A/n: Well, I've passed Chapter 20! I hope you enjoy, and I'll try to get this chapter out sooner than the others have been getting out. R/R!
Tracy-Lou: Thank you so much. Wait until you read this chapter. I'm so glad that you like my story as much as you do.
ChainedAngel: Thank you and I'm glad you like my story. It only gets better…
Spirited-Away: Thank you! I know! It's good that you're not sick anymore, but the hay fever thing sucks. Thank you!
Sparkling Stardust: Hey, MK! Thank you so much, and I'm so glad you like it. It only gets better in my opinion… of course I haven't written all of the future chapters, but still…
Toki: Thank you! I couldn't help but laugh at your reply. Your enthusiasm… tickled me… At any rate, I'm glad you like my story. Looks I'm going to have to force myself now, doesn't it? Again, thanks.
.: Thank you so much. I will try not to take so long. Thank you again.
xBr0kEnB0tTle: Thank you! Yes, Poor Sirius. Thank you again.
Random Person: Thank you so much. I don't think there's going to be 20 more chapters, lol. In fact, I know there's not. However, there are 2 sequels to this story if you want to check them out! : )
Megan: Ok! I will! Thank you!
Chapter 21
Things went fairly well for the Marauders for a while. Things were pretty normal. James was enjoying his time as Head Boy way too much, as Lily once told him (and not for the first time either). "James, being Head Boy is a big responsibility, and you should treat it as such." She would constantly say to him. He had gotten better, no doubt that, but he wasn't up to her "standards".
So, one day, he said, "Lily, honey, no offense, but you take being Head Girl a bit too seriously."
"And you don't take it seriously enough."
"Your point being?"
He got her there. "Well, it is a great honor, and you should take it seriously."
"Lily, dear, I think you take it seriously enough for the both of us." James said.
She just glared at him. "Still-"
"Please, Lily, you're starting to sound like a broken record." James said, almost whining.
Lily rolled her eyes. "The one time you pick up on phrases that I say…" She then excused herself to do her homework.
So, overall, things were pretty much normal. Things took an unusual turn one day, though, and not for the best.
One day, while Sirius and Remus were in class (it was a class that they didn't have with everyone else) Dumbledore came. "Excuse me, but I need Sirius Black to come with me." The Headmaster said.
The teacher seemed a little perplexed as to why Dumbledore would need to talk to one of her students, but, of course, she said, "Sure, Dumbledore."
Dumbledore gave a small smile, but it was strained at best.
Sirius stood up, looking at Remus, seeing if he was just as confused as he himself was. The look in Remus' eyes said it all..
"Bring your stuff, Sirius." Dumbledore said.
"Yes, Headmaster." Sirius said, grabbing his stuff, shooting another look at his lover.
"I believe it best that Remus Lupin comes as well," said Dumbledore.
The teacher looked even more confused, and so did her students. The teacher wiped the look off her face and said, "If you must, Dumbledore."
Dumbledore smiled appreciatively. "Thank you."
The teacher nodded.
Remus stood up, grabbing his stuff, and followed Sirius to the door, both of them with confused looks on their faces. Dumbledore gave them both a smile, but again, the smile never seemed to reach his eyes. "Come with me, boys, if you would," said the aged Headmaster. "Don't worry, neither one of you is in trouble," He said as they walked out the door.
Remus and Sirius glanced at each other again, and they followed the Headmaster as he led them to his office. On the way there, both of them were wondering what he could possibly have wanted. Remus remembered the note that he had gotten from Sirius' father as they arrived there, and the Headmaster spoke the password. As they followed him up to his office, Remus thought, Could that be why he brought me along? Remus didn't want to think about it.
Dumbledore sat down behind his desk, and motioned for the two young men to sit down the chairs facing him, which they did. Again, they exchanged a look, and then looked back at the Headmaster to see him looking down at the desk, with his hands together in front of him. They saw him take a visible deep breath, and then look back up at them. Dumbledore turned to Sirius, and there was a sad look in his blue eyes.
"Sirius, I hate to be the one to tell you this, but, I'm afraid that your father has passed away last night." Dumbledore said, regret and sadness deep within his eyes.
As soon as those words hit Sirius' hears, he burst out in tears, as sad sight from both of the other people in the room to look upon. After all, Sirius had always been a very strong individual, but neither blamed him from breaking down. Remus immediately put his arms around his lover, and tried to do his best to comfort him.
Remus glanced at Dumbledore as he helped Sirius up out of his chair. "I'll take care of him, sir." He said. "I don't know what I can do, but I'll do whatever I can." Remus was not afraid to show his feelings for Sirius in front of Dumbledore, as the old man already knew.
