'Til The End

The Fight

It had been two weeks since Harry and Hermione had been attacked, and a lot had happened. Ginny's birthday had been and gone, it was Percy's birthday soon too, but that wasn't happening. Percy had a huge fight with Arthur, and moved up to London, leaving Molly and Arthur devastated. Ron, Ginny, Fred and George were coming round frequently, sick of their Mother's state. Sirius would wake up to find four extra kids in his house, and that happened this morning. 

Sirius awoke to the usual *crack* of apparition, and he didn't move. He knew Mad-eye would drag him out of bed by his hair in a minute, because he and Remus were fighting. Remus was sleeping in a spare room, and last night was the first night ever Sirius hadn't gone to apologise, so of course that made everything worse. 'Black!' Mad eye barked, 'where's Lupin?' Sirius sighed heavily and sat up. 'We're fighting. Piss off, Moody.' He growled, then retreated back under the duvet. Sirius thought Mad eye would make him get up for questioning, but instead he grunted and left. 'Lad, did you know half the Weasley family are having a get together in your living room?' Mad-eye yelled from downstairs, and Sirius growled in frustration before heaving himself up. 'Morning kids.' He muttered, seeing Ginny, Ron, Fred, George, Harry and Hermione curled up under ten ton of blankets on the sofas and floor. 'Yes, Mad-eye, it happens all the time. Now will you piss off?' Ginny muffled a giggle, and Sirius gave her a death stare. Moody growled at Sirius before apparating out again. 'Good morning.' Sirius said, then paused, 'and good night.' As he climbed the stairs, Sirius could hear the kids whispering 'no you go!' But didn't care enough to go back down there to see what it was about. He managed to crawl back into bed before the bedroom door banged open again. Remus was being dragged in by the entire tribe of kids, a scowl fixed on his face. Sirius turned his own face to match Remus' and sat up with his arms crossed. 'What do you want?' He asked rudely, ignoring the kids. Remus didn't say anything, just deepened his scowl. 'You two are being so bloody childish.' Harry said, 'and you're staying in here until you've made it up. Tell me on the mirror, I'll know if you've lied.' In one movement Harry grabbed both Sirius' and Remus' wands and suddenly the room was empty, apart from Remus, Sirius and the furniture. Sirius could hear Fred and George putting locking and silencing charms on the door, laughing as they did so. 

'I'm not talking to you.' Sirius said, and turned his back to Remus. Harry was right, they were being childish. Sirius and Remus had started fighting days ago, but last night was the first night Remus had gone into the spare room. Sirius couldn't even remember was this stupid bloody fight was about in the first place. Sirius didn't particularly want to fight anymore, if he could just remember what he was supposed to apologise for... 'You wouldn't have to act like a five-year-old if you had just apologised the other day.' Remus said scornfully. Aha. Sirius had shredded all the bed sheets when he was playing a wizarding game with Harry and Hermione and they couldn't be fixed the wizarding way. 'All this over a few sheets?!' Sirius turned to face Remus, hoping if he apologised without shouting this would be over with. 'Fine, sorry.' Sirius muttered, only just loud enough for Remus to hear. 'What was that?' He said, 'speak up?' Sirius scowled at him, and thought about apologising again. Only for a split-second. 'YOU KNOW WHAT? IT'S BEEN LIKE THIS EVER SINCE LILY AND JAMES DIED! SO WILL YOU STOP BEING AN ASSHOLE FOR TEN MINUTES!' Remus was shocked into silence. He sat stock still for a moment, his eyes hard and mouth set into a line of resentment. 'ME?! THE ASSHOLE? I'M THE ONE WHO HOLDS YOU WHILE YOU HAVE YOUR FUCKING HISSY FITS! I'M THE ONE THAT HELPS YOU GET THROUGH ALL YOUR BLOODY PHOBIAS! I'M THE FUCKING ONE WHO THOUGHT YOU WERE A FUCKING TRAITOR FOR TWELVE FUCKING YEARS!' Remus spat, his face red. It was Sirius' turn to sit still in shock. He didn't just say that? 'HISSY FITS? PHOBIAS? IT'S NOT A FUCKING JOKE! I'M THE ONE THAT SPENT THOSE TWELVE FUCKING YEARS IN AZKABAN. AT LEAST YOU WERE FREE TO DO WHATEVER YOU WANTED!' Remus didn't go still this time, he got up and paced the room his arms crossed. 'You don't know what happened in those years.' He said. 'I was alone. I had fucking no one. I thought you betrayed them and Peter, I thought I would never see you again. I,' Remus' voice turned dangerously quiet, 'I turned to drugs and alcohol, thinking it would save me from myself.' Remus' voice got loud and hard, 'you see this?' He demanded, yanking up a sleeve and pointing to an unusually straight scar. 'The wolf didn't do that.' Sirius whispered, his eyes searching for more straight ones. They found them. 'No, the wolf didn't fucking do those.' Remus snatched his arm back and got down to his knees so his neck was closer to Sirius' face. 'You see this?' He demanded again, pointing to one long scar along his neck. 'That wasn't the fucking wolf either.' Remus spat, and yanked his sweater back up. Sirius stared at Remus, his mouth open, his heart broken. 'Moony... I- I- I didn't...' He stuttered, going to reach for Remus' hands. Remus drew his hands back, away from Sirius, not replying. 'Moony, please.' Sirius said, his eyes glistening with tears. 'Let me help you.' Remus just stood, but with every word Sirius said his expression softened. 'Please, Moony, I need to help you.' Sirius' voice wobbled and the tears in his eyes threatened to fall as he tried to reach out again. This time Remus didn't draw away, but didn't grip Sirius' hands back either. Sirius offered a watery smile as tears dripped down his cheeks, and Remus returned one. 'I'm sorry Moony.' Sirius whispered, squeezing his hands. Remus squeezed Sirius' hands back this time, then moved to sit next to him. 

