Title: Touch Me.
Genre: Romance/Fantasy
Rating: R (Rape, sex, violence, suicidal suggestions, some language)
Pairing: Sirius Black/James Potter
Description:
Sirius Black was raped by his father one night in on his sixteenth summer. He runs away to his best friend's house and spends the summer there. Though on two occasions throughout the month, the rapist takes a visit, Sirius finds out something horrible about James, and the Potters realize their son and godson are gay. This is only the beginning.
----
I'm only going to say this once, that I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER or any of the characters. Yet.
Warning: There is slash(boy/boy). If you do not like slash, leave now and forever hold your peace.
Thankies ~~~
James, for role playing most of the story(the beginning, anyway)
You for reading.
And you for reviewing.
-----
Chapter One. That Night.
He grimaced and turned his head away from the wasted man. It was to tiring and confusing to fight anymore. All he could do now was grit his teeth in pain and feel the older man's hot breath on his face.
It will all be over soon, he thought. He hoped. His father pulled away for just a minute --- oh he didn't want to think about it -- and Sirius moved his hand down his own body protectively, only to receive a slap from a many ringed hand.
He rolled to the side of the bed and cupped is cheek, feeling drops of blood trickle down. A tenderness grew and he groaned with pain as his cheek was mashed against the pillow from being rolled over and onto his back.
The humiliated boy screamed once, a long pitiful wail and fell silent, as if the horrible sound took the rest of his voice away.
Some time later, his father was satisfied and left the boy. Sirius lay still until the foot steps down the hall softened and disappeared, and then he rolled out of bed and ran into the bathroom, throwing up everything in his stomach and didn't stop until he saw blood.
At last, he leaned back against the cold wall, breathing painfully and heavily. He felt so sick and ill and lost. What would he do? Would his father do it again? Scared, he crawled into the corner of the small bathroom, shaking violently until he remembered something, something that stuck out.
James voice echoed a single sentence again and again in his mind. 'You are always welcome to my house.'
Without thinking, Sirius went into his bedroom, throwing his belongings into the trunk that lay at the foot of the bed. He pulled on clothes and nervously neared the door with his trunk, hoping his father was now in such a drunk stupor he wouldn't notice the sixteen year old sneaking away.
"Boy, what are you doing?!" The man shouted from the door way and disappeared, most likely off to find some pants and shoes.
Nervously, Sirius dragged the trunk down the road and several blocks, wondering where he was going until he saw the on coming head lights of the Knight Bus.
Sirius waved his right hand for the bus to stop, which came to a screeching halt at his feet. The door slid open and there stood a man of fifty, pulling the trunk into the Knight Bus.
"Welcome to the Knight Bus. We can take you anywhere and everywhere except on private property and oceans. Where would you like to go? For eleven sickles you.."
"Potter Manor." He breathed heavily, throwing a handful of change into the man's hand and shuffled over to one of the beds, sitting down and curling up on it tightly.
"Oi, sorry, sir. Potter Manor's private property. Reigate is only about two or so miles off if you fancy stopping there." When Sirius nodded, the bus gave a huge jolt and was moving forward, causing ebony hair to fly about around his head.
For what seemed like ages, the bus bounced about and the fifty year old man constantly tried to get him into a conversation. It was a great relief when, about an hour later, the bus randomly stopped at the end of the little town named Reigate, letting Sirius off, who, though tired, was more than glad and hurried.
The Potter manor would be about another two miles, which was no problem on his Nimbus 1000 which good go about sixty miles an hour, except that the trunk was very heavy, which would slow the broom down by a lot. Not to mention, to his luck, the wind was beginning to blow against his course.
Swearing a bit, Sirius tied the heavy luggage onto the thin broom, adding his own way onto it and slowly urged the poor stick forward.
About a fourth of the way there.. after about ten minutes, it began to rain. Not like a light, gentle, cooling mist, but a downpour, flooding and sweeping him about like a wave. It got to the point where he couldn't keep his head up, bowing it down and wiping the rain from his eyes constantly.
Though he was strong and his trunk was heavy, periodically Sirius was swept off course. It was a hassle. Fly, blow away, push back over, fly, blow away, push back over. He thought it was hard, he thought it was bad. Until he ran into a tree.
The struggling Sirius had been flying off course and blew into a tree. He feared his broom would blow away, but it was luckily stuck between two branches and under the heavy trunk. Sirius himself was suspended by a thing branch that head hooked onto his shirt and was digging into his back.
