Convincing Harry

By Abay

-Chapter-Six-

Mistakes are never a sin

Enjoy! ;)

"Remus!" Sirius said sharply shaking his friend by the shoulder trying to knock some sense into him. "James is dead! I saw his body!"

"And so did I!"

"Then how do you explain him coming back from the dead?" Sirius practically yelled angrily, though he wasn't sure why he felt that sudden rage. "Dead people don't just walk around when they feel like it! It's impossible!"

"I don't know how this happened Sirius," Remus said looking at him straight in the eye. "But Moony feels it too, he feels a part of his pack returned, and no one can fool the wolf…no one."

Sirius let go of his shoulders and his arms fell limply by his side; slowly, he turned and faced the door wordlessly.

…

Remus's words were completely far-fetched. Absolutely unbelievable! For someone to come back was implausible, undoable!

It would completely through off the balance of life, and it was that reason why many had died in their attempts of opening a portal between the world of the living and the dead. If any had actually succeeded in opening a gateway and walked through it, then they would never come back, they would have no hope of living nor hope of dieing, and the only explanation to this reasoning was that they would be a torn sole…one that was lost between the living and the dead.

And Sirius was certain that none had succeeded in summoning back a person from the dead because he knew, he understood, that when fate would decide that it was someone's time to leave to the other world, then their was no means at all in stopping it; nothing would be able to hamper it. For fate was unbeatable. Undefeatable. not once had someone fought a battle against it and prevailed, and not once had anyone summed up their courage to defy it, because every human, every creature, was aware that any battle against fate would be a lost one, and they knew that fate would punish them for actually daring to confront it.

It would do something far too horrible for one to imagine.

… Yet something in Remus's words seemed to slowly convince him…the proof that his friend was giving to him were far too great to overlook, he could not disregard those facts…but James was dead…he was definitely dead…

There was undeniably something missing in this case…their were far too many gapes in it for him to believe this story…yet his heart appeared to feel James existence…Their was something back in that empty space in which James used to occupy, and he could feel it.

He could feel it!

"No. James-James can't be back. He can't be."

For the first time in his life, Sirius ignored his impulse, and went by sensible reason.

"Have I ever lied to you Sirius?" Remus asked looking at him with piercing eyes that were telling him to believe him, that were asking him for help, for understanding.

Sirius had no doubt in mind that Remus would not lie to him about such things, but the imposter obviously had fooled Remus in some way…his brain would not believe it…yet his heart…Sirius heart was telling him that there was no deceitfulness in the mans' words, that this was no plot to take over the light side.

"You really think it's him?" he asked quietly taking hesitant steps toward the door…

"Yes," Remus said firmly.

Was it true? Did he dare to hope that James was behind that door? That his brother was in the wake of that door? Was this all what was separating them? …It always seemed that death was the only barrier that could hold him away from James, his brother…And it was only for the reason that death was another world far out of his reach…But this was merely a door…just a harmless, defenseless door…

Did he dare?

…

Only when Sirius's hand made contact with the warm handle did he realize he was now inches away from his child-hood friend, and as soon as his brain comprehended that he would see James as soon as he pushed that door open he jumped back as though he was electrified stumbling backwards.

"Sirius?" …

"I can't go in their…" he croaked as a realization hit him hard.

James would not want to see him…Not after what he had done…

"Listen Sirius," Remus said with a steely note in his voice. "I know you're shocked and you're not ready to face him, but James is in pieces back there! He needs us; his thoughts are messed up and he needs someone to clear the fog in his head."

"You now I'd do it in a heart beat Moony…" Sirius said slowly his eyes still glued onto the door as though he could see his long lost friend through it. "But not after what I had done to him…"

"You never did anything to him."

When Sirius spoke this time, his voice was choking with emotion. Regret. Grief. Pain. "I-I practically handed them over…I never knew…but-but I as-!"

"You killed no one!" Remus cut him off sharply, knowing the words that were about to leave Sirius's lips.

''I know that Remus!" he snapped back heatedly, finally tearing his eyes away from the door. "But because of a poor choice I made, they had to suffer! A choice that I made and promised to be the right one! James would never forgive me for that; never."

Remus, obviously, had enough of this because he had grabbed Sirius by the shoulders and shook him roughly.

"We all make poor choices! It's not a sin Sirius, but people learn to forgive!"

Flashback

"What were you thinking you idiot! Snape could have died!" James Potter yelled at his friend. "If Wormtail here," he jerked his head to Peter who was sitting in the armchair of the Room of Requirement. "Haven't called me in time, then Remus would have ripped Snape apart! You realize that you could have been sent to Azkaban? Azkaban Sirius! This is no prank! You won't just get detention for this! You're just lucky that Dumbledore forgave you!"

