It had been a couple of weeks since we'd rescued Remus; exams were finally over and everyone was looking forward to the end of the year feast, the house cup, and summer.

Except Sirius.

"It's not fair!" he whined. "She's not letting me go!"

"Well, maybe you aren't well enough to go," I reasoned. "Does anything still hurt?"

"No," Sirius said stubbornly. I raised an eyebrow and hit him over the head. "Ouch! Okay, maybe a bit. Thanks, Prongs, now my head is spinning."

"Sorry," I replied guiltily. "Didn't mean to hurt you- but if you had told the truth, I wouldn't have hit you."

"Yeah, yeah, I've had worse," Sirius declared.

"I hate it when you say that," I muttered bitterly. "Because I know just how true that is."

"Well, I've obviously had even worse in your timeline," Sirius shrugged. "After all, I died, didn't I?"

I sighed irritably. "You did. Really, would you quit mentioning that?"

"Sorry, mate," Sirius frowned. "Anyways, I'm kinda surprised old Voldie didn't kill me. I mean, how easy would it be? It's just two words."

"Thank goodness he didn't," I said, shuddering to think how close I'd come to losing Sirius again. He was right; it was just too easy for him to get killed. "He probably wanted to cause you pain."

"Speaking of that," said Sirius, looking slightly disconcerted. "I think I have a theory as to why your mum is keeping me here so long."

"I hope it's a good one," I chuckled. "Maybe then you'll quit complaining. Well, out with it, then."

"I- well, it isn't important," Sirius said awkwardly. I shrugged my shoulders. "So, do you think Dumbledore will make me take the exams once I get out of here?"

"Without a doubt," I replied. Sirius's face fell. "Don't worry; they weren't all that hard."

"Says the boy who's from the future," Sirius snorted. "You've taken them before."

"They weren't all that hard the first time," I retorted. "Though I don't know about you, considering how much class you've missed this year."

"Well, that is hardly my fault," Sirius declared indignantly. I gave him a dubious look. "Mostly not my fault. Kind of."

"More like mostly your fault," I corrected. "Considering, oh, let's see, every one of the ideas thst got you hurt were your ideas."

"Okay, fine," Sirius admitted. "So it is mostly my fault."

I grinned, satisfied. "So, Padfoot, do you reckon Mum will let you play Quidditch this summer?"

"Here's hoping," said Sirius. "I'd hate to go all summer without getting out on that pitch you have. Say, who all would we play with, anyways?"

"You and I are chasers, Reg is a Seeker, Frank Longbottom lives nearby, he's a keeper," I listed. "Oh, and Dad's a beater and Mum is a decent chaser. So, yeah, I reckon we can play a decent game."

"Minus the opponents," Sirius added. I chuckled.

"Right," I agreed. "We could have something like that snowball fight; you just won't fall off your broom and scare me half to death."

"You weren't that scared!" Sirius laughed. I gave him a sombre look. "You- you weren't, were you?"

"I was pretty scared," I admitted. "I was even worse when we saved Remus. I walked out there and you were just laying on the ground, bleeding, looking just like you had that- that day."

"Oh," said Sirius. "Sorry, Prongs."

"It's fine, Padfoot," I chuckled lightly. "Lily claims it's good to talk about your feelings."

"She's a girl," Sirius pointed out. I rolled my eyes at his childish remark. "Still, I'd rather it be me than you."

I sighed bitterly. "I know you would. That's what got you killed, remember?"

Sirius blushed. "Oh. Yeah, that's right."

"I'm going to ask you something I think I've asked you before," I declared. Sirius gave me a puzzled look. "If I'm ever in danger, and you have a chance to escape, do it, will you?"

"No, I won't," Sirius said, frowning. "I've told you, James, if I can help, I will."

I groaned, leaning back in my chair. "Padfoot, if you die-"

"Oh well," Sirius shrugged, and I flinched. No thirteen year old should react like that to the thought of their own death. "I saw that Prongs."

"Why don't you seem to care?"

"My life isn't as important as yours," Sirius said, and I whacked him in the head. "Ow! What the heck, Prongs!?

"Never say that again," I hissed. "Your life is just as important, if not more, you git!"

Sirius didn't look very convinced. "Alright, Prongs, whatever you say. Still, you didn't have to hit me. Now I've got a headache."

"Go figure," I said sarcastically, my good mood thoroughly dampened. "Why do we keep going back to the same subject?"

"You mean my death?" Sirius asked tactlessly. I rubbed my head, and nodded, exasperated. "Maybe because it's an interesting subject. I'd actually like to know a bit more; I mean, I saw the memory, but I don't know how everyone else reacted and my funeral- wouldn't that be wicked, to attend your own funeral?"

"It would not be wicked," I said hotly. "And it isn't an interesting subject. If you really want to know, by all means, go digging in my Pensieve again. You'll see just how interesting it is."

Sirius's face lit up. "Great, I'll do just that!"

I sighed and leaned back in my chair. "Me and my big mouth."

"I love that about you," said Sirius cheekily. "I can always find out exactly what I-"

Sirius cut himself off quite abruptly, clutching his chest, where a large, deep gash had unexpectedly appeared. I let out a shocked cry, as Sirius's face screwed up in pain. "I knew it; I'd read about delayed curses- I should have known."

I cursed under my breath. "I'm gonna go get Mum. This is bad."

"It'll probably be fine," Sirius said nonchalantly, though his face said otherwise. "Just a little cut-"

Suddenly, Sirius started screaming and convulsing, as if under the Cruciatus. Caught off guard, I let out a startled and horrified shout, freezing. Eyes wide, I watched as Sirius thrashed in the hospital bed, a trickle of blood slowly leaking out of his mouth. The bleeding on his chest was getting much worse.

