A/N Here is the next chapter! It made me tearful when I was writing so I do suggest a handy tissue. I hope you enjoy this chapter! It was 15 pages!
NOTE: Remus' speech belongs to Lady Taliesin who wrote this part! Thank you! This chapter is dedicated to you!
The Bond
Chapter 11 - Goodbye Sirius
AUROR SIRIUS BLACK MURDERED!
It was revealed by the department of Magical Enforcement that one of its top Aurors, Sirius Black, was murdered by He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, while on a secret undercover mission.
The Ministry also informed us of the kidnap of Mr Ronald Weasley and Miss Hermione Granger from Hogsmeade, a trip which they made illegally during school hours. The two students have now been recovered and have been checked up at St Mungos for any injuries they may have sustained. The two have now returned to school.
The Chosen One, Harry Potter, now lies in a coma after battling You-Know-Who at the Riddle House. It is unsure whether he will wake ever again.
Those who participated in the rescue of the two students have kept quiet about what they saw, but an informant has said that Sirius Black's body was never recovered.
And so we ask ourselves this: Where is it?
A more thorough report can be found on page 5.
Reported by Tomas Jones.
"Typical." James flung the paper to the side, rubbing his fingers through his messy hair. He hadn't brushed it in days! "The paper is milking Harry's condition."
"Coma?" Remus asked.
"Yeah." James murmured. "They can't get their facts straight."
"Which is why it will be more of a miracle if the Chosen One suddenly awoke." Remus supplied. "Means that the public can believe they have a hero, someone who cannot be defeated."
James frowned, clenching his fists. "I just wish they'd tell the truth. Just once! Everything is so messed up. Harry's out of it, Sirius is dead, and I'm stuck between the two!"
Remus pulled out a chair from the table James was sitting at. "Prongs, we couldn't have prevented what happened. Sirius made a choice of helping you. It got him killed but he realised that. He may be gone in physical form, yet he's here in our hearts and in spirit. No one we love ever truly leaves us."
Lowering his eyes, James did not reply.
"Ah, Remus! What brings you this far to Hogwarts?" Dumbledore asked, as Remus settled into a chair.
"Nothing that you will find exciting, I'm sure." Remus replied dryly. He wore a shabby overcoat, in a musty brown, a few tears lined around the rim. Underneath he wore a white shirt, emblemised with the words Moony Marauder. After they had graduated from Hogwarts, it had been Lily's idea to sew their names onto a white shirt. Each Marauder had received one, and when they had got together on various occasions, the Marauders would wear the shirt in honour of their school boy days.
However that was not the reason Remus was wearing it for.
It was to remember Sirius.
"Whatever it is you've come to tell me, I will try not to fall asleep." Dumbledore chuckled.
Remus smiled lightly. He folded his hands in front of him. "I've been thinking about saying goodbye to Sirius. James doesn't want to, I think it pains him to believe that he's gone. I need your advice. We need to say goodbye to settle our hearts. What can we do, to make it look like we're saying goodbye, but not…really." Remus shook his head. "I know it doesn't make sense."
"Absolutely fine," the headmaster said. "It's quite simple really. You don't want to say goodbye in a funeral, do you?"
"Exactly what James doesn't want to do."
Dumbledore inclined his head. "Then I suggest you hold a party in his honour. Remember him that way. Invite comrades, old friends…and reminisce on all the good times you had with him. That is a goodbye in the way you mean, am I right?"
Inclining his head, Remus agreed. "Yeah, it's just that James…it's difficult to get him to understand that we need to do this."
"He'll come round to it. Give him a chance." Suggested Dumbledore. "James has lost many people in his life. It is difficult for him to admit death is taking everyone he cares deeply about."
Remus lowered his eyes, wondering if Dumbledore was right about James. He only hoped that his friend would not refuse this idea. It sounded like a good way to say farewell.
Nearly a week later after Harry and James had engaged Voldemort, Harry woke from his 'coma'. James was sitting with him, in a closed off room at St. Mungos. The doctors and medi-nurses wouldn't let James take Harry back home, so everyday he had made the trip to the hospital to watch over his son.