'Oh well, isn't this just lovely.' The boy grumbled, grabbing hold of the branch and swinging over and onto it, crawling on the thick limb and over to his broom, all the time getting scratched by nasty thorns and prickly things.
After a few more pitiful minutes of wriggling around on the large tree while the wind was trying to blow him off, he got back on his broom and tied the trunk to it, slowly beginning to inch forward and out of the tree.
Soon after, he was out of the leaves and flying against, if possible, worse wind and rain.
After what seemed like an age, what felt like he couldn't get any wetter, he saw the outline of the wrought iron gate of the Potter Manor.
With a sigh of relief and a groan of exhaustion, Sirius clambered off his broom. Going head on with the wind and rain just down the long drive way was just to much.
What seemed like forever, Sirius shuffled through the mud and puddles, heaving his trunk through the thick goo as he went along and eventually, the porch coming into view through a thick veil of rain.
He climbed up the stairs and to the entrance, shivering in the cold and the wind and the sharp pains. Slowly, he raised a cut and battered hand to the knocker. Knock. Knock. --- "James, can you get that?" His mother's pleasant voice rang from the music room a floor below. Grumbling, James rolled over in a half sleep. "James!"
"I'm on it, I'm on it." A boy with messy raven hair and large glasses, muttered, pulling on some jogging pants and a tank top. He yawned and scratched the back of his head, shuffling out of the bedroom and down the stairs.
"Night, mom." James said as he crossed paths with his mother, kissing her own the cheek and heading over to the door. Again, there was another faint knock from the door, this one a bit more soft then the first.
"Potter manor, James Pott..... Sirius?" He blinked and rubbed his eyes, not believing what he saw.
Sirius stood before him, pale and shaking and bloody and filthy. "Wha.... who..?" James questioned, pulling the boy into the house, grabbing a winter cloak from the coat hanger and throwing it around the other's shoulders. "What happened, Sirius? What happened?" It was scary, really, how sickened the boy looked.
Sirius looked at him dreadfully, his haunty eyes large and dead. His sallow skin stretched over his face, covered in mud and blood. Where the blood was coming from, he didn't know. It all seemed to end in start in different places. The dark hair was even darker, dirty and wet and matted to his hair. He was shivering.
"Please don't make me go back there." The sickened boy croaked suddenly, falling to his knees in a swift movement, as if he could no longer stand. "Don't, don't.." He sobbed. Shocked, James fell to his own knees and wrapped his arms around the other protectively. Wondering what had happened.
"Sshh." He rubbed his friend's back, rocking him a bit, letting him cry into his chest. "No one is going to make you go anywhere. I promise." He soothed, "We'll go upstairs and you're going to have a nice hot bath and some food and you're going to tell me what happened, okay, Padfoot?" James cupped his friend's face in his hands, "But, will you stay here for a moment while I go talk to Dad? Stay here. Can you do that for me?" When Sirius nodded, James stood up and backed away, turning and heading for his dad's study.
The study was on the first floor in the long hall, but it always seemed to go undetected, hovering under the large staircase.
He rushed, knocking over a house elf as he moved, and only just remembered to knock at the last second, not bothering for a reply as he entered. "Dad.." James said breathlessly, looking at an older mirror image of himself sitting at a desk. "Sirius is here. He was hurt badly." He surprised himself with the tone he used with his father. "I.. I.. thought you should know.. He needs to stay here.." James spoke, his tone softening.
Mr. Potter nodded a bit, a sad smile resting on his lips as he got up and followed his son, in case any help was needed.
When James got back to Sirius, the boy had passed out on the floor, buried within the robes. "Sirius.." He murmured, slipping his arms under the boy with ease, from much experience, shuffling up the stairs with his dad carrying the trunk.
When he made it up to the bedroom, he had passed a house elf and ordered a lot of food and chocolate to be brought up. His father set the trunk down in the other bedroom and then went told his son he was going back downstairs. James nodded and crawled up onto the bed, slowly shaking his friend to wake him up.
"Come on Sirius, wake up.. Wake up.."
Sirius writhered and shivered a bit, from cold and pain as he slowly came to. "Wha...?" His eyes glazed over a bit, him pausing in movement and words before he looked over and focused on the other. "Oh James.." He bit his lip, clearly having trouble with saying whatever he wanted and needed to say. "Father.. Rape.. pain." He murmured, shutting his lovely dark, but scared eyes. "Drunk."
"You're father, he raped you?" Sirius gasped, half accidentally glancing down 'there.' A fiery blaze flickered in James' eyes for a second, his hands turning into angered fists. "Hold on, Sirius. Everything will be okay." Water. Warm water. Everything would feel better after a very nice, relaxing bath.
