Chapter Seven
Sirius found his friends in the last compartment of the train. They were having a heated discussion, but they stopped when he entered.
"Sirius!" James jumped up and gave him a one-armed hug. "You never answered my owl. I wanted to talk to you about yours. I was telling Remus and Peter all about it."
"What owl?" Sirius asked. "I didn't know you responded to mine." He sat down across from Remus.
"That's strange," James said.
Remus was scrutinizing Sirius. "You look like you haven't had a good meal in a while," he said. "Are you alright?"
"You're one to talk," Sirius said, nodding at him. "You're looking a bit peaky, aren't you?"
"I've got some leftover turkey and stuffing I've brought along," Peter piped up. He offered the plate to the two boys.
Remus and Sirius stared for a moment, then laughed. "I will never again insult your food stockpiling skills, Peter," Sirius said, taking a chunk of meat. Remus did so as well.
"Sirius," James suddenly said. "Let me see your arm."
"What are you talking about?" Sirius said, trying to play it cool, but feeling his face redden. He finished his bite of turkey and held his arm out to James.
"No," said James, "your wand arm. You never eat with your left hand. Show me your wand arm."
Resigning to the fact that he could not hide it any longer, Sirius extended his right arm, wincing as he did so.
"Merlin," James breathed. "What the bloody hell happened to you?" He examined Sirius' wrist and Sirius recoiled in pain when he touched it.
"It was an accident," Sirius said quickly. "Bellatrix…accidentally broke it."
"Why did no one repair it?" Remus asked. "Or if they weren't capable, why did they not take you to see a Healer?"
"I don't know," Sirius snapped. "It's complicated. Will you please stop asking me questions about it?"
"It really isn't complicated," James said, raising his voice. "Healing someone who is hurt is a very simple concept, actually."
"Stop talking like you understand my family!" Sirius said, standing up and losing his temper. "I'm sorry my dear old mum doesn't give me hugs and kisses every time she sees me like yours does, James. I'm sorry they don't allow me to do whatever I please. My cousin is responsible for making sure I act properly. She broke my radio." His voice broke when he said the last part. He looked out the window so he wouldn't have to meet the other boys' gaze.
"Oh Sirius," Remus said softly. "I'm so sorry. I know how much you loved that radio."
Sirius met Remus' eyes. His expression was genuine. Sirius blinked quickly and turned to study the window again.
"That still doesn't explain – " James sputtered. "What about your arm?"
"Let it go, James," Remus said very quietly.
"Fine," said James. "As long as you go to the hospital wing and get it sorted out."
"I'm not going to the hospital wing," Sirius said flatly. "Pomfrey will just start asking questions."
"Well you can't very well go on without use of your arm!" James was raising his voice again. "Go on, try to do a spell! Try to levitate Peter's turkey plate right now!"
Sirius removed his wand from his pocket. Gingerly, he aimed it at Peter's plate. "Wingardium Leviosa," he said, but as he swished, a jolt of pain coursed through his arm. He dropped his wand and clutched his wrist. "Guess I'll have to learn spells lefty then," he said through gritted teeth.
James stared, agape. "You are the most stubborn prat I have ever met," he said. "If I have to knock you out and drag you to the hospital wing, I will."
"Right, James," Sirius said. "But you couldn't knock me out if both my arms and legs were broken. Scrawny git."
"Gormless troll."
"Snape-kisser."
James looked appalled.
"Boys, we're here," Peter said. Remus opened the compartment door and they exited.
"Okay, ground rules," James said, still looking offended. "You can't use that one, it isn't fair."
"Why not?" Sirius asked.
"Because there isn't anything that tops that! It's cheating!"
"It seems to me you're just jealous you didn't think of it first," Sirius said smugly. "If you weren't so busy snogging Snape you'd probably come up with better insults." They trudged through the snow back up to the castle.
"You're lucky your wrist is broken right now!"
"You're so intimidating James. I might have to sleep in the girls' dormitory tonight for protection."
"You couldn't stay in the girls' dormitory if you tried. Lily would hex you so hard you'd forget your middle name."
"Joke's on you, there," Sirius said. "My middle name isn't worth remembering."
