Chapter Ten:
They sat and drank their tea silently until Molly finally gathered the nerve to speak. "Why was he screaming?" She asked, unable to get the image of the normally calm, reserved man lying on the floor, helpless.
Sirius laughed, a laugh entirely without amusement. "Do you think it's pleasant to change from a man to a wolf?" He asked bitterly.
"But when you-" He cut her off.
"When I change from human to dog, it's different. I change of my own free will, if nothing else. Not to mention there would probably be even fewer animagi running around if it were immensely painful."
"Does it help for you to be with him?" She asked, wondering what significance her actions held for the man upstairs.
Sirius didn't answer her for several minutes, didn't meet her eyes. When he looked up, they were haunted, but without the deadened look that usually accompanied it. Instead was sadness, frustration, and worry. "Yes." He finally answered. "It helps."
"How?"
Sirius hesitated. "It keeps him…" he trailed off, as if searching for the right word, "calmer. It keeps him from being as hurt." The last part came out in a mumble, she almost didn't catch it.
"What do you mean?" She asked.
"You'll see." He grimly replied.