Chapter 14

Disclaimer: Still don't own Harry Potter. Never have and never will, so enjoy the chapter!

It was almost two hours before Peter entered the room. Remus and James had patched Sirius up pretty well, that is, until Peter came in.

The poor boy looked like he had been through hell and back, and most likely had. Mr. and Mrs. Potter joined Peter in entering the room. closing the door behind them, summoned two chairs and another cot and took their respective seats on the chairs.

Immediately, James, Remus and Sirius ran to their friends' side, asking him what had happened, how bad was he? And, more importantly, who had done it. Peter, for the most part, seemed unable to be able to answer any of their questions, and would only assure them that he was fine, in a small, strained voice that didn't sound like his own. He made his way to his newly summoned cot and laid down, obviously exhausted, and immediately passed out..

Sirius, having exhausted himself just by making his way to Peter, and over worry about his close friend, limped over to his cot, next to Peters', and sat carefully, and painfully, onto then quickly noticed that Peter had passed out. Remus and James, having seen it happen, joined him next to Peter, all three of them now afraid even more for their fellow friend and brother.

Mr. and Mrs. Potter began to tell them about what had happened.

" I'm afraid that we met a bit of resistance at Peters' house." Mrs. Potter started."There were about five Death Eaters in his home, his parents were out , I'm still not quite sure whether that was a good thing or not. He was surrounded, and seems to have been tortured for a few minutes." Mr. Potter continued.

The trio seemed to become even more alarmed at what they had just heard. Before they could questionthe Potters, Mrs. Potter tried to reassure them. "I'm very sure that he is fine, dears."

"Yes, I'm sure he is too." Mr. Potter added. "He was responsive when we picked him up and brought him here. He will probably be out of it for awhile, but will probably be a lot better tomorrow morning. Just let him sleep." Mr. Potter told them as he got up to leave. He smiled at the boys as he left the room, though this didn't seem to help them any.

Mrs. Potter also got up out of her chair, but, instead, she ushered the boys out. "I need to check him over before I do anything else. Sirius, dear, you will be next, is that alright?" Mrs. Potter whispered, trying not to wake Peter.

"Yeah, that's o.k., the guys already took care of me. Really, I wasn't that bad to begin with. Just really sore all over." Sirius told her, smiling as if to prove his point.

Luckily, James and Remus came to his rescue. "Mom, really, it was mostly just a few cuts and bruises. Nothing to worry about." James assured his Mother.

When she didn't seem to be so sure, Remus tried his hand at it. "It's true, Mrs. Potter. The worst was a small cut on his stomach from where he fell on something. No real harm was done." This seemed to do the trick.

"Well, if you're sure, then I'll trust you. But if anything gets worse, Please, Sirius, tell me, okay?" Mrs. Potter pleaded. Smiling, Sirius nodded in agreement. "Of course, Mrs. Potter. I promise."

Smiling back at Sirius, she ushered the trio of boys back into the hallway, still trying to reassure them that everything was alright, that Pter was going to be fine. The trio wouldn't believe her, however. They knew better now.

The War had finally encroached completely into their lives, making them aware of the dangers that the world now imposed upon them. No longer was it something that was only a whispered worry from the adults, or something that you read about in the papers. It was real, this attack on one of their own had proven that. And they were scared, though they wouldn't admit it.

"Thanks again guys." Was the only thing that Sirius could think of to say.

"No problem, Pads. We weren't lying or anything" James answered, shuffling his feet.

"Yeah, and it seems like Wormtail needs some attention right now, anyway." Remus muttered, leaning against the wall with his head down.

The other two only nodded in agreement. For a few moments, all three of the boys just stood there, their own thoughts muddled and confused.

Then, as if an invisible General had commanded them to, all three boys turned and began to make their way to the guest room to the right of James' room.

Neither boy said anything on their silent trek to their destination. What could they say, now? And then not until the door was closed and locked behind them, did they finally allow themselves to fall prey to the fear, terror, disbelief, and pain that was now a prominent part of their lives.

Sirius, the rock that he usually was for the others, was the first to crumble and then fall. Falling to his knees on the floor, tears steadily poured down his face, but he made no sound.

James was next. It took him a few seconds to fully compute what had just happened. But when he did, he tried in vain to control the hurricane gusts of emotions ripping him apart from the inside.

His only victory was the fact that he was able to pull Sirius up from the floor and into a sitting position at the foot of the bed.

After seating himself to Sirius' right he overcome by his emotions and betrayed by his body, crying exactly like his best mate was, silently, but not without emotion and meaning.

Remus, unlike the other two, stood at the doorway for a bit. Everything that had happened the last 2 and a half hours had just begun to finally feel real.

He had just bandaged one of his best mates' injuries from a lifetime of abuse, both physical and emotional.

Had watched as another of his best mates walked into the room he was in, and then promptly pass out from being tortured by Death Eaters.

And just now, he had just witnessed two of the strongest people he had ever known fall apart into pieces at his feet, completely terrified and distraught over what was beginning to take place.

Finally, he felt himself starting to shake. The tears came, and when they did, he took his place on the stage of this horrid, real life drama, in between his friends and brothers in the space that they made for him. Together, the three held onto each other and cried, though neither of them knew what exactly it was for.

And in that moment, all three of the boys' lives were changed instantaneously. The events that had just occurred that day and, for James and Sirius, the previous night, destroyed everything that they had ever known in the world. They had grown up, their previous selves ripped apart and stuck back together crudely.

In the midst of this change, they were given also something that would prove to be both a gift, and a curse: Fellowship and Brotherhood in each other and Peter. Which meant that, if one should fall, the rest would go down with him, whether figuratively or literally. And ones' betrayal would mark the end of them all.

The stage was set, the characters were in place. It was time for the events and decisions that would completely shape their future to unfold and be chosen. It was time, now, for the apex of their Bittersweet summer to begin!

A/N-

Well, so much for less angst, then. This is kind of the big prelude to all of the action. We are now at the top of the hill, ready to roll down and hit some things! Anyway, I hope you like how the story is coming out so far. I always appreciate reviews, as usual. And would like to thank all of you who have, are, and are eager to continue to read my story and write me reviews. Until next time, then, I am outta here!

-WolfGirl1636