Chapter Text
It feels like he is underwater. The whispers grow louder as he is pulled under. He knows that the killing curse is what got him and yet he can still hear the screams of those he loves. Remus. Harry. Oh, his sweet boy. They needed more time together, he wasn't ready. But that must be another thing that's out of his control. He hasn't felt alive in over a decade but now that he's finally dead, he can't imagine what he'll see next.
Will his brother be there? Will he want to see him? Sirius can't wait to rub it in his face that he died for a worthless cause. He hopes his mother and father aren't anywhere near him. Sirius doesn't have any beliefs so he can't say they'll be in hell, but he hopes they're suffering for being horrible parents.
All of the friends he lost, the people he's grown close to. Where will they be? Where is he going? Why couldn't he have more time? His heart aches on being another person Harry has lost. Sirius is bitter at the barely cultivated relationship that they had. His mother was right, he was nothing but a constant failure who couldn't amount to anything.
And then there was James... he couldn't see James, their last moments were so tense because of the war and he had felt that they were drifting apart. It was only natural, James had a family to take care of, and Sirius was by himself with no family left. Sirius will never forget the hollow unblinking eyes of James' corpse and the cold that started to settle on his skin. And then there was Lily, beautiful until the end. They didn't deserve what that Rat had done. They should have lived and raised their son, had more children, been happy.
And Sirius couldn't even do what needed to be done, his failure is the reason Harry had suffered.
Who knows maybe he'll meet his own damnation.
NOT YET.
What was that? He couldn't see anything, everything was cloudy and he feels as if he is floating, nothing but the constant whispers around him. He doesn't even know if he can speak.
He tries and nothing comes out, as if his throat is all dried up. "..." His voice is gone, he can't speak but he heard something loud and clear, distant but close.
YOU NEED TO GO BACK, SIRIUS.
Who is that? He doesn't understand how long he has been here and he can feel himself start to grow tired. The clouds get darker, his vision loses sight. He wants to hold on to that voice but the feeling is too strong; he has to go, the whispers are not trying to let him go.
Just as he is about to let go, praying for one last goodbye to his sweet Harry, hoping he survives, long, longer than he should. He feels something grab him and pull. Suddenly the feeling of being underwater is gone but he still feels weightless and he cannot see anything except a bright light surrounding him.
"...where am I?" He hears himself but his mouth doesn't even move like it's his own. He tries to walk and he can only drag himself around.
SIRIUS BLACK. YOU ARE NOT DONE. YOU WILL FOLLOW ME.
"Who are you?" He hears the voice of a woman, her voice is loud but she speaks softly, he can just barely make out a shape in the brightness that surrounds him. His movements are sluggish as he tries his best to stand before the woman that has brought him here. "What are you, some deity?"
I AM EVERYTHING AND NOTHING AT THE SAME TIME. I HAVE NO POWER BEYOND WHAT HAS BEEN AGREED. I MOVE AS TO WHAT COULD BE WRONG AND WHAT COULD BE RIGHT, I ONLY LISTEN TO WHAT I AM TOLD. BUT ONCE IT IS IN MY POWER, I CONTROL IT ALL.
That only seemed to confuse him, "So you're not God?"
RELIGION ONLY SEEKS IN THOSE WHO BELIEVE, IF YOU HOLD NO BELIEFS, THEN NO ONE WILL HOLD YOU IN THEIR SANCTUM. YOU SIRIUS BLACK, HOLD NO BELIEFS. YOUR SPIRIT IS FREE TO MOVE ONCE IT HAS ACCEPTED DEATH...BUT YOU LIVE WITH REGRETS, YOU DIED A SAD MAN, YOU CAN NOT FIND PEACE UNTIL YOU FIX WHAT HAS BEEN WRONGED.
She seems to move around him as her voice echo's and as much as he doesn't believe in anything, he can see that he's talking to some higher power, "Who gives you orders to change what needs to be changed? Do you bring back everyone who has died with unhappiness?"
NOT AT ALL. I ONLY HELP THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN CHOSEN. IF YOU ARE NOT CHOSEN, THEN YOU WANDER...BECOME ONE WHO WHISPERS. I FOLLOW DEATH, TIME,...AND FATE. THEY MUST ALL THREE AGREE TO ACCEPT WHO MIGHT END UP A CONTENDER; TO CHANGE ORDER .
