NOTE: Most of this fic is memory type bits. All flashbacks are in order. Review. Cheers.
Challenge—Without You
Chapter Two
Without you the seeds root
James Potter eyed the occupants of the opposite bench warily. The little rat like one was huddled in the corner looking nervously about. The one long auburn haired one was busy with his eyes glued to Hogwarts, A History, reading with his eyes looking down at the paper with no interest whatsoever. James was about to say something when suddenly the door was roughly shoved open. A tall, lanky but handsome boy of their age with long dark brown hair stood in the doorway, leaning against the frame, smirking.
"Just checking to see everything's all right. I heard from another compartment that someone was lighting joke firecrackers in the hall." From his smirk, it was clear to James that this boy was no doubt the one who had done it.
"You serious?" the auburn haired one asked, looking up from his book at last. James and the new comer were surprised at the intensity they now found in the previously dead amber eyes.
"That's what it says on my birth certificate." The new comer grinned a wide smile, getting over his shock.
"Um . . . what?" This time the mousey one spoke.
"Er, my name's Sirius. S-I-R-I-U-S. Sirius Black. I assume you can spell black?" He dropped himself gracefully onto the seat next to James, his light blue eyes twinkling with laughter.
"I'm Remus," said the auburn haired one, looking again at Hogwarts, A History with vacant eyes. "Remus Lupin."
"James Potter," said James, smiling slightly, still unsure.
"Hey!" cried Sirius. "You're a pure blood! We're distant cousins." Sirius beamed. "Your mum is my mum's second—no, third cousin, once removed, er twice? I dunno, but we're related." He turned towards the mousey one. "And you are . . .?"
"Peter Pettigrew," he provided, not meeting the other's eyes.
"So, Peter, James and Remus, may I ask what House you're hoping for?" Sirius was obviously trying to engage them in small talk, as a getting-to-know-you conversation. Remus, knowing that he could probably not remain friends with any of them, due to his monthly problem, decided that he wanted no part in the conversation.
Peter looked down again and said in a small voice, so that no one was sure if they had heard him right, "I'd be happy if any House would have me."
James grinned, running a hand through his hair, ruffling it and giving it the appearance of being much less cared for than it was. "Gryffindor, or maybe Ravenclaw."
"Grynffindor sounds okay. I'm really not that interested." Remus seemed more interested in reading a book that made his eyes turn dull than in the conversation, but Sirius merely grinned.
"My entire family has always been in Slytherin. I really don't want to be in that House, though. Maybe we'll all be in the same House. That would be brilliant! I can tell we'll all get along wonderfully!" Sirius was smirking. James snorted in half laughter, Remus rolled his eyes and Peter had to cover his mouth to stop from laughing himself. Sirius grinned. "Just you wait."
The sorting ceremony went fast, and before any of them had the time to realize it, James, Sirius, Remus and Peter were sitting next to each other, chatting and laughing. Sirius had been right. They were giddy, excited that they were getting along, and eating fabulous food and as many Butterbeers as they could stand. Even Remus was giving shy smiles, still unsure of what would happen if they found out about his problem.
When they left the Great Hall, they were escorted to their House. Remus, Sirius, James and Peter all had beds in the same dorm. They settled in and tried not to laugh, finding it unreasonable that Sirius could be so right. And right he truly was.
Within one week they were the best of friends.
The flowers bloom
Sirius twitched. He thought he had heard a cry, but that was impossible, seeing as everyone else in the dorm room was asleep. He sighed heavily and closed his eyes, ready to go back to sleep. There! He had heard it again. Muttering about the wreck that his hair would no doubt be the next day, Sirius trudged out of bed and proceeded to check each bed, one at a time, until he found out which one of the first year boys was screaming in their sleep.
His search stopped on Remus, when he noticed that the boy was tangled up in his sheets, and that there were tears flowing seemingly endlessly from his eyes. Sirius shook the boy gently, but this only caused him to become more distressed, and he started kicking and screaming. Sirius did the only thing he could think of. He climbed into bed with Remus, and hugged the boy tightly against him.
