Chapter 11: It's not our fault we're stupid

"Sirius! Even I could hear Remus' heart shatter!" James scolded Sirius on the drive home.

"Look, it's not my fault I'm stupid." Sirius tried to excuse himself from blame.

"Oh, but it is." James shook his head in disapproval.

"He probably doesn't care." Sirius stared down at his feet, wondering if all James was saying is true, and hoping with all his heart something good could happen. "There's no way someone as wonderful as he could like someone as horrible as me."

"Now now, Sirius you might be an oblivious, strange, hair-obsessed-"

"I get it, James!"

"But, you have a big heart, you're thoughtful, and look at you! What kind of nerdy author wouldn't want you?"

"He's not nerdy," Sirius looked at James and smiled. "But you're right. Thanks, James."

"That's what friends, no, brothers are for."


Sirius sat awake that night, thinking. Thoughts about leaving flooded his mind. He found himself unable to sleep. He didn't want to leave he was so happy here with Lily, James, and, well with Remus. He couldn't just leave it all behind. Though he had to, Sirius wouldn't have a job if he didn't leave. There was too much that he had to think about in too little time. The beating sound of his thoughts was broken by James entering his room.

"Sirius do you have anything planned for tomorrow?"

"Um no. What are you doing up right now?"

"Well you know I have no job, so I have no reason to sleep."

"What about the uh what's it called?"

"You mean our organization?"

"Yeah, is that still going?"

"No, all the other volunteers left."

"Oh,"

"So, I have nothing to do, and you have nothing to do so let's hang out."

"Alright, what is it you want to do?"

"Well, we could build a pillow fort and-"

"Pillow fort? No, we're building a pillow castle!" Sirius interrupted.

"And we can watch superhero movies," James suggested.

"Icecream?"

"Oh yeah, it's all coming together." James smiled into the camera.

"What are you staring at?"

"Oh um, it's nothing." He quickly turned to Sirius. "You should go get the blankets."

"Ok." Sirius ran out of the room.

James turned back to the camera. "Now that we're-"

"James, stop talking to the wall!" Sirius shouted from the hall.

"You can't make me do anything!" James yelled back.


"Do you think it's ready?" Sirius asked, staring at the fortress of pillows in front of them.

"Oh yeah." James replied, "Let's get in there."

The two crawled in the fort to reveal exactly what you'd think. It was just a normal fort, small, dim, and collapsing in the middle.

"Come on, we can do better."

"Definitely." Sirius agreed.

They climbed out and started building again. This time they used more than just four chairs, they used what was around them to their advantage. The fort became larger and more secure with the help of fitted sheets.

"This, this is ready," Sirius said beholding the sight of the large fort.

"I'll get the ice cream." James laughed.

"Hold on, I, uh need to talk to you first," Sirius called.

"Oh, ok." James walked back to the living room.

"Step into my office." Sirius gestured to the fort.

"Alright," James crawled into the fort, Sirius following him.

"I have good news and bad news. Which do you want to hear first?" Sirius asked as James settled himself.

"The good news."

"Um we can stay up all night if you want, and now for the bad news." Sirius hesitated, staring at his brother. "I have to move or I'll be fired." He said quickly.

"I know," James sadly replied. "I'm well aware it's your work that keeps you on the road."

"Trust me, I really want to stay."

"Well, what would make you stay?"

"I, I don't know, the reason I took the job was to see if I could find the place I belong."

"Sirius-"

"Maybe I just don't belong anywhere."

"Sirius, you don't belong to a place, you belong with a group of people."

"I know you, but who are the others."

"Remus, and Lily too. We all care about you Sirius, none of us would want you to leave."