The Return of the Father:
Hey guys. Jeez, I didn't think everyone would have such an adverse reaction to a small little cliffhanger! LOL. Well, here's your chapter, stop cursing me!
Thank you so much to all of the reviewers!
----------------------------------Hospital Wing
James watched Sirius run a hand through his shoulder length black hair. It was a bit messier than James remembered it, and a lot less well kept. Remus's own hair had been streaked with gray, something that hadn't been present the last time they'd seen each other. "You're older." He stated, not a question or even said with a curious tone. James was merely saying the facts.
Sighing, Sirius nodded, "Yes, I'm older." He took a deep breath before revealing just how much older. "I'm thirty-four, Prongs. As is Remus."
Sitting up instantly felt like too much of an effort. James fell back heavily against his pillows. He didn't say anything, he just stared at Sirius, taking in his appearance.
For all it was worth, Sirius didn't look that bad. To the marauders, thirty seemed like an ancient age. In their defense, they were never really expecting to make it that far. Whether it be pranks, lycanthrope, or the war, getting to thirty seemed a bit out of reach.
There were only a few new lines on Sirius's face. Not enough to make him seem old. His hair hadn't gone gray or thinned out any. He was paler, which was for sure. Sirius had always sported a tan, but there was no tan now. He was thinner, far thinner than James remembered.
But it was his eyes that gave him away. Even Dumbledore had younger eyes. Sirius had seen far more than what James would have imagined. There was a sadness, one that he had noticed before, in his eyes that seemed destined to stay there. A haunted look also was present in the silvery blue that James knew very well.
"What happened to you?" He whispered, still shocked from the information, both spoken and seen.
Sirius let out a bitter laugh, which sounded like his customary bark. The laugh didn't help calm James any. "Long story, Prongs. I'd really like to know what happened to you."
James stared out at space, very much like Sirius had seen him do before. He was about to ask again, when James snapped out of it. "I don't really know." He answered, sounding puzzled himself, "Harry started..." James trailed off, thoughts of his son too painful to deal with.
As much as Sirius wanted to tell James right then and there, he couldn't. If he told James about Harry, then he wouldn't ever find out what happened. "Harry started what, James?" he prodded gently.
Closing his eyes, James drew in a deep breath. Trying again, he started, "Harry started crying. And you know how he...was. He never cried. Ever. He could get sick, be upset or hungry, but he wouldn't cry. We should have known. I should have realized..." James stopped, tears coming out of his eyes again. Self-loathing swept over him painfully.
Sirius sat on the bed next to him, and put a hand on his shoulder. "It's all right, James. It's not your fault. Keep going."
"We tried to calm him down. Lily and I. And even after he stopped screaming he was still crying. Just with tears going down his face, but he didn't make a noise." James said. He could still see Harry's nursery. He could feel his son in his arms, head against his shoulder. Lily was still right next to him, whispering a lullaby to Harry. He could hear her voice, and the rain outside. "Lily was singing to him." He whispered.
There was a stinging in his eyes that Sirius refused to acknowledge, James needed to get this out. He said nothing, and James kept going without any prodding this time.
"It was raining, kind of heavily. We thought that maybe it was the storm that had scared him. Never mind the fact that Harry loved lightning and thunder." James laughed, tears still streaming from his face. "We were being stupid. But either way, we thought that was it. Eventually we went downstairs, we were actually desperate enough to try and floo you."
Cracking a smile, Sirius couldn't help but laugh. "Gee thanks, Prongs."
"You were always good with him." James said, thoughts of his son making his heart hurt more than he knew was possible. It was like a physical pain, a part of his heart wasn't there anymore. "I was right. Everyone called me crazy, that would be the worst godfather, but I was right."
It was hard not to picture the raised eyebrows and outright arguments that had followed James and Lily's decision. People had made such compelling arguments that Sirius had begun to believe them. Until, that was, he met his godson in the hospital. And as it had been for James and Lily, he had loved the child on sight.
James didn't pay attention to what Sirius was doing, he was still lost in his own memories. "We were looking for the floo powder. We don't use it much...hate that stuff. But we heard something. Actually, Harry heard it. He stopped crying instantly, and just looked at me. He looked so scared."
