As always a huge, huge thanks goes to Ambush99 for amazing betaing skills.

Chapter 7

"James! Sirius!" Remus yelled again, as he continued to call out to a large pile of rubble.

"Boys can you hear us?" Professor Flitwick squeaked. "Mr. B-"

Remus threw his hand out, stopping the professor from continuing. "I'm sorry Professor, but please don't call Sirius by his surname."

Flitwick frowned. "Why Mr. Lupin?"

"Because," Remus stopped and hesitated, not wanting to betray his friend's trust. But he knew he had to. He was beginning to wonder if his friend was aware of anything that had just happened. Not just the explosion or whatever it was, but everything leading up to it. Whatever Sirius had got himself into, whether it be voluntarily or not, he was in way out of his depth and needed help desperately. "I'm not sure what happened, but I'm pretty sure his family did that to him."

"Did what?"

It was Remus' turn to frown. He swallowed, of course Professor Flitwick had just walked in and then the place had exploded. He hadn't seen the pain, the fear or the fact that his friend looked like a walking corpse. "As I said, I'm not totally sure what's happened to him but he's scared, really scared."

"That much is evident," Flitwick replied. "What else Mr. Lupin," he continued, as he nodded encouragingly.

"He looked like he was in a lot of pain. I know he's hurt his arm but I think there's a lot more than that. He seemed to be really struggling to breathe and stay awake," Remus said in a quiet, almost broken voice, as he nervously rung his hands together.

Flitwick patted Remus' arm reassuringly. "We need to be very careful removing all of this debris. We need to move one piece at a time."

"Professor? What just happened? Why did the room explode?" Remus asked as he looked at the pile of debris, the cracks in the walls and floor, the shattered windows and the gaping hole in the roof.

"Sirius-"

"What?! No, you've got it all wrong. Sirius would never do something like this! He loves Hogwarts, he would never do anything to hurt her," Remus exclaimed. As messed up as everything had been recently, he still knew his friend. However, part of him still questioned his trust with Sirius. He knew the reasons behind the betrayal; it didn't mean it still didn't hurt.

"Accidental magic."

"What?! I thought that was a child thing?"

"He still is a child, you all are. He's a very scared child in a lot of pain. He lost control, when he was trying to protect himself," Flitwick explained. 'And us', he mentally added, noting how none of the debris had come anywhere near them. "Mr. Lupin, you remember the spell?"

Remus nodded. A spell he had mastered in his first lesson; James, Sirius and Lily having been the first ones to master it. Well Remus, it better the best bloody swish and flick you've ever done. Your friends' lives depend on it.

"And Mr. Lupin, when we get to them, it is imperative we remain very calm with Sirius," Flitwick said firmly.

Remus nodded, too shocked, too scared to do anything else. "Which thing should we remove first?"

Meanwhile, still trapped under the debris, James was terrified. He was scared the rubble was going to crush them. He was scared Remus and Professor Flitwick were dead. He was scared his best friend was going to die in his arms, and yet all of this could have been prevented if he had just listened to Sirius last term, and now one of his greatest friend's could be dead. A professor whom he both admired and liked could be dead. And his best friend was dying.

"Shit, Sirius you're freezing," he muttered softly to the unresponsive figure. He slowly sat up, bringing Sirius with him. He shifted carefully, mindful of his injured friend and the precarious situation they were in. Somehow he managed to shrug his cloak from himself, wrapping it around his friend, who felt ice cold, as though his life had already been drained from him.

He had no idea how long he'd been sitting, lost in his own dark thoughts, when he felt Sirius stirring. "Hey Sirius, it's okay mate. It's going to be alright. Everything's going to be okay."

"No," Sirius whispered.

"Sirius, mate you're going to be okay, but you've got to calm down," James said, forcing the panic out of his voice, as his friend, and the precariously jumbled-together debris, began to shake.

"Where, where are we?" Sirius stammered, still shaking.

"We're still in Hogwarts in the old Charms classroom."

"Why is it dark?" Sirius choked out, his breath coming out in sharp, shallow gasps.

"When the explosion happened we got caught up in the debris, but it's going to be okay," James tried to reassure, but he knew he was failing. How could he give reassurance when he was terrified himself?

"I don't like the dark," Sirius said in a terrified whisper. He struggled to pull away from James and claw his way out.

"No Sirius!" James said, as he desperately tried to grab his friend. "Mate, I know you're scared but we have to stay here. Moony and Flitwick will get us out."

"No, you don't understand. Monsters. Dark, please, don't hurt me," Sirius sobbed, as he weakly struggled against his friend. "They're going to get us."

God Sirius, what did they do to you, James thought as a silent tear slipped down his face. "No they won't, because I won't let them. I'll protect us."

"No, they'll hurt you. I've tried to protect you but I'm weak. I can't let them hurt you."

James held Sirius as tightly as he dared, not wanting to hurt his friend any more than he already was. "And you have, Padfoot. You have. You've always been the loyal protector of our group, but sometimes even Padfoot needs help as well. Mate, who are the monsters?" he asked tentatively.