James abandoned his weakened friend for a moment, slipping into the astounding bathroom and turning the water on to a fairly warm temperature, putting no soap in or anything that could make the abrasions sting even more. Once everything was sit, he went back into the bedroom and pulled his friend up, bringing him into the bathroom.
"Come here, love." He stood by the tub and slowly began to unbutton Sirius' shirt, helping him get out of his clothes. Sirius' eyes opened wide and he shivered nervously, backing away from James.
He's scared, James realized. He's nervous about contact. "It's okay." He said, backing away with his hands up. "I'll let you take a shower. If you need anything, anything at all, I'm here, okay?"
Stepping out and shutting the door, he began to work fast, going into the other bedroom and unpacking the clothes, putting them into the closet with other clothes his parents had already bought for Sirius. He took out a pair of pajamas for his friend and then a nice fluffy bathrobe, going back into the other room.
"Sirius?" James spoke softly, knocking on the bathroom door. "Are you okay, can I come in?" There was a funny little noise and the water began to drain.
"Okay, James.."
He waited a minute before entering, glancing around to find his friend staring blankly into the mirror. Now that the mud and blood was gone, James could see a dark and cut bruise resting on the other's cheek, along with several cuts and gashes running down his arms and chest and legs.
"Oh my God, Sirius, come here." Instead, he stepped forward with the robe and threw it over the other's shoulders, wrapping him up in it and a hug. He embraced his friend until two tired arms encircled his waist and the wet head pressed against his shoulder. Pulling away, James guided the Sirius over to the bed. There was silence for a time, until a house elf brought up the food.
"Here... eat something." He offered a piece of chocolate. "Sirius, you have to tell me what's wrong."
Sirius didn't look at him for awhile, just leaning against him and crying softly. Soothing him, James kissed his forehead and damp dark locks, stroking the better of the two cheeks gently.
"So much.. James.. so much.." The boy cried weakly. He cringed as he stroked his friend comfortingly. Sirius was so beautiful and fragile, now. He felt so helpless. How could someone hurt something so precious?
Sirius softly began to explain, leaving out some of the more painful details, cutting off often. It took much self control for James not to scream out in rage, for that would scare the other. It took awhile, yes, sitting there and listening to the sniffling, stroking hair constantly and kissing cheeks.
"I'm here for you, baby, you know that." He wrapped his arms around Sirius comfortingly, rocking him. "Dad says you can stay here and I'm sure Mum'll be more than happy for me to have some company. I'll write to your mother in the morning okay? To let her know you'll be staying here. They need to know your safe." The last statement would not be argued with, James was going to have to OWL Mrs. Black.
James lifted a long fingered hand to his friend's cheek, brushing the salty tears away, doing all he could do to show the other that he loved him and that everything would be all right.
"No!" A sharp whisper ejected from Sirius, "No, my mother doesn't give a damn where I am. And.. And she'll tell him. He'll come here, he'll take me back, James!" There was panic in his voice now as he pushed away. "He'll know I told you. He might hurt you, I'm putting all of you in danger." He tried to stand up but failed. "I shouldn't have come here, I need to get away." He ran a hand through his hair, "He already knows, I bet.." Sirius' eyes widen and his body began to shake.
James pulled Sirius back and held onto him tightly. "Padfoot, shut up. You are not leaving. I won't let you. Period. And don't tell me you're going to, because you aren't. I'm going to write to your mother. Your father can do anything he damn well pleases. But I'm here fore you." He kissed the boy's forehead. "And my mum is good with hexes... and Dad has a mean right hook, at that. You are safe here, I swear." The two boys sat there for some time. "Sirius... would you like to talk to my dad? I mean, I'd come with you, but talk to him about staying permanently? I want you to know what my family will do to keep you safe."
"James.." Sirius spoke weakly, "I love you.." He pressed his body against the other's tiredly. "I.. I couldn't impose." He sighed, "But.. if you want to talk.. then.. okay. I just don't want to.."
"You aren't imposing." James said flatly. "And I love you, too. How about we go find my dad now, okay?" He kissed the other's nose before pulling away from his arms. "And when we get down stairs, we'll look for some healing potion for those cuts, okay? Mum always keeps a surplus around." The two walked downstairs, hand in hand, heading for Mr. Potter's study.
"Dad, can we come in?" James asked, speaking softly and knocking on the door.
"Mmmhmmm." A busy reply came, signaling them in.
