I'd do anything for my padfoot. (Prongsfoot) 🤍🩷
Sirius stumbled through the door of the Gryffindor boys' dormitory, every inch of him aching like he'd gone twelve rounds with a hippogriff. He barely managed to shut the door behind him before his legs gave out, and he slid down the wood with a soft, winded groan.
"Fuck..." he breathed, pain rippling through his ribs and shoulders like fire. Whatever curse Snape had hit him with—it wasn't one he wanted to experience again anytime soon.
"Padfoot?"
The voice was soft, startled. Sirius blinked blearily up to see James, sitting on the edge of his own bed, looking over at him with wide, horrified eyes.
"Prongs...?" Sirius slurred. "Didn't know—didn't know you were here..."
James was across the room in a second, crouching down in front of him, warm hands catching Sirius's jaw with a gentleness that made something inside him twist. His thumb brushed lightly across a bruise blooming along Sirius's cheekbone.
"Merlin. What the hell did Snivellus do to you?" James whispered, voice tight with barely suppressed rage.
Sirius gave a watery laugh that turned into a grimace. "Jus' wanted to try something... s'posed to be funny, I wasn't gonna hurt him or anything... and he hit me with some bloody curse—dunno what it was..." His voice cracked at the end, and James could see the tears gathering at the corners of his dark eyes.
James said nothing for a moment, just swallowed hard, and slid an arm behind Sirius, gripping his shoulder to hoist him up with slow, careful movements. He guided him over to the bed and eased him down onto the mattress, tucking a blanket around him with quiet efficiency.
"Stay here," James murmured, brushing Sirius's damp fringe from his forehead. "I'm gonna go talk to Snape."
Sirius gave a faint whimper of protest, but before he could stop him, James pressed a soft kiss to his cheek and was already straightening up, his jaw clenched and his eyes dark with fury.
[Forty Minutes Later]
James stood over Snape's doubled-up form in the shadows of the corridor, breathing heavily. One sharp kick to the gut—nothing too damaging, but enough to make a point. He didn't say a word. He didn't need to.
With a final glare, he turned on his heel and stormed off, fists clenched and head low. His footsteps echoed through the empty corridors as he made his way back to Gryffindor Tower, ignoring the greetings from the students he passed. He didn't look at anyone, didn't say a word.
One thought on his mind: Sirius.
He reached the Fat Lady's portrait and gave the password. It swung open without a fuss. The common room was still lively with the usual post-dinner noise, but James barely registered it. He climbed the stairs two at a time and pushed the dormitory door open.
Sirius was still curled up in bed, pale and quiet, but he looked up when James entered.
James shut the door behind him with a gentle click and crossed the room, sitting down at the edge of Sirius's bed. His fingers automatically found Sirius's hair, running through the dark strands as though trying to soothe the pain away.
"You alright, Padfoot?" he asked softly.
Sirius gave a tiny nod, his eyes glassy but less pained. "Yeah... yeah, 'm alright. Starting to wear off, whatever it was."
James gave a quiet hum of relief and shifted closer. His hand moved to cup Sirius's cheek, his thumb brushing lightly along the line of his jaw.
"You don't have to worry about him hurting you again," James murmured, eyes locked on Sirius's. "I made sure of that."
Sirius blinked at him, lips parting slightly as the words settled in the air between them. There was something unspoken there, thick and raw. Trust. Protection. Maybe even guilt.
And then, just barely above a whisper:
"I love you."
James froze. Just for a heartbeat. Then his expression softened like melting wax, and he leaned forward, pressing their foreheads together.
"I know," he whispered back. "I love you too, Padfoot."