"You'll help...what will happen to me?" Sirius tries to get closer but she moves away as if she is swimming.
"What if I don't want to be here anymore, what if I'm too tired to do your bidding?" He can't feel his legs, and his chest hurts but that seems to stop her in her tracks. Nothing indicates that she has a face but he can tell that she has slowly moved her head around to him, the sound of her voice hasn't changed but her tone grows dark, slightly sinister.
WHO ARE YOU TO DENY WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN PUT INTO MOTION. YOUR LIFE HELD NO MEANING BEFORE. YOU SQUANDERED YOUR OPPORTUNITIES TO BE MORE. YOU WOULD SIT THERE, A SHELL OF WHAT YOU USED TO BE, AND SAY YOU WON'T DO IT?
Her voice feels like an evil whisper, a continuous stab at his heart, he wants her to leave, he wants to go to sleep and be done with it all. Can't she see that he lost, that he was never strong enough for the battle.
He doesn't realize that he is crying until he feels that warm bright light gently touch his cheek, her voice no longer cruel.
I DON'T WISH TO HURT YOU, BUT YOU MUST SEE THAT YOU COULD DO MORE, CHANGE THINGS, SAVE LIVES...
Harry, he can be there for his pup, raise him far far away from any who would hurt them, he would tell Remus when the time is right but no one else would know, not even Dumbledore.
"Fine. What do I have to do?" He lifts his head and stares at the bright light, ready for whatever he must do.
I CAN'T GIVE YOU ALL OF THE ANSWERS, SOME OF WHICH YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND YOURSELF. I CAN ONLY TELL YOU THAT I WILL SHOW UP WHEN YOU MUST DESPERATELY NEED ME. NOT A MOMENT SOONER. AND ONE DAY, SIRIUS, I WILL SEND ANOTHER TO HELP GUIDE YOU THROUGH YOUR CHALLENGES. BUT YOU MUST GROW, YOU MUST CHANGE OR THE ONES WHO SENT YOU HERE WILL TAKE YOU AWAY AND THAT WILL BE OUT OF MY CONTROL. NOW GO, FOR OUR TIME IS UP.
"Wait, you can't tell me anything else? What am I supposed to do exactly?!" He feels that pull grabbing him again, squeezing his body almost painfully.
MAKE GOOD DECISIONS, SIRIUS. That was the last that he heard from her before he is flung in the opposite direction, the light disappearing in an instant, only darkness remained.
He can't make good decisions! He has never made a good decision in his life! Fuck! He wishes to say it out loud but he is moving so fast, he can't even open his mouth.
He doesn't know how long he flies, it was starting to feel as if it would never end before suddenly his head hits something hard and he passes out.
Sirius, it's time to wake up...
He hears something calling him, but he's laying on something so absolutely comfortable that he honestly can't bring himself to move.
Sirius. Wake up now.
Sirius startles up awake and as he looks around he notices the soft grey and blue of his childhood room, he didn't dare sleep in here after he broke out of Azkaban and had to hide away.
His chest hurts and he's breathing loudly but he knows no one will check up on him. His mother was evil and horrible, his father was empty, and he honestly doesn't believe that he could make up with Regulus anymore. Plus he had placed a silencing spell on his room long ago; came in handy when he would cry in his room and he didn't want his mother to come in and hex him.
He wants to move around but he feels so completely stunned by everything he sees. The last he saw of this room, it was peeling and dusty. No care for the blood traitor. Was all of that truly real? He had an active imagination but even knowing of what had happened seemed unreal. He slowly gets out of bed and moves towards where he remembers his bathroom being.
The face that stares back at him is clearly a younger version of himself but everything feels too good to be true, his breathing starts to quicken, and before he realizes it he rushes to the toilet and vomits whatever contents his younger self had stored away. His head is pounding and he can't move, he lays there until he stops feeling so dizzy.
He hears a pop in the distance and a squeaky voice calling out his name "Master Sirius? Gimsey has been told to have you brought down for breakfast. Mistress wouldn't be pleased if you miss the train back to school."
Sirius honestly feels like death but he can remember Gimsey being his favorite elf before he left home and knowing that soon his mother would have her gifted her to one of the Mulcibers as someone's birthday present. He doesn't know what came of her but he knew they were especially cruel to their elves, hence why they always needed more.
