☆UNEDITED☆

Published on 9th April 2021, 8:36 am, IST

³³ Through Thick and Thin

"And I know we don't say it much, but I love you."

━━☆━━

☆    "HEY!" PETER squeaked, pointing at the empty bed in the dorm room. "Where's Sirius?"

    The other two turned to look at the empty bed, frowning.

    "Maybe he already went to breakfast with Rin or something?"

    But when they went to the great hall, they still couldn't find him.

    "Do you know where Sirius is?" Rin approached them and asked.

    "No . . ." Peter frowned. "W thought he'd be here. . . maybe he already went for class?"

    "Yeah. . . he must've."

    When the group walked to the transfiguration classroom for their first period, they saw their class crowded around something.

    Rin noticed that all the furniture in the room was pushed away or broken.

    "What is happening over here?!"

    Everyone parted into two sides at Professor McGonagall's arrival, allowing James, Peter, Remus, Rin, Lily and Dorcas to see what was going on.

    The scene was horrific and bloody.

    An unconscious Sirius Black was strung on the wall by his limbs, his chest slashed and oozing with blood. On the wall, words in bright red- Sirius' blood were written:

    MUDBLOODS AND BLOOD-TRAITORS ARE NOT WELCOME

    "What the-"

    McGonagall quickly took charge, recovering after a minute of shock.

    She waved her wand; The blood was cleaned from the wall. Another wave; Sirius came off the wall. She then strode out of the room, Sirius levitated in front of her. "Class dismissed!"

    Remus, Peter, Rin, Lily and Dorcas ran after McGonagall, but not James.

    He was still staring at the wall that Sirius was previously hung on, his lips parted, eyes glistening.

    Oh fuck.

   All of this was his fault.

    Oh fuck.

    Sirius was hurt.

    Oh fuck.

    James finally snapped out of his trance and ran out of the classroom.

    He slammed the doors of the hospital wing open, and paying no attention to Madame Pomfrey scolding him, he raced to Sirius' side.

    "Is- Is he going to be okay?" he croaked, glancing in between Professor McGonagal and Madame Pomfrey.

    "Yes, Mister Potter. But it will take him a few weeks to be completely healed."

    "Everyone, I need to start the healing process. You all should leave."

    The others went out of the room, but once again, James stayed. "Can't I stay for a bit? Just five minutes longer?"

    "No, Mister Potter. You may visit tomorrow. He'll be conscious by then."

    James finally agreed after a bit more protesting and exited the infirmary.

    When Sirius woke up, it was pitch dark.

    He looked around in confusion; the last thing he remembered was being cornered by Avery, Mulciber and Snape.

    He attempted to sit up but winced in pain. He noticed his chest was covered in bandages.

    "Careful," A voice said. "I don't want you getting any more hurt."

    Sirius' eyes widened as he recognized the voice. ". . .James?"

    "Hey, Sirius," James drew closer, so his face was visible in the pale moonlight. "How're you feeling?"

    "Like my chest has been cut open," He tried for a smile, but it came ut like a grimace. "What day is it?"

    "It's Friday, midnight." Said James, propping up Sirius' pillows and helping him sit up. It's been two days. You were supposed to wake up yesterday."

    ". . .Oh,"

    An awkward silence endured.

    "Sirius-"

    "James-"

    Sirius grinned "You go first,"

    "Right," James took a deep breath before speaking once more. "I'm sorry." He said hastily, looking away from Sirius' surprised expression. "I'm sorry about the way I reacted on seeing you two together. I love Rin, she's my little sister, and I don't like the idea of her being around a guy who wouldn't treat her right. And when I found out about you two. . . I assumed that you would hurt her like Dexter did, considering your reputation, (Sirius opened his mouth object) --But I know you aren't like that anymore! I didn't stop to think about how you and Rin might feel about all of this. I was selfish, I only thought about myself."

    Sirius opened his mouth once again, but James was on a roll, he needed to get everything off his chest. "And, I was. . . jealous."

    "What-?"

    "I know that that's a stupid thing to say, but I was angry that Rin would steal you away from me. You're like a brother to me, and I know we don't say it much, but I love you. I was scared that Rin would take that away from me, that I wouldn't be wanted anymore, that you replaced me."

    "I'll never replace you, mate," Said Sirius hoarsely. "I don't think that I'll be able to even if I tried. As you said, we're brothers. Nothing could ever come in between that. I love you, but I love Rin too. you're my brother, but she's my possible future wife."

    "Wife?" James was surprised; Sirius actually wanted to marry Rin?

    "Yeah," Sirius grinned. "I think I'll propose once she's twenty or something. But I've got your blessing, eh, Prongs?"

    James grinned back. "If you get married to Rin, you'll be my brother in law! So, of course, I give you my permission!"

    "Oh, I'm not asking for permission," Sirius smiled. "I'll propose to her even if you say no. Yeah, I'll prefer it if you approved, but the final decision lies with Rin. You don't get to decide for her."

    "Damn," James laughed. "Rin really did rub off on you, eh?"

    "That's not a bad thing!"

    "No, it's not."

    The next morning, no one was happier than Rin was, to see her brother and boyfriend laughing together in the hospital wing; both with humungous smiles on their faces.

━━☆━━

THEY FINALLY MADE UP
Okay... so, for the Epilogue, (coming very soon) should I merge it with the last chapter? (Cgapter 35?) But I don't really want to because if u make an epilogue, the whole book would be 40 parts?? Eh idrk you decide

Kathu