Chapter Fifty-One
Persian Rugs
Do you remember me? Lost for so long
Will you be on the other side
Or will you forget me?
I'm dying, praying, bleeding, and screaming
Am I too lost to be saved? Am I too lost?
(Tourniquet - Evanescence)July 3rd, 1976Mia's screams echoed off the walls of the manor.
"JAMIE!"
Falling to her knees in front of Sirius's body, her skin ran cold as she saw the blood-
soaked robes wrapped around him. His left arm was cradled tightly against his chest, tucked
beneath the fabric, while his right hand gripped the silver chain around his neck so tightly
he had lost all colour in his fingers. He did not move of his own accord, but as she leant
down and put her hands on his face, he flinched and his muscles seized at the touch.
She sobbed as she realised what had happened: he had been tortured with the
Cruciatus Curse. She made her touches a bit firmer, knowing from personal experience
that soft caresses actually hurt more. The seizing that came in the aftermath sometimes
hurt nearly as badly as the curse itself, but if the muscles were held tightly in place, it took
the edge off.
Mia choked back more tears as she tilted his head toward her, angling his face so
that he could look her straight in the eye. "Sirius, look at me, love. Open your eyes, please?
Sirius, please look at me."
"Hello, beautiful," he rasped, his grey eyes slowly opening to look up at her.
"JAMIE!" she screamed again. "TILLY!"
The house-elf appeared, large eyes widening. "Young Master Black? Young Miss,
he is needing a Healer right now. Yes, right now."
James came running into the room, wand drawn, his gaze falling immediately on
Sirius. "Padfoot!" he yelled frantically and fell to the floor. "What happened to him?"
"He is getting to St Mungo's," Tilly insisted. "Tilly will Apparate him."