Ok, as promised, another Sirius chapter full of flashbacks! Just to make sure it's clear the flashbacks are in italics and the bits with a squiggle in front are flashbacks within the flashback…ok? You'll understand when you read it…although I'm not sure I do!

It was a chill February morning, even within the castle walls the wind could be heard as it whistled through the cracks in the doors. The sky was an unnatural shade of grey, verging on black; the outside world seemed void of life but for the violent swaying motion of the stark tree branches.

Sirius surveyed the scene from his classroom window, feeling thankful that he was no longer on the run; no longer forced into the elements as he had been for the past two years.

The sixth year class all sat completely silently, scribbling away at their latest essay. Sirius held the impression that they were only working so quickly to gain warmth from the rapid movements of their arms. Of course, there were two members of the class that were not working at all. They both sat watching their teacher intently as though expecting him to spontaneously combust.

Professor Black tried to ignore the Weasley twins awed staring but began to feel slightly uneasy. Every now and then he would glimpse them from the corner of his eye as he pretended to mark his essays. The twin's hero worshipping didn't show any signs of ceasing. Somewhere in the depths of his mind Sirius felt quite honoured, the sixteen year old he had once been had lived for such attention, but the grown up had since lost his thirst for adoration.

'Misters' Weasley,' said Sirius loudly and very suddenly.

The twins had obviously not realised that Sirius was watching them as they both jumped visibly in their seats.

The class laughed.

'Yes Professor?' Fred asked cheerfully.

Sirius smiled at the red headed boys and approached their table.

'Well,' he began, 'I couldn't help but notice that you have been staring avidly at me for the past ten minutes.'

He watched as Fred buried his face in his hand with an expression of great embarrassment and George's ears turned pink. It was all he could do not to laugh, but, maintaining his cool demeanour Sirius knelt down in front of the Weasley's desk so that he was at eye level with both boys.

'I was beginning to wonder- do you fancy me?'

The class erupted into a fit of giggles. George began to choke on his tongue and Fred became very interested in his finger-nails.

Sirius saw the boy's embarrassment and felt slightly guilty as their classmates continued to roar with laughter. He picked up the parchment that Fred was supposed to have been working on.

'Three lines? You too George? I'm sorry but I can't tolerate this misuse of my lesson time. You will both serve a detention with me tomorrow evening.'

Sirius glanced at his watch and declared, 'Class you may go.'

The students filed out of the office slightly more animated than they had been five minutes earlier. Fred and George Weasley both stuffed their books carelessly into their bags and hurried out of the room as quickly as possible, knocking over countless first years on their way.

Seeing the twins depart so swiftly made Sirius feel extremely uncomfortable. Maybe he oughtn't to have embarrassed them-but then sarcastic quips and razor tongued come-backs were what made him Sirius Black. But then, Sirius Black never really had a place in the classroom. Promising himself to act more professionally in the future he decided to give the Weasley twins an enjoyable detention if nothing else.

No sooner had the fifth years left when Ebony and Harry came marching into the office. Both seemed quietly anxious as they seated themselves on Sirius' desk.

'Can I help you both?' Sirius asked absently as he slumped into his cushioned armchair, his hands entwined behind his head.

Ebony spoke unsurely, 'You said you'd talk to us this dinnertime.'

'About Azkaban,' Harry prompted.

Sirius sighed. He had forgotten about his promise, or had at least hoped that they had.

Ebony continued to look slightly scared, as though she didn't really want to know about Azkaban but she felt she had to. Harry simply looked expectant.

'Well,' Sirius began. 'Not much I can say really. I didn't really get up to much…eating…sleeping-eating again.'

'Sirius!' Ebony protested. 'Properly, please.'

Sirius breathed deeply, like a diver would before plunging into the water. It didn't take any effort for Sirius to immerse into his own murky depths. They were always there-bubbling below his surface, daring him to brave the fall. Suddenly a strange cold wave washed over his body and he felt strangely and inexplicably depressed…

The cold, hard floor chilled him to the bone. He had been confined within this cramped, iron cell for just two months now but already it felt like a lifetime. As he sat there, in the eerie darkness of Azkaban Fortress, it slowly dawned on him that there was no way out…this was how life was going to be from now on.

Already he had begun to loose sight of himself, of the life he had once led; there were times when he couldn't remember anything at all. Just one unhappy thread of thought allowed him to cling onto shadows of his past…

'You shouldn't be in here'

…That one thought alone saved his memories of Peter, of Remus and of James…

God if only James was still alive.

 He could no longer envisage life with his best friend, he could barely remember the spectacled face with the messy hair, but2 he knew, from the pain he felt inside, that whatever he and James had shared in the outside world had been very special. Sometimes, when he tried really hard to remember, he would catch snatched memories of his best friend. But such memories never lasted long. For a few wonderful moments they would flutter through his mind like a candle in the breeze, then, all too soon, they would disappear-extinguished forever.

'They' were good at doing that.

They were stood there now. Tall, hooded figures gathered outside of his door. They were always there. Sometimes a new figure would arrive to swap places with another but they never left completely. No matter how hard he prayed there was no release. They weren't stupid; they would never leave him alone. Their icy fingers would remain wrapped around his heart until the day he died-and that day couldn't come too soon.

