Animal Therapy
Another oneshot that I've had in my notebook for a while.
They say that stroking animals is a very good form of therapy. In that case, Remus Lupin should have been the most relaxed, problem-free boy on the planet. Every night since the Marauders had become Animagi he would curl up with Sirius in his dog form and Remus would stroke him until they both fell asleep.
This evening though, was different. It was the beginning of their sixth year at the Hogwarts but the first that Sirius hadn't come from his family home. He had run away within the first week of the summer holidays, unable to tolerate his family any longer, and had been staying at James'. Within hours of arriving at Hogwarts, the story that Sirius' parents had kicked him out and disowned him was flying around the castle, started by none other than Regulus, Sirius' little brother.
Remus had left Sirius in the common room where he sat string into he fire, he knew that Sirius was best left to himself until he wanted to talk; which it appeared he did now. Sirius threw himself down on Remus' bed, pulling the curtains shut and clambering under the covers.
"I just hate him so much, Moony," Sirius whispered.
"I know," Remus put a hand on the other boy's shoulder. Sirius didn't say anything else but Remus' heightened senses told him that Sirius was crying long before he felt the tears slide down his arm. Remus' eyes widened. Sirius was crying. Sirius Black was actually crying. Sirius must have seen Remus cry half a dozen times at least but this was the first time it had ever been the other way round. Remus acted on instinct, gathering Sirius up in his arms and stroking his hair; oddly similar to all those other nights. When Sirius had finally stopped shaking he turned his reddened eyes towards Remus,
"When I was staying at Prongs' I noticed the way his parents act around him…you don't know what it's like not to be loved." And Remus, his heart burning in sympathy, said the words that had been in it for a long time now.
"But you are loved Sirius. I love you."