made our world worse. More people could have died, more could have suffered. Harry
could have died."
That struck something inside of him, and Sirius looked into Remus's eyes and slowly
nodded. "Harry's alive. I love her, then," he decided aloud, as though he even had a choice
in the matter.
Sirius knew his heart had decided long ago that Mia was his everything; even at her
worst, he loved her unconditionally. This was apparently her worst.
Remus moved to stand. "We should get some sleep."
"Stay out here with me, Moony," Sirius insisted.
Remus stretched his arms over his head. "I'll set up the spare room tomorrow. We
can stay here for a few days, but then we should probably leave. At least until the Ministry
stops looking for you. I know of a few of the Order's old safe houses that Dumbledore
had me stay in when I was working with the werewolf packs. We can move between them
for the time being. If you want, you can sleep in my room tonight."
"I can't do that, Moony."
"Pads, I insist. After everything you've been through, I can give up my bed for
tonight."
"No." Sirius looked up at his friend and smirked. "I mean, neither of us can use
your bed tonight. I stuck a hippogriff in there before you got home."
June 11th, 1994When the water poured out of the shower head and hit his hand, Sirius flinched at
the cold temperature that reminded him too quickly of the long swim through the North
Sea after escaping Azkaban almost a year ago. Merlin, had it really almost been a year? A
year of running, hiding, and being scared? Twelve years in prison and another waiting...
waiting for vengeance. A need for vengeance that had yet to be satisfied.
When the water turned hot, he breathed in the steam as though it was rising off of
a freshly baked treacle tart. Slowly, he stripped the filthy grey prison robes from his body,
kicking them into a pile in the corner of the bathroom.