Sirius watched the rain roll down the window, The drops joined in rivulets faster than he could count, pooling on the sill in currents where they were again swept away by wind. It made a rhythmic sound as it came, each motion falling upon itself to create a harmony. It was beautiful. But he wanted to escape it.

"What are you doing, Sirius? You can't just be standing there watching rain. Unless you are starting to actually enjoy boredom." Sirius didn't need to turn around to know who had spoken. It was Remus.

"It's all the fault of history lessons," he replied. "When I'm subjected to Binn's rambling for as long as we were today, I can't seem to remember any other existence." Remus laughed, but it sounded forced.

"This isn't about classes, Sirius, is it? James told me that something was wrong. Why won't you turn around?" Sirius paused, looking down at his hands. They were clenched so tightly together that the blood had drained from the knuckles, turning them white.

"Sometimes you just have to smile despite it all, Moony."

"What are you talking about, Sirius? You're just speaking nonsense. What happened? Why won't you face me?" Sirius didn't respond. He felt hands grab his shoulder, and he stiffened, reaching to catch them. But of course it was only Remus. Sirius relaxed, allowing his friend to pull him away from the window.

"I told him not to come get you," Sirius said. He raised the cloth he'd been holding to the side if his face, but it didn't hide the blood. It seeped underneath from the side of his head, creating thin red lines that dipped and twisted over the angles of his face. Like cracks in broken glass.

"Damn," said Remus, stepping back. "What the hell are you doing sitting here? We need to get you to the hospital wing."

"It's not that bad," said Sirius, wincing as he moved the cloth to cover more of it. "It's not like my skull is fractured or something." Remus frowned.

"I don't know just how bad it is because you're trying to cover it," Remus sighed. "But I don't like how much blood is there."

"I can't go to the hospital wing," said Sirius. Remus bit the side of his lip, frowning.

"Why? This isn't from… you didn't keep on that… thing, did you?"

"Um," said Sirius, lowering his hand unconsciously. "Yeh, no. I mean, you haven't told anyone, right?" Remus closed his eyes.

"Damn. I thought you stopped that weeks ago. This is why James knew…" he looked back at Sirius, opening his mouth to say something more when he saw the uncovered wound on the side of Sirius's face. It wasn't one cut, but multiple, some running across each other to tear up the skin. He swallowed, steadying his hands. "Those better not be deep."

"No, they aren't," said Sirius, smiling slightly. "Seriously, they barely sting."

"Do I dare ask the exact spell they came from?"

"Well, I haven't quite got the incantation down right-"

"Obviously." Remus sighed. "Come on. We need to get that looked at." Sirius hesitated.

"No," Sirius said. Remus looked at the ripped skin, then back into Sirius's eyes.

"No? So what are you going to do about it then?" Sirius opened his mouth to reply, but couldn't find the words. He knew there wasn't anything he could do. Not about all the problems around him. Not about his family. Not about hogwarts. Not about the world. He wanted to leave it all, and never come back. Instead he smiled.

"Something. I'm not sure what, but I think it's going to be fun."