"Crud," I muttered. "C'mon, let's go after him. Me and my bloody big mouth…"

"Yes, you and you big mouth," Lily repeated dryly. "Yes, we'd better. No need to scar the poor boy for life."

Lily and I turned away from the Quidditch field, and towards the castle. It was a rather long walk there, but if we wanted to catch Sirius in time, we'd have to run. Luck was not on our side, however, as we ran into Regulus, Remus, and Peter, all heading to the game.

"Where're you off to?" Remus asked suspiciously. "It's not like you, James, to miss a game of Quidditch."

"This is more important," I replied. "Can we go, now? It's kind of urgent."

Remus let us pass, watching us warily. "Be careful."

I sent him back a quick smile, before we started sprinting towards the Common Room. The Fat Lady saw us and smiled. "Password?"

"Lion's Pride," I said quickly, and she opened up. We rushed up to the dorm room. Sirius was in there, pale as a sheet, standing over my Pensieve. "Sirius!"

He spun around quickly, staring at me for a second, before rushing towards me and engulfing me in a hug. "I'm sorry, I still let you get hurt, I'm so sorry."

"What?" I spluttered. "Sirius, what are you talking about?"

"They used the Cruciatus on you," he murmured. "I let you get hurt."

"Sirius, you saved my life," I exclaimed. "You didn't let me get hurt! Are you not at all fazed by what happened to you that night?"

"No," Sirius said, pulling away. "No, I'm not. I went out trying to protect you. If that's what I need to do to protect you, get tortured? Well, I'd do it ten times over if it meant you were safe."

"Sirius," I whispered, raising a hand to wipe at my moist eyes. "I don't ever want that to happen."

"I would die for you, Prongs," Sirius declared. "A thousand times over. I told you, I'm not afraid of death."

"Oh, Sirius," Lily sighed. "Look at you, both of you… Sirius, do you realize how much your death affected James? He rarely, if ever, smiled. He didn't laugh. The only ones who ever saw him without his mask were me, Remus, Peter, and Regulus. He used to cry himself to sleep at night, too, you know."

Sirius furrowed his eyebrows, and looked at me for confirmation. I nodded. "It's true, Pads… I get so confused sometimes… when I first got here- to the past- was so happy. And yet, at the same time, so upset. It was hard to see you again…"

"I'm sorry," Sirius said again. "This is my fault, that you feel this way."

"No!" I exclaimed. "No, Sirius, it isn't your fault. It's mine… if I had… I dunno, fought back… ducked that Body-Bind, not been so scared…"

"I see no way that it could be your fault, either," Sirius pointed out. "You had every right to be scared; you couldn't have seen that hex coming, either. I don't blame you now, and I wouldn't in the future."

"Told you so," Lily said.

Sirius and I looked at her weirdly.

"Right," she muttered awkwardly. "Not the time."

"You think?" I asked sarcastically. "Sirius, I promise, that won't happen this time."

Sirius gave me a small smile, and put a hand on my shoulder. "I told you, might not be able to prevent it. If I'm going to die that day, I'm going to die. But, promise me something, James."

"Anything."

"Don't try to save me," he said. I opened my mouth immediately to protest. "Wait, I'm not done. Don't try to save me if you have to risk your life in the process. I'd rather die knowing you're safe, than live knowing you died to protect me. Or worse, die anyway, and know you also don't get to live your life all because you were trying to save me."

"Sirius, I…" I bit my lip. "I can't… not if there's a chance you might live."

"James, please," Sirius begged. "Don't do this. You have so much more to live for... More people care for you..."

"Please," I scoffed half-heartedly. "Even the Slytherins were sobbing at your funeral."

"Good to know so many people care," Sirius laughed. "You sure the Slytherins weren't crying in relief, Prongs?"

"Not funny," I said. "Sirius, mate, I don't think you get it. You were dead. Dead as in never coming back. I'd never get to see you again, not until I died! Padfoot, you'd be gone. And you can't honestly say you aren't scared of being tortured like that, can you?"

"I can," Sirius replied. "Pain is… I mean, pain has been a big part of my life since I was little, James," I grimaced. "Oh, don't give me that look, you know it's true."

"Urgh, you parents are awful!" Lily cried. "Why couldn't of you been born into my family?"

"Why your family? Why not mine?" I suggested. "Or Moony's. Or Wormtail's."

"Hmm, well, fate seems to hate me," Sirius said dryly. "At least I know I won't be killed by a curtain."

"Shut up, I was teasing you," I said, face reddening as Sirius poked me in the shoulder. "It was a joke, suggesting how clumsy you are."

"I'm not that clumsy!" Sirius protested. "I'm… unbalanced sometimes, but not clumsy!"

"Same thing, Pads," I teased. "You're also a-"

"Bloody noble git," Sirius and Lily chorused. "We know."

"Oh, shush," I retorted, blushing. "So maybe I say it a lot. It's true."

"Obviously," Sirius chuckled. "Since that is what got me almost killed about a week ago, and gets me killed in two years."

"You won't die in two years," I said defiantly. "Merlin, can't you just be the least bit worried?"

"Nah," Sirius grinned. "Take all the fun out of life. Did you think I was worried I'd get hurt when I ran into the Hospital Wing doors?"

"And you were yelling at Regulus for animal abuse."

"Animal abuse?" Lily repeated bemusedly. "Oh, dear, Sirius, you really are turning into your Animagus form- oh! That reminds me, I got you dog treats for when you got out."

