Chapter 19

Seeing Red

Remus POV

Furious did not begin to explain James Potter. At the moment he was standing outside of the hospital wing yelling, yes yelling at his parents, Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall. The four adults looked sympathetically at the boy in front of them. He was obviously upset and they really couldn't blame him. His best friend was being sent to St. Mungo's, and he was being forbidden from going, even with Sirius' life in danger. He had been benched from all games for the rest of the year, though he had been allowed to keep his captain status as Dumbledore had deemed it understandable reactions.

When he saw Sirius hit the ground he barrel rolled down, clutching Eliza close to his chest. He placed her beside his unconscious friend and instead of staying to make sure Sirius was alright he pelted back into the air with extreme speed. Coming in like a bullet he pulled back his fist and punched the Slytherin captain backwards off of his own broom.

Remus had never seen James so angry. He had never seen him actually yell at an adult before, we wasn't sure James had ever yelled like that in his life.

"You are not making me stay here! He is hurt, he could die, he is like my brother, I need to go!" he yelled, pushing the tears from his eyes with his bloodied fist.

"James, you have to calm down son, you aren't doing him any good like this. You cannot go. You have a broken jaw and I am pretty certain that your hand is broken too, you are drenched to the bone in freezing rain. Sirius needs help and it will take a long time. He needs to go now, we can't wait for you to be healed to take him, as soon as he stabilizes we are going." Charles Potter said in a steady but firm voice.

"You are going to a bloody hospital, I will let them heal me there. You are not leaving me here! Mum, mum please, don't leave me here, he needs me, you have to let me go." He appealed to his crying mother.

He walked up to her and fell into her arms, shaking from anger and sobs. Madeline held him closely and spoke softly to her son.

"You are staying here love. You are upset and hurt, Sirius needs quiet and calm, none of which you are right now. Please settle down. I will take care of him just like I have always taken care of you."

He pulled away, appalled that she would deny him when he so desperately begged her for something.

"Damnit!" he screamed, spinning on his heel and running off, disappearing around the corner.

"Remus, go after him, he needs you. We will send word about Sirius. Just, calm him down before he hurts himself…Or someone else." Charles said as he turned back into the room behind him.

"I don't know where he is." He said to James' mum.

"I think I know where he would go." Lily said in a small voice, stepping beside her friend.

"Please him back here, he needs healed." Madeline said softly, letting her tears run down her cheeks before rushing back to Sirius' bedside.

"Lead the way." Remus said to Lily.

"Mr. Lupin." McGonagall said as he turned to follow James and now Lily.

"I know, professor, he should see you for detention." He muttered.

"No actually, if you could just tell him that there will be no further punishment for this incident." She said kindly.

Remus stared for a second before turning and running to catch up Lily.

oOoOoO

They had arrived at a blank space of wall on the seventh floor when Lily stopped and looked back at him, holding out her hand.

"Just think, I need to see James. Just keep thinking it, don't stop." She said pulling him along behind her as she paced back and forth.

He was confused, and astonished when a door appeared in the previously blank stretch of space. Keeping hold of his hand Lily led him into an unfamiliar room.

It appeared to be a small sitting room, complete with fire, two chairs and a chase lounger. James was currently to be found staring into the fire, tears rolling down his face.

"James…" Lily said hesitantly, as she took a few steps closer to him.

He turned quickly, his face glazed with anger and worry. He didn't appear to see Remus standing a few feet behind her at all. He rushed over to her and pulled her into his arms roughly.

"James, it's going to be alright. Really it is." She said softly into his neck.

"Make it stop." He mumbled into her hair. "Just say that we haven't played yet and that I woke up and am having a nightmare. Please tell me that he is not dying in the hospital wing. Do something make it go away." He plead.

She obviously couldn't think of a way to comfort him, she said nothing and just held him close. After a minute he pulled back and looked into her eyes. Remus knew that look, but wasn't quick enough to turn away, he grabbed her face and pulled her into a crushing kiss.

She kissed him back and attempted to pull back a bit but he lifted her into his arms and laid her back on the chase.

"James. James, stop." She said quickly as he started to kiss her neck.

He ignored her continuing to kiss her lower.