"I'm really gonna go get Mum," I said shakily, running out of the room to my mother's office as fast as I could, bumping into a few people in the halls. She was sitting at her desk, and when she saw me run in, her expression turned fearful. "Mum- it's Sirius- he's screaming, and there's blood, and-"

I needn't have continued. Mum was already halfway down the hall. I followed her anxiously to Sirius room, a few Healers joining us. When we reached it, Sirius was no longer thrashing, instead paler than ever and very still. My heart clenched with fear at the sight of him; he looked dead. Mum and the Healers immediately got to work, muttering between themselves.

"James, I want you to leave," Mum said.

"Is he-"

"Sirius will be okay," Mum declared reassuringly, even as one Healer gave her a dubious look. She shot him an angry glare, before smiling kindly at me. "Go, Jamie."

I nodded tightly, leaving in a blur to the Gryffindor common room, a horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach. Though Mum had said he'd be okay, but that one Healer had looked as if he doubted it. I desperately hoped Sirius would be alright; I couldn't bear to lose him again.

"James?" Regulus asked as soon as I stumbled out of the fireplace. "James, what's wrong?"

"Bloody Voldemort," I muttered darkly. "I hate him."

"What happened?" Lily asked worriedly.

"He put some sort of delayed curse on Sirius," I explained. Regulus's eyes widened, horror settling in them. "I don't know what happened, there was suddenly this huge gash on his chest and then he started screaming and thrashing- Mum said he'd be okay, but the other Healers looked really doubtful. I thought he was safe!"

"So did I," Regulus moaned, putting his head in his hands. "My poor brother..."

"What did Sirius do this time?" Remus asked, walking in with Peter. "Hey, why does everyone look so down...?" a sudden sort of comprehension dawned on his face. "Oh. Something happened to Sirius. He isn't dead, is he?"

"No," I said glumly. "Not yet anyways. I was talking with him and he just started screaming. Some sort of delayed curse."

"Oh," Remus frowned.

Peter squeaked. "He'll be okay, right?"

"I don't know," I said heavily.

"Why Sirius?" Regulus lamented. "Why my brother? Poor Sirius, he never gets a break!"

"The universe really hates me," I groaned. "Or maybe it hates Sirius. I just hope he'll be okay."

It was several hours after what happened. Regulus and I were sitting in the lobby of St. Mungo's, waiting for news on Sirius. Both of us were beyond worried.

"You don't think he's died, do you?" Regulus asked anxiously.

I shook my head. "No, they'd've told us."

"What if Aunt Carol doesn't want us to know he's died?" Regulus asked, wringing his hands nervously and rocking back and forth. "What if he's dying right now? What if they can't save him?"

"Regulus, stop," I ordered, grabbing Regulus's shoulders. "Calm down. Panicking won't do anything."

"I don't want Siri to die," Regulus whimpered.

I sighed, and pulled him into a hug. "I know, Reggie; I don't want him to die either. But he isn't going to. This is Sirius we're talking about-"

"Yeah, well, he died in your timeline, didn't he?" Regulus cried. "I saw it! I used to think he was invincible, but now I know he's not, and that really scares me because what if he does die!?"

I closed my eyes, trying to block the tears from falling. Of course Regulus was right; I knew Sirius wasn't invincible. I didn't want to believe it, and I never did until he died in my arms. The permanence of his death didn't settle in until his funeral, when I saw him, pale and still, in his casket, and when they lowered him into the ground. I'd thought I'd never see him again, but then we'd come back here, and I had the chance to save him.

Had I failed?

It certainly seemed so, as Regulus sobbed into my shirt in the lobby of the hospital. Maybe I was just overreacting; maybe the only reason we didn't have news was because Sirius was asleep, save and sound and the Healers were just checking over him one final time.

"James? Regulus?" Both of us shot out of our seats. Mum had entered the room, a strange expression on her face that I couldn't quite read. I could tell it wasn't good, and I immediately feared the worst. Regulus noticed too, and let out a tiny sob.

"He's okay, right?" I asked urgently. Mum didn't respond. "Right?"

"We've done everything we could," said Mum, and my heart sank. "Voldemort put some delayed curses on him, and we fear the worst is yet to come. We healed what we could, but there might be more coming."

"He's alive, though," Regulus pressed, eyes wide and fearful. "He'll be okay?"

Mum pulled us both into a tight hug. "I don't know, boys."

"But you're a Healer!" I exclaimed.

"I am a Healer, and I know very well that some things just can't be healed," Mum whispered. "We'll try our best; I promise you, I won't give up on Sirius. Right now we think he's safe, but-"

Just then, another Healer rushed in the room. "Healer Potter, you're needed. Another delayed curse."

Mum nodded, and gave Regulus and me a sad look. "I promise I'll try my best, boys."

I nodded, blinking back tears fruitlessly, tears already streaming down my face. Regulus hugged me and started sobbing into my shirt as Mum left the room. I stared after her, a horrible feeling of hopelessness settling in my brain. "Hold on, Sirius."

A/N: Before you ask, I really don't know what's wrong with me! I have the horrible feeling you lot are going to track me down and brutally and slowly murder me for this chapter. So, I'm giving you the choice (even though I'm pretty sure I know your choice): does Sirius live or die? Tell me in your reviews! Big thanks to jeremiah123, Theta-McBride, and sk8boards4ever for reviewing! Hope you enjoyed, please don't kill me!

I really don't own Harry Potter.