-1Disclaimer: I own none of this. I'm just borrowing them to play with.
Chapter
Ten:
The Woes of Sirius Black
"Wait up!"
James and I turned at the squeaky hail to see Peter running along behind us. We both grinned as he skidded up to us and doubled over, resting his hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath.
"Sirius…..is…..my……friend…..too.." he panted.
We smiled at him and James clapped his hand on Peters back. "Come on then Wormtail."
The three of us continued to the transfiguration department in silence, before leaning against the rough stone wall outside McGonagalls classroom. Our Professor arrived five minutes later. She seemed unsurprised by our presence, acknowledging us by raising one carefully sculpted eyebrow before inviting us to join her in the classroom. We trooped in after her and waited patiently while she closed the door behind us.
"I assume you're here about Mr Black," McGonagall said shortly as she studied each of us in turn.
"Andromeda sent me an owl this morning," James explained as Peter and I nodded.
The stern woman nodded in return. "I thought she would. Professor Dumbledore suggested that she should. I expect you'd like to know how you can help."
Once again we nodded in unison.
"Very well, be in professor Dumbledores outer office by four O'clock, and try to bring Mr Lupin with you." She sighed heavily and her stern business-like demeanour visually softened. "I don't hold out much hope Remus will come, but try your best."
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And try we did, but Remus flatly refused to join us. "I will not buoy up Blacks ego!" he snapped after two straight hours of subtle, and not so subtle persuasion. We'd had a free afternoon and had gone to the library, under the pretence of studying, to try and encourage Remus to join us. "That is all this is for, the stupid attention seeking prat!" He slammed his hand down on the table in an unusual fit of aggression, causing James, Peter and I to exchange worried glances.
"Look Moony, we didn't mean that what happened is forgot…"James started but was cut off.
"Don't James," he said running a hand through his sandy hair. "Just don't.
"I'm going to the Dorm," he explained, picking up his bag and rising from the table. "I'll see you guys later."
James eyes locked with mine across the table. I could see his fear that his friends would never forgive each other. I wanted to reassure him, but the same fear lived within me. It seemed, from the Werewolves position at least, too many lines had been crossed.
As he passed behind James, Remus placed a hand on his friends shoulder. The raven-haired boy looked up at Remus' saddened features. "Don't let him throw away his education Prongs."
"I won't Moony, Marauders honour." Remus gave him a small weighted smile, and left.
"Do you think they'll ever be friends again?" Peter asked wistfully while watching Remus' retreating form.
"Of course," James said confidently as the Potter-mask slid securely into place. This time, however, I understood the reason for it, my conversation with Peter still fresh in my mind.
"Remus still cares about Sirius," I reassured him, trying to emulate James' easy confidence. "Otherwise he wouldn't have asked James to make sure Sirius stays."
"Good," Peter said, a broad smile spreading across his watery features. "We'd better get going hadn't we?"
I
checked my watch to find it was nearly a quarter to four. "You're
right, come on."
I started frantically gathering my books
together. The boys did the same thing. Peter was ready first and sped
out of the library door. I went to follow but felt a hand on my arm
stilling me. Turning, I found myself looking into James' worried
face. He was so unguarded it scared me slightly. With his cocky aura
completely gone he looked younger than I'd ever seen him.
"Lily," he whispered, his voice shaking slightly. "tell me it's going to be okay."
"It'll be okay." I assured him, desperately hoping I'd managed to sound more sure than I felt.
On impulse I gave him a quick hug, hoping this would reassure him more than my words could. His naturally spicy scent calmed me, and I prayed I would have the same effect on him.
As I pulled away I noticed he looked more composed. "Thanks Evans."
"You're welcome," I responded, a small smile tugging at my lips. I grabbed his arm and started pulling him towards the doors. "Now, come on."
We raced through Hogwarts hallowed halls, overtaking Peter and dragging him along in our wake. So, five minutes later, we were faced with the stern stone griffin the guarded the entrance to Dumbledores haven. I repeated the password ("Aniseed Balls"), and we ascended the cold stone staircase to the outer office.
All three of us became silent and pensive as the murmur of voices grew louder and louder. As we alighted the stairs they became recognisable. We stood stock still, and listened. "……..must understand Mr Black, this will affect the rest of your life. It will limit the jobs you'll be able to apply for, how you are viewed in Wizarding society…. OWLs can only take you so far," McGonagall was patiently explaining. "You are one of the most talented young wizards in this school. Please don't scupper your potential on a whim."
