Chapter 14: Sirius's Birthday.
Sirius woke up that morning with a headache that made him sick. He let out a slight moan and rolled over in his blankets, burying his head under his pillows. Several weeks had passed since the discovery of Mary MacDonald's little body in Hogsmeade and she was recovering slowly and with difficulty. She was now nervous, she was jumping at the slightest noises a little too loud and at sudden movements around her, but how to blame her after what she had been through.
Lily, Marlene and Dorcas were trying as hard as they could to support their friend in her convalescence, but as strong as the three girls could be, Sirius had never seen them with such dark faces. He let out another growl when he heard one of his three friends, Remus perhaps, getting up and shut himself in the bathroom, the slamming of the door, as light as it was, gave him the impression that his head would explode.
It was needed to say that his hours of sleep had been counted for several days and that his body had difficulty to follow all he had to do. Since the first Quidditch match and Gryffindor's defeat against Slytherin, James had become obsessed with training and did not spare them at all during practices. He had pushed them out in the rain, under the cold and the wind, and even under the first snow that had fallen a few days ago.
And then he had to combine the three weekly Quidditch practices that James had imposed them and the full week of detention they had got themselves, Peter James and he, for having changed all the candles in the Great Hall on Halloween, by pumpkins which had exploded when everyone was present in the middle of the Halloween's feast. A furious Professor McGonagall, pieces of pumpkin still clinging to her hat, had removed a hundred and fifty points from them and gave them a full week of detention.
Sirius sighed and groaned again, emerging his head from his pillows to look at the ceiling of his four-poster bed before lifting his left arm, observing the almost full moon shining above the heads of the four animals that seemed more and more agitated as the moon as growing fuller. He clenched his fist, bringing his right hand in front of his eyes, looking at the ring that he hadn't could bring himself to let rot in a drawer or threw into Regulus's face. So he wore it, as he had done for so long. It was so obvious that his foolish little brother would eventually lose it sooner or later, he had never modified it so that it entirely fit his finger, she was still modeled for his own hand.
-You're thinking and it's never good when you try to do so. Remus scoffed him, slowly opening his bed's curtains, smiling softly as he wiped his wet hair. He was very pale and looked sick, his breathing was jerking in his chest. He didn't pay attention to it, however, and stared at Sirius anxiously.
-Don't stay up like that, you're going to collapse. Sirius sighs, lightly pushing himself aside, catching Remus by the arm to make him lie down beside him, bringing the blankets on him to close his eyes, his headache slowly dissipating. -I dreamed about Walburga. He said after a moment of hesitation. -It's no good when she manages to piss me off even in my dreams.
-Maybe, because today is your birthday. Remus told him, staring at the four-poster bed ceiling, playing with the hole in the sleeve of his very large sweater -Maybe because -
- If you tell me that maybe I missed my "family", I will hit you in the face. Sirius grunted, turning his back to him, closing his eyes again, ready to get back to sleep.
-I was rather going to say, that you worry more than you want to admit it for your brother. I doubt that you may miss this psychotic madwoman who gave birth to you one day. Remus told him before turning to him, detailing the back of his head, looking down at his neck and at his back's bare skin, covered by a big tattoo.
An angel curled up on himself, wings folded, feathers falling slowly down his lower back. Sirius had always liked tattoos, and even though Remus was not a big fan of it, he had to admit that they were suiting Sirius very well.
-I was planning on having another one done during the holidays, but I thought you were going to disapprove. Laughed Sirius without turning himself, shuddering as he felt Remus's fingers touch his skin.
-It's your body; you do whatever you want with it. Answered Remus, trying painfully to get up, trying to ignore the waves of nausea that had taken over him.
-Stay still. Said Sirius, as he softly caught him by the shoulders to prevent him from getting up, pulling him towards him to hold him firmly in his arms, placing his head against Remus's wet one. -You're exhausted and you refuse to rest, so I've got no choice but to force you to do so, anyway it's not an hour to get up, the sun has barely come out yet! He adds Indignantly.
-Thank you. Remus said simply, trying to hide the red that had colored his cheeks as best he could, but it was an already lost attempt has his skin was so pale. -It's your birthday today, I should take care of you and not the opposite. He said to Sirius.
