The Weight

The Weight

The Weight

Chapter Five: Prongs

Author: Prongs

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

A/N: Thank you to everyone who has reviewed this story!!

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"I agree," Harry said softly.  "Sirius should go in first."

Sirius nodded his head and slowly got out of the bed.  Harry noticed a black robe that was neatly folded on a table across from Sirius' bed.  He quickly picked it up and handed it to his godfather.

"Thank you," Sirius said as he put the darker robe on over the white hospital robes.  "Will you stay here?" he asked, looking at Harry and Draco.

Draco glanced at his lover.

"Yes," Harry replied.  "I mean…if that's okay with you?"

Sirius smiled and hugged his godson again.  "Of course it is, Harry.  I know that James will want to talk with you soon."

Harry grinned and grabbed Draco's hand.  The two sat down on a sofa that was near the window in the infirmary.

Sirius followed Dumbledore to a small room that was attached to the infirmary.  They paused at the doorway.

"You have spoken with him, right?" Sirius asked quietly.

The headmaster nodded his head.  "Yes, Sirius, I have.  He knows that Harry is alive and always has been.  He basically knows the details of his death and Lily's death, as well.  I told him that you had recently died and had been brought back.  I did not tell him about Azkaban or the veil.  He does know that Harry was the one who decided to bring both of you back, but he doesn't know how or why."

Sirius put his hands in his pockets and stared at the door worriedly.  "Do you know if he's awake?"

"He is," Dumbledore replied.  "He wants to see you, Sirius."

Sirius put his hand on the doorknob and took a deep breath.  He nodded a thanks to the headmaster and then slowly opened the door.

As soon as Sirius was inside of the room, he saw James blinking at him.  Sirius shut the door and hurried over to James' bed.  

"Where are your glasses?" Sirius asked.

James smiled slightly.  "Will you sit down next to me?" he said quietly.

Sirius quickly sat down on the edge of James' bed, and before he knew it, he was pulled into James' warm embrace.  Sirius closed his eyes and buried his head into James' shoulder.  His arms were tightly wrapped around his best friend's body.  

James pulled Sirius even closer to him and pressed a gentle kiss on Sirius' neck.  He ran his fingers through Sirius' hair and then kissed his lover again.

"I think Madam Pomfrey has my glasses," James finally replied, still holding onto Sirius.  "I asked her about them, and she said something about getting new ones and letting my eyes rest.  To be honest, I ignored most of her babbling."

Sirius smirked and pulled away a bit so that he could see James' face.  He tenderly reached up and ran his fingers through James' unruly locks.  

"How do you feel?" Sirius asked after a while.  

"Better now that you're here," James replied, grinning.

Sirius laughed and kissed James' forehead.  "I can't believe you're alive, James."

"I know," James said, seriously.  

"Everything must seem so odd to you," Sirius said quietly.  "I mean, I bet I look really different to you since I'm older.  Gods, I know I look horrible, and I-"

"What in Merlin's name are you talking about?" James interrupted.  "You look gorgeous, Sirius."  James leaned forward and kissed his lover again.  "I love you so much, Siri."

Sirius felt tears forming in his eyes as he stared at his lover.  "Do you know how many years I spent hoping for a moment like this?"

James' face clouded over.  "What exactly happened, Sirius?  Dumbledore told me about Harry and Lily, but what happened to you?  He told me that Harry grew up with Lily's pathetic muggle sister, but he refused to tell me about you."

Sirius' eyes lowered, and he studied the sheets on James' bed.  "I don't know where to start," he finally said.  

James placed his hands over Sirius' and squeezed gently.  

"You know Wormtail betrayed us all, right?" Sirius asked.

James' eyes grew angry, and his grip on Sirius tightened.  "Yes," he replied through clenched teeth.  "Is that rat still alive?"

Sirius sighed, "Dumbledore told me that Pettigrew was captured.  He's in Azkaban now."

"What happened to you?" James asked worriedly.

"They all thought I betrayed you," Sirius whispered.  "I was sent to Azkaban, and I-"

"What?" James interrupted in a menacing voice.  "You weren't our secret keeper!  Didn't Dumbledore do anything?  What about Remus?  What-"

"They thought I was guilty, too," Sirius said, trying to avoid his lover's gaze.  

"They what?" James asked in a low tone.  He was obviously trying to keep his anger in check and failing miserably.  "Remus thought you were guilty?  Dumbledore did, too?  How in the hell could they possibly think that you would ever betray me?  They knew we were in love!"

Sirius looked down at the floor and tried to hide his tears.  

James, however, knew his lover all too well.  James quickly shut his mouth and wrapped his arms around Sirius' body.  "I'm not angry at you," James murmured.  "You do know that, right?"

"Yes," Sirius mumbled, starting to cry.  

"How long were you there?" James asked as he started to place small kisses along Sirius' neck.

"Too long," Sirius replied.  "About twelve years."

"They let you-" James stopped and bit his tongue.  "I'm so sorry, love," he whispered.  "Gods, I fucking wish I had been here.  I would have saved you.  You never would have had to go through any of it."

