Remus, James and Mr Potter ran forward at once. Remus collapsed to his knees, reaching Sirius first. He was lying face down, black hair pouring like blood on the red carpet. Remus didn’t even think, just rolled him over. His face was pale, his eyes were closed, but he was alive. Yes, Remus could hear Sirius’s heart, pounding hard behind his ribs. He could smell the stink of fear, mixed with adrenaline.
“Sirius?!” James was there too, pressing his head to Sirius’s chest to listen,
“He’s alive.” Remus said, his voicing sounding strange. He was clutching Sirius’s shoulders still, where he had turned him, he couldn’t let go, his hands fisting the fine velvet dress robes.
“Effie!” Mr Potter was shouting, “Quickly!” He bent over Sirius, “Stand back, boys, give him some air…”
“Mmm.” Sirius stirred, slightly, his eyelashes fluttered, but nothing more.
“What’s wrong with him?” Remus asked the room, desperately. Mr Potter was guiding him away, he had to let go. He crawled backwards, crab-like as Mrs Potter rushed in. He knew his legs wouldn’t stand, just yet.
Euphemia Potter was on the carpet in seconds, pulling Sirius’s head into her lap. He must have made another noise, because she started whispering to him, sweet, small things;
“Shhh now, love, I’m here, you’re safe, shhh…”
Remus felt his eyes well up, drew his legs up under his chin and wrapped his arms around them. What was happening? He looked over at James, sitting opposite him on the living room floor, just as shocked, just as frightened. There was a distant *CRACK* outside, and Mr Potter left the room, returning moments later with Dumbledore. He seemed to bring the cold in with him; Remus felt the chill settle into his bones despite the fire which continued to blaze.
“Moody’s outside,” the old man said to James’s father, “Protective charms, everything in his arsenal. No one else will be coming here tonight.”
Good. Remus thought. Good. Lock us all up in here, never let anyone near him again.
“How is he, Effie?” Dumbledore stood over Mrs Potter, who was still cradling Sirius. She was performing some kind of magic, her eyes closed, wand running over the unconscious boy’s body, her lips were moving fast without making a sound. She eventually looked up, more shaken than Remus had ever seen her, fiery rage in her eyes.
“He’ll live.” She said. “He needs rest.”
“Was it…?” Mr Potter looked nervous. Mrs Potter closed her eyes again, and nodded.
“Cruciatus.”
James’s covered his face with his hands. Remus just felt empty - as if everything that had ever made any kind of sense to him had been wrung out. The torture curse.
“Boys.” Mr Potter suddenly said, sharply, looking at James, then Remus, “I know you want to stay, but we need you to go to bed, just now. There’s nothing you can do for Sirius at the moment.”
“But dad!” James started, climbing shakily to his feet. There were tears in his eyes too.
“James!” Mrs Potter said, from the floor. “No. Bed.”
She didn’t shout, but every man in the room seemed to shrink, slightly. There was no question of disobeying her.
Remus wasn’t sure how he got up, whether Dumbledore helped him, or whether he did it himself. Nor was he sure how he left the room that Sirius was in. It seemed like hours later that he was standing on the first floor landing, with James. Gully was lighting candles throughout the house, moving silently. The portraits along the staircases were sleeping. James held open his bedroom door, and Remus went inside without a word.