He could feel when Remus woke up, because the boy started all out balling, turning to bury his face in Sirius's chest. He was hiccuping and gasping, tears poured from his eyes as he tried in vain to push himself closer to Sirius's warm chest. Sirius slowly started and slowly rubbed his back in circles, whispering in his ear.
"Hush," he murmured into Remus's ear, long since having forgotten the awkwardness of the situation. "Hush, it's all right." he rubbed Remus's shaking form, and ran one hand gently through his hair. Eventually Remus quieted and only occasionally let loose a soft sob or a lone hiccup. "Do you wanna talk about it?" He asked and Remus met his eyes for the first time.
"I've all ready used up a lot of your time," Remus whispered. "You can get off on to bed. I'll be fine." But Sirius could tell that Remus wouldn't be fine. He sighed, and swung his legs up to the bed.
"I'll stay here for the night," he responded, and Remus looked at him, dumbstruck. "In case you need me again." And Sirius didn't notice it, because he was too lost in Remus's eyes, but tiny flowers started sprouting from Remus's window. Neither knew how to make flowers grow, or for that matter, do wandless magic, yet the little flowers on the ledge were proof.
Around five in the morning, before the other boys had awoken, Sirius slipped back into bed, having not slept at all that night. He found himself reluctant to leave Remus's now quiet, sleeping form. He leaned down gently and kissed Remus's forehead, then retreated to his bed quickly, blushing all the way. He walked away suddenly, so he didn't notice the blush staining Remus's cheeks, or the fact that his eyes were wide open.
The children play
Remus tugged Sirius's robe gently. There was no response, so he tugged harder, before grabbing Sirius's arm and whispering "Sirius?" Sirius turned when he heard his name and saw the small auburn haired boy curled around his arm.
Remus looked horrible. The nightmare had been five days ago, yet Remus had huge bags under his eyes. He also looked as though he hadn't eaten in five days; his strong, thin frame now looked tiny and weak.
"Remy, what's wrong?" Sirius pulled the boy away from him, aware that his smaller peer was crying. He wiped the tears from Remus's face and smiled kindly at him.
"I can't sleep, Sirius. I haven't gotten sleep in four days because I'm afraid to have another nightmare." Remus was sobbing into Sirius's shirt, grabbing it tightly.
"Alright, c'mon." Sirius pulled Remus towards the large wooden doors, pulling him outside into the sun and warmth of late summer, and leading him in the direction of a large tree. "Sit here." Sirius sat down first, and Remus collapsed in his lap, crying and hiccuping into his arms. Sirius rubbed his back and whispered sweet nothings in Remus's ear.
"Sirius, I'm scared you're going to die. I had a dream, and now I'm scared." Remus's voice was small and tight.
"It was just a dream, Remy." Sirius cooed in Remus's ear. "Just a dream. It won't happen now."
"But I saw it!" Remus screamed, breaking away from Sirius's strong arms, hugging himself, and crying at Sirius. "I saw it happen, and I know it's real. I don't want it to happen!"
"Remus, listen to me." He cupped Remus's face in his hands, his wide palms covering Remus's cheeks. "Listen, Rem, everyone has dreams and everyone dies. These are both givens. If you try to find connections between the two, you will drive yourself mad. You will be fine, Remus. I will be fine. You're dreams are just dreams. They will pass in time. You just need to accept life as what it is. It's just living, dreaming, and dying. Try and get some sleep now. I'll still be here when you wake up."
Remus was sobbing again on Sirius's chest. He was trying to stop, but Sirius made no motion that he wanted Remus off. He just rubbed his back and whispered in his ear, and said, "I know."
"Get some sleep," he heard Sirius whisper, and Remus settled into his chest, moving every ten seconds trying to get a comfortable position. He lay back in Sirius's lap, nuzzling his arm with his head.
Sirius chuckled and started petting Remus's head gently, making him calm down and slowly begin to fall asleep. Around him, his fellow students were playing Frisbee and games on their brooms. Children ran around, screaming and shrieking and running amuck.
Sirius looked down at the boy sprawled on his lap, sleeping but tears still cascaded down his face. Sirius looked around, and when he thought no one was looking, he bent down and gently pressed his lips on Remus's. He pulled up fast, his heart beating in his ears and a blush settling over his features, and on his lap, the sleeping figure smiled, and his tears faded away.