They stood before the fireplace in the Great Hall, warming their fingers and toes. "I remember your middle name," Peter supplied helpfully. "Your mum shouted it to everyone in the Hall, it's Apollo."
"It's better than mine," James admitted. "I don't have one."
"What about you, Remus?" Sirius asked.
"Mine is John," Remus said.
"No it isn't," Sirius said. "That's so dull! Why would your parents give you a middle name like that?"
"Well I suppose 'Remus' was exciting enough for them," Remus said, the corners of his mouth twitching up in a smile.
"Well I don't buy it," Sirius said, "Remus Theodore Lupin, that sounds more likely."
"How about Remus Melvin Lupin?" James suggested.
"Remus Barnabus Lupin."
"That's a good one," said James. "I like Remus Major Lupin."
"Colonel Remus Major Lupin," Sirius corrected.
"Lieutenant Colonel Remus Major Lupin."
Remus shook his head. "You two are a major pain in my arse."
Peter choked on a bite of turkey. James dropped his owl cage and Herod escaped, flapping around James' face and squawking.
"Remus Tiberius Gracchus Lupin!" Sirius said. "I am telling your mother you said 'arse'!"
"Peter, you're such a bad influence on Remus," James said. "Shame on you."
"Alright there boys? You ought to be getting back to your dormitories now," Professor Dawlish said from behind them. "Sirius, I would like to speak to you for a moment. Go on you three, we won't be long."
Sirius nodded at the others and they set off for Gryffindor Tower. He turned to Dawlish. "What is it, Professor?" he said.
"I thought I might help you with that broken wrist you're currently sporting," Dawlish said. "Is it safe to presume you incurred this injury during your Christmas break? That is to say, not on the train ride here?"
"Yes sir," Sirius mumbled.
"I'm not one to pry into others' lives, unless I'm trying to catch a criminal, of course, but am I correct in assuming that you did not intend to take this to Madam Pomfrey to have it healed?"
"You are correct, sir," Sirius said stiffly. "It was a…family matter."
"Quite," Dawlish said. "What I am asking is, was this a physical wound or…otherwise?"
Sirius quirked an eyebrow.
"You see," Dawlish went on delicately, "I am not proficient in the art of curse breaking, but I am perfectly capable of mending a bone fractured by natural causes."
"It was from a natural cause, sir," Sirius said, his face reddening, not meeting his teacher's eyes.
"Very well then," Dawlish said. "Episkey."
Sirius' wrist immediately felt better. He opened and closed his fingers without feeling pain. "Thank you sir," he said.
"A very useful spell to learn," Dawlish said, tapping his nose. "Run along now, lad."
Sirius didn't need telling twice. He hurried up to Gryffindor Tower.
"He fixed it, did he?" Remus asked with a half-smile as Sirius showed the boys his healed wrist. "I suppose you didn't need Madam Pomfrey after all."
"Not at all," Sirius agreed. "Plus now it makes a wicked noise when I rotate my hand." He demonstrated this in Marlene's ear and his wrist made a distinct pop.
Marlene shrieked. "That is disgusting!" she said. "Let's go upstairs, shall we girls?" she said, and the girls followed her, casting looks of disapproval in his direction.
"Who is up for a game of Quidditch?" James asked. "We haven't played in an age, and when term starts the Gryffindor team will need it for practice."
"You don't need to ask," Sirius said. "It has been far too long since I embarrassed you on the Quidditch field."
"You embarrass yourself," James said, ruffling Sirius' hair. "Remus, Peter? Coming with?"
"No thanks, I'm tired," Remus said.
"I'll join you," said Peter, and he ran up the steps to get James' cloak.
It was the third week of January when Gryffindor played their first match against Hufflepuff. The boys shuffled their feet and rubbed their hands together to try to stay warm. Their breath misted in the air. The first year Gryffindors huddled together in the stands, which resulted in Marlene and Sirius being shoulder to shoulder and Mary MacDonald putting her arms around a furiously blushing Remus. Lily was beside Marlene, Alexis Fawley and Emmaline Vance were on Mary's other side, and Peter and James were in the middle of the group.
