Chapter Thirteen: Extended visiting hours

November 1978

St Mungo's hospital was stuffed full of witches and wizards. There were even a few Muggles, getting fixed up before having their memories wiped. James, Lily, Peter and Remus were sitting on four hard wooden chairs outside one of the wards. Around them, healers and patients alike were rushing madly around, robes whipping behind them. It seemed that as soon as the battle had ended on the street, another had started in the hospital. One which was etching its scars into the deep wrinkles around people's eyes and mouths. Lines that would be there for the rest of their lives.

Lily yawned. Her wrist was tightly wrapped up, and she was dozing off with her head on James' shoulder. James himself had one arm round her, and the other pressing a potion-soaked bandage against the cut on his head. The flower of blood which had blossomed on the red material was just beginning to slow and ever so occasionally he would peel it away and glance at it. He seemed unaware that every time he did so, the wound would open up again and a bright red bead would quiver and swell above his eyebrow.

Next to them, Remus and Peter, both pale and shaken, were sitting stiffly. Peter's foot was jiggling nervously and his face was tight and worried. Cradled in their hands were cups of potion, waves of steam wafting gently upwards, the flowery scent calming them into a state of half wakefulness.

A healer bustled out of the main ward and glanced around at the various concerned families and friends, before flipping up a page on her chart. She was young, maybe a year older than the group, and had honey coloured hair pulled tightly back, stretching the skin across her forehead and adding to her frazzled expression.

"Black?"

James jumped to his feet, allowing the bandage to fall to his side. "Here!"

"Are you family?" The woman glanced back at the group suspiciously while James nodded.

"Yeah," he lied, "I'm his brother."

"Right…" She didn't look completely convinced… but there were so many patients she didn't have time to argue. "Well, follow me then. I'll need you to sign some forms…"

"Sure." James glanced back at his friends, shrugged at their accusing faces, and followed the Healer into the main ward. It was very different from the private room his mother had stayed in. Pushed against each wall was a series of hard, starched beds. Some had the pale blue curtains pulled tightly round, hiding the occupants from view. The whole place smelt strongly of various potions and remedies, and the sharp edge on it made his nostrils twitch and James to scratch irritably at his nose. As he did so, a continuous movement out of the corner of his eye caught his attention.

In the corner a man lay on his side, his shoulders heaving madly and clutching at his chest, wrinkled face twisted in pain. James glanced anxiously at him, but the young Healer paid no attention, scurrying past with her head down towards the end of the room. James glanced across and caught the old man's accusing gaze, but looked away before the guilt could take hold.

The Healer paused at the white desk and pulled out a piece of parchment from a file latched to the wall. She indicated the dotted line at the bottom, marking it with a cross, before pushing it over to James. "Just sign there."

James took the old, slightly bedraggled quill offered to him, hesitated while he pretended to read the rows of script, and then signed 'R. Black' at the bottom. For a second he could feel a pang of guilt for possibly charging Sirius' little brother money, but it was hard to feel bad for the little slimeball. He shoved the form back at the healer. She was pretty, he noticed vaguely, despite the stressed expression, and he smiled at her as she picked up the form and filed it away out of sight.

"Good," said the Healer. "Well, he's concussed. Not too badly, we don't think – his magic cushioned the blow quite well. Erm…" She glanced back at the chart again. "Well, he's suffering the usual symptoms. We'll probably keep him in until Monday morning just to be safe. Erm... His arm's all fixed up… That's it I think. Oh, and he's a bit agitated. Watch for the mood swings."

"Okay. Thanks." James smiled at her, and she returned it shyly before, already distracted by another patient, she gestured him over to one of the curtained cubicles in the middle. As she hurried away James swallowed, crossed the large space in several determined strides, and swept aside the pale curtain with a harsh grating noise.

Sirius was laying there, his handsome face sallow and impassive. James swallowed hard and approached the bed. He leaned over Sirius, wondering if he was still unconscious or simply sleeping. Since he had arrived a delicate bruise had flowered on his friend's temple. James couldn't help but feel guilty as he looked down at Sirius. He should have been there… maybe then he wouldn't have fallen…

Sirius' eyes snapped open.

"Boo."

"Aaaaaarrgh!" James gave a shrill yell and stumbled backwards, throwing himself into the curtains, which fell with a clatter. James didn't even turn, standing a few feet away from the bed with one hand on his hammering chest, gaping like a fish while Sirius howled with laughter.

