AN: Well, we appear to have reached the penultimate chapter! :O In this one I have once again brought it back around to canon, with some adaptations. I hope you enjoy and continue to read! :D It's not quite over until the Fat Lady sings. ;)

If it's natural to kill, how come men have to go into training to learn how?
- Joan Baez

The Room of Requirement was dark when Draco dragged Sirius into it, the two boys found the Cupboard easily and stood before it, Draco looked nervous as he shifted from one foot to the other and glanced at his watch. "They'll be here in a moment..." He said softly.

"Draco...everyone's asleep...but what if they wake up?" Sirius said.

"Nothing, they're only here to watch me kill Dumbledore they said they would leave the others alone."

Sirius rolled his eyes and leaned against a table, folding his arms across his chest. "And you honestly think they'll stick to that? Come on Draco, no one's that stupid."

"They won't defy orders..." He replied, sounding less sure.

They waited in silence, the very air seemed thick as Sirius breathed, he had no idea what to do, he couldn't stop the Death Eaters from getting inside the castle, and he was certainly going to be useless when they were let loose on the school. He tipped his head back and closed his eyes for a moment, then they heard it; voices from within the vanishing cabinet. They drew nearer and Sirius took a few paces backwards as the door opened to reveal the face of his cousin, Bella spotted him and smiled as she entered the room. Others followed, one after another until there was crowd of black cloaked figures, Sirius eyed them all, naming them in his head. Bellatrix, the Carrow's and several others. The last to emerge was a man covered in grey hair, his eyes were blue and Sirius immediately backed off as Greyback emerged.

"Wh-What's he doing here?" Draco asked nervously, pointing to the Werewolf.

"He wanted to come." Bella muttered, dismissing the question. "Why hello Sirius, it has been quite a while." She looked him up and down. "Does the stinking animal frighten you?"

"Not overly much, no..." Sirius said softly, eyeing Greyback with dark eyes. "But bringing him to a school full of children is stupid." He turned his gaze to his cousin.

"He is a disobedient dog at times, aren't you?" Bella said with a glance at the werewolf.

"I was promised prey, and I'm going to get it. Nice juicy little children." He met Sirius' gaze and eyed him hungrily, licking his lips obscenely.

"Ugh...you stink of blood." Sirius muttered, wrinkling his nose.

"Well, after this is done I am sure the Dark Lord won't begrudge you a tasty morsel..." Bella said looking at Sirius and smirking. "There are some who will soon have outgrown their uses."

"You would give me to him?" Sirius exclaimed pointing at Greyback furiously. "I am the Black heir...you can't just..."

"I can do whatever pleases me, cousin. You have broken the spell, which is impressive, but you have betrayed your blood...the Dark Lord has only one use for you and that is the title you bear. But soon enough, he won't have any need of even that."

"Once you kill Dumbledore." Sirius said stiffly as Greyback grinned and began circling him, he followed him with his eyes, keeping as still as a hunting dog. His lip peeled back from his teeth. "You would let this...this beast...kill me? The last remaining Black..."

"It does not matter. Come Draco, let us leave and get this over with." Bella moved towards the door, but paused and turned back. "Greyback, bring Sirius." Sirius felt his arm grabbed and twisted up his back, he bared his teeth in pain as he was pushed forward towards Bella. She smiled at him, stroking hair from his face almost tenderly. "Poor sweet little thing, I almost pity you." She laughed and flung open the door.

One of the Death Eaters ran ahead along with Draco to the Astronomy Tower, Sirius was dragged through the castle by the Werewolf, his nose full of his stench. He struggled but Greyback was stronger than him. "Don't try and escape my sweet, it won't do you any good." He breathed into Sirius' hair.

After a few turns they encountered someone in the hallway. Remus was walking their way, suddenly his head jerked upwards and his eyes widened. "Remus!" Sirius gasped as he was pushed to the floor. Remus lifted his wand and fired a curse, but he was outnumbered. A few Death Eaters broke off from their group and ran after him as he turned down a corridor, Sirius had to hope he would be alright.

The Astronomy Tower stairs appeared, Sirius was dragged up it before one of the Carrow's turned and sealed the staircase. They could hear shots and screams from behind them as the Order encountered the Barrier.

