Not Just Best Friends

Title: Not Just Best Friends

Chapter One: Night Flight

Author: Prongs

Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns all things \'Harry Potter.\'

Disclaimer for chapter title: Led Zeppelin owns the song, \"Night Flight.\" It\'s on their album, \'Physical Graffiti.\'

~*~

James flew up to Sirius\' window and hovered on his broomstick. He peeked inside carefully and almost fell.

Sirius was pushed up against a wall. His father was leaning over him, holding out his wand. Sirius\' face was covered in bruises and blood was dripping down from his nose. His normally smooth hair was a matted mess, some of it clinging to the blood on Sirius\' pale face.

James gulped and squinted his eyes. Something was obviously wrong with Sirius\' right arm, too. He was attempting to use his left arm to push his father away, but his right arm was hanging limply by his side. Most likely, it was broken.

James worriedly bit his lip and steadied his broomstick. He had to do something, but he didn\'t know what. He cringed when Mr. Black slammed Sirius\' head against the wall. Sirius was obviously in immense pain, but he didn\'t yell at all. He only looked at his father with an angry, yet pained expression.

\"I have to save him,\" James muttered under his breath. \"I have to do something for him. But what? I can\'t leave him there. I can\'t.\"

James looked inside again and felt immediately sick. Sirius\' father had pulled out a knife and was slowly sliding it down Sirius\' face. The blood trickled down Sirius\' left cheek and into his thick hair.

James\' hand clutched his wand tightly.

Mr. Black put the knife back into his pocket and pushed Sirius\' head into the wall. Then, he left the room, slamming the door behind him.

James waited several seconds and then lightly knocked on the window.

Sirius blinked and attempted to brush the hair out of his eyes. He looked toward the window, and his eyes widened when he saw his lover peering in.

James moved in even closer to the window and tried in vain to open it. He grunted in frustration and continued to stare at his boyfriend.

Sirius slowly moved across the room, cradling his right arm carefully. He finally arrived at the window and reached his left hand up to the lock. He winced in pain as he opened the window several inches.

James lowered his head and blinked back his tears. Seeing Sirius this way made James feel so sick and saddened.

\"I can\'t open it anymore than this,\" Sirius whispered hoarsely. \"He knows I\'ll try to escape.\"

\"Is it spelled then?\" James asked quietly.

\"I don\'t know,\" Sirius replied. \"I\'m not sure he was the one who actually did It It might have been Regulus.\"

James looked thoughtful. \"Did he say he was coming back soon?\"

Sirius shook his head. \"He didn\'t say, but I don\'t think he will. He usually doesn\'t return until the next night.\"

James\' eyes widened. \"This happens every night?\" he asked in an angry voice.

Sirius flinched. \"I\'m sorry, James. Please don\'t get mad at me, I-\"

\"Merlin, Sirius, I\'m sorry I sounded upset. I am NEVER at yat you. It\'s your family.\" James sighed and looked at the window. \"We shouldn\'t talk about any of this now. We can talk later after you\'re safe.\"

\"How are you going to get through the window?\" Sirius asked quietly. \"Or, how am I going to?\"

\"Where is all of your stuff?\" James said, ignoring Sirius\' question.

Sirius\' eyelids fell halfway, and he studied the floor. \"I really don\'t know. They keep everything from me, James.\"

James\' eyes shone with extreme anger that would frighten any wizard, even Voldemort himself. \"You have no idea?\"

Sirius snorted. \"You really think they would tell me?\" he croaked.

James sadly shook his head. \"Sorry, love. Let\'s not worry about your stuff. You\'re far more important.\"

\"What about my wand?\"

\"We\'ll find a way to get it back. Right now, we have to concentrate on saving you.\"

\"How?\" Sirius asked as he gently cradled his right arm again. He appeared to be in a great deal of pain. Blood was still falling from his nose and the gashes that the knife had created. His left eye was swollen, and bruises covered part of his face and neck. Sirius\' clothes were partially ripped, as well. And yet, he was still beautiful in James\' eyes. Sirius would always be gorgeous.

James just stared at his lover. He felt so many emotions at the moment: anger, sadness, love… Most of all, James was outraged. Infuriated. Completely irate. How could anyone abuse someone so wonderful?

When James Potter grew angry, he could become highly dangerous. His magical capabilities were immense and were often fueled by his emotions.

\"James?\" Sirius questioned worriedly. \"Are you all right?\"

\"Move away from the window, but be ready to act quickly,\" James commanded through clenched teeth.

Sirius looked concerned, but he followed his boyfriend\'s instructions.

James waited until Sirius was clearly out of harm\'s way, and then he pounded his fists into the window. The glass shattered into thousands of small pieces, several still hitting Sirius.

James ignored his bloodied hands and flew into the room. He quickly helped Sirius onto his broomstick and then soared out of the window and back into the night sky. Seconds after he and Sirius were out of sight, Mr. Black appeared in Sirius\' room and angrily stalked over to the broken window.

\"Your hands,\" Sirius murmured as he leaned back against James.

James\' left arm tightened around Sirius\' frail body. \"I\'m fine,\" he replied.

\"You\'re so powerful,\" Sirius said softly.

\"Not always,\" James replied quietly. \"When it comes to you, my emotions are always strong, Sirius. I hate your family, especially your father,\" James said bitterly.

Sirius\' eyes started to close and he cuddled up against James. \"Thank you,\" he whispered.

\"You\'re welcome, love. I only wish I had come sooner.\"

Sirius\' eyes shut completely, and he quickly fell asleep. Despite the fact that his hands were hurting, James easily flew back to his family\'s home. As soon as they arrived, he slowly guided the broom to the ground and kissed Sirius on the side of the face. He tasted blood in his mouth and shuddered.

\"We\'re here, love. I\'ll help you off, okay?\"

Sirius mumbled something incoherently, but his eyes were once again open. James climbed off of his broom and then carefully helped Sirius get down, as well.

\"Can you walk?\" James asked.

Sirius glanced at James and attempted to roll his eyes. \"Of course I can walk,\" he replied. Then, he lowered his voice, \"But will you help me? It hurts, and I-\"

James smiled and wrapped one of his arms around his boyfriend\'s body. He tenderly kissed Sirius\' bruised face. \"I\'ll always be here to help you, love. Let\'s get inside. My mum will be able to heal you, I hope.\"

\"And your hands,\" Sirius mumbled.

\"I\'m not nearly as concerned about myself as I am about you,\" James said as they slowly made their way to the front door of the Potter\'s house. James tried to open the door, but realized it was locked. He started to reach for his wand, but stopped when the door opened.

Mrs. Potter stared in shock at her son and his boyfriend.

~*~

TBC

A/N: Yes, it is yet another SxJ story from me! I have SO many SxJ ideas floating around in my head, and they simply will not leave me alone. The good news is, I have all of these stories planned out, so they are going somewhere, and I do know what\'s going to happen in all of them! That\'s always a good thing, isn\'t it?!

A/N 2: If you haven\'t already done so, PLEASE JOIN the SxJ group! If you need more information, feel free to e-mail me OR visit my author\'s page on ff.net.

A/N 3: If you are interested in doing any SxJ FANART, please let me know! I am looking for art to go along with my stories AND art for the MAIN PAGE on the SxJ group!