Chapter 7 James and Peter
Finally, after what felt like an eternity of waiting, a doctor approached James and Peter.
"We had to check to see if we could tell your friend anything, as he is still 15 and you have to be 16 to be told without adult permission. However, your parents have given permission, so we can tell him about the update—a small update, but it’s an update—so if you could wake your friend, It’ll be great," the nurse told James.
James turned and looked at Peter.
"Pete, wake up," James said.
"Yeah, I'm awake. What’s happening?" Peter said, sitting up.
"I’ve come to tell you that I have an update," the nurse told Peter.
"Is he awake?" Peter asked.
"Mr Black is not awake at the moment, but like I just said to mr Potter, we have a small update; we’ve done a few tests, and there is an injury; unfortunately, it looks like it will be permanent. He should still be able to live a fairly normal life; it’s not going to change too much. but it will, however, take some time for him to learn how to deal with it and get used to it," the nurse told Peter and James.
"What is the injury?" James asked.
"The spell has caused permanent damage to his left leg below the knee, resulting in partial paralysis,” the doctor explained to James and Peter. "He'll need to use a leg brace and a cane in order to walk, and he won't be able to run or play Quidditch anymore if he does play it." The nurse told them.
James and Peter exchanged worried glances, knowing how much Quidditch meant to Sirius.
"If it's easier, I can have a nurse speak with Mr. Black about his injury when he wakes up," the nurse offered.
James sat processing the news about Sirius’s injury. It was clear that things were going to be different for Sirius from now on, but James was determined to help him adjust and support him through it all.
“No offence, but I think it’s best coming from us, his friends," James told the doctor.
"That’s absolutely fine; he may still return after the Christmas break if he’s able to walk around and feels OK enough; if not, he may want to delay his return when he’s awake. We will speak to him if needed and let him know that we will run a couple more tests, and then, provided he passes all the tests, he should be OK to go home," the nurse told James and Peter.
"Thank you," James said, unsure of what else to say as the nurse walked away.
As they were left alone, James turned to Peter, his voice quiet. "How could a mother do this to her own child?" he asked, his heart heavy with sadness and anger.
"I don't know, James," Peter replied softly. "It's not something we'll ever be able to understand."
They both knew that there was no excuse for a mother to harm her own child in such a way. But they also knew that they needed to focus on helping Sirius recover and learn how to adjust to his new injury. They would be there for him every step of the way, no matter what.
"What if he has other injuries and they don’t know yet? Maybe that’s what they will find out when he wakes up," James told Peter.
"I think we should have hope and think good things, and then maybe it will all go well. You know what Sirius is like; he’ll probably be fine anyway. He’ll probably just get used to it and moan at us for worrying so much," Peter told James.
James couldn’t help but laugh at that. That was Sirius Black to the T. He pretty much never hurt himself, and in the rare cases he did, he always moaned at his friends for worrying too much and assured them he would be fine.
"Yeah, you’re right," James told Peter.
"I think the best thing for us to do is for us to try and stay calm; I think it’s the only way to help him. That’s what my mum would say anyway; she says it’s the only way to help people," Peter told James.
"Yeah, she’s right." "I probably am worrying too much. It’s because he’s the closest thing I have to a brother," James told Peter.
" I get it; it's fine; it’s OK to be worried," Peter says.
James leaned against the back of the chair and tried to wait patiently for Sirius to wake up.