Written for:

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry: Creative Collection
Character - Sirius, Paired Character - Kingsley, Prompt - "Please don't leave me alone."

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry: Insane House
Item - Cage

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry: Jewel Challenge
Beryl - Necklace: Write about someone lending a friend a sympathetic ear

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry: 365 Days
365: Location - Grimmauld Place

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry: Writing Club
Character appreciation - Dialogue: "Until the very end."
Liza's Loves: Copycat - Alt - Write about someone jealous
Count Your Buttons: Cage, "Right. I knew that."

Promise

Pairing: Sirius, Kingsley

xXx

Sirius looked around, touching the bars of the cage that held him captive. He moved his hands to grip the bars and tried to bend them enough that he could slip through the slats. He wasn't strong enough, though. "Help! Help!" he screamed.

No one came running. No one heeded his call of distress.

Sirius' eyes flew open, and he sat up in bed. Someone was there. Someone was at Grimmauld Place.

He kicked his blanket off his body and got out of bed. He opened the door and peeked into the hallway; no one was there.

He left the familiarity of his room and went to the staircase. He started descending but stopped when the visitor came to the bottom of the stairs.

"Kingsley, what are you doing here?"

"Dropping something off for the Order meeting." His dark eyes looked at Sirius, and there was a flicker of appreciation in Kingsley's gaze. "Good nap?"

Sirius thought about admitting to the truth, but that had never been his style. "Of course."

Kingsley slowly nodded. "I'll go then. Leave you to it."

A surge of panic almost overwhelmed Sirius. "Please don't leave me alone."

Kingsley tilted his head. "Sirius?"

"I'm alone all the time. Can you stay for a little while? Keep me company?"

"I have work..." Kingsley trailed off when he saw Sirius' kicked puppy dog expression.

"Right. I knew that."

"I can stay for a little bit, though."

Sirius' face lit up, and he raced down the rest of the stairs. "Great!"

They got some food from the kitchen and went to the living room. If Kingsley was going to stay for a while, he might as well eat lunch.

They chewed quietly for a bit until Sirius looked him and unceremoniously said, "I'm jealous of you and everyone else."

Kingsley blinked. "Why?"

"You have freedom. People take it for granted, but you can breathe fresh air whenever you want to. I wish I had that.

"It won't be forever," Kingsley tried.

Sirius glared at his plate that was almost empty. "It will be long enough. I just wish…"

"I know, but you're right. People take the simplest things for granted. They don't realize how lucky they are."

Sirius nodded. "I know once I'm allowed to leave the forsaken house, I'll never take anything for granted again."

They finished their lunch, both lost in thought.

Kingsley stood up. "For now on, I'll come at least once a week to have lunch with you."

Sirius stood up as well. "Promise?"

"Until the very end of your captivity."

Sirius felt the vice-like grip around his heart loosen a bit. "Thank you."

Kingsley nodded and left through the front door. He hadn't planned to make the promise, but seeing Sirius so sad, he couldn't help himself. It was the least he could do for the man.

(word count: 474)