The office was lovely, dark colors and leather, and very cozy. It seemed more like a den with it's fireplace and book shelves. The whole anomaly of the thing was the large work desk that sat adjacent to the fireplace, covered with quills and parchment. James' older reflection sat there, looking at them with a sympathetic smile. "Boys, please, sit down." He magicked three cups of cocoa and took his, leaning back and looking at them. "What is it that I can do for you?" Mr. Potter looked Sirius over, a small frown line creasing in his brow. "Are you all right?"
Sirius looked at James with wide eyes, confused and lost. He tried to say something, but made a funny squeaking noise. "I.. my.." He couldn't get the words out. Pathetically, the boy looked down into his cup of hot chocolate and bit back a sniffle.
"Dad.." James spoke carefully, "Sirius..er.. sort of.. he.. " He scratched the back of his head, "Ran away from home." Harold Potter whistled.
"Pretty good reason, then?"
"Yeah.. there is.." His son said and Sirius made a nervous, urgent sound. James bit his lip and looked at his friend, taking his hand in his own. "Which can be discussed some other time, okay?" He looked at his father hopefully.
"Yes, I see.." Harold mumbled, nodding. "Do your parents know where you are? Or shall I write to them in the morning?" James had to smile proudly at his father. They sounded so much alike, sometimes. He felt his hand being squeezed a little tighter.
"No.. sir.. please.. sir." Sirius said and looked away from the look James threw at him. "I mean, only to my mother. Not my father.." He stared down into his lap, shutting his eyes tightly. "I - just. My..." He lifted his head and took a breath to soothe himself. "If you don't want me to stay -- if I'm imposing -- I'll understand. I'll - I'll go.. I'm sorry.. So sorry."
Herald shook his head and stood up, walking over to Sirius and kneeling in front of him, touching his cheek with fatherly affection. You aren't imposing. Never think that you are. You are like a second son to us. All right? You can stay here until the end of the summer and as long as you need to, okay?" When Sirius nodded, "Good then. I'll send an owl to your mother in the morning. Do you have everything you need? Clothes, belongings?"
"Sleeping wise, you can take the adjoining room to James' like you always have, unless you prefer to get away from that.. thing.." James made a 'humph' sound but smiled. He and his father had a special bond. They could pick on each other like that and tease. "If.. you want.. I could see what the Ministry can do.. and get you a foster family." Sirius gasped, "With your own annoying brother, if that is what you'd like."
James and Sirius were both thinking the same thing. Incest.
"Er... " Sirius smiled weakly, unsure of how to say what he wanted to, "Well.. Thank you for the offer sir.. but I really, really couldn't do that.. Because..er.. my.. mother." He blinked, and tried to save himself by making a joke out of it, "Besides, I get enough of James at school. And to be called his brother.."
"Hey! I'm not that embarrassing, am I?" James smiled, pretending to brush a tear away. Herald smirked and chuckled with amusement.
"Never the less, I'm going to contact the Ministry and your headmaster that you'll be staying with us." The clock struck midnight, "I'm going to go to bed, now. If you need anything, either of you, please, don't be afraid to ask. And that's an order." He stood up and kissed them each on the forehead in a fatherly like manner, before giving a nod and excused himself from the study.
Sirius looked surprised, pressing a hand to his forehead. "I don't know what to say, mate. You have the best parents in the world and I feel terrible for intruding like this." He shuffled his feet, looking anywhere but the sweet eyes of his friend." Tiredly, he yawned and rubbed his eyes, looking exhausted, but a little better.
"You are not bloody intruding and next time you say that I'm going to hang you out the window ok?" James said threateningly, a smile plastered across his face. "And I'm tired, aren't you? Let's go to bed." With a nod, James rose to his feet and slipped his arm around the other's waist, walking with him up the stairs.
Upon entering, James abandoned his friend to go to the bathroom. "I left some pajamas on the bed for you and you can sleep wherever you feel most comfortable tonight, okay?"
He disappeared into the bathroom and got a tooth brush and tooth paste out, peering into the mirror. He felt and looked tired. James wandered back into the bedroom to check on Sirius and smiled when he saw the boy crawling under the covers of his own bed. "Thatsth meant to be myth bed..." Shaking his head, he turned back and went into the bathroom, returning to the bedroom once again with minty fresh breath.
James sat on the bed and Sirius scooted over a bit, allowing him some room. Lying down and turning out the light, he draped an arm over his friend's side. "Siri," He murmured soothingly, "I just want you to know... that I'm here for you. I'll protect you. You can talk to me about anything.... Sirius?" There was no reply, but the soft, even breathing of his lover sleeping. "I love you."
