Writer: Azure K Mello
Title: A Bond Never Dies
Part: 24?
Words: 272
Warnings: Angst. Non-canon
They sat down together on the little bench in the motor boat. James started the engine with a spell never having been one for muggle technology. At a distance from the prison Sirius' mind was beginning to clear. He silently watched James maneuver the boat out of it moorings with a point of his wand. He watched the waves lap at the little craft. He looked at the scars on James' hands and neck and finally said, "You've been losing control of your magic?" James just glanced at him, waiting for an explanation to the question. "You've a lot of new wounds."
"Voldemort kept me on edge to make sure he could study a mage in the raw."
"How did he do that?"
"I think that's a story for a day when you're healthier. Let's just say I don't react to stress well."
"I'm sorry I wasn't there," said Sirius and James smiled wanly. "You're really him aren't you? You're really my James."
"And no body else's."
"But you're dead."
"No, we're bonded or maybe we're bound, that doesn't matter. If I was dead you would be too."
"I thought I was. It's sort of hell in there, you see."
"You're not dead."
"Dumbledore wouldn't believe me. He said you were dead. That I'd killed you because I was jealous. He said I was as bad as my father. He said I was a coward because I had killed you and expected the bond to finish me so I wouldn't have to cope with what I'd done. He wouldn't believe me."
"He's a stupid man. He put Harry with Lily's bastard relatives."