Do you want to stay here watch him die, or let me fix him?
Lily went upstairs to put a sleeping Harry on her bed. Remus was out to find some firewood, and James was doing the dishes.
After putting Harry down and making sure he was comfortable, Lily headed back towards the kitchen.
As she passed Sirius's bedroom, she noticed his door was open. Curious, she took a look and saw his bed was empty.
"Sirius?" she called softly, stepping into his bedroom. There was no response.
Her heart raced as she walked further into the room and saw the bathroom door slightly ajar.
Pushing it open, she gasped at the sight before her. Sirius was lying on the floor, his face pale and his body drenched in sweat. A small pool of blood had formed under his nose.
"Oh my God, Sirius!" Lily rushed to his side, kneeling beside him. "How long have you been like this?"
She gently touched his forehead and gasped at the heat radiating from his skin. "Sirius, wake up!" she called, her voice urgent. "Sirius!"
It took several calls before Sirius began to stir. His eyes fluttered open, unfocused and hazy. For a moment, he seemed unaware of where he was. The pain in his back burned annoyingly, making it hard to concentrate.
"Lily?" he mumbled, trying to sit up slowly. "What are you doing here?"
"I found you on the floor. Are you alright?" Lily said, guiding him to sit up.
Lily looked around, his gaze landing on the bloody toilet and floor. "Oh God, it's too much!" Lily said, her voice trembling. She touched his forehead again and winced. "You're burning up!"
Sirius smiled weakly, trying to downplay his condition. "It's not the first bad cold, Lil," he said, attempting to stand.
He made his way to his bed and sat down, grabbing the blanket and tried to wrap it around himself. "But I would appreciate it if you guys don't wake me up till the morning unless it's necessary."
Lily's worry deepened. "Are you sure? Need any potions? Probably James has something if y—"
Sirius interrupted her quietly. He just needs to keep his wound clean for a few more days. Sure he can handle it. "But the full moon is two days later... Moony will need them more."
Lily didn't seem convinced, so Sirius continued, "What about this—I'll ask them if I don't get better, hm?"
Seeing the concern in her eyes, Sirius managed a reassuring smile. "Now go, I want to sleep."
Lily hesitated but finally nodded. "Alright, but promise you'll tell us if you feel worse."
"I promise, but please let just keep this between you and me. You know James could be such a mother hen and Moony already lectured me!" Sirius replied, watching her leave the room.
Once alone, Sirius leaned back against the wall, immediately regretting it as his wound burned like hell. "Bad idea," he muttered to himself.
He knew he needed to clean it; getting infected was the last thing he needed. He wanted to grab some clean bandages, lock the door, and go back to the bathroom to wash it, but he was exhausted.
"Tomorrow morning," he promised himself, pulling the blanket closer and falling into a fitful sleep, hoping he would feel better by then.
---
It was midnight when Sirius suddenly woke up by the sensation of spell-broke which he had set around the house.
Someone was coming.
He immediately sat up, which made him feel lightheaded. He squeezed his eyes shut before trying to stand.
Walking without falling was a challenge. When he went downstairs, he saw James shielding Lily and baby Harry while Remus pointed his wand at a Death Eater. But it wasn't just any Death Eater—it was Regulus.
Regulus softly raised his hands and smiled. "Did you miss me, brother?"
James glanced back and saw Sirius standing there, looking even paler than he had earlier. But Remus's harsh demand, "What the hell are you doing here, Death Eater?" drew all eyes back to him and Regulus. Remus's wand was still trained on Regulus, who stood calmly.
Sirius stepped forward, feeling the tension. The full moon was close, and Remus was on edge. "Let me talk to him," Sirius said.
"We need to leave, right now," Remus replied harshly. "They've found us. It's not safe here anymore."
James moved to stand beside Remus.
"Yes! you need to leave," Regulus repeated.
Remus raised his wand, but Sirius pushed it down, his heart aching. Regulus was still his baby brother.
Suddenly, Remus pinned Sirius to the wall, holding him still. Sirius gasped, his back burning like hell, tears pricking his eyes.
"Why do you always, ALWAYS have to be reckless and idiotic?" Remus demanded, his voice trembling with anger. "Can't you understand what kind of mess we're in?"
Regulus wanted to step forward, but James raised his wand as a warning. Now James and Regulus were looking into each other's eyes.
"Rem... let him go," James said without breaking his gaze from Regulus.
But Remus didn't release Sirius. He was angry, hurt, and confused.
Why are you always against me? Why are you like this? Why did you break up with me without any explanation? Didn't I deserve at least that?
Sirius tried to move Remus’s hands, his heart pounding, feeling like it would leap out of his chest. He felt like he would pass out any second, and the nausea made everything worse. He was determined not to throw up blood in front of everyone.
"Let go of me," Sirius said, his voice weak. He didn't feel good enough to argue with him. He just wanted to go back to his bedroom, lay down even for a minute. He couldn't throw up here.
Regulus, seeing the pain in Sirius's eyes, quietly but firmly said, "You better let him go."
Remus replied. "Or what?"
But even James repeated the same thing and said. "That's enough Moony. Let him go."
Sirius was shivering now, feeling cold and weak. He tried but he didn't have enough strength to remove Remus’s hand. He was drenched in sweat, his eyes heavy. "I don't feel well. Let ... let me go," he whispered.
Sirius's nose starting to bleed, and his eyes rolling back. Regulus's urgent yell, "Let him go!" was enough to make Remus release his grip. But Sirius slipped down the wall, leaving streaks of blood behind as he fell unconscious.
Lily gasped and wanted to run to Sirius, but Regulus's presence made her hesitate. She could only call out, "Remus?!"
Remus's hands started shaking, blood dripping from the corner of Sirius's mouth. His anger faded, replaced by fear.
Regulus looked at James, his voice steady. "Do you want to stay here watch him die, or let me fix him?"
James glanced at Sirius, then back at Regulus, confused and desperate. "What?" he asked, his voice breaking.