Genre: Romance/Fantasy
Rating: R (Rape, sex, violence, suicidal suggestions, some language)
Pairing: Sirius Black/James Potter
Description:
Sirius Black was raped by his father one night in on his sixteenth summer. He runs away to his best friend's house and spends the summer there. Though on two occasions throughout the month, the rapist takes a visit, Sirius finds out something horrible about James, and the Potters realize their son and godson are gay. This is only the beginning.
----
I'm only going to say this once, that I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER or any of the characters. Yet.
Warning: There is slash(boy/boy). If you do not like slash, leave now and forever hold your peace.
Thankies ~~~
James, for role playing most of the story(the beginning, anyway)
You for reading.
And you for reviewing.
-----
Chapter One. That Night.
He grimaced and turned his head away from the wasted man. It was to tiring and confusing to fight anymore. All he could do now was grit his teeth in pain and feel the older man's hot breath on his face.
It will all be over soon, he thought. He hoped. His father pulled away for just a minute --- oh he didn't want to think about it -- and Sirius moved his hand down his own body protectively, only to receive a slap from a many ringed hand.
He rolled to the side of the bed and cupped is cheek, feeling drops of blood trickle down. A tenderness grew and he groaned with pain as his cheek was mashed against the pillow from being rolled over and onto his back.
The humiliated boy screamed once, a long pitiful wail and fell silent, as if the horrible sound took the rest of his voice away.
Some time later, his father was satisfied and left the boy. Sirius lay still until the foot steps down the hall softened and disappeared, and then he rolled out of bed and ran into the bathroom, throwing up everything in his stomach and didn't stop until he saw blood.
At last, he leaned back against the cold wall, breathing painfully and heavily. He felt so sick and ill and lost. What would he do? Would his father do it again? Scared, he crawled into the corner of the small bathroom, shaking violently until he remembered something, something that stuck out.
James voice echoed a single sentence again and again in his mind. 'You are always welcome to my house.'
Without thinking, Sirius went into his bedroom, throwing his belongings into the trunk that lay at the foot of the bed. He pulled on clothes and nervously neared the door with his trunk, hoping his father was now in such a drunk stupor he wouldn't notice the sixteen year old sneaking away.
"Boy, what are you doing?!" The man shouted from the door way and disappeared, most likely off to find some pants and shoes.
Nervously, Sirius dragged the trunk down the road and several blocks, wondering where he was going until he saw the on coming head lights of the Knight Bus.
Sirius waved his right hand for the bus to stop, which came to a screeching halt at his feet. The door slid open and there stood a man of fifty, pulling the trunk into the Knight Bus.
"Welcome to the Knight Bus. We can take you anywhere and everywhere except on private property and oceans. Where would you like to go? For eleven sickles you.."
"Potter Manor." He breathed heavily, throwing a handful of change into the man's hand and shuffled over to one of the beds, sitting down and curling up on it tightly.
"Oi, sorry, sir. Potter Manor's private property. Reigate is only about two or so miles off if you fancy stopping there." When Sirius nodded, the bus gave a huge jolt and was moving forward, causing ebony hair to fly about around his head.
For what seemed like ages, the bus bounced about and the fifty year old man constantly tried to get him into a conversation. It was a great relief when, about an hour later, the bus randomly stopped at the end of the little town named Reigate, letting Sirius off, who, though tired, was more than glad and hurried.
The Potter manor would be about another two miles, which was no problem on his Nimbus 1000 which good go about sixty miles an hour, except that the trunk was very heavy, which would slow the broom down by a lot. Not to mention, to his luck, the wind was beginning to blow against his course.
Swearing a bit, Sirius tied the heavy luggage onto the thin broom, adding his own way onto it and slowly urged the poor stick forward.
About a fourth of the way there.. after about ten minutes, it began to rain. Not like a light, gentle, cooling mist, but a downpour, flooding and sweeping him about like a wave. It got to the point where he couldn't keep his head up, bowing it down and wiping the rain from his eyes constantly.
Though he was strong and his trunk was heavy, periodically Sirius was swept off course. It was a hassle. Fly, blow away, push back over, fly, blow away, push back over. He thought it was hard, he thought it was bad. Until he ran into a tree.
The struggling Sirius had been flying off course and blew into a tree. He feared his broom would blow away, but it was luckily stuck between two branches and under the heavy trunk. Sirius himself was suspended by a thing branch that head hooked onto his shirt and was digging into his back.