"Gimsey, come here at once." His voice is scratchy and his legs shake as he tries to stand, he moves over to the sink and splashes water on his face. The pop from his room moves to his bathroom and soon Gimsey's huge purple eyes are staring at him in curiosity.
"Is you not feeling well Master Sirius, should I tell the Lord and Lady-" He cuts her off in a panic.
"No!" Gimsey jumps back in fear and Sirius cringes in guilt. He doesn't want to scare the poor elf but letting either of his parents know that something is wrong would only make this entire experience go from bad to worse. He sinks to her level and holds out his hand hesitantly, "Gimsey please don't get my parents...you know how they can be." The elf nods along but still stands a distance. "Would you be so kind as to tell me what day it is?" He remembers she said the train so obviously, it's September but if he knew the year.
Gimsey finally moves closer and she's within close enough distance that Sirius can softly pet her head. She makes a humming noise and gives him a small smile, "It's September 1st, Master Sirius."
"Yes dear but what year?" He stresses.
"Umm 1975?" 1975. Sirius groan inwardly, of course, he would be forced to come back to 1975; they start making the map, he has to take his O.W.L.S, James becomes captain, Remus becomes prefect, Snape calls Lily a mudblood, and he thought it would be funny to kill the toerag for giggles. Well maybe none of this is real and he can just live his life like he always has. "Do you need help getting ready Master Sirius?"
"Yes! Yes, I do, please pack everything that I would need for the train, but after we leave, pack up the rest of my room, me and you won't be here any longer." 1975. He turns sixteen in November and will be gone by Christmas break. "God why couldn't this happen in 1976, I won't have to do anything except go to class and keep track of James," He mutters to himself.
His eyes are closed so he doesn't notice how still Gimsey has gotten. "We are leaving Master Sirius?" His eyes opened again to see the fear placed back on Gimsey's face. "Has Gimsey done something wrong?" She whimpers and this only serves to make Sirius feel even more awful as well as make his headache stronger.
"No Gimsey, you are nothing but the sweetest and most helpful," He leans closer to her as if he is telling a secret, "Don't tell anyone, not even Regulus or any elf that's here, but I'm leaving this house for good."
Gimsey's already big eyes well up with tears and she hiccups out her next words, "Please don't go, Master Sirius, Master Regulus will be so sad." Sirius doesn't believe that one, his brother barely spoke to him before he died, he especially cut contact after Sirius left. Sirius shakes his head regardless as Gimsey cries, "Sorry dear but it has to be done. Don't worry though, when I leave I want you to come with me, you're my favorite."
That statement seems to brighten Gimsey up but only just slightly, "B-but where w-will we go?"
"Why the Potters, of course, old Mia and Monty are good folks, James can be brash but only to people, he's sweet on elves so no worries. Plus you'll only be bound to me."
"I will?"
"Yes, I don't understand it just yet, but I have a lot to do this year and maybe even for the years to come and I need someone who can help me."
"What will I do Master Sirius?" Sirius didn't have a clock in the bathroom and he still felt too weak to conjure up Tempus.
"At this moment you will pack up what I need for the Train. We've wasted enough time and I don't need my mother getting upset. Remember, pack the rest of the room later, but make sure no one knows what you're doing." She nods and starts to move but he calls out to her one more time. "Gimsey! If my mother says anything about giving you away, come to me immediately." Her eyes are wide but she nods her head hurriedly and then pops out of the bathroom.
Sirius finally tries to catch his breath and focus. Was he just killed by his lunatic of a cousin after spending the past twelve years as a prisoner, only to hide out in his childhood home because he was still convicted of being a murderer and then ended up meeting a vaguely threatening deity and being forced to go back in time and somehow be given the job to 'make things right'...
No that's absolutely ridiculous. He's finally just lost his mind is all, or Prongs found a nasty spell to pull on him; he was always one for dark humor. Sirius really doesn't have time for this, his mother and father always wanted to send them off early when it came to catching the train. A quick morning shower should make him feel less sick.
As he's taking off his shirt his eyes catch in the reflection a long thin scar that wraps around his ribs and he can only stare at it as that sick feeling tries to make a reappearance.
He remembers this scar, he got it when he was shivering so bad in Azkaban that even being in his animagus form wasn't helping him, he keep twitchy so badly that one of his claws caught himself, and while the wound wasn't deep enough to bleed out (even if he did they wouldn't care) but the scar always remained.