"May I introduce to you the adorable members of the Gryffindor team!" The commentator for the match was third year Bertha Jorkins of Ravenclaw, who was standing beside Professor McGonagall, holding a megaphone. "In descending order of cuteness, we have Chasers Frank Longbottom, Gordon Willerby, and Alice Fawley!"
Alexis cheered louder than the others when her sister's name was called. Alice swooped inside the pitch, and waved at Alexis when she passed by.
"We have Beaters Morgan Dowd and Davey Gudgeon, who is playing his first official match today! Go Davey! Keeper and Team Captain, John Anderson!"
Sirius and James cheered loudly at the mention of John Anderson. Marlene gave them a funny look. "What?" said Sirius. "We like him."
"Gryffindor team also has a brand new Seeker, Dax Fogerty! And here comes the Hufflepuff team! May I present your Chasers – "
"You fancy the team captain?" Marlene pressed.
"We don't fancy him," James defended.
"Trust me, he is very cool," said Sirius. "I once saw him use a hex on a Slytherin that caused him to grow fur all over."
"He is an inspiration," James sighed. Marlene rolled her eyes.
"Aaaaaand Fawley with the Quaffle, passes to Frank. I hear they're dating, can anyone confirm that? I'm certain I speak for many girls here when I say I would love a piece of Frank Longbottom."
"Focus on the game, Jorkins!" McGonagall warned.
"Back to Fawley, and – ouch. Hit by a Bludger from Hufflepuff's Edgar Bones. Hufflepuff takes control of the Quaffle – but intercepted by Frank! He's the kind of man who stands up for his woman! Passes to Willerby, back to Frank – Frank scores!"
The Gryffindors in the stands roared their approval. "Go Frank!" James, Sirius and Marlene yelled as loudly as they could.
"Sturgis Podmore of Hufflepuff has the Quaffle, aims, BLOCKED by Anderson! And the Quaffle goes back to Gryffindor!"
"Alright John Anderson!" Sirius and James hollered loudly enough that he turned from his post and gave them a funny look.
"By Merlin, did you see that?" James asked excitedly.
"I know, he looked at me!" Sirius said.
"Fawley with the Quaffle – what's this? Dax Fogerty is diving for the Snitch! And he's got it! The game ends, Gryffindor 160, Hufflepuff naught!"
The first-year girls were screaming and jumping up and down. Marlene grabbed the front of Sirius' robes and kissed him. When she pulled away, she looked as shocked as all the other first years, who had stopped cheering to witness the event.
"There," she nodded, as if that settled a matter. "Now maybe you'll forget about John Anderson."
Sirius was grinning lopsidedly. "Do that again," he said.
"No!" she said. "You're a stupid wanker!" She kissed him a second time. Then she slapped him and walked off in a huff, with the other girls following her.
"If she keeps doing that, she can say whatever she wants about me," Sirius said, rubbing his cheek where she had slapped him and watching her leave.
"Now this is just what I was talking about!" James said indignantly. "How do you do that? You didn't even do anything and she just kissed you! What does a bloke have to do around here to get a girl?"
Remus pointed toward the Quidditch pitch, where a group of girls surrounded John Anderson. "I think you have to play a sport they care about." Anderson was sitting on the box which held the Quaffle, Bludgers and Snitch, and a girl was in his lap with her legs wrapped around his middle.
James and Sirius stopped arguing and watched the two. Anderson's hands were caressing the girl's bottom.
"Have you ever seen anyone, you know, going at it?" Peter asked.
"No," said Remus evenly.
"No," said James wistfully.
"Yes," said Sirius. They all turned to look at him, but only briefly before returning to the scene on the pitch, where Anderson and the girl were now alone. "Lucius Malfoy and my cousin Narcissa. Over Christmas break she left her door open, I was walking by and heard noises, and, there they were." He shrugged.
"Wow," said Peter. "I wish I could see a naked dolly bird."
"You don't wish you could see your cousin naked though," said Sirius.
"Oh, I guess that's true," said Peter.
"We should go inside, it's rather cold, don't you think?" Remus said.
"Yeah," Sirius said.
No one moved. They were still transfixed on the scene below. The girl's blouse was unbuttoned.
"Maybe we can stay out here a little bit longer," James said. They nodded.
