The months passed, and Sirius started to get closer to James and Remus. Even calling them by their first names. Sirius started to trust them, though they still didn't know everything about Sirius's home life. And that was how Sirius wanted it.
The Week Before Easter
Sirius and Remus were sitting in the Common Room together, and Sirius couldn't help but shake at the thought of the Easter Holidays.
"Sirius?" Remus asked.
"I'll be okay." Sirius said gently.
"It's okay to be afraid." Remus said softly.
"I know. I'm expecting the curses though. Hopefully dad doesn't join in on the Cruciatus Curses again." Sirius said.
"Did they Crucio you regularly before you came to Hogwarts?" Remus asked.
"Yeah. They did it to Reg occasionally but most of the time I did something and even if I didn't I would purposefully do something so they'd turn their attention to me. Like if they're torturing him I'll simply do something like spill a glass of water so they'd focus on me. That gives me time to tell Reg to go upstairs before they use the curse because they'd make me clean it up first. I try my best to keep Reg safe, even if I get the brunt of it instead. I really don't care." Sirius said, shrugging his shoulders.
"You shouldn't have to deal with that, Sirius." Remus said.
"I'll be fine. I'm used to it. I'm more worried about Reg. The more I'm not there the more they take their anger at me out on him. I have to go back." Sirius said.
"We can't stay in contact while you're gone. Not without your parents noticing." Remus said.
"Yeah, we can. Over the summer I found an abandoned Phoenix egg. I took it in. I bonded with her soon after she was hatched." Sirius said with a grin.
"You'll be careful?" Remus asked.
"I can't be careful, Remus. If I avoid my parents it'll be Reg. I have to take the curses. I've done it before. I'll be fine, but I might be in rough shape the next time you see me." Sirius responded.
"Okay. Just.. Live. Please." Remus aid in response.
"I will." Sirius answered.
James entered the Common Room.
"You'll be okay, right?" James asked.
"I'll be fine, Jamie. Let's do a prank before I leave." Sirius said.
"Hmm.." Remus hummed.
"Maybe.. Chocolate. Flood Mcgonagall's office with Chocolate." Remus suggested.
"Too related to Valentine's Day. You know.. She is a cat." James said.
"So what, we transfigure a bunch of things into cats and flood her office?" Sirius asked.
"Yep." James said, proudly. Even Remus was on the verge of laughing.
"Only to distract Sirius. That's the only reason I'm agreeing to this." Remus said firmly.
"Deal." Sirius said, Laughing.
They gathered all the books they could find, that they weren't going to use, and took them to Mcgonagall's office. They transfigured the books into cats and got the head out.
One Hour Later
Mcgonagall entered her office to find cats pouring out of her door. She used Reparifarge to detransfigure the books. She laughed at the cleverness of the Marauders's prank. She then went to the Common Room. She found James, Sirius and Remus laughing and pulled them aside.
"Clever. I should be taking points, but I could barely tell that those cats were Transfigured. Barely. And you're first years. You're very talented." Mcgonagall said.
"I'm sorry, Professor. I should have stopped them." Remus said.
"Oh, don't be. I laughed. I thought it was genius. I think you did great on that prank. 10 points to Gryffindor. Each. Just.. Don't do it again. And don't tell anyone how you gained the points." Mcgonagall said before walking away.
"That was wierd." James commented.
"True. At least we didn't lose any points or get a detention." Sirius said.
"Feeling any better?" Remus asked.
"Bit." Sirius said.
The week passed by quickly, and soon Sirius was on the train. James sat with him, but Sirius told Remus he shouldn't due to his parent's Blood Purity Mania.
Hogwarts Express, Easter
"You'll be okay?" James asked Sirius.
"I'll be alright. Just.. I probably won't be in good shape when I get back. I'm expecting daily beatings, at least." Sirius said. He was shaking with fear. James and Sirius didn't talk much on the train after that.
Sirius went home with his family, and they left Sirius alone until Dinner. They started with Regulus. Cruciatus Curse. They made Sirius watch using Imperio.
"I'm sorry. Imperio, I can barely mouth to you." Sirius mouthed to Regulus. Regulus saw. Regulus nodded. Their parents let up after several minutes, on both Sirius and Regulus. Sirius nocked over a glass of Butterbeer when he was released from the Imperious Curse. His mother's Butterbeer.
"Why did you do that, Siri?" Regulus asked.
"To buy you time. Get upstairs and wait for me. Don't come out. No matter how loud I am. No matter how long I scream for. Don't. Come. Out. Go, now." Sirius responded in little more than a whisper. Regulus nodded and went upstairs. Sirius closed his eyes and bit his bottom lip so he wouldn't scream when hit with his mother's Crucio.
"CRUCIO!" Sirius's mother screamed, pointing her wand at Sirius. Sirius bit his lip as hard as he could to stop himself from screaming in pain. He moaned a little, but refused to let his parents see how much it hurt. But.. They weren't satisfied. Sirius's dad joined in.
