Here's the last bit, hope you like the new one.

The first thing Sirius thought when he woke up the next morning and noticed the sunlight shining through the windows of the Hospital wing was that he would probably be late for class. He growled but it came more as a whisper. The next thing he noticed was the voices. They seemed to be stuck in his head, coming from everywhere and nowhere, firstly rather quiet but with increasing volume. It was very, very uncomfortable and he wanted to tell them to shut up. But then he recognized one special voice that made him stop in his breath. Moony.

"I think he's waking up. Should we call Madam Pomfrey? I don't know how he will be after that stuff she did with his body last evening…"

"Don't, I'm sure he wouldn't want more fuss. Let's just wait, maybe he can't even remember what he had tried to do."

Was that Regulus? What was he doing here? And what the hell shouldn't he remember of "last evening"? He slowly turned his head around and suddenly noticed e a quiet sob that made his heart break. James was here. James was here, at his side and he was… crying. Why was he crying? James shouldn't cry, someone should stop him, make his life good again. He slowly reached out a hand and mumbled his name, the only thing he could do right now without opening his eyes.

"Prongs…"

James' eyes widened, he suppressed another sob and looked at his brother. Did he just…? But when Sirius spoke again, his heart skipped a beat.

"Don' cry, Prongs… m'fine…"

"Sirius, are... are you awake?" His voice was trembling, he fought with the tears. Remus, Peter and Regulus fell quiet the instant, watching their friend with big eyes. Sirius didn't find the power to nod, so he just hummed a quiet "mmm" and made a hardly noticeable movement with his hand – James understood and took his hand as Sirius squeezed it tightly. It felt like the world, and James had to swallow hard a few times to not start crying again.

"Oh Sirius… I love you so much, so so so much, and I'm so sorry for what I have done, I can't tell you how bad I feel for all this, I didn't know all those things and I thought- I don't know what I thought, just never wanted to hurt you, never, I know I've been a complete asshole and everything and I don't even know if I can ask you to forgive me now but I love you, okay, I just love you and I hope you realize that because you won't hear that from me very often and-"

"James." Remus' voice was soft, not angry but a bit concerned. "Let him wake up before you talk holes into him, would you?"

James exhaled sharply and closed his eyes, nodding. "I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize." Sirius' voice made them all look up. James quickly took his hand away but Sirius grabbed it tightly so he had to keep it where it was. He slowly opened his eyes and closed it again, moaning at the bright sunlight.

Remus frowned. "Can you shut the curtains, Regulus?" He asked, quietly, and Sirius' brother quickly pulled them closed.

"It's okay, Sirius, you can look." He nodded and opened his eyes again, sighing. He was in a bed in the Hospital wing, now he could remember. His best mate was kneeling in front of the bed, right near his face, and holding his hand. The rest - Remus, Peter and, for some reason, Reg, were standing a bit behind. But the strangest of all was that they were all smiling. After a period of silence, Remus cleared his throat and spoke.

"How are you?"

Sirius frowned. "Dunno"

They suddenly all looked away from him. It didn't feel good, he didn't want them to look away.

"Don't look away" It was the only thing he could manage to get out, but it worked. They lifted their heads again and smiled at each other weakly. Sirius felt sticky and struggled himself out of the covers. His whole body ached: head, chest, arms, and wrists. He slowly ripped his shirt open (his and James' hands parted again) and let his eyes wander over his body. There were bandages on his wrists, the curse wounds didn't look as bad as normal and his scars on both arms were healed. And then, suddenly, his eyes widened in shock as he realized why he could see all this: somebody had removed the concealing charms. He looked up and felt himself blush in shame.

"I… that…" He looked around in search of his wand as his brother let out a long sigh.

"I'm sorry, Sirius, I had to. Madam Pomfrey healed all your injuries, and therefore had to see everything."

But seeing his reaction to finding himself in this state Regulus was thoughtful enough to take his wand and put the charm back on. James seemed to have calmed down a bit again and put a comforting hand on Sirius shoulder. Sirius tensed for a moment but then relaxed.

"You aren't weak Sirius, you're not evil either, I promise you… we, we were just angry and betrayed, especially Moony, but we didn't give you a chance to explain." He gulped, feeling extremely guilty.

"But you wouldn't have told us the truth anyway, would you?" Remus said quietly. He closed his eyes and opened them again, searching for the right words. "Sirius I'm sorry. I really am so very sorry." Sirius made to sit up but felt a bit dizzy so stayed half propped on his elbows. Remus bent down and gave him an awkward hug. Sirius was feeling very overwhelmed at this point and was struggling to think straight. Probably from the, now smaller, lack of blood.

