Chapter 37 – The Truth

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Remus and Sirius crouched outside Headmaster O'Leary's door, having followed Professor Dumbledore through the gargoyle and up the winding stairs. Now, they stared at each other at a loss for words.

Sirius jerked his head to the stairs. Remus nodded, and they started back to their common room. Lily and Noel had probably gone to bed by now…or maybe they were waiting up for Remus and Sirius.

Sirius stumbled over a niche in the carpet.

"Hm? Did you hear something, Professor?"

Remus grabbed Sirius's wrist and dragged him over to the wall as Professors McGonagall and Sprout poked their heads out of the hospital wing. Seeing nothing, they retreated back inside. Sirius and Remus followed.

Maria and James were lying on the same bed, sleeping. The two professors were staring at them.

"Did the headmaster show you and Dumbledore the prophecy, too?" Sprout asked.

"Yes. Dumbledore seems bent on finding something wrong with it. He cannot bear to see these children in such pain."

"O'Leary seems to have given up. He's resigned to the inevitable."

McGonagall sighed. "Speaking of resigning, he's done it. He says he just wants to live the remainder of his life peacefully."

"Remainder?" Sprout looked confused.

"Well, you know, what with You-Know-Who and all…"

"So who will be Headmaster?"

"…Dumbledore, of course. He'll be assuming the position this coming week."

"What will they tell the children?"

McGonagall shrugged. "Nothing, I suppose. That O'Leary is retiring."

Sprout looked at Maria and James again. "What about these two?"

McGonagall made an odd sniffing noise. "They'll lie there, I suppose. Until we figure out what happened."

"Is Mr. Black to blame?"

"Blame?" McGonagall's eyes flashed. "It is not Sirius's fault!"

"Well, I mean…Heir of Slytherin, and all…his best friend…his girlfriend."

Remus looked at Sirius.

McGonagall waved a hand dismissively. "Remus's sister and Noel's brother. Makes no difference. The only one at fault here is You-Know-Who."

"My, Professor. You seem to be…attached." Sprout smiled.

"Nonsense. They are all of my House."

Sprout kept smiling.

"Oh, for – let's go!" They left.

Sirius shifted. Remus got up, moving toward Maria and James. Sirius followed.

Maria and James were still, chests rising and falling smoothly. Remus brushed back Maria's hair. "Think we should wake them up?"

Sirius looked at James. 'This is all my fault.' "N-no. We should…let them sleep." 'Sorry, Jamie.' "Come on, let's go."

Remus made little noises of protest, but he followed Sirius.

This just kept getting weirder and weirder.

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Upon reaching the common room, Sirius burst into silent sobs, falling into Lily's arms.

Noel and Lily looked bewildered. All they had known was that Sirius and Remus had gone to look for answers. Perhaps they had found them.

"Nolie, Lil, what are you still doing up?" Remus asked quietly as Lily stroked back Sirius's hair. "It's late. We have classes tomorrow."

"We couldn't sleep, Remmie." Noel replied. "We're doing Cheewa's essay…"

"It's not due until next week…" Remus said gently. "Go to bed…I'll take care of Sirius…"

"No way!" Lily said. "What happened? What could possibly make Siri cry like this!?"

"You tell them…Remmie. Tell them it's all my fault!" Sirius sobbed.

"It is not your fault, Sirius." Remus said harshly. He sighed, running a hand through his light brown hair. "It's nobody's fault but Voldemort! It's all him! He's doing something to Jamie and Mia, I'm sure of it!"

Noel stood up. "Something like what, Remus?"

Remus turned his back to them and faced the fire. "I don't know, something. Why else would they stay like this? It's just like what happened when – " He cut himself off.

Sirius pushed Lily's hands away and stood, too. "Like what I hurt Mia, huh? That's what you're trying to say, isn't it, Remus?" His voice grew soft. "You see? It is me. I'm the cause of their pain. I'm hurting Mia, and she transfers it to Jamie. Go on, say it, Remus. You blame me for your sister being in pain."

Remus turned around. "Sirius, I do not blame you –"

"But if I wasn't here, this wouldn't be happening!"

"Sirius, Remus, this is crazy!" Lily interjected. She and Noel both looked ready to cry. "They'll be okay! Jamie's a Marauder, right?! And Marauders are always okay. And Mia's one of us." She gestured to herself and Noel. "They'll be fine." She faced Sirius. "Siri, you cannot help your bloodline. None of us blame you. This is all Voldemort's fault, like Remmie said." Her voice trembled. "I'm sure Jamie and Mia will wake up tomorrow. There are no ifs or buts. They will wake up tomorrow."

There seemed to be nothing more to say. They all knew Sirius was not at fault, but that didn't stop said boy believing that.

"I – " Noel spoke up. "I…am going to bed." But she didn't move.

Remus sighed. "I'll go…" But as he stepped onto the girls' staircase, it went slide on him. "What!?!?"

"Oh, right. No boys allowed." Lily said. She and Noel giggled.

"Huh? That didn't happen last time…" Remus said, looking put-out.

"Security measures…" Noel hummed. "Voldemort's a boy."

Remus rolled his eyes. "Well, come on. Sirius and I will sleep down here tonight. You girls can have our beds."

Noel smiled and followed Remus up the boys' staircase.

That left Lily and Sirius in the common room, staring at each other.

"Sirius, don't blame yourself." Lily told him.

"Lily, you know it's my fault. You know that, deep in his wolfy mind, Remus thinks so, too. He can't help it. It's his wolf instinct, you know, that 'protect-the-pack' thing. He loves his sister."

Lily screwed up her face. "Um – " She stopped as Remus entered. He jerked his head up the stairs. "I'll – just go sleep in Jamie's bed, then!" She flew out.

Remus stopped behind Sirius, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Protect the pack? Yeah, but…Sirius?"

"What?"

Remus smiled. "You guys are my pack."

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a/n: Awww! How sweet! But poor Maria and James…when will they wake up? A lot seems to happen to those two. First, Sirius is possessed to hurt Maria, and now Jamie hears voices. And, what's this about O'Leary retiring? Looks like he couldn't take the pressure. I'm sure Dumbledore'll do a good job! Thanks to all my reviewers! I really appreciate it!