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Amore et Amicitia	By : Kimmimaru Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Sirius/James Views: 6685 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any characters or settings by JK Rowling. I make no profit from this story.

Chapter List
- 10
- 11
- 12
Chapter Eleven: Significatus Amicitia (The Meaning of Friendship)

Sirius came around once again lying in the strange room, he opened his eyes and groaned heavily, lifting both arms to cover his face. Slowly he regained his thoughts and forced his aching body into a sitting position, there was a kindly looking man sat by his bed wearing glasses and Sirius saw his trunk lying open as the man looked through his things with a frown of confusion. Fear settled in Sirius’ stomach. “Don’t touch it!” He said making the man jump and turn to look at him.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to pry but I was looking for some clue as to who you are...” He settled into his seat and leaned forward, both elbows resting on his knees. “We have tried many ways to discover your identity, we found a name in several books inside your luggage and on several sets of clothing...it says that you are Sirius Orion Black...” Sirius clenched his jaw shut, eyeing the man warily from beneath his fringe. “It’s an unusual name yet when we ran it through the Data base we discovered no one belonging to that name, no birth certificates, no school records, nothing. Is that name a nickname? Who are you really?”

Sirius remained silent, regarding the man with guarded hostility.

The man sighed. “Ok, can I ask then why you were found, half frozen to death in Kings Cross station?”

Again, Sirius answered with his silence.

“How old are you?” The man paused long enough to give Sirius the chance to answer but he got nothing. “If you don’t answer my questions we cannot help you, I’m not an enemy and I promise you that we won’t hurt you...” He paused and gazed off out the nearby window before continuing at a measured pace. “When you were brought in you were on the verge of death, once the doctors had stabilized you we looked you over for more injuries...Who hurt you? Can you tell us that at least? We found bruises and other wounds covering your body, the pattern indicates that you went through a terrible beating, but there was also evidence of older wounds, broken bones, old scars and the likes. If you don’t tell us we will be unable to protect you.” When Sirius remained quiet he removed his glasses and began cleaning them on his shirt before replacing them. “This may be hard but we also found evidence of what could be sexual abuse, we take these kinds of things very seriously. Your body tells a sad story, if we can get as much details as possible we can help protect you from whoever it is doing this to you, do you understand?”

Sirius listened to the man’s steady voice, but he couldn’t tell him. He understood they were only trying to help but he also knew that they were Muggles and would never understand the laws binding his family in a protection as old as his name. Not even the Wizarding laws could save him, not when what went on behind closed doors was for him and his family to deal with alone. He was also reluctant to share the things he and his uncle had done, after the first time he had woken to find his uncle touching him in that way he had allowed it to happen again...even though it confused him, when he was being touched like that it made him feel strange, it was a nice feeling that he had never experienced before. When his uncle was whispering to him in the dark as his hands ran over his skin, he actually felt as if he was loved. He wanted nothing more than to treasure that feeling forever, he could ignore the terrible chills he got when he thought of it, so long as he was needed and loved it didn’t matter. He would live with the encroaching dread that settled over him when his uncle wrapped him in strong arms and he felt those familiar hands in places he himself had never even touched in that way.

“Well, it seems we are at an impasse, the doctors here would like you to stay for observation. I will return and hopefully then you will be able to answer my questions.” He stood and closed the trunk, Sirius watched him lift it and lunged forward.

“Wait!” He gasped, his voice cracked and broken and the strain of having to speak caused him to double over with another violent fit of coughing. When he had recovered he gasped; “L-Leave it...please...”

The man looked down at the trunk and shrugged, he placed it on the floor and walked away. Sirius gazed at his trunk, he slid off the bed and knelt before it, unclasping the silver clasps and pulling it open, inside was his school things including the thin stick of wood that was his wand. As he picked it up in trembling fingers he knew what he had to do. He hated to do it, but he was in a precarious situation and could potentially break the Secrecy that had protected Wizards for generations. He sighed and closed his trunk with a snap, standing up he removed all the tubes in his arms and dug out some clothes. He put them on and began dragging his trunk out of the hospital. It was easier than he first thought to escape, the nurses were nowhere in sight and he was glad, he didn’t want to have to use magic yet.