He lets out a deep breath and can feel a burning sensation gathering up in his eyes and turns away from the mirror and goes to clean up before he decides to just off himself.
Younger and more vibrant he may look, but of course, the scars remain.
Sirius is walking in the aisles of the train, trying to find a compartment with no inhabits. After separating from Regulus, his brother heading toward the front of the train where the Slytherins commonly lurk, he moves in the opposite, heading to the back compartments. It was early enough that there weren't too many people yet but starting to gather quickly.
He finally finds one with nobody inside and handles his suitcase in the overhead and flops down in his seat, trying to ignore his mother's parting words.
Sirius and Regulus stand opposite of their parents. No one looks happy and Sirius wonders why did they even bother trying to pretend they were caring parents who wanted to see them off to school.
"Regulus make sure to continue making the family proud and do what you're supposed to," His mother barks out at his brother and every word she says sounds like a threat.
Regulus nods sullenly and Sirius is begging for this to be over already.
Soon he feels her eyes on him and he can tell that the hate that shines in her eyes is reflected in his, "You, try not to be an even worse failure than you already are and do the entire family a favor and learn to be quiet." Sirius has to hold on to everything inside of him so that he doesn't flinch.
"I'll try my best!" He responds cheerily, and his mother sneers in response. However before she can say another word, his father finally speaks up for the first time, his deep voice quiet but asserting.
"Both of you be good, we'll see you during Yule. Let's go." He directs those last words to their mother before turning around and walking away, not waiting to see if she was following. Walburga's glare only deepens but she says nothing else as she trails after her husband.
He's pulling at the curls in his hair, and oh how he misses how they use to feel, when the door to the compartment he's in opens up and a sandy head pops in with a soft smile, "'Lo Pads."
Sirius can feel himself go warm with happiness as he takes in one of the last faces he ever saw, "Remus." The tall and skinny boy walks in and gets himself situated before sitting next to Sirius.
"How was your summer?" His summer? Just what was he doing summer of 1975 before his fifth year?
"Honestly Moony, I couldn't tell you if I could. Everything feels like a blur." There's a pause between them while Remus furrows his eyebrows and Sirius looks back at the hall to see if anyone was coming before turning back to Remus and pulling him close. "Moony do you feel any...different?"
Remus' eyes widen and he looks at Sirius with a weird expression, "Different how?"
Sirius moves even closer until he's whispering in the other boy's ear, "You know...like you're here but you aren't, not really," There's no noise except their breathing, "What I mean to say is, I am still who I am but my mind and my body feel different, everything's different now, you know."
"Umm no Padfoot, I don't think I do...maybe you should talk to Madame Pomfrey."
Sirius pulls back, but only enough to look at Remus, "Why would I talk to Madame Pomfrey?"
"Why wouldn't you-"
"What are you two doing?" The sound of another voice has them breaking apart and turning their heads towards the door.
There standing in all his rat-faced glory was Peter Pettigrew himself. Sirius's ears start to ring and he has to stop himself from throwing out the killing curse, being done with the boy for good. He knows he can't do that so he settles for not responding and turning away from the disgusting creature.
Sirius counts to one hundred to simmer his anger and listens to Remus and Pettigrew speak.
"Why are you carrying so much? That can't all be for you."
He hears the Rat grunt as he moves within the compartment and he curls in on himself so he doesn't accidentally touch him.
"This other one is for James, we got on at the same time and caught the sight of Evans walking by, so you can imagine how I ended up with more than just my luggage." Remus hums before continuing.
"Well I only have so much time before I have to leave for this Prefects meeting, I might see James on my way out."
"Maybe. Since you became Prefect, Evans does seem likely on who would get the title as well." 58,59,60 "Hey Padfoot! How was your summer?" 68,68,68.."Padfoot?"
"Sirius?" This time it's Remus calling his name.
Sirius is angry and he wants to stay angry. He doesn't know if he can sit there and look at that face and pretend that everything is fine and they're all just best mates. Wormtail became dead to Sirius the moment he saw James and Lily's dead bodies and heard his poor godson's cries. But he can't kill him now, last time he tried he ended up in prison. What can he do?
"Sirius!"
"Get out!" He spins around with a shout, making the other two jump, "Get out Wormtail...and go get some snacks from the trolley, on me." He speaks slowly with grit teeth, his smile strained.