Bored with counting the bars on his cell he turned his attentions to the small, square hole in the side wall which served as a kind of window. He was lucky, none of the other cells on this floor had a window.

 'Lifetime resident's privilege' he muttered to himself, although after months of neglect his vocal cords had begun to break down.

 He could not see the sea or the sky from this small cavity; he had forgotten what they were. His only view was of the rocky cliff tops and a small patch of earth that surrounded the building which, he supposed, was where prisoners were buried-the one's whose families did not want to know…prisoners like him.

Somewhere in the distance the sound of clashing metal penetrated the darkness.

 It must be feeding time.

 Every door that opened was greeted by screaming- horrible, ear-splitting screaming. He didn't mind. Those terrified screams were all he had to prove that life still existed.

He gritted his teeth.

 They were getting closer.

 The banging of doors was getting louder, soon it would be him.

He knew what this meant.

He would be seeing James and Lily soon, he would see Remus and even Peter, it was always the same.

CRASH

They were getting closer and closer…not long now.

The smell of their rotting flesh grew stronger. The piercing coldness that ran throughout the fortress grew even more terrible.

Even with three or four Dementors permanently positioned outside his door, nothing could ever have prepared him for meal times.

 Nothing.

With another loud clash they entered the cell next door to his own. Already it was becoming too much. There must have been at least twelve Dementors gliding around the narrowed corridor.

~ 'James, I think you should use someone else. Voldemort will know that you've used me. It's too obvious'

~ 'I don't know Padfoot. Who else could we use?'

It was becoming stronger. Shaking his head wildly, trying to rid himself of the memories, he looked up.

This was it.

They were here.

CLICK

His cell door opened.

Involuntarily he clambered into the far corner of his cell and curled into a tight ball.

They had entered.

His insides turned to solid ice. Every inch of his body became rigid as if frozen solid. The icy palm that held his heart tightened its grip unbearably.

~ 'How about Peter? I know you have your doubts but I'm positive that Moony is the traitor and we won't be able to contact Dumbledore for days.'

James Potter's face stared down upon him, smiling… 'I suppose you're right. If you think that Wormtail is the best choice then I trust your judgement.'

'No,' he whimpered. 'Prong's no…'

That innocent, friendly smile made him feel sick.

'No.'

And then another face appeared. A face he had glimpsed only briefly before his voyage aboard the Azkaban Runners.

Remus Lupin watched him intently. His eyes full of hatred, blame, repulsion.

'It wasn't me Moony,' he croaked. 'It wasn't me.'

But Remus was gone. His face had been replaced with another- A smaller, pointier face with pale, watery eyes.

~ 'Sorry Padfoot, but this is the end for you. Give the Dementors my regards.'

'No. Wormtail, don't do this. It was you. You all along.'

And then Wormtail disappeared and all that was left was the memory of a building, torn apart by Dark magic.

'No. Prongs. NO!'

But no one heard his cries, and if they did they didn't respond. Another tortured soul was of no importance in a hell full of torment.

 Sirius let out a long heavy sigh. With his head in his hand he wondered whether he had the energy to mutter another word. He felt drained and empty, exactly as he had after his escape. When inside Azkaban this deadened feeling had become a part of him but out in the real world it felt so much worse-as if he were completely detached from his senses. Throughout his description of life in the fortress, Ebony and Harry had never once looked away. Now that he was sitting here, silent and mentally exhausted, their stares became hard to bear. It was easy to relay the past but now he felt as though they were becoming too close, intruding upon his deepest, darkest fears as they looked into his eyes. He blinked quickly as though trying to close himself off but it had no effect. Finally he spoke.

'Well, is that all you wanted to know?'

Ebony seemed extremely close to tears, she did not speak. Harry looked more concerned than ever. Taking in the expressions on their faces Sirius began to regret giving them such a detailed account. He had not intended to upset them.

'We're sorry Sirius,' said Harry finally, 'we shouldn't have asked.'

'Not to worry,' Sirius replied bluntly.

For a second Ebony looked as though she might speak, but, changing her mind, she fled the classroom.

Sirius and Harry both watched as she made her swift exit.

'I'd better go after her,' said Sirius getting to his feet.

'No,' Harry protested, 'I will.'

Sirius allowed Harry to leave although it was obvious that Ebony was not his concern. He simply wanted to escape the awkward atmosphere they had so carelessly created.

'Yeah, you go,' Sirius muttered after making sure Harry was out of earshot. There was a strong note of bitterness in his voice. 'You run away from it.'

Slumping back into his chair he buried his face in his hands.

'I wish I could.'

Vllybll 429: Thanks for reading. Hope this counts as asap!

Serpent of Light: Love the name! Glad you like my fic, thank you for reading!

Polkat: I like my fics better with flashbacks (and Marauder moments in general!) Glad it's finally pulling together. Yes, you got my brotherness hint (yup I realise that is not a word…but only cos the spell checker says so) The Order fic is slowly coming along-well I'll email you in about 5 seconds anyway so…

Mmm…not sure what's happening next chapter…I'm guessing it will be Gred and Forge's detention…that'll be fun (well maybe not for a certain potions master-but who cares about him?)