𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 [𝙧. 𝙡𝙪𝙥𝙞𝙣]

chapter five

REMUS

Sirius had been missing since the match, but I knew he would turn up sooner or later. I just wasn't expecting him to show up at ten pm.

I was going through my Transfiguration essay when someone knocked on the door. I assumed it was Sirius so I jumped off my bed to go open the door.

Sirius was standing there, alright, and his sleeve was bloody; he kept trying to stem a flow of blood from his nose with it.

Leah stood next to him.

"He didn't let me touch it," were her first words.

"I told you, I'm fine," said Sirius.

"No you're not," said Leah. "I tried to convince him to come but he really didn't want to."

I turned and looked at Sirius. "Why not?"

Sirius gave me a very sombre look and pushed past us, headed towards the bathroom.

Leah kept her eyes on me the entire time, only this time they were wide with what I assumed was shock or maybe fear. If it was possible she looked even prettier in half light.

"Uh... Thanks," I managed. She dipped her head just a fraction before turning away. So much for verbal communication.

I shut the door, it creaked slightly from its old hinges. James stirred in his sleep but thankfully didn't wake. Sirius was hovering over the sink, blood dripping from his nose unnaturally fast. I handed him a wad of tissue paper, but in a matter of moments that too was completely soaked.

"Madam Pomfrey," I said.

Sirius shook his head. "Just do some healing spell or something."

"I-I might make it worse – you could lose too much blood," I protested.

"Remus, please?"

This wasn't Sirius asking to copy your Potions essay or Herbology homework; this was a tired, worn out Sirius asking me not to take him to the school nurse.

I sighed and took out my wand. I suppose I did mutter the correct spell because as soon as I waved my wand hand over him the bleeding stopped.

"Thanks," he said before grabbing more toilet paper and beginning to mop up the blood that had splashed around the sink.

I left to get him a glass of water, which he rejected at first, but I forced him on it. He only took a few sips before flopping dejectedly onto his bed. I climbed onto the bed beside him and we sat side by side in silence for a few moments.

"What happened?" I asked, my voice low and gentle.

Sirius closed his eyes and swayed a little. Half of his face was lit with golden light and the other half was cast in shadows. The eye on half I could see was slightly swollen.

"I-I tried to talk to Reg, but he wouldn't listen," he said simply.

"And then he jinxed you?" I asked.

Sirius sighed and laid his head on my lap. I found myself running my fingers through his hair.

"I just don't understand why they hate me so much," he said.