eyes roving over her head to toe. His hands shook until he gripped the rails of her bed, leaning forward and resting his chin atop them, watching the rise and fall of her chest as she took shallow breaths. She looked peaceful, at least, despite her ashen color and frizzed, disheveled hair.
He wasn't sure how long the Healer stayed in the room or for how long Tonks and Remus stayed with him until he felt a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"Sirius," Tonks said gently. "We're going to get something to eat and then a few hours of sleep. Why don't you come with us? They said they plan on keeping her sedated well into the morning."
"You go," Sirius mumbled. "I'm fine here."
A few whispers between Tonks and Remus before. "...Alright, well, send word if you need anything."
Up. Then down. Up. And then down. The rise and falls of her chest were steady as a heartbeat. Sirius watched for what felt like hours, his eyelids growing heavy. He fought to keep his eyes open, to not fall asleep without his potion. He knew she'd be waiting for him to gloat and rub in his face what she'd done and how it was his fault he didn't return her journal to her in time.
He stood, the small velvet box pressing into his thigh a reminder of what was supposed to be a memorable night for good reasons. He leaned forward and kissed her forehead gently, partially hoping her eyes would flutter open.
"I'm sorry," He whispered. "I'm sorry you're here, again, and I'm sorry I have to go."
He watched her chest rise and fall a couple more times.
"I'll be back before you wake, I promise."
Tears stung the back of his eyes as he turned around and exited the hospital room, not daring to sneak another glance back.
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