Gryffindor Black brothers

Chapter 22

Double post today, guys! 🎉 I couldn't wait to share these new chapter with you. Hope you enjoy the extra chapter! Thanks for all your support and happy reading!

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Sirius couldn't remember the last time he'd felt this nervous. His palms were clammy, and his heart hammered against his ribcage as he made his way through the dimly lit corridors of Hogwarts, heading toward the library. He had been putting this off for days, finding any excuse to avoid the inevitable. But after his conversation with Lily, he knew he couldn't run anymore. If there was even the slightest chance of repairing his friendship with Remus, he had to take it.

As he reached the library's entrance, Sirius paused, drawing in a shaky breath. Remus was always here these days, isolating himself from the rest of the Marauders. It had become his sanctuary, a place where Sirius didn't dare intrude—until now.

He pushed open the heavy oak door, his eyes scanning the room for the familiar figure. It didn't take long to find him. Remus was seated at a table near the back, hunched over a pile of books, scribbling something furiously onto parchment. His face was drawn, and there was a weariness in his posture that made Sirius's stomach twist with guilt.

Taking another deep breath, Sirius walked over, his footsteps soft on the carpeted floor. He stopped just short of the table, unsure of how to begin. "Remus?"

Remus didn't look up at first, his quill continuing to scratch across the parchment. But after a long, tense moment, he finally raised his head, his amber eyes locking with Sirius's. The expression on his face was unreadable—somewhere between exhaustion and frustration.

"What do you want, Sirius?" Remus's voice was quiet but firm, not giving anything away.

Sirius shifted awkwardly on his feet. "Can I sit?" he asked, gesturing to the chair across from him.

Remus hesitated for a moment before giving a curt nod. "Do what you want."

Sirius slid into the chair, folding his hands on the table as he tried to gather his thoughts. This wasn't going to be easy, but Lily had been right—he needed to start with the truth. He swallowed hard, looking down at his hands before speaking.

"I'm sorry, Remus," he began, his voice barely above a whisper. "I know I messed up. I know I hurt you, and I—Merlin, I don't even know where to start."

Remus's expression didn't change, but he set his quill down and leaned back in his chair, arms crossed over his chest. "You're right, Sirius. You don't know where to start. You don't know what this did to me."

Sirius felt the weight of Remus's words like a punch to the gut. He wanted to say something, to defend himself, but there was no defense. Everything Remus was feeling was justified.

"I never wanted to hurt you," Sirius said, his voice trembling slightly. "I wasn't thinking. I was angry—at Snape, at myself—and I just... I acted without thinking about what it would do to you. I've been beating myself up over it every day since, but that doesn't change the fact that I put you in an impossible situation."

Remus's jaw clenched, and for a moment, Sirius thought he wouldn't respond. But then, slowly, he spoke, his voice tight with barely restrained emotion. "Do you have any idea what it feels like, knowing that you could've exposed me? That you could've made me a murderer, Sirius?"

Sirius flinched, the rawness in Remus's words cutting through him. "I know, Remus. I know I could've ruined everything for you. That's why I'm so sorry. I—"

"Sorry?" Remus snapped, his calm demeanor breaking as his voice rose. "Sorry doesn't fix this, Sirius! You think sorry makes it all better? You don't get it! You don't live with what I live with. I spend every day terrified that someone will find out what I am. I'm always one slip away from being branded a monster. And you—my best mate—nearly handed that to Snape on a silver platter!"