Wormtail can only blink at him and shock and Remus looked suspicious. "Are you sure?"
Sirius is nodding and he goes into his backpack and pulls out a medium-sized clutch that he stole from his mother and hands it off to Wormtail with a wave, trying not to throw it in his face. "Of course, go get the first pick of treats she has and get something for Moony and Prongs as well, James would still be in good spirits after being shot down by Evans but he would enjoy the surprise."
The fat ugly face of the other boy breaks out into a wide smile and he takes the money, "Did 'ya want anything Padfoot?"
"No no just go, I'm not feeling all that well." With that, the other boy goes back out in search of the Trolley Lady.
He can't kill him yet, but he can get him out of his face. Sirius takes a deep breath and shoves his hands back into his curls, they're soft and he can focus on that. He shouldn't be spending any money he has if he's planning on being disinherited soon but that solution was better than nothing.
"Padfoot, what's wrong with you?" Damn, he forgot Moony was still here.
Sirius peaks at Remus from one eye and stops pulling on his hair, "What do you mean?"
Remus stares at Sirius.
Sirius stares back.
"I think you know what I mean."
"If I knew what you mean, I wouldn't have asked, Moony."
"Siri-"
"I need to tell you something, Moony."
Remus groans and rolls his eyes before replying in a droll tone, "Still need to talk about your body and mind?"
Sirius shakes his head and slides back over to Remus, a sad smile on his face, "No actually, I wanted to apologize."
That seems to confuse Remus even more, "What for?"
Sirius sighs, "For everything I suppose...I've looked back on how I acted and I realized that I don't treat you as a friend should. I could be selfish, impulsive, and just plain ridiculous," Grey eyes stare into amber ones, "I never want you to feel that you can't come to me because I wouldn't care, or think I would use you to hurt other people. After all, I won't do that." Not again. "You're one of my closest friends and I need you to know that. So I'm sorry if I hadn't been good enough." He finishes with a whisper.
It's silent for a moment and as much as Sirius wants to look away he's held in by Moony's intense gaze. Soon Remus pulls on Sirius' hands and quietly replies, "Padfoot. I don't know what's going on with you, but you don't have to apologize to me. You are a good friend, great even. Yes, you can be selfish, impulsive, and just plain ridiculous," Remus smirks at Sirius and he snorts, "But you are also loyal, ambitious, and smart. Whatever's got you down at the moment, just know I'll be here for you when you feel better."
Sirius hates crying, he was taught that showing emotions were a weakness, and crying never got him anywhere except more pain. However, he couldn't help the few tears that left his eyes as he buries his face in Remus's shoulder, "Thank you." He croaks out.
He doesn't know how long they stay like that but soon he can the door to their compartment closing with a thud and he opens his eyes to look over, expecting to see Wormtail return but instead, he locks eyes with a hazel gaze that he hasn't seen in years and he feels his chest tighten. "James." His voice is breathless as he takes in the form of his best friend.
James is casually leaning against the door with his arms crossed as he looks between Sirius and Remus, "Am I interrupting?" He tilts his head and the question almost felt rhetorical but Sirius can't talk and Remus looks around before he untangles himself from Sirius and stands up to stretch.
"Not at all, I just realized that the train has started and I need to get going and meet with the rest of the prefects," He turns to Sirius before starting towards the door, "Will you be okay, Sirius? We can talk tonight if you need to." Sirius's eyes are wide and with Remus being solely focused on him, he doesn't see James' eyes narrow behind him.
Sirius shakes his head before he can finally find his voice, "Nah I'm good Moony, thank you though." Remus nods at his admission before turning back to James and the door. And maybe Sirius's eyes were playing tricks on him but the expression James wore now was carefree and playful, not the blank look and narrowed gaze he thought he saw. He should probably take a nap. That would help in avoiding Wormtail.
"Eh Moony, while you're in your meeting, give Evans my love." James winks at Remus and the werewolf can only smile.
"I think she knows, Prongs, but I'll see if she doesn't return to sender this time." James laughs at the reply and with that Moony was gone and it was him and James.
He feels those sharp eyes back on him but he's quick to look out the window and try to close his eyes again. Yep, he should take a nap, no need to talk to his dead best friend who he failed, and also failed his wife and child.