"Hey dad." Harry whispered, struggling to talk after being out of it for so long. He blinked trying to distinguish the shapes that towered over him. Something told him that James was there.
"Here, kiddo." James said, placing his son's glasses on properly, so his son could see.
Harry tried to move but James kept him laying down, telling him it would be best if he laid. He felt weak in the arms and legs and was surprised that he could barely move them.
Difficult to form words, Harry eventually said: "What happened to me?"
James sighed. "You used up a lot of energy. It took a lot of out of you. The doctors diagnosed that you wouldn't wake up, but of course, Harry they were completely wrong. You were not in a coma, you were just regaining your strength and you were in a deep sleep."
Harry nodded slowly. "How…long……was I out?" he managed.
"A week."
"A week?"
"Yes. But you did use a lot of energy during your battle. You showed extreme magical power, nothing that has been seen before in a sixteen year old."
Harry coughed. "Looks like I'm living up to what the prophecy says."
"I guess so." James admitted. He hated the fact that the prediction lay on his son's shoulders. That had been what was going into hiding all about - to prevent that from happening, but James had died, unable to protect his family from the inevitable.
He was kept in for several days so the doctors could monitor his condition to ensure there was no remission. James constantly begged the doctors that Harry was fine, but they were having none of it. Finally on Harry's insistence the doctors released him, telling him that if he felt dizzy he was to report to them immediately.
James chose to ignore this order and instead helped Harry leave the hospital as fast as possible.
"Dad, am I going back to Hogwarts?" Harry asked, tentatively.
"Yeah you can. If you want that is."
Harry looked astounded that his father would even suggest such a thing. "Off course!"
James grinned. "Good. I'd worry about your sanity if you'd said no."
They became quiet. It was rare moments like this that James actually found that they could forget what had happened. However the moment was lost when Harry slowly asked about a funeral.
James didn't know what to say and so he finally settled with: "I'm letting Remus decide. I cannot stand to think I will have to say good-bye to my brother."
Harry nodded. Sirius' funeral was a sensitive subject and one that Harry realised would be hard to accept. He brushed a hand through his hair, trying his hardest to forget the body that had fuelled his anger. He had tried his best to keep it in, but everyone he had lost in his life had finally released the anger that had fused up inside him, had exploded in a bout of power. He could hardly remember what had happened after he had stunned his father (all he could recall was insulting Voldemort and the next he woke up in hospital). Understanding had come to him, and he recognised the extent of power he had wielded.
…Power the dark lord knows not…
Could that be it? Could the power he had wielded be the one the prophecy spoke of?
Harry sighed. He wished he knew what the power was.
Something seemed to gnaw at his consciousness…as if he already knew what the power was.
It has to be something to do between me and dad. Harry thought. That's the only thing that makes sense. After all…we do have a strong connection to each other.
He continued to muse, wondering what the prophecy meant and whether he really did have the power to defeat the dark lord.
Hermione and Ron greeted him when he entered the sixth year dormitory. Dean, Neville and Seamus were nowhere to be seen. It was midday on a Thursday, meaning that they were probably in lessons. Harry cocked his head wondering why his friends were waiting for him. He did not question Hermione's presence in the boy's dormitory.
"Are you okay?" Ron asked, slightly awed.
Harry shrugged. "I'm fine. Just a bit tired."
"We were so worried for you," Hermione burst out. "The Daily Prophet telling us all these lies, your father not even responding to our letters….Dumbledore refusing to say anything….it's all mean too much for us."
Harry flopped down onto the bed, sighing. "I'm back now. You can relax."
Hermione stifled a laugh. "I suppose but with everything going on now, it is really hard just to get a peaceful rest."
They laughed, but the tension soon crowded around them again.
Neither of them knew what to say.
"Right, James," Remus stood with his hands folded and his eye brows raised, looking critically at his friend. "You are going to help me."
"If it had anything to do with saying goodbye to Sirius, I do not want to know." James retorted, turning back to the paper.
"I can't do this without you."
James coughed. "Eh, Remus you've known Sirius longer then me. You know what he likes."
"I don't James." Sighed the other. "I don't know what to do. Sirius was special to all of us, and we should work together to make him feel respected. I can't do that myself without your input. You know him as a brother, I only know him as a friend. Please, Prongs, for old times sake, will you help me?"
