HP Drabble Series # 10
I discovered the joys of drabbling recently and decided to put them up here for posterity.
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and associated shenanigans are the undisputed property of Warner Bros., JKR and any number of other legal people involved with the whole kit 'n' kaboodle. These stories are non-profit making and are written for fun. No infringement...blah blah blah.
#10 - Prompt Portrait. Word count 298
All was quiet.
This was unusual these days. If the portrait of his mother wasn't screaming bloody murder downstairs, the rest of the Order were here making the sting of his enforced solitude worse.
Sirius prowled the hallways, alone. In one hand he held a bottle of Firewhisky from which he took the occasional swig. From the way he was staggering and occasionally walking into a wall, it was clear that he taken many swigs already. Probably too many swigs.
Not that he cared.
"That stuff will kill you, eventually," came a mild voice.
"Something's got to kill me, so it might as well be something pleasurable." Sirius scowled and turned to face the wall. "Did you mistake me for someone who cares?"
"I used to drink Firewhisky," said the portrait of Phineas Nigellus, almost wistfully. "Gave me terrible gas as I recall."
Sirius tipped his head on one side and studied his ancestor closely. Phineas had been absent for the past day or two, undoubtedly enjoying himself at another haunt – maybe even Dumbledore's office.
Dumbledore's office.
Jealousy flared.
"Must be nice to flit between portraits like you do, to have that ability to oversee things even when you're dead."
"There's nothing to be jealous of, Sirius," came the reply. "You're still alive."
"Maybe I don't want to be anymore. Maybe it'd be easier to be like you."
"Be careful what you wish for, Sirius. Often times it can come true."
"Nah, I'm going to live forever," said Sirius, raising the bottle of Firewhisky in toast to Phineas. "Just to annoy people."
Phineas gave him a sad smile. "Do you know, if anybody could achieve that, Sirius Black, it'd be you."
And he was gone again, leaving Sirius alone with nothing but dark thoughts and Firewhisky for company.