Disclaimer: I haven't done this in a while but just in case you'd forgotten I'm not a multi-millionaire who has written many bestselling books so therefore I am not JK Rowling and do not own the Harry Potter series.
The morning of the 5th December dawned bright and early and filled James with hope. Today they were going to find Sirius, by the end of the day he would either be dead or back with his friends there would be no more uncertainty about the whereabouts and condition of his brother. By the end of today there would be a clear answer.
By 7:30 James was dressed and sat in the warm kitchen at Godric's Hollow picking at a piece of toast, whilst his wife stared at him frowning, James never turned down food unless he was worried, really worried. "James Honey, what's wrong?" Lily's voice was full of concern. "Your saving Sirius today remember?" She asked though she knew it was highly unlikely that he had forgotten.
"I know it's just ," James paused thinking about how to say this without sounding stupid, "I don't know what we're going to find, I mean I'm glad that he's coming back, but when I see all his injuries-" he stopped again and Lily sent him an encouraging smile signalling for him to continue. "It's all my fault that's all," he finished pathetically trying to avoid his wife's piercing green eyes.
Lily sighed she hated that he husband blamed himself, when no one else did. "James look at me," her voice didn't grow louder, nor did it become any sterner but there was something about it that made James immediately lock his hazel eyes with her emerald ones. "None of this is your fault, none of it. The Death Eaters have wanted Sirius since he was sixteen; if it wasn't for you he probably would have joined them when he was sixteen. You stopped him from being like them James. None of this is your fault." James nodded and turned back to his toast looking decidedly happier.
0o0o
At 8:00 James was climbing into the fireplace and shouting "The Ministry of Magic." At 8:01 James arrived at the aforementioned place. The lobby James had been directed to was a large place with high ceilings giving the whole place an airy, unwelcoming feel. That of course didn't discourage the hundreds of busy, harassed looking wizards that were bustling from floor to floor holding large stacks of crumpled parchment.
James found that the jerky lift was no better for its stuffiness. It was crammed with people so tight that it was impossible to even lift your arm above your head, and even if you could, you wouldn't because of the many owls that were flapping around above your head. For the whole journey James was just praying that the one directly above him wouldn't decide that he needed the toilet any time in the next few minutes.
Suddenly the lift came to a sudden halt once again, with a loud 'PING' and the proclamation of "Level 4 Department of Magical Law Enforcement," James let out a huge sigh of relief before stepping out onto the said floor, and making his way to Alastor Moody's office.
When he arrived he saw several members of the Order of Phoenix were already there he scanned to familiar faces of Marlene McKinnon, Dorcas Meadows, Gideon and Fabien Prewett and of course Remus Lupin. The latter sent a reassuring grin in his direction, as James went over to stand by him. Before anything else could be exchanged between the two of them Mad Eye came limping in with a determined expression on his scared face. "Right, as you all know today we have one mission and one mission alone, get Black out. If you can grab anyone else to but Black is the priority. Any Questions?" He said before anyone could speak.
"Yes." Gideon Prewett stepped forward. "Why are we rescuing a man you declared dead three months ago?" Gideon's question was one that had been on every ones (with exception of James and Remus') mind.
"I had an error of judgement and recently evidence that suggests his survival has come to light. Anything else?" Moody replied quickly he really hated admitting he was wrong.
When nobody spoke the old Auror clapped his aging hands together and motioned that they leave. "Come on then people no time to waste," he said apparating away suddenly. The pop was followed by many more identical ones as the rest of the team followed his example.
0o0o
They arrived in a cold, damp basement which smelt strongly of death and decay. James wrinkled his nose as the smell flooded his nostrils. The whole place was dark; the only light being let in was from two miniscule windows that sat side by side on the concrete walls. James couldn't imagine his best friend being here. Sirius was always so full of life and joy whereas in this place death and misery oozed from every corner.
"Right then guys split up and look get everyone you find to St Mungos, and dear God keep quiet!" Mad Eye whispered to the Order members assembled in front of him. Compliant with the man's orders the group split into pairs, before tiptoeing down the corridors.
James looked at Remus who nodded and the two of them made their way down one of the corridors. They peaked through all of the cells looking for their friend, they knew they were supposed to be rescuing everybody, but they didn't want to waste the precious little time they had before the Death Eaters arrived rescuing just anyone. Towards the end of that particular corridor Moony whispered "I think I've found him,"
"What! Let me see." James rushed to his side almost knocking him over in his haste. The cell they were looking in was cramped and cold; at first James couldn't see anybody in it and was about to ask Moony what he was talking about when he noticed a small skinny figure curled up in a ball leaning against the two corner walls. Although the figure was still and making no noise at all it was easy to tell that it was indeed Padfoot.
Without thinking James grabbed the handle and made to wrench it open, but Remus grabbed his arm. "It's going to be locked and I'll bet if someone tries to open the door without unlocking it there's going to be some sort of alarm, so we need to figure out how to open it," Remus explained to his irrational friend.
James sighed and pointed his wand at the door "Alohamora," he whispered and with a click the heavy metal door swung open.
"How did you know that?" Remus demanded forgetting about the mission for a second. James ignored him and went over to the small figure in the corner who hadn't even looked up despite the racket that his fellow Marauders were making.
"Siri?" James approached him carefully, "Siri its James,"
At this Sirius head snapped up so quickly, his neck released a loud clicking noise that made Moony wince. "James….." his voice was soft and he was clearly in a lot of pain. His face was a rainbow of multi-coloured bruises, and the parts that weren't bruised were sickly white. His shoulder and arm were both clearly broken and there was a long cut running down his leg that was still bleeding.
"We've got to get him out of here man," James turned to Remus, desperation all over his handsome face.
"I know," was the werewolf's short reply. "Padfoot do you- can you walk on that?" He gestured to the animagus' mangled leg.
"I-I think so," Sirius replied uncertainly making to stand up. James rushed over to him and offered his arm to help support him. As Sirius took his first step forward his knees buckled and James had to grab him to keep him upright. After a few more repetitions of this it was clear he was going nowhere on that leg anytime soon.
James and Remus shared a look, and then turned back to Sirius. "Sorry about this mate," Remus said simply before shouting "Stupefy!" and watching his best friends body go limp.
James scooped him into his arms with an authoritive "right let's go then Moony,"
Sorry about this chapter, it's really bad but for some reason I just couldn't get it to come out right! It's shorter than it was going to be because of my slight writers block but hopefully the next one will be up soon.
Also I need a bit of an opinion from you guys, I have planned a Harry Potter/Hunger Games crossover BUT if you guys think I should write a sequel for this then I won't write it until that's done, so what do you think sequel or not?
