Chapter 32

Sirius was let out of the hospital wing the next day, after being told to cease taking the medication until she could prove otherwise. Grudgingly, Sirius had agreed and had left the hospital wing with all intentions of finding James and talking to him about their previous argument. Sirius was hoping above all hope that James wouldn't still be angry, although he had a right to be, after the cruel things Sirius had said. But then again, James had said some harsh things as well…

James was sitting in the common room when Sirius found him. He seemed to be studying something and Sirius hesitated in going up to him. As he was about to move forward, Lily Evans came down the stairs to her dormitory and walked over to James. He looked at her and smiled as she sat down. Not once did either of them glance in Sirius's direction.

Sirius watched the scene sadly. It would appear that in one day he had been replaced by Lily. He sighed and turned on his heel to leave. Maybe Remus would like to hang out with him.

"Is he gone?" he asked Lily as she opened up her text books to study with him. He had agreed to help her with her transfiguration work the other day when she asked him for assistance. Personally, James wasn't sure why she did, considering she highly disliked James, but she pointed out that he was the best in their class in the subject.

Lily looked over at the door and nodded. "Yeah, he's gone," she answered and looked at James strangely. "What's going on between you two? You are hardly seen without one another when he's not ill."

James shook his head and opened his own book to the correct page, not intending on answering her question. Personally, he didn't know why they didn't just apologize and get it over with, but James had said some pretty hurtful things to Sirius, who had just been telling the truth in the end. He would have spoken to Sirius, but he didn't want to be yelled at again and he didn't want to risk losing his own temper and saying something that might hurt him even more.

"Alright, transfiguring…" he began as Lily paid close attention.

Days passed before James even considering speaking to Sirius again. He was tired of his fears about losing his temper again. If Sirius forgave him, then that was awesome, and if he didn't, then he'd just have to torment him into speaking over Christmas break. However, whenever James tried to talk to Sirius, he was always vanishing and going somewhere else.

"Remus," James asked one day, "Is Sirius really that angry at me?"

Remus shrugged and couldn't answer. "I don't know. He wanted to apologize, but was afraid that you'd reject his apology, and as such I guess he's been avoiding you for the same reason."

James looked at him strangely and then sank back onto his bed. All because of a stupid little argument. What had even started it? He sighed. It didn't matter. All that James knew was that he had to reconcile with Sirius before he went home for the holidays.

Just then Sirius entered the dormitory and sat down on his bed, looking dismal and angry. Remus looked towards him and then back at James and sighed. Why was he always the one in the middle?

"Hey Sirius," James called out to his friend. Sirius simply turned his head to look at him, his expression staying the same. James, slightly abashed, got up and walked over to Sirius's bed before continuing. "What's wrong?"

Sirius shrugged and looked down at his hands. He wasn't sure if James was going to ridicule him some more, but he was hoping that he just wanted to forget the entire stupid argument.

"Okay," he muttered and sat down next to his friend. "Listen, I'm really sorry for what I said the other day while you were in the hospital wing. I didn't really mean it. I was just…I don't want you to keep getting sick. And you're right, I don't understand what it's like to not be able to speak, and I'm sorry that I spoke without even considering that."

Sirius smiled slightly and nodded. He was so happy that James had apologized. James looked at Sirius expectantly and Sirius nodded, meaning him too. "Well," James said, looking slightly put off. "I do recall you saying some not so nice things as well, don't you have something you want to say as well?"

Sirius nodded and began signing things with his hands. James just sighed in frustration and got up and left, leaving Sirius staring after him. Remus looked at Sirius strangely before asking him what that was all about.

Sirius waved around wildly with his hands, but Remus simply shook his head to show that he couldn't understand him. "What are you doing?" he asked, exasperation shining through his voice.

Sirius seemed to roll his eyes in irritation and rummaged around for a notepad and pencil. Quickly he wrote down his predicament.

"The Slytherins put a spell on me…I don't know what, but my mouth is glued together and I can't talk without opening my mouth. It should wear off according to Madame Pomfery. Also, I'm going through one of my mute periods, so I can't talk period!!!"

Remus read the note and had to choke back a laugh of amusement. It wasn't funny that Sirius was cursed, but his indignation was somewhat laughable. "I'm sorry, Sirius. So that's why you couldn't say anything to James when he came to apologize to you. You need to apologize as well."

Sirius nodded and wrote down, "I know, but what if he doesn't want to listen to me now? I mean, it is rather insulting to be pouring out your heart to a person, only to have them respond in wild and crazy gestures."

At that last line, Remus did burst out into laughter. Sirius glared at him, looking highly affronted. "I'm sorry Sirius," Remus said through his laughter. "It's just funny!"

At that, Sirius's mouth curled up into a smile. It was kinda funny if you wanted to look at it from that perspective. Sirius picked up his pencil again and wrote, "I'll go find James after my mouth can open."

Remus burst into laughter again, and Sirius stood up and left the room, tired of being teased.

About an hour later, Sirius's mouth opened and he went to go find James. He still couldn't talk, but James was an expert lip reader, which was highly reassuring. He found James sitting in the library, trying to study, but really dwelling on what had just happened.

Sirius walked up to him and poked James on the shoulder. James ignored him and got up to go find another book. Sirius persistently followed him, trying to get his attention in every way he knew how. His friend, however, had acquired great skill in ignoring his friend from years of past experience.

Finally James lost his patience and rounded on the mute boy. "Sirius!" he exclaimed, "I tried to apologize to you, but you completely blew me off. I don't want to hear any excuses, just go away and leave me alone. Right now, I don't even want to look at you."

He walked briskly out of the library to Madame Pince's disapproving look. Sirius stared after him, sadness on his young face. "Oh well," he thought dimly and also left the library, at a much slower pace.

A.N. yep, I love conflict, as I said before. Um…the next chapter will be exciting and around Christmas time. Please review, thanks.