Hello Fam :)

A/N: I felt the chapter is incomplete but I don't know what else to put out there. There would be another chapter in an hour. Read both of them and let me know what else to change or add? 

Warning: Violence and characters being hurt. I am sorry I had to write this. 

Happy Reading...

It was Halloween night and James had made a few more attempts to talk to Regulus till now. Every time the younger Black saw him, he would change his path while he is alone and start a conversation if there is some Slytherin lingering with him. James rolled his eyes because what the hell? He had seen the little shit since he was two and cried for the sweet muffins that Bella stole from him. Just because he was in Slytherin doesn't mean he was all mighty and grown-up. He was still stupid and a little brat as far as James was concerned.

He huffed. Regulus would come around but with every passing day, he was forcing James to opt for his backup option. To knock the idiot down and kidnap him until he agrees. He doubts Sirius would appreciate that one but also if Sirius is getting his brother out of it, it was a damn good plan. Pulling on his robes, he went towards the Great Hall for the Halloween feast.

James wasn't interested in the Halloween feast. He wanted to knock Voldemort down instead of celebrating and along the way, a few Blacks too. But Professor Dumbledore thinks education is more important and a little celebration here and there would do wonders to the mood of the students. He would rather piss off every student and leave them on Voldemort so that they would rain hexes and curses at the Dark lord. Taken down by a pissed of students would be a nice headline in the Daily Prophet.

The others were already in the Great Hall as James asked them to go along with Remus. He fell asleep in the afternoon and Remus thought to let him sleep because apparently, James was looking close to fainting, whatever that means. It's what Peter said when he asked why they didn't wake him up. Remus merrily ignored him and asked him to get ready and get down. James didn't see Sirius though. Apparently, he went early because Marlene called him, probably to snog, informed Peter, snickering. James shook his head. He didn't know if things are getting serious between the mutt and Marlene but if Sirius is having fun, it was all good.

In order to reach early, James took a secluded corridor to reach the Great Hall early, trying to knot his tie properly when he heard he heard a muffled groan and went in that direction instead. He felt the oxygen punched out of his lungs and his goddamn brain as he lost the coordination between his brain and limbs on seeing Sirius beaten down to a pulp. It was on an automatic mode he felt his legs moving on their own accord as he knelt down in front of the boy. "Siri? Sirius, are you there?"

"Jay?", he muttered and coughed up blood before grinning weakly and falling unconscious in James's arms.

James panicked but then took a deep breath, resolved his steel, and lifted Sirius in his arms. There would be murder alright but first, Sirius needs to be taken to the hospital wing.

XXX

James met Poppy right at the door of the hospital wing, probably on her way to the Great Hall but she gasped on glancing at Sirius.

"Merlin, what happened to him? Come here", said Poppy, guiding them towards the farthest bed in the hospital wing. "Put him down."

James did as he was asked and sat down on the chair beside him, bouncing his leg. Poppy was muttering something, talking to him, but all he could do was glance at Sirius's face and tick off the possible names of who could have done this to him until the woman shook him.

"James, listen to me. Remove his shirt", she said. "I will bring the potions and bandages. The wounds are muggle. Whoever it was they have used the muggle technique. Probably, not to trace back their magic to their wands. We need to clean his wounds to prevent infection."

She was going about something, cleaning his wounds before she left him alone with Sirius. James removed his robes and shirt. He wished he could use his wand to do that so that he didn't need to see how soaked up his shirt was from all the blood but using magic was tricky here. The skin around the wounds would be sensitive and the magic might be intruding and hurt him accidentally. It didn't ease his urge to murder.

He was startled when there was a hand on his shoulder and found Poppy smiling sympathetically at him. "I have fixed him as best as I could. He needs to rest the night here. Do you want me to ask the house-elves to get your food here?"

James blinked his eyes. "What?"

"Knowing you, you wouldn't want to leave his side. I could get your food here instead."

James looked at Sirius, he was at least breathing, not completely healed but better, and took a deep breath. "No, Poppy. I need to go to the Great Hall. Could you watch over him until I come back?"

