Title: The Lights Went Out

Rating: PG

Summary: Sirius Black comes back from the Veil, but forgets everything. He must live with Remus like muggles in order to escape the eyes of Voldemort. One night, the lights go out and Sirius is afraid…

Disclaimer: The characters (Sirius Black and Remus Lupin) are all creations of JK Rowling.

A/N: Ah, Sirius' view. Oh I love him. Why did JK Rowling kill him off? Blast. Anyway, please review!

Golden Eyes

The lights went out.

I am terrified. It is the first time I have sensed total darkness. The empty void envelopes around my being, I stifle a cry of help, of assurance –anything.

My mind swims in a sea of images, memories. Glasses, broken glasses, a baby, a rat, a cloaked form, which sends shivers down his spine. The veil, wait, is that what it is? A curtain, jaunts… blackness. Much light… green… pale, daunting green… too much… and blackness. Screams, and moans. Fear and loneliness. I –I do not remember.

I sit in the darkness, body tense, poised, waiting. I long to cry for help.

I sit still and wait and I am more terrified than ever. I stare around my room, trying to imagine where each item is, only to find shadows in its place. I look down and see the green glow of my watch, given by Remus on my birthday three days ago. Wait, was that when my birthday was? I do not remember.

The green made me sick to myself. The green makes my fear intensify. My mind go blank for a moment, flashes of green light replay in my mind. A cold, commanding voice, then, a pale, smoldering green light. I am afraid. I am more afraid than ever.

I quickly unhook the wristband apart and set my watch face down in the blankets. I sit on my bed, palms neatly placed on my thighs, waiting. I squint into the darkness. Nothing. For the first time, I hear the sound of silence, a dull ache that plagues your mind. I swallow and stand up, my bare feet cold against the cool wooden floor. I look outside and see the outlines of trees, ominously overlooking the shadows of the night. Everything is dark, but I am able to tell where the trees meet the sky. The outlines of the trees begin to close in on me. I shield my eyes and dig my nails into my arm. I am even more frightened now.

I stop and pause in midturn, straining my ears to listen. I hear another creak. Swallowing, I held onto the edge of the windowsill. I let out a small cry, "Remus?"

Nothing.

Panic. I swallow and raise my voice a little, "Remus?"

Nothing. Only the sweet echo of my plea inside my head. Then another noise. A soft murmur of the trees. A groan of fear and disturbance. Its calmness and tranquil resonance gave me an eerie sensation.

I wipe my hand across my forehead; when had I started sweating? The silence stab me like a million needles, the shadows of darkness grab at my clammy limbs. This is even worse than completely darkness. I can see but I cannot see. I can hear but I cannot hear. I recoil my feet, sit back down on the bed, and pull myself into a ball, knees raised against my forehead, arms embracing my shins. I begin to cry. I hate myself for crying. This is only darkness. But I cannot help it. I feel the silent tears run down my cheeks. I croak, "Remus!"

There was a small crash and I hear my door being swung open.

"What is it, Sirius? What's wrong?"

I sniff and swallow in relief at the sound of his voice.

"Sirius?"

A wail, out of nowhere, begins to sound. It falters high and low in pitch. I shut my eyes and bring my hands to my ears, groaning and giving a cry of desperation. Fright like I have never felt before. The sound of a moaning spirit, a wailing soul pleading to live. It goes higher, then lower, then higher again, as if the devil is teasing me with its shrill, cold laugh.

I feel a hand on my back, a reassuring warmth resonates across my back and body as if butter, spread on toast. Whose is it? I feel my bed sag under another's weight.

Remus.

He pulls me into his arms. I begin to cry softly again.

He says gingerly, "Padfoot, tell me, what is wrong?"

I whisper, "I.. I- Remus, I'm scared of the dark."

He gives a laugh. A sad, tragic laugh. His voice soft, gentle, cooing and full of remorse, "Shh…it's alright, Padfoot, my friend. It's alright."

I bury my head in his chest. I shut my eyes again and feel his heart beating against my forehead. The wail stops as abruptly as it came. I let myself submit to the beating of his heart, and feel myself relax. I hold onto his neck like a baby clinging onto his mother. He pats my back as he begins in a soothing voice, "Do you remember who I am?"

Gradually I stop sniffling, and open my eyes. I gulp and whisper, "Of course. You are Remus. Remus Lupin." These words sound strange upon my lips.

I hear a strange sound, a mix between a strangled cry and a suppressed, angry shout, "I know. I don't mean my name… I mean, do you know who I am? Do you remember who I am, Padfoot?"

I suddenly become aware he is calling me by a strange name. Am I Padfoot? I squint a little harder. I do not see his face but I feel it. I run my finger across his face, down his straight nose, tracing his eyebrows, his forehead. My hands stop at his eyes, they are wet.

Suddenly an image jumps in my mind. A grey-blue blurr of fur, with great fangs and golden eyes. Another image. A pale, blond-haired boy, golden eyes smiling.

I remember. "Wolf child?"

I cry into his open arms. I cry into his heart. I do not know why I cry, if only I knew why he cried.