"Merlin Pads…" muttered James angrily, "that wasn't funny."

"Oh, I beg to differ." Sirius struggled to get himself under control, though it proved difficult. He hiccupped, grinned, and then froze. "Uh oh…"

As James raised an eyebrow, Sirius leant over the side of the mattress and wretched noisily. James approached the bed nervously, lips twisted with sympathy. "Ugh. You alright?"

"Apart from my blinding headache, dizziness and the fact that I keep throwing up everywhere?" Sirius groaned, apparently over the hilarity of nearly giving James a heart attack, and slumped back into the pillows. "Apart from all that, I'm great. Bloody fantastic in fact." There was a moment's silence as Sirius closed his slightly unfocused grey eyes. "How's Wormtail?"

"He's fine. Shaken."

"Don't know how he managed to get that lot after him."

James shook his head, "Me neither." Then he faltered, "Which lot?"

Sirius paused, looking up at him before answering shortly."No lot."

James raised his eyebrows but didn't pursue it. He did however, hold up Sirius' bucket for him while he threw up some more. "I draw the line at holding your hair back."

"Thanks." Sirius collapsed back into the pillow, wiping his mouth with his sleeve. "So how come you're the only one here?"

"Oh, they're only letting family in. For one night only, I am Regulus."

Sirius opened one eye and looked up at James groggily. "You'll have to shrink," he said matter-of-factly, "and crawl up your own arse a little."

James grinned, clicked his heels together and saluted stiffly. "Consider it done!" His hand fell to his side. "You blood-traitor you."

Sirius almost laughed, but then remembered he was in a bad mood and caught himself. "Wow, I almost believed you were Reg for a second."

James did laugh then, plonking himself on the end of Sirius' bed so the springs creaked. "Well, at least now if the Auror thing collapses I have my acting to fall back on."

"True…"

"Mr Black?" Both men turned to look at the young healer, who had arrived at the bed moments before. She frowned and looked down at the curtain, still lying on the floor, before pulling out her wand and waving it so that the structure flew back to its standing position. Pocketing her wand, she turned back to the pair. "Mr Black, the group outside was wondering if they could come in, and I need to get your permission beforehand. The young woman in particular was getting quite erm… impatient."

James winced and looked over at Sirius, who shrugged and nodded, his gaze on the young woman. James turned back to her, "Sure. They can come in."

The healer smiled and darted away, her big brown eyes lingering on Sirius for a moment. James rolled his eyes and settled back on the bed, crossing his legs and twisting to face the injured party. "I can't believe you're hitting on the Healer. You've been here what? An hour?"

"I wasn't hitting on her. I was planning on hitting on her, but I hadn't got round to it yet."

"It's a tough life," laughed James.

"Tell me about it."

Lily, Remus and Peter all burst through the door, and James and Sirius both watched them lazily as they scanned the room. Soon they caught sight of the two and walked over to them. Remus and Peter were walking a few steps behind Lily, flanking her like two unnecessary bodyguards, and James almost laughed at their angry expressions. When they reached the bed, Lily bent down to give Sirius a tight hug, before pulling away and examining him closely.

"Why is your right pupil so big?"

Remus and Peter put their heads next to Lily's, closing James off and peering down at the casualty. "Yeah," agreed Remus, "why is that?"

"Thanks for the support guys." Sirius muttered, and they all grinned and pulled away. Lily settled herself happily next to James (but not before giving him a sharp shove for abandoning them) and Remus and Peter planted themselves either side. James was strongly reminded of the days following the full moons, when the four boys would hang out in the hospital wing, tired but laughing loudly until Madame Pomfrey kicked them out ready for first lesson. It was the same now, except that Lily had joined them, shaking her red hair back and giggling happily. Sirius occasionally would snap at them, but overall he seemed to be in a better mood by the time the others stood up to leave.

"What's the time?" James glanced around for a clock, and eventually found one hovering lightly above the desk where James had faked a signature. He peered at it, sleep making it hard for his eyes to focus. As he squinted he was aware of the others looking curiously at him.

"Careful there Prongs," piped up Sirius from the bed, "you're gonna do yourself an injury."

"I'll do you an injury in a minute."

Sirius bristled. "Charming! Threatening an invalid! Did you hear that Lils?"

"I heard. Disgusting."

"Bloody hell, it's almost one!" said James, finally managing to recognise the numbers to which the hands were pointing. "We've been here all night! That's valuable drinking time gone to waste."

"Nice to know I'm loved."