When they reached the top of the Astronomy tower Sirius' eyes were drawn immediately to a figure half crouched by the wall, his eyes widened as he realised it was Dumbledore. Draco held him at wand point but he was shaking badly, Sirius studied him as he was pushed forward and realised that he didn't want to do it. He wasn't going to be able to complete his mission. He searched the tower and saw two broomsticks by the wall, he frowned and began searching the area for the other person, but saw nothing. There could only be one person who could disguise themselves so thoroughly, Harry was up here with them.

"Dumbledore cornered!" Amycus Carrow said, and he turned to a stocky little woman who looked as though she could be his sister and who was grinning eagerly. "Dumbledore wandless, Dumbledore alone! Well done, Draco, well done!"

"Good evening, Amycus," said Dumbledore calmly, as though welcoming the man to a tea party. "And you've brought Alecto too ... charming ..."

The woman gave an angry little titter. "Think your little jokes'll help you on your death bed, then?" she jeered.

"Jokes? No, no, these are manners," replied Dumbledore.

"Do it," said the stranger standing nearest to Harry, a big, rangy man with matted grey hair and whiskers, whose black Death Eater's robes looked uncomfortably tight. He had a voice like none that Harry had ever heard: a rasping bark of a voice. Harry could smell a powerful mixture of dirt, sweat and, unmistakeably, of blood coming from him. His filthy hands had long yellowish nails.

"Is that you, Fenrir?" asked Dumbledore.

"That's right," rasped the other. "Pleased to see me, Dumbledore?" He kept a tight hold on Sirius who winced slightly as the nails dug deep into his skin.

"No, I cannot say that I am ..." Dumbledore's gaze moved to Sirius and back again.

Fenrir Greyback grinned, showing pointed teeth. Blood trickled down his chin and he licked his lips slowly, obscenely. "But you know how much I like kids, Dumbledore." He growled, leaning close to Sirius who shuddered as hands crept into his hair and that sickening smell threatened to make him vomit.

"Am I to take it that you are attacking even without the full moon now? This is most unusual ... you have developed a taste for human flesh that cannot be satisfied once a month?"

"That's right," said Greyback. "Shocks you, that, does it, Dumbledore? Frightens you?"

"Well, I cannot pretend it does not disgust me a little," said Dumbledore. "And, yes, I am a little shocked that Draco here invited you, of all people, into the school where his friends live..."

"I didn't," breathed Malfoy. He was not looking at Greyback; he did not seem to want to even glance at him. "I didn't know he was going to come-"

Harry was frozen to the spot, helpless as he watched events unfold. He saw Sirius in the claws of Greyback. He wanted to cry out, to scream at Sirius to help Dumbledore, he was weak from that potion and there was no way he could defend himself from all these enemies. But Sirius was forced to his knees by the tatty looking man and he sat there, his head bowed as the Death Eaters talked and encouraged. Draco was hesitating, Harry knew he wasn't about to kill Dumbledore.

Sirius slowly lifted his head and looked up at the sky, the Dark Mark hung over them alerting everyone that murder was about to happen. The green light made everyone look ill as he looked around, ignoring the claws on his arm and that rancid breath on his face as the Werewolf tried to restrain his instinct to kill him. Harry was nowhere to be seen so he closed his eyes and began trying to locate him by scent, it was pointless, Greyback's stink overpowered any slighter scents and he reopened his eyes.

Malfoy was showing less resolution than ever. He looked terrified as he stared into Dumbledore's face, which was even paler, and rather lower than usual, as he had slid so far down the rampart wall.

"He's not long for this world anyway, if you ask me!" said the lopsided man, to the accompaniment of his sister's wheezing giggles. "Look at him-what's happened to you, then, Dumby?"

"Oh, weaker resistance, slower reflexes, Amycus," said Dumbledore. "Old age, in short ... one day, perhaps, it will happen to you ... if you are lucky ..."

"What's that mean, then, what's that mean?" yelled the Death Eater, suddenly violent. "Always the same, weren't yeh, Dumby, talking and doing nothing, nothing, I don't even know why the Dark Lord's bothering to kill yeh! Come on, Draco, do it!"

But at that moment, there were renewed sounds of scuffling from below and a voice shouted, "They've blocked the stairs-Reducto! REDUCTO!"

Harry's heart leapt: so these four had not eliminated all opposition, but merely broken through the fight to the top of the Tower, and, by the sound of it, created a barrier behind them-

There were shouts from below and feet pounding the staircase, Sirius turned his head as Severus Snape came flying up onto the tower. Sirius watched with an impassive face as Snape aimed his wand at Dumbledore, the old man was slipping down the wall and pleading. A few words, a flash of green and it was over. Dumbledore's corpse flew over the edge of the Crenulations and fell.

