Regulus and I were at St. Mungo's again, waiting impatiently for news on Sirius. I hated waiting; it made me more and more anxious. Just then, Mum walked in, eyes red-rimmed and face grim. My heart sank.

"I'm sorry, boys," she murmured. "We tried our best."

"A-aunt Carol?" Regulus whimpered.

"You can go see him," Mum whispered. "Say goodbye. He's dying."

"No!" I cried, and Regulus started sobbing. Mum led us back to Sirius's room; he was awake, but very, very pale. His breathing was shallow and laboured, and he looked to be in pain. He smiled at us.

"Hey, guys," he said hoarsely.

"Oh, Siri!" Regulus sobbed, launching himself on his brother. Sirius patted his back awkwardly. "This can't be happening!"

"I'm sorry, Reggie," Sirius replied. I walked over, dimly aware of tears streaming down my own face, and grabbed Sirius's hand. Regulus grabbed his other hand. "Listen, you guys, it's going to be okay."

"No," I whispered. "It won't. Sirius, please, you can't die!"

"James," Sirius said. "I can. Promise me, though, you'll live your own life. Both of you."

"I will," Regulus sniffled, pale and shaking.

I nodded sadly. "Of course, Padfoot."

"Good," Sirius smiled weakly. "You guys are the best. I'm sorry."

With that, Sirius's eyes fluttered close, and his hand fell limp in mine. I checked, futilely hopeful, for a pulse. There was none. I let out a choked sob, as Regulus gave an agonized howl.

"Sirius, wake up, Sirius!" he screamed. "Sirius!"

I couldn't speak; I was paralyzed. I'd failed him. I'd failed Sirius. He was dead.

"JAMES!" I shot straight up. Regulus was hovering over me, his face anxious. "Thank goodness. You were crying in your sleep."

"It was a nightmare," I sighed in relief.

Regulus snorted. "I hadn't realized."

"Sorry," I said. "I dreamed... I dreamed Sirius died."

"Oh," replied Regulus, shifting uncertainly. "Well, it was just a nightmare."

"Yeah," I murmured. "Like that's new."

"We go home tomorrow," Regulus said. I nodded, glad he was changing the subject. "Or today, I suppose, since it's around two in the morning."

"Did I wake you?" I asked. Regulus shrugged. "Sorry, Reg."

"Nah, it's not your fault," Regulus smiled reassuringly. "Sirius used to wake me up in the middle of the night all the time when we were kids; it could be quite annoying, especially when he soaked me."

I laughed. "Yes, that sounds like him."

"We're both going to be living at your place now," Regulus pointed out. "You're going to have to deal with him too."

"I'll just push him down the stairs," I declared. "If I need to, that is. Those stairs are bloody evil."

"So you've told me," Regulus chuckled. There was an awkward silence, broken by Peter's snores. "You don't think... you don't think your nightmare could come true?"

"No," I shook my head. I couldn't fathom Sirius dying again; at least, not at this point. That might just be me in denial, though. "I mean, he can't just die... fate isn't that cruel."

"What about when-" Regulus took a shaky breath, eyes very upset. "What about when it comes to the time he actually d-died in your timeline."

I sucked in a sharp breath; as much as the thought scared me, I knew it was possible. Sirius had said himself- we might not be able to save him. It was a horrible thought, and I wasn't sure I could handle it happening again.

"I don't know," I said honestly. Regulus sighed as if he'd expected this answer; his obsidian eyes were sad. "Listen, Reg. I'm not going to let your brother die if I can help it. I'd die to protect him-"

"I don't want you to die either," Regulus whispered. "Don't forget; you're my brother, too. Besides, that could cause of problem- Sirius would die for you and you'd die for him. What happens if you both die?"

"I'll keep all of us alive, then," I said.

Regulus smiled hopefully. "That'd be good. Even if it is impossible."

"It isn't," I said stubbornly. "No one is going to die if I can help it."

"Oh, dear... is Potter being a noble git again?" said a drawling, amused voice. Regulus and I turned. Standing in the dorm room in the middle of the night were none other than Snape and Remus- fifteen (or would it be sixteen by now?) year old Snape and Remus.

