Courage

-39-

Book: Courage
Chapter 39
Word Count: 2412

Layla's eyes fluttered open.

She was lying in the dark hospital wing, a blood-soaked bandage wrapped around the top of her right arm, all the way up to her shoulder. At the very end of the ward, she could make out Madam Pomfrey with her back to Layla, bending over a bed. Ron's red hair was visible beneath Madam Pomfrey's arm.

Layla then realised that Hermione lay awake in the bed beside Ron, and Harry was stirring in the bed beside Layla.

Madam Pomfrey came walking briskly up the dark ward to Layla's bed.

"Ah, you're awake!" she said briskly. "Nasty scratch you received, dear."

"How's Ron?" said Harry, Layla, and Hermione all together.

"He'll live," said Madam Pomfrey grimly. "As for you three, you'll be staying here until I'm satisfied you're — Potter, what do you think you're doing?"

Harry was sitting up, picking up his wand.

"I need to see the headmaster," he said.

"Potter," said Madam Pomfrey soothingly, "it's all right. They've got Black. He's locked away upstairs. The dementors will be performing the kiss any moment now—"

"WHAT?"

Layla jumped up out of bed, ignoring the pain in her shoulder. Her shout had been heard in the corridor outside; next second, Cornelius Fudge and Snape had entered the ward.

"Minister, listen!" Harry said. "Sirius Black's innocent! Peter Pettigrew faked his own death! We saw him tonight! You can't let the dementors do that thing to Sirius, he's—"

But Fudge was shaking his head with a small smile on his face.

"Harry, Harry, you're very confused, you've been through a dreadful ordeal, lie back down, now, we've got everything under control."

"YOU HAVEN'T!" Layla suddenly snapped. "YOUVE GOT THE WRONG MAN!"

"Minister, listen, please," Hermione said. "I saw him, too. It was Ron's rat, he's an Animagus, Pettigrew, I mean, and—"

"You see, Minister?" said Snape. "Confunded, all of them. Black's done a very good job on them."

"WE'RE NOT CONFUNDED!" Layla yelled.

"Minister! Professor!" said Madam Pomfrey angrily. "I must insist that you leave. These children need care. Please leave."

The door opened again. It was Dumbledore. Layla immediately started speaking.

"Professor Dumbledore, Sirius Black—"

"For heaven's sake!" said Madam Pomfrey hysterically. "Is this a hospital wing or not? Headmaster, I must insist—"

"My apologies, Poppy, but I need a word with Mr Potter and Miss Granger," said Dumbledore calmly. "Oh, and Miss Lupin? I'm here to excuse you. You are wanted immediately in the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom."

Translation: Your dad wants to speak to you.

"Okay," muttered Layla, standing up. She quickly left, her mind plagued with thoughts of Sirius and how he was going to die as an innocent man.

As soon as she entered the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, she saw Remus, looking ill and very frustrated with himself. Once he spotted Layla, he rushed over to hug her tightly.

"Are you alright, Lay? I hurt you! Again! It's been eight years, but I still hurt you again after I swore I wouldn't—"

"Dad! It wasn't your fault at all. You can't control it. And I'm perfectly fine," Layla reassured. "I'm just worried about Sirius. I can't believe he's—"