To Have A Home

Chapter 12

     Sirius returned a week later from Easter break after being on the receiving end of several more Cruciatus Curses from both his mother and father, who decided that their new method seemed to have worked the first time, so they should keep using it every time Sirius came home. Sirius felt shaken, sore, and utterly crushed. He could not find an ounce of happiness within him. He walked through the doors into the Great Hall, his eyes on the ground, when...
     "Sirius! You're back!" exclaimed James. In response to the look of utter shock on Sirius'a face, Lupin added,
     "Look, mate, what you did was really, really awful. But... none of us can stand not talking to you. We missed you." Peter and James nodded fervently. Sirius stood silently and expressionlessly for a few seconds before hugging Lupin and bursting into tears. Several people passing by gave them strange looks, but James shooed them away.
     "I really am sorry," said Sirius. "I didn't even mean to tell him, it just kinda slipped out... I've felt awful since the second I said it."
     "Well, it's all in the past now," said Lupin, and the four marauders walked together up to Gryffindor tower.
     Before they entered the portrait hole, James grabbed Sirius by the arm and told the other two to go on ahead.
     "Did your parents do... you-know-what again?" he asked. Sirius considered how he should answer this question... on the one hand, James already knew about the use of the Cruciatus Curse, so there was no harm in telling him it had happened again. But on the other hand, Sirius didn't want to cause any unnecessary worry...
     Eventually, Sirius decided that it was better to just be honest, and gave a small nod. James's expression turned into one of pure rage.
     "How dare they... Sirius, you can't go back there."
     "How can I avoid it?" Sirius asked, genuinely hoping that James would offer a solution.
     "Easy. Live with me."
     "James, I can't just go with you... first of all, I have a lot of stuff there. And what about Regulus? How could I just leave him there all alone? Me being there protects him from every being harmed but if I'm gone... who knows what would happen? And even if they don't harm him... what if he goes bad? How could I live with myself if I let my brother become a Death Eater?" Sirius ranted in reply, trying to choke back a fresh wave of tears.
     "Regulus is a good person, Sirius. And he'll be okay. Hell, he can come with you to my place if you think he's in danger at yours. As for your stuff... I'm sure my parents can replace it or I could help you sneak it out. But... I can't stand the thought of you going back there. Please just think about it." Sirius nodded in agreement, but he wasn't sure he had the strength to leave. He felt stupid admitting it, but leaving his home scared him every bit as much as returning to it did.