"It's about time you visited again," I said, feigning annoyance. "Where's Regulus?"

"Right there," Remus said, inclining his head towards Regulus, who was staring with his mouth open. "Gaping at us stupidly."

"Uh... hi?" Regulus greeted unsurely. "Am I seeing things?"

"No," I answered. "These two are visiting from the future."

"Wicked!" Regulus beamed. "That's amazing! Do they visit often!"

"No," said Remus. "Apparently we can only visit a couple of times a year. So, how is everyone?"

"Most of us are good," I replied uneasily. "I'd like to strangle Voldemort and murder him slowly and brutally, but we're all mostly fine."

"Mostly," Snape repeated, giving me a look. "Well, then. Who's dying?"

"No one's dying," Regulus said fervently. "No one is going to die!"

"Alright," said Snape, raising an eyebrow. "Who's hurt?"

I sighed heavily. "Sirius is in St. Mungo's... still. He has been for a while now."

"What happened?" asked Remus, looking worried.

"Well, long story short: you, Remus, were kidnapped. Sirius ran off to rescue you, Severus and I saved his skin, but he was still hurt; now, of course, he was getting better... but there were some delayed curses, so he's not doing so great..."

Snape snorted dryly. "Figures; Potter came back to save Black, and Black can't help but make Potter's life miserable by being an idiot."

"It isn't Sirius's fault," I defended. "He's just a noble git by nature."

"Unfortunately," Remus nodded. "Gee, Regulus, I forgot how tiny you used to be."

Regulus puffed up indignantly. "I'm not tiny!"

"You kind of are," I snickered, ruffling his hair. "Not as scrawny as your brother, though."

"I can hardly remember how 'scrawny' Black was," Snape declared. "It's been a over a year now, anyways."

My eyes widened; he was right- it had been over a year. "I hadn't realized; I've grown used to having him around."

"You're lucky," Remus sighed. "We've all grown used to not having him around- or you and Lily, for that matter. The story Dumbledore fed to the rest of the Wizarding world was that you guys died too."

"Oh, wow," I blinked. "Weird; so me and Lils have been declared dead?"

"It must suck there," Regulus mumbled. "No Siri, no Jamie."

"He's grown attached," Snape noted.

Regulus grabbed my arm protectively. "We're brothers too, now. Me and Siri and Jamie."

Snape chuckled, raising his hands in a surrender gesture. "Okay, okay, I was just saying. No need to get defensive. Anyways, Hogwarts held a memorial for the three of you that day; you'd be surprised at the turn-out."

"Nice to know people care," I said softly. "I bet Lily would like to know- did Petunia show her face?"

"Nope," said Remus. "She was even given a special invitation. Your parents did, though, and even some of Sirius's family- Regulus, Andromeda, Narcissa, and even his grandfather."

"Grandfather came?" Regulus asked. "Gee, I never really thought he likes us."

"He was polite; you talked to him a bit," Remus replied. His form flickered. "Oh. Guess we gotta go now."

"Shame; I wanted to talk to Lily," Snape sighed theatrically. "Well, good luck, Potter."

At that moment, they disappeared. Regulus stared in awe. "Bloody heck."

I gave him a light whack in the back of the head. "I don't know if I've told you, but don't repeat anything Sirius says."

"Got it," Regulus blushed.

I smiled fondly. "Get back to bed. It's too early."

Regulus nodded, and scampered away, leaving me to my thoughts.

I didn't quite remember how I got on the train, which could mean one of two things: either someone spiked my pumpkin juice with firewhiskey, or I was lost in thought and worried about Sirius. I figured it was probably the latter, because the only person I could see spiking my drink was Sirius, and he was in St. Mungo's.

The train ride was rather quiet without Sirius, and the fact that he was injured was hanging over us like a dark cloud. Regulus was seated next to me, leaning on me and fast asleep. I didn't blame him; I'd woken him up in the middle of the night.

