Writer: Azure K Mello
Title: A Bond Never Dies
Part: 23?
Words: 229
Warnings: Angst. Non-canon
"Who's a good boy?" asked James softly as he took Sirius' hand. He kissed Sirius' fingers. Smiling gently he led Sirius out of the cell, "You're doing great." Three guards stood behind James and Sirius flinched back from their cold presence, "Ignore them. They won't hurt you. We're pretending you were acquitted because I'm alive and I told everyone the truth. We're gonna pretend to go home. And I'm gonna pretend to reintroduce you to Harry. He's four -you've been here for three years- you'll like him."
"Three years?"
"Uh-huh."
"Where were you?"
"Voldemort kept me in seclusion so he could study a mage." He led the prisoner out of the penitentiary and into the sunlight.
"Were you scared?" Sirius himself was shaking and was watching his feet not the open space.
"Yeah. But I knew you were waiting for me." The prison was on an island and James led Sirius slowly to the dock.
"But. . . you're not real."
"So I've heard," said James as he stepped into the little boat he'd rented, "C'mon. Let's get out of here."
"Am I gonna get in trouble?"
"No, Sear. Remember? This is a game of pretend. Nothing will happen to you," James assured the frightened man and smiled as Sirius finally stepped into the boat. "Perfect," he said as he used his free hand to stroke the man's face.