Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. Or Sirius's quote.

AN: Thanks for the b-day tip. Years ago they had it listed as Aug. 3rd, but I'm totally fine with it being in November XD. Glad to see there's still people interested in my fic, thank you for your reviews! I managed this chap. Dunno when I'll get the next done. Ridiculous amount of HW for school D :

Special News: Shameless promotion, I just started another HP fic: Legacy, starring Walburga Black...because the woman gets no love from the fandom and come on "the world isn't split into good people and Death Eaters." And I loved the idea of seeing bits of Regulus's and Sirius's qualities, quirks, flaws, and strengths as originating largely from her and Orion (ya know, just in different blends and amounts and aimed in different directions).

Chapter 15: You Turned Your Back On All That

Regulus frowned at the medical bracelet on his wrist detailing which patient he was and all that rubbish, it reminded him of a marked down tag...like he was for sale in a shop somewhere! And for a bargain!?

He pushed the paper wrapping of his sandwich further down and took a greedier bite than either of his parents would've approved of to finish his meal off, but no censoring came...as it hadn't come for a long while now. He tried not to feel anything at that.

It had been a fair sandwich, a little plain, but he understood that it had to be if it was to garner the medical staff's approval.

He'd been surprised earlier though, when Sirius traipsed in carrying a bag of food. Or the easy smile that had been sent his way.

As if this was some ordinary afternoon.

As if they were brothers with a good rapport.

As if Sirius wasn't a bloodtraitor.

He'd had vague memories of his brother being around earlier than this but assumed it was either part of a vision or a straight up hallucination from the medication coursing through his veins.

Still, he had to admit the food (though it came from an unwelcome bearer) was leaps and bounds better than the swill they tried to force on him earlier.

Sirius fiddled with the wrapping of his own sandwich.

It looked like it had peppers and olives and more interesting ingredients. He was a little jealous.

Maybe after Grandfather got him discharged from hospital, he might have Black Manor's elves make him one.

He knew Grandfather was currently talking with the head healer to get an idea of the scope of his condition.

Personally, he thought he felt well enough to be on his way. He'd gone to class feeling far worse than this.

"-So, do you think you'll want to register yourself?"

"Wot?" Regulus chewed and swallowed.

Sirius wrapped the remaining bits of his meal up and set it on a small table nearby. "You know...so they can give you any...supplements or...things you need to deal with the visions?"

No.

No, he had to have heard that wrong. He had to be referring to the medications he'd need to combat the poisoning he'd endured.

"Come again?"

Sirius moved his chair closer. "I...I know."

Regulus blinked.

"I...I know...about...you…" He lowered his voice to a whisper, "about...er, your Seer abilities."

Regulus froze and then hissed back lowly, "Who the hell told you?"

How had he been found out?!

Sirius laughed a little awkwardly and scratched an ear. "Er, w-well, you...did."

"...I...told you?"

He gave a nervous nod. "Earlier...when you were...really...medicated. You told me."

Regulus balled up the paper his sandwich had come in and threw it into waste bin in the far corner. He then calmly removed the pillow from behind his head, placed it over his face, and screamed. Then he set the pillow back under his head, turned back to Sirius and said, "Go on."

The elder teen stared and then blinked and then continued, "Er...yeah…Anyways, do you want to tell them or-or do you want me to tell them?"

The room felt like it was shrinking and he started breathing harder.

It was sensitive information...in the wrong hands...

"..."

Damnation. Just when he thought his life couldn't get more complicated, and now this!

"I just-I-I don't think it's something that...that should just be...left as is...I mean, they might have resources...people who can...can help you. You...you told me you, uh, sleepwalk? Because of it? Or you faint? That's...that's dangerous. You could...get hurt, fall downstairs or...I...I want you to register...so you can get help for it."

Nonononononono. This was bad, this was...nononono he could salvage this somehow.

"..."

He jumped when a hand touched his shoulder. "Regulus?" Sirius hesitated and then moved from his chair to sit down on the hospital bed. "Soooo?"

"...I'm not registering."

Sirius sighed, and to his surprise, motioned for him to budge over.

And he was too shocked to resist when Sirius reclined on the bed next to him.

"Reg." Sirius carefully maneuvered himself under the tubes so he wouldn't crush any of the I.V.s. "I'm not an expert in this area, but I think-er...Um, don't a lot of untreated seers end up going mad from revelations and that sort of-"

"I'm not regis-"

Sirius's face darkened with irritation. He poked him lightly. "Oi, you're being stupid. If this can hurt you, then you need to-"

"Oh yeah? You register for being an Animagus, then."