"Moony…" James started but he didn't know what to say, "…I….just can't bear it. You know what I mean, don't you?"
Nodding.
"I do. You don't believe he's dead, do you?"
James shook his head. "No, I don't."
"And you base this claim on what exactly?" Remus asked, pulling himself into a chair.
James tousled his hair. "The fact that we saw the body and then it was gone. If he's dead, why doesn't Voldemort let us have it."
"Inferius." Remus remembered.
James paled. "You don't think…." He swallowed, "he will do that, do you?"
"It's a possibility. We should be ready for anything."
"I don't think I can do this, Moony. I've seen enough to last me a life time. Too many deaths…too much war. I can't say goodbye to Sirius, for the reason that he could still be alive, no matter how much I know he is gone. I just can't."
Remus sighed. "Helping me, Prongs, will help you accept it. You need to get on with your life, not dwell on what could be." He tried one last time. "Please, help me say goodbye."
James lowered his hazel eyes, refusing to make contact. Finally he said, with heaviness in his voice: "Let me think about it. I won't promise anything, alright? I'll come to you later."
"That's all I could ask for." Remus muttered and then left James alone, who lowered his head into his hands and silently let the tears flow.
A dark figure opened their eyes.
They wore black, and was armed with a wand, that felt wrong in their fingers.
They stepped forward, bowing to Lord Voldemort, assuring him of their loyalty to his cause.
"I am yours to command." The figure in black said, a raspy voice coming to the fore. The Death Eaters surrounding them had been told this was the first of many Wizards that had defected to Voldemort after a revolt in France had led them to chance their opinion on Wizarding society.
Voldemort spoke, his voice commanding in the darkened room. "Go, my servant, and spy on the Potters. We will see how worthy you really are."
James stood outside Remus' room, wondering whether he could do this. He raised a fist and knocked. He felt apprehensive and he felt that by agreeing to help Remus he was losing a part of himself, but something told him it was the right thing to do.
KNOCK! KNOCK!
"Who is it?" Remus called.
"It's me." James answered.
"Come in."
James opened the door, walked in and stood just inside, feeling nervous.
"Well, have you decided?"
"Yeah…" James hesitated, scratching the back of his neck. "I've decided to help, only because Sirius would've wanted it."
A slight smile slid across Moony's face. "Thank you, James. It means a lot to me."
"I know."
It was practically Christmas by the time Remus and James had put together a funeral service that was a party in its essence. Harry was allowed to break up from school early to attend, and Ron and Hermione were welcome to attend but had to return for the rest of the term.
It was on Saturday 14th December, just over six weeks since Sirius had been killed. The day was cold, with little freckles of snow falling, and a slight wind, bashing gently against the windows.
James woke from his slumber and quietly got dressed. He had been dreading this day for so long that it seemed unreal that it had finally arrived. He put on a clean pair of black trousers, with the white shirt that had Prongs Marauder embroidered on. He pulled on a jacket that matched his trousers.
A comb lay on a small table, and he brushed his hair trying to make it look neat, but it sprung right back up. Frowning he flattened it with his hand, but to no avail, his hair would not obey. Sighing in frustration, James picked up his wand, put in his pocket and made his way downstairs to where Remus was cooking breakfast.
"Hungry?" Remus asked, as James entered.
He shook his head. "Nah, but dish me up some toast. I'll see what I can devour."
Remus grinned. Though he dreaded the coming day, both men knew they had to be strong in mind as well as body. Neglecting their food would not help their physical selves one bit.
"You already then?" Remus questioned.
James nodded. "Yeah, I had a shower last night and just got dressed. May as well get this day started with." His hazel eyes ran over Remus' attire of a dressing gown and pajamas underneath. "I see you're not ready."
Remus shrugged. "I thought breakfast would be a good thing to do first, rather then get dressed."
Silence fell between them.
Nearly five minutes later, Remus handed James two pieces of toast, along with butter and jam. He spread butter and jam on the toast and then ate it, ignoring the taste of it, and just concentrating on how he would make it through the day.
