Chapter Text
It was like being back at Hogwarts – Remus sleeping, while his body was covered in cuts and blood, and Sirius sitting beside him, stroking his hair and worrying to death.
Oh yes, if he closed his eyes, he could imagine being back in the comfortable hospital wing of his old school, where you could smell chocolate and mint and hear soft music being played at all hours.
But they weren’t at Hogwarts.
Clearly, Sirius thought.
They were at number twelve Grimmauld Place, much to Sirius’s displeasure.
When Remus arrived, Sirius was in the kitchen, talking with Arthur and Molly, while the kids were having dinner. Even before his mother’s portrait could start its usual wailing, he knew something was wrong – he could feel it in his gut.
Molly must have noticed it.
“Are you alright, Sirius?” she asked, apprehensive as always. Harry’s eyes were already on him, concerned.
But he couldn’t answer because, at that moment, Remus stormed into the room. He was sweaty, blood was covering his clothes and hands and he looked so tired and close to faint.
Someone screamed, probably Ginny or Hermione.
“Pads...” Remus managed to say, breathing heavily. Without even noticing, Sirius was already beside him, supporting him with an arm around his waist, so he couldn’t fall.
“Shit, love, what happened?” He asked while taking Remus’ face in his free hand. Sirius usually avoid using cute nicknames in front of other people - not everyone knew -, but his mind wasn’t functioning properly and all he could think about was Remus, Remus is hurt, he is in pain, he is losing too much blood, Remus, Remus, Remus.
“They... got angry... attacked me...” the werewolf tried to explain, but it was obvious that every word was hard for him. While trying to keep Remus standing, Sirius vaguely registered Arthur screaming Clear the table!, and Molly saying Can someone please go and shut that old hag off! – Sirius didn’t even notice his mother was yelling, but he made a little note in his mind to high-five Molly later.
“Come on, Sirius! Put him on the table!” Hermione said, fear in her voice.
He laid him on the table with Arthur’s help. Remus looked so pale that Sirius had to hold a whimper.
“You, out, now! Time to go to bed.” Molly was pushing the kids out of the kitchen, but they protested.
“I don’t want to hear anything. You can’t see any of this!” She closed the door and looked at Sirius, “We should call Madame Pomfrey.”
“No! She would take too long to get here. I can manage. I can heal him myself.”
The Weasley consorts didn’t seem quite sure, but they nodded.
Sirius got to work – oh, he had done it so many times, it was muscle memory by now. He started by cutting open Remus’ shirt. His torso was full of cuts and bruises, Sirius wanted to scream. But remained calm, he had to.
“Arthur, would you bring me that purple vial? It’s right there, in the cupboard!”
Arthur run.
At that point, Remus was heavily breathing and muttering words. It hurts .
“I know, Moony, I know. It’s going to be fine,” Sirius said. His voice was so soft and comforting that Molly glanced at him like she couldn’t believe that Sirius could be this gentle.
When finally Arthur arrived with the potion, Sirius started doing his healing charms. He learned them when he was 19, at the time he and Remus lived together after Hogwarts. Remus didn’t want him to, but Sirius interjected with his usual Don’t tell me what to do, Moony! . After all these years, he still remembered them.
After a few minutes, the most superficial cuts were completely healed and Remus was getting some colour back.
“Oh!” Molly exclaimed, relieved.
“He is going to be okay. He just needs to rest. I’ll apply the healing potions to the deeper cuts while he sleeps.” Sirius said. He felt like he was breathing again.
Molly looked at him as he was studying him. “Are you sure? I could stay, so you can go to sleep,” she proposed.
Sirius smirked at her. He wasn’t sure she understood that Remus and he weren’t just very best friends . He found it quite amusing. “I couldn’t leave him even if I wanted. He gets upset when he wakes up without me.”
Molly and Sirius looked at each other for a few seconds, and then the woman nodded, as she understood. Sirius hoped she did.
Then Mr and Mrs Weasley left the room, Sirius heard a few “How is he? Is he dead?” coming from outside the kitchen. Apparently, the kids never went to bed and stayed there, waiting for news. Molly shushed them and forced them upstairs.
Sirius fell on a chair, exhausted. He would never admit it to Remus, but healing charms were quite draining.
