Sirius stood in the long hallway, a boggart was the enemy he knew was coming. James stood quietly in front of him, his head level as he stared at the chest. Suddenly, a weeping Sirius took shape in front of the class, his knees were pulled into his bare chest, burns and scars ran down his arms and legs as his form wept quietly. "Riddikulus!" Sirius turned into a dog and stamped his feet, comically drooling all over the floor.
"Mate, I didn't know you cared so much for me." Swooning into James' arms, Sirius batted his eyelids as James planted a kiss on his cheek.
Hollow stood up next to the chest, her small back facing Sirius. The boggart spun and spun, before settling into a black mist that clung to her like heavy water. "Riddikulus!" The mist fell bouncing to the floor.
Remus reached out, gently touching her shoulder, she hadn't seen her boggart, and she had no idea the effect it was taking on her friends. Arms pulled Hollow close as Remus gave her a long hug, whispering something in her ear before passing her to Sirius.
...oOo...oOo...oOo...
"So Hollow's afraid of the dark." James stated, marching paths across the dorm floor. "And she's cast into permanent darkness."
"How do we know she's still afraid?" Peter asked.
"Her boggart wouldn't be black mist if she wasn't still afraid." Sirius whispered, hoping Peter would understand.
"Ah."
"And therefore, Hollow lives everyday in her worst nightmare. And there has to be something we can do about it."
Remus spoke quietly, "St. Mungo's has no cure, even Dumbledore is skeptical if she'll ever see again."
"Yeah?!" James' eyes were wide, desperation written on his face, "Well who taught us to be animagi? Who made the Marauder's map? Dumbledore doesn't spend his free time studying medical magic, and St. Mungos isn't known for actually curing people, are the?!" He was breathing heavy.
"James," Lily stood, gently placing a hand on his shoulder, "I think we have to accept there's nothing we can do." Sirius was surprised that she wasn't berserk over the animagi comment.
"Sirius." James grabbed his shoulders, "Are you with me?" Determination fired through his eyes.
"Until the death, mate." Sirius grabbed James' shoulders, meeting the burning stare. The boy nodded back.
"I guess I'm in too, then." Remus sighed, a smile playing on his face.
"Me too!" Peter affirmed.
Lily took a deep breath, "You guys won't make it without me." James grinned viciously, Sirius could almost hear his pulse banging through his veins."
"First thing, we have to identify what caused her blindness, and that means, we have to find out who did it." James sat down in front of the desk.
"Hollow said she knew, but swore to Dumbledore to let him take care of it," Lily spoke, "which leads me to think that the attacker still goes to school with us, otherwise there isn't much chance of a retaliation on our part."
"Taking that into account," Remus followed, "we're looking for someone who has been under constant watch. Probably escorted to classes."
Sirius felt a part of his heart darken. "Pads," Light amber eyes caught his, "you don't think?"
"I-I-" Sirius stammered, anger boiling. "It better not be."
"Wait." James stood again, squatting in front of Sirius, placing his hands over the ones pulling at his hair. "Sirius Orion Black. Was it Regulus?"
"I got a letter from Mother," his voice was spilling out of mouth, "saying I damned the family. That my choices got Regs into trouble. And I thought-but no- this." He stammered on as James kept him from ripping hair, and hazel eyes kept his from spilling tears. "How could he?!" Indignation rang from him.
"Sirius," James pulled him into a hug.
"What does that scumbag have against Hollow?"
"Sirius!" James screamed, "Pull yourself together!"
"James," Lily's voice faltered.
"You took every beating that little prat deserved, you took the blame for him, because of you that little twit never had a finger laid on him. Hollow is your girlfriend and he assaulted you. He's not your brother, I'm your brother. Fuck him, go find out what he used and don't you dare have any sympathy for him." James gave him a hard shove out the door. "I'm serious, Black, don't let him use you."
"No, I'm Sirius Black." He spoke through the crack, his voice sounding much more his own.
...oOo...oOo...oOo...
He stood outside the Slytherin door. Jame's cape was draped around him as he examined the map. Regulus was just inside, Slughorn was besides Regulus. His heart was thundering in his ears as he stared at the map. How was he supposed to talk to Regulus if he couldn't get him alone?
The door opened and Sirius slid through it before it closed after a Slytherin girl. He studied the green common room; the weight of the lake seemed to bear down on him. It was surprising that all Slytherins didn't constantly feel claustrophobic.