"I can't blame Remus, really," Sirius replied against James' shoulder.  "I'm sure I looked guilty.  I was just so upset-hysterically so.  All I could think about was having lost you."

"Remus was our friend.  He should never have doubted you, Sirius."

"He still is a friend," Sirius replied.  "His life hasn't been that great, you know."

"Yes, I know that," James said, still trying to control his anger.  

"Even if he had believed me, it wouldn't have helped anything, anyway," Sirius said.

"I guess you're right.  Is he here?"

"Dumbledore said he was teaching here again."

"Again?"

"He taught defense against the dark arts in Harry's third year.  Look James, at first, I felt betrayed that he didn't trust me, but I really can't blame him.  We can't hold a grudge against him."

"I agree," James said softly.  "It's just that…this is all a lot to take in right now."

"I understand completely."

"I want to know more about Harry, but first…how did you get out of Azkaban, Siri?" James asked quietly.

"I escaped," Sirius explained.  "As Padfoot.  It's all a very long story, but by the end of Harry's third year, he knew who I was."

"Did you ever tell him about us?"

"No.  I was afraid he would be upset with me, and I couldn't lose him.  I love him so much."

James smiled into Sirius' hair and clutched his lover tightly.  

"I was on the run for a couple of years, too.  I don't feel like dwelling on it right now.  It's just…"

"How did you die?" James interrupted.

"I fell through the veil."

James gulped.  "When?"

"Last year.  During Harry's fifth year."

"He's sixteen now, isn't he?"

"Yes, he is."

"What's he like?"

Sirius smiled and pulled away from James slightly.  "He's very brave and powerful, James.  He defeated Voldemort earlier this year, apparently."

James shook his head in amazement.  "That's incredible."

"I agree.  He plays quidditch or at least he did when I was…"

James nodded his head in understanding.  "House?"

Sirius smirked.  "Gryffindor.  Are you ready to meet him?"

"I'm kind of nervous about it.  I shouldn't be, should I?"

"He's nervous, too, if it makes you feel any better."

"What if a disappoint him?  What if I-"

"Impossible," Sirius replied.  "You're amazing, James."  He paused, "You're so beautiful, you know?"

James snorted.  "Do I look odd?  This aging potion is weird stuff."

"You look perfect," Sirius murmured.  "And when I say beautiful, I don't just mean on the outside.  I mean every part of you.  I love you so much, James.  Gods, I can't believe this is happening.  When I was in Azkaban, I thought about you every single day.  But I could never really think happy thoughts because of the dementors.  Whenever I started to imagine a moment like this happening, some terrible thoughts interrupted it.  I often had nightmares with you in them.  You always hated me, and in my mind, I knew you didn't hate me, but in Azkaban, every thought is so depressing and painful, and-"

"I could never hate you, Sirius," James said, with tears freely falling down his face.  "Never.  I love you so much, and I will never stop loving you.  I know we were meant to be together, and we will be together forever now that we have this second chance.  And I will do everything in my power to make you happy again, Sirius."

"I love you, James.  I don't understand why we're alive again, but I'm so glad we are.  I never want to be apart from you ever again."

"You never will be," James murmured, wiping his eyes.

Sirius brushed his fingers over James' face and then kissed the tears away.  

"I want to meet Harry," James said, "But look at me!  He's going to think I'm a complete mess."

"I promise he won't think that at all, James."

"Right," James said, wiping his eyes again.  "Will you stay in here, Sirius?  I mean, gods, that sounds pathetic, doesn't it?  I just…I mean, you know him, and I…I'm babbling.  Since when do I ramble on and-"

"Zeppelin song," Sirius interrupted, smirking.

James grinned.  "Ramble on.  Do you still have any of your…from before, I mean…"

Sirius shook his head.  "I don't really know what happened to most of my stuff."

James just shook his head.  "I am so fucking angry about what happened to you, Sirius.  I am trying to control myself, but I really want to just go back in time and blast the hell out of anyone who doubted you and hurt you and threw you into that fucking place!"

Sirius bit his lip and leaned forward.  He pressed his forehead against James'.  Sirius was really the only person who had ever been able to calm James down when he was angry.

"I love you, James.  I know you're angry.  I am, too.  I have been for so long.  It's so painful to be innocent and locked away with so many terrible memories and thoughts.  But right now, we need to concentrate on being together again.  We can blast the hell out of all of the bastards later this month.  I'm sure we would better prove our point if we had plenty of time to plan, you know."

James laughed despite his anger and tears.  "You will stay when Harry comes in, right?"

"Of course.  Do you want me to ask Madam Pomfrey about your glasses?"

"I can see people if they're up close.  Just let it go.  I want to see my son."

"I'll go and get him then," Sirius replied as he stood up.  He kissed James' head and then ran his fingers down James' face.  

"Don't take too long," James said as he watched Sirius' blurry form walk across the room.  

"I won't," Sirius replied.  He walked out the door and quickly found Harry.

"Are you ready to meet your father?" Sirius asked, smiling.

~*~

TBC (Next chapter-Harry meets James!)