Chapter Text
Despite James’ best efforts–and Harry’s at that, though Harry didn’t know what they were begging for, even why they were begging–Sirius remained committed to attending his mother’s funeral. It didn’t matter what James asked, or how he pleaded. Sirius, for reasons James was not allowed to know, just kept reiterating he had to do it and it wasn’t optional.
With all the begging, Sirius was distinctly in a strop for the days leading up to the funeral. Sirius switched to a refrain that he didn’t need closure, he was just going for his reputation. James didn’t believe him.
There had been absolutely no reconciliation until Sirius showed up in James’ room, with ties in hand, and without a word started getting James dressed the rest of the way. When James was fully dressed, he broke his silence. “Honestly, how do you still not know how to do your tie up?” Sirius complained, and James huffed quietly.
“Well, I’ve got you, haven’t I? You do ‘em once, I don’t untie them, they’re done,” James looked pleased with his response, but it didn’t make Sirius soften even an ounce.
“What would you do without me?” Unlike some of the times he’d used the phrase, Sirius looked like James’ answer this time could actually make or break their relationship.
“Perish instantly.”
“No. You’re not allowed. Harry needs you.”
“I promise I won’t then. But I’d be lost, Pads, genuinely. So please don’t go anywhere unless you can’t help it.”
“Okay,” Sirius agreed, and James tried to pretend he trusted the soft, wavering tone he had never really heard Sirius use.
“Okay,” James repeated. When Sirius finished his task, James caught both of his hands and squeezed them gently. “It’s going to be okay,” James promised.
“I’ll believe you when this is over,” Sirius agreed. James, after a long deliberation, decided to leave it there. He’d had more than enough time to know when he was losing a battle Sirius had already had in his mind.
James couldn’t remember a time he had ever been in a space quite so extravagant yet dark. He was pretty sure that when he squinted, the ceiling and walls both had gilding. It was so dark, though, that even trying to see a couple feet in front of him resulted in eye strain.
Sirius, despite looking tired, looked like he fit in the halls completely, and he didn’t hesitate as he led James through veritable masses who had all turned up. It reminded James, mildly, of some of the auction halls for particularly rich people that he had seen in films and television programmes.
Sirius’ usual attire having been replaced with a well-fit suit only made the experience that much more surreal, because since Regulus’ departure a decade ago, Sirius had not engaged in any aspect of the potential Lordship, no matter what people around him had done to try and force him to do so, especially as his grandfather was aging rapidly with the fallout with Regulus.
Now, it was evident that they hadn’t needed to bother; there was no risk of Sirius forgetting his manners even in Regulus’ genuine and complete absence.
“Do you want to find someplace to sit and wait?” James asked, when Sirius had made a circuit of the massive room Walburga’s casket was in. Sirius only hesitated around the casket for a half-second before carrying on.
“I need to see who’s here,” Sirius replied with a shake of his head.
“Mr Black, I’m so sorry for your loss,” a woman caught Sirius by the shoulder and he clearly forced himself to pause to thank her through gritted teeth. It set the precedent for what became a rather awkward hunt on Sirius’ part as he searched for someone, but James could only guess based on Regulus’ assertions who that would be.
Sirius was eventually stopped dead in his tracks of attempting to avoid as many people as possible while clearly hunting for someone by nearly literally running into Remus Lupin. The thwack they made as they collided made a stir and caused James to wince.
“I’m terribly sor– Sirius,” Remus looked as if he wanted to bolt, but Severus Snape put his shoulder against Remus’ and it kept that from occurring. It also immediately drew Sirius’ attention.
“What are you doing here?”
James missed whatever Remus was going to go with as a lie–or perhaps truth–because his only option was to make a mad dash for the door he’d just watched Regulus be pulled through without anyone else noticing. He struggled for a moment to find his way forward once he’d passed through the doorway, due to the dimness, but in the end he just headed for a sliver of light, and shoved his way in after Regulus, before slamming the door shut and hoping that had been the correct choice.