the_debt_of_time

dead person to come up on him from behind. He slowly and deliberately asked, "When we
escorted Harry Potter to King's Cross, what were his last words to you before we left you
behind at Grimmauld Place?"
"Trick question! I came with you, and you were really bent out of shape about it."
Sirius smiled smugly, rocking back and forth on the heels of his black, pointed-toe boots.
"For no good reason, might I add. I played obedient lap dog quite well."
Several members in the room chuckled at the joke.
"Fine, fine," Moody growled, looking Sirius over intently. Though he refrained from
casting hexes, his wand was still in hand, moving over Sirius like a Muggle metal detector,
presumably searching for Dark Magic. "Now answer Arthur's first question. How the hell
are you alive, Black?"
"Magic?" Sirius offered with a wink.
"Sirius, you're pushing it." Remus cautioned his friend.
"Well, what the hell am I supposed to say? I woke up on your bloody sofa not
knowing where the hell I was or why your new wife wouldn't give me a proper drink!"
Sirius's focus moved to his cousin, but his stare was quickly transferred to Hermione, who
was still unconsciously clinging to Tonks's robes.
The charming smile he gave her made her feel as though the entire room suddenly
revolved around her. Her cheeks warmed over, and they must have turned pink because
his smile turned into an amused grin.
"You mean you don't know how or why you're alive?" Mrs Weasley stepped
forward, blocking Sirius's line of sight. "Were you even really dead? Where have you been?"
"Yes, really dead. Don't know where I was." Sirius leant in to give Mrs Weasley a
quick kiss on the cheek. "You're as temperamental as ever, Molly. Lovely to see you."
"Sirius Black," she hissed through clenched teeth, "you cannot just Floo into my
house after being dead for over a year and expect to go on like nothing happened! This is
serious!" she shouted and then pointed a finger in his face as she caught him about to
speak. "Don't you dare say it!"
Sirius smirked, bouncing on the balls of his feet, clearly having far too much fun
wreaking havoc on Mrs Weasley's nerves.