Sirius's mouth immediately opened to protest that that was entirely different.

"See?" Regulus gloated. "You won't do it. It'd put an end to all your little nights out, eh? Padfoot? Well, my case is a little more complicated than that."

He wasn't sure what would happen if it became known. What Bellatrix would do to exploit it…?

He repressed a shudder.

"So you're saying-"

"You rat me out," Regulus took care to enunciate. "I'll rat you out."

Sirius's face went very pale and his lips pursed until they were white.

And Regulus knew he'd won.

He settled back into his pillow and enjoyed the tense silence that followed.

He was contemplating how best to provoke his brother into leaving the room altogether when that awful Mrs. Potter, her husband, and...Potter, entered the room.

"Isn't it supposed to be family only?" he grumbled dryly. "Isn't it enough to bear the visitors I've had already? And this?" He elbowed his brother. "The thing that won't leave."

"Your Grandfather's sister, Dorea, married my cousin's father," Mr. Potter replied. "We're family."

Regulus's mouth twisted. "W-well, technically I s'pose but-"

"Oh, you poor dears," Mrs. Potter murmured heading straight for them. "James said a recital or a-a school pageant of sorts—went wrong?"

Regulus shrugged. "Complication."

He expected his brother to interject. He didn't.

"...Bit of...poison."

"Snape really poisoned you?!" James blurted, sounding aghast. "I thought you were best mates?!"

Regulus rolled his eyes. "Don't be daft. If he was going to kill me, he'd make it look like an accident."

Which, apparently, wasn't the right thing to say because everyone stared at him oddly for that.

"You were poisoned?" Mr. Potter repeated. "Goodness...never off the job for long." He flashed a badge and then pulled out a notepad and quill, which was enchanted to take notes in shorthand.

Blast. That was right. He was an Auror. It was easy to forget because he was so damn old. More a fixture of his office than in the lead of it.

"Honey? Do you think you can find the healer in charge of Regulus's case?"

Mrs. Potter nodded and swept from the room.

"Okay, Regulus." Mr. Potter smiled and moved to stand near the foot of the bed.

He had untidy gray hair that went in every direction and it almost distracted from the bald spots he was developing.

Like his son, he wore glasses. Worse, he was just like his son in that he donned that...same infuriating confidence. Like he could just do anything.

Regulus crossed his arms. He was too tired for this. His eyes began looking to the door.

Perhaps his grandfather could stall this until he had his wits about him.

At present, Regulus wasn't sure what more he might reveal. For God's sake, he'd already waffled on about his powers to Sirius!

Sensing the distrust, Mr. Potter tried to play it friendly. "Easy, easy. Just want to hear what you can tell me. My department often works and overlaps with the Department of Magical Law Enforcement."

The doubts of his parents rose to the forefront of his mind and considering how they'd spirited away his father to Azkaban despite promising him a trial...which he didn't get...

He pushed himself deeper against the pillow.

"..."

The tide of the Ministry was turning; more welcoming of the new and against the old families.

He couldn't quite suppress the shudder, which made Sirius turn to him.

"Y-you know, he, er, just wants to help."

"Indeed." The man tried to give Regulus's foot a fond pat, but the boy moved it out of

reach. "Now, have the healers told you what poison you were dealing with?"

He gave a reluctant nod.

"Well? Let's have it."

"Arsenique? A-arsenic?"

He felt Sirius tense.

Mr. Potter paused and swallowed uncomfortably. "A muggle poison? Interesting. They tell you anything about the manner of exposure?"

"...Ingested."

"I see. Duration?"

He shrugged.

"That's a nasty one to be sure. At least, they caught it in time."

Regulus nodded. Was there any way to leave the room? The tubes leading into his arms looked...important, but if the only way to evade this encounter was to pull them free...

"What's wrong? Are you uncomfortable?" Sirius hastily removed himself from the bed and rather paranoidly checked the tubing. "Doesn't look like anything's loose. Is it something else? Are you in pain? Maybe I should grab a med-witch?"

"Potter, you trying to chase me out of a job?" A middle aged woman in the doorway smiled.

"McKinnon!" he greeted.

She came in with a wizard whose tag read Healer Jackson and Pollux in tow. Regulus vaguely recognized him as the healer who'd come in and out of his room rifling through papers.

