Work Text:
Sirius Black had always prided himself on his resilience. The toughest pranks, the wildest adventures, the most dangerous duels—he could handle them all. But there was one thing he detested with every fiber of his being: vomiting.
The early morning hours were eerily quiet in the Gryffindor common room. The fire had long since died down to embers, casting a soft, flickering glow that barely lit up the room. Sirius lay sprawled on the couch, clutching his stomach. His face was pale, and a cold sweat glistened on his forehead. The remnants of a particularly boisterous evening spent celebrating yet another Gryffindor Quidditch victory were catching up to him in the worst way possible.
Remus Lupin, ever the early riser, had just returned from his morning jog around the castle grounds. He pushed open the portrait hole, only to find Sirius in a state he had rarely seen: vulnerable and clearly unwell.
"Sirius?" Remus called softly, concern etching his features as he moved quickly to his friend's side. "Are you okay?"
Sirius groaned in response, his eyes fluttering open to meet Remus’s worried gaze. "Just…not feeling great," he muttered, his voice strained. "Stomach's all twisted."
Remus frowned, kneeling beside the couch. "What did you eat last night?"
Sirius chuckled weakly. "You mean what didn't I eat? James dared me to try some of everything on the table. Probably not my smartest move."
Remus rolled his eyes but couldn't help the small smile tugging at his lips. "You really need to stop taking James's dares so seriously."
A sharp pain twisted through Sirius's stomach, and he curled up tighter, groaning. Remus’s smile vanished instantly, replaced with a look of deep concern. "Come on, let's get you to the bathroom," he said, his tone gentle but firm.
Sirius nodded weakly, allowing Remus to help him up. As they made their way slowly to the bathroom, Sirius leaned heavily on his friend, grateful for Remus's steady presence.
Inside the bathroom, the harsh light made Sirius squint, his nausea intensifying. He leaned over the sink, taking deep breaths to try and stave off the inevitable. Remus stood beside him, a comforting hand on his back, murmuring soothing words.
"You're going to be okay, Sirius," Remus said softly. "Just breathe."
Sirius nodded, though he doubted the validity of those words at that moment. His stomach churned violently, and he gripped the edge of the sink, his knuckles turning white.
Remus’s hand never left his back, rubbing small, comforting circles. "I'm right here," he reassured. "Just let it out if you need to. You'll feel better after."
Sirius closed his eyes, focusing on Remus's calming presence. It was a strange comfort, having someone there with him during such a vulnerable moment. Sirius had always been the strong one, the brave one, the one who never backed down from a challenge. But now, standing over a sink, he felt anything but strong.
Finally, the nausea became too much to bear, and Sirius heaved, his body convulsing as he vomited into the sink. Remus stayed by his side the entire time, his grip on Sirius's shoulder firm and supportive.
Once it was over, Sirius felt a wave of relief wash over him, though he was still shaky and exhausted. He turned the tap on, rinsing his mouth and splashing cold water on his face. "Thanks, Moony," he mumbled, his voice hoarse.
Remus handed him a towel, his expression soft and understanding. "Anytime, Padfoot," he said quietly. "Let's get you back to the couch."
They made their way back to the common room, Sirius leaning heavily on Remus. Once he was settled back on the couch, Remus draped a blanket over him and sat down beside him.
"You didn't have to do that," Sirius said after a moment of silence, his voice filled with gratitude.
Remus shrugged. "What are friends for?"
Sirius smiled weakly. "Still, thank you. I owe you one."
Remus chuckled softly. "You don't owe me anything, Sirius. Just try to take it easy for a while, okay?"
Sirius nodded, closing his eyes as he settled into the couch. Remus watched him for a moment, a fond smile playing on his lips. He knew Sirius hated showing any kind of weakness, but he also knew that their friendship was strong enough to handle moments like these.
The day passed slowly, with Remus keeping a close eye on Sirius. He brought him water, made sure he rested, and even managed to convince him to eat some soup in the evening. By the time night fell, Sirius was feeling much better, though still a bit weak.
"You're a miracle worker, Moony," Sirius said as he finished the last of the soup. "I don't know what I'd do without you."
Remus smiled, shaking his head. "You'd manage. You always do."
Sirius set the bowl down, looking at Remus with sincere gratitude. "I mean it, Remus. Thanks for taking care of me."
Remus's expression softened. "Anytime, Sirius. Anytime."
As the fire in the common room crackled softly, the two friends sat in comfortable silence, the bond between them stronger than ever. Sirius might have hated vomiting, but at least he had Remus to help him through it.
And that made all the difference in the world.
---
By the time the moon had fully risen, casting its pale light through the tall windows of the Gryffindor common room, Sirius had fallen into a fitful sleep. Remus sat quietly beside him, a book in hand, but his eyes kept drifting to his friend.
Sirius had always been a whirlwind of energy and mischief, his laughter infectious, his spirit unbreakable. Seeing him like this, vulnerable and in pain, was a rare occurrence, and it tugged at Remus's heartstrings more than he cared to admit.
He thought back to their days as first years, when they were just starting to form the bonds that would define their time at Hogwarts. Sirius had been the first to reach out to him, despite the whispers and rumors about the "sickly" boy who disappeared once a month. Sirius had never judged him, never treated him any differently because of his condition. It was a kindness that Remus had never forgotten.
Now, it was his turn to repay that kindness.
The common room was empty save for the two of them, the other Gryffindors having long since retired to their dormitories. The firelight flickered, casting dancing shadows on the walls, and the only sound was the soft crackling of the logs and the occasional rustle of pages as Remus turned them.
Sirius stirred in his sleep, a faint moan escaping his lips. Remus set his book aside and leaned closer, gently brushing a stray lock of hair from Sirius's forehead. "Shh, it's okay," he murmured softly. "I'm right here."
Sirius's eyes fluttered open, glazed with sleep and discomfort. "Remus?" he whispered, his voice barely audible.
"I'm here," Remus replied, his tone soothing. "How are you feeling?"
Sirius sighed, closing his eyes again. "Better, I think. Just tired."
Remus nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "That's good. Just rest. I've got you."
As Sirius drifted back to sleep, Remus couldn't help but feel a surge of affection for his friend. They had been through so much together, faced so many challenges and dangers. Yet it was in these quiet, unguarded moments that Remus felt their friendship most deeply.
He thought about the future, about the uncertain path that lay ahead for all of them. The war against Voldemort was escalating, and the world outside the walls of Hogwarts was becoming increasingly dangerous. But in that moment, sitting beside Sirius in the cozy warmth of the common room, Remus allowed himself to believe that they could face whatever came their way, as long as they had each other.
The hours passed slowly, the night giving way to the soft gray light of dawn. Remus remained vigilant, watching over Sirius as he slept. When the first rays of sunlight began to filter through the windows, Remus felt a sense of relief. They had made it through the night.
Sirius stirred again, blinking sleepily as he woke. He looked up at Remus, a faint smile on his lips. "Morning, Moony," he said, his voice still hoarse but stronger than before.
"Morning, Padfoot," Remus replied, returning the smile. "How are you feeling?"
Sirius stretched, wincing slightly but looking more alert. "Better. Much better. Thanks to you."
Remus shook his head. "You did most of the work. I was just here to make sure you didn't fall apart."
Sirius chuckled, the sound warming Remus's heart. "Well, you did a damn good job of it. Seriously, Remus, thank you."
Remus shrugged, a modest smile on his lips. "Like I said, what are friends for?"
They sat in companionable silence for a while, the sunlight gradually filling the room and banishing the last remnants of the night's shadows. Sirius seemed to regain his strength with each passing moment, his usual spark returning to his eyes.
"I think I could eat