Chapter 6

Won't somebody hold me and tell me it'll all work out

Won't somebody hold me and tell me it'll all work out.

Say that there's nothing to worry about now.

'Cause I'm so sick of the drama, and I hate to shout-

But you drag it out of me.

I Go Crazy, Orla Gartland

When James woke groggily the next day, his eyes took a bit to adjust to the lights. When he glanced over at Sirius, who was asleep on the chair next to James's bed- which can't have been comfortable for him- he bolted upright.

Sirius's hair had clearly been soaked and dry again, as it had dried as clumps of strands. There was a bruise on both cheeks, one bruise surrounding a cut which looked fairly unpleasant. James had a sudden recollection of being woken in the night to Sirius moving, but at the time he had figured it was nothing.

"Sirius," James said loudly in order to wake his best friend up. Sirius stirred, but didn't open his eyes. "Sirius," James called again.

"What?" Sirius grumbled, still not opening his eyes.

"What happened to you?" James asked.

Suddenly, Sirius's eyes flew open and he sat up straight in his chair. His hand went to run through his shoulder length hair- a habit he had picked up from James- but he winced when his hair got stuck. His hand dropped from his hair and instead touched the bruise surrounding the cut on his face. Sirius winced again. "I- ah-"

"Let's get you cleaned up first," James said, sensing that his friend was not ready to talk yet.

Sirius smiled gratefully, but then hesitated. "Are you sure you're okay to get out of bed?"

"I've been in bed for too long at this point; I'm going to go mad," James gave an easy smile. He swung his legs around and grabbed his cane, which was leaning against the cabinet on James's left hand side. James then used the cane to haul himself off the bed, trying not to outwardly show his pain for Sirius's sake.

James's hospital room did not have a bathroom, but there was one down the hall. Walking there took much longer than it normally would, but James was still getting used to walking, especially with a cane, and the pain had not subsided in his leg.

James opened the door and leaned against it, while Sirius walked up to the sink and looked in the mirror, seemingly examining himself. He grabbed a bunch of tissue paper and ran it under the water for a few seconds, before dabbing it on his cut. It wasn't the most sanitary way of cleaning a cut, but he didn't really want to bring this to anyone's attention.

Sirius nodded satisfactorily at the mirror, and the two returned slowly to James's hospital room. In the cabinet next to James's bed was a comb, which his mother had brought him, despite knowing all to well that he probably wouldn't use it.

Sirius combed through his hair carefully, looking more like himself as he did so. The silence was kind of heavy, but James didn't want to push Sirius on the topic until he was ready. Finally, Sirius climbed onto the end of the bed and crossed his legs. James climbed carefully onto the top of the bed, mirroring Sirius, but with right leg straightened out.

"I, eh, I went 'home' yesterday," Sirius began, using his fingers to make air quotes around the word 'home'.

"What?" James asked, eyebrows raised.

"Yeah," Sirius admitted, staring down at the bed covers. "I was just sitting here and I was thinking about how unfair it is that you got hurt and the Death Eaters pretty much got away with it. And then I realised that some of my family were probably there, under the masks." Sirius laughed bitterly. "For all we know, one of my cousins could've been the one to jinx you. So I went back. I was just so angry and I wasn't think and-" Sirius balled his hands into fists. "So I went back."

"What happened?" James asked quietly.

"Mother was not happy to see me. Said she was worried about where I was."

James snorted. "Likely story."

"Yeah, I said pretty much the same thing. She didn't like that." At this, Sirius indicated to the bruise on his not-cut cheek. James's jaw, which had already been tight, seemed to tense even more, as it always did whenever Sirius spoke about how his parents treated him. "And then I accused her of having something to do with the attack. She didn't like that either," Sirius continued to his other cheek. "She said that if I lived under her roof, I had to follow her rules and do what she said and not talk back. So I decided that I couldn't stay there. I went upstairs to pack, but our shouting had woken Regulus."

James winced. "What did he say?"

"He basically said that I was abandoning him by jumping ship. I tried to get him to come with me, but he said he liked living there," Sirius's face twisted at that. "I tried to get to get him to see that mother and father and our family were wrong about their opinions about the wizarding community, and muggleborns and whatever, but they've completely brainwashed him. Then we started arguing about his so-called 'beliefs'."

"What did you say?"

"I told him that he was incapable of independent thought."

James whistled. "I bet he didn't like that."

Sirius let out a laugh, but it wasn't joyful. "Nah, he didn't like that," Sirius said quietly.

"There was nothing else you could've done," James comforted him. "It's not your fault if Regulus decided not to come with you."

"I know," Sirius sighed. "But you should've heard the way he was talking. He actually believes all the crap that mother and father are spewing."

"He might not," James replied. "He might think he does, but might not in his heart."

Sirius snorted. "What heart?"

"So what are you going to do now?" James asked.

"I could live with Uncle Alphard."

"Don't be ridiculous. You're living with us," James replied. "I just meant what are you going to do when you see Regulus again? At school and whatever."

Sirius shrugged, and then paused. "Can I actually live with you?"

"'Course you can," James said, as if it was silly to suggest otherwise.

The door opened, revealing Remus Lupin. "Am I interrupting something?" he asked with a laugh.

"Nah," James said with a smile. "I was just telling Sirius how I get my hair so soft. He said it was plaguing on his mind."

