Fear
Sirius sighed, leaning over the table.
“No leads” he said.
“Are you sure you’re okay mate?” James asked. “Maybe you shouldn’t be on this case”.
Sirius eyed him angrily. “This is my job. What makes you think I can’t do this?”
“Your parents died, Sirius” Lily chimed in unhelpfully.
“They weren’t my parents anymore. The royal family requested the best detectives for the job, they’re going to get them”. Sirius said confidently.
“Okay Sirius, but if you need to stop, just tell us”. Remus hugged him gently.
“You all need to stop babying me. I’m fine”, said Sirius. “If anything, I’m relieved”.
“Alright then, back to the case” said Marlene. “Did Princess Pandora give us any details? Any information at all? Or are we going into this blind?”
“Lady Walburga and Lord Orion were murdered with a knife around 8:30 pm yesterday. Prince Evan was last seen by Princess Pandora at 8:23”. Informed James.
“So, how big of a chance that these are unrelated events?” Asked Mary.
“Practically zero” said Sirius. “Nothing is ever a coincidence with royals”. He rubbed the back of his neck uncomfortably.
“What’s up Padfoot?” Remus asked.
“Oh it’s nothing…”
Remus raised a brow.
“I feel her presence” Sirius whispered to Remus.
“Walburga?”
“Yes. I can feel her looming over me, and I know it’s stupid-“
“It’s never stupid, Sirius. You can sleep over at my place tonight to be safe”.
Sirius grinned. “She’s dead, Moony. But if you want me to come over…”
Remus rolled his eyes. “Just come over, Sirius. We can invite James and make a sleepover out of it”.
James’ eyes lit up with joy. “Yes! If you want to come too, you can of course,” James turned to the girls. “But you probably don’t want to”.
Remus rolled his eyes. “Two grown adults. This is what I have to deal with”.
“Aw, you know you love me, Moony” said Sirius.
“Of course I do. And you, Prongs”.
***
That night, Sirius was shivering. His eyes fluttered whenever he tried to close them and he couldn’t fall asleep long after Remus and James had drifted off. He wrapped his arms around Remus, feeling the warmth of his body, his heartbeat.
Despite his surroundings being the safest thing he could imagine - his best friends, warm and cozy bed, he felt scared. He kept hearing something. A slight tap, then a shuffle. He was probably just imagining it, but he debated waking up Remus. He wouldn't be angry, he knew what Sirius had been through with that woman. Sirius was sure Remus would support him through everything. So he tapped his shoulder. It was enough for Remus to sit up immediately.
"What is it?" he whispered.
"I hear something" Sirius responded.
Remus glanced over at James who was still sleeping peacefully. He turned his gaze back to Sirius and hugged him.
"You're safe".
"Please listen. I need to know I'm not going crazy".
The sat in silence for a minute, limbs intertwined in an embrace. Then, there was a slight creak. It was closer than before. Another shuffle. Sirius lifted his head off of Remus' shoulder.
"There it is".
"I heard that too," said Remus, turning his head to the door. "Look".
The door handle was slightly turned downwards. Sirius panicked. He tapped James' shoulder.
"Hey. Re- James, please wake up".
James rolled over sleepily. "What?" he asked croakily.
Sirius pressed a finger to his lips, shushing him.
"Someone is pressing the door handle" Sirius said almost silently.
James immediately sat up at that, reaching for his phone. Sirius looked over and saw he was texting Lily.
"She, Mary and Marlene will be here in ten minutes".
"How will she even see that?"
"She's online".
Remus shushed them. "It's gone down more, pay attention," he said, staring at the handle.
Then, the door pushed open. Remus immediately reached for the gun on his nightstand. He took the safety off within a second.
When Sirius saw who was standing there, gun raised, emerald velvet skirt falling to the ground, black hair pinned up into a bun, he forgot how to breathe. Remus sprang to his feet.
"Gun, down, now," he demanded. Sirius almost forgot that he was terrified when he heard Remus' gorgeous voice. He was unfortunately forced to look up and face reality and see the face of the woman who terrorized his youth, who ruined his entire life, scarred him past the point of no return.
"Sirius!" she shouted, causing him to flinch. Remus stood unbothered, gun still pointed at her chest.
"You will regret everything. I already regret you being born but I will make you do so too".
"I regret being born as your son already," he managed.
"YOU KILLED ORION!" she shrieked.
They all froze.
"What?" asked Remus.
"I'll tell you what. That no-good disgrace killed someone who used to call him his son".
"Walburga. You... You're dead. You were supposed to be dead," Sirius rambled frantically.
"So you admit it? You tried to kill me, Sirius. You failed. Like you do with everything". She approached him, gun pointed at his face. Before she could get within two meters, James jumped. He jumped, knocking the gun out of her hands. Remus turned to put the barrel of his own gun to her neck.
"Don't move" he said coldly.
They stood like that for a minute or so, not knowing what to do next.
Sirius walked to the dresser, taking out a pair of handcuffs. James helped him put them on.
They waited until the girls got there.
The next half an hour was a blur for Sirius. He remembered Mary and Lily taking Walburga away. He remembered Remus' arms around him. He remembered crying. He remembered mumbling something about not killing Orion. It was true - he had no idea what the woman was on about.
Finally, James laid back down. Sirius followed. Remus promised to keep watch. Sirius did fall asleep, but he dreamed. He dreamed of everything that woman did to him. He was sixteen again, in the family library. His head was being hit against the shelves. He couldn't get up. He couldn't escape.