Lifeguard

Separated

Sirius jumped out of bed with a smile on his face. Today was the day he got to see him. James was already up of course, and happily accepted Sirius hug.

"Hey Siri, excited?"

"Course, prongs."

"Oi! Do we have to keep that nickname!"

"Yes, prongsie honey."

He pouted. "Fine."

Euphemia came into the room and laughed at them.

"Mum!" James whined. "Tell Sirius that his nickname is stupid!"

"I think it's sweet, hun." She said, kissing his forehead. She still did that even though now James had to lean over to let her give him them.

"Sweet!? I was drunk and being stupid."

"And yet he loves you and took care of you."

"Ha! See Effie is on my side!"

"Shove it, padfoot."

"I like my nickname." Sirius shoved pancakes into his mouth

Remus came over pretty much every day, but they still loved it

***

Regulus

"Tsk tsk tsk, the dark lord is very disappointed in you." A tall man stood over me.

I sat on the ground. "The dard lords reign will soon ends" I growled

He laughed. "Your little attempts at rebellion will be crushed. But fine, try again."

I struggled against the ropes binding me. I was pushed back into a lake. Only then did I realize that there were rocks tied to my legs. I screamed. The water only flooded into my lungs.

It wasn't difficult to figure out what my dreams meant. The pressure of the last year in high school, the abuse from my parents.

It was difficult. I wasn't able to escape even when I legally didn't have to be under their roof. I still had to be there, to be groomed to be the next ceo of Black inc.

Was it worth it? I couldn't do this life. But I only knew two ways out. I could wait until I was 18, get them to trust me, work for them for a little and move to another country with the money I raise. Or the ultimate out, death. I suppose there was the third, waiting until my parents die, but I would literally kill myself before then.

The first one was hard and almost impossible. They would find me and make sure I get no job but one in black inc. As soon as I get too far from them, they know I could tell the world about them. Sirius hadn't told anyone about their abuse because he knows that they would use me against him. They are powerful, but if I wasn't there, they would be less powerful.

Yet, I was still right. If I went with Sirius, I believe they would've caught us both. They only gave up on him because they have me.

If I died, he could report the abuse.

***

Maybe exam season was stressful. But you could never tell by looking at Sirius and James. Partly because Sirius has experienced so much worse and James will not let anything bring him down. But also because they are insane and will celebrate summer far too early "stop you should be studying" "respectfully, shut up, moony" "oh, by the way, moony you're coming with us to the water park right?" "Course you dumb prats"

So of course they are happy and they are excited and they are adorable.

But with the summer comes thoughts of the next year. The whispered anxiety of leaving James' parents house. Of living alone. The unspoken fourth room in the house they are renting.

***

Regulus

I held my mouth closed. It was pitch black, but I knew i was in water. I had been under the water for at least a minute. My lungs burned. I had no idea where to swim. All I could think about was my next breath. Slowly I noticed I was sinking. So the opposite way was up. I started swimming, knowing I didn't have long. The water stung my eyes but I checked every few seconds to see if I could see something. Was that something? Is that light?

I felt a strong grip on my ankle. Colder than the freezing water. It was like a hand but harder and stronger. The little change in possible light above me soon disappeared as I was dragged down. Quicker than I was sinking before. I gave up on swimming.

There wasn't much to hope for, not much to motivate me. I had two friends, barely even that. Most of my contacts were classmates who used me for homework. Even with the fact that I barely helped people.

"Don't looks so down, Black, it's the last day." Rosier caught up to me as i walked into school.

"There is no cause for celebration, Rosier." I turned the corner and quickly unlocked my locker.

He laughed. "Always were dark, black. I'm an adult now. Soon you'll see."

"Seeing as your maturity has reached an all time low, I doubt adulthood is the dramatic change you make it out to be." I cleared out the few things I still had in my locker. "Plus it's only been one day for you."

He rolled his eyes. "I know but think of the possibility of adulthood. It gives you freedom. You don't have to live with your parents. You can vote. You can drink."

"That is as if I was allowed." I countered, "legalities mean nothing."

"Just 'cause you're an aristocrat doesn't mean you can't have a few drinks, mate!"

I looked at him, closing my locker. "You know that's not what I meant."

He dropped his voice, becoming serious. "I know it isn't easy. But I mean.. your parents aren't going to have you living in their house forever."

I smiled and started walking. "I am watching every second of my life. This is the only way."

He stopped and lowered his voice more. "Your brother.. he got out."

"It's not the same." I tried to keep walking.

"How?" He held my arm to stop me.

"I got him out. I don't have anyone to cover for me."

"I'd cover for you." He said, in almost a whisper.

"Yeah, well I never said you were smart." I pulled my arm away

He jogged to keep up with my increased pace. "You are basically calling yourself stupid."

"He was the most reckless person I knew. It was the lesser of two evils. It was either my arse or his life."

Rosier let me leave him behind as I walked into our exam hall.