James POV
“No, absolutely not James!” Sirius throws his hands up
“Come on Pads-”
“You are not deflowering my little brother,” I grimace and reel back.
“I’m not deflowering him Sirius stop being dramatic. It’s all fake, just a way for people to notice me and Reg to get some peace.”
“Don’t call him that. It’s Regulus to you,” he snaps, “You want to be noticed? Fine we’ll do some major prank that you can be the center of-”
“And what about Regulus,” I snapped. I don’t know why it’s bugging me so much. Sirius said no I should respect that and yet the image of Regulus looking panicked as the girl followed him last night pushes into the forefront of my mind.
“He never did anything when I needed him, why should I help him?”
“Sirius,” Remus murmurs, trying to pull him back.
“No fuck off Remus I want to know why i should be the better person? He never gave a fuck about me. He sat there while I took punishment after punishment for him. He turned over my letters and never replied to them. They almost killed me and he sat by and watched. He was supposed to be my brother and now he’s their pawn” by the time Sirius rants he has leaned against Remus and has tears in his eyes that I know he won’t let fall with any of us around no matter how much we tell him we’re here for him.
“Sirius-” I try but he pushes me away.
“You want to do this? Fine James go be the hero but I’m warning you he doesn’t want to be saved,” I frown.
“But-”
“No, we tried James. When I came to your home that weekend we tried to get to him. He ignored us and has for the past year. He doesn’t want to go, he wants to stay.”
“What if he’s scared, Sirius?” Sirius just scoffs, “I’m serious, he spent his life looking up to you, he didn’t see half the wounds you got for him until that final night, you were half dead when you showed up on my door,”I remember something as Sirius glares at me.
That night started off normal James and his family had been cleaning up from dinner when the doorbell rang.
“I got it mum,” I set down the towel I was using to dry the dishes and make my way to the front door.
I open it and see a figure move swiftly away and look down, my heart drops to my feet and it feels like I lose all of my blood. Sirius. He’s laying on the porch, unconscious and so badly bloodied and bruised that it's hard to recognize him, the only distinguishing thing is his black leather jacket. Even his hair was cut much shorter and shopper than it had been before leaving for break.
“Mum! Dad! Help!” I scream once I find my voice and try to pick Sirius up, the dead weight being too much before my dad comes rushing forward.
“Oh Sirius, my boy,” my dad helped me grab him to bring him into our living room where mum was standing. We lay him down and Mum gasps, eyes glossy and wet.
“Flemont please go grab my emergency kit,” she says firmly before coming over to try to look over him. He hurries away quickly and I stand and stare not knowing what to do.
“James honey why don’t you-”
“No I’m not going anywhere Mum,” I say knowing that she doesn’t want me to witness this but knowing that I can’t leave Sirius, never again.
“Okay James okay,” my dad rushes in with the kit and my mother gets to work, I simultaneously zone out and am acutely aware of every cut on Sirius’ body.
I will kill them all, I think. My mind never wanders back to the mysterious figure who left him on my porch.
Until now.
“Sirius,” I start with a quiet voice, “who got you to my door?”
“I did,” he says confused, “I got out and I ran. You know this.”
“No, you couldn’t have,” I shake my head, “ Sirius you were barely breathing there's no way you ran that far, I never thought about it because who would do that? But Sirius, there was someone there that night.”
“No,” he shakes his head, eyes going wet again, “no he couldn’t have. He wouldn’t.”
“Sirius,” I crouch next to him and take his hands, “he didn’t abandon you. He saved you.”
He bursts into tears and hugs me tightly, “Reggie,” he mumbles against my chest.
~~~~~~~~~~~
“I know I gave you permission but come on Prongs, did you have to do it like that?” Sirius wines as I sit down at the table.
“Sorry Pads, wasn’t really thinking,” I mumble behind my glass trying to hide my smile.
Regulus looks beautiful when caught off guard. I realize as the memory of his face flashes before me. Mouth slightly open, eyes wide and haze, hair normally so perfectly slightly ruffled. I did that.
“So what are you going to be mushy with my brother everywhere now?”
“I don’t think so,” I frown and look down. I have no idea actually how this is going to work. I should probably talk to him about that.
“If you’re going to shag just warn me first so I don’t walk in,” Peter says and continues eating as if he didn’t just make James sputter juice and Sirius eyes grow three times their normal size.
“James, don’t you dare shag my little brother. I’m warning you.”
“Jesus Sirius, “I say after finishing coughing to death, “It’s fake we wouldn’t do anything behind closed doors. It's just for show.”
“Oh thank god,” Sirius says, placing a hand over his heart as if I just saved him from a heart attack. I just rolled my eyes.
Out of the corner of my eye I see Regulus get up from the Slytherin table and I start packing my stuff up.
“Hey guys,” Lily says, coming to sit next to Sirius.
“Hi, bye” I say quickly before rushing off to meet Regulus at the great hall doors not hearing the rest of the conversation.
“What’s his problem?” Lily asks Sirius, looking at me strangely.
“He’s off to see his boyfriend,” Remus replies grinning.
Lily frowns.