Lily handed Sirius a box of dog treats, and Sirius's eyes lit up as he opened the box and began shoving treats into his mouth. "Thanks, Lily!"

"At least some things never change," I chuckled. "Padfoot, promise me one thing, though."

"Mmkay," Sirius said through a mouthful of dog treats.

"Don't go needlessly putting yourself in danger just because you think you can help," Sirius swallowed his treats and shook his head madly. I sighed, and sat down heavily on the bed. "Pads..."

"It isn't in my nature not to help, Prongs," Sirius declared. "If there's something I can do, I'm going to do it."

"How am I supposed to protect you though?" I asked, rubbing my head, feeling another headache coming along. "If you keep putting yourself in danger."

"I don't need you to protect me!" Sirius exclaimed crossly. "I can protect myself perfectly fine-"

"Yeah, right, I saw how well you could protect yourself!" I retorted. "If I wasn't there a while ago, you'd've been killed!"

"You don't know that!" Sirius frowned. "I could have been just fine! I don't need anyone to protect me, I can handle myself! I've had to be able to fend for myself for the past nearly seven years!"

"That doesn't mean you don't need someone to help you!"

"I never have before!"

"Oh yeah?" I hadn't noticed that we were yelling. "Then explain to me how you got yourself killed!?"

"I was protecting you!"

"I don't need protecting either!"

"Well, it sure as heck looked like you did!"

"I was caught off guard!"

"So was I!"

"Maybe if you'd just come back to Hogwarts last week when Moony suggested it, none of this would have happened!"

"And leave those people to fend for themselves?"

"No! Tell Dumbledore, let the adults handle it!"

"Well, maybe I'm used to the adults in my life not caring!"

"You should know better by now!"

"Not everyone had a perfect life, James!"

"You think I had a perfect life!? I watched my house burn to the ground! I watched you get murdered! I held you in my arms as you died because I couldn't protect you!"

"I don't need protecting!"

"Yes, you do! Would you stop being so bloody stubborn!?"

"Fine!" Sirius yelled, stomping towards the door, eyes stormy. "I'm leaving! I don't need anyone to protect me! Not you, or anyone else!"

With that, he stormed out of the room. I stared after him, regret taking over, before burying my face in my hands. "What have I done?"

Lily put a soothing hand on my back, sitting beside me. "Oh, Jamie... friends fight. You know how independent and stubborn Sirius is..."

"I shouldn't have said that," I muttered. "About protecting him. I should have known he'd take it that way. Where'd he get off to? Lily, pass me that piece of parchment."

"Okay..." Lily said unsurely, handing it to me. I pulled out my wand.

"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good," I murmured. The Map sprang to life, and Lily gawked. I started searching the school for any sign of Sirius, finally finding him headed towards the Astronomy Tower. I sighed in relief; that was his favourite place to think. "Alright. I'm going to go find him. Apologise. Lily, you go ahead to the game, okay?"

"Okay," Lily gave me a reassuring smile and a kiss on the cheek. "Good luck."

"Thanks," I replied, standing up and rushing out of the common room. I was glad that most everybody was at the game. I didn't have to worry about running into anyone. Soon, after much stair-climbing, I reached Sirius. He was sitting with his head in his hands, and he looked up when I walked in. I quickly noticed tear-tracks on his face, and the guilt welled up inside me. I'd made him cry.

"James," he greeted. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said those things."

"What things?" I asked, walking over and sitting next to him. "I think I upset you more."

"About you having a perfect life," he sniffled. "And I kept on reminding you of that day... and- and- and you're just trying to help me, but... why? Why do you want to help me?"

"Why wouldn't I?" I retorted. "You're my best friend, Padfoot."

"I'm just so used to- to being ignored, or hurt, that I just can't remember what it feels like to be loved. I mean, Reggie cares for me, I know, but he has to follow the rules at home so he doesn't get hurt, so I never see him... and Andy was disowned... I feel like an outsider... everyone else has a loving family, parents who care for them, not hurt them."

"Oh, Padfoot," I murmured, wrapping my arms around him. "I care for you. My parents love you like their own son- or maybe even more, considering I'm the 'bad one'. Regulus really does love you, you know."

"I know," Sirius sighed. "I'm sorry... look, I've gone and ruined your shirt again."

"Nah, it isn't ruined," I told him. "Tear-stains come out," I paused. "I'm sorry for yelling at you. That was uncalled for."

"I started it," Sirius muttered. "It's my fault, of course. You have nothing to be sorry for."

I cuffed him over the head. "Hey, let me take some of the blame for once. Bloody noble git."

"Overprotective prat," Sirius retorted, smiling slightly. "Do you think we've missed much of the game?"

"It depends on if the Seeker's got the Snitch," I said, pulling out the map. "Let's see... still going on, everyone's still at the pitch. What do you say we go try and catch the rest of the game before we catch a cold up here?"

"We'll catch a cold out there too," Sirius pointed out cheekily. I laughed, and pulled myself up, offering him a hand, which he took gratefully. "Do you think we'll win?"

"Definitely," I said.

A/N: Hullo! Bit of an emotional chapter, don't know what I was thinking. :P So, Siri and Jamie have a little fight that probably isn't the best since I'm no good at that kind of stuff... and poor Lily is just stuck in the middle. Special thanks to my reviewers, Lovewriting12, jeremiah123, N. E. Person, Lady Loophole (oh, hi!), Theta-McBride, and potterhead934! You guys get another Zonko's prank kit! Oh- and I forgot, a shout-out to my friend who gave me the idea for the prank last chapter. XD Hope you all enjoyed!