Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

AN: This is written in third person but is from James's perspective for most of it. I didn't want any of Sirius's thoughts getting out until the very end because they are a little bit depressing. He is also a bit self-absorbed at the moment so isn't a good character to write as. James is concerned for his friend who is acting wierdly.

Chapter Three

James Potter didn't know what to do. The previous day his best friend Sirius hadn't been at lunch, and at dinner, he had stormed off up to the dormitory when he'd tried to ask what McGonagall had wanted to him about. When he'd followed, he'd found Sirius curled up into a tiny ball on the bed:

"What happened, Sirius?" he had asked. Sirius hadn't replied, even when James had sat down on the bed next to him. "Is it your parents again?" The previous year, Sirius had received a lot of howlers and letters from his parents, and James had suspected that they hadn't treated him very kindly when he had returned home after a whole year of 'consorting with those filthy blood-traitors'. Perhaps his parents had hurt him during the holidays and it was nothing to do with what McGonagall had said after all.

To his surprise, Sirius had shaken his head in response. He had also whimpered slightly and curled further into a ball. After that, James had stayed silent. If Sirius wanted to tell him, he would, but further probing would probably upset him further.

Sirius had remained in the same position, even when Peter had come in. In fact it was now morning, and he still hadn't moved.

"Sirius," he said, gently shaking his friend, "it's time to wake up."

Sirius's eyes flicked open for a moment or two. "Don' wanna," he muttered.

"Come on, we have to get to Breakfast before lessons," said Peter.

"Five more minutes."

"No, now," said Peter, being firm for once. He grabbed hold of Sirius's arms and dragged him across the bed and onto the floor.

"Ouch! What was that for?" yelled Sirius.

"Good. You're up. Let's go!" said James. When Sirius protested, James explained that if they wanted to visit Remus before breakfast they would have to go. Sirius didn't want James or Peter to think that anything was amiss so didn't complain anymore. James was desperately trying to act as if nothing was wrong so that Sirius didn't feel uncomfortable after the previous night. In actual fact he was very worried about what had happened to Sirius.

The three of them hurried down to the Hospital wing to see their friend. James noticed that Sirius was looking increasingly more uncomfortable as they approached the ward: the latter had started shaking slightly and had gripped hold of James's arm. James asked Peter to go in ahead and took Sirius aside for a private word.

"Sirius, what's the matter? It isn't to do with what happened to Remus is it?" James asked. Sirius looked downwards at his feet.

"James, I told him I didn't mind. I can't go back on that now," he said.

"But you're worried about facing him aren't you?"

"No!" said Sirius. James gave him a look. "Alright maybe I am. Maybe I can't quite believe all this has happened and I don't want to go in there because then I'll know it's for real! And I can't stand looking at him and knowing things are never going to be the same again and-" panicked Sirius.

"Sirius stop! I spoke to Dumbledore yesterday when you went off to wherever the hell you went off too. No one's going to do anything to Remus: not the Ministry, not the parents of the boy that got hurt – no one," said James calmly. "Everything will be alright. Nothing is going to change for the four of us."

"But I thought the law said…" began Sirius.

"Nothing will happen unless a complaint is made. Dumbledore says that the parents of the person who got hurt aren't going to, so-"

"What? They're not going to do anything? I thought they'd have been asking for Remus to be put down or something by now!" said Sirius.

"You sound like you actually want them to hurt Remus? Do you know something that I don't?" asked James. He was getting seriously confused by Sirius's emotions. He'd thought that telling Sirius that nothing would happen would have cheered him up: instead it had made things worse. Sirius seemed very distressed that no one was taking any action against Remus.

"No that's not what I meant!" argued Sirius. "It's just I'd have thought they'd have at least cared a little. Of course I don't want anyone to hurt our Moony."

"Who? What on earth are you talking about, Sirius?"

"Nothing," said Sirius, looking down at his feet again. "I, um, let's just go and see Remus then."