"I'm sorry Prongs…" Sirius said earnestly.

"Don't apologize to me Sirius." James said quieting down. "It's Remus who you should apologize to. You swore to secrecy when we found out, you remember Padfoot? And now, you broke that vow-"

"I didn't tell Snape-"

"You as good as told him!" he yelled again, but was cut of by Peter who raised his head from the Marauders Map, which he was studying.

"Moony's coming," Peter said softly, his eyes over bright with nervousness.

Sirius gulped, and looked up at the door, waiting for whatever was coming at him. He deserved it.

Tick…

Tick…

Tick…

Sirius's heart bet fast. He had never been so afraid of seeing Remus, so uneasy. It was very aberrantly unlike him, but his actions tonight had led to harsh consequences that he disregarded. He was about to pay for his faults, and this time, there was no withering his way out of it, there was no talking his way out of it. He could not, no matter what, right his wrongs of his actions tonight.

Sirius's eyes left the door and moved on to the Marauders Map, watching the dot labeled 'Remus John Lupin' which was right now turning onto a corner…moving closer…closer…

BANG!

The door was flung open and slammed shut, by a furious Remus. None of them, not once in their whole four years at Hogwarts, did they see Remus this angry.

Remus's face was flushed with fury, his light brown hair was standing on end due to the many times he had run his hand through his hair and his eyes…his eyes were not the one that Sirius was not used to seeing. It was not the familiar pleasant, amber eyes that twinkled ever so merrily. No, his eyes were radiating with a passion of vehemence that was uncharacteristically like the light hearted Remus he practically grew up with.

And Remus stood there, his hands baled in a tight fist, staring hard at Sirius with nothing but utter anger. Not one of the four said anything. Sirius was head bowed, not daring to look at Remus, truly feeling ashamed at himself, and Peter was still seated in his armchair, looking anxiously between the both of them. James however, had backed up, leaning against the wall, arm crossed, obviously not intending to interfere.

Sirius opened his mouth wanting to explain to Remus his situation, how he never expected anything to get this bad. He wanted to tell him that his only intention was to give that nosy git a little scare for meddling in something that wasn't any of his concern, but his brain didn't seem to be able to transmit those messages to his mouth.

"I-I…"

"You what?" snarled Remus. "You didn't think? You were rash? Tell me Sirius!"

"I-I'm sorry Moony, I really am," Sirius said quietly averting his eyes from Remus.

"You're sorry?" Remus repeated with disbelief. "You're sorry? That's all? That's all you have to say! Well guess what Sirius! Sorry is not enough! I don't think you getting the grasp of how serious the situation you put us all in!"

"I swear, I never thought-"

"That's exactly your problem! You never do think Sirius!" Remus bellowed angrily. "You realize that I could have killed James and Snape? Do you realize that! Didn't you even think that you could have been shipped off to Azkaban? You've been a fool Sirius! I never thought that your animosity towards Snape which reach to the point to hurting him as badly as this! You're just lucky James pulled him out of the Whooping Willow in time. Snape was a step away from death, and you, you were a step away from murder. I was a step away from murder!"

Sirius stared, his jaw slack, completely at loss to words, his young handsome face showing nothing but repentance and remorse.

Remus and James were right, he had been a fool. And he had suddenly come to the conclusion that giving Snape a little scare was not worth Remus's secret being divulged. It was not worth Azkaban, and it was certainly not worth James life. Nor Snapes, he admitted.

"You're right Remus, forgive me, I-I never meant for this to happen. Believe me," Sirius said, his grey eyes begging for compassion, but Remus's amber eyes were showing no mercy, he would not yield to his friends' plea for forgiveness, he only shook his head and walked out of the door without another word to Sirius, fearing that if he stayed any longer in this room he would break Sirius's jaw.

With nothing but an empty feeling in the pit of his heart, Sirius slumped down on an armchair beside Peter.

"Don't worry Padfoot," Peter said reassuringly. "Moony's just heated up, give him time to calm down, he'll forgive you."

"I hope he does Wormtail," Sirius said sighing heavily, wishing to exhale the heavy feeling inside of him.

"He will," James firmly said resting a supportive hand on his shoulder. "It's just like old Wormtail said, give him time, and Moony'll forgive you in no time. I know I would."

"Thanks Prongs," Sirius said sincerely, fancying nothing but a thoughtless sleep. But Sirius knew he would find no sleep tonight.

End Flashback

A.N: These flashbacks seem to be everywhere! But I like a bit of marauder history! It's a huge part of this fic...anyway! Please Review!