He Lives Inside You

Moony

JK's

Harry sat high in the tree. He was missing potions class. But he didn't care. Nothing mattered anymore. Who cared if he lost the house cup? Who cared if he earned a detention? Who cared if the Gryffindor Quidditch team lost? Life wasn't good anymore. He had no family. Sirius was gone. Who else did he have? It wasn't fair. Why Sirius? So many people out there in the world to take, but no, they decided it had to be Sirius. Why not Pettigrew? Or Voldemort? Bellatrix or Malfoy? Why Sirius? And why, why didn't he open the gift? It would have solved everything! And Sirius would be alive. Bitter tears tried to creep out of Harry's eyes, but he forced them back. It was his fault. All his stupid fault. As students swept out of the grounds, he could tell class was over. He could hear Hermione and Ron calling his name. But he did not reply. He didn't need Hermione and Ron trying to get him to play Exploding Snap or chess or try to make him 'feel better'. He needed to be alone. All summer, Ron had been trying to cheer him up – and Hermione. He leaned back into the rough branch of the tree and stared at the sky. His eyes glazed. He tried to think about when Sirius had offered a home with him. Thought about how he had fended off all the dementors. And when he had talked to him through the fire how they had written all through the 4th year summer. He thought about when he came to see him fly. Harry tried to keep his mind on good thoughts of Sirius, but the events of Sirius falling behind the veil crept silently in.

Harry saw clearly in his mind, Bellatrix and Sirius, still dueling, though everyone had stopped. Sirius ducked a jet of red light. He laughed at her, "Come on, you can do better than that!" he had yelled. But the second jet hit him in squarely in the chest. His laughter had not gone, but his eyes had widened in shock. Harry released Neville and had ran down the stairs. It seemed to take Sirius an age to fall. Harry remembered the look of fear and surprise on his face as he fell through the doorway and disappeared behind the veil.

"No!" Harry cried and drove the memory out of his mind.

He felt like smashing glass. It wasn't fair! It just wasn't! How could he disappoint him? How could he just go and leave him to suffer like this? Harry didn't want to be alive anymore. Not if Sirius wasn't going to be alive with him. And suddenly he heard a bark.

It was oddly familiar.

Harry turned around, expecting a stray dog, but he did not see of the such. He saw a black shaggy dog... and it looked just like the one he had seen on Magnolia Crescent... could it be?

"Sirius?" Harry whispered faintly.

The dog jumped and seemed to land in the tree. Harry reached his shaking hand out to touch him, but it only leaped straight at Harry, as though attacking him. But Harry did not move, or protect himself. For some odd reason, he didn't feel he needed to, didn't feel afraid. The dog dissolved as soon as he had hit Harry's chest. A warm feeling spread through his blood. Harry could've sworn he heard a whisper come from inside him, "I'm still here, Harry. I'm still here. I'm always alive inside you. Just like Prongs is."

Harry's ears finally heard Ron and Hermione's cries. He smiled softly and then climbed down the trees to rejoin them.

In Memory of Sirius Black - you will always be our Snuffles