He received a simple grunt from Sirius, who squeezed his arm a little harder, falling asleep almost immediately. None of the other four boys in the dormitory would say a thing when they wake up later, as it was very common when the full moon was nearly there. He had difficulty to move and often the other three had to make him lie down and Sirius would come to bed with him to make sure he wouldn't try to get up again. Of course, Frank Longbottom was unaware of this and sometimes, he would arched a disapproving eyebrow at seeing them both sleep together, but Remus did not care. If only he knew, perhaps he would look at them differently.
He had never loved contact with others, but with Sirius it was different, it had always been different, as it was with the Healing Potion, the days after a full moon and as with everything else. Sirius had never applied the same ''normalities'' as others in girls-boys or boys-boys relationships. He just did not care, and everyone seemed simply label as 'human being' for him.
Sometimes, people would look at him strangely as they tried to push themselves away, being uncomfortable when he was speaking to them at only a few inches from their faces. Sirius would laugh, as the others arched an eyebrow, wondering what could possibly be happening in his head. Sometimes, the girls tried to take advantage of it, they would come and sensually wrapped their arms around his neck, beating their eyelashes. He would wink at them before detaching himself and would then come back to his friends, wrapping his arm around Remus's shoulders, rolling his eyes. Peter would ask him why he didn't follow that superb Hufflepuff as she was trying to drag him out of the Great Hall and Sirius would tell him that he had other things to do than listening to some girl chuckling at him.
-Seriously, you could at least have dressed up; it's disgusting, I didn't want to see that! No! Sirius no, dress up, now! Remus barely managed to open his eyes under James's outrageous yelling and the barking-like laughter of Sirius. Peter screamed something he did not understand, and he heard applause and songs of happy birthday for a whole minute, Sirius thanking them loudly as the other boys suddenly let out cries disgust Peter screaming that he will now have mental scars of that, chaos seeming to reign in the dormitory.
He heard Peter screamed at the others to push themselves away and he jumped violently when a detonation was heard, sounds of little fireworks echoing in the dormitory while the others applauded more loudly.
He turned with difficulty on his side, trying to sit on the bed, pulling up his sweater that was too big and had slid over his shoulder, his scars seem like they want to crack open again, some being redder than others. He breathed heavily, trying to pull himself together, not wanting to let Frank have a glimpse of his this way. He had to change clothes. He tried to get up but was unable to, and he put a hand on his forehead, unable to stop the room from spinning. Merlin, not today! Not on Sirius' birthday, anytime, but not today! It was ridiculous.
-Moony, are you okay? Asked Peter's voice, as he had pulled him out of the winding of his brain and he nodded, standing up staggering, clinging to Peter to avoid himself from falling, finally realizing what was going on in the dormitory.
Frank was showing his back to them; his ears were red as he was almost choking with laughter, James was screaming incomprehensible words mingling with hiccups of laughter as Sirius was putting on underwear, a crooked smiled hanging on his lips that means he was up to something. Remus blinked his eyes several times before laughing, unable to believe what was happening, shaking his head before staggering again.
- Seriously, Remus, you should be careful before climbing into Sirius' bed. James said laughing. -You're too naive and he doesn't care at all. He added, before approaching him, laying a hand on his shoulder, watching him, his expression of fun changing immediately into a worried one. -Come on, you're gonna be sick. He told him and he quickly led him to the toilet, as silence fell into the dormitory while all that was heard, was the sound of Remus's vomiting.
Shaking from head to foot, he shoved his nails into James's arm to help himself get up, clenching his teeth as other waves of nausea took over him. -Sorry. He said softly to his two friends, clinging a little more to James, to take the glass of water Peter was handing him.
-You should really see some Mediwizards, this is not normal. Frank sighed, as they finally get out of the bathroom, James holding Remus tightly, helping him to sit back in Sirius' bed.
-I'm sorry. Said Remus weakly, looking at Sirius ignoring the others, deliberately not answering Frank's question. -I'm spoiling your birthday. He sighed, taking the wet linen James was holding out to him.
-Hey, I forbid you to say that. Sirius said firmly, raising up Remus's chin to look into his golden eyes. -You ain't spoiling anything, you're sick and you have no control over it. Remus nodded pitifully, as James came to help him go back to bed, and he fell asleep almost immediately, his skin getting paler and paler.
- Don't worry about that, Frank. Peter told him after noticing that he had his gaze fixed on Remus. -He's always like that, you know it, he's got a fragile health, he'll be better in a few days.
