Disclaimer: I am only writing this out of boredom and a brain that never stops; I don't really own anything.

A/N: I am such a bad person! I'm sorry it took so long to update! I've been really busy. Just to make it up to you, I'll be posting another very shortly…Thanks to: my penname is… I'm glad you liked it! Thanks so much for reviewing and reading.

Chapter Fourteen: The Last Things Ever Said

It had been four long, tedious days. They seemed to pass slower now, partly because there was nothing to do in Hogwarts when there were only four people there. Harry turned over in his bed. He knew it was morning by the sun that was shining in on him. He ignored it for as long as he could but he knew he had to get out of bed.

As soon as Harry stepped onto the cold Hogwarts floor, his eyes went straight to the letter sitting on the bureau. It had been there for days and he had no intention of moving it from its spot. It seemed so peaceful and unreal but as soon as he opened he knew it would have to become real. He'd have to admit to himself that Sirius was gone and never coming back and that was something he wanted to hide from himself.

As Harry dressed and left for breakfast he unconsciously kept one eye on the letter. There was a part of him that wanted to tear it into little pieces and throw it away; another part that wanted to read it and hear and see Sirius's voice and face in his head, saying the last words to him; and yet another that wished he hadn't left a letter at all, it was better not to know sometimes.

Harry wearily joined Ron and the others in the common room for a game of chess after breakfast. He was getting rather tired of playing chess. Not really the chess part of it but the losing to Ron or Ginny every time he played them. He had told them this yesterday, which caused the two of them to play each other until five hours later when they called a draw and allowed Harry to suffer another defeat.

So here they were again, in the same chairs as they had been four the last for days. "It'd be different if they'd give us work to do or something," Ginny explained. "At least then it's be something new."

"Why don't we go play Quidditch? That would be new," Ron suggested.

"I'm up for it," Ginny agreed.

"Me too. But Hermione, you would have to play…we have to have even teams," Harry and the rest of the room looked at her.

"I really don't think so. Surely there is another?" Hermione asked she turned the page in the book she was now reading.

"Maybe Lupin?"

"No, I don't think he's feeling well," Harry lied. He could have been feeling fine but he had an inkling that if he asked him, he would ask Harry about Sirius's letter and Harry didn't want to tell him that he still hadn't read it.

"What about Alexia?" Ron asked, "Do you think she would do it?"

(sc)

"Quidditch eh? Well, I'd love to. I've always been a sucker for that game. That's how I met Lupin and everyone…First girl on their team since they'd been at Hogwarts. Let's make it for 2:00 and we've got a deal."

Ron, Ginny and Harry smiled as they met Hermione in the hallway outside of Alexia's office. "I'd say from the look on your faces that she agreed."

"She did. And we can finally do something different."

(sc)

By dusk the Quidditch match was over and Ron and Harry beat Ginny and Alexia, 150-160. "Good game, guys. You deserved the win. It was good to play you. I'm sure the Quidditch team this year is going to turn some heads." Alexia smiled as she walked toward the benches, where Hermione had been sitting.

(sc)

Harry tossed and turned in his bed that night. He couldn't sleep at all. He had tried to rest his thoughts and relax but his mind had been bogged down all night. He finally got up out of the bed. He looked over at Ron, who was still sound asleep and scoffed to himself. Must be nice to sleep. Then he stepped into the stairwell. He stood there for a few minutes before going back into the room.

It was looking at him, staring. The white on the bureau stuck out in the darkness. Without knowing what he was doing, he grabbed it off the top and ran downstairs to the common room.

He held it in hands for an hour, switching it back and forth and looking it over. There was nothing special about it; it was a white envelope that merely said "for Harry" in Sirius's writing. They stared at each other.

He would have wanted you to read it. If he meant anything to you at all then you should care enough to hear what he has to say…they were his last words to you. You should read them.

Harry put his finger in the corner of the envelope. The white woven paper ripped in his hands and he pulled out a piece of parchment. His eyes scanned down the familiar handwriting and he took a breath as he started to read the things that Sirius felt he had say to him.

Harry,

If you are reading this letter then it can only mean that I finally met my death. I know that things are hard for you right now, which is why I felt compelled to write this to you. I wanted to tell you that you have overcome more things in your life than anyone I have ever known and I commend you for the way you have handled them. You have so many things in your life that a normal wizard can merely hope for, Harry. You may find that hard to believe but it is true.

