As promised, Sirius came to stay with James for the last two weeks of summer holidays. James could see Sirius wasn't being his usual self, but he didn't understand why. As they sat in the drawing room, James watched Sirius shift in his place uncomfortably.
"Do you want to play?" asked James, digging his hand inside the pocket of his trouser. He felt the little golden ball resting in his pocket.
Sirius looked at him and whispered, "Play what?" James pulled out the Golden Snitch from his pocket with a grin. Holding it in the palm of his hand, he showed it to Sirius. "With the Golden Snitch?" asked Sirius.
James held the small golden ball between his index finger and thumb. "Whoever loses, they'll eat every disgusting flavour of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans," James started. He could Sirius's smile returning, and his own mood seemed to lift. "At once," he said, raising his brows.
"Where are we going to play?" asked Sirius. He looked out of the window, and could see the sun shining bright in the afternoon. Not a single leaf on the tree was moving. In fact, the branches seem to crouch, as if trying to put as much distance between themselves and the sun. "It's too hot to play outside," Sirius added.
James jumped up from the couch with a grin. "We can play in here!" he exclaimed.
Sirius's eyes widened at the prospect. "Are you sure?" asked Sirius. Sirius hesitated to get up from the couch as well. "What if we make too much noise?"
"We're children Sirius, we're supposed to make noise," said James with a shrug. "Now tell me are you going to play or not?" Sirius couldn't help the grin forming on his face as he agreed to play with his friend.
James let go of the Golden Snitch. It hovered in the air between James and Sirius for a while before disappearing. The boys rushed around the drawing room as they giggled and squealed. Their eager eyes glistening with joy as they tried to catch the Golden Snitch. When James turned around to look at Sirius, he could see the worry lines disappearing from Sirius's face. The wrinkles near Sirius's eyes from laughing made James's heart swell with joy.
James saw the Golden Snitch at the same time as Sirius. Their eyes grew twice in their size as it hit one of the ornate vases resting on top of the fireplace. James froze in his spot but Sirius darted towards the vase as it came crashing down. His hands barely caught the vase a few inches from the floor before it slipped from his fingers. With a loud crashing sound, the vase smashed into glittering fragments.
James moved towards Sirius as fast as his legs could carry him. The crashing sound still ringing in his ears. His heart was already in his mouth. He saw a large fragment lodged into Sirius's right palm as blood oozed out.
"I'm sorry James, I tried to save the vase," Sirius sniffed. The brim of his eyes clouded with tears and horror.
"Forget the vase Sirius!" James cried, helping Sirius get up from the ground. He held his right closer to himself.
"James – it – broke," Sirius stuttered, his eyes stayed on the tiny fragments lying on the ground. But James couldn't care less about an old vase, his friend was bleeding!
"Sirius, you're bleeding!" James bawled; his brows creased together. He couldn't understand why Sirius was crying over a broken vase when he was losing blood.
Sirius shook his head, sniffling, and spoke in a low voice, "That's not a problem."
"Not a problem?" asked James. The astonishment in his voice projected on his face as his mouth hung open. "I'll call mum, she can fix you!"
"James – no!" before Sirius could protest any further the doors the drawing room pushed open. He saw Mrs Potter rushing inside, her hand on her heart as she studied the room with wide eyes.
"I'm sorry Mrs Potter," Sirius started. Euphemia looked at the shards of the vase near the fireplace and then at Sirius. Sirius yanked his bleeding hand away from James, hiding it behind himself. Euphemia made her way to the boys, her wand in her hand.
James watched as Sirius cowered behind him. Tearing threatened to spill from his eyes. "Mum, he is bleeding," said James as a whimpered escaped from Sirius's lips.
Euphemia held Sirius by his shoulders, as she pulled him out from behind James. Helping him sit on the couch, she sat down beside him. She took his right hand and placed it on her lap gently. "Merlin!" she breathed. James hovered near his mother.
"It's alright, I'll make it better," Euphemia assured Sirius. With a smile, she wiped away the tears slipping down his cheek. "It's not even going to hurt," she added. James gasped as he watched his mother work her magic on Sirius's wound. The fragment of vase dislodged from Sirius's palm, and his skin stitched back. The wound disappeared and so did the blood.
"I'm sorry Mrs Potter," Sirius whimpered. "I meant to catch it, but I couldn't."
"The vase isn't as important as you," said Euphemia with a sad smile. Her hand patted Sirius's cheek in an affectionate manner. She turned towards James, "What were you doing this time?" she asked.
James pushed out his lips in a pout. "I thought since it's too hot to go outside, we can play with the snitch inside," mumbled James.
"Don't play with it inside. I don't want either of you getting hurt," said Euphemia, with a frown. "If you do want to play, at least tell me beforehand so that I can pack away the breakables," she added with a chuckle. James grinned as his mother ruffled his hair, getting up from the couch.
