Chapter 2
The next day: 2:27 p.m
I was sitting by the fire place with a blanket wrapped around my shoulders. I pulled my knees closer to my chest and rested my head on them.
We were all so exhausted from worrying about Padfoot, who was still passed out from last night.
I looked behind me and saw Remus rubbing his eyes sleepily.
"Prongs please stop pacing you're making me dizzy."
"Who would do something like that to him? James asked running his hands through his dark and messy hair.
Remus looked down at his lap, disappointed with the fact that he was not able to give James an answer.
"I've never seen him so beat up before." Peter said, looking down at his lap.
James sat back down and shook his head.
"He wasn't beat up Wormtail. Not by hands anyway."
Peter gave James a confused look.
"W-what do you mean he wasn't beat up?"
James looked at Peter and sighed heavily.
"Those are the marks of the Cruciatus Curse. I learned all about it in Dark Arts last year. That's what the curse looks like. Though I've never seen it to this extent before."
"B-but why would anyone use such a powerful curse on Padfoot?" Peter asked, quietly.
There was a moment of silence before James spoke up.
"You've been awfully quiet." James stated, looking at me.
I opened my mouth to speak but I decided not to say anything. Sirius should be the one to tell them, not me. I turned my attention back to the fire that was in front of me.
"y/n? "James asked, making his way towards me.
"I know who did this. But I can't tell you."
"What? Why not? James asked, eagerly.
"Because it wouldn't be right if I told you. You have to wait until he wakes up and tells you himself." I replied.
"But that's not fair! I need to know who did this to him!" James yelled as he began pacing again.
"Shhh you git. You'll wake him up." Remus said, trying to hush James.
"Y/n, come on!" James yelled, completely ignoring him.
I looked up at James and shook my head.
"I'm sorry Prongs, but I can't."
"Ughhhhhh!" James groaned in frustration.
"It's okay, I'll tell you." Said a low and rough voice, coming from behind us.
The room went quiet.
I turned my head around and met my favourite pair of grey eyes. Although instead of seeing mischief and excitement inside of them like I usually do, this time they were just glossy and red.
"Told you that would wake him up." Remus said, raising his eyebrows.
James shot him a glare and turned his attention back to Sirius.
"Mate, I'm so sorry I woke you up. How are you? Do you need anything? Water? Coffee? Tea? No you hate Tea. How about some freshly squeezed orange juice? James asked quickly, making his way towards Sirius.
Sirius let out a soft chuckle.
"Some water would be great, Prongs."
"Yes! Water! Right away!"
I turned my body away from the fire and watched as James stumbled into the kitchen.
Sirius slowly made his way to the couch and groaned in pain as he sat down.
"Merlin, we probably should have cleaned your cuts before they dried up huh?"
Remus asked, looking at the cuts that littered Sirius's face.
Sirius looked down at his bruised hands and nodded.
"Yeah I suppose that would have been a good idea."
I got up from my spot, made my way towards the couch and took a seat next to Sirius. I put my hand on his shoulder and smiled as I felt him relax under my touch.
"There's no need to worry about all that, we'll get to it later." I told him softly.
He looked at me and smiled. That sweet smile that I missed so much.
"Okay! Okay! Here is your water! Now tell us what happened last night!" James yelled, almost spilling the water into Sirius's hands.
Remus rolled his eyes.
"James, come on."
"At least let him drink his water first." Peter said.
"Fine, I'm sorry, I've just been so curious." James answered apologetically.
When Sirius finished his water, he went to place his glass on the wooden coffee table that was in front of him but groaned in pain as he leaned forward.
"Here Siri, let me take that." I said, taking the glass out of his hand.
I looked back and I saw him softly smiling at me.
"It's been a long time since you called me that." He whispered, loud enough only for me to hear.
I looked down at my lap. Shoot, it just slipped out of my mouth.
"Um yeah, I hope that's okay..."
"Are you kidding me? I thought I would never hear you call me that again." He whispered shyly.
I looked up at him and smiled.
"How are you feeling?"
"Like a dragon chewed me up, swallowed me and then shat me back out, but at least I'm out of that house." He answered honestly.