"With all due respect Professor, this is not a whim," Sirius' deep tones replied with audible tiredness.
"Please Sirius," a female voice begged. "You're not making any sense. This is you're education!"
"I know that Andromeda."
"Then explain this to me please Sirius," his cousin pleaded. "Because I don't understand.
"Do you want your niece or nephew to think of you as their drop-out relative? Do you want to give your parents the satisfaction of you failing?"
"This has nothing to do with my parents," Sirius stated with barely controlled rage. James and I looked at each other. We both knew by his tone, it did.
A tense silence followed this statement. It's pure physicality reaching through the wall and causing each of us t shift uncomfortably.
"Well," Dumbledore said in a falsely cheery tone. "Why don't we take a break?
"Andromeda dear, I know Professor Flitwick is looking forward to seeing you. Why don't we take this opportunity to pay him a visit? Minerva, would you like to join us?"
I assume McGonagall nodded then for the next words we heard her say were, "Stay here and think, Mr Black."
The door of the office opened and out head of house swept out. She took in our little trio and raised her eyebrows in a silent query. I shook my head to indicate Remus wouldn't be joining us. She nodded in curt reply.
At the same time Dumbledore exited his office at the same time as a heavily pregnant woman I could only assume was Andromeda. She was tall with an aristocratic air, long, mid-night black hair and heavily lidded eyes. She looked remarkably like her sister Bellatrix but, like Sirius and Regulus, the difference showed in her eyes. Andromeda's danced. They constantly had that glow that saw everything in a positive light.
"Well we're considering Nimue or Nymphadora for a girl and Balthazar or Laertes for a boy," she was telling the Headmaster in a warm enthusiastic voice. Sirius' favourite cousin she may be, but I suddenly felt a rush of sympathy for her unborn child. Thank all that's holy my parents called me Lily.
Dumbledore
nodded benignly at her, while indicating we should go into his
office.
As the three adults disappeared down the stairs we three
students shared a nervous looks.
"You first," James whispered to me. "He's speaking to you." I nodded, squared my shoulders and walked into the office.
Sirius was sprawled in a chair, legs spread ungainly in front of him, his head lowered to stare at his lap.
"Sirius," I said softly so not to startle him.
He looked up slowly, the movement seeming to take far more effort than it should. As his eyes met mine I suppressed a gasp. He was as pale as moonlight, and this was accentuated by the gauntness of his face and the almost black circles that surrounded his lifeless eyes. His hair, normally thick and shiny, hung limply around his face in greasy stands. I couldn't believe how much a week could change someone. James and Peter moved in behind me. I heard two sharp intakes of breath as they took in their friends appearance.
"Oh Sirius," I said, overcoming my shock.
Quickly I crossed the room, dropped to my knees in front of him, and enveloped him in a bear hug. For a moment he didn't respond, but slowly tentative arms wrapped themselves around me. We stayed in that embrace for a long while, and I tried to force positive thoughts into my fragile friend.
"Oh Sirius," I repeated as the hug ended and I held him at arms length. "Didn't Andromeda feed you at all?"
He snorted in response.
"Sweet Merlin Sirius!" exclaimed James, finding his voice. "No wonder you buried the mirror in you trunk."
"Cheers Prongs," Sirius muttered.
"He's got a point Padfoot, you look like hell," squeaked Peter.
"Thanks
Pete."
"You have to look after yourself Sirius," I chided
gently. "How else are we going to beat Ravenclaw next week."
"Yeah mate," James confirmed, crouching down next to me. "We can't do it without our star beater in good shape."
Sirius shrugged non-committadly. "You'll have to find a new beater James. I won't be here next week."
"Of course you will Padfoot," James softly told him. "How are we going to become Aurors together if you drop-out. We're going to be partners, remember."
I smiled and picked up where James left off. "Besides, if you don't come back we'll have real problems with all those broken hearts. What would your fan club do without you?
"Not to mention all the fun you'll miss. You've missed so much just this week."
"Yeah," said James picking up on my tact. "Bertha Jorkins was doing a magnificent impression of a bunny rabbit." He laughed as he extended his upper jaw over his lower lip to demonstrate.
"Somebody with more nerve than sense," I continued sending James a pointed look. "Turned Mrs Norris pink."
"And
Prongs was bouncing off the walls after he kissed Evans," Peter
told him.
Sirius' head snapped up as a look of amazement
covered his face. A little of his old spark crept back into his eyes
and he fixed his attention on his best friend. "You kissed her?"
he asked in an awed voice.