"I'm sorry Mrs Potter," said Sirius once again, as he looked up to her from under his lashes.
Euphemia shook her head and spoke, "No darling. There's nothing more important than the children. I don't want you to apologize."
"What was that noise?" Fleamont asked as he entered the room. His eyes scanning it like Euphemia's eyes did.
"Nothing," said Euphemia, smiling at James and Sirius. "The boys were playing around," she added, turning towards her husband. Fleamont's eyes landed on the shards of the vase and he chuckled, understanding the situation.
Fleamont looked over his glasses at James and Sirius as he spoke, "I hope no one got hurt."
"He did," said Euphemia, tapping Sirius's nose with her index finger. "But we fixed it," she beamed at him like James.
James skipped across the living room to his father, holding his huge hands in his tiny hands. "It didn't even hurt dad!" he exclaimed.
"It didn't?" Fleamont chuckled, looking at Sirius. Sirius gulped in, shaking his head. "That's good then."
"Want to see me fix the vase?" Fleamont whispered, a grin on his face. James bounced with excitement, grinning from ear to ear. He nodded fervently.
Fleamont had fixed the broken vase. He also helped James and Sirius catch the Golden Snitch, he left the two boys alone again. Euphemia had returned to the library too, to read the book she had left because of the chaos.
"James," Sirius started, his eyes on his hands in his lap. "Don't your parents discipline you?"
"Discipline?" James questioned back, cocking his head to the left. Sirius gave James a sharp nod. "They did, didn't they?"
"How?" asked Sirius, squinting his eyes.
"Mum told me not to play around with the snitch inside or tell her beforehand," replied James as he shrugged.
Sirius eyes grew wide, his jaw hitting the floor. "That's discipline?" gasped Sirius.
Sirius's words made James curious. "How do you get disciplined?" asked James.
"Like that," mumbled Sirius as he gulped in, averting his eyes again.
It was the first day back at Hogwarts for the four boys. The new first year students crowded the Great Hall, waiting to get sorted. James had his hand draped around Sirius's shoulder. They were waiting in anticipation for his brother – Regulus's turn. Sirius seemed to be on pins and needles, and the only thing holding him to his seat was James.
"Black, Regulus," McGonagall's voice boomed across the Great Hall. Sirius's brother glanced towards Sirius. James watched Sirius nodding in encouragement as he smiled.
With unsure steps, Regulus walked to the stool and sat on it. Professor McGonagall dropped the sorting hat on his head. Sirius was on the edge of his seat the whole while. His nails dug in his palms, as he watched his brother in anticipation.
"SLYTHERIN!" announced the sorting hat. James's eyes averted to Sirius's face. His face dropped, a small frown settling on his lips as he watched his brother get up from the stool. As soon as Sirius and Regulus looked at each other, Sirius beamed. Clapping the loudest amongst the crowd. His three friends joined him too as Regulus made his way to the Slytherin table.
He patted Sirius on the back. "It's going to be alright," whispered James.
Sirius looked at his brother fondly before turning towards James. "I know," he smiled, nodding his head.
It hadn't even been a whole week when the boys got caught out of bed. They were only going to the kitchen to smuggle some food from the food elves. Mrs Norris cornered them. Although she couldn't see them, as they hid under the invisibility cloak. She moved her paw in their direction as she purred. The boys backed away towards the wall. Peter felt something catching a hold of the cloak from behind.
"Quick! Filch must be on his way," hissed Sirius, pushing James ahead.
"Stop!" whispered Peter. Before he could stop them, the boys moved ahead and the cloak came undone. Their eyes widened in horror as they realised what had happened. With the icing on the cake, Filch trotted around the corner.
From the corner of his eyes, Peter saw the cloak hanging from the corner of the empty portrait hanging behind them. Undoing the cloak as fast as he could, he let it drop it on the floor, standing in front of it.
"What're you four doing here after bed time?" asked Filch as he held the lantern close to their faces.
"Sleep walking," replied James. He squinted his eyes as Filch pushed the lantern towards him.
Filch pressed his face uncomfortably close to James as he spoke, "All four of you together?"
James nodded, inching away from Filch. He could feel his breath on his face. "We're very coordinated," James replied.
"Don't mess with me boy!" exclaimed Filch. His lips curled up in an unpleasant smile. "You'll think a hundred times before breaking school rules again, once I'm done with you. But I am to bring you to the head of your house. Follow me," he gestured with his index finger. "And don't think about running off, it'll be worse," he warned them.
As Filch turned away and Mrs Norris padded closer to him, Peter picked up the cloak. He folded it, handing it to James, who hid it in the pocket of his pyjamas. The boys plodded behind Filch, who kept glancing back. As if to check if the boys were still following him.
