A/N: Feels like I haven't updated in a while. I've had a lot of rehearsals and auditions and then on top of it I discovered Flappy Bird. So here ya go.

Y6: Wheels and Coasters

"Sirius!" James fell to the ground and picked up his friend.

James's mother was out of her seat. She was racing towards the door as James looked at her scared.

"Paul!" James's mother screamed for his father.

Sirius was holding onto James tightly, crying into his shoulder.

"What is it Sirius?! What happened?" James was whispering to his friend.

But Sirius couldn't speak.

"Amelia?! James?!" Paul came running around the corner, the kitchen elf popped in after them.

"Sirius? Sirius?" James said but Sirius was crying.

"Take them up to James's room!" Amelia ordered the house elf.

She latched on to the two and they apparated away. Amelia and Paul ran up the stairs on foot.

James had laid Sirius on the bed, he was still crying and now he was shivering. Amelia took out her wand and stripped Sirius of his clothes. She stole clothes from James's closet and had them on Sirius. She tucked her wand away and pulled the blankets around him. She motioned for Paul to give her a chair which he grabbed from the hallway. James's mother set the chair by Sirius's head and took a seat. She placed her hand on Sirius's head trying to soothe him. With her eyes, she ordered James to take a seat on the bed at Sirius's feet. He did. And Paul leaned against the wall. The kitchen elf came back moments later with cups of tea. And they stayed like that all night.

….

Lily Evans was back at her aunt's house for the break. It was the morning of Boxing Day and Lily had spent the last few hours there alone. Lenora and Petunia had spent the early hours shopping.

Lily was washing a tea cup and a plate when the two returned.

"Did you guys have fun?" Lily smiled watching as Lenora fell to a chair dropping multiple bags.

"I am exhauuuusted," Lenora said.

Lily let out a small laugh and Petunia dropped her bags on the table, "It isn't funny. We had to wait in line for almost two hours. It was ridiculous!"

"Was it worth it?" Lily asked.

"Of course," Petunia looked through a few bags, "I bought a bunch of things for my house—"

"What?" Lily asked confused.

Petunia looked up confused, and then gave a small smile, "Oh right, I forgot to tell you. While you were away at your school for freaks, I decided that I'm going to move out."

Lily glared at Lenora, "And you didn't think to include that in your letters, Aunt Lenny?"

Lenora cleared her throat running a hand through her hair, "Well, Tuney—"

"Petunia! I'm not a child anymore!" Petunia corrected her.

"I thought Petunia was going to write you," Lenny said awkwardly.

"Must've forgotten," Petunia shrugged, "oh well."

Petunia grabbed her bags and skipped up stairs.

Lily took her seat looking at her hands, "She's moving out?"

Lenny nodded with a small frown, "She's an adult now, Lily. I can't stop her. And to be honest, I think it'll be good for her to have her own place. My little home is too small for her."

"She just wants to get away from me," Lily said closing her eyes, "I don't even know what I did. I mean I do but—she can't just—it's not my fault… any of it."

Lenny reached for Lily's hand, "Nothing is your fault. Petunia is just growing up."

"I miss her."

"She isn't gone," Lenny smiled, "she's just different."

"I wish she wasn't," Lily sighed.

"She's not the only one, Lils, you're different too. And that isn't a bad thing, it's just how life goes. When your father and I were kids, we were the exact opposite of when you and Tuney were kids. We hated each other, always arguing. And then we grew up and he became my best friend. When he moved out with your mother, it was hard. It's going to be hard for you and your sister, but you'll work it all out. You're family and you love each other."

Lily laughed lightly, "I don't know if love is the right word. She tolerates me at best."

"She loves you, Lily," Lenora promised and Lily smiled slightly, "now help me drag these upstairs."

"I would but they look really heavy and I hurt my arm in Defense Against the Dark—"

"Oh shut it and help me," Lenny ordered.

Lily groaned but did as she was told with a small smile playing on her lips.

…..

Wormtail,

Padfoot is at my house. Send all messages here. And if you can get your lazy arse up then meet me at my house. I'd prefer it if you could come over soon. Owl Back.

-Prongs.

Moony,

I know you're probably busy but if you could get your boring arse up, please come to my house. Something is wrong with Pads. Owl Back.

-Prongs.

..

"Sirius, darling," James's mother moved Sirius's hair from his face, "do you want to talk yet?"

He shook his head and continued staring at the wall. Amelia patted his head and stood.