They sat at the table in silence, staring out at the snow that was falling.
The guest list compromised of thirty people (that included James), many of whom James hadn't seen since seventh year. Including James, Remus, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall, the other people who attended were:
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, who had worked and lived with Sirius for a while.
Fred, George and Ginny Weasley, all of which had looked up to Sirius when they had discovered he was Padfoot.
Mad-Eye Moody, who had trained Sirius as an Auror all those years ago.
Tonks and her mother and father, Ted and Andromeda. Andromeda was the sister of Bellatrix Black and Narcissa Malfoy. As she had married a muggle-born, she had been officially labeled a 'black sheep'. But that suited her anyway for she did not agree with the ideals that her family had followed. She had not been sorted into Slytherin during her time at school, instead Ravenclaw had suited her brilliance. It was there she had learned to love all type of Witches and Wizards, and realize that muggles were not all that bad.
Kingsley Shacklebolt, who had been tasked to track down Sirius when he's been on
the run. He sat next to Moody, with Tonks on his right, and her parents next to her.
Hestia Jones sat next to Hermione. Hestia Jones was a Auror, but had gone into office work within the department of Law Enforcement, a few months ago.
Next to her, sat Arabella Figg, who was a part of the Order of the Phoenix and had known and corresponded with Sirius.
Next to her, was Bruce Campell, who had been the Gryffindor Quidditch Captain when James and Sirius had both been on the team. He now played professional Quidditch. The remaining members of the Quidditch team from their school days (Sally Smith; Gregory Smart; Ashton Yates; Poppy Uganda; Freddy Jaks; Louie French; Darcy Spinnet; Roland Fudge and finally, Fleur Gardens). All of these people had played with Sirius and James at some point during their Hogwart's years.
Finally the last guest was Claire Hobson. She had been Sirius' long term girlfriend at Hogwarts and for the first year after graduation. Unfortunately, Claire's job had caused her to move half way around the world, and the couple had had to split up. Remus had only just managed to track her down.
For nearly two hours they honored Sirius, eating and drinking and remembering the good old times. Harry was silent, hardly saying a word, apart from when he was addressed. Even Ron and Hermione were reluctant to speak. James tried his best to look happy but whenever he tried to laugh he could not.
Life did not seem pleasurable without the antics of Sirius Black.
They rented a hall, as James had not wished the party to be held in Grimmauld Place or his childhood home. He had not set foot back there yet, and he did not intend to either. Too many memories haunted the place. When everyone had finished the meal and their desserts had been cleaned, Remus stood up in his chair, raising a glass of red wine.
"I would like to say a few words." he said.
Silence fell as all eyes turned towards him.
He cleared his throat. Not once had Remus Lupin cried since Sirius' death – he hadn't wanted to appear weak, not in front of James. As he began to talk his voice was steady and level, the barest hint of sadness coloring his words and making them fall heavily in the otherwise silent hall.
"You'll have to forgive me," he began softly, his eyes glancing around the hall and lingering on James' expressionless face, "Because I haven't written a speech out to read to you all here today. He took a deep breath, and smiled sadly. "I'm afraid that, up until today, I was not ready to deal with the reality of Sirius' death."
Silence met his words.
"You see," he continued, his voice growing stronger as he stood up a little straighter, "I've lost my friends – my family – more times than I'd care to count. And each time it grows harder, and digs deeper, and the pain always manages to find a way to break through the shield you put up around your heart." The entire hall was focused on him, but Remus, although his voice was still steady and just loud enough to carry to the back of the hall, seemed to be talking more to himself than anyone else. "When we were at Hogwarts Sirius had a very particular way of dealing with pain." he continued, his eyes darting briefly to James' face. "He would talk it out. He would find one of us – James or I – and just talk. Sometimes about what had happened, sometimes not…it didn't really matter. He would talk until the pain didn't hurt so much anymore, and afterwards I always laughed at him about it." He swallowed, and for the first time his voice began to shake.
"I could never understand how just talking could somehow fix everything. But then on Halloween fifteen years ago I did Sirius a horrible injustice – in one night we lost the three people who mattered more to us than anything else. And Sirius didn't have anyone to talk to about that, and he went to Azkaban for twelve years because of it. So now I'd like to make up for that as best as I can…I'd like to talk about Sirius."