"Should we disappear now?" asked Sirius, looking at James's pyjama pocket.
"I reckon it's a little late for that," whispered James, shaking his head.
As they made their way towards McGonagall's office, Peeves greeted them. "STUDENTS OUT OF BED!" he roared on top of his lungs.
"Where? Quick, tell me," asked Filch in urgency. His eyes bore into Peeves, who glided through the air.
He pointed towards the four boys behind Filch. "Behind you," said Peeves. A grunting noise erupted from Filch's throat, making James snort.
"I already know. Out of my way, you fool!" barked Filch, waving his hand in the air angrily. Peeves glided through the air, passing by Filch. It made Filch angrier, making him threaten Peeves, "I'll make sure Baron gets a hold of you! You wait Peeves!"
After what seemed like a long journey, Filch left the boys in McGonagall's office. Her already thin lips somehow seemed thinner as she glared at the boys. "Four students out of bed?" she cried, "this has never happened before."
The boys lowered their gaze towards the ground. "Mr Lupin, I expected more from you," said McGonagall.
"Not from us?" asked Sirius. James's eyes grew wide, as he elbowed Sirius.
"Quiet Black!" McGonagall scolded, glaring at Sirius. "I don't know how is it that the three of you managed to get two detentions in the same week! First feeding the first years with Hiccough Sweets and now this!" she continued, looking from Sirius, to James and then to Peter. "And what were you doing out of bed?"
"Sl –" James started.
"Don't –" McGonagall interrupted, holding her index finger up. "Don't say sleep walking."
"We were going to the bathroom Professor. But when we got caught, we knew no one would believe us," mumbled Peter, as he fidgeted his fingers.
"Your bathroom was two corridors behind from where Filch found you!" cried McGonagall, throwing his hands in the air. "I've started to think that you three are behind all the pranks as most students are pointing out."
"Most students? Or Slytherins?" mumbled James under his breath, as he glanced towards Sirius.
"Are you incapable of holding your tongue, Potter?" asked McGonagall, pushing her glasses back. "10 points from each of you," McGonagall added after a pause. "You'll well to remember not to break anymore rules as you serve detentions with me tomorrow. I advise you to go straight to bed, otherwise you'll have more than points taken from you."
James looked at McGonagall with curiosity. Satisfying James's curosity, McGonagall answered. "Like not being able to try out for the Quidditch team this year." James's eyes grew wide, and his jaw hit the floor.
"But Professor everyone is allowed to –" James started, a frown settling on his lips.
"Not in Gryffindor if you break rules. Now, unless you want a third detention, I suggest you follow your friends back to bed," said McGonagall in a stern voice.
"How is it that this is Remus's first detention?" asked Sirius, his brows knitted together. They walked into their dormitory room after Filch had dropped them off near their common room entrance.
"Because I don't go around distributing Hiccough sweets to first years," replied Remus. He rolled his eyes.
"Look at his face," said James, pointing towards Remus. "Does he look like someone who'd put a toe out of line?"
"And to think that he's the mastermind behind 70% of our pranks!" exclaimed Sirius, shaking his head.
"Don't worry. With time, you'll learn not to get caught too," Remus boasted as he winked at his friends.
The next few days flew by as the boys served their detentions and with Quidditch trails. Sirius seemed elated when his brother came out to sit with him during Quidditch try out. Peter and Remus came out to support James too. Much to James's delight, he made it to the team as chasers! Having proved his abilities to the whole Quidditch team, James's popularity soared. If that wasn't enough to irritate Severus, the boys started showing their talents. They were clever wizards - at least James, Sirius and Remus were; Peter tried too. The teacher grew fond of them. The students started greeting them in the corridors. And they even managed to get Peeves on their side, along with other ghosts!
Throughout this all, if something remained constant was the mutual dislike between Severus, his friends, and the four boys. It was no secret that Severus knew more about dark magic than seventh-year students. He and his friends were open about their liking for hexes and such. Mulciber, especially, took great interest in trying out new hexes. It was either on first year students or those who couldn't defend themselves.
It was another month when Remus had told his friends that he was going home. By now, his friends had started to wonder if Remus was lying. After all, how was it that he had to go home every month like clockwork? Why would the school allow him to leave every month? There must be other students whose family was ill, but they weren't allowed to leave. Why was Remus given special privileges?
"Something is off," mumbled James. They had returned after dropping Remus off to the entrance of the common room.
"I agree, it's constant," said Sirius as he nodded his head.
James turned to face Sirius and Peter. "His father is a renowned wizard. I'm sure he can cure his mother," James remarked.
"Unless," Peter started, his eyes averting to the floor. "It's not something you can cure." James and Sirius exchanged glances, trying to come up with an illness that made sense.
