Rebirth {Marauders Era}

CHAPTER 4: SIRIUS: LOST IN DREAMLAND

The next morning, Sirius woke in his dorm bed with a tired satisfaction. They had gotten Remus out and into the shack without complications, and he had had no more dreams. In fact, his sleep had been strangely silent as well. He looked up and sighed. He had Transfiguration now, he could see Minnie!

His mates were still asleep. He shrugged. If they wanted to skip, let them. Of course, the teachers knew Remus would be gone, let them wonder where James and Peter were at. He got ready and wandered down there, as he had missed breakfast. Minnie greeted him with disdain at how he looked, his hair was disheveled, he was sure he was also late.

"Hey Professor." He didn't elaborate, and she didn't ask. Though her eyes did roam inconspicuously over the seats that were usually occupied by the other boys. He simply sat down, and Lily copied down notes for James and Remus, while Sirius took Peter's. It was unfortunate for Peter, as Sirius could barely focus enough to take his own words. He was too caught up with his dream, the excitement of last night, and the fact that he'd missed two nights of sleep.

"Me Black, I would certainly appreciate it if you would focus your attention on this class. Thank you." Minnie's voice brought him back to reality.

"Sorry, I was remembering that Remus didn't get to see the look on those Slytherin's faces when we pranked them." Minnie looked unimpressed.

Well, Remus had missed the prank yesterday, and they hadn't the heart to tell him when he was crying out in pain. Snivellus had gotten one to the face, and James had laughed, and he hadn't gotten Sirius into trouble, which made Lily scowl. If only she knew how James went after Snape still, even after all these years. Sirius didn't intend to tell her, seeing as being with her made him all the happier.

"Mr Black, if I have to tell you one more time to pay attention!" Again he had spaced out. She had scolded him, but in her eyes there was concern.

He didn't even say sorry this time, he just nodded.

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Later, James and Peter joined him in the Great Hall for lunch. Remus was still in the Hospital Wing.He socked James in the arm.

"Hey, what'd I do?!" James exclaimed, stepping back with his hands up in surrender.

"You got to lie in while I faced Minnie's wrath!"

"You could've woken us up." Peter pointed out. "You let us sleep."

"Yeah whatever, it doesn't excuse the looks I was being sent this morning!"

James rolled his eyes. "Whatever Padfoot. I'm just going to eat, then head to Charms. I'm sure Minnie was just pleased to see you."

"I wish! Have fun. I'm going to go visit Remus." Sirius said, half angrily, half jokingly.

Remus was comfortable and all of his cuts, which since they had joined him were few, were on the mend. He smiled as Sirius pushed his way through the doors.

"Hey Moony. You feeling any better?" Remus nodded, he had just woken up from a nap.

"Yes, sorry, I just woke up." He laughed, then winced as he had some scratches on his chest. Sirius immediately helped him sit up, then sat in a chair beside him. "Urgh, I hate this."

"Don't you worry Rem, it could be worse." Sirius couldn't help but think to last night, when Remus had plead to him, begging him to help him as pain wracked his body. It had reminded him of Alice and Frank's desperate screams in his dream, and he still shivered at the sound of it.

"How?" Remus asked amusedly, not seeing Sirius's shiver. "I become a beast of death and destruction every month."

"But destruction is so in right now, Rem, and you're not a beast, you're a wolf. And you don't kill, we all see to that. So I'd say it could definitely be worse." Remus blinked up at his friend, his eyes full of gratitude.

"Thank you, I know I say this every moon, but thank you for being such amazing people."

"I'd never say no to being called amazing."

"Sirius!"

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Charms was a mess, Sirius was too tired to really focus yet again. All his friends worried about him, and he said he was fine. He was simply exhausted.  When Sirius went to bed, however, he simply climbed under the covers. It had been a stressful week, full of dreams and transformations and very little sleep. He tried to sleep, but he couldn't get his eyes to shut.

"You alright?" Remus asked, in the dormitory as he had been released earlier in the day just before dinner.

"Yeah, just...thinking."

"About the dream you had two days ago?" At the lack of denial, Remus continued. "You can't linger on it, it won't hurt you now that it's over. Just sleep." He turned to face Sirius. "Your family can't hurt you anymore, and we're here to help."

"It's not me they're hurting Moony." Sirius turned his face into the pillow. "It's my real family, and my friends. It makes it so much worse."

"Well," Remus sighed, reaching across to pat Sirius's arm. "No one's been hurt yet, and like I said, if you have another one, I'm right here."

He'd said I'm, not we, and Sirius knew he wanted to be there for his mates. Everyone was always there for him, he only wanted to give back, and last time he'd had a dream he'd gone straight to James for assistance.

"Thanks Rem. I think I can sleep now."

But as he tried, he heard the voice again. You decide, Live or Die.

I can't. It's to hard. He thought. But his body had other plans. It was tired of no sleep, and of being ignored. When his head finally hit the pillow, he was asleep within seconds.

True to Remus's word, the dream didn't happen again, and not for the rest of that week, or that month even. But it lingered in the back of his head, drowning his thoughts when he was alone, and haunting his eyes. There was nothing his friends could do except get him to sleep.