Harry felt as though he too were hurtling through space; it had not happened... it could not have happened...

"Out of here, quickly," said Snape.

He seized Malfoy by the scruff of the neck and forced him through the door ahead of the rest; Greyback and the squat brother and sister followed, the latter both panting excitedly. As they vanished through the door, Harry realized he could move again. What was now holding him paralyzed against the wall was not magic, but horror and shock. He threw the Invisibility Cloak aside as the brutal-faced Death Eater, last to leave the tower top, was disappearing through the door.

Snape and Draco fled and Sirius was yanked roughly to his feet by the hair, he was pushed roughly against the stone as Greyback grinned at him, pulling his head back with his claws in his hair. "No..." Sirius hissed as he tried to force the Werewolf off of him while going for his wand with the other hand, then there was a shout and one of the Death Eaters still on the tower was thrown backwards. Greyback turned as Harry Potter stood behind him breathing hard. It was just the distraction Sirius needed. "Harry! Go after him!" He shouted and grinned. "He can't infect me...go!" Without another word he changed.

Where once there had been a boy there was now a massive black dog, it snarled viciously at the werewolf who backed off quickly. Padfoot lowered his head, emitting a low and steady growl. He stepped forward, claws tapping the stone. Harry stared in fascination as suddenly the dog leapt, colliding with Greyback and going for the throat, the werewolf grabbed his neck and began trying to wrestle with him. Padfoot barked and growled furiously, scratching, biting and fighting.

Harry backed off, and with one last glance at Sirius he spun on his heels and ran. He almost stumbled when he heard a loud yelp and a scream, but he ran on.

Sirius was forced out of his transformation as agony ripped through his side, Greyback and thrown him into the wall and he now lay at its foot, clutching his ribs and breathing hard through his teeth.

"Well, well, looks like someone has some experience fighting my kind." Greyback growled. "But doesn't look like you're quite strong enough yet, boy." He advanced slowly, keeping a wary eye on Sirius who slowly slipped his hand into his pocket. "Who was it then? Your packmate? I might know him."

"You do know me."

Sirius opened his eyes and saw Remus standing at the doorway, his wand pointing directly into Greyback's face. "Moony..." Sirius gasped, grabbing his wand and forcing himself to his feet, he leaned against the parapet gasping but grinning like a maniac.

"Sirius, go back down the stairs...find Harry and get out of here."

"Harry's..." he swallowed the pain, still gripping his side with his free hand as he panted. "Harry's gone after...Snape..."

"What? Why?" Remus glanced away from his enemy.

Sirius saw what was about to happen, his wand rose and he fired a curse at Greyback as he launched himself at Remus. The spell hit him in mid air and he fell to the floor with a long drawn out wail that sounded more like a howl. Remus shuddered but made sure that Greyback was unconscious before turning to Sirius and helping him to the floor, Sirius groaned and tipped his head back. "I'm sorry..." He whispered hoarsely, spitting blood to the floor.

"What for?" Remus asked, gently tugging away his tattered robes to reveal long scratches down his side. "You've suffered worse at my hands, you'll be fine." He said with a gentle smile.

"I'm sorry for...for everything." Sirius muttered smiling weakly. "I'm a git."

Remus chuckled. "No, you're not." Slowly he stood and helped Sirius to his feet, his eyes drifted upwards. "Who...?"

Sirius followed his gaze, the Dark Mark cast everything with a terrible greenish tinge. "Dumbledore." He said softly. Remus nearly dropped him as his knees threatened to throw him to the floor, pain rocketed up Sirius' side and he gasped.

"No...no you must be mistaken. H-He can't..."

"It's true and you knew it as soon as you saw that mark." Sirius sighed and leaned his head against his friend. "Dumbledore is dead."

XXXHPSBXXXHPSBXXX

Harry stood in the doorway of the Hospital Wing, the Order were there along with Ginny, Ron and Hermione. Sirius sat up in bed with Remus at his side while Molly and Arthur stood by Bills bed. He was forced to confirm Sirius' story of Dumbledore's Death and the silence afterwards echoed through his empty chest.

Remus had lowered his head and buried his face in his hands, Tonks stood at his side and Sirius lay back with a soft sigh. Ron embraced Hermione who had broken down into tears while Molly and Arthur gazed down at their injured son. Grief seemed to become a physical presence and it weighed him down.

