James stumbled from his bed, opening the door bleary-eyed.
"What the fuck?! Sirius, mate," James took his sobbing best friend in his arms, pulling him inside and shutting the door. "MUM! DAD!" James shouted, leading Sirius over to the couch and pushing him onto it. "I'm sorry," Sirius sobbed, "not even Reg wanted me there anymore." James shushed Sirius and held him as he cried, patiently waiting for his parents. "James Fleamont Potter! Why are you not in be- oh, my." James swallowed the lump in his throat, looking over Sirius' shoulder at his Mother, eyes pleading. "Sirius, sweetheart, let's get you sorted out. Go and get your Father, James." James ran up the staircase, begging himself to keep the tears inside because, fuck, Sirius looked bad. "Dad, it's Sirius, please, please come down." Fleamont Potter didn't need to be asked twice, and he followed his son downstairs, both of them trying to keep the panic inside.
"Monty, write to Albus and Minerva, they'll know what to do." Euphumia Potter was dabbing at Sirius' split lip with a cloth soaked in some kind of potion. She had warned him it would sting but the boy didn't flinch. "You're staying here from now on," Euphumia insisted as she cleaned the wound on Sirius' stomach. "I couldn't-" Sirius started, but closed his mouth, maybe realising he didn't have anyway else to go. "Thank you," he said instead, and he meant it. Just as that was said there were three taps at the door. "That'll be Albus and Minerva, get the door, James." James jumped up and let his two professors in, pointing them towards the couch. "Potter," McGonagall greeted him, not unkindly. "Euphumia, Monty." Dumbledore had ignored James completely, but greeted his parents, both adults shaking hands with the elder Potters. "James, take Sirius up to your room, I'll have the guest room set up for tomorrow night." Dumbledore tried to protest as the two boys climbed the stairs, slowly, but Euphumia completely ignored him. "I'm sorry, Prongs," Sirius said, tears still running down his face. James pulled the other boy into a hug again, "stop saying sorry, Pads, you know we'd all much rather you be here." Sirius sniffled and gripped his best friend tighter.
