A cloacked figured walkeddown Knockturn Alley, his boots splashing in the puddles. His black cloak billowed out behind him. He could smell the pungent odor of rats lurking in the shadows. The man coould also feel the dampnees seeping into his bones. He flinched a little when a beggar jumped out of the shadows. He glared at her with harsh eyes. The woman slunk back into the shadows. Who wouldn't be afraid of this man? He was about 5'10" and scraggly looking. His clothes were a bit tattered and he hadn't shaven in quite a while. The hood of the cloak hid his face in a shadow.

When get got to the bar, it was finally raining. It was dripping off his cloak and he smiled, remembering the charm he put on it before he left his shack in the forest. He opened the tin door tothe bar. This small bar was just barely bigger than his house. If you could even call it a house. He had found it one day while he was walking through the forest. He fixed it up and called it home. He looked up at the dark grey sky before entering. He stepped in and everyone stared at him. It even took the bartender a minute to recognize him. Then he put his hood down. "Can it be you Sirius?" The bartender murmured. "Yes. Long story, faked death and all." He said, chuckling. He turned to his right and hung up his cloak.

A few other regulars, the only ones who inhabited this old bar anymore murmured some "Hello's." Sirius was relieved when he found a butter beerat his old spot at the bar. He sighed when he sat down on the old bar stool. Worn down with many years of use and patching on the leather seat. He gripped his mug and took a long gulp of the thick, butter liquid. He set itdown with a thud on the bar. "It has been too long." he said out loud although he said it more to himself.

A couple hours later, he was still clutching his half mug of butter beer. he coujldn't muster up the energy to bring the glass mug to his lips. Sirius stared blankly into the golden liquid. He though he should probably visit harry considering he thought him to be dead. Depsite his appearance, Sirius hated to be alone. He was alone most of the time because he had to not because he wanted to.

It seemed everytime he got close to someone, they were put in danger, or he had to leave them. Same with Harry. He had promised Lilly and James that he would take care of the boy when they had made him godfather. Well, it's not like I can make a difference, after all, the boy did defeat Voldemort. Sirius thought to himself. He smiled at the memory. The bartended had to do a double-take at his smile. Sirius, who was now in a happy mood, gulped down the rest of his butter beer. He slapped some money down on the bar, nodded goodbye, grabbed his cloak, and headed back to his shack.

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Sirius had a peaceful slumber that night. He awoke and grumbled as he slid out from underneath his warm blanket. He walked over to the corner and pulled a bowl of cold stew from the make-shift cabinet. It had been cold enough where the meat didnt' spoil. There was a hole in the roof big enough to have a fire inside. Sirius started a small one and put the bowl next to it when he heard a knock at the door. Dozens of thoughts raced through his head while on his way to the door. He hesitated before opening it. He was surprised at who he found standing in front of it. It was a woman, with dark brown hair, and dark green eyes. She was about 5'4" and was of slim build. Her hair was pulled back into a bun. "Hello. Do you live here?" She asked curiously. "Yes. I do. I would invite you in, but it's rather small." Sirius replied. He had to admit, she was good-looking. Then he noticed the emblem on her sweater. The Ministry of Magic. He silently cursed to himself. They had released him from Azkaban, after realizing he was truly innocent, and the fact he had excaped and they knew they were never going to get him back behind those horrible walls.

"It's no problem. A few...lycans...saw smoke coming from this house and they wanted someone to check it out." She said smiling. Then she realized who exactly she was talking to. She froze, almost paralyzed. She knew there wasn't any reason to be scared, she was the top girl in her class, back when she was at Ministry had given her a student position at the building, hoping she would work there full time after she graduated, which she had accepted without hesitation. Now she was happily employed, and farther up the ladder than when she started. Sirius realized this face, he had seen dozens like it. "You just realized I'm Sirius Black. Didn't you?" He asked rather politely. "Yes, I did. It's just that I didn't imagine you would be here, considering everyone thinks you're...well...dead." The woman said rather bluntly. Even she was surprised at her tone of voice. "Yes. Sometimes it's hard to remember people think you're dead. I know you work for the Ministry and all, but you can't tell anyone." Sirius said, knowing more than likely, she would blab to someone.

"You have my word. And by the way, I'm Sephora." She said smiling. She would never go back on her word, even if it was something as serious as this. (No pun intended). Even if she were to tell the Ministry, no one would believe her. Who would think the Serius Black was alive? His cousin Bellatrix had killed him! She had vicioiusly turned on him, but obviously it was a plot. Sirius had explained to her what his plan was. Even though she hated him, he was family, and she promised him she could be trusted, but she would do nothing for him again. They had both accepted the terms and hatched a plot. It worked like a charm...obviously. And it went all accoording to plan. Sirius remembered that before they left, they both exchanged vicious words and went their seperate ways. But even he was touched that his cousin would do something nice, and it had to be the only time in her life where she did something for someone else. "Nice to meet you Sephora. Now I know your name incase you tell." Sirius said playfully, not meaning anything by it. He knew that she meant what she said. And besides, she didn't look like the type of girl to go back on her word.

Sephora smiled. She had never seen him up close before. Only pictures of him in the "Daily Prophet." He was rather attractive, but she pushed the thought from her head. He was criminal. Technicaly, he was proven innocent, after he escaped nontheless, but he was still innocent to her. Sephora wasn't placed on the case, which eventually went beyond the Ministry of Magic. "If you want to go out to eat, we can. Considering your food is on fire." Sephora said laughing. Sirius's expression changed, then he smiled and ran into the shack. He took a bucket of water and poured it on the fire, and bowl. He walked back to Sephora, still standing in the doorway. "Umm...yes. I think that would be a good idea." Sirius said smiling and he shut the door behind him. He didn't tell her that his animagus is a wolf...and he could hunt, but he wanted to talk to her some more and get to know her. She didn't look scared of him, but he really wanted to prove to her that there was nothing to fear about him.