"Sirius was one of the most amazing people I have ever had the honor of meeting. He rose from horrible circumstances to become kind, and loyal, and the most steadfast friend I've ever known. He was brave and funny and oftentimes too smart for his own good, and I am proud, today, to have had the honor of calling him a friend." Remus breathed in deeply, his voice growing heavier as he continued.
"I believe I can honestly say that Sirius was the only one of my friends who has ever seen me cry."
"You see, when we were in sixth year, Sirius did something unforgivable. He sent another student after me down the Whomping Willow when I was in the middle of transforming, and nearly turned us both into murderers." A low murmur ran through the hall, quickly silenced as Remus continued. "I know, now, that Sirius didn't have any idea what he was doing – what he didn't realize at the time was that, if I had killed or bitten this student, I would have been executed immediately. As it was I was summoned to trial by the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures, and even though the student escaped unharmed I was sentenced to death."
A second murmur ran through the crowd, louder this time and continuing even after Remus began to talk again. James, his face suddenly deathly white, looked as though he'd received an electrical shock – he stared wide-eyed up at Remus, as though he couldn't believe what he was saying. "I very carefully kept this fact hidden from my friends, determined that, if I was indeed going to die in two weeks, I make as good use of that time as I could. I let my studies slip – every night there was some new adventure we were on, some new Hogsmeade shop to sneak into or another midnight swim to be had in the lake. Judging by the look on James' face, I assume my friends chalked up this sudden zeal for life as relief at being let off…all but Sirius."
Remus paused for a moment, his grip on his wine goblet suddenly growing very tight. "More than anyone else I've ever known, Sirius lived by his feelings…and when I refused to so much as look at him, even after supposedly being cleared, he realized something was wrong. And so on the night before my case was to be appealed and, if still found guilty, I was to be executed, he cornered me by the side of the lake and demanded that I tell him what was wrong. When ignoring him didn't work, and telling him to bugger off didn't work, I got rather mad." Remus laughed weakly, his gaze dropping down to the goblet of burgundy wine in his hand. "And we began to fight."
"As many of you may remember, one of Sirius' many claims to fame while at Hogwarts was his…fighting prowess, I suppose you might say. Up until that night, and ever since then, he had never lost a fist fight. But he'd never fought against a werewolf, of course…and within minutes I was venting all of my fear and my anger on him, until finally I was so exhausted that I tripped and fell into the lake." He smiled, lost in the memory. "And he jumped in after me, of course. And caught me in a stranglehold and demanded to know what was wrong with me. And for some silly, stupid reason, I told him."
"And I cried. And I could finally forgive Sirius, even though it wasn't until much later that he could forgive himself. And we sat at the side of the lake, and just talked. We talked until the sun came up about absolutely nothing at all." Remus broke off, his shoulders shaking as he ducked his head.
"A-and I never really thanked Sirius for that." he said at last, straightening and wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. "And I never asked him to keep everything I told him secret, but somehow he knew to do that anyway. And so I hope that maybe he knew how much he meant to me – to all of us – even if I never told him. Because he was my friend, and my brother, and nothing will ever change that. And everything that Sirius did, he did for someone else – he was selfless, and brave, and he died trying to make the world a better place."
Remus was vaguely aware that James had half-risen to his feet, and he turned slightly to put a hand on James' shoulder, though whether to comfort him or to push him back down he didn't know. "They say with time the pain fades away, and I know they're right." he continued – his voice sounded as though it were barely above a hoarse whisper, but it echoed faintly in the silent hall. "The pain fades away until it's nothing but a dull ache, and easily ignored. But even if the pain and the heartache and the despair all goes away, the one thing that I swear I will never allow to recede is Sirius' memory. Sirius saved my life more than he'll ever know…he taught me that it's what we do, not who we are, that defines us. He was my friend when I had convinced myself that I had no right to friendship, he was my brother in the face of death – but, more than anything else…" Remus' voice finally broke. "More than anything else," he repeated, his voice cracking as silvery-white tears slipped silently down his cheeks, "Sirius was a good man."