"I think James-ie went to let in your friend, Peter," she smiled but he didn't look up, "you'll have to excuse me."

He nodded and Amelia left.

James and Peter came up the stairs and back into James's room.

"What's the bother, Padfoot?" Peter said taking a seat on the edge of the bed.

Sirius shook his head.

"C'mon, Pads," James pleaded with his friend.

But Sirius just shook his head. And so they sat waiting, the boys only leaving to grab food or when James's mum called them. They just sat, hoping that Sirius would tell them. But he was looking at that wall pathetically with his back to them.

Remus was able to come over late that night. Pete took him upstairs to where James had fallen asleep leaning against the bed where Sirius was. When the two walked in, Peter kicked James's foot jerking him awake.

"Wha- what," James said jolting up.

"Moony is here," Peter nodded to Remus and took a seat back on the floor.

"Hey Padfoot," Remus said to his friend, "feeling okay."

Sirius didn't nod though he was awake. So Remus sighed and took a seat by his friends.

James stood, "I'm gonna grab some extra blankets and pillows."

Pete and Remus nodded and James went off.

"Are you going to talk at all Sirius?" Remus asked.

After a small silence, Peter answered, "He rarely answers. We've been in here all day."

"C'mon, Sirius, what's the matter mate?" Remus poked at him.

"He's not up for talking yet," Peter sighed.

And James walked back in and tossed them pillows and blankets. The three made little beds on the floor for themselves. They tucked themselves in under the blankets and got comfortable. Peter laid on his stomach farthest from Sirius. Remus was on his side facing Sirius. And James was laying closest to Sirius looking at the ceiling. Sirius still had his backs to all of them. They had nothing to say to each other. They all knew they simply had to just lay there and be ready, be ready for Sirius, ready for him to talk, to need them.

….

Peter had fallen asleep long ago and Remus too had dozed off. James was the only one who was still awake, he hadn't slept at all since he found Sirius. And his brain was torn, one half throwing thoughts of Sirius out there, the other cooking up thoughts of his mother's health.

"Prongs," Sirius breathed to the air.

James looked over and noticed that Sirius was staring down at him from the bed. He smiled, "Hey, Pads."

Sirius wasn't exactly looking at him, it was more through him as he whispered, "I never knew. All this time, I never knew."

"What didn't you know?" James asked softly.

"I was right above her. I was yelling at him, we were fighting, and—all this time, I was right above her. That's why she was scared of me. I could've saved her, I was right there."

James stayed silent, he knew Sirius was no longer talking to him.

Sirius went on, "I was listening for you. I thought if I spied then I could help you, keep you safe. And then it was all about her. He tortured her, my dad did. He had tortured her and then he brought me to the bloody house where they were keeping her. And she was right beneath my feet and I never bloody knew. I was so focused on the other two. I thought they needed my help. But—but they tortured her too! They drove her insane. And I tried to help them and… and I didn't even know she was there," Sirius quietly began to cry, "Dammit, she was right there, mate. And my—my da—I'm a Black, that's what she thought when she saw me. I look just like my dad. I have his eyes and his face and his fecking blood in my veins. I'm a bad person too. All this time, I thought I could be good and I—I let her down. I could've saved her."

James had realized who Sirius was talking about almost immediately. And when Sirius paused and tucked his head in his shoulder, James sat up. He placed his palm on the back of Sirius's head and whispered, "Sirius, you didn't know Cara was there. You would've helped her, mate, I know you would have. This isn't your fault."

Sirius couldn't respond.

"Padfoot," James said with a little more force, "There was no way you could've known she was there. None of this is your fault. What happened to her was terrible but it was not your fault. You are not your father. His actions aren't yours, you are what you choose to be."

Sirius looked at James who was right next to his face now, "I can't go back there."

James shrugged, "So stay here."

"I'm not going to ask you of that mate," Sirius sighed.

James chuckled softly, "I'll have dad get you your own bed. I want mine back."

"Prongs, man. I can't just—"

"Shhh. Go to bed, I'm tired," James smiled and laid back down.

A few moments passed before Sirius whispered a small, "Thanks."

"We can get bunk beds."

Sirius laughed lightly, "Alright, mate."

"And we'll start a band."

Sirius laughed.

"And then we'll turn this place into one of those big Muggle parks."

"The ones with those Ferris wheels and roller coasters? Or just the ones with a slide?" Sirius wondered.

"Wheels and Coasters, mate, wheels and coasters."