'Oh well, isn't this just lovely.' The boy grumbled, grabbing hold of the branch and swinging over and onto it, crawling on the thick limb and over to his broom, all the time getting scratched by nasty thorns and prickly things.
After a few more pitiful minutes of wriggling around on the large tree while the wind was trying to blow him off, he got back on his broom and tied the trunk to it, slowly beginning to inch forward and out of the tree.
Soon after, he was out of the leaves and flying against, if possible, worse wind and rain.
After what seemed like an age, what felt like he couldn't get any wetter, he saw the outline of the wrought iron gate of the Potter Manor.
With a sigh of relief and a groan of exhaustion, Sirius clambered off his broom. Going head on with the wind and rain just down the long drive way was just to much.
What seemed like forever, Sirius shuffled through the mud and puddles, heaving his trunk through the thick goo as he went along and eventually, the porch coming into view through a thick veil of rain.
He climbed up the stairs and to the entrance, shivering in the cold and the wind and the sharp pains. Slowly, he raised a cut and battered hand to the knocker. Knock. Knock. --- "James, can you get that?" His mother's pleasant voice rang from the music room a floor below. Grumbling, James rolled over in a half sleep. "James!"
"I'm on it, I'm on it." A boy with messy raven hair and large glasses, muttered, pulling on some jogging pants and a tank top. He yawned and scratched the back of his head, shuffling out of the bedroom and down the stairs.
"Night, mom." James said as he crossed paths with his mother, kissing her own the cheek and heading over to the door. Again, there was another faint knock from the door, this one a bit more soft then the first.
"Potter manor, James Pott..... Sirius?" He blinked and rubbed his eyes, not believing what he saw.
Sirius stood before him, pale and shaking and bloody and filthy. "Wha.... who..?" James questioned, pulling the boy into the house, grabbing a winter cloak from the coat hanger and throwing it around the other's shoulders. "What happened, Sirius? What happened?" It was scary, really, how sickened the boy looked.
Sirius looked at him dreadfully, his haunty eyes large and dead. His sallow skin stretched over his face, covered in mud and blood. Where the blood was coming from, he didn't know. It all seemed to end in start in different places. The dark hair was even darker, dirty and wet and matted to his hair. He was shivering.
"Please don't make me go back there." The sickened boy croaked suddenly, falling to his knees in a swift movement, as if he could no longer stand. "Don't, don't.." He sobbed. Shocked, James fell to his own knees and wrapped his arms around the other protectively. Wondering what had happened.
"Sshh." He rubbed his friend's back, rocking him a bit, letting him cry into his chest. "No one is going to make you go anywhere. I promise." He soothed, "We'll go upstairs and you're going to have a nice hot bath and some food and you're going to tell me what happened, okay, Padfoot?" James cupped his friend's face in his hands, "But, will you stay here for a moment while I go talk to Dad? Stay here. Can you do that for me?" When Sirius nodded, James stood up and backed away, turning and heading for his dad's study.
The study was on the first floor in the long hall, but it always seemed to go undetected, hovering under the large staircase.
He rushed, knocking over a house elf as he moved, and only just remembered to knock at the last second, not bothering for a reply as he entered. "Dad.." James said breathlessly, looking at an older mirror image of himself sitting at a desk. "Sirius is here. He was hurt badly." He surprised himself with the tone he used with his father. "I.. I.. thought you should know.. He needs to stay here.." James spoke, his tone softening.
Mr. Potter nodded a bit, a sad smile resting on his lips as he got up and followed his son, in case any help was needed.
When James got back to Sirius, the boy had passed out on the floor, buried within the robes. "Sirius.." He murmured, slipping his arms under the boy with ease, from much experience, shuffling up the stairs with his dad carrying the trunk.
When he made it up to the bedroom, he had passed a house elf and ordered a lot of food and chocolate to be brought up. His father set the trunk down in the other bedroom and then went told his son he was going back downstairs. James nodded and crawled up onto the bed, slowly shaking his friend to wake him up.
"Come on Sirius, wake up.. Wake up.."
Sirius writhered and shivered a bit, from cold and pain as he slowly came to. "Wha...?" His eyes glazed over a bit, him pausing in movement and words before he looked over and focused on the other. "Oh James.." He bit his lip, clearly having trouble with saying whatever he wanted and needed to say. "Father.. Rape.. pain." He murmured, shutting his lovely dark, but scared eyes. "Drunk."
"You're father, he raped you?" Sirius gasped, half accidentally glancing down 'there.' A fiery blaze flickered in James' eyes for a second, his hands turning into angered fists. "Hold on, Sirius. Everything will be okay." Water. Warm water. Everything would feel better after a very nice, relaxing bath.
