Disclaimer: I don't own anything that isn't a plot.

Second Chances

"Ennervate" was the first thing I heard when I was finally able to open my eyes again. I was lying in my bed, though I wasn't quite sure how I got there. And then I looked over, and Sirius Black was sitting in the little chair by my bed. Admittedly, he looked quite different than his pictures in the newspaper from a few years before, but most people do. Besides, anyone would look different after being escaped from Azkaban for two years.

I looked at him warily and opened my mouth to say something. "Don't scream. Please, don't scream. I won't hurt you, I really don't want to. But if you scream I'll have to stun you again, and I don't think that is giving you a very good impression of me."

I tried to say "Why would I trust a murderer?" but it came out in a very low whisper-y squeak.

"Ginevra, I'll admit that my behavior has not given you a very good reason to trust me. I wasn't expecting anyone else to be in the house, and your disarming spell made me poke myself in the eye with my wand." I glanced quickly at his left eye, which appeared quite bloodshot. "And then you screamed, and I had to stop you. I can't let them catch me."

"You have yet to explain why I am supposed to trust you." Ugh. This squeaky thing is bothering me. "Look, will you just let me talk normally again?"

"Promise not to scream."

I sat up and stared at him blankly.

"Ginevra, considering your situation, it would be much wiser to be obedient. After all, I have your wand, I'm a much more powerful wizard than you, and if it comes to it, I could block the door and stun you with my bare hands."

"How long has it been since you attempted to convince a female of anything? I think you're a little out of practice."

"Perhaps. I don't like resorting to intimidation. It is what you expected, though, isn't it? Don't answer that. So will you promise not to scream? Because I assure you your parents will understand if they come home and find you stunned."

Sullenly, not breaking eye contact, I nodded my head.

"All right. Sonorus."

I almost screamed again. I could feel my throat tense up as if it was going to scream of its own free will without consulting the rest of me first.

"Ah ah, you promised. Do you really think that's the wisest move right now?"

"Well given that I am attempting to call someone else's attention to the fact that there is an escaped murdered in my house that is currently holding me hostage in my own bedroom, who is really good at intimidation tactics and appears fully capable to make good on threats worse than those he made, I thought it would be rather fitting."

"For one thing, isn't your house sound-proofed? For a second thing, I'm not a murderer, and for the hat trick, I'm only holding you hostage in your bedroom because, given the chance, you would immediately attempt to inform someone of my presence. If you did so, not only would you spark the exact fear your dear Minister is attempting to save the people from, you would help send an innocent man to a fate worse than death. You really want that?"

"Oh sure. You're not a murderer, and I've never been inside the Chamber of Secrets and possessed by the spirit of Voldemort pre-incarnate."

"Okay. Given the odds, I'm willing to accept that, though I don't see why you thought it necessary to divulge that little bit of trivia to me. I haven't either."

"No no no, you missed the sarcasm there. I have, and you are a murderer."

"Against all odds, okay, you have, and I am not a murderer."

"Prove it."

"Unfortunately, I put that quest aside when it became expedient for me to assist in the saving of the world as you know it."

"Oh, I'm sure. The old 'I'm too busy saving the world that is attempting to incarcerate and possibly kill me to prove to them that I don't deserve it' trick."

"Well, yes, but I'd imagine the saving of your world and possibly your life would mean a little more to you at this point than my selfish attempts to prove my innocence and the guilt of a man believed dead."

"Why should I believe you? How do I know you aren't just going to kill me or torture me or something?"

"If I was going to kill you I could have done it a hundred times already and been much more sure of it happening with no blame placed on me. If I was going to torture you, I would have left the quieting charm on. And as for 'something' else, you're thirteen, I believe, and I am not that desperate. Besides, I doubt your parents would approve."

"I'm fourteen, actually, and that is really not what I meant by something. I doubt they would approve of you locking the two of us in my bedroom either."

"I thought you said that's not what you meant."

"Look, can we just stop all the insinuations? I don't trust you, I don't like you, I don't believe you are supposed to be here, and I don't want you coming anywhere near me."

"You have decent reason not to trust me though I wish you'd believe me, half the time I don't like me either so I don't see why I'd expect you to, I am supposed to be here, and I'm not going to leave you alone until I know you aren't going to try to report me."

I wish he wasn't sitting so close to the bed. These aren't the most modest of pajamas, because it's the middle of the summer and I thought I was alone in the house. I suppose he's probably not intending to kill me, but I don't feel very safe around guys besides my brothers when I'm not dressed right. Admittedly, this actually covers more than my swimsuit, but I just haven't felt very comfortable around guys in general since Tom. Especially not guys I can talk to.

"Give me a good reason to believe you."

"I haven't done anything to you, even though I had very good opportunities, I woke you back up instead of just leaving you stunned, I took the quieting charm off, and I carried you up to your bed untouched and waited to make sure you were all right."

"Give me back my wand. I'm feeling rather vulnerable right now."

"That seems rather like it would go against my best interests. Would you attempt to duel me and free yourself as soon as I gave it back?"

"I would probably attempt to free myself, though I understand that would be rather stupid, but I wouldn't report you."

"Why not?"

"Because you're too decent looking to really be a dangerous criminal."

"Only decent looking?"

"Well, actually, you are rather handsome, but that's beside the point."

"Thank you, anyway. The last time anyone actually told me I looked decent or respectable was more than fifteen years ago."

"Really?" I couldn't help but be curious. "Who was it?"

"Lily Evans, at her wedding. I was James's best man, you know."

"Actually I didn't know that, but it seems she spoke rather too soon, wouldn't you think?"

"I didn't kill the Potters. I have not as of yet actually communicated with Voldemort, which is apparently more than I can say for you, and I have no intention of doing so in the future."

"Look, don't you go blaming me for that. It was not my fault. It could have happened to anyone. I couldn't control myself. It was not my bloody fault!" It doesn't matter how many times I say that, I still don't believe it. I could have done something else, I should have. I should have shown it to someone. I shouldn't have written so much. I shouldn't have trusted it. I should have been able to fight him. Tears were pouring down my cheeks but I hardly noticed them.

"I'm sorry, Ginny. I didn't mean it. It was stupid of me, I shouldn't have said that. Don't blame yourself. I don't really know much of what happened, but don't blame yourself for not being able to fight him. He is one of the most powerful wizards in the world, even when he was still in school he was far more powerful than most wizards even get. Believe what you want to about me, but don't blame yourself for not being able to fight him."

I couldn't stop crying. I turned to the wall so my back was to him, and stuffed a pillow in my face. A bit later I felt soft, strong hands on my back. He massaged slowly, pulling the rest of the tears out. I snuffled quietly into my pillow. "Why are you doing this?"

"Because you're crying. Because I hurt you, or let you hurt yourself. Because you don't deserve that pain. No one does."

A/N: Tell me if that was a lousy ending and needs to be fixed. I wasn't sure. Tell me what you thought of the rest of it. It's kind of fun to have them bounce off each other. Actually, Sirius/Ginny fights are much easier and more fun to write than you'd think. Anyway...