When Poppy nodded, James gave another glance to Sirius, before stalking to the Great Hall.

XXX

Professor Dumbledore

His voice boomed in the Great Hall, instantly silencing the chatter of the students and gaining the attention of the Professor, as he walked to stand in the middle of the tables.

"James, don't raise your voice at Professor Dumbledore sir", said Hagrid.

James raised his hand. "Not now, Hagrid", he said before turning to the man. "Sir, I found Sirius beaten down to a pulp at one of the stranded corridors. I was late to the feast so I had to take that one otherwise, without any person ending up there, he would have bled to death. I don't know who did this. They were clever, they didn't use the wands and used their fists. Their magic couldn't be traced. Do you want to find the culprits using your ultra-superior magic somehow or do you want me to curse the whole Hogwarts students whoever I have a doubt on?"

The headmaster stood up from his chair. "Mr. Potter, go back to the hospital wing. I would find the culprits and make sure proper punishment is given to them. I will talk to Hogwarts if I have to."

James nodded. "Good", he said. "And call my parents. They deserve to know."

"Your parents, Mr. Potter?", asked the headmaster.

James didn't know if the Professor was feigning innocence or if he really took it for granted because Sirius's Hogwarts letter came to Potter Manor this summer. Whatever it was, the others need to know what it meant. "Sirius is my brother and my parents are his. The letter would go to my home. Our home. Sirius has the protection of House Potter", he said. Even though his eyes were at the staff table, the warning was clear to everyone present in the Great Hall. If people thought they could harass Sirius or tried to hurt him again just because he was disowned, they would face the wrath of House Potter. James wasn't into politics. His dad was the Lord representing House Potter and was almost as disinterested as James was but one harm to the family and everyone knew how powerful the ever-loving and sweet Potters are.

Passing his message, James stormed out of the Great Hall and towards the Hospital wing. From the corner of his eyes, he saw Peter and Remus following him but he didn't wait for them. If he stayed for a moment longer, he would be raining killing curses without any specific goddamn target.

He felt it was difficult to breathe as soon as he reached behind the closed curtains of Sirius's bed and when a pair of arms surrounded him, pulling him into a comforting hug, he let himself breakdown. The façade in the Great Hall was just that, a façade because here was the reality. His brother, the person who he had sworn in to watch his back, to protect him, was lying in the bed unconscious and he couldn't do anything about it. James felt he had failed him, he wanted to shake the boy awake, wanted to yell at the person who was making him hurt again and again.

"Hey, Prongs, hey, calm down", whispered Remus in his ears. "Hey, we all know he is a stubborn little shit. He would bounce back very soon if only to annoy us. Let's just stay patient, James." James nodded into his shoulder and let himself stay for some more in the comforting hug of Remus. When he broke the hug, Moony wiped his tears and gave him a weak smile. "Sirius is strong. He would be fine. He hadn't survived the Black madness only to go this way, in a stupid corridor brawl fight."

"Why him, Moony?", muttered James. "Why not...Why not me?"

Remus held his face gently. "Hey, you did well there. Back in the great hall. You were really good. You controlled your emotions, you warned the people. I think you passed the message. Imagine if the roles are reversed? If something happens to you, Sirius would unleash the Black madness and curse the whole damn Hogwarts, teachers and students alike. After what happened back at Grimmauld's I wouldn't doubt it. So, for everyone's sake, don't think it could be you. I have some friends in Slytherin. I would ask around, okay? And let Dumbledore find who the people are. After that, we would think if we could bring your parents in. They thought they could get away but Hogwarts sees. She listens. They are idiots to even do that here."

"That written in a book?"

Remus chuckled. "Hogwarts: A History. If you had read it, you would know too."

"I will if Sirius does", said James before glancing at the boy. Him laying there, lifeless, didn't sit right with him. Sirius was a constant bouncing ball of excessive energy.

They were interrupted when Peter's cries turned into wails. Remus patted James on his back and then went to put an arm around Peter, trying to calm him down. All the noise attracted Poppy who just left when James returned back to give the friends some privacy.

