Changes

Chapter Sixteen

Sirius Black

They were planning the prank in the library, but it wasn't the same without Remus and none of them could focus, Remus had looked pale all day and then he'd gotten that note like he'd known something bad would happen today and then his mother. Sirius hadn't even met the woman and she could be dying while Remus sat at her bedside all alone, Remus hadn't been able to explain before he rushed out, but the fear in Remus's eyes had spoken values, he was scared, terrified and was just barely covering it up.

"Sirius." James snapped his fingers in front of his eyes. "I know you're worried for Remus, but he'll be pissed if he gets back and you've screwed up this map." 

"Right, well, I can't finish it in here anyway, because of the restricted section," Sirius informed writing what measurements he could get of the library down.

"Right then we have our mission tonight," James informed.

"The restricted section." Peter squeaked.

"We have to get in any way to find a spell to allow the water from the rain spell to pass through the magic barrier while the wax doesn't that is some high-level magic, barrier breaking like that will be kept in the restricted section," James explained.

"Besides, I don't know about you, but I don't think I'll be getting much sleep tonight anyway." Sirius lamented and James nodded, Peter still looked worried.

"Shouldn't we wait for Remus?" Peter suggested.

"We don't know when he'll be back." James pointed out.

"And think of how pleased he'll be when he does get back and we have the right book for the spell and we can all figure it out together." Sirius persuaded and Peter conceded.

"Ouch, Pete, watch my heel," Sirius complained as they were all together under the invisibility cloak after dark.

"Was it this hard when you guys came to see me in detention?" James questioned.

"Basically." Sirius agreed it was hard to breathe and see under this thing as they made their way into the library.

"I saw, Madam Price, put the key in her desk," Peter informed having been on the lookout while James and Sirius had grabbed the cloak.

"Nice job, Pete." Sirius patted his shoulder encouragingly as they all walked to the desk and took the key going to the restricted section and unlocking it, before taking off the cloak and closing the door behind them taking the key so it didn't lock them in.

"Okay, fan out look for any books about spell-breaking, weakening and anything of the sort." James directed and they all split up looking at the titles.

"I've got something, 'Barriers Breaking Them and Making Them by Viviane Janus'" Sirius pulled out the book.

"Brilliant, let's..." James went quiet as they all heard the Library doors open, Sirius swore under his breath crouching and crab-walking to the end of the shelf looking to see if James and Peter had done the same thing.

"What is it my sweet, is someone out of bed?" Filch asked presumedly his cat. Sirius mouth to James "Lock the door" James nodded turning invisible and Sirius looked over at Peter who looked ready to piss himself. James reappeared right between them and had to cover Peter's mouth as he almost screamed out of fright, James pulled him under the cloak with his mouth still covered and Sirius crawled in as well, just as Filch round to the point where he could have looked left and seen them. They were stuck in the restricted section for over half an hour while Filch searched the library which actually gave them enough time to silently get the measurements of the restricted section. Filch eventually left cooing to Mrs Norris. Once they were finally able to leave they headed back to their dorms and collapsed into the beds, Sirius turned onto his side feeling the phantom sensation of Remus's hand stroking his hair as he thought about his friend and wondered if he was doing the exact same thing for his mother right now. it took him a while to fall asleep but even when he did he was still thinking about Remus.

For classes, they all took notes for Remus again including Lily who had come over to them in the common room and asked why Remus hadn't been at dinner and whether he was okay, Remus would have his choice of notes on their classes to go through because they were all terrible at communicating and didn't trust anyone else to get it right. Plus none of them had any chill, because the second Remus entered the Gryffindor common room after dinner, he was practically tackled with hugs, he looked tired, but not miserable and even managed a smile as Sirius dragged him over to one the of chairs.

"Is everything good, Mate?" James worried sitting across from Remus while Sirius sat on the arm of his chair.

"Yeah, false alarm, mostly," Remus assured nodding his head and brushing his hair out of his face looking up at Sirius, the bags under his eyes were deeper than normal as he patted Sirius's knee.

"How's your mom?" Lily asked in a whisper kneeling next to Remus's chair and resting her head on her arms on the other armrest Sirius hadn't claimed.

"She woke up this morning a lot better, we only got to talk a little, but I told her about you guys, she's happy I've made some good friends," Remus explained.

"How couldn't you with that adorable little face." Sirius teased beyond relieved to have Remus back, healthy if sleep-deprived and not grieving.

"Alright, tell me you lot haven't been sulking over me again, what have you been up to?" Remus inquired.

"I made you a copy of my notes." Lily offered handing them to Remus from her bookbag and Remus took them gratefully.

"Thank you, Lily." Remus smiled.

"You look tired, mate should we head up to the dorm?" James suggested giving Remus a wink Lily wouldn't be able to see and Remus seemed to get the hint coming with them up to the dorm after wishing Lily a good night and promising to join a study session Friday afternoon one of their half day.

"What did you do?" Remus asked once in the room making sure Frank wasn't present.

"Broke into the restricted section of the library for this." Sirius held up the book and Remus took it reading the cover.

"Brilliant, this I can work with, might have to make some modifications again," Remus suggested grinning and looking through the book then they all crowded around it making suggestions of how to get the spell to work correctly and only let water through until Frank came up and they all hid their plans and went to their beds.