A/N: I thought that since the first chapter was so short, I'd just go ahead and post the second one, also. Same rules apply to everything. I do hope you enjoy this, though ...
Chapter 2: Remus's Mother and Funny Tea
As Sirius walked up the long path to Remus's parent's woodsy cottage just outside of the village he couldn't help the felling of nervousness that welled up inside of him. He shrugged it off as he walked up onto the sizably large porch. The oak door seemed to loom over him, and he suddenly felt so very small. With a fairly shaking hand, he knocked.
The stillness surrounded him until he could hear distant voices on the other side. Before he knew it, he was face to face with none other than Remus himself. He stood in flannel pajama pants and a thin tee shirt. There was a small splotch of blood that seeped through some noticeable bandage around his shoulder. Other than that, Remus only had a few visible scratches and bruises.
Sirius offered an embarrassed smile, grimacing slightly from the pain. "Hullo, Moony ..."
Remus's face fell, taking in the sight before him. Sirius would admit that he must have looked haggard, but he hoped that Remus wouldn't notice the large blue bruise on his left cheek just yet. He had to remind himself to forget false hope.
"What the hell happened to you, Sirius?" Remus questioned, almost pained, brows furrowed as he lifted his pale, thin hand to Sirius's face. Sirius had to recoil from the gentle caress Remus would bestow, fully knowing how it hurt to touch. Remus eyes darkened for a moment as he brought his hand back to the door then opened it wider for Sirius. "Get in here," he commanded softly, not able to tear his gaze from the huge swelling that blemished Sirius's face.
As Sirius walked into the Lupin's foyer, warmth enveloped him and suddenly he felt incredibly exhausted. As Remus was locking the door, a woman stepped in from what seemed to be the kitchen. She was of medium height with long, soft tawny hair pulled up in a messy bun and had large, oval hazel eyes. She stopped in confusion, and aimed it toward the lanky boy that stood in her home. She cast one last glance at him, before addressing her son, "Remus ... what's happened?" Her accent was actively French, like a melody.
Remus came up behind Sirius, placing a warm hand on his shoulder comfortingly. "Mother, this is Sirius. You remember him from the train?" She studied him intently, and then nodded her beautiful head, smiling faintly. She opened her arms, bringing Sirius into them. "You are so cold. Come and we will have some tea."
She led the boys into the quaint kitchen and sat them both down, fixing the tea of to the side. Sirius felt Remus's gaze settle upon his cheek so he continued to watch Mrs. Lupin, trying to ignore him. He could hear someone on the other side of the door, and turned his head. Mr. Lupin sauntered in; with three large leather bound books in hand, he surveyed the room. He looked over from his wife, to his son, then to Sirius through thin-rimmed glasses. Sirius felt the heated gaze rest on his cheek, than he gave a slight nod of understanding. He walked over to Mrs. Lupin, kissed her gently on the temple, and mumbled something in her ear. After he was finished, he walked over to the boys.
"Good night, Remus. Sirius, we're glad you're here. I'm off to bed, so don't give Sylvia too much trouble," he said with a wink and he left. Sirius could hear Remus say just above a whisper, "Goodnight" smiling gently.
Mrs. Lupin returned with two steaming mugs, smiling warmly as she laid them between both boys. Taking out her wand, she pointed the tip to Sirius's broken jaw. She murmured words Sirius did not yet understand, and with a feeling that someone had just run hot water over his cheek, he was healed. And walking out of the room, she left the two friends alone.
Remus cleared his voice through the silence between them, running his index finger round the rim of his mug. Sirius stared into his own cup, contemplating how he was going to say this.
He fumbled over his thoughts until he picked an adequate one. "I'm sorry if I have bothered you, Re-"
"Don't be stupid, Sirius." Remus interrupted sternly, but when Sirius looked up, he was smiling sadly. Sirius sighed in relief, wondering why he had been so nervous. It was just Moony after all.
"So how was the full?" Sirius asked, taking a sip from his mug. The tea tasted odd and made him incredibly sleepy and giddy all in the same time.
"You know ... the usual. I only sustained a broken rib and this little bugger," he emphasized by pointing to the blood splotch on his shoulder. "No matter what mum does, it won't seem to close. Oh well ..." he sighed and took a large swig from his tea.
Sirius brought his mug to his lips and took a gulp, letting the tepid liquid run down his sore throat. He sat back and enjoyed how the dim florescent light created a warm, soft glow around Remus's slightly graying hair. Despite the fact that Remus was only sixteen, signs of aging crept upon him slowly. But, in fact, Sirius found the occasional silver strands to be quite attractive.
He squeezed his eyes on this last thought. This had to be some strange tea to cause such a stir in his chest and stomach. That was when Mrs. Lupin came into the kitchen with a black jar in hand. She stuck two fingers in and proceeded to rub cool jell onto Sirius's once broken jaw where the bruise still lay. She then turned to her son and rubbed jell over the various bruises over his face and neck. She murmured sadly to herself, if Sirius's French wasn't mistaken, "Poor broken boys ..." She leaned back to take in her handy work and smiled tiredly. "Let us get you two to bed."
Too hazy with sleep, Sirius only vaguely noticed walking through the Lupin's small cottage and into Remus room where Mrs. Lupin transfigured Remus's old trunk into a bed. Shedding his jacket, fully clothed, Sirius fell into his bed and stretched. He yawned a bit too loudly and Remus chuckled slightly.
"I've missed you, Sirius." Remus said quietly, gingerly pulling off his own shirt, careful as not to open his new wound further. There were numerous scratches and bruises over Remus's pale torso, with one large purple and yellow bruise running down the length of a rib. It must to have been a terrible break as to be of such size. Sirius couldn't bring himself to look at them, so he stared at Remus's face instead.
"'ve missed you, too." Sirius whispered, sinking further back into the sheets contently. Remus smiled and ducked his head so his bangs fell over his eyes as he settled into his own bed. It was only then that Sirius noticed Mrs. Lupin still in the room. She walked over to her son.
"Goodnight, Remus." She said softly, gently brushing the hair off of his face. Sirius could faintly hear him murmur, "'Night, mama."
She then walked over to Sirius and brushed her fingertips across his forehead. "Rest well," she said soothingly, and he did.