"CRUCIO!" Sirius's dad screamed. Sirius fought it as long as he could before he screamed.. Hid dad kept his wand on Sirius even while beating him. When his parents were done he went upstairs and joined Regulus in his room. Regulus was waiting under Sirius's bed. Sirius joined Regulus.
"You okay?" Regulus asked.
"I'll be fine." Sirius responded.
"They beat you." Regulus said.
"As usual. I'm used to it." Sirius said.
"Did dad join in the Cruciatus Curses again?" Regulus asked.
"Yeah. Because I refused to scream. I groaned a little, but I bit my lip to stop myself from screaming. They wanted to hear me scream though. So dad joined in, and he's strong enough when combined with mum to make me scream no matter how hard I bite my lip." Sirius responded.
"Why did you do that for me, Siri?" Regulus asked.
"Because, Reg, you're my little brother. It's my job to protect you, even if I'm mad at you or we have a falling out." Sirius responded. Regulus nodded.
The Next Day
Sirius and Regulus went downstairs together. Their parents were right behind them, as Sirius and Regulus were always careful to wake up on time. They sat down and ate Breakfast in silence. Sirius's mother started with Regulus. Again.
"Hey! Not him! Do.. Do it to me. Me. Not Regulus. Me." Sirius begged.
"Gladly." Sirius's mother responded, pointing her wand at Sirius.
"CRUCIO! CRUCIO, CRUCIO, CRUCIO!" Sirius's mother screamed. Again, Sirius bit his lip to stop himself from screaming. He moaned softly, but didn't scream. So, again, his father joined.
"CRUCIO! CRUCIO, CRUCIO, CRUCIO! CRUCIO, CRUCIO, CRUCIO, CRUCIO, CRUCIO, CRUCIO, CRUCIO!!!" Sirius's dad screamed. Sirius screamed nonstop for at least 10 minutes, but he focused on James and Remus and kept his mind. When they let up, Regulus rushed to Sirius's side.
"I'm okay, Reg. I'll be fine." Sirius said weakly. Regulus nodded. The week passed and Sirius was finally able to return to Hogwarts. Remus was the first to see him.
Hogwarts, Hospital Wing
Remus entered the Hospital Wing frantically searching. He saw a bed. One with the curtains closed. Sirius only closed the curtains when it was bad. Really bad. He had told the others that he would only close the curtains if he was in really bad shape. He walked toward the bed. Madam Pomfrey stopped him.
"Mr. Lupin. Surely you know why Sirius's curtains are closed?" Madam Pomfrey asked.
"It's alright, Madam Pomfrey. Let him in. It's mostly for the General Public, but I am in bad enough shape to almost not want to see Remus. But still, let him in. Same for James and Peter if they come." Sirius said. Madam Pomfrey sighed but let Remus enter the curtains around Sirius's bed. What he saw shocked him.
"Oh, Sirius." Remus said somberly.
"I'll.. Ow.. Be okay." Sirius said. Sirius sat up a bit. It hurt, but Sirius didn't care. He had no new cuts from Self-Harming though.
"How bad?" Remus asked.
"Bad. I'd.. Rather not talk about it quite yet." Sirius said. He felt so tired.
"Of course. I'm here when your ready." Remus responded. Sirius heard footsteps. James. His curtain swept to the side gently for a moment as James entered the curtain around Sirius's bed.
"Hey. You're in bad shape." James said.
"I'll be okay." Sirius said weakly.
"But I am tired. Can I sleep?" Sirius asked.
"Sure, mate. Can we stay?" James asked.
"If it's okay with Madam Pomfrey and you promise to be quiet, sure." Sirius said. Madam Pomfrey let James and Remus stay. They let Sirius sleep. And Sirius slept. Because at Hogwarts, he wasn't afraid to let his guard down a little. And because be drank a Dreamless Sleep potion. But he didn't count that. When he woke up, Dumbledore was waiting for him too.
"Shit." Sirius cursed. He knew Dumbledore would find out, but so soon?
"I won't pull you out of the house. I know you're staying to protect Regulus so pulling you from the house risks his safety. And that's the last thing I want. I won't tell anyone. But I do want to know when you are hurt. Can you handle that?" Dumbledore asked.
"Yes, I can. Why do I still feel like shit?" Sirius asked.
"Because I needed you awake to heal you. Ready?" Madam Pomfrey asked. Sirius nodded, and let Madam Pomfrey heal him. He then felt pretty okay. Still, several of his injuries wouldn't heal. They had to heal on their own, which would take at least a couple months. The pain was considerably less, though.
"Better. When can I get out of here?" Sirius asked.
"Now, if you'd like." Madam Pomfrey said. Sirius nodded, and left the Hospital Wing with his friends.