This Trying Affair • Jegulus •

II. Hood Over Your Head

A hand grasped around a bed stand slowly looking for a pair of glasses. It moved lazily as if did not want to find what it was searching for.

Another loud, rushed knocked sounded through the otherwise silent house.

Landing on the glasses, they were brought up to rest on a nose that belonged to an aggravated face. A wince at the cold air once the blankets were removed. Light stretches to ease the body out of the position it had been sleeping in. He gave a heavy sigh, and bare feet lightly hit the plush gold rug.

Hair was tousled as feet quietly and hurriedly made their way down stairs. With a hand placed on the knob, a yawn escaped the otherwise closed lips causing there to be a pause in movement. Glancing back at the door when another knock sounded, James opened the door to see a figure in a simple Hoodie standing on his doorstep.

Squinting his eyes to adjust to the darkness outside, James made out a familiar face.

"Padfoot?"

Sirius looked up, revealing the dried tears on his face and the new ones in his eyes. He was unaware of the cuts on his face or the way he was favoring one side of his body, all due to his mother's punishment the day before.

"Prongs..." He croaked, throat raw from his cries. He had begun crying once more.

"Hey, hey, it's okay. You're safe, I've got you," James said, pulling him into a hug with his wrist.

Sirius's head fell onto James shoulder and at the words promising safety, his cries became heavier. The boy was sobbing and James had to ease the boy down onto the floor.

He heard rushed steps on the stairs and glanced up to make eye contact with his mum and dad who stared at the pair on the floor. Sirius's hood had been knocked back when he leaned on James and the Potter's could recognize the long wavy hair anywhere.

Fleamont quietly walked past his sons and grabbed Sirius's trunk. He brought it in the house and closed the door.

James was thankful for loss of the biting cold. He glanced down at his best friend who was mumbling things that none of the Potters could make sense of.

"Protect... live... safe," the words appeared to be random as Sirius gasped them out between his cries.

Euphemia had walked over to her son. She placed a hand on James's shoulder.

"He needs sleep, darling."

James nodded. He moved his arm to be under Sirius's shoulder and helped the boy stand. Once standing, his dad took the other side and they walked Sirius to James's room, clearly not in a good state to be in his own bedroom.

Once Sirius was in the bed, the Potter's stepped outside leaving the door cracked.

"Jamie, dear, did he tell you what happened?"

James shook his head.

"No, mum. Second he saw me he started crying."

His parents nodded.

"Try and get some sleep. Hopefully, he can talk to us tomorrow," Fleamont said.

The three respectively returned to their beds. James laid next to his best friend and pulled the now lightly whimpering boy against his chest. Once Sirius's breathing had evened out from James rubbing his back, James was quick to follow the boy to sleep.

His final thought announcing his hate for all of the Black family.

The light from the window landed directly on his eyes, causing him to wince and adjust away from it.