Sinia barely caught Sirius as his heels hit the ground particularly hard, causing him to reel backward. He clutched her shoulders and stood for a moment, the twilight casting a harsh line of shadow on his rigid features. His eyes closed momentarily and his forehead rested against hers. She was gasping, and he raised an eyebrow quizzically.
"You alright?"
"It's harder to do with two people," she exhaled. "Go. The Dementors will be here in a minute."
"Will you be alright?" his grip on her shoulders tightened. She looked him in the eyes and nodded curtly, but she seemed preoccupied.
"Go," she hissed, and a faded, distant scream was audible to him. It was a voice he recognized.
"One thing," he said, grabbing his knife. She looked at him quizzically, then he walked behind her, and bunching her hair in his fist, sliced it until it only came to her shoulders, scattering what was left in the wind.
"How am I going to explain that to Albus?" she laughed quietly.
"You're not mourning for me any more. Don't you dare let it be long again," he smiled, kissing her quietly before he shifted forms. He saw her wince at some thought, and knew it was becoming difficult for her. Her expression hardened as he shook himself, his skin tingling with the fur that had burst from it.
"I have to go," she whispered quietly. He nuzzled her hand, and she scratched his ears before he trotted off towards Hogsmeade. In a flash of unwanted vision, Sinia felt her own profile through the trees, and she pivoted to stare directly at the dementor, feeling it feed off of her own anguish, though it was not brave enough to get closer. She backed away, wings spread defensively, and turned to run in the other direction. She wasn't even sure if they were following her. She bypassed the guards at the entrance by bounding over the brick wall and landing heavily on the other side, stumbling to her knees. She gasped slightly with the pain, but it was bearable. She didn't want to be out there.
Regaining her composure, she kneeled back and took in the view of her prison. Dawn was just beginning to creep over the castle turrets- blood red and foreboding. In her mind's eye, Sinia saw Keayalnea, standing defiantly in a circle of black- robed, faceless figures, eyes blazing, hair matted, blood smeared and dripping down her face, her wings visibly spattered with it. Sinia shook her head ferociously- that was a scene more than twelve years old, a scene she had not even witnessed personally- why would she see Voldemort's denial by the Zenith? She had a momentary flash of understanding- the worst was yet to come. There were a million miles to go before she could rest. With that thought in mind, she stood, brushed herself off, and walked toward the doors, into the great hall, and sat at her corner of the staff table to eat breakfast. Remus steadfastly avoided her while Hagrid tried to make casual conversation, which she answered, politely, but brusque. When she finished, she stood and walked toward Dumbledore's chair.
"Good morning, Sinia," Dumbledore greeted her between mouthfuls of toast. ""I'm glad you came to speak with me- Cornelius requested a private audience with you after breakfast. He should be in my office as we speak."
"Or as you are speaking. With your mouth full," she smiled quietly, and he beamed back at her. "I have a bad feeling about this, Albus."
"My dear, do you think I would allow harm to come to you here?"
"No, sirrah." She wasn't convinced.
"Very well. Come speak with me after dinner."
"Yes sirrah." She turned to leave.
"And Sinia?"
"Yes."
"That haircut makes you look ten years younger. Please keep it this length, as we have such a shortage of truly beautiful women in the school."
She smiled slightly. "Thank you, sirrah." She turned toward the exit, headed toward the Headmaster's office.
***
Sinia felt like fire was flying through her side as she fell face first into the cold stone floor, struggling back a yelp of pain as onyx cut through her flesh. She felt the black blade sink into her wing, blood oozing across the feathers, sharp stone grinding the hollow bones and delicate ligaments as the blade twisted inside the burning, smoking flesh. It was quickly removed, and he began slashing mercilessly along her spine and ribs. She rolled sideways, throwing Fudge off her back and vulnerable wings, when a foot stomped on the joint of her uninjured wing, causing her to thrash helplessly, vision swimming in red and reeling in pain, and the blade sunk deep into her right side, causing her to let out an ear- splitting scream of pain, and four heads, none of which were too close, jerked at the sound, two recognizing and running toward it instantly.
"Where is he? I know you've seen him- where is he?!" Fudge roared, irate and pushed beyond his temper's limits.
"Fuck you," Sinia snarled, reaching to grab at his face, but the onyx sliced through her hand, and the blade crushed bone, severed tendons, and burned flesh, causing her to scream again, though the blade had begun attacking her face.
"I thought the dementors would be enough persuasion for you."
"Who do you think they will listen to- a middle aged wizard or a Black Sorceress who has mastered them before?" she spat blood as she glared at him. "You cannot control me- that has been seen to."
"You-" Fudge raised the knife once more, but didn't get far before a white- feathered blur crashed into his side, sending him sprawling away from Sinia. At the same time, the door slammed open, revealing the full fury of Albus Dumbledore.
"CORNELIUS FUDGE!" the wrath of Keayalnea Nikonde was plain as day on her face, contorted into outrage and loathing. She stood, tossing her red hair out of her face. The dagger was gripped tightly, and expertly in her hand. "What right have you to be assaulting my people?" She ran a finger along the blade's edge, barely touching it before her skin began to smoke. She tossed the blade away in disgust.
"Onyx," contempt, unmasked and terrifying, warped her voice and clipped her words. "Onyx. He would red her to death with onyx. I refuse to excuse this, Albus."
"Keayalnea…" the Headmaster's voice was soothing enough, under different circumstances.
"NO!" Keayalnea roared, white wings flaring. "It was decided. It is decided. Tiyrn could not make it here within a week, and I cannot heal these wounds! And Cornelius Fudge is not the name on the documents that Saved her! Neither he, nor you, nor I can do anything regarding her at the present moment. All we have right to do is leave her here to die."
"And who," Albus's voice was infuriatingly calm, "has the authority to determine our course of action now?"
Keayalnea's eyes traveled down to Sinia's frame, noting the shorter hair. She looked Fudge in the eyes, also, noting his fear of punishment. This would be punishment. She turned back to look at Dumbledore. "Sirius Black."
The irony was not lost on her, at least.