A dark figure watched from the shadows, hidden by Dark Magic, designed to prevent even a magical eye from seeing them. A hood covered his features, and his red eyes shone with hate and satisfaction as they sought the face of James Potter. His enemy's eyes glistened with tears, and a cruel smile spread across the Death Eater's face.
He was loving the fact that Potter was near to crying. His speech would be a good one, and he looked forward to hearing it.
Oh, yes, he would have fun when he killed Potter. After all, Potter deserved it, especially after their years at Hogwarts. Potter had made his life hell, especially bewitching the girl he loved to fall in love with Potter. His life had been miserable, and he waited, for the moment, when Potter could be his, but it would not be yet.
His happiness heightened as James took the podium, and Remus Lupin walked out of the hall, tears nearly streaming onto his cheeks.
James sniffed, standing up onto the podium. He leaned on the table, hanging his head, as his mind raced, trying to get what he felt into words. What he had prepared did not seem right.
Instead he spoke from the heart.
"Sirius Black was my best friend…my brother…the one person who I could rely on. I loved him like a brother should. He was part of my family." He swallowed. "I would never have expected to become friends with a Black, but Sirius showed me that he was different from everyone else. He was unique, a black-sheep, his family nicknamed him, yet that did not stop him from living his life. Sirius was full of energy and ideas, many of which earned him and me detention in McGonagall's Office. Nothing could get him down…." He hesitated as if he was remembering.
"Although if I recall, Sirius did get low whenever his girlfriends split up with him." James cocked his head. "He never could understand why they dumped him. I watched him grow from an immature eleven year old to a strong Wizard, capable of surviving anything. He proved that to me when he was an Auror. I will never forget the day he acted like a child when he heard he had qualified to enter training…..it was a day I…nor he will ever forget.
"Sirius continued to be there for me when I married Lily, and when Harry was born. He loved my son so much, that he would die for him. Whenever he could he was always playing with Harry, transforming into Padfoot, allowing Harry to ride him…." James shook his head, a slight smile coming to his lips, tears were beginning to fall. "Pafoo was Harry's first word. Sirius was so chuffed. I will never forget his grinning face. Sirius was always there for my family. He did everything he could to protect us, and I am grateful for that."
He swallowed, struggling to continue. "He was my best friend…we were inseparable, I will miss him. Nothing will stop me from remembering him. Loyal. Kind. Brave. Funny. Entertaining. Loving. And…a truly wonderful person. No other words can begin to describe him."
James raised a glass of wine. "I am grateful for Sirius Black. He protected my family. No matter what has happened since, I will never forget him. Sirius will always be my best friend…my brother. Farewell. May you rest in peace."
His speech ended, James finally let the tears flow, attempting to drink the wine, but everything was too much for him to handle, and James Potter ran from the hall, the tears dripping from his face as he fled.
The dark figure grinned, a cruel smile pulling across his face. His happiness had soured when Potter had ran from the room. He had expected that. His mission complete, the Death Eater fled the premises and left to inform his master.
James had apparated back to his bedroom, and he now sat in the corner, legs up to his chest, his eyes glistening with tears.
Sirius shouldn't be dead!
It's not right!
He should be here!
Thoughts continued to whirl round James' head, but nothing could truly convince him that his brother was gone.
I will always remember him, no matter what.
And so he did, his mind flittering back to when he was eleven years old, when he had first met his brother….
He sat in a compartment on the Hogwart's Express, his excitement mounting. He couldn't wait to get to Hogwarts! As the minutes passed and more students joined the train, James became more and more syked. A young boy with brownish hair asked if he could join him, and James nodded. They exchanged names (the other boy being Remus Lupin) and then they fell silent, too shy to speak.
Finally the train began to move, and James sat back to enjoy the ride, his hazel eyes skimming over the countryside as they left the confines of London. Nearly an hour into the journey there was a knock on the door. It opened and a boy with dark hair, that fell to just below his shoulders, and a startling black, brown eyes, entered.
"Can I sit here?"
James did not answer, for he knew who this boy was. He had seen him at Diagon Alley. His father had told him this was the heir to the Black fortune and that Potters and Blacks did not get along. The fact that this……boy would even consider asking to sit with people his family despised made James dislike the boy. He made his mind not to answer, and turned back to the window.