"No, I can't, they'll know," Sirius said in a shaky, breathless voice. Tears streamed uncontrollably down his face. He was a Black, he shouldn't cry. He shouldn't show emotion. But as he closed his eyes the monsters chased him. They laughed at him as they watched him twitch on the floor.

"Sirius, you can tell me. We can protect you," James reassured.

Sirius sighed. He was too tired. Too scared. Too confused. He struggled to grasp reality. Maybe this all a dream. Before he knew it he was talking.

"What the hell have you done?!" the tall, severe-looking woman hissed.

"Mother."

"No you have no right to speak, you vile piece of scum. You disgust me," the woman continued, as she began to circle the boy. "Suffocant."

Sirius grabbed his throat, as it felt as if a tight band had encircled it, and choked. He tried to gasp, but he couldn't. He stumbled forward onto his knees, looking up at the severe-looking woman. 'Please', he tried to mouth. He fell onto his side, still trying to draw vital oxygen into his lungs. His vision greyed. So they were finally going to do what they had been threatening to do for five years, he thought dimly. He thought he was going to escape them. In one year he would have been free, but it wasn't to be.

The severe woman flicked her wand again, smiling as she watched the boy gasping and shaking. "That's just the start of your 're-education', you filthy parasite. Now get up!" she sneered, lashing out a kick at the crumpled heap.

Sirius pulled himself shakily to his feet. He could feel cold sweat running down his back, as he fought to bring his breathing under control. He stood and stared at her defiantly. "Yes, mother."

"Little brat, thinks he can get away with that cheek," Walburga Black spat, as she slapped her son hard across the cheek. "What have I done to deserve something like that?" she growled, pointing at her son.

"Nothing, my dear. You didn't do anything wrong," Orion Black said calmly, as he approached the two. "It is just a shameful disgrace to our noble family. A freak who befriends blood traitors, half-bloods and mudbloods."

"You don't know the half of it," Walburga sneered, unable to look at her son anymore. "He's friends with a half breed!"

"Is this true?"

"No, I'm friends with a wizard who suffers from lycanthropy," Sirius bit back.

"Stupefy."

Sirius bit back a cry as his father's curse sent him flying against the wall. Glass dug into his back as a light fitting shattered. He slumped down against the wall. His chest screamed with pain from his mother's sharp heeled boots and father's curse, but he wasn't going to let them know that. He slowly pulled himself to his feet. His vision swam slightly, and he could feel warm blood trickling down his neck. He knew what they were trying to do, but they would never succeed. He would die before he adopted their views. He stood and stared up at his father defiantly. "You told me never to associate with anyone weak, so I didn't. He's ten times the wizard you could ever hope to be."

"Crucio."

Sirius dropped to the ground. Pain, like he had never experienced, consumed his body. He could feel his body twisting and jerking into unnatural positions. He felt as though his limbs were going to be ripped from their sockets. White hot pain, as though someone was stabbing him a thousand times with hot blades. His throat felt raw, and he could hear someone screaming nearby. Surely someone was going to help that person. It was only then he realised he was the one screaming.

Orion lifted his wand, staring down at the crumpled, twitching mass that was his oldest son. "What are Muggles?"

"The same as us. Human beings," Sirius said as he forced himself to stand. He spat some blood from his mouth. He knew he was going to die but he wouldn't turn his back on his beliefs. He was prepared to die for them. As he was prepared to die for his friends.

"I wish you'd never been born, you disgusting blood traitor. You are no son of mine," Orion spat, as he grabbed his son's throat. "Now strip!"

"What?!"

"You heard me. You disgrace those robes. You are worthless. You are a pathetic excuse for a wizard. You bring dishonour to our noble name. Now strip."

"Fine!" Sirius growled back, tensing as he tried to control the tremors that still lingered from his father's curse. "This family and their pure blood values are disgusting. You are just a bunch of inbred racists." A fist connected with his jaw; he staggered slightly.

Orion roughly grabbed his son's arm, using his temporary imbalance to his advantage and threw him into the trunk, quickly slamming the lid. "Let's see how brave and defiant you feel after this," he laughed.

Sirius took a breath, holding it for a moment before releasing it as he attempted to calm himself. He closed his eyes and thought of happier times, as he attempted to escape the nightmare that was his life.

James felt physically sick and at a loss of what to say or do. He had led a sheltered, protected life but he wasn't naïve enough to think this kind of thing didn't happen. But for parents to do it to their own child? For it to be happening to his best friend?!

"Sirius," he started. "Mate, I." He stopped; Sirius had passed out again. Not that it was surprising. He was beginning to wonder if it was a miracle Sirius could even remain conscious for the short moments he was. "Mate," he whispered. "You are not worthless. And don't you go believing anything that foul family of yours said, because you are none of those things. You are strong and brave. You are loyal and honorable. And you're my brother. I know I've been a really shitty brother recently, but that's going to change now. I'm going to be here for you every step of the way, I promise." James held his unconscious friend closer. Come on Moony, we need you. Sirius really needs you. I... James closed his eyes and bit his lip. He wasn't as strong or as brave as Sirius and Remus, but he could try.

