"So he's going to be fine?" Auguste asks the Healer, his brows creased.

They're sitting in a small office, Auguste and Remus next to each other and the Healer on the other side of the desk. The walls are a pale yellow, and there's a desk calender and a small vase with plastic flowers on the table.

"Yes," she replies, smiling at the both of them, "He's going to be fine. He's still under sedation, so he's going to take a while to wake up. And then he'll need to rest for a long time, for his bones to set, but he's going to be fine."

Remus has to hold on to his chair. He's dizzy with relief, and the quell of his worries makes him feel almost exposed.

"Thank you so much," Remus tells her.

"Of course," Miriam nods, "It's my job. You can't see him yet, because we still have some patching up left to do. But I'll send you a message when we're done... Oh and, boys, are you very close with him?"

"We are," Auguste says, with a confidence Remus can't imagine ever having.

"I see," Miriam pauses thoughtfully, clasping her hands together in front of her on the desk. "Would you happen to know anything about his eating habits?"

And for a minute, everything freezes while Remus tries to breathe.

"Why?" Auguste asks softly, "Is there a problem, miss?"

"Well, not a big one. The boy looked rather underfed," Miriam gives them a gentle smile, "And possibly anaemic. But it's nothing too serious. We can see about that after we're done tending to his injuries."

The two boys thank her again and go back to the waiting room, where they do exactly what they're supposed to. They wait. To Remus, it hardly feels like he's doing nothing. His mind is loud enough to keep him occupied, swirling with words and pain and flashing images of Sirius' pale hands.

Some time later, Auguste's phone rings again. He doesn't walk away to answer it this time.

"Reg," Auguste says.

"Yeah... No, we can't see him yet—" Auguste frowns.

"He's going to be fine... No, no, nothing like that... What? No, Reg," Auguste gives Remus a small smile when their eyes meet. And then he continues talking into the phone, "I'll come pick you up, okay?... Huh?"

Remus waits, curious.

"Oh. Fine, I'll meet you at Diagon Alley, then. Be careful, Reg. Don't rush, everything's fine over here."

Auguste turns to Remus, putting his phone in his pocket. "He just got off the flight, it seems. Apparently there's a Floo he can take."

"At the airport?"

"Yeah," Auguste shrugs, "I haven't heard of it, either."

Remus hasn't even been to the airport. He watches Auguste stand up and smooth the back of his shirt down. It's too late, though. The pale blue fabric is already creased. "I should probably leave now..." he says with a small sigh, "It's going take a while to get to the Leaky Cauldron anyway."

"Will you be okay?" Remus asks, looking at his tired eyes. There's already some colour underneath them. Remus probably doesn't look much better either, but Auguste crashing his car is really not something Remus wants to happen right now. Or ever. But especially right now. "I mean, driving alone? I can come with you..."

Auguste gives him a smile. Remus is coming to learn that his smiles all look exactly the same. Remus can never tell what they mean.

"I'll be alright," he says, "That coffee did me good. Besides, you might be needed here, Remus. I'll be back soon with Reg, don't worry."

Remus nods, knowing fully well that he is indeed going to worry. He gives Auguste a small wave goodbye as he leaves the room. And then he leans his chin on his palms, rests his elbows on his knees, and continues to wait.

***

Remus is frighteningly close to falling asleep when the doors open. "Is he awake yet?" Regulus' voice rings out across the mostly empty room, making Remus drop the water bottle that was on his lap.

"Where is he?" Regulus asks, striding towards Remus. His hair is a little flatter then usual, and his face is a little drawn out, but other than that, he looks as cool and composed as ever. He's wearing a black t-shirt and black jeans.

"He's not... awake yet," Remus picks the water bottle up from between his feet. He stands up and places it on his seat. "Did you—"

"Honestly, at this point, can I even take your word for that?" Regulus snaps.

Remus frowns, confused.

"Reg..." Auguste frowns, too.

"The Healer said Sirius was weak?" Regulus asks sharply, and Remus can't tell if he's talking to him or Auguste or both of them or no one at all. "Because he hasn't been eating? You live together for fuck's sake, how could you not know something was wrong?"

Now he's talking to Remus.

Remus' breath hitches in his throat. He can feel the wild beating of his heart, in his chest and his ears and his throat. He feels sick. His mouth forms no words, his throat dry and his mind blank.

And Regulus' eyes are so dark, shining with angry tears.

"Why didn't you do anything?" He continues, relentless. "Did you even notice? Or were you just too busy crying over yourself and your—"

"Hey," it's Auguste who speaks up, stepping in between Remus and Regulus.

"Stop that, Regulus," he says, his voice almost angry. It's the most emotion Remus has felt coming from him. Auguste plants his hands on Regulus' shoulders, gripping them tight as he drives Regulus back, away from Remus. "You don't want to do this right now, you know you don't."

Regulus doesn't say anything, and Remus can't see his face because of Auguste blocking his view.

"Come on," Auguste says in a much gentler tone, "Why don't we go get you something warm to drink?" He leads Regulus a few more steps away from Remus before turning his head. He gives Remus a small smile.

And then they walk out the doors, leaving Remus alone once more. Leaving his worries to flood over him until he's no more than an aching heart and a restless mind.

He turns to his seat, picking the water bottle up before he sits down. And then he puts his head in his hands, squeezes his eyes shut in a vain attempt at blocking his thoughts, and starts waiting again.

***

Author's Note

Me : James and Lily aren't answering their phones
You : OmG aRe tHeY dEad?!?

Don't give me ideas

P.S. I'm gonna be a wreck when this book is over