A/N: I don't own the rights to any of these characters, settings or anything to do with Wizarding World. This is a work of fiction based on
the universe created by J.K Rowling.

CHAPTER TEN – SIRIUS

September 1977

Laughter carried along the corridor as students bustled past one another. Sirius wrapped his arms around Remus' shoulders and planted a firm kiss on his forehead. Remus looked up at him and beamed. They had been back at Hogwarts for nearly three weeks, things felt like home again. Peter hurried along beside them, stuffing books and parchment into his satchel.

"Honestly Wormtail, are you ever going to get organised?" Sirius asked.

"Huh?" Peter replied, a piece of parchment between his teeth.

Sirius laughed. "Never mind."

"Where did James run off to at lunch?" Remus asked and looked around, "He better not be late!"

"Head Boy be late for class?" Sirius said, "How scandalous!"

Peter chuckled, "Perhaps he had some Head Boy business to attend to?"

"He's such a well-behaved boy these days." Remus said.

"Such an inspiration. A true leader!" Sirius said, chuckling.

"Who would've thought... James, Head Boy!" Peter said and shook his head in disbelief.

"Hey, maybe it was what he needed? He does seem calmer?" Remus said, "I don't know if that's the right word... He's just different."

They turned the corner towards the Charms classroom and Sirius smiled to himself. James was laughing with Lily, who was leaning against the wall beside him. James smiled at Lily and tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear. Sirius suddenly understood it all.

"I don't think it's being Head Boy that's stirred a change in Prongs..." Sirius said and nodded at Lily and James.

"Our boy is in love." Peter said and smiled.

"They grow up so quickly!" Remus said and rested his hand over his heart dramatically.

Sirius chuckled and carried on towards the classroom. Lily smiled at the boys and stepped forward from the wall.

"Hi boys." Lily said, "Still up for some friendly drinks this weekend?"

"The day I turn down friendly drinks I want you to hold an intervention." Sirius said.

Lily laughed, "Don't they usually hold those to stop you drinking?"

"Sirius doesn't believe in following the norm." Peter said.

"I've noticed!" Lily said and Sirius wriggled his eyebrows at her.

James chuckled and they walked into the classroom, "We'll be there."

"Perfect." Lily replied and gave James a warm smile before sitting down next to Alice.

Remus and Peter took their usual places and Sirius and James sat down behind them. James lent back in his chair and slung his arm over Sirius' shoulders and gazed out the window. Sirius smiled to himself and pulled out his quill and parchment. He'd been watching James and Lily grow closer all year, when Lily came to visit over the summer he assumed it was finally going to happen. But James remained adamant that they were just friends and finding their feet with one another. Sirius thought he was a bloody idiot.

James began playing with Sirius' hair while he gazed out the window, he had a habit of doing that. Sirius didn't mind, it was just how they've always been with one another. Sirius looked up to see Remus watching them, his eyebrows raised. Sirius chuckled and shook his head before blowing Remus a kiss. He'd had this conversation with Remus before when jealousy reared its ugly head. James and Sirius were nothing like that, they were just platonically in love with one another. James would sometimes grab Sirius's hand or James would give Sirius a piggy back, sometimes they would sit all over one another in an armchair in the Common Room. There was a certain level of comfort and trust between the two of them. It's probably how they would always be. Sirius chuckled to himself at the thought of an elderly James and turned to face him.

"You know, I don't think you'd go bald when you're an old man."

"Excuse me?"

"When you're Senior Prongs... I reckon you'll still have this head of crazy hair, it'll just be grey!"

"Sometimes I wonder what it would be like in your head, Padfoot..."

"It's a wild ride I'll tell you that much."

Before James could respond Professor Flitwick entered the classroom and the room quietened down. A piece of chalk began writing notes on the board, Sirius dipped his quill in the ink and began to copy them down.

"Good afternoon boys and girls, today we'll be continuing with our work on bubble head charms." Professor Flitwick said. "I trust you have all read the chapter on this?"