From the outside, you are the envy so many. Not because you are 'the boy who lived' or because of your name, but because of all the things you possess within yourself. In the few great years I have known you I have seen you open your heart to so many and considering the fact that you have never been shown love in your life, that is a huge feat. It is also something that you should never forget to give or show to others.

It has been said that the greatest witches and wizards to ever live make into history. Dumbledore has made that book already and I believe that Moony will join it as well some day. It is also my greatest thought to think that you will be among them. It will not only be because of the fame you carry but also for the way you have loved and changed many lives.

There is an old saying that goes "The spell is always better from behind the wand." This, to me, rings true in both of our lives. From the outside, one thinks to have riches or a name is very important (they are behind the wand) but to those in front of it, they would rather have nothing than have the pain that is about to befall them, or has already. If there is one thing I have learned it is that no matter what you have done in your life and despite the things you wish you could change, the only thing you can do is realize them and move on. If you don't then you will spend your entire life hovered in the corner like a rat rather than facing them head-on.

I have spent much of my life in that corner—too mad to move. If I hadn't been so selfish and stopped regretting the things I couldn't change then I could have been a bigger part of your life. But I did not see that. As I sat in Azkaban, I could only remember the things that haunted me. If I had the power to change things I would have…especially now. I thought repeatedly of how I practically forced James and Lily to have Peter be their secret-keeper. If I had know then how misguided he was I could have helped him…or so I thought. I dwelled on those things every day. And I even thought of you.

It never crossed my mind that they would send you to live with those Muggles or that they would have treated you like that. If I had known, I probably would have done everything in my power to get to you. And I regret that as well; I should have asked someone. I should have been there for you. But I wasn't. I'm so privileged that you let me back into your life—It is something you will never understand.

I tell you this because I know what you are going through. I know what it is like to bare witness to such pain. And though Cedric's death was horrible, your pain is inconceivable as well…for you are the-boy-who-lived again. I am aware that as you prepare to return to Hogwarts, this pain is still very much real. And I'm here to tell you, that it will stay for a very long time.

I would have given anything to take the place of your father or mother…for me to die instead of them…but it was of no contest. It would have helped nothing. And you going in Cedric's place would have helped nothing as well…Then the world would have no hero to lead them through the hard times to come. (And Ron would be dreadful if you were not around.)

I want to you to know that I have faith in you Harry. Through whatever you have to do, wherever you have to go, whatever the cost…you are the only thing that I have left (besides old Moony) and to think of you giving up and retreating inside yourself breaks m heart. You were meant to live Harry. You were meant to live and love and laugh, just as much as anyone else. That's what I ask you to do.

Continue to love, Harry, in new and exciting ways. Girls will be chasing after you soon just always be sure to keep your eye on the ones that are hiding in the corner and waiting. Sometimes one is liable to forget them. And keep your loved ones close to you—you will need them to help you through whatever comes. My last bit of advice to you is to trust your instincts…they will always lead you in the correct path.

Harry, I know you can make it through whatever comes. You are strong and brave like James and smart like Lily. (You call upon me as well to lend you whatever good you think I can give.) Let them guide you. And Dumbledore is wise to help. Moony, now he's got a heart on him, that one. He'll need you as much as you need him. Let him help you; he's gone through quite a bit himself. Hermione's always there for you. And those Weasleys…they know their stuff. Fred and George will always lend a laugh; Molly a hug; Arthur a brain; Bill and Charlie have muscle; Ginny a smile and that Ron…I think you already know that one.

Use the people around you to offer love and support. Don't be stubborn all time Harry; let them help. And as for me, I will inform your parents of all you have done. I'm sure they are as proud as I am of you. Never regret the things you can't change Harry. If you do, your life will be miserable and it'll be gone before you know it. Until we meet again (which had better be a long, long time from now) take care of yourself and those around you.

PS. Keep an eye on Moony, will you?

Love, Sirius

Harry held the letter in his hands. Tears were welling up in his eyes but he wasn't going to let them fall. He folded up the letter and placed it neatly in the envelope. Sirius was right; he had to move on.

A/n: AW…more to come. Thanks for reading this!