If he let him stay, he had a feeling that the boy would insult him.
Remus did not say anything either, keeping his nose buried in a book.
The boy shook his head and then left the compartment, muttering under his breath, which James caught the words of. "Typical prejudice. All because I'm a Black. When will people learn I'm not LIKE them! I'd better be in Gryffindor, otherwise I won't be disowned by parents."
"Why didn't you let him stay?" Remus asked.
James scowled. "Because he's a Black. And they hate blood-traitors, muggle-borns and half-bloods. Every type of person who isn't pure."
"And you didn't here what he just said?" Remus raised his eye brows.
James stiffled a laugh. "Come on! You can't be believing that crap?"
"He could be sincere." Pointed out the other boy.
James made a face. "Believe me. He's just like the rest of them. He was joking about what he said. No Black will ever be in Gryffindor."
"Hm." Remus sounded doubtful but he shrugged and turned back to his book.
James grinned, inwardly. I think I might just have fun this year, especially with that Black kid!
He sat back, thinking of all the things he could do, to make the Slytherin's lives hell.
James came out of the memory, but almost instantly another one surfaced, consuming him.
They sat in the library, while they wrote their essays for Professor Slughorn. "Where are you going?" James whispered as Sirius got up. His friend only grinned. James shrugged and went back to his essay.
Sirius came back within ten minutes carrying a large, leather bound book. "Come on," he whispered and they collected their stuff together and left.
They went to the common room and then up to the dormitory. "What's this all about?" James demanded.
"You remember how Remus said there was nothing we could do to help him?"
"Yeah."
Sirius' eyes glistened with anticipation. "There is something!"
"What?" he felt wary of the glint in Sirius' eyes.
"Animagi." Sirius stated.
"Eh?"
"Animagi. Werewolves are not a danger to them." Sirius explained. "Humans are a danger to werewolves, but if we were Animagi we could join Remus on the full moon!"
James laughed. "You have to be joking! We're twelve years old! We don't have the ability to do that!"
Sirius, it seemed, was serious. "for your information, James, I am thirteen, not twelve. And I think becoming Animagi is a great idea! We are the most talented students in second year! Come on, James, if we work hard we can do this!"
James frowned. "It sounds like an idea…but Remus wouldn't let us. And what about Peter, we can't leave him out."
Sirius waved a hand, dismissing the questions. "Peter can attempt it to. We can help him. Come on, James, if it doesn't work, we can stop it. It's a challenge we can't pass up!"
Swallowing, James considered it. Finally, he decided, he couldn't pass the opportunity. If they succeeded so many options would be open to them. Imagine the possibilities….
Playing tricks and jokes would be more fun….
They could support Remus….
And being an Animagus could aid you in everyday work.
The idea seemed to grow on him, and he said: "We may as well try it. If we fail, at least we know we tried. I just don't think Remus will let us."
"He can't stop us." Sirius grinned.
The memory faded, and the image of the room came into existence. James sighed.
Memories….
They would haunt him for a long while. But he could get through it….if Sirius could get over his death, he could certainly get over this.
He rested his head back against the wall, closed his eyes, and finally fell asleep.
The following day, James made his way to Hogwarts, where Albus Dumbledore had placed a plaque under their favourite tree.
The tree where James had tormented Snape in fifth year.
The plaque had been magically sealed to the bark, so no one could remove it. He stood in front of it, his eyes roaming over the words that were embedded on it. Written in gold letters were the words:
SIRIUS BLACK
BORN: 9th February 1960
DEATH: 14th November 1996
A Loving Brother and Friend.
A Brilliant Godfather and Student.
Forever Remembered.
Rest in Peace,
Padfoot
And as James stood there, it dawned on him, that he could acceot Sirius's death. This was his memorial. And it would always be here. James brushed a hand over the name, closing his eyes.
Goodbye, Sirius. I will miss you.
With a heavy heart, James parted from the Hogwarts grounds, leaving to journey onward.
Sirius was gone, but his life would always be remembered by those who loved him.
TBC
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MissBlackPotter