Piper slammed the door behind her. Paige looked up from her magazine.
"How was brunch with dad?" Paige asked as Piper stormed into the living room and plopped down on the chair across from her.
"It was fine until they," Piper looked upward indicating the Elders, "called Leo and he had to orb out."
"What was so wrong with that?" Paige asked.
"I just know he's going to be getting in trouble for choosing not to be an elder." Piper said, "I'm actually scared."
"He'll be fine," Paige said comfortingly, "He's Leo after all." Both Paige and Piper started when a blur of blue lights came into view right next to Piper's chair.
"Is Leo here?" Asked the man who had just orbed into the living room. His black hair was trimmed and clean and his clothes were new looking.
"No, he's up there." Piper said and nodded her head upward. "Why?" The Charmed Ones had met Sirius before. They knew he was a new whitelighter who Leo was helping.
"I just need to talk to him about my charge. You're neighbor." Sirius said and received looks of confusion.
"Adalaide?" Paige asked. "Why is she your charge?"
"Leo hasn't told you?" Black asked.
"Told us what?" Both girls asked in unison. Sirius looked shocked and afraid. He was saved by another blur of blue light and Leo was standing next to him.
"Hello Sirius, what are you doing here?" Leo asked. Sirius opened his mouth to answer but Piper cut him off.
"TELL US WHAT!" She yelled at the two of them. Leo looked from Piper to Paige then to Sirius.
"It slipped." Sirius explained. "I thought you'd told them."
"Tell us what?" Paige asked. Leo rubbed his hands together nervously. He knew what the look from his wife and her sister meant. It meant that he was in trouble.
"Well, I'll leave you all to talk." Sirius said and orbed away. Leo secretly wished he'd stayed to help him against the wrath of the women.
"We should wait for Pheobe." Leo said. He was hoping that would buy him enough time to think about how to tell them. Unfortunately, Pheobe walked in the door a minute later.
"Alright we're all hear, talk." Piper said. Her anger was rising.
"What's going on?" Pheobe asked.
"Leo hasn't told us something and I'm guessing it's big so he's about to explain." Paige filled in. She looked politely at Leo waiting for the story.
"It's about Prue." Leo started. He took a very deep breath. "She's alive."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Willow sat reading an old book. They were in LA at Angel's hotel. He kindly offered all their rooms. It was a little cramped but it was a place to stay for free. Giles was trying to contact any remaining watchers. Buffy was off with Angel at Wolfram and Hart exploring the offices. Xander, Dawn, Andrew, and Lorne were playing a wonderful game of Monopoly in the lobby were Willow was.
"Will," Xander said. Willow looked up from her book. "You should relax. Come play with us!" Willow shook her head and got back to her reading. She was almost at something that seemed very important. It would be pivotal in her search for Slayers. No body else seemed to be worried about finding them but Willow was. She knew how it felt to have power and not understand it. She scribbled something in her notebook. Fred came and sat down next to Willow.
"Do you need any help? Cause I'm very good with the researching." Fred offered. She peeked at the book.
"No, thanks though. I think I've got it." Willow replied politely. Fred walked away dejectedly. A bunch of chattering slayers walked in and took residence in the lobby. Willow closed her book and went to the quiet of her room where she continued research.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Across the pond, there was a boy who didn't belong. He was sitting on a swing in a park not too far from his house. He could be found there many nights, sitting alone staring into the dark abyss. Tonight was like any other night. His aunt and uncle could care less what time he got home as long as he was quite.
Harry Potter's scar was continuously on fire, or so it felt. He was beginning to learn to ignore it. He was less anxious to hear of Voldemort then he had been the summer before. It was most likely because of the prophecy. The one that said either he kill Voldemort or Voldemort kills him. He was leaning toward the first part of the prophecy. That one he favored although he had no idea how he could achieve such a feat.
The events of the night in the Department of Mysteries had never left him. He knew they never would but he wished. Wishing was no good. It didn't get anything done. It wouldn't bring Sirius back. He'd wished so hard he thought his brain would fall out but he'd come to realize that Sirius wasn't coming back, ever. He was probably with Harry's parents now so at least he could be happy. There was still a black hole where his heart should be. His eyes welled up once again and he cried out into the night.
"Why, Sirius, why?!" Harry knew it wasn't Sirius's fault. It was actually Harry's fault. If Harry hadn't been so thick, he wouldn't have gone to the Ministry. Better yet, if Harry had just practiced Occlumency like he was supposed to, he would have never seen the image of Sirius in the Ministry.
Harry let out a yell of rage and kicked the dirt. He got off the swing and decided to head back to his so called home. He'd reached the end of Privet Drive when a shadow fell across the ring of light from the nearest street lamp. There was a giant, black dog just outside the ring of light. Harry made to go to the dog but stopped.
'It can't be Sirius, he's gone.' Harry thought to himself but when he looked back toward the dog, there was nothing. Not a trace that a dog had been there. Harry strained his ears for the sound of heavy paws hitting the pavement, or the grass but there was a still silence.