Lost Memory #1
Remus and Sirius had stayed back in the dorm while James and Peter were busy somewhere else, probably playing another prank.
"Hey Sirius, why do you have a black eye and bruises when you come back from breaks?
Sirius was caught off guard with the question. No one ever asked him that. They always assumed he got into a fight on the train back to Hogwarts or something similar.
"Oh uh. Some of the Slytherins like to start things. You know how they are. " Sirius said, playing it off as playful, hoping Remus wouldn't see through his obvious lie.
Of course Remus had and gave him a questioning look.
"Sirius, you don't have to lie to me."
Sirius kept his sly and nonchalant attitude for as long as he could. He didn't know what to say.
"My mother can be a little...harsh" Sirius said as if it was nothing, as if it was normal
Remus's face morphed into a sympathetic look. He wasn't stupid, really he was the smartest person Sirius knew. Sirius could see Remus knew exactly what he meant.
Remus hadn't probed into Sirius's home life before, despite the fact that Sirius always appeared so put-together, unflappable. This was different
"Your mother does this to you?" Remus asked softly, his eyes widening slightly as he put the pieces together.
He had heard rumors about the Black family being cold, but he had never considered that Sirius might be experiencing abuse at home. They were purebloods. Although to Remus he assumed they were awful but this was a low he barely considered.
Uh, yah" Sirius didn't know what to say. Sirius black speechless? That was new.
Remus's heart ached at the sight of Sirius's vulnerability. Without thinking, he reached out and gently touched Sirius's cheek.
"That's not right, Sirius," he said quietly, his thumb brushing against Sirius's skin.
"No one deserves to be hurt like that
Sirius looked at Remus then his hand. Remus's hand was soft despite his scars and all the work he does. It felt nice against Sirius' skin. Maybe he could hold it, or maybe lean in and kiss hi- no, no. Sirius forced his eyes to look away, he shouldn't be feeling like this towards his friend. They were just friends. That's all.
“She uh, pureblood you know. Always wanting us to be perfect”
Remus raised his brows. Sure Sirius was far from perfect but nobody was perfect. He retracted his hand with a sympathetic look in his eyes.
“Pureblood or not she shouldn't be hitting her children”
Sirius knew that. He never thought it was right, he thought about running away a lot but where would he go? Nobody would want him to stay with them.
Without thinking Sirius started a ramble. A ramble about his mother, their house, the things he was put through never day there and only stopped when he felt arms wrap around him. Remus was hugging him.
“I'm sorry” Remus suddenly said.
“For what” Sirius had said, feeling tears at the corners of his eyes ready to fall the next time he blinked.
“That you have to deal with that, that I- we weren't there to help.”
Remus was so kind, Sirius didn't deserve it. He felt the tears flow and he hugged him back, clutching on to his sweater.
“Sirius”