Disclaimer – yes, J.K. Rowling still owns us all. Wait, - no -, she owns Harry Potter, which resulted in owning us all.

- Azkaban -

Sirius had now been 'living' in Azkaban a couple of days and he couldn't decide whether it was night or day anymore. Only when the moon shone down through the giant thunderclouds, he knew that it was night. Or was it? Sirius shook his head. He was getting confused, and it didn't help that the others were yelling in their sleep. The screams were roaring in his ears. He'd almost gotten used to it. He noticed that there were more Dementors in front of his cell, than in front of the others. People probably thought that he was dangerous. He sighed. He wondered what Remus thought. Albus? Alastor Moody probably thought the same at everybody else. Or else he was in doubt. As always... Sirius sat on his one bench and held his fingertips to his temples. He saw absolutely no ways of escape in this place. He was simply lacking power. And what would he do when he got away?

Everybody thought he was a murderer. So it wouldn't matter, he'd be behind bars in no time anyway. He sighed. This was all Peter's fault. And while Sirius sat here, Peter was probably half way across the world. Suddenly, Sirius heard the slam of a door. He didn't want to look up. He heard steps moving towards him across the halfway. Then, they suddenly stopped.

"Oh, Sirius..." said a sad voice. Sirius´ flew up and turned to look. He noticed a dark figure on the other side of the bars.

"V-Véronique?" His eyes opened in shock and slowly shook his head. The figure looked down. Sirius breathed heavily and walked towards the bars and stared out through them. "It is you..."

Véronique looked at Sirius.

"How could you?" she asked. Sirius gripped the bars and moved his head as far towards her. He said nothing. She pulled back. "You promised. You said you... you would never..." She was wearing a long, black cape with a hood over her head, and you could only see her blue eyes shine through the darkness.

"Véronique... you know I'd never betray James and Lily."

She sobbed and slowly looked at him. "I don't know what to believe anymore."

Sirius looked down. "So... you don't believe me?"

V. turned her head away. "Sirius, so many people saw it. They heard Peter... -"

"Peter lied. He's not dead!" Sirius looked up again. "He's out there! He gave James and Lily to Voldemort""

"Sirius, how can you prove that? There was only his finger left. A finger! How could he have survived?"

"He cut it off!" V. turned away from him again, and with that motion, her hood fell off. Under her eyes were thin scars, from the tears she'd been crying.

"We could keep going on like this."

He shook his head. "No, V., if you'd just believe...-"

"Sirius, I've believed you for SO LONG! You haven't said a word to me. You've been so distant." He moved towards him. "I-I don't think I can do this anymore."

He looked down and closed his eyes. They were silent for a long time. You could hear the gasping breath from the Dementors. "What do you see when they get too close?" Sirius finally said.

"You... Always you..." She stopped. "Sirius. I need to t-...-" she started, but he cut her off.

"I'm your worst memories?".

V. fell silent. She thought about it. "No... no. The thought of you. It ruins me. Devours me. I mis-... I can't bare it, Sirius!"

Sirius could hear her move. He opened his eyes, and looked at her through the bars. He could almost feel her. All he had to do was reach out. If only. "Véronique... I see you. But it's all the times you... all the times you've left me... when you laid there half dead in that water..." he reached out through the bars and stroked his hand over her cheek.

"Sirius..." V. started to cry and stepped away. "H-how can I trust you again?"

Sirius withdrew his hand. "I've heard rumours. Rumours from the outside. That you think I'm not affected by the Dementors." He clenched his hand. "You all think I'm mad." He started shaking. Sirius forced himself to open his eyes at looked at V. "Don't you think, I'm affected by all of their screaming? The Muggles, them in here," Sirius pointed a shaking finger to his temple "... inside my head." Sirius grabbed onto his bars. "I can't take it anymore V. ... I want to die... No one believes me..." V. looked into his desperate eyes.

She thinks I've gone mad, thought Sirius. I think I will soon. He shivered. She backed away from him and shook her head, while her eyes shone from tears. Quickly she pulled the hood back on and walked towards the exit.

"NO! Véronique!" Sirius reached his hand out through the bars after V. He breathed in little gasps. "No..." She stopped in the door and turned around. Sirius saw the shimmer of a tear in the moonlight that shone through the doorway. A small scar followed the teardrop. She turned around once more, and walked away.

Sirius didn't move. He said nothing. He could no longer hear her steps. He fell to his knees, completely broken. Empty. He lowered his head.

"I don't want to live anymore." He gasped for breath. "No more... "