James abandoned his weakened friend for a moment, slipping into the astounding bathroom and turning the water on to a fairly warm temperature, putting no soap in or anything that could make the abrasions sting even more. Once everything was sit, he went back into the bedroom and pulled his friend up, bringing him into the bathroom.
"Come here, love." He stood by the tub and slowly began to unbutton Sirius' shirt, helping him get out of his clothes. Sirius' eyes opened wide and he shivered nervously, backing away from James.
He's scared, James realized. He's nervous about contact. "It's okay." He said, backing away with his hands up. "I'll let you take a shower. If you need anything, anything at all, I'm here, okay?"
Stepping out and shutting the door, he began to work fast, going into the other bedroom and unpacking the clothes, putting them into the closet with other clothes his parents had already bought for Sirius. He took out a pair of pajamas for his friend and then a nice fluffy bathrobe, going back into the other room.
"Sirius?" James spoke softly, knocking on the bathroom door. "Are you okay, can I come in?" There was a funny little noise and the water began to drain.
"Okay, James.."
He waited a minute before entering, glancing around to find his friend staring blankly into the mirror. Now that the mud and blood was gone, James could see a dark and cut bruise resting on the other's cheek, along with several cuts and gashes running down his arms and chest and legs.
"Oh my God, Sirius, come here." Instead, he stepped forward with the robe and threw it over the other's shoulders, wrapping him up in it and a hug. He embraced his friend until two tired arms encircled his waist and the wet head pressed against his shoulder. Pulling away, James guided the Sirius over to the bed. There was silence for a time, until a house elf brought up the food.
"Here... eat something." He offered a piece of chocolate. "Sirius, you have to tell me what's wrong."
Sirius didn't look at him for awhile, just leaning against him and crying softly. Soothing him, James kissed his forehead and damp dark locks, stroking the better of the two cheeks gently.
"So much.. James.. so much.." The boy cried weakly. He cringed as he stroked his friend comfortingly. Sirius was so beautiful and fragile, now. He felt so helpless. How could someone hurt something so precious?
Sirius softly began to explain, leaving out some of the more painful details, cutting off often. It took much self control for James not to scream out in rage, for that would scare the other. It took awhile, yes, sitting there and listening to the sniffling, stroking hair constantly and kissing cheeks.
"I'm here for you, baby, you know that." He wrapped his arms around Sirius comfortingly, rocking him. "Dad says you can stay here and I'm sure Mum'll be more than happy for me to have some company. I'll write to your mother in the morning okay? To let her know you'll be staying here. They need to know your safe." The last statement would not be argued with, James was going to have to OWL Mrs. Black.
James lifted a long fingered hand to his friend's cheek, brushing the salty tears away, doing all he could do to show the other that he loved him and that everything would be all right.
"No!" A sharp whisper ejected from Sirius, "No, my mother doesn't give a damn where I am. And.. And she'll tell him. He'll come here, he'll take me back, James!" There was panic in his voice now as he pushed away. "He'll know I told you. He might hurt you, I'm putting all of you in danger." He tried to stand up but failed. "I shouldn't have come here, I need to get away." He ran a hand through his hair, "He already knows, I bet.." Sirius' eyes widen and his body began to shake.
James pulled Sirius back and held onto him tightly. "Padfoot, shut up. You are not leaving. I won't let you. Period. And don't tell me you're going to, because you aren't. I'm going to write to your mother. Your father can do anything he damn well pleases. But I'm here fore you." He kissed the boy's forehead. "And my mum is good with hexes... and Dad has a mean right hook, at that. You are safe here, I swear." The two boys sat there for some time. "Sirius... would you like to talk to my dad? I mean, I'd come with you, but talk to him about staying permanently? I want you to know what my family will do to keep you safe."
"James.." Sirius spoke weakly, "I love you.." He pressed his body against the other's tiredly. "I.. I couldn't impose." He sighed, "But.. if you want to talk.. then.. okay. I just don't want to.."
"You aren't imposing." James said flatly. "And I love you, too. How about we go find my dad now, okay?" He kissed the other's nose before pulling away from his arms. "And when we get down stairs, we'll look for some healing potion for those cuts, okay? Mum always keeps a surplus around." The two walked downstairs, hand in hand, heading for Mr. Potter's study.
"Dad, can we come in?" James asked, speaking softly and knocking on the door.
"Mmmhmmm." A busy reply came, signaling them in.