'That was all your fault,' Remus said playfully, 'git.' Sirius laughed through his tears, hesitantly resting his head on Remus' shoulder. 'Yeah... I am, aren't I.' Remus laughed too, putting an arm round Sirius. 'Do you think you could get that little shit to let us out of here?' Remus asked, tapping the pocket where Sirius could feel his mirror laying. Without a word he pulled the mirror out and tapped it with his wand. 'Let us out. It's over.' Harry's face had been concerned, seeing Sirius crying, but now he grinned, and his face disappeared. 'YOU'RE FREE!' He yelled, opening the door. Sirius supposed he wanted them to jump up and hug him, but neither Remus or Sirius moved, suddenly wanting to be alone again. 'Harry, I know I just asked to be let out, but will you give us a minute?' Sirius asked, giving Harry a sympathetic smile. Harry backed out of the room at once, shutting it quietly behind him. 'I wish you'd told me.' Sirius whispered, laying his head back onto Remus' shoulder. 'I wish I could've helped you.' He said quietly, 'how long?' Sirius looked up at Remus, and saw he was crying too. Sirius squeezed Remus, and waited for his reply. 'It's over now. It was over just before I got that job as a Professor, and once I stopped Mary came over. She took every knife in the entire bloody house away from me so I couldn't have done it if I wanted to.' Remus' head had dropped onto Sirius' and they sat quietly for a moment. Sirius was always glad when the fighting was over, just happy to be in his Moony's arms again. 'How many times?' Sirius' hand found the edge of the scar on Remus' neck, and another tear dripped down his face. Remus didn't answer right away, looking down. 'Three. Knife, rope and magic.' Sirius felt Remus' tears drip onto his hair, and sat upright, looking Remus in the eye. 'You listen to me.' Sirius said fiercely, 'I don't want you to ever try that again. You are worth everything, Remus, I want you to promise me that you won't ever try that again.' Remus didn't reply, and Sirius forced his head up by gripping Remus' chin, 'promise me.' Sirius breathed, still holding Remus' chin. Remus stared at Sirius intently for a moment. 'I promise.' Sirius searched Remus' eyes for any hint of a lie, but there was none. 'Good.' Sirius let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding, and let go of Remus' face. 'Sirius?' Sirius looked up, catching Remus' stare. 'Thank you, I-' Sirius shut him up with a kiss. 

I apologise this chapter is short, but I didn't want to make our boys fight longer than they had to. I don't know about anyone else, but my heart broke along with Sirius' when Remus revealed this scar. I wrote this chapter directly after the first one, so I'm afraid Remus was always going to reveal this. But - yes, there's a but - things will get better. Also, just so you all know, I don't plan on killing off Sirius. I don't have the mental stability to handle the heartbreak, it's different writing it than reading it. Plus, I couldn't make our Moony suffer anymore, could I?