So, here they were. Remus was sleeping and Sirius sat beside him, stroking his hair, holding his hand, and applying the healing potion on his wounds. At some point, he even put on some iced and cold washcloth on them, in the hope, it would alleviate Remus’ pain.
He seemed better: his breathing was now regular and most of the bruises were gone. Except for one deep cut that went from his left hip to his button belly. It wasn’t healing fast like the others – Sirius figured that it just needed time.
Around 2 a.m., the kitchen door opened and Harry entered the room.
“Harry!” Sirius said softly, “What are you doing here? It’s late.”
The boy ignored him, “How is he?”
Sirius smiled reassuringly, “He just needs his beauty sleep.”
That’s what James used to call it, the long nap Remus had after a full moon.
Harry giggled quietly, then his face fell, “What happened?”
Sirius sighed, “I can’t tell you that, Harry. You know it.” The boy didn’t like the answer.
Suddenly Remus started calling his name, softly.
“Sirius.”
“I’m right here, darling,” he said, squeezing his hand. It felt so good being able to call Remus like that without expecting questions – Harry had been so supportive when they told him.
“What is it?”
“It burns,” he answered, while his body started shaking from the pain.
Sirius was already alert, grabbing the healing potion. “Which one is it?”
“The one on the hip.”
“I figured, ” Sirius muttered “Try staying still, love. It’ll be over soon.”
He started applying with circular movements the purple potion, that had a sort of sand texture. It smelled of cut grass, for some reasons. He never liked it but saved Remus many times.
Remus relaxed almost immediately and then fell asleep again. Sirius sighed heavenly, rubbing his eyes.
Harry - he looked slightly shaken - spoke again, “What is that?”
“This? Oh, it’s a homemade healing potion. Your mother invented it, “ Sirius explained.
“My mom? She invented a potion?”
“Your mom was a genius at potions! The only rival that Snivellus git had ever had! She was extraordinary.”
Harry laughed at the nickname and asked, “Does it work?”
“Most certainly. She started working on it when she was 17 but she managed to finish only two years later.” Sirius said “It’s a very complicated brew, you see. It is made of both wizardry and muggle medication – it’s perfect for magical wounds.”
Harry seemed troubled. “Magical wounds. What happened, Padfoot?”
Oh, the Padfoot card, clever Little Prongs. Sirius thought.
“It was a full moon last night, wasn’t it?”
“Yes. Yes, it was,” the man responded. He knew what Harry meant, so he continued, “But these cuts aren’t of his own making. He... He was on a mission for the Order.”
His godson nodded slowly, “What does he do on these missions?”
He managed to get his godfather to understand that he didn’t have to answer, but he would be deeply disappointed if he didn’t. Sirius wanted to look up to the ceiling and say This one is just like you, Evans! Kind and annoying!
He, however, decided against it. So he answered.
“He recruits allies. So they can fight with us.” He knew by looking Harry in his eyes that he knew that allies meant werewolves .
Harry nodded again. He looked sad, Sirius hoped he didn’t blame himself.
At that moment, Remus woke up. He smirked tiringly at the two boys. Sirius felt overwhelmed with the love he had for that man – he smiled even if he felt like shit.
“Morning,” he mumbled.
“It’s 2 a.m., my love.” Sirius snickered softly.
“Then what are you doing here? You should be asleep dickhead!”
Harry laughed, causing Remus to look at him and say, “You too, Harry!”
Sirius ignored him, “How are you feeling?”
“I’ve been worst.” His typical answer.
Sirius took his hand again and stroke his knuckles.
“Want a cup of tea?” He knew his boyfriend so well, he knew that it was the only thing that he needed after a rough full moon. That, and wearing one of Sirius’ jumpers for comfort, so he helped him put it on (Sirius fetched it a couple of hours earlier when Remus was still sleeping profusely).
“Please!” Remus said like a toddler. Sirius couldn’t stop himself from caressing his cheek, before going to put the kettle on.
“What about you, Harry?” His godson replied with a quiet oh yes, thank you, Sirius.
Harry looked at Remus intensively for a few seconds as if he was thinking about what to say. “Thank you for being so brave, Professor.”
Remus’ smile brightened the room.