James nodded as his cheeks colouring as a wide grin plastered itself on his face.
"She is kneeling right here, and it was only on the forehead!" I protested, but the three boys ignored me.
"And you were in the Hospital Wing for how long afterwards?" he asked incredulously.
"He wasn't," Peter confided importantly. "He woke me and Moony up after one in the morning to tell us."
"You were with Evans, alone, until one in the morning!"
"I had detention with Filch, and you know how long he keeps you. When I got back to the tower Evans was asleep on the sofa. I just woke her," James told him.
"Only after he'd watched me sleep for Merlin knows how long," I said rolling my eyes and feeling my own cheeks begin to warm.
James was now positively beetroot, and seemed to have lost the ability to speak. Sirius looked at him, then at me, and then at James again, all the time his mouth hanging open in disbelief.
"See," I implored. "See what you've missed in five days. Imagine what you'd miss in a year and a half. Stay.."
A fearful look crossed his face and the emptied re-entered his eyes. "I can't," he whispered. "I can't face it again."
James and I shared a look as we saw our Sirius disappear back into the gaunt face. For a moment, just a moment, we'd had him back.
We knew what he meant of course. The Slytherins, and his so called family! After the events of the Easter in out fifth year Sirius had suffered mercilessly at their hands. For weeks snide comments were made both in and out of class, and Sirius couldn't go anywhere alone or they'd corner him. It had died down eventually but his mothers letter, on the back of Florence's all to public rejection, would provide the with the perfect ammunition against the so called "blood-traitor".
"You can," I soothed, pulling him into another embrace and gently stroking his hair. "And you will, because James, Peter and I will stand by you.
"You're not alone. We will help you through this."
"You know we will mate. Remember, all for one and one for all," James comforted.
Sirius sniffed loudly as he disentangled himself from my hug. "Only it's not anymore, is it? That all ended last week."
"Give him time Padfoot, he'll come round."
"He told us not to let you leave," Peter reassured him.
"I DON'T CARE! I DON'T WANT HIS FORGIVENESS. HE BETRAYED ME AND I DON'T WANT TO KNOW HIM ANYMORE," Sirius exploded.
I fell backwards in shock, and Peter let out a high pitched squeak of terror. Even James seem taken aback by this sudden outburst, but quickly schooled his expression back into one of unruffled calm.
"You're angry," said diplomat James. "And you have every right to be. As does he. You've cut each other deeply. Those wounds will take time to heal, but they will heal Padfoot."
"He cares for you so much Sirius," I continued from where James left off. "And, as much as you may not want to admit it, I know you care about him to. If you didn't you wouldn't have reacted the way you did just now."
Sirius stayed stoically silent, staring directly ahead. I shot a worried look at James, but he was studying the taller boys face. With each passing second the concern grew in those hazel eyes.
"This is one of those time Padfoot," he said in a voice of quiet calm that radiated a demand to be listened to. "When you have to remember that I would never lead you deliberately wrong, or let you fall into harm. You are just going to have to trust me when I say that everything will turn out right in the end, but you won't have a chance at that outcome if you leave.
"Will you stay?"
Sirius thought for a moment before slowly nodding his head. "Yes."
"Good," James beamed. "What would we do without Padfoot. Owner of the imagination behind all great Marauder pranks."
"McGonagall would have a quiet life," I giggled.
"Can't
let that happen mate," Peter put in. "Goes against everything you
believe in.
I was happy to see a shadow of a smile grace Sirius'
lips.
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A/N: Hello everyone. I know it's been an unforgivably long time. I've been distracted by a little bundle of joy who's burst in on my RL. My new daughters name is Aimee and she was born last September, It is entirely her fault I've not been writing for so long, but if you saw her you'd understand why. I am sorry though and I thank-you all for continuing to review and keep interest in the story.
Thanks to my reviewers: navy-blue6, Black Emerald Dawn, Elayna Fournier, Prongs, yoshimiwolfspaw, Carlie Black, marauding-seriously, Trovia, Ceinie, Mischievious Crystal, Goldilocks31890, Wah-Keetcha, Katiedid7690, soaring eagle, Katie (twice), Black Hawk, Allacaya (twice), Zeppelin Girl, Vilya0, Kes, Zeva Lobo, Krys, Limaree, AvidReader, shewearsasmile, 333 - Only Half Evil, harrypotterfan52, and lifesafemaledog. You're all fabulous, thank-you so much.
