until the end || wolfstar || marauders

chapter three

TW: strong language (swearing)

*crack*

James sprung up off of the sofa where he had been sitting for the past hour, absentmindedly picking at his lip, and rushed to the door.

He pulled the door open and there stood a very battered, scarred, tired and anxious young boy.

"Remus!" James sighed as he pulled Remus into a hug. "Thank god you're here."

Remus looked worried.

"James if this a prank I'll fucking kill you," Remus said. Remus was not a morning person.

"It's not, It's not, I swear, we've been worried about him, and if you can't get him out, no-one can. You know where the spare room is. I'll wait down here." James said, relived, yet still worried about Sirius, how could he not be?

"Ok. I just hope he comes out. What if he refuses?" Remus mumbled.

"Come on Moony, Sirius does anything for you, he'll come out." James was more trying to convince himself than anything.

Remus let out a heavy breath before creeping quietly up the stairs to the landing. He winced as the floor creaked on the last step, and headed over to the door he knew his friend was hiding behind.

He knocked three times, softly, but loud enough to hear.

No answer.

"Siri...? I know you're in there. It's me, Remus. Please come out. We're all really worried about you," Remus whispered. He wanted to be gentle, but Sirius needed to hear him.

No answer. 

Remus sighed and slid down the wall until he was sitting with his knees pulled into his chest.

"I'm just gonna stay out here for a bit." Remus told the door. 

And that's what he did. He sat there, and sat there and sat there. After a while, James came up the stairs holding two, steaming mugs of hot chocolate. He handed one to Remus and sat down next to him.

"Remus, I don't think he's coming out, thanks for trying. You can go home, don't feel bad, we'll get him out." James said, with a sad but thankful smile.

Remus sipped his hot chocolate. It burned his throat. "No, I'll sit here, I don't mind really. I just hope he opens the god damn door and let me in," Remus dropped his voice to a whisper and said, "James I love him. I want to burst into that room and take all his pain away. But I can't." Remus looked at the floor and started picking at a scar on his arm.

"I know Remus, Merlin I know. I've been waiting outside this door for a week. I don't think he's coming out. You look exhausted, if you won't go home, go and have a sleep, you can have my room, and I promise I'll wake you up if he comes out. And stop picking at that scar you're going to make it bleed," James said, smiling. 

Remus was very tired, and James' offer sounded tempting, but he couldn't take it.

"No I'm fine. I swear. I'll go home after breakfast if he's still not out." Remus assured James. He couldn't stand this.

"If you're sure," James said, unconvinced, but he knew it was pointless to argue with Remus.

James trudged slowly back down the stairs, clutching his hot chocolate.

Remus stayed, rooted to the same spot in the landing. 

It was starting to get light again. Remus was still sitting, silently, outside the door to the Potters' spare room. James had gone to bed. Remus was just coming to the conclusion that he was getting nowhere with this, and had to leave to eat something, rest, and then head home, when the door swung open. Remus looked up to see a very broken looking Sirius. His eyes were red and puffy and his cheeks were stained with tears. His usually pristine hair looked matted and unbrushed, he was wearing the same blood soaked clothes in which he had left London in, and he looked thin, like he hadn't eaten for days. 

He said nothing. He sat himself beside Remus and leant into him, breathing in his scent of chocolate, parchment and his coconut shampoo. Remus put an arm around Sirius, still silent. Sirius had silent tears running down his cheeks as he sat and cried into Remus. He didn't have to say anything.

The boys had been sitting there for about 30 minutes when Sirius spoke. 

"Rem, I-, I'm so sorry, for scaring you. I just-" 

"Siri, don't apologise, you've done nothing wrong. I was scared, but that's not comparable to anything you've been feeling this week." Remus said, running his hand over Sirius' head. "Come on, let's go and get something to eat, then we'll all have a sleep before I leave. Ok?"

"Do you have to go, I'm sure you're allowed to stay?" Sirius asked. He needed Remus to be there. How could he wait until he went back to Hogwarts?

"Siri, you know I'd love to, but incase you didn't notice, I happen to have a rather small issue regarding the moon, so I kinda need to go home for that, if you get what I mean." Remus teased.

"Oh shit I forgot that was soon. Sorry."

"Sirius stop apologising and come and eat something," Remus stood up and grabbed Sirius' hand gently and helped him up. Sirius winced. "I think we should ask Mrs Potter to just check you're ok physically as well." Remus told Sirius, who didn't want to, he knew he was fine, but couldn't argue with Remus. 

"Ok." He said. Remus was surprised, Sirius never gave into stuff that quickly. Remus shrugged it off, Sirius was bound to change his personality a bit after what had happened.

The boys went downstairs and opened the cupboards. Remus made some chicken soup and a cup of tea for them each and they sat down and ate it in silence. The silence seemed to say all the things Remus wanted to say to Sirius, Remus thought.

Once they had finished eating, James and Mrs Potter had come downstairs into the kitchen. James shot Remus a 'well done' but also 'what the fuck happened to him' sort of look when Sirius wasn't looking, and Remus sent a 'don't bring it up' but also 'I'm worried what do we do' look back.

"Remus dear, lovely to see you here, I didn't know you were coming, do you need me to set up a bed?" Euphemia Potter asked as she came in and saw Remus. She hadn't spotted Sirius yet, who was sitting on the sofa cuddling Remus. ("You're warm Rem, I'm cold, feel" Sirius had insisted).

"No, I'll be heading home in a minute, the moons in a few days I need to be home for that, you know," Remus said politely back, but with a note of anxiety Mrs Potter missed. James didn't though. He looked at Remus from the kitchen, where he was reaching into a high cupboard to get to the cheeri-owls, and mouthed 'is everything all good?' at him. 

Remus rolled his eyes back and nodded. Mrs Potter walked round to the living room and spotted Sirius laying, half asleep in Remus' arms.

"Sirius, there you are, have you had something to eat?" She asked, concerned, but hiding it well.

Sirius opened his eyes and looked at her. He didn't want to talk to her, but he had to. 

"Yes, Remus saw to that. Apparently I'm to get you to look at my wounds, then take a shower, change into clean robes and go to sleep." Sirius spoke, smirking up at Remus in a mocking way. Remus smiled back.

"That sounds like a good plan of action, thanks Remus. If you want to head home now, I'll make sure he's ok, James'll send an owl if anything happens, and if not, you're back at Hogwarts next week, 6th year now!" Mrs Potter said enthusiastically.

James walked into the living room rolling his eyes but smiling. 

"Whoopiedo! Another year of copious homework and detention," He said sarcastically.

"Well maybe if you tried to behave yourself!" Euphemia teased.

Remus grinned and started laughing. This year was going to be great, and he couldn't wait to be back.

(1392 words)

Author's note:

So chapter 3 a bit late. Not sure I like this chapter, too much dialogue. The ending's cheesy but Im bored of writing at home, so they're going back to Hogwarts and I needed a good way of moving it along. Hope you're enjoying the book so far, and if you haven't already, go follow me on tiktok at where_wolf6. Shameless self plug.