Disclaimer: Don't own it baby!

A/N: Little bit of language in this chapter, don't say I didn't warn you.

Chapter Thirty-Two: Alone

Love would never leave us alone.

-Bob Marley

"So, Harry didn't get expelled?"

The soft, calm and questioning voice drifted from the doorway into the cool drawing room, where Sirius sat, his legs pressed into his chest and his arms wrapped tightly around his knees.

He grunted softly.

Anna opened the door fully, letting the soft light from the candelabra on the wall filter into the darkened room. She leant against the frame.

"So...?"

"'So' what?" he replied gruffly.

She sighed, coming to rest her hip on the back of the lounge chair. "So why are you so grumpy about it? You knew he would get off, you knew Albus would never let him get expelled."

"I know, Anna, I know. I know all of it. I just... I didn't want to get my hopes up. But I did. And now... well..."

"Sirius," she cut in. "He belongs at Hogwarts."

"He belongs with a family," Sirius said maliciously. "In a home. Somewhere where he's loved-"

"Hogwarts is his home! He is loved there! Hermione, Ron, the Weasleys, they're his family. Why can't you see that?"

"I SHOULD BE HIS FAMILY!" Sirius burst out angrily, jumping to his feet. "I'M SUPPOSED TO BE HIS FAMILY! DO YOU THINK THIS IS WHAT JAMES AND LILY PLANNED WHEN THEY NAMED ME GODFATHER?"

"Of course it wasn't, Sirius. But not everything goes to plan. I'm sure they didn't plan on dying either! I wish you could see yourself now, Sirius. Do you have any idea how Harry feels? He was so happy when he came back here, and then you go and act all selfish about it! Harry needs to go to Hogwarts, it's the only home he's ever known! You need to understand that! Now, I know what Harry deserves, trust me, I know, but right now you can't give that to him, and you have to accept it!" She looked up at him, her eyes flaring dangerously.

"I DON'T WANT TO ACCEPT IT!" he roared, causing Anna to take a step back from him. "I've spent the last twelve fucking years rotting in a cell in Azkaban! Do you really think I'm going to just sit down and take this crap?"

"What is this really about, Sirius?" she asked coldly. "What is this really about?"

"Everything," he muttered shortly. "You just don't understand."

"Well maybe that's because you won't let me!"

"Or maybe it's just because you can't!" he retorted hotly. "You're too young to understand what it's like."

Anna looked as if she had been slapped. Her jaw tensed. "I understand plenty of things, Sirius," she ground out through her teeth. "Just what do you presume I don't understand?"

Inwardly, Sirius winced, but outside he would not let his unyielding façade fall. "I don't think you really appreciate just what living with Dementors for twelve years is like, Anna."

She smiled humourlessly. "And I don't think you really appreciate what Lord Voldemort is really capable of," she said, almost sadistically.

Now, he winced. "Look, Anna, let's just forget this. I just... got my hopes up is all. And now I'm going to be stuck in this stupid fucking house alone."

She crooked an eyebrow, her face taking on a stony mask of indifference. "Alone, are you?" she asked acidly. "For fucks sake, Sirius, open your bloody eyes and look around you. Are you really alone?"

He didn't reply.

"Fine, be alone. When you decide to stop wallowing in your own pathetic self-pity, you know where I am."

She walked out of the room, slamming the door angrily behind her with a bang.

Sirius sank into the couch, dropping his head into his hands. "Fuck."

A/N: Hehehee... evil Kate. Trouble in paradise... Hahaha! Oohh, maybe that'll be the title of the next chappie. I hope that erased some of Anna's Mary Sueishness. That was fun. I like fight scenes. I hope it was easy to understand. It was all perfectly clear in my head, but sometimes it gets a tad muddled up on its way out. Just a quick note; I might not get to many chappies up this week, lots of homework (GAH!) and I unfortunately have to go to Brisbane this weekend, something that I assure you is completely involuntary; I have to spend the whole time with my Dads fiancé, the woman whom my sister and I have so lovingly titled 'The Evil One.' Aaahhh, should be fun! But I have some good news! After this weekend I only have a few days until holidays! YAY!! How excitement! So I should be able to get HEAPS of stuff done for this fic then. And after that only a month and a bit till school is over completely for my year. One last thing, I promise; if you're into Harry/Ginny fics, go and read 'Winter's Pale," my official first fanfic. It's pretty short, just a small thing I wrote for no reason. Might do a sequel, not sure. I also recently posted a fiction on FictionPress, please read it! It's only a few pages, just a short story about an Aboriginal girl in outback Australia. I just put it on to see what people think of it so if you're interested in that kinda stuff, give it a go. It's called 'Red Sand' and is under katemary77 in the general genre. Anyway, have a lovely day and review!!

Love always, Kate.