The Marauders: Year Six Part 2 #Wattys2017

Not the Right Time

Not the Right Time

Sirius stood on the platform by the train, staring back over the trees to the castle. He rocked himself on his boots anxiously. "Come on, Padfoot," Remus said, grabbing Sirius's hand insistently.

Sirius resisted. "I should go back. I should go home with him. He shouldn't have to be alone up there in the hospital wing."

Remus sighed, "Minnie said this way was better... Ned'll be waiting at King's Cross and Mr. and Mrs. Potter will come for James and he'll be back at the house before we are, even."

Sirius stared longingly at the castle.

"You said you guys did your weird... vibey... whatever thing last night, yeah?" Remus pressed.

"Yeah but -- only for a second."

"So he knows you're sorry."

"I haven't apologized proper." Sirius's voice was agonized. "Remus, he almost drowned."

Behind them, the Hogwarts Express whistled and hissed, the final call for boarding.

Remus said, "Sirius... come on, we gotta get on the train."

Sirius stared at the castle spires, but Remus took a firm grasp on his arm and pulled him onto the Express and down the corridor. "Lily said he woke up," Remus added, "So he's okay."

Sirius rubbed his forehead anxiously. "I can't believe bloody Hagrid, letting that dock get so out of repair it would just... break like that! It's so unlike Hagrid."

"He's had a hundred thousand other things on his mind, I'm sure. With Fluffy getting so big and everything, that dog can't be easy to take care of, and he's got all the grounds to care for, too. All the vegetable gardens, all that decorating for Christmas..."

Siris sighed.

They'd reached the compartment on the Express that had long ago been staked as The Marauders compartment and Remus pushed open the door to find it wasn't empty. Lily Evans was sitting already on one of the benches, her legs twisted about like a pretzel, holding the snowglobe James had given her the year before. The snow inside blew about wildly.

She looked up as they entered. "I hope you don't mind if I sit with you. Please, I don't want to be alone with all those snivelling girls in the other compartment, all crying over James like they are."

"Of course you can sit with us," Remus replied.

"You fucking better be sitting with us!" Sirius added, "I'd have it no other way!"

Lily wiped tears from the corners of her eyes as Sirius and Remus sat on either side of her, each hugging her so their arms crisscrossed over her back.

"Did you at least get to tell him before it happened?" Sirius asked.

Lily shook her head.

Sirius sighed.

Remus leaned forward and looked up at her, "This isn't your fault."

Lily covered her eyes.

"He's right," Sirius said, "It isn't! This is Hagrid's fault for not fixing that bloody dock like he ought to be doing! Imagine if it had broken back in September under all those firsties? They were already scared... James and I were down in that corridor checking on them and they were so frightened... Bloody hell, I reckon if the dock had fallen apart like that under them they probably all would've just packed and gone home on the spot."