Slughorn was sitting in a chair facing Regulus who was going through assignments. The younger Black's eyebrows were furrowed in a way that reminded Sirius of when his brother was grounded. The more he stared at Regulus, the more he remembered the squalling baby that came into the world, he remembered holding his brother for the first time- he had almost dropped him and began to cry uncontrollably. Regulus was the first thing Sirius had found love in, his perfect baby brother. What happened there?
He recalled sneaking into the first year's boat for Regulus, holding his brother's hand and praying to whoever would listen that Reggy would be in Slytherin. Regulus had been so nervous and scared, but laughed when Sirius flirted with Minnie, earning Gryffindor a ten point discount before the year had even started.
He remembered the lazy days laying in the attic, the sun peeking through the windows as the two boys read comics and avoided the downstairs drama. He taught his brother how to get around the castle, how to sweet talk anything out of Madam Pomfrey, a chubby, but cute, new nurse.
But he also remembered the summer before the school year.
Sirius had shown up to his old house, looking for a couple of things he had left. His parents had screamed at him the entire time, shaking his bones with the threats and curses they yelled. Regulus peeked at him from behind the open crack of his door. Darker gray eyes watched him as he threw clothes, books, and what-not into a bag and slammed the door, quieting the cacophony.
His door slammed open as a smaller version of himself walked into the room. "Reggy!" He jumped to hug his brother, who stopped him with a push of his arm. When had he gotten strong?
"You left me." The voice was a growl. "You left me all alone. While you had fun, I got to listen to mother weep about the disgrace, and I got to hear father's yells of disrespect."
"Reggy, I begged for you to come with me."
"And I begged you to stay."
Gray eyes held each other. Sirius felt tears prick. "Reggy,"
"They never hit me the way they did you. But the threats were bad enough." His brother turned and walked away.
"I have to use the bathroom." Regulus commented.
"Well," Slughorn sighed and rose to his feet.
"Do you have to follow me?"
"Dumbledore's order."
Regulus sighed and walked down into the dorms. He stared at Slughorn who stood outside bathroom in Regulus' dorm. The professor sat down on a bed, looking extremely tired.
Sirius ran through the door before it closed, instantly taken aback by the glamour in the bathroom. Everything was silver and emerald, it was the most lush bathroom he had ever seen. He was beginning to feel jipped by the basic Gryffindor ones.
"Reggy." He cast a silencing charm on the bathroom and stared at his brother.
"What the bloody hell are you doing?"
"I have to know why you did that to Hollow."
Gray eyes challenged him. There were certain differences between the boys that really shown to Sirius. Regulus' dark hair was cut neatly and styled quite precisely. His clothes were those that Mother would be proud to see. "I don't have anything to say to you."
"Just tell me what you used! I don't care why, I don't care about anything but fucking fixing it!" Sirius had his brother in a choke hold, shaking his vigorously. "You have no fucking right!"
"It's a dog at dog world!" Regulus spluttered and spat. "And you let me get eaten!"
"You have no idea what I went through for your sorry ass." He hissed into his brother's ear.
Choked laughter sounded and Sirius threw Regulus to the floor. "Like what? What have you done for me?"
"I took every beating for you. Why do you think they never laid a finger on you, Reggy? It wasn't because they liked you more." Gray eyes widened before hardening.
"You left."
"You always say that. And what would you do, Reggy? Father stomped my rib cage until my lung collapsed. Do you understand that? Do you understand why I never told you? Things have happened to me in that house that I can never tell anyone. I was going to die if I didn't leave, and I tried to take you, but I couldn't stay forever."
"Siri," Regulus whispered. "I'm sorry, I had no choice. Bellatrix is working for, for, you-know-who, and she wanted Hollow to suffer, and I was afraid she would kill me if I didn't." It was the first time Sirius heard "you-know-who." And he did know, and he was alarmed at the fear that was inside of Hogwarts.
"Reggy, just tell me what you used so I can try to fix it." He was openly crying, grabbing his brother's shoulders.
"I have some of the potion left. I don't know what's in it."
"Get it to me."
"I can't right now. I'll have Gibson get it to you in the morning."
"Hey," he sniffed as his brother wept, "they can't hurt you if you tell me. You're my baby brother, and I promise that if you ever tell me you need me to protect you, you'll have it."
He wrapped his brother in his arms, crying as he felt reconnected for the first time in three years.
