I Remember

Family

"Potter Manor!" Sirius shouted once he and all his belongings were safely inside the fireplace. With one last look at Reg, he vanished with the floo powder.
~
Tumbling into the Potter's main room was the last thing Sirius remembered before blacking out with the echo of a screaming James and Mr. and Mrs.Potter's worried faces.

"House-elf fire whip curse remnants, serious food deprivation, verbal, physical, and mental abuse has been suffered along with the......I'm sorry, along with the Cruciatis Curse." explains a healer from St.Mungos that had been brought in to examine Sirius's health.

A synchronized sharp intake of breath can be heard from the other 3 occupants in the room then

"Bloody fucking hell, I will MURDER those people"

"Now James, just calm down. You're worrying your mother even further." True enough Euphemia Potter was struggling to hold back tears as she looked from her son to the injured boy in the bed whom she has always thought of as a son.

The sight of his mother with tears of grief in her eyes stomped James temper out quicker than any sedative potion could've. He quickly went over and hugged her, "You're right, I'm sorry, I just lost control there for a second. I'm sorry Mum, it's just Merlin what are we going to do" the last part comes out with a bit of strain from suppressed emotions as he tugs his hair.

"Oh James, I don't know love, but I promise you he will never go back to those cruel people again."

"You got that damn right" Fleamont Potter all but growls out.

"Monty please..."

"Yes, you're right dear I'm sorry. I'll go prepare his room and inform Dumbledore of the situation and," he looks towards James, proud of how strong his son was being "don't let your mother cry herself out. When Sirius wakes don't ask questions just let him know you're the okay?"

"Yes father." With a nod, Fleamont leaves the room.

James and his mum stared at Sirius's almost lifeless body for what felt like an eternity before finally she got up, kissed James's and Sirius's head, explaining she'll be back with tea and chocolate. James nodded mutely as his mother left the room with one last pitying glance. Finally gone, James let his tears come. All his pent frustration and anger at the Blacks, hurt and grief for Sirius, his brother, laying there as if death was the only answer to all his problems. It hurt James. It really did. But he knew Sirius. He'd never let them get the best of him, so he waited for Sirius to wake.
~
It's been 3 days since the incident. Or "The Great Black Escape", as James calls it. 3 days since Sirius became free. He refused to talk about it. He was finally gone and wanted to move on and forget every single thing that happened in that hell. Of course no such luck came. After 3 days of a refusing-to-talk-about-Sirius, the Potters, wound with worry, begged Sirius to at least explain something. No. Sirius couldn't do that. He didn't want their pity. Not to mention, he's not even sure if they'll accept him. Better to play it safe, so he continued to shake his head no every time they bought it up.

But not everything is all right in the end. At night, Sirius struggles to sleep. Scared of the shadows that creep in the dark, waiting to take him. Scared of all the wands in the house that might just turn on him if they ever found out. Scared of the nightmares in his own head that threaten to kill him. Restless sleep doesn't become of him until the wee  hours of the morning; only to be woken by the cruel spell that left his father's mouth as he laughs at his faggot son withering in agony on the floor. His face becomes younger, hair darker, and he's regulus now. Regulus yelling at Sirius for leaving him here, for loving James more than his own blood brother. As he says blood, it begins to pool in his eyes as tears until his eyes are red and his skin pale, nose flat, and head bald. He's no longer Regulus, it's Voldemort laughing at how alone and scared Sirius is. It's Voldemort telling him he doesn't belong anywhere to anyone except him, as a servant, as a death eater. And with that, his laughter becomes a sharp hiss as he morphs into a giant snake. Quicker than Sirius can move the snake launches itself at Sirius's left fore arm and begins imbedding itself into Sirius's skin, becoming... "NO!" Sirius tries to yell but his throat is sandpaper. He continues to yell and shake and cry as the snake is now the dark mark that stands stark clear against Sirius's pale complexion.
~
Light filters through as Sirius looks through his hazy morning state. Clearing them, he blinks, and is startled to see James sitting right there beside him.

"Hey mate." James releases a breath he must've been holding for a while and looks relived.

"What happened? Why do I feel like I've been run over a thousand times by the knight bus?"

"Well I'm not really sure, but you were yelling Sirius. Loud. Crying in your sleep. Begging for help, screaming sorrys, petrified no's. Sirius mate, just tell me what happened. Please..."

As James spoke, Sirius's nightmare flashed before his eyes. Unknowingly, tears pooled in his eyes.

"Oh bloody— Sirius, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you cry. Please stop. MUM! DAD!"

Sirius was shaking. He was tired and scared and just so ready to...give up. Before he knew what he was doing he told the Potter's every last detail. From his family to death eaters to being gay to being crucio'd, to his nightmare. It all came out rushed and pathetic, but he just couldn't help it. There was a stunned silence as Sirius finished his episode. With tears leaking down his face and his heart breaking even more. Before he could look up and say his words about leaving and never bothering them again, he was engulfed in the most motherly hug he's ever felt. And like that the rest of his fears and doubts flowed away. He was held for a long time, soon enough James and his dad joined in. He felt every word through their embrace.

"Sirius Orion Potter, you listen to me and listen to me very closely. You are loved. And always will be. You are strong, brave, funny, handsome, intelligent, and do not deserve what you've been through, but we're here now. We are your family do you understand me? You are loved Sirius, and have been given a second chance, a new beginning." Mrs. Potter whispered fiercely into his ear.

All he could do was nod his head and squeeze a bit tighter. Praying to the fates that he would never lose James, Fleamont, and Euphemia Potter. From this day marked a new beginning. He would protect and love his new family forever and cherish every moment spent with them. He would never, ever, lose them. He looked at James and James looked back.

"Brothers?"

"Brothers."
~
Of course. Nothing is permanent. No matter how much you swear by it. No matter how much you claim you will protect the ones you love. People, family, brothers, nothing. Life must go on. Wether you want it to or not. You can move through life with your head up, learning from your past, living in the present, and planning for the future. Or you can live in the past, regret it with every passing moment, and because you're head is always down and back always turned, you'll never see where you're going.