The Boys Return Home.
One the morning of the 19th June Sirius was awoken by a cool breeze across his face.
"Evan! Will you just leave me alone?" he shouted, throwing one of his pillows across the room and trying to settle down again.
"Sorry," came a small voice and he heard someone leaving the room.
"Christine?" He slowly opened his eyes and saw Christine stood in the doorway.
"The boys will be here soon."
"Oh…"
Christine turned to leave but then returned to the doorway, "What am I going to say to them?"
Sirius gradually sat up in bed, pulling the blanket up over his bare chest. "The truth, I suppose."
"How do you think they will take it?"
Sirius smiled, "You know them better than I do."
"But what was it like for you?"
"A shock- I never thought… well at least they know that they have to have a father… somewhere and an uncle isn't too shocking, I suppose."
"I guess."
"How are we going to do this? Am I going to meet them first or are you going to explain…?"
"I don't know… Will you explain with me?"
"What if they recognise me?"
Christine shook her head and went to sit on the end of Sirius' bed. "This is so difficult. Do you think we are doing the right thing?"
"Well it's a bit late to back out now. What have you told them before?"
"I told them he was dead."
"Right… "
"Do you think it's going to be all right?"
"I need to get dressed."
"Yes... I'll go and prepare lunch."
A wave of something very much like panic seemed to wash over Sirius. He couldn't quite understand it. He quickly forced himself to get dressed. Christine had told him to use Evan's robes and to ignore the ghost's protests. Sirius picked out some blue robes and threw them on, running his fingers through his hair.
What was he going to say to the boys? What if they didn't believe that he was innocent? What if they didn't like him? A million questions ran through his mind and all he could do was wish that someone else- anyone else was here to help him. If only he could talk to Remus about this he would know what to do… maybe he could floo him…
But at that moment there was a distinct whooshing sound from outside and the sound of two teenage boys calling to their mother.
What should he do? Christine had told him that she wanted him there… maybe he should go through to see them?
Slowly and very quietly Sirius crept through the house until he could see Christine and her sons just inside the kitchen. Caster was talking excitedly about something to Christine while Leo sneaked food from the table. Sirius gradually inched forward, hoping that Christine would call for him or shoo him back to his room- just something so he knew what he should do.
"What's he doing here?" Leo was pointing towards him with a look of alarm. "Mum, Sirius Black is in our house-" Leo quickly drew his wand
Caster turned and knocked one of the plates onto the floor, smashing it. Christine quickly went to the doorway and stood in front of Sirius blocking him from any spells Leo might cast.
"Now boys, I need you to listen. We are in no danger. Sirius is a guest here."
"He's a murderer!" Leo went forward and tried to push pass Christine to get to Sirius.
"No, you must listen to me, please… "
"What has he done to you?" Leo demanded still trying to pass his mother.
"Nothing, Leo, please… "
Leo overpowered his mother and stepped up to Sirius who stood completely still. There was nothing he could do to defend himself. He wasn't about to fight his own son… he tried not to show the adrenaline that gripped him.
"Incarcerous!" ropes sprung from Leo's wand and firmly bound Sirius. "We need to hand him in to the ministry- they need to give him the Dementor's kiss…"
Sirius couldn't help but let out a small moan.
"No, Leo, listen- you can't."
"But-"
"He's your father."
There was another crash as Caster knocked another plate onto the floor. Leo slowly lowered his wand, eyeing Sirius suspiciously.
"You said he was dead."
"I know but-"
"You are a Death Eater!" Caster exclaimed, he looked as though he might cry.
"No… I… if I can just explain…" Sirius began.
"But even if he is our father, he murdered thirteen people" Leo said reasonably.
"With a single curse!" Caster added.
"I'm innocent- if you just let me explain."
"This better be good and I won't be untying you"
"That's all right, as long as you let me explain before you do something you might regret."
And so once again Sirius was forced to tell his story. He couldn't help but think of Harry and wish that Remus could have been there to explain it with him but he muddled through as best as he could, sometimes having to go back and fill in missed sections all the time remembering that there was no actual proof that he could offer them and without proof it seemed unlikely that they would believe him. Still he went on, looking round for a way of possibly escaping should the situation turn nasty.