Silent Screams | J. POTTER

17 | finding peace

The four of them had sprinted through the halls despite Dumbledore's vehement protest. They were supposed to wait in the lobby, the man had tried to tell them, the doctor would come retrieve them to show them where she was. They didn't need anyone to tell them where she was, they could find her just fine on their own. They would always find her.

James was heading the charge, sprinting through the halls with no hesitation. He barreled past people, shoving them out of the way if he had to. She was so close, he could feel it. Remus was still weak, but he was staying in pace with the group, Sirius at his side. They skidded to a stop outside of a room, all of them panting from the exertion over the past few hours. James rested his hand on his legs, taking a moment to collect himself. Did they go in? He wasn't certain that she was in the room but he could feel it. She had to be there. He turned to ask the boys what to do when there was shouting from the room.

"You can't leave!" a woman shouted, clearly trying to restrain someone. "Help!" she called out and nurses moved around them. "No, you can't - you're going to reopen the wound you-"

"Let me go!" another voice shouted and James recognized it immediately. She was awake and she was okay. She was alive. That's all that mattered. She was alive. "I need to go - I have to find them, my- my-" James didn't hesitate to push past all the nurses trying to get into the room to restrain, he ducked, running under their arm that held the door open and he stopped, staring at Romi like she could disappear at any moment. Her breath caught in her throat, "James."

She immediately stopped resisting and the woman who James assumed was the doctor cautiously released Romi, watching the boy warily. "Oh, Remus," Romi said as her brother entered the room and James moved out of the way as Remus stumbled to the bed. He fell into her arms and she was quick to pull him closer, despite the pain that radiated through her body. "Remus- oh, Remus, I was so worried. I didn't know what happened, or where you were. Or where any of you were, and I-"

"I know," he muttered, carefully holding her, like she could break with the slightest touch. He didn't want to hurt her anymore than she had already been hurting, the extra nurses had flooded from the room, leaving the boys, Romi and the doctor.

"Sirius, Peter," she said with a smile and they both looked unbelievably relieved. Her gaze flitted to James and her expression cracked - the pain and fear breaking through for the briefest moment and James wanted to cry. He wanted to scream and cry and hold her. He wanted to burn the world down for putting Romi through this. He wanted to punish whoever caused this, he wanted their head on stakes to be displayed to all. Touch her and you're dead, it would tell them. Do it and you'll regret even breathing in her direction. "Oh, James."

"She needs to be careful," the doctor explained after the group acclimated, finding spots in the room to sit. James hadn't moved from where he stood in the middle of the room. Sirius and Remus sat on the couch while Peter sat on the chair next to Romi. "We were able to get the bleeding under control and her body is working to heal itself but it will take time. No sudden movements, no pressure." She held the clipboard to her chest, "We'll get the list of necessary accommodations to both you, your parents and the school."

The twins both tensed at this. Their father. Would they be here? Did they even know what had happened? Were they waiting out in the lobby for someone to retrieve them? Just like the universe knew their line of thought, the door opened slowly. But it wasn't Lyall Lupin on the other side but Euphemia and Fleamont Potter. James turned around and he was both confused and surprised. His father immediately pulled him into a hug and James wanted to cry. Oh, he was so tired. He just wanted everything to slow down. Euphemia crossed the room to Romi and Romi looked up in surprise. "How are you feeling, dear?" Euphemia asked and Romi's eyes filled with tears. The older lady placed a hand on her arm, "I'm sorry this happened to you and I hope you don't mind that Monte and I wanted to check on you."