Disclaimer: Don't own anything, except Anna.
A/N: This chapter is dedicated to Severus-Snape-Rog for her oh-so endearing pestering. Hehe, sorry!
Chapter Forty-One: Remembrance
From battle and murder, and from sudden death, Good Lord, deliver us.
The Book of Common Prayer
That had to be the most embarrassing thing Sirius had ever done. Not only had he just stooped to the maturity level of a nine-year-old, but he had done it in front of Harry and the entire Weasley family. Plus Hermione. Shit. And she was probably going to run off and tell Anna. Double shit.
There was a soft knock on the bedroom door. Sirius lifted his head from where it hung in his hands to see Anna leaning against the door frame, an annoyingly superior smirk on her face.
"So…"
"Please, Anna," he sighed, "don't start."
"Start what?" she asked innocently.
"You know very well what I'm talking about, dear," he commented dryly.
She crooked a sleek eyebrow. "But surely, Sirius, you don't think I've come up here to ridicule you on your spectacularly childish behaviour?"
"He started it!" Sirius burst angrily, getting up off the bed and proving just how childish he was. "The stupid slimy git started the whole bloody thing!"
Her eyes flashed dangerously; a warning signal that Sirius should probably keep his mouth shut.
"Watch what you say and who you're talking to, Sirius. I don't particularly care who started it; it's just the fact that it started in the first place. For crying out loud, Sirius, the two of you are thirty-six years old and you insist on acting like bloody schoolboys!"
"Why are you only telling me this, Anna? If memory serves, Snape was there as well! Why am I the only one who's getting the treatment?"
Anna stalked over to where Sirius was standing beside the bed and shoved him in the chest, forcing him to sit down. "I've already had words with Severus, Sirius. I understand that you're both frustrated, but that is no excuse to act like petulant children. Will you at least try to act like grown men with some responsibility? For my sake?"
Sirius sighed and muttered a mumbled apology.
"Thank you," she smiled. "Now come on, it's Harry's last day here and you don't want to spend it moping around."
…&&&…
A few days later, Remus, Anna and Sirius were chatting over breakfast when two owls swooped through the chimney, one landing before Anna and one before Sirius. Anna quickly paid her owl and untied a copy of the Daily Prophet as Sirius took the note from the eagle owl that was scribed in familiar, spidery green writing.
Snuffles,
Please don't do anything rash.
A.P.W.B.D
"What?" Sirius said to the note.
"What?" Remus asked.
"What, what?"
"Don't be stupid, what did you say 'what' for?"
Sirius grinned. "Is said 'what' because you said 'what' and I was asking what you said 'what' for."
"Grow up."
"Sod off."
Remus chuckled. "Really, now, what was the letter about?"
"I don't know what the letter was about, Remmy. Why do you want to know what the letter was about?"
"What are you on about?"
"What?"
"STOP IT!" Anna cried, but she was smiling. "If I hear the word 'what' one more bloody time I'll chop both your bloody heads off!" She gave them a cheeky smile. "So what was the note about?"
Sirius laughed. "I have no idea. It's from Dumbledore, telling me not to 'do anything rash.'"
"Really?" Anna mused. "Why on Earth would Dumbledore say that?"
The reason was immediately established when she let out a small gasp, the colour draining from her face. "Oh my… Look." She pushed the paper across the table towards Sirius and Remus, who both knitted their brows before looking down at the front page.
'MASS BREAKOUT FROM AZKABANMINISTRY FEARS BLACK IS 'RALLYING POINT'
FOR OLD DEATH EATERS'
"Oh my indeed," Remus muttered as he scanned the article.
Sirius stared at the leering faces of Death Eaters he had faced before in battle, and felt a surge of fear run through his body. "This… this means the Dementors are following Voldemort," he choked.
Anna, who was now standing above Sirius and Remus, leaning over their shoulders to read the article, placed a comforting hand on Sirius's neck. "I know. God, Bellatrix Lestrange… I remember her." Anna shuddered, a painful, reminiscent look crossing over her face. Her grip on Sirius tightened. "She was… insane."
"She was," Remus agreed. "Bellatrix was in the same year as us at Hogwarts. A Death Eater if I ever saw one."
Anna shuddered again.
"And a crazy, sadistic bitch, too," Sirius added.
Anna sank into the chair beside Sirius. "I remember the night she was initiated. Death Eaters had to… prove their worth before they got the Mark. Usually they kidnapped Muggles, but sometimes… well let's just say my mother and I played a significant part in Bellatrix's initiation." That same haunted look that often graced Sirius now passed over Anna's face. "It's something I'd rather forget."
Remus and Sirius shared a worried look as Anna stood up from her seat. "I think I might go have a lie down. See you two later."
…&&&…
"Knock, knock."
Anna looked over at the door. "Hey, Siri, what's up?"
He grinned and strode into the room. "I have come to whisk you away from your brooding. It won't do to sit here and wallow in memories on such a beautiful day."
Anna glanced outside, where miserable grey clouds hung low over the sky and the snow fell in raging torrents. "Um, Sirius, have you looked outside today?"
He grinned. "My fair lady, while it may be a horrible, gruesome day here, on the other side of the world, summer is in bloom!"
Anna smiled widely. "I see what you're getting at." She jumped off her bed and followed Sirius into the study, where his "Wherever Map" was hanging on the wall.
He took out his wand and held it against a large island in the Southern Hemisphere. "Ever been to Australia?"
…&&&…
An hour later, Anna and Sirius left the study, still pulling their clothes on.
"Well," she pondered as she buttoned up her shirt. "I wonder how many people can say they've made love on a beach in the Daintree Rainforest…"
A/N: Merlin, I love Australia. Seriously, it has to be the most perfect day today! The sun is shining, the breeze is cool, its beautifully warm, the blossoms are out… Ahhh, Sydney. Sorry it took me forever to update, I was at my Dads and he just decided to spring on me that he's moving to Melbourne. Blurhg! Anyway, sorry about the uncharacteristic delay, but it happens, most unfortunately.
About the quote, I am so completely un-religious, but that quote just seemed to fit for some reason.
For those who asked where I get my Latin from, I am a frequent user of the ABSOLUTELY BLOODY FANTASTIC Webster's Online Dictionary, which can be found at www. websters- online- dictionary. Org (delete the gaps.) This seriously has to be the best godamn thing in the whole wide world. Type in any word and mountains of information comes up, including translations into all different languages, including Latin. Just scroll down and you'll find it under Ancestral Language Translations. Bloody brilliant.
By the way, I KNOW Siri is thirty-six, don't bother telling me again.
Until next time, Kate!