Sirius nodded along with the other students around him when the door creaked open. Professor McGonagall stepped in and cleared her throat.

"I'm sorry to interrupt Professor Flitwick, I just need Miss Evans."

"Not a worry, Miss Evans hurry along now."

Lily, looking puzzled, rose and followed Professor McGonagall out of the classroom. James shifted in his seat and rested his quill in his ink bottle. Sirius cast his eyes sideways and frowned at James. Remus turned in his chair.

"What's that all about?"

"I have no idea." James replied, his eyes still on the door.

"I have some extra notes I would like you to take before we begin attempting the spell. If you could pl-"

A loud scream from the corridor silenced Professor Flitwick who toppled down from his desk in shock. James was on his feet immediately and ran out of the classroom. No one tried to stop him. Sirius felt his stomach drop as he ran after James; Remus and Peter close behind him. Sirius came to a stop behind James and felt Remus's shaking hand slip into his. He squeezed Remus' hand and pulled him closer.

"I'm so sorry Lily, we were just told." Professor McGonagall said, "Your parents were found by the local Muggle Police. Your sister is away at school, we can try to contact her for you if you like?"

Lily was shaking her head and sobbing as Professor McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey attempted to calm her down. Alice and Marlene burst out the door and Sirius held his hand up to stop them going any further. James moved closer to Lily, wary of startling her.

"Evans?" James whispered.

Lily spun around and flung herself at James and the two of them sank to the ground. Lily continued to sob and gripped on to the front of James' robes as he held her close to him. Professor McGonagall edged towards them.

"Lily my dear." She whispered, "We have a potion for you, if you want it? It will help you sleep."

Lily continued to cry and James lifted his hand up to Madam Pomfrey. Professor McGonagall nodded at Madam Pomfrey who handed James the small vial of blue liquid. James gripped the vial in his hand and gently rocked Lily.

"Evans... Evans drink this. I promise you it will bring you some relief." James whispered.

Lily lifted her head and stared at James, "Promise you'll stay with me?"

"I'm not going anywhere." James said and lifted the vial to her lips.

Lily drank the liquid and loosened her grip on James' robes, "Don't leave me."

James cradled Lily as she closed her eyes, "I've got you Evans... I've got you."

Sirius looked down at Remus who was silently crying. They stood there in stunned silence watching James gently rock Lily back and forth until she was sleeping. Sirius let go of Remus' hand and moved forward to James, he crouched down and rested his hand on James' shoulder.

"Need a hand?"

"I've got her. I'll take her up to the dormitory. Can someone bring her things after class?"

"I will." Alice said and wiped away her own tears. "I'll bring them for her."

James rose to his feet, carefully lifting Lily into his arms. Professor McGonagall shook her head sadly and gestured for James to go.

"When she wakes please let her know she can come see me, we will contact her sister and help them with any arrangements."

"Thank you." James replied and slowly walked down the corridor and out of sight.

Alice flung her arms around Marlene and the two girls cried together. Peter and Remus wiped away their tears and looked up at Sirius. He wanted to cry. He wanted to fall to the ground and sob for Lily but all he felt was anger, a rage that was racing around his body and causing him to tremble. This war. The violence. It was creeping in everywhere now, he had no idea how they were going to stop it. And his family chose this, all of them. They endorsed and applauded this movement and made sure everyone knew they were pure. Sirius felt sick.

"Sirius?"

Sirius looked up and met Remus's eyes. Remus moved forward and pulled Sirius into his arms.

"I'm fine." Sirius said and pulled away, "I'm okay. We should go back to class. There's nothing we can do right now."

He strode past the others and took his place back at his desk. He felt the eyes of all other students on him. Did they know his family supported Lord Voldemort? Did they know how miserable and ashamed they made him? Did they know that something had snapped inside him now and he wasn't sure he would ever be the same? The anger wouldn't go away.

Sirius spent the rest of the lesson focused on Professor Flitwick and the bubble head charm. By the end of the class he was one of the few students who had mastered the charm. Once the class ended Sirius followed the others back to the Common Room and up the stairs to his dormitory. No one said a word. Sirius watched the other students as they passed, their laughter now leaving a bitter taste in his mouth.