Remus left out a laugh, "I'm sure." He paused. "How're you feeling?"

"I'm actually doing great," Sirius but in cheekily, flashing a grin.

"Brilliant," Remus said, also smiling. "Well, that's all I wanted to know," he said. "I'll see ye soon." With that, he turned and left the room.

James couldn't help himself; he burst into laughter. "Get in here, you idiot," he called.

Remus came back through the door, mischievous grin on his face. "How're you actually James?" he asked.

James shrugged. "Not amazing, but I'm okay. Any news?"

Remus shook his head. "The Daily Prophet has reported the Diagon Alley attack as an 'altercation'." James rolled his eyes, while Sirius sighed. "They say they haven't caught anyone responsible," Remus continued, "but I don't think The Daily Prophet is reliable in that aspect either."

"Surely they'd report if they caught someone though," Sirius frowned. "Wouldn't it make the Ministry look better? And keep public spirits up?"

Remus raised a shoulder and dropped it. "I'm not saying they wouldn't, but I wouldn't trust them. Anyway, I'm starving. Anyone wanna help me find some food?"

"I'll go with you," Sirius said, climbing off the bed.

"Bring me back some toast or something," James called at their retreating figures. "And tea, please?"

In response, Sirius held up his middle finger over his shoulder towards James. Just before the door shut after them, James could hear his mother scold Sirius lightly, which made him laugh again. A few seconds later, Euphemia Potter swept into the room, followed by Fleamont.

"How're you doing darling?" she asked, lowering herself gracefully into the chair Sirius had slept in.

"I've been better," James offered. "Have the Healers said anything?"

"They're going to keep you in for a bit longer, just to run a few tests," Euphemia replied.

James sighed and flopped back onto his back. "I'm going to go crazy."

"I know, dear," Euphemia said soothingly.

"They said they're going to do a small bit of physio with you today," Fleamont said, "make sure you can walk and all."

"That's good, isn't it?" James asked.

"That is good," Fleamont confirmed.

"The Daily Prophet isn't reporting much," James said, with fake nonchalance.

Euphemia scoffed. "The Ministry doesn't want people to panic," she said. "They seem to think ignorance is bliss. Which is ridiculous. If people don't know that they need to protect themselves, they're in even more danger."

"So what's actually been happening?" James asked eagerly.

"Some of my old colleagues have told me that they've brought in a few people for questioning, but that they're denying everything," Euphemia replied.

Euphemia Potter had been a brilliant auror, and had been Head of the Auror's Department before she retired a few years ago. She never hid her disdain for her replacement, a man bent on keeping the public happy rather than safe.

"How many-" James's words got lodged in his throat. "How many casualties were there?"

"Seventeen dead," Euphemia said grimly. "Around 50 injured."

"And they're just covering it up?" James asked incredulously.

Euphemia sighed, as if that had been her thoughts exactly. "Pretty much," she said.

"How are you, dad?" James asked, eager to change the topic.

"I'm fine," Fleamont smiled. "A bit bruised, but otherwise grand. Your mother and I assisted in the clean up at Diagon Alley."

"How did that go?"

"There's still quite a bit of work to do," Fleamont replied, "but it's going good."

"Listen..." James hesitated. "Sirius went back to that house. Alone."

"What? When?" Euphemia asked, horrified. Sirius usually took James with him when he went back to the house, and he spent most of his time at the Potter's.

"Last night," James grimaced. "When I was asleep."

Euphemia's hand covered her gaping mouth as she stared, speechless. "What happened?" Fleamont asked, also clearly worried.

"It wasn't pretty, from what he told me," James said, wincing. "He was basically kicked out. I told him he could live with us, I just wanted to make sure that was okay with you two."

"Of course!" Euphemia said immediately.

"He's our second son," Fleamont confirmed.

"He also had a run-in with Regulus," James continued, smiling at his parent's support. "Regulus has seemed to side with his parents indefinitely. Sirius tried to get him to leave as well, but Reg wasn't having any of it."

"That family," Euphemia trailed off, shaking her head. "It's a wonder I don't slap them every time I see them."

James laughed. "I'm the same."

"That poor boy," Fleamont said, mouth twisted downward. "He had no idea what poison they're feeding him."

"Sirius tried to show him that they were brainwashing him, but Reg was not having it."

"Is Sirius okay?" Euphemia asked.

"He's a little bruised. A cut on his cheek. And he's also a bit shaken, but for the most part he's okay, I think."

Fleamont nodded. "That's the main thing. As long as he's okay."

"Thank you," James whispered, after a pause.

"He means a lot to us too," Euphemia replied, voice also low.

The door opened again, effectively breaking the spell. "I got you tea," Remus said to James. "And Sirius has a croissant for you. Hey Monty and Euphemia, how are ye?" he asked, handing James his tea.

"I'm good Remus, thanks for asking. How are you?"

"I'm alright. Sirius is coming along in a second, he's just having a hard time carrying everything."

"And you didn't think to help him?" James asked, laughing.

"Nah. Builds character," Remus replied.

The door was kicked open, and Sirius walked in, arms full. "Remus, you absolute-" he cut himself off, noticing that Euphemia and Fleamont were in the room.

"No, finish your sentence Sirius," Euphemia said, the edges of her mouth curling mischievously. "What is Remus?"

That set Remus, James and Fleamont off into peals of laughter.