"What is something that can't be cured?" asked Sirius, scratching the back of his head.
"Hang on," mumbled James. His brain started working in an over drive as he tried to think back on the last year and three months. Their conversations came back to James like flashes. "What if it's not his mother but himself?" asked James, raising his eyebrows.
Peter tut-tutted, resting his index finger on his chin. "Why would he go home then?" faltered Peter.
"But what if he isn't going home at all?" exclaimed James. Sirius's eyes looked like they'd pop out of their sockets as he nodded.
"Remember Susan? She said she'd seen him in Madam Pomfrey's office," agreed Sirius as he waved his index finger towards James.
"I have a hunch," said James. An uneasy feeling grew in the pit of his stomach. "It's not very positive."
"Is Remus dying?" asked Peter, his mouth hanging open.
James rolled his eyes at Peter and spoke, "No, you git!" He walked to his desk and pulled out an empty parchment paper. Shuffling through his books, he pulled out his Astronomy class book. Sirius and Peter rushed to James's side.
"I'll need your help," said James as he started writing months and year on the left side of the parchment. "I want a vague idea of when Remus went home." He filled the first date himself, "I remember the first time he went home was 5th September."
"I'd say the same time during October, November and December," said Sirius. He pointed towards the specific months as he spoke.
"Let's keep a window open and say the first week?" asked James as he looked at Sirius. Sirius gave James a sharp nod.
Peter looked over James's shoulder. "What about in this year?" asked Peter.
"I remember in January it was on Evans's birthday," replied James. He tried to remember the exact date of her birthday.
"How do you remember that?" asked Sirius, letting out an exasperated sigh.
"Because when we dropped Remus off, her friends were celebrating it in the common room," said James. His voice was nonchalant. "What's her date of birth?"
"I didn't even know she had her birthday in January!" exclaimed Sirius, throwing his hands in the air.
"End of January, if I am not wrong," mumbled Peter. He looked like he was in a deep thought.
"Do you reckon we can ask her?" asked James, glancing at Sirius and then at Peter.
"When's her birthday?" Sirius questioned back in disbelief. He scoffed and shook his head. "Why would she tell us?"
James ran his hands through his dark tresses, ruffling them. "I'll try to remember the exact date, but for now end of January would do," said James, scribbling it down.
"I remember February!" exclaimed Peter, holding onto James's shoulders. "It was the 29th! We were discussing leap years in Astronomy class the next day."
"Brilliant!" James beamed, as he scribbled that down too. "I know he was irritable on my birthday, and left after 2 days. So, 29th March as well."
"April, May and June were around the same time too. June, especially, because he left a day earlier than us," said Sirius.
"So that makes it 26th June, because we left on the 27th," mumbled James.
"How do you remember the exact dates?" asked Sirius, astonished and impressed by James's memory.
"I'm good with dates," said James with a shrug. "We don't know about July. And he didn't come to visit us in August. So, I'd say the last two weeks of August."
Sirius nodded as he spoke, "Narrow down the September and October dates to the last two weeks too."
"And today is 21st November 1972," said James as he wrote the last line on the parchment. Letting out a loud sigh, his eyes averted to the Astronomy book. "Now, there is something I need to check." James picked up the Astronomy book and flipped through the pages. Towards the end of the book, James opened the calendar of the full moons.
Peter's brows furrowed together as he cocked his head to one side and said, "Full moons?"
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking you're thinking?" gasped Sirius. His eyes widened the size of a saucer.
James turned to see the date of full moon in September 1971 – it checked out. The full moon was on 5th September 1971. James's head snapped towards Sirius; whose mouth hung open. Putting a small tick on September 1971, James started looking at the other dates. His heart was hammering in his chest as he started checking off the dates. 'It can't be!' he thought, biting the inside of his cheek.
"JAMES!" bellowed Sirius, snatching the parchment from James's desk. His eyes scanned though the dates.
"And the scars!" cried James, biting his nails. His brain ransacked for any other explanation.
"I – thought – he was getting punished," gasped Sirius as he dropped the parchment back on James's desk.
"Punished? Who'd punish him that way?" asked James, frowning at Sirius's word.
"Nevermind," mumbled Sirius as he shook his head. "It can be true! James, this is insane!"
"What can be true? Is Remus sick?" asked Peter, shifting his weight from one foot to the other.
"No Peter," said James as he got up from the chair. "Remus isn't sick, but he does have something."
"What?" Peter questioned, raising his eyebrows. His big eyes scrutinizing James and Sirius's faces.
"Lycanthropy," said James and Sirius in unison.
A/N: Hey Readers,
I hope everyone is taking care of themselves and is safe. Thank you for reading the story, please leave a review and let me know your opinion on it. Also, let me know if I should update twice a week.
Thanks!
-JT