When they reached the dormitory, they found James sitting in a chair next to his bed. Lily was asleep in his bed, her hand outstretched and clasped in James' hands. James didn't move when they came in. Remus dropped his bag on his bed and walked over to James' bed.

"Has she been asleep the whole time?"

James sighed, "She's stirred a few times but she mostly seems okay."

"We can take her up to our dormitory now if you like?" Marlene said as she walked in, Alice close behind.

"No, it's okay." James said and looked up, "I promised her I'd be here."

Marlene gave him a sad smile and walked over to James' bed, she leaned over and brushed Lily's hair back before planting a soft kiss on her forehead. Remus began to cry again and gently tugged the blanket up over Lily and tucked her in.

"Are you hungry? I'll go get some food for you both. Maybe she'll want to eat when she wakes." Remus whispered.

"I'll come with you." Peter said.

"Me too." Marlene said and walked back to the door, "Alice?"

Alice nodded and the girls walked out with Peter. Remus stopped in front of Sirius and looked at him searchingly. Sirius looked away and walked over to his bed.

"Sirius?" Remus called out.

"I'm not hungry, I'll stay and keep James company."

Remus hovered at the door for a moment before silently disappearing down the stairs. Sirius sat down on his bed and watched James and Lily. James let out a long sigh and smiled at Sirius.

"Thank you for staying with me."

"You don't have to thank me Prongs."

"I know."

"I can't believe this. Prongs. It doesn't... It just doesn't..."

"It doesn't feel real."

"Exactly."

"The war has always felt like this far away thing, hasn't it?"

"It feels like it's everywhere now."

"First the death eaters over the summer, now Lily's parents... How do I help her through this Padfoot?"

Sirius gave James a sad smile, "By staying with her. She's one of the strongest people I know. It'll take some time but she'll come through this."

"When I heard her scream I wasn't in control of myself. All I knew was that something terrible was happening to her and I needed to be there."

"Love will do that."

James chuckled, "Love huh?"

"You're in love with her."

James gazed down at Lily and sighed, "I am, aren't I?"

"She's going to need that."

Sirius sat with James for a while. They drifted in and out of conversation before the room had become dark and the lanterns burned softly around them. Lily began to stir and Sirius got to his feet. James had fallen asleep in the chair, Lily's hand still in his. Lily slowly sat up and stared at their connected hands, a silent tear rolled down her cheek. She pulled her hand free and wiped the tears away before meeting Sirius' eyes.

"Sirius."

"Hey Lil."

"How long have I been asleep?"

"A few hours. Remus brought you some food a little while ago in case you were hungry. You both missed dinner."

"I'm not hungry."

"I didn't think so."

"Has he been here the whole time?"

"He hasn't left that chair."

Lily gazed at James, his soft snores filling the room. "He kept his promise."

Sirius wandered over to the bed and sat on the edge, "He's very good at that."

Lily began to cry again and reached out for Sirius. Sirius took her hand in his and gave it a gentle squeeze and she continued to cry. James suddenly sat upright and looked around the room, startled.

"It's alright Prongs. She's awake."

"Evans."

Lily tugger her hand free from Sirius and James moved forward taking her into his arms again. Lily hugged James tightly and began to sob.

"It's not fair. It's not fair."

"I know... I know Evans."

"I just... I need more time with them."

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."

Sirius gave James' shoulder a quick squeeze and edged out the dormitory. Sirius closed the door behind him and lent against the wall. The anger continued to burn across his body and his breath came in sudden rasps. Lily was right, it wasn't fair. None of this was fair. Sirius felt his chest tighten and suddenly all he could see was his brother's face. Sirius took off down the stairs and shoved past students in the Common Room towards the portrait door. He shoved past Marlene as he reached the portrait door and took off down the corridor hearing her yell out his name.

