She was never good.
It was a fact Sirius knew from the second he turned 16, fully coming into perspective at his father’s funeral. That day she sobbed harshly and blamed his father for it all, Sirius held her in his arms, in a way no child should.
Now at 18 he saw her sink fully, she looked ill, gaunt. He moved away 6 months before, never fully taking all his things with him. He couldn’t not blame himself for her, perhaps that’s the reason he didn’t cut contact, not yet at least.
No one around him quite understood why he stayed, or why she acted how she did. He remembered her talking about her father, how ill he was and how she had to care for him. He always had to restrict himself from saying that he knew how it felt. That would make her worse.
It wasn’t a surprise when he picked up his phone to that call, just having walked out of his lecture. He walked away from James, whispering a soft ‘one moment’ and answered the call.
“Mum?” He asked kindly, as kind as he could
“I can’t do this anymore” she sobbed back. He didn’t panic, he was startled but he knew her.
“What do you mean?” No answer. “Mum I have to go alright? I’m gonna get back to you” he said softly.
Talking to the police was easy, the ones in the city knew her by now. A wellness check, they said, he could almost laugh. It’s not like she ever was well.
When he walked back to James he cried. He wasn’t scared, just overwhelmed. James hugged him when he explained, but it was odd.
“I’m sorry pads” James spoke softly.
“It’s okay, she’ll be fine” he said back.
He texted Remus telling him what happened, a short toned down version not to worry the poor boy too much. He didn’t even consider texting regulus, if something happens he’ll let him know, no reason to bother him in the school day.
He skipped his last lesson and went back to the apartment. It was empty when he arrived, everyone else still finishing their day, a reminder that the world was moving around him. He opened his phone to a sweet worried text from Remus, a text in the group chat from Marlene, and a text from his mother.
Walburga (new phone): why are the cops at my door?
Walburga (new phone): I’m fine Sirius, I love you.
He chose to ignore those too, she’d probably call him later anyways. Apparently Remus had told Lily because she offered to call Sirius on her walk home. He politely declined, saying he needed a moment to himself.
Instead he got in his car and drove to Regulus’ high school, calling them to say he was picking him up. Regulus gave him an odd look when he got in the car but didn’t say anything. Sirius bought him a snack at the gas station and drove him to their mother’s house. He walked him in, double checking that his mother was in fact not home and leaving with a soft “love you, see you soon” to regulus who just smiled and went up to his room. Sirius left after that. Not wanting to be in that house a second longer.
When he got back to the apartment James was writing some essay on his laptop on the couch, he didn’t question Sirius when he walked in and went straight to his bedroom. Remus was in bed when he walked in, reading some book Sirius had never heard of. He gave Sirius a smile and scooted over on the bed, Sirius smiled back, both of them knowing now wasn’t a time to speak much. They always understood each other in that way.
Instead Sirius dozed off.