A/N: Probably the shortest thing I have ever written ever. Weird. Anyway, this is my entry for the Acid Pops: "They burn wholes straight through your tongue. So it's like you're missing a part of this challenge is to write about someone that missing a part of them. Like another person, not an actual part. Like Fred missing George, or a friend missing a friend, or a lover missing another lover." category for owluvr's Honeydukes Competition. Enjoy!
Proud
Sirius! Sirius! SIRIUS!
Harry's own cries woke him, and he shot up from his bed, only to curse when he nearly fell to the ground, hitting his knee on the edge of his bed.
Stifling curses, Harry retrieved his glasses from his bedside table and shoved them roughly onto his face. He glared at the clock, which read half six, and reluctantly pulled on his trainers and uniform, yawning and rubbing his eyes periodically as he did so.
Steadying himself as he tripped over the last step leading to the common room, Harry made his way over to one of the squashy armchairs around the extinct fire. He sank into it and dropped his head into his hands, grinding the heels of his hands against his closed eyelids.
He groaned, twisting his fingers in and through his hair, wishing that he could have avoided a nightmare-filled night just once.
Cackling laughter filled his ears and he clamped his hands around them, trying to dispel the ghosts of his memories. Tears of frustration leaked from his eyes, anger and despair pouring out of him.
He thought of the last hug he had gotten from his godfather, as he had left Grimmauld Place to return to Hogwarts after the Christmas holidays. Strong arms holding him close, as he had never felt before. The smell of wet dog that comforted and soothed. Warmth that relaxed and consoled, no matter how terrible he felt.
And Harry wept, pulling his limbs into his chest as he curled into the soft cushions of the chair. But soon the tears turned to sobs, desperate and broken. His only father figure – the one person he had thought was a constant, someone to keep him grounded in his chaotic and just plain messed-up life.
Yet, Sirius was gone, leaving nothing more but a hole, a space that could never be filled again. It was one of those times where the thing that had been broken wasn't just torn in two, but shattered beyond repair, beyond anyone's ability to fix. Sirius had been the one who stood by him, who never doubted him, who truly and deeply loved and cared for him, who always did everything he could to be there for him, to lift him up.
And he was gone, gone forever.
The sun peeked over the horizon, casting bright rays of light into the common room.
But what was another day without Sirius? It was almost an abomination, a scandal for the world to continue, when Padfoot the ever-present joker and father-figure was missing from the picture.
Footsteps could be heard from up above his head and Harry reluctantly uncurled from the tight ball he had formed. Shivering at the loss of warmth, he stood up and dusted off his robes, attempted and failed to flatten his hair, wiped away the last remnants of tears with his sleeve and, taking a deep breath, exited the portrait hole to go down to the Great Hall for breakfast as the first of his classmates came down the stairs and into the common room.
He was still determined to live on, to make Sirius proud.
Harry almost teared up again at the thought of him, but swallowed back his tears and held his head high.
He would make his godfather proud.
fin