"I'm sorry I was a bad friend.." He mumbled, thinking he should apologise for the umpteenth time, as well.

"You weren't, Sirius. Choosing me would have made you a bad brother... and thinking of what you thought your parents would do with Regulus when they found out about you two… it wasn't an easy choice." Remus sat by Sirius while James played with the sheets about half way down the bed. Sirius lay back again and tried to take all this in. They forgave him? And they were saying sorry? Sirius wondered what he had done to deserve this…

Then he remembered something. "How did I.."

"That would be me… I found you... like you were.." Remus cringed slightly at the memory.

"Yesterday… morning?" Remus nodded. "And you got me here?" He nodded again. "Before you knew the whole story?"

"Yes Sirius. As much as I hated the fact you told Severus, I never hated you. I could never hate you." He gulped and looked away. Sirius stared at the opposite wall, trying to think something, anything.

"I didn't hate you either Sirius, I was just angry." James confessed, voice trembling.

"And me…" Peter contributed. Sirius couldn't help himself: As much he was happy he had his friends back, he still felt a bit… well, what? Disappointed? Angry? Upset? The fact of them watching him fall apart and not doing nothing at all… They were his friends. His family. But now was not the time to dwell in this thought, because he had them back. It was all he could ask for.

Madam Pomfrey took that moment to come and fuss over Sirius, giving him a couple of potions and checking him over. The others were made to wait, out of the way, until she was finished. He was told he would have to stay overnight again, but he would be okay to leave the next morning. She also insisted he needed to talk to someone who knew how to deal with his state of mind.

Regulus came over to tell Sirius that he better be going or the other Slytherins would get suspicious. But also warned his brother to tell the truth. Sirius nodded, it wasn't like he had anything to hide now. Regulus left and James started sprouting a stream of questions. Sirius sat up in bed, and folded his legs to make room for Remus and James who both sat on it, facing him. Peter sat listening on a chair next to the bed.

"Wait, slow down a bit, what was the first one?" He asked an impatient James.

"What was the meeting on the train with Lucius about? What did he really mean? 'Painful enough'?" Sirius shifted uncomfortably but proceeded to answer his friend.

"Erm... so the Malfoys came over for dinner, the day we got back. Me, Reg and Lucius were sat in the living room and he started doing his usual provoking and name calling. I was still rather wound up from father earlier so I was gunna make him shut up, but then we got called for food." Sirius sighed but carried on. "So... I went and got some stink sap and er, put it in his soup. Anyway, the result was a hacking Malfoy and erm…" He really didn't want to tell them.

"Sirius?" Remus asked encouragingly.

"Father let Lucius' dad… crucio me" He mumbled.

"HE WHAT?" James screeched. Sirius flinched and James lowered his voice a bit, in fear of an angry Madam Pomfrey. Remus put a hand on James shoulder and gave Sirius a very concerned look.

"It's months ago now... but Regulus said I was under for about five minutes I think. I started hallucinating for a bit but… it stopped when Reg came in. I'm fine now." Sirius tried to reassure a fuming James and a shaken Remus. Peter just stared, waiting for more.

"How long has this abuse and things been going on for?" James tried to keep his voice steady, but the image of Sirius in searing pain made his voice crack and a fresh tear formed in his eye.

"Since… I think since I was about.. 6?" Sirius said thoughtfully. "I just got used to it, and, in the end, I needed it. Remus, that's why I do this. " He waved his arms. "It became a constant in my life, the pain. Does that sound silly? That it felt good?" He looked at Remus for reassurance that he wasn't sounding stupid. The honey eyed boy gave Sirius a curious but understanding look. Sirius decided not to tell James about his leg, not yet, maybe never. It wouldn't help anything.

"Why haven't you told anyone about your parents?" Remus asked. Sirius half wished Regulus was still here, he could help explain everything.

"I can't... uh.." He thought about to phrase his explanation. "They have connections, if the Ministry or anyone was to find out, people who know my parents would cover for them... and plus, they would win the court case and stuff… it's complicated ok? But I can't tell anyone. And if I did, it would end badly." After a moments thought he felt he had got his point across successfully. Remus and James were exchanging looks. Then something else popped into Sirius' mind.

"They burnt the presents you sent me. Every year... and I was never allowed to buy anything nice, even for you guys, and I didn't get any other gifts except ones that Reg snuck me… so… I'm sorry I lied… about everything… it wasn't fair on you." Sirius finished and was flattened to the mattress by a flying mass of James. He clung onto Sirius like a limpet. Sirius cricked his neck round to look at his best friend.

