"This black cloak slithers across the ground, And takes away your breath, This black cloak creeps upon your bed, And takes you to your death...

A young woman was so deep in sleep, The perfect life to take, She never knew what would happen, Her great life was at stake...

If you were here maybe you could have heard, My muffled cries of my very last words, I cried for you but you never came, And now you are the one to blame..."

"ARGH!" Sirius shot up, covered in sweat. He had gone to bed early to prepare for his long day coming up, and had the strangest dream. "Dream..." he muttered to himself. He got out of bed clumsily and looked in the mirror at himself. His hair was wet with perspiration and his face was extremely flushed. "What the hell?"
Sirius spun around when he saw something behind him in the mirror. It was a translucent stream of silver floating in mid-air.
"Sirius..." a voice echoed. It sounded strangely like -
"Darlene?" Sirius questioned.
"Sirius... Please... help me..." Darlene's voice said. "It's a... a Living Shroud... I - please help!"
The colour that was briefly in Sirius's face had vanished at the mentioning of a Living Shroud. "A Lethifold?"
"Please help..."
"Yes," Sirius said as the mist began to fade, "I'm on my way!"
Sirius quickly grabbed his wand and leather jacket. He had no choice but to Apparate several streets away from Darlene's house, for barriers were set up around the Muggle apartments and flats. Then Sirius did something he hadn't done in a long time. He transformed into his Animagus for, the great black dog, and set off at a sprint. The dog ran as fast as he could down the street, ignoring everything around him.
"Dar?" Sirius called out as he burst into Darlene's house a few minutes later. The house was absolutely freezing and Sirius could see his breath forming in the air. No acknowledgement came from Darlene. "Darlene - where are you?"
Sirius heard a small whisper coming from the kitchen but he couldn't make it out; he drew out his wand and proceeded to the kitchen. It was completely dark, all except a small blue light that was coming from behind the counter. "Darlene?" Sirius spoke softly.
"Sirius?" came Darlene's panicked voice from behind the counter. Her breathing started to calm down. Sirius walked around the counter and kneeled next to Darlene.
"What happened?"
"I-I... I don't know... I woke up and - I couldn't breath... at all... I opened my eyes and it was completely black... I struggled a bit and that thing... it floated away... I still couldn't breath very well," Darlene explained, tears running down her cheeks. "It's still in here and I didn't know what to do. So I called for you."
"Okay. Give me your hand," Sirius said. He helped Darlene up and turned around. "Do you know where it got to?"
Darlene nodded. "Follow the cold... It's downstairs."
"Alright. Tell me if you see any sign of it. Follow close beside me," Sirius instructed. Darlene didn't need telling twice; she quickly grabbed Sirius's arm and moved in his footsteps.
"I haven't dealt with these before in person, so can you tell me if it makes any sound?"
"Very little sound," Darlene whispered. "Like the sound of wind, but minimized. Do you know what to do?"
"Yes, it's the Patronus Charm. I've used it before, don't worry," Sirius added. He had used the Patronus Charm many times before - he'd learnt it from Remus. "Where do you reckon?" Sirius whispered to Darlene. They had a choice of going in the bedroom or the bathroom. Darlene pointed to her room.
Sirius slowly pushed the door open, keeping his wand up and ready. Instantly, a rush of could air came from inside. Sirius felt Darlene shiver and tighten her grip on his arm.
"Wait out here, alright?" Sirius whispered.
"No - I... I'll come in with you," Darlene said. Sirius nodded and continued taking small steps into the bedroom. Darlene pointed to the other side of the bed. Sirius saw something move - something gliding across the ground.
It was like an inch-thick black cloak, slithering close to Sirius and Darlene. There was a sound like a gust of quick wind, and Sirius felt a cold like he never had before; he found breathing extremely hard, and he was afraid Darlene was cutting off the circulation in his arm. Sirius took a deep breath and spoke as loud as he could -
"EXPECTO PATRONUM!"
Something silvery shot out of Sirius's wand, taking shape and then dodging forward to charge the Lethifold down. Sirius's eyes grew wide as he noticed what shape the Patronus took; so did Darlene's.
Sirius couldn't take it any longer. The pressure was building up inside of him -
"What the fuck?"
"What's the matter?" Darlene asked.
"Was I seeing things - or... did you happen to catch what shape the Patronus took?"
"Yes, it was... a black lab," Darlene said. She finally let go of Sirius's arm and sat down on the bed. She put her face in her hands and took a few deep breaths. Sirius sat down next to her and put his arm around her shoulders.
"It's gone now... You'll be fine. Are you okay?" he asked.
"I... I just..." Darlene started.
"Stupid question - are you hurt?"
"No - just a little winded," Darlene answered.
"So... you're sure it was a black lab?"
Darlene nodded. "Why?"
"That's not what it was a few years ago," Sirius said. He decided to explain further. "Remus taught us how at the end of sixth year. I don't remember the Patronus he had, but mine was a stag - because of James's Animagus. I don't know why or how it changed, but it must have been recently."
Darlene looked up at Sirius, tears forming in the corners of her eyes.
"Enough about that. You should get some sleep - "
"I can't!" Darlene said. "Not alone," she added quietly.
"Er," Sirius said, checking his watch, "I can stay here - if you'd like."
Darlene nodded but sat completely still. "Sirius?" she whispered a few moments later.
"Yes?"
Darlene took a deep breath. "I'm an Animagus."
"You're - what?"
Darlene nodded again but didn't look up.
"Since when - and what are you?" Sirius asked, clearly shocked.
"Since I was about sixteen. Krys offered to teach me... and... I'm a dog... a black lab."
Sirius felt his heart begin to beat faster and his face flush. "You're - that was your - your Animagus form?" he stuttered.
Darlene nodded. "Sirius... I - I need to ask you, and I hope you'll understand... But - Sirius, do you still-"
Sirius quickly held up her hand to stop Darlene. He nodded in answer.
Darlene's face changed from a somber expression to a look that clearly stated she was going to burst out in tears in seconds.
"This doesn't mean anything, okay?" Sirius whispered finally. "Nothing has to change -"
"But -"
"But nothing!" Sirius said more firmly. "I don't want to try and force you to have these stupid feelings -"
It was Darlene's turn to shut Sirius up this time. Quicker than a wink she had turn and locked her arms around Sirius in an affectionate hug. Sirius was so shocked by the gesture that he jumped, but he relaxed into the hug and returned it.

