Written for Hogwarts' Survival Skill Assignment: Task #10: First Aid: Write about tending to someone's wounds.

Word count: 579

tomorrow will be brighter

James remembered the first time Sirius had Flooed over to spend the summer with him. He'd been overjoyed, to the point that his parents had joked about giving him a calming potion, and he'd dragged Sirius all around the house to show him everything.

Sirius had followed, with wide eyes and a wider grin, and James hadn't even realized anything was wrong until that evening, when Sirius had settled down onto the bed James had insisted his parents transfigure inside his room. Sirius had flinched while lying down, violently so.

And then James had seen the bruises and cuts, and he'd felt sick.

He'd made sure to invite Sirius over every summer since then, and for the most part, his friend had taken him up on his offer.

But even now, three years later, James just wished he could do more than help his best friend apply bruise paste and bandage his wounds after the fact.

"I wish you would just tell my parents," James said. "You know they'd help you if you asked."

It wasn't the first time James had expressed this feeling, but as usual, Sirius just tensed beneath his hands.

"It's fine," Sirius mumbled, his grey eyes unfocused. "I can handle my parents."

"You shouldn't have to," James mumbled back, his lips pressed together so tightly it almost hurt. He made one last turn around Sirius's waist and tied off the white bandage — the bruise paste and Dittany essence he'd gotten from his parents should have him healed by the morning, but James would rather be overly cautious than not enough.

Sirius shrugged as he started putting his pajama shit back on. "It's not like I have much choice on the matter. Besides, in three years I'll be seventeen and I can just leave — and until then I spend most of the year at Hogwarts." He smiled, and it was heartbreaking. "I'll be fine, Prongs."

"You could just stay here," James blurted out. His cheeks turned red. "Don't go back there, just stay. You know my parents love you, you're basically their second son already."

It wasn't the first time James had said so, but as always, Sirius's eyes flashed with panic before he covered it with a roguish grin. "Euphemia does like me better," he teased.

"She does not!" James spluttered out.

James sobered up. "I'm…" He couldn't say serious, or Sirius would laugh and derail the conversation. "Really, you can stay here. You should stay here." He swallowed, and forced himself to hold Sirius's gaze. "Promise me you'll consider it, at least?"

At first, James thought Sirius would only joke again, but he must have sensed some of how serious James was being, because he nodded.

"I swear. If I need to…" He swallowed visibly. "If I need to, I'll leave."

The relief was so strong James almost felt sick from it. "Thank you," he breathed out, his eyes stinging.

Sirius rubbed his neck. "It's… Whatever. Can we stop talking about it? I had this idea for a new prank on Snivellus when we get back, that…"

James let Sirius explain his new idea with a grin, and he was quickly drawn into it. It was easier, now that he knew Sirius would come here if he needed — that he knew he would be welcome, even if he didn't send word he was coming first.

And James really wanted to try Sirius's idea on Snivellus too, now.