Now that Gryffindor had won, everyone was excited for the next match, which would be Gryffindor versus Slytherin. James was taking every opportunity when the teams weren't practicing to do so himself, with Sirius when he could. He was determined to make it on the team in their second year.
Sirius was not the best Keeper, as he tended to get bored and therefore distracted, but he played the position well enough that James could use him for practicing Chaser. Remus was not fond of flying, and as such, would rarely join them. Peter was abysmal, if he was with them he was usually in the stands watching them play.
"I reckon I might try out," Sirius said, retrieving the Quaffle after James had scored. "I could be a Beater."
"I've never seen you try it," James said. "We'll have to nick the Bludger next time so we can use it for practice. It would be the dog's bollocks if we both made the team!"
Sirius grinned and tossed the Quaffle back to James. "We'll be allowed to bring our brooms next year," he said. "Then we'll really see who the better flyer is."
"We don't need to test that again," James said, successfully making the ball into the left hoop. "The previous results were conclusive."
"I dispute those results, on the basis that I was using a shite school broom," Sirius said. "When we rematch, we will be using the same type of broom, so there will be no error."
"Have it your way," James said, shooting for the middle hoop. This time, Sirius blocked it. "There will be no excuses when I beat you a second time." Sirius tossed the ball back to him and he paused. "Imagine you as a Beater."
"Well we all know I can take a good bashing," Sirius said. "And I'm excellent at falling, so there's that."
"True," said James. "Although I believe the goal would be for you to remain on your broom. On the other hand, I think there are enough girls already who want to snog you. The polite thing to do would be to leave some for me."
"You can have Gladys Gudgeon," Sirius said. "I'll have the rest."
"Gladys Gudgeon!? She's a troll!" James protested.
"Alright then, picky. Peter can have Gladys Gudgeon. I'll give you Bertha Jorkins, she's got dung for brains anyway. But you'd have to put up with her pining for Frank."
"No way. You do not get all the Gryffindor girls. Lily or Alexis, since you've already taken Marlene. Oh Merlin, tell me this doesn't mean she will be chumming with us now!"
"I don't think so," Sirius said. "I mean, we only kissed. That doesn't mean anything, right?"
"I think it means something to girls," James said. They landed and packed up their things, eager now, to return to the warmth of the castle. "So you don't like her?"
"I like kissing her," Sirius said. "I want to do more of that. But I don't want her chumming with us either. She would get in the way."
"Expelliarmus!" a voice pierced the darkness and James flew back ten feet. His wand fell into the grass, obscured.
"Snivellus, show yourself, you coward!" Sirius said, wand raised and eyes wide to try to make out shapes in the dark.
"I am not a coward!" Snape hissed. He stepped forward so Sirius could see him. "Potter and Black, out after curfew. What sort of trouble are you getting into?"
"You're out after curfew too, you stupid sod," Sirius said. "Otherwise, you wouldn't have found us. You see, there's a flaw in your logic."
"Oh I don't think so," Snape said. "You see, I am accompanied by an upper year student, working on a school project. We have permission to be out after curfew."
"Petrificus Totalus!" James said, having found his wand. Snape's arms snapped to his side and he fell to the ground, stiff as a board.
"That was a bad idea," said Rabastan Lestrange, emerging from the dark, pointing his wand at James. "Stupefy!" James' eyes closed and he crumbled to the ground. "Now," he said, turning to Sirius. "I believe you were given a task from Bellatrix, due upon your return to the school. You owe me a name."
"So you're making friends with first-years, how nice," Sirius said. "Couldn't find friends your own age? Pity, really."
"Finite Incantatem," Lestrange said, and Snape was released from his Full Body Bind. "Bellatrix suspected you were lying. I will take your lack of response as confirmation of that. She won't be pleased, I can assure you."
"Did you have a nice Christmas, Black?" Snape said with a cold smile. "Bellatrix told us how you spent most of your time shackled to a wall. I wish she had told me while it was happening. I would have paid anything to see that."
Sirius felt his anger rising. His wand arm was shaking. "You're pathetic," he said. "You would probably beg her to put you up there. She would never look at you, you greasy git."