***

Sirius woke up from what seemed to be the best sleep in his life - Darlene was still in his arms. But something was in the back of his head that shot off like an alarm. He was going to the cocktail party in - Sirius glanced at the clock on the wall - no less than three hours. Plus, Isabelle would throw a fit if Sirius were late.
As much as he would have loved to stay, Sirius started to get up, waking Darlene up at the same time.
"Going to work?" she whispered groggily.
Sirius nodded. "Yeah, I've got to do something pretty important soon."
"Thank you, Sirius," Darlene said. "Thank you for helping me and staying here."
"What would I have done? I wouldn't just leave you like that," Sirius smiled. "I don't know exactly how to say this, but... I want to be with you again."
Darlene thought before she answered. "You know I don't want to be caught in another schmuk of a relationship again."
"Define schmuk!" Sirius snapped.
"You know exactly what I mean! I don't want to have to worry over whether or not you've changed, Sirius! I want to trust you, but you haven't... You haven't changed."
"Well right you are, love! I haven't changed! Not a lick!" Sirius said sarcastically. "Which is exactly why I haven't gotten over you! If I haven't changed, then why can't I stop thinking about you? Why am I still in love with you?"
"I don't want to fight over this -"
"You don't have to," Sirius said. He turned and headed for the door. "I have to go to work now - I'll talk to you tomorrow."

***

{Author's Note: Now, the poem for Sirius's dream is a collaboration between Diondra, again, and my other friend, Alexis. I couldn't have had the same effect without either of their work in here, so I wanna thank 'em. I love you two!}