Feeling very confused and conflicted she bade her goodbye to Harry and took her leave, pondering the two people she had left behind, wondering why their association bothered her so much.
"So you lived then" Bellatrix commented casually, though she was internally glad to see him as well as he was.
"Don't sound too disappointed will you" Harry answered with a chuckle.
"So, you and Evans?" Bellatrix asked with a raised eyebrow, chiding herself for asking such a question. Harry frowned and choked before shaking his head at what Bellatrix was implying.
"No" he stated firmly, feeling sickened by the very thought. "We are just friends, it's my brother who's interested in her" he explained.
Bellatrix felt an unexpected wave of relief and hope course through her before she shook it away.
"Anyway, I brought you this" she replied, reaching into her robes and removing something wrapped in napkins. "I figured that you wouldn't get much food here" she shrugged as she handed him the bundle.
Harry unwrapped it to reveal a large slice of treacle tart and smirked.
"Well Miss Black, you seem to be a pro at this, have you concealed contraband in your robes before, it definitely seems like you have" he returned. Bellatrix adopted a look of mock outrage before responding.
"You should be damn grateful that I would allow that sticky thing so close to my body" she stated. "And honoured that that it has been I might add".
Harry chuckled amusedly.
"I am very grateful, thank you" he assured her. "But you sound a lot like Sirius when you speak so highly of yourself" he added with a grin.
Bellatrix growled and narrowed her eyes at him.
"If you weren't already in here I would curse you for that" she declared warningly. "But I guess I can let it pass, we can put it down to your delirium, just this once" she allowed with a playful sigh.
"That's very generous of you" Harry quipped. "I don't want to be injured anymore than I am". The two sat in a companionable silence for some time before Bellatrix stood.
"I just wanted to make sure you were ok" she explained. "But thank you, you saved my sisters and myself from merlin knows what, I really do appreciate it" she added genuinely.
"Well, if you keep me fed with this then I will happily do it again" Harry replied with a smile.
Bellatrix shook her head.
"As long as I don't have to keep shoving it in my robes then I can do that" she agreed. "You're so easily pleased, just give you some dessert and you are happy to save the world" she sighed as she exited the room.
Harry chuckled once more before devouring the treacle tart and settling in for a much needed sleep.
(BREAK) He was awoken the next morning by the loud arrival of the rest of the Marauders as they burst into the room, James holding a large platter of breakfast.
"Will you keep the noise down" the matron hissed. "I have patients trying to sleep and you will dispose of that food immediately" she commanded.
"I think not dear Matron" Sirius returned with a bow. "We have reason to believe that you will feed our comrade porridge and that we cannot allow to happen" he declared with a look of distaste at the thought of Harry receiving a mediocre breakfast.
"We have come to feed him properly, and properly fed he shall be" James proclaimed. "We will not allow you to starve him of his much needed nourishment wench" he added sternly. "Wench is it?" the woman questioned dangerously.
"My apologies" James returned. "I did not mean to insult you, I simply got carried away in my rant" he added apologetically, giving the woman a bow.
"We just want to have breakfast with Harry" Remus sighed, shaking his head in frustration at his friends.
"Ok" the matron agreed reluctantly. "But if you over stimulate him before I have checked him over there will be trouble" she warned.
"Madame, I assure you that neither myself or my fellow friends here have a desire to ever stimulate my brother, such accusations are despicable" James returned disgustedly.
The matron just growled and walked away, clearly having enough of the troublesome teens. "Ahh, the hero doth wake" Sirius exclaimed, seeing that Harry was indeed awake.
"Just shut up" Harry pleaded, grimacing at the ache he felt in his shoulder.
"How are you Harry?" Remus asked worriedly.
Harry gave the boy a smile.
"My arm aches a little but I'm ok" he assured the werewolf. "Hungry though" he added spying the large pile of food they had brought with them.
The group tucked into the food and waited for the matron to return to check Harry over so that he could hopefully leave with them.
It was not the matron that interrupted their meal however, it was someone that none of them expected to see.
Arcturus Black entered the hospital wing and glared at the four boys sat around Potter's bed. James and Sirius looked very nervous indeed while the other two were clearly confused.
"Get out" he instructed simply.
James and Sirius fled the room as quickly as possible while the other two followed them out at a slower pace, shooting Harry a questioning look.
"I'll catch up" he promised them.
The two followed the others, leaving Harry alone with the patriarch of the Black family.
"Your money" Arcturus stated, removing a shrunken trunk from his pocket.
.
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