54 My How The Time Has Flown

Sirius set out for the first time in days. He'd barely glanced in the mirror, not bothering to change out of his rumpled robes or comb his hair.

It had been six months since he'd seen her, since he'd talked to her, since she'd left with only a note in her stead.

Goodbye.

That had been all she'd written, one word in shaky handwriting, one word on top of the stacks of letters he'd written to her, letters he'd taken after she had forgotten, letters she'd found in his trunk and opened for the very first time.

He pushed the thought from his mind and stalked down to Diagon Alley, which was a short walk from his flat. And it was a good thing too or he wouldn't bother.

He ignored Tom the barman's greeting as he strode through the Leaky Cauldron to the back of the pub, tapping the brick with perhaps a bit too much force. His wand spit a cloud of angry red sparks.

He passed by Flourish and Blotts with barely a second glance, but that was all it took.

He could still recognize her, even the back of her from this distance.

She was stepping out from the little shop, her nose buried in a book, much like it had been for the entirety of seventh year. She was pale, as if what little color of her alabaster skin had been leeched out. Even from here he could see the dark shadows under her eyes.

The wind spun her long violet cloak and whipped her hair around her face. It was darker now he thought, much closer to black than the chestnut he'd grown accustomed to.

It was as if he'd seen a ghost.

He quickened his pace, even though he knew he should just turn and walk the other way, that there was no reason she would want to see him, much less talk to him. If it even was her.

Which it wasn't. it couldn't be. She was dead. He knew that, he'd seen her apartment, seen the blood and the turned over furniture.

Still he cleared his throat as he came up behind her, the girl who looked so like Vienna, like a living shadow of the girl he had loved, but the words stuck in his throat. He raised a tentative hand and tapped her shoulder.

She whirled around, dropping the book she held and reaching, he was sure, for her wand.

It was Vienna. Vienna Alden who he loved, who he'd betrayed, who was dead. And yet here she stood in front of him, staring with shock filled blue eyes, her lips in a perfect O.

Her hand fell as she recognized him and moved to tug her cloak around herself, but his eyes had already found what she didn't want him to see.

She was pregnant.

She just stared at him like he was a ghost. Like he was the one who'd been missing with nothing but a pool of blood left in his wake. He reached down to pick up her book, eager to hide the anger welling up inside of him. He brushed the dirt from the cover, tracing the title with his eyes.

The Smart Sorceress's Guide to Single Motherhood.

He handed it to her and she took it numbly, still staring at him in shock.

"Who's the father?" he blurted, only half wanting to hear the name of the man who'd gotten her pregnant. Who'd obviously left her, alone and helpless to raise a child at eighteen.

Her lips moved, but no sound came out.

He turned. He didn't want to hear his name on her lips, someone who wouldn't even stay for her, someone who didn't realize what he'd thrown away, someone who didn't know how much she was worth.

Because he certainly did.

He wouldn't have left her, would have stood by her, been happy to.

She called his name but he didn't turn. He wouldn't turn, not for that, not for her to rip out the last tiny shards of his heart.

He walked faster, his hands balling up into fists.

"SIRIUS!" she screamed, and caught him by the sleeve. He turned abruptly and she took a step backwards. He was surprised to see her face streaming with tears.

"What do you want?" he said harshly, and she recoiled. He hated himself for the pain he was causing her but couldn't help it.

"Sirius, just, just wait. Please?" she said almost inaudibly. Her voice cracked as she spoke, a fresh wave of tears spilling over her cheeks.

It was almost surreal to see her like this, a girl whom he was so used to handling her emotions with fighting or sarcasm. It was like she was broken.

He stared resentfully at her, waiting for her to say the words that would shatter his heart.

"I-"

"Oh, who was it already? Just tell me what asshole did it so I can go and get on with it in peace!" he practically shouted. He wanted to shake her, to make her see the enormity of her mistake, to see that even he, whom she must hate, would've been better.

She burst into hysterical sobs. He felt the hot guilt fill him. All he wanted to do was hold her, but that would only make it worse.

"I'm so sorry Vi," he said, his voice breaking. "For everything."

He turned away, his feet like lead.

"Sirius," she called once more in barely a whisper. He didn't, wouldn't turn, this time, would just keep walking. "It's yours." the last was just a breath, but his ears picked it up as if they'd been waiting to hear it. Maybe they had. He turned just in time to see her tear streaked face once more before she turned on her heel and dissaperated.

Hey everyone! So here's another chapter. Dun Dun DUUUUUH. So you guys definitely should leave you thoughts and comments. What do you think will happen next? What will happen to the baby? What do you think its name might be? Please review!