Chapter Text
- Sirius? - James jumped out of bed and picked up the mirror.
- Pads? Are you there? - he whispered. He could clearly hear some rustling and someone's restless breathing on the other side. There had been no contact with Sirius for several days.
- J-J...ms... - Sirius croaked barely audibly. His voice was ragged and hoarse from screaming. He also sounded like he was choking on something. James felt an unpleasant pressure in his stomach. He tried at all costs to see something in the mirror, but Black's was in total darkness.
- I'm here, Sirius. I'm here. Can you speak louder? What's going on? - he whispered, feeling tears welling up in his eyes.
- M-mm... M-Moony... - he sobbed quietly after a long moment.
- Remus? He's here. In the other room. Should I call him? - Potter asked and without waiting for an answer, he jumped off the bed and ran to the guest room, where Lupin was sleeping. - Remus! - he rushed in without knocking and reached his friend's bed. Remus was still awake. He was lying with a book in his hand. When he saw James with a mirror in his hand, he sat up.
- What happened? - he asked quickly.
- Sirius. Something's wrong. - James handed him the mirror and sat down next to him.
- Sirius? Darling, are you there? - Remus asked in the calmest voice he could muster at that moment.
- M-moony... My Moony... - Sirius croaked weakly. They could hear him swallowing something and then coughing quietly and moaning in pain.
- Sirius, can I see you? It's dark in your place, darling. I'd like to see you. - Remus whispered, feeling a tear running down his cheek. Sirius made some undefined sound and after a moment his face could be seen in the mirror.
James gasped loudly and covered his mouth with his hands. He started to cry. Remus clenched his fingers on the mirror and tried at all costs to stop the sobs that were tearing themselves from his throat. Sirius's face looked terrible. All covered in blood, bruises and wounds. Both of his eyes were blackened. One so badly that he couldn't open it. His lips were all chapped and cracked. His nose was probably broken because it was bent at a strange angle.
- M-moony... - he whispered and smiled faintly. A trickle of blood flowed from his mouth and again a loud swallow could be heard. Sirius was choking on his own blood.
- I-I am here, I am, darling. - Remus didn't even know when he started to cry - I am here. Hold on, okay? James, go get your parents. - he whispered quietly. Potter ran out of the room, and a moment later returned with Effie and Monty. The woman gasped in horror and covered her mouth with her hands, in an identical gesture to what James had done before. Monty frowned and ran out of the room, probably to call someone.
- I... I wanted to... s-s-see you... o-one last... - Sirius spoke with difficulty and closed his eyes from time to time – o-one last... time… s-s-see...you... - he finished.
- N-no, no, no! Sirius, please don't say that. Just hold on a little longer, okay? - Remus was already crying uncontrollably.
- I-I… l-love you so much… - the tortured boy sobbed quietly and took a trembling, rasping breath - Y-you're the b-best… t-thing… t-that ever... happened to m-me… Y-You're the love of my… l-life, M-Monny… - Sirius smiled palely and closed his eyes - I-I'm sorry… f-for everything… and t-thank you… f-for... f-for… - he sobbed, choking on blood.
- Shh…. I-it's okay, Sirius. It's okay, baby. - Remus sobbed horribly - I l-love you so much. More than anything in the world, do you hear me? You're everything to me, Pads. Everything. - he choked, clutching the mirror in his hands. Sirius opened his eyelids and looked straight into Remus' eyes. A delicate smile played across his face.
- I-I love you, Remus...- he whispered. The mirror fell from his hand and a moment later they could hear it shattering into pieces.