icelightning | Random drabble! (Harry, Sirius, and Remus) Working title: The Park (Scene 1)

"He's so... thin," Harry whispered, eyes full of worry as he stared down at the soaking wet man in Lupin's arms. "I... had no idea it was this bad!"

Now that they knew Sirius was unconscious but okay, Harry could not wrap his mind around the half-starved man in front of him with spray-soaked robes. Sirius looked dead, a pale ghost, and that scared Harry more than anything. The robes, once capable of hiding the man's thinness, now provided a near-outline--a partial impression--of every rib, barely noticeable, but there. And his arms and stomach were too thin--and Harry could feel horrible guilt rise in his throat. Why had it taken Sirius's flight in the rain for him to notice? He could have done something!

Lupin closed his eyes and pulled Sirius close in his arms, who was shivering, with a sigh, "That's because he didn't want you to know. Let's get back to Grimmauld."

Harry nodded weakly and stood, warily eyeing the masked Death Eater on a half-few paces from them. Sirius had been so desperate for a bit of fresh air when he snuck out that he must not have noticed the other man until it was too late. Lupin and Harry had luckily found Sirius, although it had been fairly simple--they only had to follow the sounds of drowned screams. Harry couldn't help but stare at the fountain in which the Cruciatus-weakened man had been held down in until he nearly drowned. It was why the man was so cold now, freezing in the moonlight of the waxing moon.

"The full moon's this week?" Harry asked weakily, staring at the glowing orb.

"Yes," Lupin replied heavily, trying to stand with Sirius in his arms. "Harry--please, help me with him...."

"I--of course," Harry jerked his eyes away from the moon in guilt and rushed over to help the man with his godfather, looping his arms under Sirius's as Lupin grabbed his legs. "Why can't you just summon a--"

"--stretcher?" Lupin laughed harshly, then winced. "Sorry. It's... They could be waiting for that spell. To know that we found him."

"Oh," Harry frowned down at the unconscious man who's head lolled against his chest--and Harry's as well. "Like how they thought I had cast a hovering charm second year when it was really Dobby. I know they can do that."

Lupin gave him a confused look, not knowing the story behind that, and shrugged, "I suppose so. Harry, we have to get him out of here. We have to get him warm. The longer he's out here in the cold, the sicker he'll get."

"He'll get sick?" Harry asked in alarm, gaze jerking up to Lupin. "Why will he get sick? He's just cold. It's not winter."

"Weakened immune system," Lupin replied, smiling shortly. "Sirius still... hasn't recovered from--"

"--Azkaban," Harry finished for him, looking worried and grim. "I hope Fudge gets it for this."

"Fudge?" Once again Lupin gave Harry a confused look, as they began to carry Sirius away from the destroyed walkway and toward the unharmed backway of the park. "What does he have to do with this?"

"He let Voldemort come back," Harry stated, anger and bile rising in his throat. "And he was one of the first on the scene." When Lupin still looked confused, he elaborated. "You know. That scene."

"Oh," Lupin's face darkened, but then he looked strained. "Let's just... get him back home."

Well, what do you think? Should I continue?