Disclaimer: I am not James Luceno or J.K. Rowling.
A year following his devastating duel against Snape, Sirius Black―now publicly known as Grim―sits in a pub while keeping a close yet clandestine eye on Vernon and Petunia Dursley and their infant nephew Harry Potter.
Tom. Another glass, stranger?
Sirius. What will it cost me?
Tom. Ten Galleons for refills.
Sirius. That's as much as a shot of one of your imported brandies.
Tom. The price of staying hydrated on Surrey, my friend. Yes or no?
Sirius. [nods] Fill it.
His drink refilled, Sirius sits in melancholy silence as he contemplates the events which transpired which led him to this moment.
[aside] Long ago, I told James that I could think of far worse places to live than Surrey, and I still feel that way. I take in stride the ubiquitous sand that so rankled James. Surrey's double-sunset skies are always a marvel to behold . . . and the isolation suits me. All the more because James was subverted by Riddle and, for a brief time, served this new Dark Lord. Given everything that has happened since, the one image I know I will never be able to erase from my memory is that of James —Severus Snape, as Voldemort dubbed him — kneeling in allegiance to the Dark Lord, after having gone on a murderous spree in Hogwarts Castle. If there is a second image, it is of James burning on the shore of one of Fiendfyre's lava flows, cursing him. Was I wrong to let James die there? Could he have been redeemed, as Lily believed to the last? These are questions that plague me, and pain me more deeply than he would ever have think possible. And now, all these months later, here I am on Surrey, James's home region, watching over James's infant son, Harry . . . my reason for living.
Sirius is then torn from his reverie due to report over the Wizarding Wireless Network . . . a report concerning Aurors.
[to a nearby man] What was she saying?
Man. Band of Aurors were killed on Minsk.
Sirius squeezes his eyes shut in dismay as he listens to the WWNN describe the imprisonment and enslavement of the half-giants and the slaughter of many Aurors, including Johan Hoffman.
Sirius. [aside] Albus and I recalibrated the castle beacon to warn surviving Aurors away from London. What could they have been thinking, banding together like that, drawing attention to themselves instead of going to ground as they were ordered to do? Did they think they could gather enough strength to go after Riddle? [sighs] Of course they did. They didn't realized that Riddle manipulated the war; that a Death Eater occupied the throne; that like everyone else, the Aurors failed to grasp a truth that should have been evident years earlier: the Ministry had never been worth fighting for.
It is then that the identity of the Dark Lord's executioner is revealed: Severus Snape.
Sirius whirls on the man beside him.
[to the man] What did she say? Who is that?
Man. Lord Snape.
Sirius. [shakes his head] No, that's not possible.
Man. You didn't ask if I thought it was possible, sand man. You asked me what she said.
Sirius stands up in a daze. The man beside him rises as well, looking concerned.
Hey, take it easy, friend.
Sirius. Snape. Snape's alive.
Man. Get ahold of yourself. [to Tom] Pour him a drink, a real one. And put it on my tab.
The man urges Sirius into his seat. Tom sets a drink down in front of Sirius.
Tom. Is he all right?
Man. He's fine. Aren't you, friend?
Sirius. [nods] Heatstroke.
Tom. I'll bring you some more water.
Exit Tom.
Man. [to Sirius] You really all right?
Sirius. [nods] Really.
Man. [in a conspiratorial whisper] You want to remain all right. You'll keep your voice down about Snape, understand? You'll keep from asking questions about him, too . . . even in this Magic-forsaken place.
Sirius studies him.
Sirius. What do you know about him?
Man. Just this: I have a friend, a trader in hardwoods, who was on Minsk when the Ministry launched their attack. I guess he was lucky to get his broom raised and jumped. But he claims he got a glimpse of this bloke Snape, ripping into half-giants like they were stuffed toys, and going to lightwands with the Aurors who were onworld. [glances around] This Snape, he toasted Minsk, friend. From what my friend says, it'll be years before a piece of wroshyr goes up the well.
Sirius. And the half-giants?
Man. [shrugs] Anyone's guess.
The man places a few Galleons down and rises.
Take care of yourself. These desert wastes aren't as remote as you may think they are.
Exit the man.
Sirius gulps down his water when it arrives from Tom, unable to shake the shock that Snape survived. Suddenly uncomfortable, Sirius's hand moves toward his lightwand.
Sirius. [aside] Have I driven James deeper into the dark side by abandoning him on Fiendfyre? Can I face James again? Can I kill him this time?
Sirius glances toward Vernon and Petunia, wondering if he should warn them about Snape . . . whether he should take Harry away from this place.
It is then that the voice of Remus Lupin comes to him.
Ghost. Sirius.
Sirius. Remus? Professor!
Sirius ducks into an isolated alley.
Professor. Is Severus Snape James?
Ghost. Yes. Although the James you and I knew is imprisoned by the dark side.
Sirius. I was wrong to leave him on Fiendfyre. I should have made sure he was dead.
Ghost. The Magic will determine James's future. Sirius . . . Harry must not be told that Snape is his father until the time is right.
Sirius. Should I take further steps to hide Harry?
Ghost. The core of James that resides in Snape grasps that Surrey is the source of nearly everything that causes him pain. Snape will never set foot on Surrey, if only out of fear of reawakening James.
Sirius exhales in relief.
Sirius. Then my obligation is unchanged. But from what Albus told me, I know that I have much to learn, Professor.
Ghost. You were always that way, Sirius.
Remus's voice fades.
His fears dissipated, Sirius returns to keeping watch over Vernon, Petunia, and Harry . . . as he will be prepared to do for the rest of his days.
Exit all.