She took the open seat by Regulus's bed, forcing Sirius to fall back, while the healer checked him over.

"Potter, could I have you clear the room while I get a statement from Mr. Black-"

Mr. Potter gestured to the older teens. "This is James and Sirius. They'd appreciate seeing us at work. They're training up to be Aurors."

"My Marlene is interested in that too. Not her brother though. They go to school with you boys."

"Yes, ma'am," James answered.

"Would you mind if they stayed?" Mr. Potter requested.

"That's fine, we need new recruits. You two out, yet?"

"Next year."

"Ah, so you'll be in our summer internship?"

They nodded.

"Good." She re-focused her attention on Regulus. "So, arsenic. That's no fun. I've got a report here with a list of visits you've made to the Hogwarts infirmary for the last two years."

Regulus nodded slowly.

"Multiple respiratory infections, fainting episodes, malaise, anything else?"

The healer watched him attentively.

"Not...hungry…"

"Loss of appetite." The healer nodded encouragingly.

"...Can't...sleep…"

"Insomnia."

He tried not to squirm under the stares and scritching of quills. Did there need to be so many people in here? "Just...pain...sometimes."

The healer nodded at him and then made eye contact with McKinnon. "That's very normal. Those are all symptoms consistent with this type of poisoning." He looked at Regulus once more. "I just wish we could have tended to you sooner, Mr. Black. Nearly two years...You're very lucky your magic rallied itself against it. We believe we won't need to regrow any of your organs. Though, they are in need of-"

"So you can discharge me?"

The healer chuckled. "Not yet, Mr. Black. You're a bit anemic so we'd like to replenish your blood as well as purify it."

"How long do you think that will take?"

Jackson chuckled and consulted a clipboard. "Have you somewhere pressing to be?"

"...Don't like hospitals," Regulus admitted.

The man smiled ruefully. "I hear that a lot. Now, are you in any pain?"

Regulus sighed and nodded. While his head had been getting progressively clearer, his sense of pain was increasing and he said as much.

"Alright then, let me get you something for that."

Regulus watched him leave and wished he could escape as easily. There were too many people in the room.

"Alright, love." McKinnon tapped her notepad with a muggle ballpoint pen. "Let's try to get through this quickly so you can get back to resting."

Regulus's nose wrinkled with distaste.

"Now, can you think of any enemies you or your parents might have?"

"..."

"Or perhaps any strange happenings at your home?"

"..."

"Your uncle, I think, remarked that your house had lots of wards on it?"

"..."

"I got to see some of them. They were quite good. Especially for your age."

Regulus frowned. "My mother was ill. Or she'd have done it herself."

"Yes, she was ill for quite a long time? Wasn't she, Regulus? Why didn't you tell anyone?"

Regulus picked at the medical bracelet. "...I hoped she'd recover...he was supposed to be out by now."

"He? Oh, your father?" She sighed.

"..."

"Yes, his trial was...postponed, wasn't it?"

He glared.

McKinnon had the grace to look uncomfortable at that. "I'll...try to look into that, see what's holding it up. Now, do you think this is connected to what he's been accused of?"

"..."

"It had to be scary. Having him gone, having an ill mum, being the only one in the house...aware?"

"..."

"Regulus, I promise you, we're the good guys. Anything you can tell us will only help us protect you."

Regulus's gray eyes slowly slid over to where his grandfather was leaning against the doorframe.

He needed another opinion.

"Where's your house elf?" Pollux asked.

McKinnon perked up. "You have a house elf? Can you please call him?"

"...Just a servant...doesn't concern-"

"He failed in his duties," Pollux stated calmly. "He is to perform spells ensuring the sanctity of the pantry and the meals he fixes-

"Kreacher's old," Regulus argued. "He can't help-"

"Summon him."

"..."

"Kreacher! Appear!"

There was a great crack and the old wrinkled elf was before them.

Kreacher sighed and reluctantly bowed at his summoner, grumbling, "How might I serve young master...Sirius?"

Regulus stared. His brother never summoned their house elf. Hated the thing with a vengeance for its constant tattling and disapproval and general...dislike.

But...

Considering he was disowned, he shouldn't have been able to summon him at all! Let alone give orders!

McKinnon raised an annoyed eyebrow at Potter. "You left out the part that they were related."