Dumbledore gave the young man a smile. "I know. I'll make sure that you two are excused from classes for a few days. I think you should stay with him. He's going to need you to be strong for him right now." Dumbledore knew, with Remus' condition, that it must be hard for him to be strong most of the time.
Remus nodded. "I know, Headmaster. I'll do my best."
Sirius never heard a word they said. All he could think of was his father. He half-felt Remus put his arms around him and help him up.
Remus grabbed their stuff, and led Sirius slowly out of the door, his arms around him, and comforting him as best as he could while Sirius cried.
Class got out as Remus was leading the distraught Sirius back to the Gryffindor Tower. He knew that Sirius never saw it, but Remus did. Most people were giving them strange looks, looking at the way Remus was holding Sirius, and how he was comforting him.
James found them, and saw the state Sirius was in. He looked to Remus. "What happened?"
"Dumbledore called us out of class." Remus explained. "Sirius' father died last night."
James' eyes widened. "Oh. Poor Sirius. I feel so bad for him."
"Yeah, so do I." Remus agreed.
As the three stood there, Sirius leaning on Remus, crying, and Remus comfortingly with his arms around Sirius, a couple of younger 3-year students saw the way Remus was holding Sirius, and one of them said something about Remus and Sirius, and their closeness, that he probably shouldn't have. When James heard, he turned on the younger boy, his eyes narrowed dangerously. "Excuse me, but his father just died! That's detention with Filch for a week, and 20 points from Slytherin, and if I EVER hear you say that again, it'll be 2 weeks and 40 points. Understand?" The young boy nodded at the Head Boy, obviously scared by James' outburst. At that moment, Lily and Peter showed up. Stacey was not with them.
Lily had heard James' yelling, and looked at him. "What on earth was that about?" Then she saw Sirius. "What happened?"
"Sirius' father died." Remus said to her.
Sadness filled Lily's emerald green eyes, and then she looked at James.
"Yeah, and this idiot said something about the way Remus is holding Sirius, that I didn't like." James said, still mad.
"What did he say?" She asked, and James told her. Lily gasped in shock, and also turned on the boy.
"2 weeks detention with Filch and 30 points from Slytherin, on top of what James already gave you." The boy's jaw dropped. "If I ever you say something like that again, it'll be 50 points and a month of detention." They both knew that they were probably being a bit harsh, but they were upset, and what the boy had said was uncalled for.
The bell for the next class was about to ring, and James said to Remus, "Go ahead and take Sirius back to the dormitory. We'll check up on you later. I've got to go talk to Filch about the detentions."
"Yes, and I should go talk to Dumbledore about the strictness of those sentences." Lily said. "I'll write notes for you both, so don't worry."
Remus nodded appreciatively. "Thanks," and took Sirius back to the dormitory.
As it was, Dumbledore thought that the sentences were a bit strict, but understood why. He said that he would talk to the Head of Slytherin House, but told Lily not to have her and James get too strict with the sentencing, and the docking of points.
Back in the dormitory, Remus had led Sirius, and laid them on Remus' bed. Sirius had latched on to Remus, and just laid there, in Remus' arms crying. Remus felt bad for him, and didn't have it in him to leave him.
James and Peter came up after classes, and both looked on Sirius with pity in their eyes.
"How is he?" James asked.
"He hasn't changed." Remus said. "He just keeps crying. I feel so helpless."
James and Peter nodded. "Yeah, I know."
"James and Lily have already given out 7 more detentions." Peter remarked
Remus' eyes widened in shock, and James' narrowed again. "Yes, well, it's spread around school about the way you were holding Sirius, Remus, and people have been making comments. I can't stand it. I don't care if it is true that you two are gay, the way they're talking about you two is just not right."
Remus sighed. "Great. It's going to be impossible to hide our relationship now." Remus said. "Because I'm not leaving Sirius' said. I can't."
James and Peter exchanged looks. "We understand," said James.
"Yeah," said Peter. "And, don't worry, we'll stick up for you in the rest of the classes, Moony."
"Yeah, and me and Lily will give out more detentions, and take off more points." James said.
Remus smiled. "Thanks, Wormtail. Thanks, Prongs."
"No problem," said Peter.
"What are friends for," James agreed.
Sirius never acknowledged their talking, and didn't acknowledge James and Peter when they left for dinner. He just kept crying, and thinking, My father's dead. He's gone… over and over.He couldn't help feeling sad and depressed. He just kept holding unto Remus, and was grateful that his lover was there to comfort him when he needed him the most. The whole time, Remus just lightly rubbed his back, and kept shushing him, and whispering that it would be alright. Everything would be alright. He knew Sirius didn't feel like it would ever get better again, but Remus knew it would. And he would be there until it did.
A/n: Sad, I know. sighs Well, I hope you liked it. More depressing chapters to come… R/R!
