A Broken Inheritance

Chapter 87: Trading Weapons

"James, for the love of—"

"I told Dumbledore."

A beat.

"What?" Remus asked, looking up.

"I told him," James said. "About Anastasia. About the blood magic. About Thalia Bell."

Silence.

Sirius sat up slowly.

"You did what?"

James finally turned. "He needed to know. So that he could help her, so that—"

"No," Sirius said, rising from his bed. "You don't get to spin this into something noble. You didn't need to do anything. You decided. You decided for her."

"She wasn't looking for a way out," James snapped. "You know she wasn't. She would've let herself rot in that estate forever. She would've never asked for help, you know that."

"Yeah, she didn't ask," Sirius said, flat. "That's the point."

James raked a hand through his hair. "I know."

"You betrayed her, James."

"I know."

Sirius looked like he wanted to break something. "And? You don't care?"

"Because it's the truth," James said. "She's not going to leave him. Not without a reason. Not without something forcing her hand. And if we wait for her to come around, she won't. She'll stay. For Regulus. For some sort of misguided strategy. For fucking penance. Whatever it is. She's not going to save herself."

Sirius stepped forward. "And so you thought you would."

"Yes."

"What gives you the right?" Sirius asked. "She trusted you. You had no right."

"That's exactly why," James said, eyes burning. "Because she trusted me. And I couldn't keep watching her waste away in that house like it's the only path she has. Like the rest of her life has to be some awful, bloodstained sacrifice."

Sirius stared at him. There was something vicious in his stillness—not the usual volatility, not even anger. Disbelief. Cold and cutting.

"No," he said finally, voice low. "You did it so you wouldn't have to watch."

James blinked. "What?"

"You told yourself it was the right thing to do—fine. You're good at that." Sirius stepped forward, jaw tight. "But what you really couldn't bear was watching her choose that life. Watching her not pick you."

James flinched. "That's not—"

"You gave away her secret," Sirius cut in. "For a plan she doesn't even know exists. A rescue she wouldn't ask for. You didn't just sell her out, James—you made her small enough to be moved. You treated her exactly like my parents did."

Sirius didn't stop.

"You made a decision about her future behind her back. Like she's a bargaining chip. Like she's a fucking investment—protect her power, save her life, cash her in for the cause."

James didn't answer. Couldn't. He just stood there, chest rising and falling, face taut.

Sirius scoffed, bitter. "What exactly did you think was going to happen? That she'd thank you? That she'd come running into your arms and say thank you for taking the wheel?"

"She wouldn't have gotten out on her own," James shot back. "You know that."

"She would've found a way."