Mortem . Sirius Black

chapter seventy-three

October 25th - Hospital Wing 

Per Madame Pomfrey's orders, Nephera was to remain in the hospital wing for at least a week so she could keep an eye on her. Nephera hated that, even though she knew it was necessary. It felt too much like she was back to being a prisoner, confined in one room all day long. 

She hadn't told anyone but Sirius what she had gone through for those two months, and she didn't want to. She didn't want anyone finding out just how much Riddle had managed to break her, but sometimes, it was obvious to her friends even without her saying anything. 

The burn marks on her wrists from where the inferni burned through the silencing manacles couldn't be healed and were visible to all. She panicked every time anyone grabbed her wrists, and they had learned by now to avoid it. 

She also panicked whenever there was a wand pointed at her direction, and most times reacted violently. 

She also couldn't eat very much, lest she threw it all up, so Pomfrey had taken to trying to steadily increase her portions as the days went by. 

The Slytherin hated that other people saw her in such a state. She had escaped Voldemort twice now for Merlin's sake, and here she was, panicking whenever someone touched her wrists.

She also had a heap of legal troubles, on account of the fact that she had committed three murders. However, luckily for her, Moody had sorted it all out with the Minsitry, and got her off the hook. 

Thankfully for her, the Gryffindors rarely let her wallow in self-pity for too long. For one, Sirius had to practically be dragged out of the wing by McGonagall herself in order to attend classes. The raven-haired boy didn't want to leave her alone, knowing how she must be feeling and knowing of the nightmares she was suffering from. 

There was another reason, however, and it was one that he'd never say out loud. He was scared that if he left her alone for too long, he'd come back to the hospital wing to find her bed empty, and he'd realize that it had all been a dream, and that she was still missing. 

Nephera, of course, had no issue with Sirius sleeping in her bed at night. The boy was like a human furnace, and while normally she relished in the cold, the brunette found herself needing some warmth in her life after two months of solitude. 

The two hadn't defined heir relationship after that first kiss. They acted like a couple, well, as much as they could considering the fact that Nephera was completely bedridden, but they didn't feel the need to put a label on it. 

Currently, the two of them were in their usual position on Nephera's bed, with the boy leaning against the wall and the girl situated between his legs, as Lily was explaining everything the girl had missed over the two months. 

The rest of the marauders and the Gryffindor girls were scattered around the hospital wing as well, listening in to what the redhead was saying and occasionally making funny comments to life the mood. 

"Alright, so are you sure you've got everything down for Transfiguration?" asked the redhead, closing the book in front of her with a sigh 

Nephera laughed, "Yes, Evans, for the fourth time, I'm sure," she said, but the other girl could see the gratitude in Nephera's eyes 

"Okay, so, Defnese Against-" 

"Merlin, Lily, please no more," whined James, "It's Mortem we're talking about, she'll be fine in DADA," 

"Remind me again why you call me that?" 

Peter laughed slightly, "Marauders nickname, you're welcome,"