"Okay."

"The staircases can be water slides and the first floor can be a big pool."

Sirius was still smiling, "Alright, alright. Let's go to bed though, I'm tired."

"Oh and we-!"

"Shut up Prongs!" Sirius tossed a pillow at him.

James caught it with a laugh. Peter moved in his sleep and the two looked over at him. Then they laid back down and went to bed.

….

Remus and Peter had to leave the next afternoon. Sirius had finally gotten out of bed, however, he was still very quiet. The two promised to come back before break ended.

They sat in the dining room, the Potter's house elf was fixing plates for dinner. She had almost given James venison.

"Oh no thank you!" James stopped her before she set the piece on there, "I don't want any!"

Sirius smirked.

"Does Mr. Black want the deer meat," the house elf said awkwardly.

Sirius smiled over at James, "I'd love some."

James shook his head and his father looked between the two curiously.

"James, why aren't you eating the venison?" he asked.

"Well, dad, it's just—I think I'm going to try to… be a vegetarian?" James ran a hand through his hair.

Paul eyed him, "But all you eat is meat?"

"Well… you see dad…" James searched for words.

"Oh just tell them James," Sirius said rolling his eyes dramatically, and tried to save James's butt, "you see James finally mastered his patronus and he found out he is a stag—"

"Oh is that why the boys call you Prongs?" James's mother wondered.

"Yes," Sirius smiled to her.

"Well, why didn't you tell us boy?" James's father cheered.

"Erm—I wanted to show you in person… but being underage and all…" James said rubbing his sweaty palms.

"I'm so proud of you," his mother reached over and placed her hand on top of his, "that is just amazing."

"Good job son," his father smiled.

"So they call you Padfoot, yes?" James's mother asked Sirius.

"Yes, Mrs. Potter, they do," Sirius nodded swirling around his potatoes, "My patronus is a dog."

"And Wormy, is it? What's he?" she asked.

"He's Wormtail, mum," James corrected her.

"He's a rat," Sirius said.

"A rat? Well that's… interesting," she said and awkwardly took a scoop of mash.

"What is your friend Remus? Moony? What the hell is that?" his father wondered.

"Erm—well—actually… actually Remus doesn't know his patronus yet. We call him Moony… because well," Sirius struggled to think of something, but then smiled as the words fell out of his mouth, "one time he mooned Professor Dumbledore."

"What is mooned?" Amelia wondered but Paul's eyes were wide and said quickly, "You don't want to know Amelia!"

"Hey, mum," James said quickly, "I thought you were supposed to leave yesterday."

She gave a small smile, "Well when Sirius came, I thought it was best I'd stay."

"Mrs. Potter if you have plans, you can go, I didn't mean to disrupt your life," Sirius apologized, "Please if you have to go somewhere, I can stay somewhere else for break. It's almost over anyway."

"Nonsense, I'll simply leave after your break," she smiled to him and he instantly felt better.

The dinner conversation fell back into a casual silence as they all ate. There were a few, "So how was work, Paul?" and "Wow, this is really great!". And when the dinner ended, James kissed his mom good night and he and Sirius hung out in his room. They barely talked and it got quite boring, but they chose to keep things casual. James arranged for a bed to be delivered but until then he brought up a sofa couch from downstairs; being unable to use magic, it was quite heavy and difficult. Sirius slept on the sofa and James was given back his bed, and they fell asleep quickly.

…..

JAMES ARE YOU KIDDING ME! YOU TOLD YOUR MOTHER AND FATHER I MOONED THE BLOODY HEADMASTER! WHAT THE HELL!

-REMUS BLOODY LUPIN

Actually, Moony, it was Pads who said you mooned Dumbledore. I sat stuttering in the back shitting myself because I had no bloody idea what to say. I think you should be grateful that he could come up with something and keep the furry problem on the down low.

-Prongs.

I can never show my face to your parents again. Merlin, I am so embarrassed. You two suck!

-Moony.

I heard about the Moony mooning Dumbledore thing! THAT IS ACE! He should actually do that.

-Wormy.

Isn't that priceless! I love it. I am so clever!

-Padfoot.

Cara sat sitting alone in her room on New Year 's Eve. The students were invited down to the Great Hall for tonight but she didn't know anyone down there, or at least she couldn't remember them. She had a clock set out in front of her, it was one minute to midnight and she was counting down.