He managed to reach the doors with no one challenging him, his only disguise was that he had tucked his hair into his hat. He pulled his trunk out into the cold, crisp winter air and began getting as far away from the muggle Hospital as possible.

XXX

The man, whose name was Harvey Gallagher, returned to the lost boys room. He was disturbed by his silence, worried what it might mean. He couldn’t allow this boy to get himself hurt or killed, he felt as responsible for him as he did all his charges, he entered the room and saw the empty bed. With a curse he went over to it and looked down at the mess of bloodied tubes and the ruffled coverlets. On top of the pillow was a note in the most beautiful calligraphy he had ever seen, it looked as if it had been written with an old fashioned quill and ink, he picked up the note and read;

Thank You.

XXX

Coughing all the way Sirius walked through the streets, he was shivering violently in the cold but he kept moving, ignoring the burning in his chest. He finally found a nice looking alley way and slipped down it, once far enough away from the street he sat on his trunk with a sigh and removed his wand from his coat pocket. With his eyes closed he muttered an incantation; Avis

Several birds erupted from the tip of his wand and rose rapidly into the air, Sirius watched them go with a feeling of horrible tension in his stomach. His only chance of hiding from the Muggle’s in the Hospital was to allow the Ministry to find him. His hands began to shake and he felt his stomach clench as terror swept through him, he slipped to his hands and knees and vomited into a puddle of melted snow. Gasping he wiped his mouth on his coat sleeve and sat back on his knees, he forced the tears away and took a gasping, shuddery breath as his coughing increased.

XXX

The ministry later found him curled up on top of his trunk, he was shivering violently and they crept closer. Sirius heard their footsteps and slowly uncovered his head to watch the Ministry members come to a halt before him.

“Sirius Black?”

Sirius nodded. “Yes.”

“You were reported missing by Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, then later your parents demanded to know what had become of you...they told us you’d run away. Come on now, it’s time for you to go.”

Sirius sat up with difficulty, he coughed into his hand and his chest burned, he gripped it with his free one until he had calmed down and regained his breath. He stood, preparing to face his parent’s wrath, his stomach churned.

XXX

Sirius sat in an uncomfortable seat in the office of the Head of the Improper Use of Magic, he watched as Bernadette, the Head’s secretary busied herself with getting him some food and a cup of hot tea. When he received it he thanked her and ate ravenously, he hadn’t eaten in a while and his stomach growled as he devoured the food. The tea was as welcome as the warm blanket around his shoulders, it filled him with heat and he sighed with relief. Finally, after he had been sat in the Office for an hour the door opened to reveal the Head of the Improper Use of Magic; Benedict Frazzleworth, a short man with wavy hair that rested on his shoulders. He smiled as he entered and Sirius spotted his mother stood behind him, she sent him a furious glare that seared the air. He looked down at his tea and tried to subdue his churning insides, regretting eating.

“Now then Mr. Black, we have decided, after much negotiation that, although you performed Magic outside of School, you did not attract undue attention and have not broken the Statute of Secrecy, therefore you will be let off with a warning. We are just glad you are safe and sound.”

Sirius cleared his throat and forced words out through his numb lips. “Thank you.”

After much discussion, through which Sirius sat and said not a word, his mother turned to him. “It time to go home, Sirius, you have left some important things that you must collect before returning to School.”

Sirius stood slowly, the blanket falling from his shoulders. He took a shuddery breath and released it in a fit of coughs, when he was done he nodded and followed his mother out of the room. “I already sent your suitcase ahead, your head of house will put it where it needs to be...when we get home your father wishes to have words with you.”

Sirius nodded as he trailed behind his mother, each step rang like a Death Knell and he felt as if he was walking to his doom.