"Mr. Pettigrew, no need of all the ruckus. Silence is to be maintained here", she warned.

"But, Madam Pomphrey..."

"Enough. Remus, I would let James stay the night with Sirius. Why don't you take Pettigrew to your dorm and calm him down? Take the dreamless drought, if you need them", she said.

"I am sorry, Poppy", said Remus, before brushing a hand on Sirius's cheek, giving another hug to James, and dragging Peter out along with him.

There were minutes of complete silence as James sat down and stared at Sirius, holding his hand, when Lily Evans came in. "Do not touch him", he warned, his tone coming more sharply than he intended to because Peter did cry all over Sirius, probably hurting his head.

Lily glared at him, before stubbornly sitting in front of him, never losing eye contact. It was as if she dared him to stop her from being there.

Their staring contest was broken with another sob and James snapped his head towards the noise, a threat on his tone, but halted when he saw Regulus there. "What the hell are you doing here?", he asked, making sure the glare was intact.

"I heard you in the Great Hall and I said I had a stomach bug after going to dorms. I don't have a stomach bug", said Regulus, between the hiccups.

So, Regulus lied to his dormmates to sneak into the Hospital wing instead of letting his housemates know that he cared about his disowned brother. The boy was looking at Sirius, without blinking his eyes as if afraid Sirius would disappear if he did. There was nothing proper about Regulus's face. He was crying, sobbing, tears flowing from his eyes, nothing like the purebred Slytherin but he didn't take any step further, throwing scared glances at James as if asking his permission or afraid that James would stop him from seeing his brother. After a long time, James felt he was looking at the kid he has known his entire life and not the boy after he came to Hogwarts.

Without thinking much, James sighed and pulled the boy into his arms. "He is fine, Reg. He will be fine. He should be. Otherwise, I would kill the whole Hogwarts for doing this to him", he promised. "You trust me, right?", he asked after a beat. It was too much to ask of him after their last conversation where Reg confessed, that he hated James. Surprisingly to him, Regulus nodded.

When he got his breath back, Regulus pulled away from his arms and sat down on the chair James conjured for him, beside him. They were silent for a long moment, him holding Sirius's hand in both of his and Regulus holding his arm as he stared at his brother. "James", said Reg, breaking the silence, "did this happen because he is disowned? Because he doesn't have the protection of family magic?"

It could be. Family magics were important. That's why there was a huge fuss up with the purebloods. Because they have family magic, combined from their ancestors and the families that were married into theirs. That's why they were powerful. And Blacks were one of the largest purebloods because they don't 'contaminate the blood by marrying anyone other than the purebloods' even if it's within the family or distinct relatives. "I don't know, Reggie", said James, because Sirius wasn't officially disowned. Burning the stupid tree doesn't count. Also, Orion Black wasn't the Lord to House Black. Sirius's grandfather, Arcturus Black was still very much alive and he wouldn't disown for not aligning with Voldemort. The last James met him, Arcturus said Voldemort was a child who was throwing a tantrum to get his favorite toy. James wanted Voldemort to listen to that. "But whatever it is, I will make sure it wouldn't happen again."

Regulus nodded easily, believing just his word, and then leaned his head on James's shoulder, never leaving his eyes off Sirius. James wanted to kiss the boy on his head, comfort him, and let him know that Sirius would be fine and if not, he would help Reg using the Black library to make Sirius fine but he didn't want to scare the boy. He being there for Sirius, lying to his housemates, and friends, and being this vulnerable in front of James was already a huge step. Guess, he really didn't have to use his backup plan. All he needed to do now was to keep Reg from going away again after Sirius woke up. James felt himself smile. Sirius would be jumping around after he wakes up. Wake up, Padfoot, he thought and hoped he could somehow let Sirius listen to him telepathically and wake him up.

XXX

Sometime later, Poppy came to give some potions to Sirius and was surprised to find Regulus leaning on James's shoulder. Regulus panicked for a moment, afraid she would tell anyone, and James wrapped an arm around him. "She respects the privacy of her patients. Relax, Reg."