"I knew who it was instantly, who else could it be? I told Lily to take Harry and run, but the fireplace floo connection was gone. The doors were stuck closed. I said I'd hold him off, and Lily ran up the stairs. Harry had started screaming again." James explained, the sound of his son's crying was ringing in his ears again. "Voldemort burst in only seconds after."
"And?" Sirius prompted, practically on the edge of his seat. This might be were they got a clue as to what happened. A spell that was cast, something. Anything that could tell him what had happened.
James merely shrugged this time, as thought the climax of the story was really quite dull. "We dueled." He said, matter of fact sounding. Most people would either speak of such a think with pride or fear, but never James. Sirius realized with a jolt that James's eyes were unfocused, he was lost in the past. He was reliving every minute of that night. It could help them figure it out, but it could also destroy James even more.
"What was the last..." Sirius broke off, unsure what to say. Even if it was all right to ask. But they had to know. "What was the last spell he cast?"
Staying quite, James seemed to be trying to figure out just that. Had there been a flash of green light? Had there even been a killing curse thrown his way? It made no sense in his mind. The slow motion of his last memories were too muffled to make anything out. His head was swimming and the call for sleep was becoming overwhelming. The more he remembered, the more he saw the desperation and even fear in Lily's eyes. He could hear her scream from above when curses were flying. His own wife's screams were blending in with his son's cries. Voldemort's shouts were being echoed. "I don't...I can't think. I just can't." James whispered, sounding broken again.
Sirius bowed his head in defeat, he couldn't make James remember. "It's all right, Prongs. Besides, we have something more important to talk about."
"I don't care. Do you hear me, Sirius?" James asked harshly. Tears were rolling out of his eyes and Sirius could see that his emotions were quickly changing. "I don't care!"
Unsure how to help, Sirius tried to do the only thing he knew how. Tell James the truth. Harry, even the knowledge that he was alive, would help James more than any comforting words or healthy potions. That was what his friend needed. But in his heart he knew that James was not ready to be told something like that. "James, listen to me."
"No! I'm not listening. How can you even hear?" He asked, trying to shove Sirius away. "Why are you here? You shouldn't care." He accused, but not saying anything against Sirius. The comment was against himself. He was implying that Sirius shouldn't care about him.
His best friend was slipping away again. The windows would be in danger in only a matter of minutes. "James, calm down. I'm here, and I do care. You can't stop that. It's going to be okay!"
"Liar. It's not going to be okay. Don't you get it?" James asked. He shoved Sirius off the bed, and the older man landed on the floor with a thud. James pulled himself up again and yelled down at him. "THEY'RE DEAD!"
Sirius could hear the rustling from the next room, Madame Pomfrey would be in the room, only in a few short seconds. The woman could run. James was out of bed now. "I can't stay here." He said.
Jumping up, Sirius tried to gently shove him back to the bed. "No, James, you can't go. You're safe here."
"Doesn't matter. Why don't you understand? It's my fault. I swore! I swore to Harry that I wouldn't let anything happen to him." James cried out. He shoved Sirius away from him again. "Get away from me!"
"Mr. Black!" Shouted the alarmed nurse from behind him. She took one look at James and instantly understood the situation. "Go, get out of my hospital wing." She whispered.
Sirius looked at James again, who had quieted down, but was still looking at the door longingly. After a second his face crumpled and he started shouting again.
The words didn't even make it to Sirius's ears, they were all the same. A shouted heartbroken version of what he'd heard two nights ago. Madame Pomfrey was pulling him away now. "Sirius, go. I'll take over now." She gently said, he spared her a glance and saw only compassion in her eyes. "Go." She repeated.
This time Sirius numbly obeyed. He walked down the corridors, James's voice fading in the distance behind him.
What in hell were they going to do now?
Okay, seriously here, don't kill me. I'm not sure if I like this chapter or not, so please let me know your thoughts on it. I want to hear from everyone! Got that?!
Now people, did you honestly think it would just go all easily? Bad, bad, readers. Have I shown you nothing yet?
Review! Please!