Regulus sat up more fully. "Kreacher, your services aren't necessary. I will answer their questions. You leave my servant be, McKinnon. Kreacher, go-"

"Kreacher, stay," Sirius growled.

He tried again. "Master Regulus rules that you don't have to answer all of her questions-"

"Master Sirius says you do."

The elf sighed and gave Regulus a mournful look over his shoulder and turned back to Sirius muttering about disgraceful lords.

Regulus looked to his grandfather, who shrugged and had the audacity to look amused with how this was turning out.

He mouthed, 'Grandfather, do something.'

The eldest Black gestured to Sirius and mouthed back, 'Heir.'

He felt his stomach flop. Impossible. After everything that bloodtraitor had done, his mother would still leave Sirius as heir of their household?!

Unless…

His father's signature was required to legally disenfranchise him or something…

Dammit.

It meant that until Orion was out of Azkaban, Sirius had more power than him in matters like this because of birth order.

Heir versus Spare.

He had to appeal to Sirius's vulnerable, muggle loving, hero-saving-the-weak, Gryffindor side. "Sirius, be reasonable. He's old, he can't be expected to-"

"Kreacher is a bad house elf," Sirius hissed down at their servant. "Kreacher failed his duties."

"Sirius," James murmured, hazel eyes looking surprised.

"He's a bad house elf!" Sirius repeated, glaring at his friend. "They're supposed to check for all poisons. ALL poisons. Not just wizarding ones."

James went very white.

"The family Kreacher serves was poisoned!" Sirius growled.

The elf gasped and looked to Regulus in horror.

"Youngest Master!"

"Yes. And his Mistress!" Sirius barked.

The elf's eyes went huge and made guttural sounds of distress. Like the shame would strangle him.

"It's alright, Kreacher," Regulus forgave.

The poor, wretched thing looked ready to cry.

He ignored the furious look Sirius sent him.

McKinnon cleared her throat. "Have there been strange happenings at the house?"

Kreacher turned to her and muttered about rude unladylike women. His mistress never wore trousers. Never. A lady.

"Yes," Regulus answered. "We had a few...break-ins a while ago. Right after Father was...taken."

"Why didn't you report it?"

"Didn't take anything."

Sirius made a frustrated sound.

Because it was very obvious now what the intent had been.

"How did you know?" she asked.

He shrugged. "Just...little things. Drawers, cupboards, doors left open. That sort of thing.

Never big. Just...just little things. Like someone had been through. At first, I thought it was just a family member."

"Couldn't it have been your mother?"

Healer Jackson piped in, "Arsenic poisoning also presents itself in your mother's symptoms. Delirium, hallucinations, confusion, wandering around...that sort of thing."

"...It wasn't her."

McKinnon looked pained at hearing all that and addressed Kreacher instead of him, "Kreacher? Were there break-ins? Did you ever see anyone?"

"I never saw anyone break in."

She nodded.

"But…" he hesitated but seeing Sirius' glare continued haltingly, "Master Orion's wards kept failing. Ever since the Visiting...they've been...failing...can't keep the unwanted...out. Things creeping in, vermin too-"

Mr. Potter frowned. "The 'Visiting?'"

Regulus froze. Anything but that. Anything. But. That.

And he couldn't even tell Kreacher to stop.

"He's talking about a cleansing," Pollux remarked candidly. "Old families, such as ours, must partake in those now and then when certain members fail to uphold the dignity of their roles in the family."

Sirius went very still and tried to catch Regulus's eye.

All the adults of the room gave Pollux a look of trepidation. He shrugged, "I imagine Orion's wards were...weakened by that."

Mr. Potter gave him a searching look. "Can you elaborate on what happened during the Vis-"

"Alas, I wasn't present and can tell no more."

Regulus stared determinedly at the ceiling.

"Potter? You've got an old family name. Can you elaborate on the ritual? What can be expected?"

Mr. Potter's face darkened. "James, Sirius, wait outside."

"Dad!?"

"No!"

"Wait outside."

"But-"

"Hell n-"

"Now!" the elder man ordered gravely.

James pulled at Sirius who tried to shove him away. "What happens in a cleansing?"

Pollux moved out of the doorway and crossed the room to sit on the bed, clasping his hands pleasantly and smiling rather nastily.

"What happens in a cleansing?" Sirius demanded of them as James dragged him from the room. And only succeeded because Mrs. Potter arrived then with a healer who helped pull his near-hysterical brother back. "Reggie? Reggie, what happens? What happened? What did they do to y-"

Regulus shuddered.