60, 59,58… This is so fucking boring…46,45,43,42,41… I wonder what Evans is doing?... 38,37,36… Or Sirius?... 32,31,30,29… I kissed him… 25,24,23… I don't even know why, but I liked it…15,14,13… It'd be nice to kiss him now.

She whispered, "10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, happy New Year."

Cara pointed her wand up and she let little tiny sparks come out.

Then she leaned back on her bed and laid there wide awake all night… just thinking, and being lonely.

Yesterday, New Year's Day, Mrs. Potter had taken James and Sirius to Hogsmeade. However, she was unable to walk around so she ended up giving them each some money and took a seat as they shopped. So when Mr. Potter woke the boys up this morning, the two had trunks that were bulging with clothes and toys and Quidditch stuff from their trip.

"Do you have everything?" Paul asked the boys.

The two nodded.

"Amelia, are you sure you want to come?" he asked his wife nervously.

She had begun to look quite ill, but she nodded.

All three grabbed on to Paul and he apparated them on to Platform 9 ¾. Amelia swayed unable to keep her balance but Sirius grabbed her before she could fall. She smiled and patted him and he nodded his head.

The station was packed and the train was waiting.

"Oh look, it's Remus!" Mrs. Potter cheered, "Hello, Remus, dear!"

Remus turned his head and turned red. He gave her a wave of his hand and then quickly jumped on to the train.

"Hm?" she wondered but turned to her son brushing it off, "Well, I guess this is good bye."

James looked at his mother with his jaw set. He took the three steps that separated them and hugged her tightly, "I'll see you when the year ends, yeah?"

She rubbed his back motherly, "Right, of course, James."

"I love you mum," James whispered in her ear.

"I love you too," she said shakily.

James kissed her ear and let her go though it was a struggle. James moved to his father, and Sirius to James's mother.

"Thank you, Mrs. Potter," he said sincerely, "I can't really thank you enough, I guess. But well, it meant a lot."

She smiled, "No problem, take care of my boy."

He nodded and was surprised when Mrs. Potter gave him a hug too.

"I love you, Sirius," she said to him.

He turned red and was glad she couldn't see him as he awkwardly responded, "Erm—I love you too?"

"Alright Dad," James puffed up his chest.

"I expect a good season from you, boy," Paul said talking of Quidditch, "I want the Quidditch cup and I want you to have all O's on your tests, you hear?"

"Yeah, dad," James rolled his eyes.

"No, don't roll your eyes," he scolded him, "You chose to take that Muggle Studies course and if I see another E in it then your dropping it and picking up something useful."

"Okay, okay," James said letting out a sigh of annoyance.

"I love you James," his father gave him a hug.

"Love you too," James answered.

When he pulled away, he looked to Sirius, "Keep this boy out of trouble, you boys can't win the games if you have to cancel practices for detention, you hear?"

Sirius nodded, "Of course, Mr. Potter."

"Right well then," Paul nodded, "off you boys go then."

They waved and dragged their trunks over to the train. They hoisted them up and went to find the compartment Moony was in; of course they found Wormtail in there too.

"I've got to go," Remus said just as the boys entered, "trains about to start and well… prefect stuff."

The boys rolled their eyes but let him go. When he returned, twenty minutes later, Lily Evans accompanied him.

She smiled to the boys.

"Good break, Evs?" James asked

She smiled, "It was very nice thank you, how was yours?"

"Nice," he nodded.

"Lily do you want to sit?" Remus asked surprised she was still in there.

"Oh no, I just wanted to tell your friends that they have permission to tease you because," she left them hanging for a slight minute and then rushed out all the words, "Remus-is-dating-that Ravenclaw-girl!"

"What?!" James cheered.

"What?" Sirius asked annoyed he wasn't told.

"Yep!" Lily laughed.

"No seriously, what?" Peter said slowly, "I didn't catch that. Remus has what?"

Lily started to walk out, "A girlfriend, Peter, a girlfriend."

"What!" Peter said late and the others chuckled.

Lily left and Remus was blushing. And the entire train ride, the boys teased Remus. And he had never been happier to get away from them to go do prefect duties with… his girlfriend… Moira.

The train ride was fun and exciting. It buzzed with the details of an amazing break, crazy family stories, and cool trips that left every one jealous they hadn't been there. Remus stayed mostly with Moira. Lily did her prefect duties and went to talk with her roommates to get in on all the fun. James and Sirius and Peter was of course planning. And Cara Connors was at Hogwarts eagerly awaiting their return.