A/N:I know I'm not the most experienced or the best writer but really, I know some people are at least clicking on the story so at least some people have to be reading this, right? I'd like some reviews and feedback! It's really hard for a beginning writer to go on without those because I have no idea what I'm doing wrong or what I'm doing right and how I can improve myself. Thanks to those (if any) who are reading this, though, and sorry for the long wait between chapter 1 and chapter 2.
He thought that he was surely in some empty void of darkness that he'd heard was what awaited in death. He couldn't bear being in the place. The walls were closing in around him – if there were such things as walls in whatever place he was in – and he suddenly couldn't breathe, although he knew that action wasn't necessary as he was technically already dead.
Sirius let out a hoarse scream of despair. He'd failed James. He'd failed Lily. He'd failed Harry. No, that wasn't it. He'd failed everyone. His own stupidity had led him to this horrible fate, and he couldn't believe he was now going to have to suffer from his own self-blaming thoughts for eternity in this hell.
"Sirius."
A familiar voice shook him out of his thoughts. Bewildered, he looked up and froze at the sight of two familiar figures looking down at him with sad, sad smiles.
"J-James? Lily?" He whispered, not trusting his own voice nor his eyes. It couldn't be – his two dead friends were standing in front of him! But as he thought about it, he knew it was actually very possible. After all, he was dead himself, and perhaps he was in that heaven everyone seemed to believe that existed after death.
"Nice to see you again, old friend." The dark-haired man with glasses forced a ghost of his old playful grin and offered a hand to help his friend up. As soon as Sirius was standing beside him, James' grin faltered and then disappeared quickly. "We… We weren't expecting to see you so soon."
Sirius couldn't bear the guilt any longer. With a heart-wrenching and yet uncharacteristic sob, he buried his face in his hands, his shoulders shaking with grief. "I'm… I'm so sorry, Prongs! I swore to protect him, I know I really did, but look what I've become! I've… I've failed you both, Lily and James!"
Lily placed a hand on the grieving man's shoulder. "It's not your fault, Sirius. We're not blaming you for anything. We're thankful for all you've done for our little boy up to this point. We just wish… We just wish you didn't have to go so soon – for both Harry's sake and yours."
"Hey, old friend, you've changed in the years we haven't seen each other! I don't recall you ever being such a sentimental guy," James teased, clapping Sirius on the back in a reassuring manner before his voice turned softer and more gentle. "Look, you did all you could do. The only thing we can do now is to watch over Harry where we are and pray to keep him safe. Loony's still out there, isn't he? He'll help Harry, I know he will."
Shaking his head vehemently, Sirius looked up at his friends. "I can't do this. I have to go back – for him! This isn't right. I shouldn't be standing here with you two while he's left to fight alone! Isn't there any way for me to go back?" His eyes were desperate and pleading.
"There is."
This time, it was a strange voice that startled Sirius. He looked around and spotted an old but wise-looking woman stepping, or better, materializing, out of the darkness.
"Who are you?"
"I am your Angel of After Death."
As soon as those words were out of the woman's mouth, Sirius felt his two friends suddenly disappear, and he looked at the places where they once were with a sense of panic and foreboding.
"No! James! Lily!" With a face contorted with despair and loss, he turned back to the woman. "What have you done with them?"
"I did not do anything. Don't worry, Sirius, my child. You will see them soon enough, if that is what you choose," the Angel replied.
"What I choose? What do you mean? And you, you said there was a way for me to go back! I need to go back, I just have to!"
"Take my hand and let's take a little journey together, shall we?"
Hesitating with suspicion for a split second, Sirius finally decided that there was nothing to fear for after all, he was already dead, and clenching his teeth together and clamping his eyes shut, he took her hand and waited for whatever was waiting for him.