"But I am not her patient."

"You are allowed to sit with your brother, Mr. Black", said Poppy. "I have sworn a secrecy that I would never involve in the personal affairs of my patients or their families."

"I am sorry", he muttered.

James rubbed his arm in comfort before turning to Sirius. After giving the potion, Poppy turned to Lily.

"Ms. Evans, I can't make those two to leave but why don't you go and take some rest? Sirius wouldn't wake up before the morning and you can visit as soon as you wake up in the morning."

Lily glanced at Sirius before nodding her head. When Poppy left, she came around and squeezed Reg's arm. The younger boy didn't bother to lift his head. She shook his head and turned to James. "Hey, if you need anything, let me know."

James gave her a smile before watching her retreating back.

"You not spouting poems at her now", muttered Regulus, still sniffing.

"You are still a little shit", countered James. But he was his little shit and James missed him a lot. The door again bustled open, tensing Regulus again. "Hey, relax. There are privacy charms here. No one would come unless they are to meet Sirius and as it's late now until Poppy allows them."

It was Dorea, accompanied by Minerva. Dorea was quick to sit on the chair Lily abandoned as she caressed his face and for the first time, James saw a tear in the eyes of Minnie looking at the boy. Maybe Sirius was right. He was really special to Minnie. James couldn't wait to tell the boy but he needs to wake up to listen. When Minnie put an arm around Dorea, supporting her silently, Dorea squeezed her hand in return before letting out a breath. Dorea then came around to wrap her arms around both the boys, without a question about Regulus, without hesitating if she should be hugging the younger Black as she used to when he came to Potter Manor, and James cried in his mother's arms. If he wasn't too wrong, Regulus was doing the same.

Dorea broke the hug, made the boys sit, and wiped their tears. "Hey, I am a healer, yeah? I would know. Sirius would be jumping around by tomorrow, okay? And Poppy has healed wounds worse than this. Nothing would happen to him, okay?"

James nodded at his mother.

"I am sorry", muttered Regulus, without giving any further explanations.

As far as James knew, Regulus was always polite to Dorea even when he wasn't talking to him. When his mother pulled Reg again into a hug, James ignored trying to make it sense in favor of watching Sirius.

XXX

When Dorea returned to Albus's office, Charles was sitting in front of him, fuming. Behind her, Minerva sighed and took a seat. Dorea did the same.

"Haven't you two done with your screaming matches?"

"It's not a screaming match when I am the only one screaming, Minerva", said Charles.

Charles was so busy yelling at the old man that the women got tired and went to check on their boy.

"Albus, I understand house rivalry, but something like this is happening right under your nose and what are you doing? Really? Beating a kid in the corridors? Is that what Hogwarts come to now?"

Dorea sighed. "Charles, it was the Halloween feast. Albus can't be everywhere. What's more important is how are we dealing with the students who have done this?"

Albus forwarded a piece of parchment. "These are the names I got and I would request you not to let any of the marauders know about this. Especially James."

"Afraid of my son now", said Charles, scoffing.

"Your son has a killing instinct when he warned everyone in the Great Hall today", said Albus.

"I am surprised he didn't start with the killing curse already", muttered Dorea. "Come on, it's Sirius."

Albus nodded. Minerva shook her head.

"Dorea, what happened during the summer?", asked Minerva. "I am hearing all sorts of rumors but I haven't believed before, I wouldn't do now. But you tell me, I think it would answer why this happened with Sirius."

"And you are right", said Dorea, she said and launched to explain what happened back at number 12 Grimmauld place.

1. As I said, I am sorry I had to hurt Sirius but it was expected and then I needed a strong point for Regulus to come back to his brother. What else than seeing his brother almost die?

2. The people who had hurt Sirius are some nameless idiots because I don't want to concentrate on that part. James would totally kill them but it doesn't feel right to make him a killer and send him to Azkaban. 

3. Sirius wakes up in the next chapter. 

Let me know if there are any changes.