He drew in a harsh breath, composed himself and looked his brother in the eye. "You're a bloodtraitor. And I want you to leave."

And it was something that…

Right in that moment before Regulus lost control of his temper and his magic and the door slammed between them hard enough to send cracks through it…

Sirius's grey eyes dared to look betrayed.

Salem laid on the bed staring up at the cracks in the ceiling plaster before eyeing the school robes hanging in the room's wardrobe. He really needed to purchase some everyday robes if he was going to remain incognito. The school term had ended a week ago and Dumbledore provided him some funds to rent a room at the Leaky Cauldron until the next term started.

However, he'd still need to find some manner of employment over the summer if he was going to have any additional purchasing power.

He was planning on strolling down Diagon Alley to see if there were any "Help Wanted" Ads willing to accept a fourteen year old...who could easily transform himself into a fifteen year old or older should the need arise.

He may even shed the disguise altogether if necessary.

Though if Regulus had been suspicious of his adult form being a relative in one meeting, it was likely the rest of their family would grow interested in him as well.

He toyed with the idea of developing a secondary disguise but…

He didn't want "Salem" to disappear altogether. It was a persona that let him keep one foot in the door of his brother's life and he wasn't quite willing to lose it.

He wished Dumbledore would just let him confide all he knew of the future, the old warlock remained disinterested, though he did advise him to wait for instructions on the Order...which was something.

He wasn't really in the mood to start on 5th Year summer work so if there was something more constructive he could be doing with his energy and time, he was ready to jump at it.

And he had plenty of nervous energy to spare.

He was worried about Regulus...and his younger self. Neither had returned following the Draught of Death disaster.

It was a deviation from the past he'd experienced and it worried him.

He was contemplating whether to ask Tom, the innkeeper, if he could borrow an owl to mail

Regulus a letter when there came a tapping on the window.

A surge of relief swept through him at the sight of Regulus's owl.

"Archimedes," he welcomed, letting it into the room.

He removed its message, read it over, and...struggled with himself over what to do. His brother was recovering at Black Manor under the eye of their evil grandfather and former family patriarch.

Reluctant wasn't a strong enough word for what he was feeling.

The eagle owl groomed itself while Salem hesitantly pulled out a quill and scratched out his acceptance to the invitation Regulus had sent him on visiting at the end of this week to, according to the letter, "help him mourn his Exam grades."

Apparently, he had an exam practitioner coming to give him his tests earlier in the day but expected to be free by the late afternoon.

Which seemed...strangely optimistic about the duration.

Or maybe he wasn't using "mourn" ironically.

Hopefully, that didn't mean he was just going to cheerfully take a "T" for Potions by signing his name on the exam and doing nothing more.

Still, it was time enough for Salem to find better robes at Madam Malkin's shop and if there was a spring clearance sale, it wouldn't put him out of pocket.

He could use time out and about.

Regulus's diary was becoming steadily more depressing to read as it began dwelling on more abstract feelings of dread and night terrors rather than actual events.

He was obsessed with drowning. If Salem recalled their Divination class, it was likely some feeling of being overwhelmed which, given his circumstances, was understandable. But...it probably wouldn't hurt if Salem gauged for himself how skilled a swimmer Regulus was.

They had all summer and he could always give him a few pointers if he really was piss poor at it.

James watched his best friend pace his bedroom like a caged thing. He'd been spending all his time flitting between home and hospital. Sometimes he was turned away, other times he was accepted. He found that offering his tutoring services worked best to gain entrance, but he was neglecting his own studies.

Whenever James brought that up, Sirius brushed him off with a, "I'll just study the night before."

And now that Regulus was discharged into Pollux's care…

He seemed paranoid that his family would close ranks and he wouldn't see him anymore.

"I want to use veritaserum," Sirius insisted as he turned over a key to Black Manor in his hands.

The Department of Law Enforcement had sent him an official summons to submit to questioning revolving the case.

"You haven't graduated from Hogwarts yet, they usually don't allow-"

"I want to use veritaserum so they can clear me and find the one responsible."

James nodded. They'd owled Moony and Wormtail to get them up to speed on what was happening and were waiting for a reply.

"You know I'll be a suspect, James!" his voice was full of grief.

The hazel eyed teen swallowed. "...I know."