"Padfoot~" He hears the other coo at him as he moves to where Sirius is, taking up the seat Remus abandoned. He feels James' hand glide up his back and gasps at the sensation, still unwilling to open his eyes. "Why won't you look at me? I played so much Quidditch over break that I grew into my growth spurt. I won't look like a... what did you call it? Oh yeah, an 'overgrown uncoordinated gangly deer'." He continues to ignore James and all though he knew the other boy hated that with a vengeance, he was still hoping it worked in his favor.
There's only silence and for a moment Sirius can't believe his plan actually worked when he starts to feel James' hands go under his arm and tickle him.
Sirius jumps up and tries to get away from James but the younger male holds on and keeps tickling. "Oh my god! Stop!" He's finally able to push him away and moves to sit in the corner and glare at the other.
James' face shows no remorse and by the twinkle in his eye, he's seems satisfied by the turn of events.
Sirius rolls his eyes, "What's wrong with you? Were you dropped on your head?"
James shrugs and leans back and puts his hands behind his head. "I don't know maybe," He eyes Sirus up and down before speaking again, "What were you and Remus talking about?"
Sirius is still on the verge of bursting into tears after seeing Prongs again and simultaneously denying that any of this is even real and him believing that he's about to wake up in his cell. How do you tell someone that you saw their dead body, their child would end up orphaned and raised by uncaring muggles, you end up in jail for false charges because one of your closes friends betrays you for no reason, and you accomplished nothing in your life but surviving until being killed by your psychopathic cousin.
'Hey, James would you believe any of that and still appreciate me as your best friend?'
By 7th year, when James and Lily started dating he matured a lot by then but his temper was the only one to rival Sirius'. His anger was just icy compared to Sirius' fiery one.
"Padfoot." Sirius looks up to see James looking at him with an eyebrow raised. "Gonna answer my question?"
"...no?"
"No." The unimpressed look James gives him is something he was used to when someone told James no. Spoiled brat he was.
Sirius takes a deep breath and tries not to see the corpse that was his friend, and tried to put the alive version that is in front of him at this moment. "It's nothing you should worry about, Prongs, it's between me and Remus."
James stares at him unblinking, and if he wasn't already abused the majority of his childhood and had to deal with dementors for twelve years, it would have made him incredibly uncomfortable. But he's dead inside, so this doesn't bother him in the slightest.
James still keeps staring and he's not in the mood to talk long enough for Wormtail to come back so he speaks up, "So I'm gonna take a nap-"
"Why?" Prongs cut him off bluntly.
"Because I'm tired?" He replies slowly.
"And miss out on catching up with the rest of us." This sorta feels like an interrogation.
"I'm pretty sure all of you will be here tomorrow. Plus I need my rest for all the trouble I plan on causing this year." He pokes a freckle that's on James' neck, and finally, his best friend drops the intense aura that surrounds him and grins back at Sirius.
James leans in closer with a whisper, "Care to share?"
"Nope," He says, popping the 'p'. "It wouldn't be fun if I gave away all of my secrets." James chuckles and grabs his arm, pulling him over.
"Now, Padfoot be fair. How would Minnie feel if we started getting sloppy about the work we do."
"Oh please, everything I do is graceful, you're the sloppy one."
James shakes his head with a tsk, "I can assure you that I'm nothing but agile." They both laugh and Sirius looks out of the window as the train moves through the countryside. He tries to move away and back over until his corner but he's firmly held by Prongs, "What are you doing?"
"I told you I want to take a nap."
"Then use me as a pillow." He pushes Sirius' head down on his shoulder but he squirms away.
"No you're all lumpy, I wouldn't be comfortable."
"It's called muscle, Pads, plus you had no problem laying on Remus just a moment ago."
"He's not lumpy!"
"He's all bones! If you don't plan on using me as your pillow, are you gonna use Wormtail, he's nothing but squish." The thought of touching Pettigrew at all makes him sick, he cringes in response and James takes that to get Sirius back over to him, "I knew you would understand. You get your rest, Padfoot, and I'll tell you a bedtime story of the handsome King and his beautiful red-headed Queen."
Sirius snorts but gives up on getting away anymore. "Sure go ahead, but you better add in your loyal dog and all his amazing talents."
"Always! Now once upon a time, there was an incredibly handsome, powerful, and intelligent King named James."
Sirius falls asleep like that, listening to James' dumb story, letting the day's events finally catch up to him.