Written for NeonDomino who won a competition of mine

Written for the Ring of Fire/King's Cup Challenge (Prompts: an attic, 600 words)

An Attic Filled With Memories

"For Merlin's sake, what do you keep up here, Sirius? How to Torture a Halfblood? What is this book?"

"Not mine, my parents', obviously," Sirius said as he tossed another book aside that he didn't want. He glanced at Remus over his shoulder, sighing. "Chuck it in the box," he instructed.

Remus did as requested, shaking his head.

"Be thankful you never had to live here," Sirius said. "It was torture just being in the same room as them."

"Yes… just like it was torture having your parents look at you like you would kill them at any moment," Remus replied.

Sirius tossed more of his parents' things aside, Remus watching on with interest. He wasn't exactly sure why his friend wanted to return to the place that had brought him so much misery throughout his life; perhaps it was because it was the only place he could return. He was still a man on the run and one glimpse of him would have him thrown right back in an Azkaban cell. It wasn't the life Remus would wish upon his worst enemy.

"We both had pretty shoddy childhoods, didn't we?" Sirius almost laughed.

"You can say that again."

They were cleaning out the attic at Grimmauld Place, Sirius muttering to himself as he found items he had all but forgotten about. Most were cringe-worthy; his parents' belongings that resembled their love for the Dark Arts. Mixed in, though, was the odd item that belonged to Sirius.

"Ah!" From a box hidden in the corner, he extracted what appeared to be a dusty motorbike helmet. "I forgot about this!" Grinning from ear to ear he held up the helmet for Remus to see.

Remus raised an eyebrow, amused. "Really?" he said.

"My parents were furious when I brought it home," Sirius said cheerfully. "They were even angrier when I told them I had traded my school textbooks for it, too. The old Muggle was fascinated by the books. It really pissed them off."

Remus shook his head, a hint of amusement forming on his lips. "Oh, Sirius," he said affectionately.

Sirius, however, had moved on, this time lifting a box that appeared to have many picture frames inside.

"Your parents', too?" Remus questioned, moving closer.

Sirius shook his head. "No… mine." He picked a rather large picture frame up, and despite all the dust, Remus knew exactly what that picture was. He had one himself, stored safely away in a locked drawer at his own place.

"I remember that day," Remus mumbled, peering over Sirius' shoulder.

"The last time all four of us were together," Sirius added.

"We joked about who would be the first of us to die, and then a week later…." Remus didn't need to finish the sentence.

Sirius nodded. "I know."

"Even after all these years, it doesn't feel the same without him."

"At least we have a reminder." Sirius picked up another frame, this one of a little baby. "He'd be furious to learn what had happened to his son for all these years."

"At least he has the two of us now." Remus rested a hand on Sirius' shoulder, seeing his friend shake.

"I should have been there… I was his godfather. I could have given him a proper home."

Remus shook his head "You can't blame yourself, Sirius. It's done now." Gently, he removed the two frames from Sirius' hands, placing them back in the box. "I think that's enough cleaning for now," he said. "We'll come back in an hour or so."

Sirius obliged without protest, following Remus from the attic and down to the next floor. When Remus looked at him in the light, he realised that was the first time he had ever seen Sirius cry.

This was one of those ones that happened as I wrote. I hope it's alright. Would love to hear your thoughts!