Frank made a simple gesture of the hand without adding anything, understanding that it was better not to interfere in their affairs, for as near as he could pretend to be to the Marauders, he knew that he wasn't part of their little close circle and that they had a lot of secrets they refused to share with him. Sometimes, sharing the dormitory with those four boys was a real nightmare.
-So! James said sharply, messing up his hair, turning to Sirius, trying to loosen the atmosphere. - Are you opening or not your gifts, because otherwise, I'll keep them all for myself! And by Merlin, please dress up!
Sirius burst out laughing and quickly grabbed under his bed, black jeans with holes and a Muggle rock band t-shirt, before rushing to the front of his bed where a small stack of gifts awaited him.
He received from James, a Muggle manual on motorcycles, Peter offered him a box full of sweets and Remus some tapes of Muggle rock bands to listen in the walk-man that Lily had left him and was now perfectly functional.
She had also sent him a present, to James's biggest surprise, a pair of new headphones for the walk-man followed by a note that said: Happy Birthday Sirius! I know you managed to make it work and that you appreciate it, you'll see, good quality headphones it will be great.
Frank burst out laughing at the funny face James was displaying as he was reading Lily's birthday note, while Sirius thanked him for the box full of Zonko's stuff he had given him. -That leaves this one. Said James, handing him a package wrapped carefully and beautifully.
Sirius took it slowly to watch it, unpacking the red ribbon that held the package together, Muggle t-shirts of rock bands fell to the ground in a small pile. Led Zepplin, The Who, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stone and even one of the Judas Priest. He nervously grabbed the note that was with the t-shirts, as he recognized Euphemia's handwriting, his smile widened a bit more.
Happy Birthday, son! Fleamont really wanted to send you these Muggle things, since you love them so much! So, it is our family tradition, to offer some beautiful magical watch when a wizard comes of age. Oh, don't worry, I strongly believe that a watch would simply take dust deep down your trunk. Sirius burst out laughing, shaking his head. So we decided, with the whole family, to have a ring made for you, with the Potter's crest, identical to the one James is wearing. I know how much you can love jewelry. Happy Birthday, my boy, we love you. Fleamont and Euphemia.
James laughed and put his hand on Sirius' shoulder, which had crumpled the letter by holding it too hard, his heart nearly exploding as he had to beat his eyelashes several times so that his eyes would stop stinging with tears. He straightened up and grabbed the last little box to get out a golden ring, that was almost identical to the one he already wore. All the rings, with the old wizard families crests, resembled each other more or less, and the real ones were now more difficult to find.
-Can we get down to get our breakfast? Sigh Peter, rubbing his stomach, cutting Sirius's thoughts. -I'm starving.
-Let's go! James exclaimed, grabbing him by the shoulders, whispering something that made him burst out laughing and shook his head, before they both disappeared on the stairs, followed closely by Frank who shouted at them to wait for him.
Sirius turned to his bed and slowly sit next to Remus, gently pushing back some wet lock from his forehead as he looked at him sweating a lot. - We're going down to eat, do you want me to take you to Poppy? He asked Remus.
-No, it's alright, I'll be okay... I... I'll stay here and rest a bit. He replied feebly, painfully opening his eyes. -I'm really sorry. He added, trying to straighten up.
- Stop it Moon', stop apologizing like it was all your fault, it is not, okay. Sirius grumbled, forcing him to lie down, bringing the blankets back on him. -You stay here, you rest and if you don't get better when I come back, we'll go straight away to the Hospital Wing. Here, take that. He said as he took his piece of mirror out of his pocket and placed it next to the pillow near Remus's head. - Call right away, if there's anything wrong, okay.
Remus slowly nodded and closed his eyes, shivering as Sirius ran his fingers through his hair again. He did not see him frowning at him with anxiety, and he simply waved his hand telling him to get down for his breakfast, that everything would be fine for him. Sirius sighed and shook his head, throwing Regulus's ring on his bedside table, looking at the one James's parents had given him, putting it on his finger with a smile. He then turned abruptly toward Remus and came back to kiss his forehead, promising to eat quickly, before hurrying out of the dormitory, leaving behind a blushing Remus.
Wolfstar lover18: thank you very much! ^^ hope you'll like this chapter !