"Have you heard anything?" asked Lily after a while. I shook my head, cautious not to wake Regulus. "Things have gone horribly wrong."

"Not too horribly," Snape shrugged. "I'd've never become friends with James if you two hadn't of travelled through time. Regulus might still be an obvious Gryffindor in Slytherin."

"Was I that obvious?" Regulus flushed red.

"Yes," Snape said. "You were."

"Don't worry," I whispered loudly. "Obviousness is a key trait of us Gryffindors; along with rashness and insanely stupid bravery, that is."

"Which is why Sirius is the model Gryffindor," Remus sniggered.

Peter chuckled. "I think I'd be happier if one of the key traits was self-preservation."

"That's us," Snape pointed out. Peter's eyes widened, and he shuddered. "Oh, don't look like it's such a horrible thing. I'll have you know that not all of us are evil."

"Well, you're the only one," Peter replied. "Anyways, how long until we can see Padfoot?"

"I won't know 'till I see Mum," I admitted. "I'm completely in the dark; it's killing me."

"Slowly," added Snape. "Painfully."

Lily sent him a annoyed look.

"Just trying to lighten the atmosphere," he said, shifting awkwardly.

"Odd way of lightening the atmosphere," Remus replied, trying and failing to keep a nonchalant look. "Not exactly how I'd have gone about it."

"I bet it's a Slytherin thing," Peter declared. "I bet they're very morbid."

I chuckled slightly. "Yeah, we really need Sirius back."

The rest of the train ride passed in a blur. Snape tried several more times to make us laugh, but he couldn't seem to crack a decent joke to save his life and all we really ended up laughing at were his futile attempts.

Dad picked us up at the station; I wasn't sure if that was good or bad. All it really meant was that Mum couldn't pick us up, which pretty much meant that she was busy at St. Mungo's. This implied that Sirius was still alive- but still hurt. I didn't really know what to make of the situation.

As soon as we reached the house, I demanded to go see Sirius.

"Well, James, you must understand, Sirius can't have visitors right now," Dad said. Regulus's eyes flashed, and I recognized in an instant the same temper in his eyes as Sirius's.

"But," I cut in, trying to prevent a temper tantrum (although Sirius fervently denied that he had temper tantrums, and I was sure Regulus would too). "We could sneak in under the cloak."

"You might not like what you see," Dad argued.

"Well, we won't know, will we?" Regulus snapped. "Until we go see him."

"And," I intervened. "It will probably ease our minds. And if Sirius is awake or wakes up, we can be a comfort to him."

Dad hesitated. "No. You can't go."

Regulus's temper flared again.

"I WANT TO SEE MY BROTHER!" he screamed. "I WANT SIRI! BRING ME TO MY BROTHER!"

I winced; yep, there it was.

"Reg, calm down," I said.

"NO!" he yelled. "I WANT MY BROTHER! I WANT SIRI!"

I groaned. "Great going, Dad. Now he won't shut up until you bring him to Sirius."

"Now, James, I know plenty about handling kids throwing fits," Dad replied. "I know better than to give in-"

A plate flew across the room and slammed into the wall; Regulus continued screaming, and more things went flying. I gave Dad a wry grin.

"Alright, have your way," I said. "I'll let you handle him."

I made to leave the room, but Regulus launched himself onto me, sobbing. "NO! Don't leave me too! I want both my brothers! I want Siri! Don't you leave too!"

I groaned; this was going to be a long, long night.

A/N: Amazing; no Sirius in this chapter- except the nightmare. Ah, yes, I figured Sirius and Regulus would both have tempers, so... Regulus's temper shows its face! And poor Snape is no good at lightening the atmosphere. Huge thanks to my reviewers, jeremiah123, Accalia Silvermoon, N. E. Person, sk8boards4ever, icecatfire, Lady Loophole, Theta-McBride, Ranma's girl1, and Jily4ever! Over 150 reviews! Woohoo! You all get more Siri plushies (you probably have plenty by now :P) and chocolate (this is all virtual, of course)! Hope you enjoyed.

I do not own Harry Potter.