Sirius ran down the corridor and up the next set of stairs. The castle was quiet and dark. Sirius could hear the blood pumping in his body and his feet pounded along the stone floor. Regulus had to be here somewhere. He hadn't seen his brother since coming back to Hogwarts, the coward was probably keeping his distance from Sirius after their last encounter. But Sirius needed to see him now. He needed to know why Regulus had chosen this life. He needed to know how he let his little brother down.

Sirius ran through the castle, up and down stairs and along corridors until he burst into an empty classroom. His chest was burning and his body was shaking. He paced the classroom and kicked chairs out of his way. The door shut and someone conjured several lanterns to hang around the room. Sirius whirled around to find Remus standing by the door, sadness painted across his face.

"How did you find me?" Sirius grunted, continuing to pace the room.

"The map." Remus whispered and placed it carefully on the desk in front of him.

"Fucking map." Sirius spat and kicked another chair.

"Sirius..." Remus said, "What are you doing?"

"I need to see him." Sirius hissed and balled his hands up to the side of his head.

"Who?" Remus asked and slowly moved closer to Sirius.

"My brother." Sirius groaned and tugged at his hair, "I need to know why."

"Why what?" Remus asked, "Does this have anything to do with Lily's parents?"

Sirius groaned and turned around to face Remus, "Why would he want to be a part of that? I need to... I need to see him and try to talk him down, get him on our side. He can't be one of them. Not one of those bastards. Look at Lily, she's a wreck Remus. Her parents are dead and it's all their fault."

Remus moved closer to Sirius and began to cry. "Sirius I... I need to tell you something."

"What? What is it? Have you finally seen Regulus?"

"No. I haven't seen him. I haven't seen him because he doesn't go to school anymore."

"What do you mean?"

"You kept looking out for him, I saw you. Every time we were in the Great Hall, or the grounds, or at the map. You've been looking for him ever since we came back, but he's not here."

"Where is he?"

Remus looked away and his hand began to shake. Sirius narrowed his eyes and grabbed Remus's hand to hold it still. Remus looked up at Sirius and shook his head.

"He left school Sirius. He's joined them."

Sirius let go of Remus's hand and turned away. The anger filled his chest again and he began to let out a loud groan and began throwing chairs around the room. Remus deflected a chair and rushed at Sirius. Sirius shoved him away and started pulling at a nearby desk trying to tear it apart.

"Sirius, stop it!"

Sirius whirled around and kicked the desk away, "I LET HIM DOWN."

"No, no you didn't. This isn't your fault."

"HE'S MY LITTLE BROTHER! I'M SUPPOSED TO PROTECT HIM FROM THIS SHIT!"

"Sirius-"

"I LET HIM DOWN. I LET THOSE BASTARDS GET IN HIS HEAD AND CORRUPT HIM WITH THEIR PUREBLOOD BULLSHIT!"

"Sirius. Sirius please." Remus cried and reached out for him.

Sirius dropped to the floor and began to sob. Remus sank down next to him and pulled him into his arms. Sirius felt all the anger he had escape him as he sobbed and held on to Remus.

"I let him down, Rem."

"Look at me." Remus said and took Sirius' face in his hands, "No you didn't. You gave him chance after chance and tried to get him out of there. Regulus made his choice a long time ago. None of this is your fault, do you hear me? It is not your fault."

"I want so badly to make things right for Lily."

"I know, I know. Me too. But we can't change this. But we can stick together and we can fight back. They can't win."

"They can't win." Sirius leaned forward and kissed Remus, "I don't ever want to lose you."

"You won't." Remus said and kissed Sirius back, "You won't ever lose me."

Remus shifted so Sirius could lie down, his head in Remus' lap. Sirius cried until he didn't have anything left in him and Remus held him, gently running his fingers through Sirius' hair. Sirius found himself fighting to stay awake until Remus began humming to him, still running his fingers through Sirius's hair. There were a lot of things Sirius wished he could change, a lot of things he longed for and none more than for the war to end. But in the middle of all the violence he had found a safe place to land and if he had that Sirius knew everything would work out okay in the end.