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“I can’t believe this happened,” Remus said, panting, as he ran up the hill with Peter in his arms. When it had happened, Peter transformed so he could be carried to the hospital wing in a timely manner. He was losing blood quickly, and needed to be seen and treated as soon as possible. Sirius and James ran alongside Remus, all sharing the gravest of expressions.
They hadn’t even been in the forest—not really. They were toeing the line, they knew, but they had remained on the school grounds. It wasn’t anyone’s fault that one of the fly traps was feeling especially agitated and decided to follow the scent of blood. It was a very unfortunate moment to knick a finger on a thorn bush.
“We’re going to set you down now, Pete,” Remus explained. The boys had made it to the bathroom nearest the hospital wing, and he’d have to transform back into a human now. It took all his remaining energy, but he managed. Sirius and James put his arms around their shoulders as they all but carried him the rest of the way. Once he’d set Peter down, they’d sent Remus ahead of them to warn Madame Pomfrey.
As his friends helped him in and got him situated on a bed, Peter’s vision started to get spotty.
“It’s a wonder his blood has already clotted so well,” he heard Madam Pomfrey say. The figures standing over him started to blur. “You three go and fetch Professor McGonagall.”
Peter couldn’t remember whose voice he could hear. After a second more of trying to decipher it, he passed out from the pain.
—
“I’m a bit jealous, actually.”
“Sirius!”
“Don’t hit me!”
“I will not have any of that in my infirmary, Miss MacDonald, Mister Black!”
“Hey! I think he’s stirring.”
Peter opened his tired eyes to see almost all his friends crowded around him. He thought that he understood how babies must feel, being fussed over like that.
“We’re so glad you’re okay, Pete,” Mary said with a soft smile, followed by a chorus of agreement from the others. He started to stretch, lifting his arms, but stopped dead when it caught his eye. The whole room went silent as he evaluated his new extremity.
“It was all real?” Peter asked. The others nodded before James stepped up to explain.
“We couldn’t get your hand from the flytrap,” he said, looking apologetic. “But Madame Pomfrey said this is top-of-the-line in terms of limb replacement charms.”
Peter stretched his hand, switching between a fist and outstretched fingers. He could control it the same as if it had been attached since he was born. It was certainly heavier than his original hand. It would definitely be a change. He hit it on the table beside him, causing some of his friends to flinch.
“Just wanted to see if it felt pain,” he said sheepishly, now embarrassed to have tried it out.
“It doesn’t have the same senses as your natural hand,” Madame Pomfrey explained, coming up to the side of his bed. “But it can fulfill just about anything else a hand can do.”
This would take some getting used to.