"Funny," Snape said, "if I was a blood traitor, I don't think I'd be hurling insults."
"Stupefy!" Sirius said, pointing his wand at Rabastan, who fell to the ground. If he hadn't been so angry, he might have marveled at the fact that he had performed that spell correctly, despite having never attempted it before. Instead, without pausing, he hit Snape with another Full Body Bind.
Panting slightly, his ire receded and he took in his surroundings. James was unconscious a few feet from him. Sirius tried to levitate him, but his spell wasn't powerful enough to lift a person. He squatted down, put James' arms around his shoulders, and heaved forward so James' weight was on his back. Slowly, he made his way back to the castle.
The Invisibility Cloak was tucked into James' pocket, and Sirius didn't want to put him down, thinking he might not be able to pick him back up again. He was lucky, however, and made it back to Gryffindor Tower without incident. He set James down on one of the couches and ran up the steps to their dormitory.
"Remus!" he said loudly.
"What…what time is it?" Remus mumbled, his words muffled by his pillow.
Sirius pulled back the hangings on Remus' bed. "Wake up!" he said. "I need your help with a spell. Snape and Rabastan ambushed us, and Rabastan Stunned James! Get up!" He pulled back the covers and grabbed Remus by the leg, intending to drag him out of the bed.
Remus recoiled and growled a very guttural sound. Sirius was startled enough to let go of his foot. "If no one is dying, then it is not necessary to wake me up," he snarled. "If you try again, I will personally take every pair of Peter's sweaty socks and stuff them down your throat."
Fully taken aback, Sirius decided it might be best to pursue a different route. He ran down the boys' staircase and tried to ascend the girls'. To his surprise, a siren went off and the steps melted into a slide. He fell on his buttocks and slid backwards down the steps he had managed to climb.
Sleepy heads appeared at the top of the staircase. "Who tried to get up here?" a third-year girl asked.
Still on his backside at the bottom of the steps, Sirius waved. "I did," he said. "I'm looking for Lily."
Several giggles followed this, but Lily made her way to the front of the crowd. "What do you want, Sirius?" she asked, rubbing her eyes.
"I need your help with a spell. Mind getting your wand?"
Lily sighed and disappeared. She returned moments later with her wand and slid down the slide. The other girls dispersed, muttering things such as 'the nerve of some people, waking us up like that'.
Sirius stood up and led her to James. "He's been hit with a Stunner. Do you know the countercurse?"
Lily rolled her eyes. "So you haven't taken him to Madam Pomfrey, which means you were out doing something stupid that you shouldn't have been doing, and now you want my help?"
Sirius ran a hand through his hair. "Well as it turns out, Remus is a bit of a nob when his sleep is disturbed – can't imagine why – and obviously you're the best at hexes and jinxes in our year. You're book smart too. I thought you might know what the countercurse was."
The corner of Lily's mouth twitched up briefly in a smile. "Well I thought you would ask for Marlene," she said.
"Why on Earth would I ask for Marlene?" Sirius said, bewildered. "I've just told you you're the one who knows hexes and jinxes."
"Well aren't you two dating now?" Lily said. "She would be chucking books at you right now if she knew you hadn't asked her. Luckily, she sleeps like the dead – "
"Who says we're dating?" Sirius said. "We kissed twice, that doesn't mean we're dating. I can't be arsed to bother with that sappy, mushy business. Who would want that?"
Lily raised her eyebrows. "I think Marlene does," she said in a sing-song voice.
Sirius put a hand over his face. "Oh Merlin," he said. "You girls are a right pain in the arse, you know that? Can you please just undo the Stunner on James?"
"I've never tried it before," Lily said, "but I know the spell. Rennervate." Nothing happened. She leaned over James, pointed her wand at him once more, and repeated, "Rennervate."
James opened his eyes. He stared at Lily, who was still hovering over him. "Cheers," he said. He had a very odd look on his face.
Sirius was still preoccupied. "I said the same thing to James," he said. "I don't want her chumming with us. That would be weird. She's not my friend, she's just a girl who kissed me. Why does she have to be complicated?"
Lily sighed and stood up. "You should practice some healing spells tonight," she advised him. "You might be needing them tomorrow morning."