The office was lovely, dark colors and leather, and very cozy. It seemed more like a den with it's fireplace and book shelves. The whole anomaly of the thing was the large work desk that sat adjacent to the fireplace, covered with quills and parchment. James' older reflection sat there, looking at them with a sympathetic smile. "Boys, please, sit down." He magicked three cups of cocoa and took his, leaning back and looking at them. "What is it that I can do for you?" Mr. Potter looked Sirius over, a small frown line creasing in his brow. "Are you all right?"
Sirius looked at James with wide eyes, confused and lost. He tried to say something, but made a funny squeaking noise. "I.. my.." He couldn't get the words out. Pathetically, the boy looked down into his cup of hot chocolate and bit back a sniffle.
"Dad.." James spoke carefully, "Sirius..er.. sort of.. he.. " He scratched the back of his head, "Ran away from home." Harold Potter whistled.
"Pretty good reason, then?"
"Yeah.. there is.." His son said and Sirius made a nervous, urgent sound. James bit his lip and looked at his friend, taking his hand in his own. "Which can be discussed some other time, okay?" He looked at his father hopefully.
"Yes, I see.." Harold mumbled, nodding. "Do your parents know where you are? Or shall I write to them in the morning?" James had to smile proudly at his father. They sounded so much alike, sometimes. He felt his hand being squeezed a little tighter.
"No.. sir.. please.. sir." Sirius said and looked away from the look James threw at him. "I mean, only to my mother. Not my father.." He stared down into his lap, shutting his eyes tightly. "I - just. My..." He lifted his head and took a breath to soothe himself. "If you don't want me to stay -- if I'm imposing -- I'll understand. I'll - I'll go.. I'm sorry.. So sorry."
Herald shook his head and stood up, walking over to Sirius and kneeling in front of him, touching his cheek with fatherly affection. You aren't imposing. Never think that you are. You are like a second son to us. All right? You can stay here until the end of the summer and as long as you need to, okay?" When Sirius nodded, "Good then. I'll send an owl to your mother in the morning. Do you have everything you need? Clothes, belongings?"
"Sleeping wise, you can take the adjoining room to James' like you always have, unless you prefer to get away from that.. thing.." James made a 'humph' sound but smiled. He and his father had a special bond. They could pick on each other like that and tease. "If.. you want.. I could see what the Ministry can do.. and get you a foster family." Sirius gasped, "With your own annoying brother, if that is what you'd like."
James and Sirius were both thinking the same thing. Incest.
"Er... " Sirius smiled weakly, unsure of how to say what he wanted to, "Well.. Thank you for the offer sir.. but I really, really couldn't do that.. Because..er.. my.. mother." He blinked, and tried to save himself by making a joke out of it, "Besides, I get enough of James at school. And to be called his brother.."
"Hey! I'm not that embarrassing, am I?" James smiled, pretending to brush a tear away. Herald smirked and chuckled with amusement.
"Never the less, I'm going to contact the Ministry and your headmaster that you'll be staying with us." The clock struck midnight, "I'm going to go to bed, now. If you need anything, either of you, please, don't be afraid to ask. And that's an order." He stood up and kissed them each on the forehead in a fatherly like manner, before giving a nod and excused himself from the study.
Sirius looked surprised, pressing a hand to his forehead. "I don't know what to say, mate. You have the best parents in the world and I feel terrible for intruding like this." He shuffled his feet, looking anywhere but the sweet eyes of his friend." Tiredly, he yawned and rubbed his eyes, looking exhausted, but a little better.
"You are not bloody intruding and next time you say that I'm going to hang you out the window ok?" James said threateningly, a smile plastered across his face. "And I'm tired, aren't you? Let's go to bed." With a nod, James rose to his feet and slipped his arm around the other's waist, walking with him up the stairs.
Upon entering, James abandoned his friend to go to the bathroom. "I left some pajamas on the bed for you and you can sleep wherever you feel most comfortable tonight, okay?"
He disappeared into the bathroom and got a tooth brush and tooth paste out, peering into the mirror. He felt and looked tired. James wandered back into the bedroom to check on Sirius and smiled when he saw the boy crawling under the covers of his own bed. "Thatsth meant to be myth bed..." Shaking his head, he turned back and went into the bathroom, returning to the bedroom once again with minty fresh breath.
James sat on the bed and Sirius scooted over a bit, allowing him some room. Lying down and turning out the light, he draped an arm over his friend's side. "Siri," He murmured soothingly, "I just want you to know... that I'm here for you. I'll protect you. You can talk to me about anything.... Sirius?" There was no reply, but the soft, even breathing of his lover sleeping. "I love you."