James and Sirius walked in through the hospital wing doors. Peter was already occupying the seat next to the bed and was chatting away about the previous day's classes, in particular the one where Sirius had been forced to sit near Snivellus. Sirius went over first and grumpily sat on top of Peter, squishing the younger boy. James followed, doing the same as yesterday and jumping on the bed. Luckily Remus wasn't in so much pain as before and didn't complain. Sirius said nothing throughout the whole conversation and refused to even look at Remus.

"What's eating at you, Sirius?" asked Remus. "You've been strangely quiet." When Sirius didn't reply he asked James.

"I don't know. He won't tell us either," said James. There was a moments' silence.

"Remus, do you remember anything about the other night?" asked Sirius very quietly.

"No. You know I can never remember anything that happens on a full moon."

"Sirius, it wasn't Remus's fault, if that's what you're worried about," said Peter.

"I know!" shouted Sirius. "All of this is entirely my fault! If it hadn't been for me and my stupid temper none of this would have happened!"

James watched as Sirius stormed out of the room. Then he realised what had occurred and ran out after him. Peter followed close behind. Eventually they found Sirius sitting in the Great Hall next to Lily and Marlene, with his head on the table. Marlene had her hand on his shoulder and it looked like he was crying. Sirius almost never cried: he hadn't even cried when he had received ten howlers from both of his parents on Christmas day!

"How is it Sirius's fault?" Peter asked.

"It isn't. Sirius is just taking things badly," said James. "Next he'll be saying it's his fault that Remus got bitten in the first place, which it isn't."

The two of them quietly walked up to where their friend was seated. "Sirius?" asked Peter.

"Sirius, are you okay?" asked James.

"Does it look like he's okay, Potter?" said Lily. "Sirius just received this!" She handed James a piece of paper with the Black Family crest on it. It was a letter. James was about to open it when Sirius told him to stop and snatched it back.

"He won't let any of us read it. I think it's from his family - something bad," added Marlene.

…..

Sirius stormed out of the hospital wing before the tears came. He couldn't even look at Remus without thinking about what had happened to his brother and so he'd said nothing. A small part of him wanted to hit Remus, but he couldn't. Remus didn't deserve it: it wasn't Remus's fault he was a werewolf. It was his own fault for being such a pathetic excuse for an older brother. What had happened to Regulus was his own fault entirely.

He reached the Great Hall just as the owls flew in, and put his head in his hands, trying to supress the tears that had felt ready to spill out for ages. It was no use, as no sooner as he had done so, an owl landed on the table in front of him. It was a tawny and he recognised it immediately as one of his Father's.

Sighing heavily, he untied the letter from around its leg. He recognised the writing as his Father's.

Dear Sirius,

There is no place for blood traitors and werewolves in pureblood society. From this day forward both you and Regulus will no longer be members of the House of Black. You have brought shame on your entire family through your actions.

You will inherit nothing and your accounts will be cut off. You will not return home for the holidays. As your education was paid for in advance, you may remain at Hogwarts for the remainder of your school days. Your place as heir to the House of Black will be taken by Bellatrix.

If you speak of the true reasons for your disownment to anyone, the consequences will be severe. Do not reply to this letter.

From Orion and Walburga Black.

..

AN: I really wasn't sure how to write that letter. Is it okay? I wanted it to be abrupt and to the point. If it had been written by Sirius's mother alone there would probably be more to it, but it wasn't. The "and Walburga" part was written by their father. What did you think of James and Sirius's conversation? Basically, amongst other things, Sirius is upset that his parents don't appear to care about what has happened to his brother. Here are some things to think about or tell me in a review.

Who will Sirius open up to first?

What will happen when Regulus finds out he was disowned anyway?

Where will they go in the holidays? Okay that's a little obvious – or is it?

I'm sorry if there's a mood change halfway through. I wrote it on two separate days, and lets just say that I was in a horrible mood (hence my latest story). Thanks for reading and please review.