Part 12
The Gryffindor dorms have never been so silent. The tension was so thick you could have cut it with a knife. James, Remus and Sirius have been avoiding each other since last month and Peter has been tip toeing around them for ages now and it was getting boring. James and Remus only talked to each other, often talking to Peter and making sure he was okay and all that. He appreciated it but he was only given the attention after the fight. He found it strange. He was expected to fend for himself in the past and now they were checking up on him every interaction.
Peter wondered if they even cared about him. He wondered what would happen if Sirius was forgiven. Would he be tossed away again. Would they stop expect him to agree with everything. He was just the background friend. The friend who listened but never spoke. Is he just useless to the? Was he only invited in out of sympathy? Remus seemed genuine about checking in on him. They had had many long conversations since they attended the school. James was different though. He never really seemed to pay attention to him and they only had a few conversations here and there. When they did have them it was short and sweet only lasting 10 words at best most times. He knew that they all cared about him but he doubted it from time to time.
He sat in a corner of the dorms that was filled with books and a few pillows to sit or lay on. It was the best area to him since it was away from everyone else and he could do his own thing without people getting in his way. Remus was known for being smart but it was Peter who came up with most of the charms and ideas for the map yet they credited Remus because he did the final spell. Peter didn't really care at the time but then again he didn't really see himself as part of the group. To be honest, he never saw himself as part of the group but he didn't have the heart to walk away. Remus cared about him which should be enough but it sometimes wasn't. He was just there.
Yesterday was the full moon and it was a rough one for Remus by the sounds of it. They had managed to get him to the Infirmary without anybody seeing him and they were told that he had to be there for around two weeks. James was especially worried for not only Remus but Sirius as well, as he was found in his Animagus form at the foot of Remus's bed. He was sleeping and looked quite comfortable but they noticed a few small pictures with Sirius with his brother and a few more with him and Remus that had spilled out of a small box that had been knocked over somehow. Tears had stained the picture and they were slightly worn around the edges from being held so many times. James had offered to ask Regulus about it even though he knew that they recently had an argument a few days ago. They often forgave each other quickly but they lived in worry that the other hadn't forgiven them completely.
The boys had woken up to find Sirius gone again. It wasn't a new thing. He had started to do it for the past month. They really didn't know why or where he went in general but they didn't bother to question him. Peter was getting worried though. Sirius had only appeared in lessons and the corridors but he wasn't at any meals or in the dorms or common room anymore. Regulus did have a conversation with James in the Library but it was private matters not about Sirius. This was concerning. Not even Regulus, Sirius's own brother, had seen him.
Peter had completely forgotten what he had sat down for. He had gone to read for a while before doing his homework but he had spent most of his time thinking about the recent events. Of course nobody had interrupted him. James was busy with quidditch practice Sirius was nowhere to be seen and Remus wasn't allowed visitor meaning he was alone again. Just him in the dorms by himself in a hidden away corner. Silence was something he had a love-hate relationship with. It all depended on whether it was needed or not. Peter enjoyed this silence, though, he could look around and tidy the room up a bit. It was getting out of hand and it needed a bit of help.
He was looking around Sirius's area it didn't need much just a bit of dusting. He didn't really touch much but he did catch sight of a small ring on a silver chain. It had a constellation on it that Peter didn't recognise since he was shit at Astronomy but he knew it was important to Sirius. It had initials engraved on the inside of ring.
R.A.B
Why would Sirius own one of Regulus's rings? Peter then spotted a small and rough date etched next to the initials. It was clearly done by Sirius as it wasn't very neat.
25/07/74
He recognised the date from somewhere and it seemed important. It was far too recent to be anybody's date of birth but if it was significant enough for Sirius to engrave it onto a ring, it was supposed to be treasured. Peter placed it on Sirius's pillow when a small note slipped out due to the movement of the chain from it's hiding place. It was signed to Regulus and it was definitely Sirius's handwriting. He knew he wasn't meant to be reading it but he was too curious not to. He undid the neat folds and started reading the semi-neat cursive on the page.
26/07/74
Dear Regulus,
I am so sorry about that night but please understand that I was doing for my safety and I was on the verge of dying. I do understand the pressure that you are under and how you will be taking all my punishments for me. I would have offered to take you with me but Mother would have killed us both without remorse but I wish you the best. I hope you will try to find happiness with your situation- or at least as you much as you can get. It was not an easy choice for me to leave you behind especially when I did but it was my first and maybe final chance to escape.
May I ask, why were you reaching for your wand when Mother asked you to curse me? Were you going to follow her orders? I am not blaming you, of course, but I just want to know. It wouldn't have done much to me, I know that, but I just want answers. How are Mother and Father coping with my disappearance. I know I am burned from the tree and officially disowned but did they punish you for it too?
I am only writing to you and not talking to you in person because I know what Mother's orders will be. Please feel free to write back when you can.
I wish you the best, Sirius Black
Peter wiped a small tear that had formed in his eyes, folding the note back up and placing back where it came from. He processed what just happened. He didn't know that they were that close. The ink was even slightly smudged where Sirius's tears had dropped onto it and creases where he had held it. Peter wondered why the message hadn't been sent to Regulus but he decided to not think about it much. He had just read a note that was meant to be kept a secret between brothers. It was dated a day after the the date written on the ring. Things were slowly piecing together in his mind before clicking into place. The date etched into the ring was the night that Sirius ran away and the reason why it was familiar was because it was a month after Regulus's birthday. Sirius wrote the note at the Potter's house and meant to send it when they got back into school for 5th year.
To say that Peter was surprised was an understatement. He had just discovered a valuable piece of information that nobody but Sirius knew.