XXX

Sirius stood before his father, his eyes on a point in the air above his head, he kept his hands locked firmly behind his back as he tried to control his fear.

“Well boy? What do you have to say for yourself?”

Sirius took a slow breath to steady himself, but before he could speak he broke into one of the worst coughing fits he had experienced, his knees gave way and he fell to the carpet, covering his mouth with one shaking hands. His face and lungs burned he tried desperately to get a whole lungful of air into his lungs, he hacked and coughed until he thought he would be sick. Luckily he was spared that humiliation and finally it eased off. Gasping, he drew one hand away from his lips and looked down to see crimson coating his palm, he could taste the metallic coppery tang of his own blood and shuddered. “I-I’m...” He muttered in a weak voice. “I’m sorry...”

His father looked down at his son, Sirius had blood trickling down the side of his mouth, he sneered. “Sorry?! Is that all you have to say? Do you know what your mother went through? She was worried sick! How dare you run off! Have you no respect?”

Sirius shook his head slowly, his vision greying around the edges and breathing became painful. “No...no I didn’t mean...I was...afraid and...I’m sorry...Please...” Sirius coughed again, feeling more blood fill his mouth. “I need...” He gasped softly, his hands tightening into fists as he gasped in a desperate breath. His body trembled as his father stood over him.

“What you need, boy, is a reminder that while you live beneath this roof you will obey the rules of this family, is that understood?”

Sirius could only nod and let his father grasp his arm, he was dragged to his feet where he swayed and the world tilted at a dangerous angle. Then a fist slammed into his gut, the force of the blow caused him to bed double, his hands gripping his stomach as he retched. He couldn’t breathe and his father gave him no time to recover as he pulled back his fist again and hit him in the jaw, the bones beneath his knuckles creaked and Sirius felt agony explode as something broke. He fell into the wall, sliding down it, still unable breathe, still unable to defend himself.

Light exploded in his vision as his father hit him again and again without a break, to Sirius it seemed an eternity as a crushing weight sat in his chest, his heart hammered in desperation as it beat against his ribs. He convulsed as he lay on the carpet, waiting for something to end the punishment, waiting for his father to stop or, better yet, for his death.

Finally the pain ceased and darkness obscured everything, he fell into it, embracing the numbness that came with unconsciousness.

XXX

Sirius came around still lying on the carpet of the living room, he gazed for a moment at the hideous green pattern before struggling into an upright position. Dizziness overcame him momentarily and he exploded into yet another bout of coughing. When it had subsided he stood, leaning against the wall and clutching his ribs, he wiped blood from his lips with the back of his hand and saw his mother standing by the fireplace. “School, now.” She muttered, holding out a pot of glittering green floo powder. Sirius nodded numbly and stumbled towards her, she threw some dust into the fire, it roared and turned beautiful emerald green and Sirius had a random mental image of Lily Evans before he stepped into the warm flames...

XXX

James sat by the fire in Gryffindor Common room and tapped his fingers against his knee in a random pattern. Remus sat at his feet, leaning absently against his legs as he tried and failed to read the book in his hands. Peter had fallen asleep in a chair nearby. The tension was thick, it was almost suffocating as they awaited their friends arrival.

James opened his mouth to say something out loud when suddenly the flames in the grate exploded, they turned and green and expelled a pile of what appeared to be rags onto the carpet. James and Remus leapt to their feet while Peter made an odd, terrified squeaking noise. James fell to his knees by the pile and rolled it over, Sirius lay there, his face white and his eyes closed. James’ hands shook as he gazed at the horrific bruising covering his skin, his lips had a disturbing blue tinge to them and as he breathed an awful rattling escaped his lungs. James groaned in horror and looked at Remus, the Werewolf’s gaze turned steely and, unbidden, James thought he could see the wolf in his gaze.

“I’ll get Pomfrey and McGonagall.” He said in a low growl, he stood and strode towards the portrait hole. “Peter, come.” He snapped on his way past. Peter took a quick glance at Sirius before running after Remus.