Remus wiped the sweat from his brow. He felt as though he had been working for hours, but he thought grimly it had only been thirty minutes. It finally felt like they had made some headway. "James! Sirius!" he called out desperately, for what felt like the millionth time.

"Moony?"

"Oh god! Oh thank god, mate. Are you okay? Is Sirius with you?" Remus managed, relief evident in his voice.

What did he say? Yes, Sirius is fine, his parents only beat, tortured, starved him and then threw him into a darkened hole and that was the first bloody day back at that godforsaken place called his 'home'. "I'm fine but Sirius needs help," he finally settled on. He wondered if his friend could ever be the same after that. Not only that, when he had finally managed to escape to a place of safety everyone had abandoned him. Yelled at him. Punished him. Treated him like dirt. When all the time he had been slowly dying.

"Mr. Potter, we're nearly there, you just keep Sirius calm," Professor Flitwick squeaked.

What the hell do you think I've been doing, James thought darkly. "I told you Moony would save us," he whispered to his unresponsive friend. "I told you he would. We're going to protect you now Padfoot, I promise. We're not going to let anyone hurt you and we're going to make sure people listen to you. It's going to be alright mate, I swear to you it will be."

He didn't know how long he'd been sitting there when a small slither of light appeared. "Moony?" James called out.

"James? Is Sirius…". He trailed off.

"He's breathing," James managed. He waited as the last pieces of debris were removed. People rushed towards him. He curled his body towards Sirius, trying to protect him. He heard voices, kind voices, but who could he trust? After all, Sirius' family were prepared to kill him.

"James, I need to look at Sirius."

"Don't hurt him," James muttered, not releasing his hold.

"I'm not going to, but I need to look at him so I can help him get better," Madam Pomfrey said kindly.

"Okay," James replied, as he slowly and reluctantly released his hold on his best friend. "Mate, Sirius, I'm not abandoning you, I swear I'm not. But Madam Pomfrey needs to heal you," he whispered to the unresponsive figure, before being helped to his feet by Remus. He watched as the healer's expression grew grim as she ran her wand over Sirius.

"I need to get him to the hospital wing now! We need to set up for him to be transferred to St. Mungo's."

"No!" James exclaimed.

"James, Sirius needs more help than we can offer him here," Madam Pomfrey explained calmly.

"Then bring the healers here!" James exclaimed desperately, as he struggled against Remus' hold. "If he goes to St. Mungo's then, well, just bloody kill him now. He's suffered enough already without those bastards finishing it off."

"James?" Professor Flitwick asked cautiously.

"His parents did this to him. They used the Cruciatus curse on him. If he goes to St. Mungo's we'll never see him again because they will fucking murder him," James swore, still fighting against Remus.

Madam Pomfrey and Professor Flitwick exchanged looks as they very carefully laid Sirius on the stretcher. Whilst James had made a very serious accusation, this was not the time nor the place to discuss it. "The owl to his parents can wait, don't you think?" Professor Flitwick finally suggested.

"It must have got lost in the admin," Madam Pomfrey replied as she levitated the stretcher. "I'll summon some healers to the hospital wing."

"W-What?!" James stammered, looking utterly bewildered.

"We are not going to inform Sirius' parents until Sirius is well enough to tell us what happened," Flitwick informed them as they left the destroyed classroom. He turned and flicked his wand at the door, securing it.

"Is Sirius going to be okay?" Remus asked, blindly following them to the hospital wing.

"He has Madam Pomfrey and the best healers from St. Mungo's."

Remus nodded grimly, noting Professor Flitwick didn't answer his question.

"No, sorry boys you can't go in there," Professor Flitwick said as they got to the hospital wing.

"But, why?!" James demanded. "I need to. I need to be there for him. I promised him I wouldn't abandon him."

"You're not, James. But he needs the attention of the healers now. Once he's well enough, I am sure Madam Pomfrey will let you see him," Flitwick said kindly.

"But…" James tried, as he looked around Professor Flitwick at the closed door.

"I'm sorry boys, I know it's hard but Sirius is very poorly and needs the healers' undivided attention."

"Come on, James," Remus said in a loose, almost dead sort of voice.

"I'll explain your absence to Professor Slughorn, and you are excused from my class this afternoon."

"Thank you," Remus whispered as he lead James away.

The walk back to the Gryffindor tower was quiet, neither boy knowing what to say or do. Too numb. Too shocked. Too scared. Remus collapsed onto his bed and let his head fall into his hands. "How the hell didn't we notice anything?! He was there, but at the same time he wasn't. Where the hell had he been sleeping? I don't think he has, did you see the bags under his eyes, or how pale he is? Merlin," he exclaimed as he ran his hands through his hair. "Has he been eating? He looks so thin! I wanted to hate him, but I can't. Not now, not seeing how terrified he is. What the hell happened to him?"

James slumped against the wall, blankly staring ahead. All he could think of was his friend and what he had said. Now that friend was going to die.

"James? Have you listened to a word I've just said?"

"I killed him. I've as good bloody killed him," James managed in a hollow lost voice.