"You alright?" Sirius asked softly.

"I feel so terrible...and then how we treated you..." James mumbled into Sirius' neck. He felt fresh warm tears seep into his pajama top.

"Is it your time of the month mate?" Sirius said, trying to lighten the mood. "C'mon, turn off the fountain...you'll get me all wet…" James let out a wet laugh and Sirius wrinkled his nose. "Just…" James sat back up, wiped his face on his sleeve and re-adjusted his glasses. "Just there's something else." He shot Remus a helpless look and Sirius frowned.

"Spit it out mate, it won't make anything better to hide things now."

James nodded, breathed deeply and looked at him, his voice was shaking as he spoke. "I… saw… that thing. On your leg." Sirius' heart nearly skipped a beat.

"I… Oh." He bit his lip. Shit.

His best friend looked as though he felt guilty for being the reason of the global warming. "I can't tell you how sorry I am… I never… I didn't want to hurt you, Sirius, I've just… been angry and… hurt too and I… oh god you have to hate me." He buried his face in his hands and let out a quiet sob, his whole body shaking. Sirius leaned forward and clenched his teeth as the pain shot through his chest, but he ignored it and hugged James tightly.

"Shh… it's okay. It's okay because you didn't know, you couldn't know. I don't blame you, James… I'm just happy enough to have you all on my side again." He trailed off, looking up to Moony with his best friend in his arm. He smiled at him with a 'It's-okay' look and Sirius' heart jumped a bit. They had really forgiven him.

James finally pulled away from him and wiped his nose, trying to push away the guilt in his heart. "You need to eat more… you're all bone.." He mumbled. Sirius looked down and nodded.

"I'll try, I promise... but it isn't gunna happen overnight… and I still have to go back home. Isn't like I get a feast there…" James sighed.

"Why don't you just run away Sirius? Just leave it all behind, come and live with? My mum and dad would love to have you." James insisted. Sirius just shook his head.

"I couldn't Prongs..." He waited a moment, liking the feel of the name in his mouth again. "I couldn't leave Regulus, not with them… not on his own… They hurt him too, sometimes, when he misbehaves. He doesn't do it often though… but I hate what they do when he does. He had a black eye for a week once..." Sirius trailed off, staring into space. Remus sighed.

"There has to be something you can do?" He asked. Sirius nodded.

"I cover for him sometimes, when I'm in the right place at the right time… but he can't for me because my parents just blame me anyway… so, I can't leave him there. And before you ask, no, he wouldn't leave, We may be brothers, but his beliefs are different to mine... not pure Slytherin… but close enough." Sirius closed his eyes. He was tired… maybe it was one of the potions he had been given.

He heard James mutter something to the others and there was a pattering of feet, the sound of a door and a scraping of a chair. Cracking an eye open, Sirius turned his head to see James now sitting in the chair by his bed, the other appeared to have gone.

"I'm not going anywhere Sirius, not again, not ever. James said defiantly. Sirius just nodded wearily with a smile and closed his eyes again.

When he woke the next morning, he found James curled up beside him. Sirius sighed in relief. For a moment he thought it might have been a dream. He looked at the sleeping figure next to him and smiled. Giving James a gentle nudge, he propped himself up on his elbows. James yawned and blink at Sirius though sleepy eyes.

"Hey… how you feeling?" James asked groggily, there were indents on his face from his glasses and Sirius couldn't help but smile.

"Better than Sunday…" James nodded. "Do you think you'll make it to breakfast?"

Sirius nodded. "I'll be fine." James sat up and picked up a pile of clothes from the floor.

"Madam Pomfrey had them cleaned…" James placed Sirius' uniform on the bed and rolled off it. He drew the curtains around the bed and waited outside them. Sirius managed to get out of the pyjamas and into his uniform without much of a struggle. Madam Pomfrey came for one last check up and grudgingly dismissed him. Sirius and James met Remus and Peter outside the Great Hall.

"Alright?" Remus asked him anxiously, before they entered. Sirius nodded and they went through the doors. Sirius caught his brother's eye briefly on the way to their table. Regulus gave him a small smile which was the best he could manage considering he was surrounded by Slytherins. The news of his visit to the Wing had spread fast. And rumours of Remus getting Sirius there, were also circling, as well as many others. Some girls came up to Sirius while he was trying to get himself to eat bacon and eggs and toast, which was proving a little more difficult than he thought. They asked questions and gave him gifts and swooned over him. Seeing his expression, James shooed them away to leave Sirius in peace. People did stare at him, and he did hear whispers, but, he decided, he could cope with this as long as he had his friends there by his side.

His family, his real family.