Disclaimer: I do not own any of J.K. Rowling's most ingenious works.
Title: In That Moment
Rating: PG for character death
Genre: General/Angst
Summary: A take on Sirius Black's thoughts before the veil.
Author: Clover
"Only one pair was still duelling, apparently unaware of the new arrival…"[1]
Sirius Black let out a great bark of laughter as he duelled, deftly blocking the deadly spells projected at him, yet still managing to deflect and fire spells back onto his attacker.
O! He hadn't felt such release, such freedom, in a very long time. No longer was he forced to hide like a coward to save his skins, no longer did he have to sit and twiddle his thumbs like a useless child in that cursed house of misery while the others made themselves useful, being involved in dangerous and exciting duties; no longer waiting, waiting, waiting…
The anger, feelings of uselessness, loneliness, injustices and fear that had been continually building up, eating away at him, consuming him, all this, this pent up energy---Oh, it felt so good. It had been so long. So very, very long.
Yet ducking from another oncoming spell, Sirius laughed again. It was almost too much fun. The death-eater facing him, his attacker of his own cursed blood, seemed to dissolve…No longer was he in a deadly battle with Voldemort and his followers, but he was back, really back. Back in one of the many friendly duels that he often partook with in his youth at Hogwarts, back having a laugh with Peter, with Remus, with James. He had always been the better of the four at duelling; Peter had been rather hesitant, Remus often refusing, his nose in a book, and although James was quite good, Sirius was always faster.
"Come on, you can do better than that!"[2], he taunted loudly, laughter in his voice.
"Come on, you can do better than that!"
Sirius pranced around James as he taunted, grinning widely as James laughed. Remus, for once had abandoned his books, and was cheering animatedly and clapping, as Peter watched through his fingers, his hands covering the rest of his face. Sirius, swiftly dodging a spell from James, laughed loudly, as James, deciding to throw down his wand, lunged at him, throwing a good humoured punch, the laughter of the four ringing loudly.
Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs. Remus, Peter, Sirius and James. James…
Wait…no…not James…Harry--- where was Harry?
Firing a spell back onto his opponent, who once again seemed to reappear before him, Sirius leapt up upon the stone dais, scanning the room wildly for Harry. Harry? Where was Harry? Catching glimpse of Harry, Sirius relaxed. Harry…Harry was alright…
Uncanny…how uncanny it was that Harry so much resembled James…
Relieved, he let out another bout of laughter, turning his attention back to his attacker. In that moment, as he turned his eyes back towards her, he caught sight of a jet of red light hitting him square in the chest, over the blurred and triumphant face of Bellatrix Lestrange.
Reckless…
Stumbling at the force of the spell, he fell, almost as if in slow motion. What was happening? Had he been hit? He was falling, falling yet so slow, and whispers, whispers growing louder…falling…darkness…what was happening? Harry? Remus? James? Falling…falling…whispers…dark…so very dark…
And in that moment, Sirius, the last of the noble and most ancient house of Black, fell.
Finis
[1] Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix, p. 710
[2]HP and the OoTP, p.710