"What about you? How are you?"
"Not bad, though I do have this headache that comes and goes." I said, rubbing my head.
"Okay... Please tell us now! Please! Please! I need to know what happened!" James complained, sitting down on the couch in front of us.
"There it is now." I said, looking at James.
"You're a comedic genius." He replied, laughing softly.
"Are you going to tell me before I explode?!"
"Is you exploding a promise?" Sirius joked and James rolled his eyes.
"Ha. Ha. This is no time for jokes. Sirius please, please, please tell us."
I've never heard James beg like that before. Except for when he's begging Lily to go out with him, of course.
"What's up with that huge pile of socks?" Sirius asked, pointing at all the socks James took off last night.
"Stop changing the subject!" James yelled.
"Okay, okay..." Sirius said, holding his hands in front of his chest.
"Well, as you already know, I was as with my parents last night. I was so upset that they wouldn't let me come and stay with you guys so I was trying hard to convince them. But surprise, surprise, nothing could change their small minds. I asked my dear mother the reason why I couldn't come stay with you all and she said it's because she doesn't want her son spending time with such 'vile abominations'."
His voice cracked and he stopped talking for a second. James carefully moved closer, encouraging Sirius to continue.
"I just... Merlin, I just can't stand her. She doesn't know you guys. You are nothing like she describes you. None of you." He said, with a shaky voice.
"I couldn't stand her saying such lies about the people that I love most so of course I yelled back and t-then..."
"And then what, Pads?" Remus asked, in a soft voice.
"S-she hit me. So hard that she knocked me over. But that only made me even more furious so I continued to yell at her. I was telling her to never talk about you guys like that but I only made it worse."
"Worse how?" James asked, not sure if he really wanted to know the answer.
Sirius took in a deep breath.
"She used Crucio on me... I don't know how many times but enough to do this to me." He said, pointing at his scars and bruises.
"Then when she was done she just left me lying there like she always does. This has happened so many times before but this time I just couldn't stand being there anymore. So, I slowly got up and made my way here."
The room went quiet once again, which is something very rare when all four Marauders are together in the same room.
James broke the silence.
"Mate... I'm so glad you came here. Listen, you never have to go back to that god awful house again. You know mum and dad see you as their second son. My home is your home. Isn't that the definition of home, Padfoot? Home is not where you're from, but where you're wanted. And you are always wanted here."
Sirius nodded, whipping the tears that trickled down his scarred cheeks.
"Padfoot..." James said, kneeling down in front of Sirius.
"Please never hide something like that from us."
"Yeah, were your best friends." Peter said.
"Family more like." I whispered, smiling.
Sirius looked at me with wet eyes and smiled back.
James gently cupped Sirius's face in his hands and whispered, "Sirius, you're my brother. There's nothing in this world that I wouldn't do for you. I will always be here by your side. Okay?"
Sirius nodded, unable to fight the warm tears that flowed down his cheeks any longer.
"We've got your back, Padfoot." Remus said, rubbing Sirius's back.
"And your front." Peter said, nodding his head.
We all turned to look at Peter and he looked back at us with a confused look.
"What? Moony said 'We've got your back" but that doesn't make any sense. Why just his back? What about his front?" Peter asked, seriously.
Remus shook his head and groaned.
"My god, Wormtail." I said, covering my mouth with my hand.
"I really wouldn't want you touching my front, but thanks for the offer." Sirius said, as a small smile appeared on his face.
James smiled, leaned in and wrapped Sirius in a tight hug.
"But we love touching your front!" James said, holding Sirius close.
Remus, Peter and I smiled at each other and joined the hug as well.
"G-guys...I c-can't breathe..." Sirius said, in a breathy voice.
"Sorry, sorry." Peter apologized, pulling away quickly.
"Now how about some food?" James said standing up.
"Not if you're cooking. We don't need food poisoning on top of things." Remus said, laughing.
Sirius smiled. "Moony's right. Remember the time James decided to make banana bread and it ended up being bright green?"
James scoffed. "It wasn't bright green, Padfoot. It was a minty colour at best."
"And on that note, I'll go cook something up." I said, getting up.