Roses in the Moonlight

Chapter 10

Sirius POV

After a full day of being unconscious, Sirius finally stirred and opened his eyes. As he awoke, he felt disoriented and weak, and his entire body ached with pain. Madam Pomfrey was quickly at his side, checking his vitals and asking how he was feeling, but before she could say anything else, the Marauders arrived to visit him. As Sirius saw them enter the hospital wing, he couldn't help but feel a pang of unease, his eyes immediately landing on Remus.

As Remus, James, and Peter approached his bedside, Sirius automatically tensed. He had a mix of fear and anger towards Remus, remembering the events of the previous night. The attack and the resulting injuries had left a bitter taste in his mouth, and he couldn't shake the feeling of betrayal.

James, trying to break the tension, tried to start a conversation.

"Padfoot, you're lookin' a little rough." he said with a forced lightheartedness, trying to mask his own worry. Peter chimed in, adding, "Yeah, and those bandages are quite the fashion statement."

Despite the Marauders' attempts to lighten the mood, Sirius remained quiet. His eyes stayed fixated on the stitching of the linen sheet. The awkward silence grew around them until James finally spoke up again.

"So, how are you feeling, Padfoot?" he asked. Sirius turned his gaze back to James and simply said, "Sore." His voice was raspy and flat, lacking its usual energy.

Remus, who remained standing at the foot of his bed, decided to try to say something to Sirius and took a step closer.

"Sirius," he began, "I just wanted to say..."

Sirius interrupted him with a sharp tone, "Save it Remus." still refusing to make eye contact, staring down at the bandages covering his body.

Remus winced at Sirius's response, but didn't give up. "Please, just let me say something," he pleaded. Sirius looked up at him then, their eyes meeting for the first time. Remus took a deep breath before continuing, "I'm sorry, Sirius. I am so incredibly sorry for what I did to you."

Sirius held Remus's gaze for a moment, studying his expression carefully. Sighing, he finally spoke up, his tone softer this time. "It's ... fine," he said hesitantly.

James and Peter, sensing the tension in the room, decided to give the two some privacy to talk. James lightly patted Sirius on the shoulder and said, "We'll let you guys chat. We'll come back later, mate." Peter followed, nodding his head in agreement. "Yeah, we'll give you some time alone."

Remus tried once again to initiate the conversation, this time inquiring about Sirius's feelings.

"Are you sure you're feeling alright? Do you need anything?" he asked nervously.

Oh my Merlin. I already told them that I was fine. If I needed anything I would ask. I definitely don't need anything from him. He's done enough already. I just want to be left alone to rot and die. I don't have the energy for this. I mean, he almost killed me. I should be resting.

Sirius, still wary of Remus and a bit annoyed, responded curtly, "Feeling fine, don't need anything from ya." His response was short and emotionless, showing his true feelings at the moment.

Remus, in his attempt to connect with Sirius, extended his hand to touch his friend's; however, as he reached towards him, Sirius flinched and moved his own hand away, avoiding any physical contact. The small action spoke volumes, revealing the depth of Sirius's fear and discomfort around Remus.

Remus quickly withdrew his hand, and Madam Pomfrey, who had been observing the tense exchange, decided to intervene. She approached his bedside and smiled gently at Sirius.