"Sirius. If you go on like this, I'll have to kill you." James held up a hand against Sirius' retort. "I won't want to, but that is the law of the land."

"What land?"

"My land."

Sirius groaned and fell back against the pillow, eyes shut against all of their faces. "My head hurts. And my arm's all tingley."

James whirled round from his positon facing the clock, peering anxiously at his friend. Sirius face was slightly sweaty and his skin had a faint green tinge to it. "You okay?" James put a hand on Sirius' shoulder, "You want me to get someone?"

"I'll be fine. Just need a nap."

"Okay…" Unconvinced and planning to tip off the next Healer he saw, James turned back to the others, who were watching concernedly. They shrugged, and he squeezed Sirius' shoulder. "We gotta go Pads. We'll be back tomorrow, okay?"

Sirius grunted, "Right. And there better be some cake in the flat when I get there."

Peter grinned, "Well, that's what roomates are for, right Prongs?"

"Definately," James chuckled, and then noticed Lily's strange expression. A heavy feeling of dread settled in his stomach. He'd told her that Sirius was fine with the whole moving out thing, and from her current expression, he wasn't convinced she was okay with being lied to…

Lily and James arrived back in James' flat a while later, throwing their coats and bags down and giving off massive yawns. James was just stretching out his arms, feeling the crunch in his shoulder as he let them fall, when Lily turned to face him. Her face was grey and tired, and her lips were pressed together in an angry gash.

"You haven't told him!"

He didn't need to ask what she was talking about. "Well… not exactly…"

"James!" Lily crossed her arms tightly over her chest, glaring at him across the living room.

"Listen," said James, putting down his mug and turning to her. "I can hardly tell him now can I? He's in hospital!"

"Oh Come on!" said Lily irritably, "You two are best friends! Sometimes I even dream about you running away together!" James looked mildly horrified, but she carried on regardless. "I mean, even at school it was always you and Sirius who tormented me!"

James chuckled reminiscently, his eyes suddenly far away. "Remember that time we hung your pants from the quidditch posts?"

Lily's bright eyes narrowed dangerously and James stopped laughing immediately. He looked back at her for a moment, eyebrows raised before he reached out for her. "Lily, come on. It's late and we're all tired. We can talk tomorrow."

She yanked her hand back from James' grasp. "No… we're going to talk now. I know you, and this isn't something I'm going to let you put off!"

James felt slightly stung by that – what was she saying? His head was still pounding dully where he'd hit it, and he could feel the remnants of last night sticking to his body, crying out to be washed away in a hot shower. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Oh, I think you know." Her voice was layered with spite, which was mirrored in James' own voice as he replied tauntingly.

"I'm not sure I do. Want to fill me in there Lils?"

When James looked back on it, the memory came like a series of photographs, none really tying in. They were both yelling, their faces a foot away from each other. Lily's hair was coming down from her ponytail and James was gesturing madly. Then James was quiet while Lily shouted at him, mouth twisted grotesquely. Then they were yelling from opposite ends of the room, both of their faces flushed and angry, neither listening to the other.

"Shut up! God! I don't see why…"

"Oh, well, you wouldn't would you James? Because with you nothing is important! Why can't you just grow up?"

"Why do you act like having a bit of fun once in a while would kill you?"

"Just because I have some sense of responsibility and god forbid that you –"

"If I'm such a chore to you –"

"Well you have a way of making everything –"

"God!" roared James, grabbing his coat from the side and pulling his hand through his hair in frustration, leaving it standing on end, "I'm leaving. This is crap."

"Where are you going?"

"To the hospital."

"Oh, right. To see your other girlfriend! And don't you dare slam that door! "

BANG.

Silence echoed around the flat and Lily pressed her eyes tight shut, jaw clenched. They might as well be back at school. Fighting back tears, she grabbed her own coat and made to leave. Just as she was about to lock the door, however, she froze. Her shoulders sagged and she let herself back in, grabbing a scrap of parchment and scribbling a note on it before finally leaving the flat empty and locking it quietly behind her.

When James arrived home some time later it was to find the note flapping in the draft from the stairwell, stuck by magic to his front door. He plucked it off and held it up to the dim light filtering through the window.

J - Key in normal place.

Lily x

Clenching the note in his fist, he glanced over his shoulder, reached up, and extracted Lily's key from a small hole they had found, hidden behind the broken light attached to the wall. He looked at it for a moment before pushing it roughly into the keyhole and letting himself in.