When Black Met Blue (Marauder Fanfic)

chapter 23 *Edited*

'Professor,’ James said. ‘That’s not Sirius.’ Sirius was staring at “Sirius” who was now watching James as if he was insane. James honestly didn’t care what the Death Eater thought of him. Sirius was back. Or, at least he thought he was. It was sort of hard to tell, since he didn’t remember anything. And he didn’t know that he didn’t remember anything. But James thought it was Sirius, and that had to count for something. 

Dumbledore cleared his throat. ‘Mr Potter, if this is some sort of-’

‘Professor,’ James snapped. ‘This is not a joke.’ James only ever joked about Sirius, with Sirius. Or perhaps Remus. Dumbledore was neither.

Dumbledore’s white eyebrows drew together as he pulled his wand out of his sleeve. ‘Neither of you are to leave this bar without my consent,’ he said firmly. Sirius recoiled, moving closer to James. ‘Try and you will be stopped.’ James didn’t doubt that in the slightest. Dumbledore waved his wand and a silvery Phoenix fluttered out of it. ‘Inform Horace of my location and have him bring me a vial of Veritaserum. Alastor.’

‘Wands,’ Moody growled, flinging his hand out at Sirius and the Death Eater. Sirius looked up at Moody puzzled, and also a little afraid.

James nudged Sirius. ‘Give him your stick.’ Reluctantly, Sirius passed it over. 

Moody took “Sirius’” wand as well and held the two of them up. ‘They’re the same,’ he muttered. James snorted. Clearly one of them was a copy. Moody tapped them both with his own wand. A weak silvery shape floated out of the Death Eater’s. ‘Drying Charm,’ he muttered, his blue eyes flicking to the Death Eater. Sirius’ wand screamed loudly. James’ face paled; it sounded like Sirius himself was screaming. ‘Cruciatus Curse,’ Moody said, fixing both of his eyes on Sirius. ‘That’s illegal, boy.’

Sirius frowned. ‘Then why...?’ Both Dumbledore and Moody were watching him with cold expressions. James put a hand on Sirius’ shoulder and was saddened to feel him flinch at the contact. What had those bastards done to him?! ‘I can’t say I’m surprised,’ Sirius muttered finally. ‘It hurts.’ James coughed to hide a laugh. Typical Sirius. ‘What?’ Sirius said, looking at Dumbledore’s shocked face. ‘It does.’

Moody’s frown deepened. ‘You say this is Black?’ he asked James.

‘Yes, sir,’ James said with more confidence than he had had five minutes ago.

The Death Eater glared at James. ‘I’m Sirius Black,’ he said stubbornly.

‘And I suppose you’re him too?’ Moody asked Sirius. Sirius nodded, looking confused. It was then James realised that Sirius probably didn’t know what he looked like, and so didn’t realise the significance of “Sirius’” appearance. James suppressed a groan; this was going to be harder than he thought.

‘Sit down, please,’ Dumbledore said, giving Sirius a troubled smile. ‘And stay where you are,’ he said, giving the Death Eater the same smile.

Sirius looked at James for help. ‘Sit down, boy,’ Moody growled impatiently, forcing Sirius into a chair. Sirius made a funny whimpering sound, clutching at his side. ‘Sorry,’ Moody said. His face was still hard, but James thought he meant it.

‘Don’t worry about it,’ Sirius muttered, still massaging it.

‘Mr Potter, if you’d take a seat,’ Dumbledore said calmly. ‘We might need your insight.’ James pulled a chair over and plopped down next to Sirius in what he hoped was an obvious gesture about where his allegiance lay. He alternated between grinning at Sirius and glaring at the Death Eater, who glared right back. 

‘When’s your birthday?’ Dumbledore asked pleasantly.

‘Autumn 1959,’ “Sirius” said promptly. James shot him a dirty look.

Dumbledore nodded thoughtfully, glancing at Sirius. ‘I don’t know, sir.’ James sighed.

‘Parents’ names?’

‘Walburga and Owen.’

‘Orien,’ Sirius corrected absently. James beamed. Dumbledore and Moody shared a look.

‘Where did we first meet?’ Moody asked.

‘Last Hogsmeade Weekend,’ the boy said. James frowned; only he, Lily, Remus, Peter and the real Sirius knew about that... then he realised Moody had probably said something to “Sirius” about it before he got there.

‘Just now?’ Sirius said, looking worried. Dumbledore frowned.

‘Professor?’ James said, taking pity on his friend. ‘Do you mind if I ask the questions? I know him better.’ Dumbledore nodded, much to Moody’s obvious surprise; the Auror's eyebrows shot up into his hairline.

‘Favourite colour and why?’ James said. He’d already asked Sirius this, and it certainly wasn’t common knowledge; who’d guess that Sirius Black, star of the Gryffindor Quidditch team, would like blue? Sirius had never told anyone but James that he liked blue because it was the colour of Orla’s eyes.

‘Red and gold,’ the Death Eater said uncertainly. ‘Because it’s the colour of Gryffindor.’ James snorted. Wrong. Red and Gold were Remus' favourite colours, not Sirius.

‘Blue,’ Sirius said. James grinned. Sirus thought for a moment. ‘I don’t know why.’ James’ face fell, realising this probably meant he didn’t remember Orla either.

‘Favourite animal?’

‘Lion.’ James rolled his eyes.

‘A dog,’ Sirius answered hesitantly. James grinned, nodding at Dumbledore and Moody. ‘Why are you asking me these questions?’

‘To find out if you’re you. What do you want to do when you finish school?’ Sirius asked, knowing Dumbledore knew the answer to this one.

‘I still go to school?!’ Sirius half-shouted, looking alarmed. The Death Eater sniggered.

‘Yes,’ Dumbledore said slowly, glancing curiously at Moody, who shrugged. ‘Are we on holidays?’ James demanded.

‘Er... no,’ James said, a little thrown by the question.

‘I want to be an Auror,’ the Death Eater said.

Sirius’ face had become panicked and thoughtful all at once. James was sure he was counting back the days since he was captured. Or at least, counting the days he remembered of his capture. ‘How much have I missed?’ he whispered finally, staring at James.

‘I’ve got notes to give you,’ James muttered back. ‘Just answer the bloody question.’

‘No,’ Sirius said in an oddly dead voice. He blinked, shaking his head. ‘Sorry,’ he muttered, looking confused again, ‘I don’t know why I said that. After school... Erm.... I haven’t given it much thought,’ Sirius said, his mouth turning down. His eyes glazed over, and James wondered what he was thinking about. ‘I-I think I’d like to stop Voldemort. He seemed like a bit of a prat.’ James laughed. Dumbledore stared at him, eyes twinkling. Sirius flushed suddenly. ‘I’d like to get married, too, I think’ he said.

‘Anyone in mind?’ James said with a grin that hid how nervous he was; he wanted to know if Sirius remembered Orla.

‘No idea,’ the Death Eater said.

Sirius said "A girl... I think she was pretty"

James' face fell what seemed the hundrenth time today.