The next day Harry spent with Sirius. They sat with each other beneath a tree and spoke little, Harry was simply happy to have him at his side, their touches spoke more than words ever could. On the Afternoon before Dumbledore's funeral they were walking around the lake when Harry spoke.

"So, what are you going to do now?" Harry asked slowly.

"What do you mean?" Sirius replied, taking Harry's hand in his own.

"Well, schools over now...and...well...I was thinking that I won't be coming back next year."

Sirius nodded and looked up at the sky. "Well, ordinarily I would go and sort out my house, maybe I could even do it up enough to sell it...I'm not likely to live their again."

"What do you mean 'ordinarily'?" Harry shot him a suspicious glance and saw Sirius smile at him, he stopped and looked into those grey eyes. "What's wrong?" He asked suddenly, a tightness in his chest that threatened to suffocate him.

Sirius lifted his hand and stroked hair from Harry's eyes tenderly. "I'm not supposed to be here, Harry."

"But you are..."

He shook his head. "I'm not. I have to go back to my own time...I have to return to where I belong, with your father and Remus. I need to return to my friends..."

"B-But..."

"I'm sorry." He leaned over and kissed him slowly. "I've loved it, you know...being here with you. You changed me somehow..."

"You're...leaving me, aren't you?"

"I have no choice. The magic binding me here is wearing off, the Unspeakable's told me that they had worked out that the spell was only ever temporary...I have to leave. I'm going to miss you."

"I don't want you to go, Sirius! I-I can't lose you twice!"

"I'm sorry." Sirius sighed and looked at him, his eyes full of grief. "I don't have much time left but I want to spend it all with you."

Harry wrapped his arms around him and kissed him deeply, the sound of the wind on the lake soothed him slightly and the warmth of Sirius' body made him tingle pleasantly. They spent as much time as they could in each other's company, holding hands, talking quietly to one another and kissing. At night the Room of Requirement gave them privacy and a soft bed, their moans of pleasure filling the small room and echoing back at them.

On the day of Dumbledore's funeral Sirius slipped out of his dorm silently and made his way through the corridors, it was early morning and the sun had just risen above the trees, there was a chill in the air as he reached the tapestry of the trolls and began walking past the blank stretch of wall opposite. The door appeared and he stepped inside, closing it behind him and gazing up at the mountains of bits and pieces that students had hidden for years. He moved through the place, gazing around with vague interest, finally he found the tall mirror. He stopped before it and gazed at his reflection, a smile lit his face as he saw himself in the arms of that boy with wonderfully messy black hair. His reflection turned slightly to bring the others profile into view, Sirius' smile widened as he moved forward and touched the glass. Harry stared back at him, his green eyes full of love and affection. He pressed his palm to the glass and the mirror Harry pressed back, they smiled into each other's eyes. "I'm going to miss you, Harry." He whispered softly.

The day was warm, the breeze cool as it blew Harry's hair from his face. The funeral had been strange and he could still feel the empty place where Dumbledore had been, he walked a few feet away from where the great white marble tomb stood and realised he had a dark road to travel.

"Harry?"

He turned to see Hermione and Ron standing behind him, he smiled at them but then he caught sight of Sirius standing beneath a tree. His friends smiled and nodded and he moved towards Sirius who squashed his cigarette butt into the grass with the heel of his boot. "I-Is it...?" Harry was unable to speak properly. Every time he thought about Sirius leaving him he felt his chest tighten painfully and he had the urge to stop him, to keep him here forever. "Don't." He said suddenly, grabbing Sirius and pushing him into the tree, he pressed his forehead to his chest. "Don't leave me..."

"I have to Prongslet." Sirius replied, lifting his head up so they gazed into each other's eyes. "You'll be alright, you have Ron and Hermione..." His smile was full of tenderness as he leaned in and placed a chaste kiss on Harry's lips, when he drew away Harry saw golden light surrounding him, it swirled around him like a wind, whipping his long hair into his eyes. "I said I'd give you gift Harry potter." He said, his smile widening as his voice took on a far away quality. "I promised I'd give you a gift, and you will get it. I'm going to give back everything that was taken from you...I'm going to make you happy."

"You make me happy!" Harry said desperately, he could feel Sirius' form shifting beneath his fingers as became less substantial. Little dots of light surrounded him, swirling like fairies.

Sirius laughed, a single bark of sound that made warmth spread through Harry. "Thank you Harry. Thank you for being there...and becoming my everything. Thank you." When he next kissed him his lips were like the wind and when Harry tried to grab him he found only thin air...