The Clockwork Locket || SIRIUS BLACK

The Enemy

James was having a brilliant time.

"C'mon, Evans, just one dance."

The scathing look Lily Evans sent his way would have deterred anyone by that point, but James had been on the receiving end of it so many times it hardly fazed him. "For the last time, Potter, go away!"

He would have pressed further, but just then a warmth began seeping through the inside pocket of his robes, spreading to his chest.

Bloody hell, Padfoot, could your timing be any worse?

"Excuse me," he said to Evans with a jaunty wink. "Save me that dance, Evans!"

She looked as if she wanted to pull her hair out, but James was already off, pushing through the crowd until he found Remus and Peter on the edge of the dance floor, looking out of place and nervous.

"What's up?" Remus called, spotting him first.

James approached them and reached inside his pocket, pulling out a small mirror from within, the glass warm to the touch. Sirius had a similar one that they had enchanted years ago to keep in touch over the holidays, but they never used it at Hogwarts unless there was an emergency.

"Prongs!" Sirius said when his face appeared in the frame. "Prongs, can you hear me?"

"I'm here, Pads," James said. "So's Moony and Wormtail."

"I'm in the hospital wing—" Sirius started, and Peter gasped.

"What happened?" James demanded.

"I'm not the one hurt," Sirius said hastily. "Something happened to Cassie. I think she was poisoned."

"Poisoned?" all three echoed in unison, and Sirius nodded quickly.

"Yes, but I'll explain more later," he said. "Grab the cloak and get here. Madam Pomfrey doesn't want anyone else to know, it's just me and Avery here—"

"Avery?" they all said again.

"Just get the cloak and run!" he urged. "Dumbledore will be here any minute."

"We'll be there," James said before pocketing the mirror and facing the other two. They looked equally shaken and determined, and they didn't even need to hear James give a command before they were pelting for Gryffindor Tower, the music fading fast behind them.

By some miracle, they managed not to run into anyone, and in five minutes they had both the map and the cloak, and they set off at a flat sprint for the hospital wing.

"Filch is in the next corridor," Remus said, the appointed map-reader. "Take the tapestry on the left!"

They bolted through the short passageway behind the tapestry, James nearly skidding in his haste to reach the hospital wing. His heart was pounding, both adrenaline and worry rushing through him, and his mind was flying faster than the new Cleansweep model they had announced just last week. Who had poisoned Cassie? And why?

The doors to the hospital wing loomed before them, and they slowed to a fast walk as James whipped out the cloak. "Everyone under."

They pulled the cloak over themselves, and not a moment too soon. Footsteps sounded behind them, and Professor Dumbledore strode for the hospital wing, Professor McGonagall by his side. The headmaster's lined face was grave, the expression so foreign on his otherwise benign features.

The three boys hurried after them, managing to sneak in just as Professor Dumbledore waved his hand, and the doors closed behind them with a soft boom. His bright blue eyes hesitated on the spot the boys had just entered, and James swore he saw a faint grin tug at his lips before Madam Pomfrey rushed over.