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Sirius craved comfort.
The squashiest armchair in the common room was where he'd more often than not find himself after class, with the blanket Lily had made him thrown over his lap. James had been violently jealous the first time he saw Sirius with that blanket, as he had watched Lily making it thinking it was a Christmas gift for him (his own scarf was beautiful, but the blanket looked especially soft and cozy) Lily had teased her boys for fighting over the blanket, and decided to make more for all of them too, just to stop the childish games of tug of war.
He had at all times no less than 5 pillows on his bed, and would argue that
"Yes they were all very necessary to a comfortable sleep thank you very much".
And, of course, he would steal Remus’ jumpers whenever he could. The smell, along with the well-worn softness made him feel so safe.
Much of his life was a lesson in pain and difficulties, so any chance he had, he clung to softness. He was often times punished for any small transgression when at his ancestral home, so took effort to build up memories and items that brought him some comfort while away at school that he could easily hide while away.
One day, after an especially gruelling Quidditch practice, he walked into his dorm and, on his bed, were two plush toys.
Sirius stopped, breath held as he looked at them.
There was a sun and moon. He reached out reverently and touched one. They were soft, the fuzzy texture making something inside of him unclench. He picked up the moon, and squeezed it to his chest.
A soft scent clung to the toy. The unmistakable scent of chocolate, a faint smell of cigarette smoke and books.
His eyes widened. He reached for the sun, inhaling that next.
Hair potion, cinnamon, and broom polish.
His heart stuttered in his chest. They knew that this holiday home would be awful. There had been veiled threats in his mother's most recent correspondence about finally fulfilling his purpose as a son of the House of Black. Sirius knew that once he was home, his mother would not allow any correspondence with anyone she didn't deem "worthy", so he would be completely cut off from the outside world, from his true family.
These two little plush toys would be his comfort in a house devoid of anything resembling love.
"There's more to them than meets the eye." Remus said quietly.
Sirius looked up. James and Remus had come in.
"Mum gave me the idea actually" James ruffled his hair, looking down. "They're portkeys. If you hold one or both of them and say ασφάλεια, means safety in Greek, then you'll be brought to my house. Just in case. I know you're worried about going to Grimmauld for the hols."
Sirius was touched. His friends were so observant, James especially when he wanted to be.
To the rest of Hogwarts, James was a swaggering Quidditch idiot, but his heart was his best kept secret. He would do anything for those he loved. Sirius felt tears coming to his eyes. He stood up and hugged them both.
"Thanks. I know you both must have worked hard on these. But why Greek?"
"Lily made them actually, and Mum's Greek. I just thought it made sense, seeing as these were her idea. Also, it's one of the languages you're bloody shite at, so can't see you accidentally saying Something and setting them off prematurely."
Sirius cuffed James across the head as he stepped back. Remus smiled at him and squeezed his hand. Sirius' heart gave a little squeeze in tandem at that, knowing that little moon would soon be his constant companion while away.
So one rainy night, when James had already settled into bed, an urgent pounding at the front door had him running before he had even had a chance to grab his wand.
Wrenching the door open, he saw a crumpled figure and two stuffed toys folded onto the porch.
"Jamie? Help"
James felt the breath catch in his chest. Sirius was bruised and bloody, body twitching from spell damage. James' hands fluttered uselessly before screaming out for help.
Euphemia Potter came running, wand drawn and robe billowing behind her, before her eyes landed on the boys.
"Τι συνέβη σε αυτόν?"
"Mum, he used the portkeys. Something must have happened please help me get him in"
Euphemia immediately got him settled on the couch and cast a diagnostic spell, setting to work to help heal the worst of it.
"Oh αστέρι μου you'll be ok. I've got you now."
Sirius was delirious now. The spells working slowly to help him.
"Mum, you know my Greek is shit. English, please, or at least French."
Euphemia laughed through her tears.
"Dont worry, darling. You'll learn. Let me get you fixed up and then your brother will get you to bed. "
Sirius hummed, the pain finally dulling down, and a cool sensation went over his body. He was safe. The sun and moon gave him comfort, and now, safety too, drawing him out from the dark and into the light