"I left! We-my parents and I were quarrelling. I'm the muggle lover, remember? How's that going to look? Terrible! It'll look terrible! I HAVE to take veritaserum. It's the only way I can...I swear I didn't do it, James! I-I wouldn't do that to them."

He looked his friend in the eye. "Sirius, I know you. You couldn't do it."

"What if they bring up what happened at school? With Snape?"

James flinched at being reminded of that. That had really strained their friendship but…"Well, let's assume you're not a mass murderer who gets a giggle over bloodshed. Which I think we can do. Snape is...Snape. Let's focus on this. What would be your motive?"

"They're going to say it was revenge." His breath was inconstant and he seemed well on the verge of having a breakdown. "I was estranged and at odds-"

"Revenge for what?"

"For the inheritance that's my due as heir. The-the title of Patriarch, eventually-"

"But you turned your back on all that."

Sirius faltered.

"So, I think it's safe to say, money doesn't motivate you. And let's say you did want to simply eliminate the competition for parental attention or vent your rage by giving Regulus the axe—hoping that without him you'd magically wring the money or the power or whatever out of your parents."

Sirius turned a nasty shade of green.

Jame pressed on. "Why would you be the one insisting he be brought to hospital? You'd have more to gain by staying silent and letting him kick-"

"But who knows the house better than me? I'd sometimes leave things open because I knew it vexed Mother and Kreacher…back when I lived there. The break-ins. Regulus didn't say it but...but he did mention he thought it was a family member. He probably thought it was me…" he choked. "He probably thought it was me, James!...that I came through to grab things I forgot. And they were poisoning him instead. Multiple times! I overheard them, James. My family, they...they said...they said it was in the sugar. It was multiple times because they go through sugar so fast. That...that monster was restocking..."

"Sirius…"

"No. No, you don't understand. It's supposed to be warded like a fortress. Only family is supposed to..." Sirius ran his hands through his hair. "I think of him being in that house...knowing it's not secure and I just...how did he sleep?"

James wisely didn't point out that Regulus himself had said...that he didn't. Insomnia. Either provided by poison or paranoia.

"I think about him walking home from the station to-to go home to-to Mum being...like that...and the house being...and I...I...what the devil is a 'Visiting?' A-a 'Cleansing?'"

James tried to change the subject a bit. His father refused to answer and his mother wouldn't talk about it either. "Well, Pads, you're part bloodhound alright. You sniffed it out. Something was wrong. You were right and you helped. He's...better off." The situation was far from perfect, but being "not poisoned" seemed like a definite step in the right direction.

"I still can't believe Pollux invited you. Your very own key. But, I mean, you're not actually going to go...right?"

"I hate that place and him. I...I...but...I just...I...I don't know how else I'll get to see Reggie…and there's the matter of…the exam practitioner and then...there's the matter of..."

"Of?"

"Well, he said..."

This was getting frustrating. "Who's he and what did he say?"

"Pollux asked if...if I was willing to...to…do what was needed since there were things Regulus shouldn't have to deal with while recovering."

"And?"

"I...I agreed."

James stared. "You agreed?"

"...I'm the eldest. And, apparently, Mum and Dad haven't changed the will over yet...so...so I AM still the heir. There are supposed to be things I'm meant to handle."

"And that means...what precisely?"

"That...there are still some...expectations of how I'm supposed to conduct myself in fallout disasters like this-"

"I thought that was what you were trying to leave behind?"

"I know!"

James felt himself growing angry at the thought of Sirius being dragged back into that Pureblood mess. "Sirius, you said-"

"I know! I KNOW! But if I don't go Grandfather will take Regulus instead. He said so. He said I could choose to go or no but for Regulus there'd be no choice. If he tells him where he's going, Reggie will go. He'll just...go. And I believe him. You heard him during the questioning. The way he just...took it all. You know how he climbed the tower."

James stared. What now? His best mate and chosen brother was cracking up. James could hardly follow his train of reasoning.

"Don't you get it? He's not well. He isn't!"

He wasn't the only one.

"He's not afraid of anything anymore, Jamie. It's not the same as us. We've got each other's backs. We measure risks. He doesn't. Or if he does, his senses aren't calibrated right. Pollux doesn't want him there. God, I don't want him there. I don't want him to get worse. I don't know what being around them could do to him."

James was losing his patience. How was he supposed to help if Sirius wouldn't confide in him. "Where?!"

"Azkaban...to...to visit Dad."

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