"Really, James, you have to stop.: she said firmly. He pulled back and looked at her, hurt evident in his eyes.

He stood up walked over to the bookshelf against the wall and punched it, if his bones weren't broken in his hand before, they were now.

Remus knew that now was the moment to step in. James' anger was clouding his better judgment. He walked over and put and hand on either of his arms, using his werewolf strength to hold him in place. He knew James would recognize his touch and he was right, instead of tightening up and shutting down, his muscles loosened and he leaned back against Remus' chest.

"Jamie, he isn't going to die, your mum would never let that happen. She is the most talented healer that St. Mungo's has. There is no way she is going to stand by and let one of her sons die in front of her. He will be fine." He murmured before glancing over to see that Lily was alright.

"We need to get to the hospital wing. I am positive that your hand is broken and your jaw is starting to swell and bruise. I think you made it worse with that kiss there loverboy." He joked

"I want to go to London to Sirius." James said as he turned and folded his arms over his chest, flinching slightly when his hand bumped.

"Mate,, I don't think they are going to let you do that right now. In fact, I am pretty positive that you have no hope of that happening." He said bluntly.

"I will go myself, I will apparate, I know how. I will go, after I kill them for this." He said stubbornly.

"You will splinch yourself if you try. You are angry, upset and even though you are doing one hell of a job hiding it, you are in pain. Just be a good boy, go to Pommy and let her fix you up, and maybe we can convince someone to let us go see Padfoot tomorrow. But you have to calm down. Your mum needs to concentrate on Siri and she can't do that if she is worrying that you are going insane thousands of miles away. And I think you need to be healthy before attempting murder."

James nodded solemnly as he walked towards the door.

"So I couldn't help but notice you have been keeping secrets…Where did you find this room? You obviously know how to work it, and so does Lily. And while we are talking about Lily, so when did it become alright to kiss her like that?"

He laughed as he saw Lily stop in her tracks and a panicked expression cross her face. James turned and smiled, but he was blood red.

"Er, uhm right, Sorry about that Lils." He muttered.

She shook her head.

"I should have known better than to bring a marauder in there, I can't believe you kissed me!" she said in irritation.

"I…I…I don't even know what to say. I am sorry. I just. I was trying to forget." He said miserably.

His expression was one of such pain that Lily softened immediately.

"Remus I swear to Merlin if you tell anyone, I will hunt you down like a dog." She said with the most serious face he had ever seen on her.

He gulped and nodded.

"Lips sealed…But are you like and item or something or is James just off his rocker?"

"We are not an item, and yes he might be a bit crazy."

He thought that James was turning to tell them off but when he turned and looked at them it was in pain, and anguish. He was clutching his bloodied hand in his other and in the light Remus could see the swelling worsening in his jaw, and saw the bruise spreading down his neck and up towards his ear.

"I…owe" was all that came out of his mouth before he dropped to his knees and then to the ground.

OoOoOoO

It had been a week since the disasterous match that resulted in Slytherin being disqualified from the Quidditch cup for the year and their captain expelled from school. James was furious about being benched for the final match but was more angry at being kept away from Sirius.

They had yet to allow them to come to London to see him. His mum had come to check on him in the hospital wing and update him and Remus.

She had told them that Sirius was being held on a critical ward, though he was stable. His ribs were broken as was his collar bone, and his sternum. His shoulder had snapped out of place and both arms had broken. A rib had pierced his lung and he shared one injury with James. They had both suffered a concussion, Sirius' to the back of the head from the fall and the front of the head from the initial hit, and James from the bludger that he had taken behind the ear that had broken his jaw.

He was too critical to allow school age visitors and Mrs. Potter had refused to sign James out to go anyways. He had in turn stomped out without saying anything to her.

It had been five days since then and he was fuming. He couldn't even think straight. Lily had tried to help, she had gone on walks, just the two of them, in broad daylight. She played exploding snap in the common room with the three remaining marauders and her dorm mates, her and James were seen together more than apart. But through it all, He was focused on seeing his best friend.

All James could see was the fact that his brother was possibly dying alone and without him, and the red tinged fury that was being barely held at bay.