The black dog is always at the foot of his bed.

From four in the afternoon till six in the morning, he's there.

He won't bring Severus' homework, the bastard, but he'll talk to him.

Sometimes he brings Remus.

And Remus brings him up to date on their progress in class.

James came once.

Only when Sirius had gotten in trouble for oversleeping.

It was quiet that time and he let Severus sleep.

The two weeks were a long messy blur in his mind, only semi-conscious for most of it.

But afterwards when he goes to sleep, he can still feel the warmth at his feet or the hand in his.