Once alone James lifted Sirius with difficulty and lay him on a nearby sofa, he began unbuttoning his coat and removing his clothes to check the damage. It was horrible. James felt a sick knot in his stomach and he swallowed a few times before he began taking inventory of his wounds. There was a mottled patchwork of bruising all across his ribs, he had bruises on his wrists, scratches covering his arms as if he had tried to defend himself and failed. He had dark bloody stains where whoever had hit him had broken the skin in various places, his hair was a matted mess around his face and his hands were bandaged with blood covered bandages. Little holes marked the insides of his arms and James frowned at these odd marks, nothing could explain them. Slowly he looked into his best friends face and felt a scolding sensation in his eyes, he gently stroked hair from Sirius’ face and choked on a sob. “Who did this to you?” He whispered, pleading with his mind, heart and soul for Sirius to recover.

XXX

The Hospital Wing was quiet, Remus kicked his legs back and forth in agitation as he watched Pomfrey’s shadow working behind the curtain. James was pacing, unable to sit down and wait, Peter had gone back to the Dorm to sleep, no one missed him. “For Merlin’s sake, James, sit down!” Remus finally snapped, the low hints of a wolfish growl obvious in his voice. James looked at him then sighed and sat down, he sank low in his seat and pushed fingers through his hair as he gazed up at the ceiling.

“What happened do you reckon?”

Remus turned to look out at the window, dawn was just reaching her pale fingers of light across the tips of the hills that surrounded them. After a moment he shook his head. “It can be anything, when he wakes up I’m sure the teachers will question him.”

James frowned furiously at the ceiling before swearing vehemently. “Remus, do you really reckon he’d tell them?”

“Well, they are teachers...”

James looked at him irritably. “This is Sirius we’re talking about here, he hasn’t told us how he got those marks on his back or that black eye...do you really think he’ll explain how he got into the state he’s in?”

Remus sighed and lowered his head so he stared at his knees. “I think I know how he injures himself.” He breathed softly and closed his eyes, he wrapped his arms around himself and shivered slightly. “Only I...Only I hope I’m wrong...”

James gazed at Remus with interest. “How?” He asked.

“Have you noticed that he has only given very vague descriptions about his family?” He said slowly, waiting for James to nod before he continued. “Well, whenever I have questioned him more deeply he has avoided it, if I were to bring up his father he flinches...as if I’ve raised my hand...don’t you find that odd?”

James chewed on his lip then let out an explosive breath. “I know.” He said finally, glaring at the wall. “I know who was hurting him...I’ve known since I first saw those injuries...It’s so obvious! But what can we do? Nothing! There is nothing we can do to help him because according to our most ancient laws purebloods should be protected, to the point where unless they kill, they can’t be arrested. The Government has been magically bound to stay out of the inner affairs of the most influential families, they have no choice but to ignore anything that goes on behind closed doors...” He stopped and watched Pomfrey’s shadow a moment before continuing. “If my parents wanted they could lock me up for the rest of my life, so long as I don’t die, and the Ministry cannot intervene...even if I end up seriously hurt or missing a limb they would simply have to ignore it. Its rife in the pureblood families...I...I’ve known for as long as I can remember how lucky I am to be born into the Potter family...Sirius was...not so lucky I guess.”

Remus nodded slowly, he was well aware of what the Pureblood families could do. “There is something we can do James.” He said slowly, as Pomfrey stepped out from behind the curtain.

“What?” James asked doubtfully, raising an eyebrow.

Remus faced him, a determined gleam in his eyes. “We prevent him from spending too much time with his family, we make it our solemn mission to get him out of that house as often as we can, summer he can stay round your house, Christmas round mine or at Hogwarts...you see?”

Slowly James’ face brightened and he felt a grin spread across his face. “Yes! Moony, have I ever told you how brilliant you are?”

Remus smiled sweetly. “You do, quite often in fact.”
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Amore et Amicitia