Shattered Masks, Unbroken Vows - Jegulus

Chapter 2

The room was quiet. Sirius and Remus had taken seats near his bedside, the weight of their emotions almost tangible in the stillness. Hours had passed since they were allowed in, and exhaustion clung to them like a heavy fog, but neither could bring themselves to leave James's side.

Sirius hadn't moved, his hand still resting gently on James's. His heart was heavy with grief for Lily and anger toward Peter, and yet, there was hope—James was alive. It was a small miracle in the midst of tragedy.

Remus, sitting in a chair on the other side of the bed, glanced over at Sirius every now and then, their unspoken feelings pushed aside as they focused on James's recovery.

Then, a small movement.

James stirred, his fingers twitching ever so slightly beneath Sirius's hand. Sirius sat upright, heart pounding. "Remus... I think he's waking up," he whispered, his voice hoarse with emotion.

Remus stood immediately, his pulse quickening as he moved closer to the bed. "James?" he called softly, hope and dread intermingling in his voice. "James, can you hear us?"

James's eyelids fluttered, a soft groan escaping his lips as his body struggled to wake. Slowly, he opened his eyes, blinking against the light in the room. His vision was blurred, his mind sluggish as it fought through the fog of unconsciousness.

"Sirius?" James rasped, his voice weak, barely above a whisper. He blinked again, turning his head to the side, his eyes searching for his friend.

"I'm here, mate," Sirius replied, his hand tightening around James's. "I'm here."

Remus stepped forward, relief flooding his features. "James, take it easy. You've been through a lot. You're safe."

James's brow furrowed in confusion, his mind still groggy. His gaze darted between Sirius and Remus, trying to piece together the fragments of memory that swirled in his mind. "Lily..." he croaked, a sense of dread creeping into his voice. "Harry... where's Lily? Where's Harry?"

Sirius froze, his throat tightening as the question pierced through the air like a knife. He exchanged a glance with Remus, the weight of what they had to tell James suddenly feeling unbearable.

"Harry's safe, he's with the Weasleys" Remus said gently, his voice soft but steady. "He's unharmed, James. Voldemort... he couldn't touch him."

James exhaled in relief, his body sinking deeper into the mattress. "Thank God... Lily—she must have protected him... she..." His voice trailed off as he glanced between their somber faces, the growing sense of dread settling deep in his chest. "Where's Lily?"

Sirius opened his mouth, but the words caught in his throat. His eyes filled with tears as he struggled to find a way to break the news that would shatter his friend. Remus, sensing Sirius's hesitation, stepped forward, his voice trembling.

"James... Lily... she's gone," Remus said, his words quiet, filled with sorrow. "She... she sacrificed herself to save Harry."

For a moment, the world seemed to stop.

James's face contorted in confusion, disbelief flashing in his eyes as if he hadn't heard correctly. His breath hitched, and then realization dawned. "No..." he whispered, his voice breaking. "No... no, no, no..."

Sirius's hand gripped James's more firmly, his own tears falling silently. "I'm so sorry, James."

James's chest rose and fell in shallow, rapid breaths as the pain of Lily's death crashed into him like a tidal wave. "She... she's gone?" he gasped, his voice shaking, his mind rejecting the truth. "Lily's gone?"

Sirius nodded, his own tears streaming down his face. "She saved Harry. She stood between him and Voldemort. She... she didn't make it, James."

James let out a low, anguished sob, his body trembling with the force of his grief. The room seemed to close in around him, the air thick with sorrow. His hand clenched tightly around Sirius's, his knuckles white as the raw pain of losing Lily overwhelmed him.