All Right, Evans?

Chapter 3

Monday 4:45 P.M.

The next thing James knew, he was in the hospital wing.

His eyes flickered open to see the rest of the Marauders sitting around his bed. Sirius was leaning back in his chair, his feet resting on James's stomach. Remus had his arms crossed. Peter was picking at his fingernails.

"You're mad" was the first thing James heard, and it came from Remus.

"Watch it, Moony," Sirius warned, although he seemed pretty unconcerned. "Pomfrey said he needs rest."

"You've got your feet planted in his abdomen," Remus snapped.

"We've been sitting here 'round about five hours, I need to stretch my limbs a bit -"

"Shhh." Peter pressed a finger to his lips. "Pomfrey's door just opened, she's coming..."

Madam Pomfrey bustled over to them then, her brow furrowed in irritation. "Black, Potter's got a concussion. Get your feet off him."

"It's not like they're on his head," Sirius pointed out, but dropped his feet to the floor, anyway.

Madam Pomfrey ignored his cheek and started fussing over James. "How's your head, Potter? I did what I could, but you were out when this lot brought you up here. McGonagall's in my office, she wants a word, but -"

"No buts, Poppy," interjected a crisp, stern voice. Professor McGonagall was walking towards the group around the bed, her spectacles flashing dangerously. "Potter, I assume you're well enough to hear that you've got detention this week."

James groaned. Leave it to him to get in trouble when he'd sworn to keep himself out of the worst of it.

"You see, Minerva, Potter needs more rest -"

"Don't be so dramatic, Potter," McGonagall said, ignoring Madam Pomfrey's objections. "Mr. Black will be accompanying you, as Lestrange has testified against him."

Sirius appeared rather bored; he'd clearly been given the news while James had been unconscious. But that didn't stop him from commenting nonetheless.

"Of course he's dramatic, Professor," he drawled. "After all, it is me who'll be joining him, while Evans skips off without so much as a reprimand."

McGonagall shot him a stern look. "Mr. Black, I would like to inform you yet again that Miss Evans used defensive magic -"

"Bollocks!"

"- while you attacked Mr. Snape unprovoked," McGonagall went on, voice raised slightly. "And I fail to see the need to hex Lestrange beyond Stunning him, so that counts against you as well."

Sirius shrugged. "I wanted to ensure the continued romantic bliss of my dear cousin," he said. "I'm sure Lestrange would have broken Bella's heart if she'd been doomed to a life full of boils. Thought I'd even the score."

McGonagall frowned. So did Remus.

"Even so, Mr. Black, it's a week's detention each and twenty points from Gryffindor," McGonagall said, turning to leave. "You will both report to the dungeons tonight at eight o'clock. If you can manage, Potter."

James grunted his assent, ignoring the angry huffing noises Madam Pomfrey was making.

"Fine, Potter," she said as the hospital wing door shut behind Professor McGonagall. "Now sit up and take your potion. You should be all sorted for scrubbing the Potions dungeon, then."

James complied and within another ten minutes, Madam Pomfrey deemed him fit enough to leave.

"Try to stay out of trouble on your way to your dormitory!" she called after the four boys as they left the wing.

Remus snorted. "But how could we resist?" he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he shot a look at his troublesome friends.

"Moony's a tad put-off with us," Sirius said to James. "We'll be hearing it when we're back at the dormitory, mark my words..."