Determination|| Remus lupin

chapter fourteen

James was glad he had asked Ariana to stay for the entire holidays, the two had grown remarkably close now and although the girl seemed odd at times, she was funny and kind. She also seemed to get on well with Justin, which surprised James, as Justin barely talked to anyone anymore. The two got in well, but it irked James that he was relying on the girl to find out if Justin was okay, but Justin refused to tell him anything.

The two sat in James' bed, attempting their potions homework. Both detested potions and were procrastinating intensely. It was at that moment that James remembered the small mirror that Sirius had given him, so they could talk discreetly.  He took it from the drawer beside his bed and got Ariana's attention.

"Sirius?" He whispered. The mirror stopped showing his worried features and Ariana's confused frown, and instead showed a large room decorated with Gryffindor memorabilia. "Sirius!" James hissed again. Sirius appeared in view.

"Hey James, Arid." He greeted them with a smile. Neither smiled bsck. Sirius was holding the mirror at an angle that hid part of his face.

"Sirius it's been three days! We've heard nothing from you!" James conplained? Ariana looked at the boy in the mirror skeptically, she knew him well enough to tell there wasn't something quite right.

"I'm sorry mate, but they're all here. It's hell." He explained himself, James looked alarmed at once, even Ariana looked scared for him, although she didn't really know his family situation too well.

"Your entire family?" James sounded shocked. Sirius just nodded, he too sounded worried.

"I don't know what they're doing here, but even Reg looks scared, so it can't be good." He agreed, running a hand through his hair. "I've been trying to stay out of the way as much as I can."

Sirius!" A man's voice boomed angrily. Ariana jumped in fright, Sirius paled slightly.

"I... I er- have to go. I'll see you later." And he turned the mirror over, hiding it. But not before they saw the bruises ringing his eye.

"Is he going to be alright?" Ariana asked, worry and confusion in her voice.

"I hope so." James nodded, looking distinctly worried for his best friend.

"They appeared to have hurt him James." She voiced her concerns at once, he just nodded, looking defeated.

"I know Arie, I know, but there's nothing we can do. Not with his family all there." He told her, she sighed, he patted her shoulder sadly.

"I do hope they don't hurt him any more." She said. James looked like he agreed.

After finishing their homework, the two ventured downstairs to find lunch. Justin was curled up on the sofa, reading a book. James stopped in the doorway.

"You alright Jay? You've been really quiet lately." James asked reaching out to the boy once again.

"I'm fine thanks James." He replied, not making any effort to turn and look at him. He turned the page of his book and continued reading.

James sighed and continued on into the kitchen, where Ariana had sat on the counter, examining a box of cookies.

"What?" He asked her. She laughed.

"I was curious as to how they are made." She responded.

"I'm sure my mum would show you if you asked her." He answered, pulling a pork pie out of the fridge and cutting two slices. Then he paused. "Jay, you hungry?"

"I'm okay." He responded. James sighed and continued with making himself and Ariana lunch. They sat at the table together, chatting and laughing about nothing important.

The door opened slowly, revealing Justin, who silently went over to the cupboard.

"Are you alright Justin? You look a little pale." Ariana asked him, he turned to look at her and was about to answer, when he fell to the ground.

"Jay!" James yelled desperately, getting up and running over to him, Ariana following close behind. "Whats wrong with him?" He asked desperately, trying to wake the boy up.

"I do beleive he has fainted." Ariana replied gently. At that moment, the front door opened, James' mother had returned from her trip to town.

"Mum!" James screamed. The woman came running, gasping upon seeing Justin's unconscious body.

"Oh no, my baby." She whispered, kneeling down beside him. "Okay, we need... we need to get him upstairs."

Between James and Ariana, they managed to get Justin to his room, where Mrs Potter met them with a box of miscellaneous healing supplies.

"Would you two mind leaving him? I don't want him to be overwhelmed. You know how he gets." She said, James shook his head stubbornly.

"Mum he hasn't been right for ages." He replied. Ariana just nodded, she could tell that his reclusive behaviour wasn't natural.

"I know dear, his head of house has written to me a few times." She said, but her words were far from comforting.

"Mum he doesn't have any friends, he always alone and they just keep bullying him! I can't... He tells me not to get involved. We need to help him!" James argued, Ariana put a hand on his shoulder.

"James, crowding him and pushing him into telling you what's going on is not going to help." She told him gently. James sat down on the end of Justin's bed, his eyes full of tears.

"I'm supposed to look after him! I feel like I've failed." He confessed, Ariana was shocked, never seeing him this worked up before. She sat down beside him and gave him a hug.

"Oh Jamesie, you haven't failed, just sometimes these things  happen and we can't stop it, or help in the way you would expect. He's having a tough time, we just have to help him through it, best we can." His mother told him gently, taking his hand. James nodded, just managing to wipe away the tears before they fell.

"Okay." He agreed. Ariana smiled and stood up.

"I do beleive a game of wizards chess is in order." She said, James agreed, although he still looked downcast. Ariana just hoped she could cheer him up a bit. Then perhaps they could help Justin.