Sirius laughed as Bellatrix stabbed her wand through the air. The Stunning Spell was dodged easily, and Sirius barked out another laugh. And then another Stunner hit him squarely in the chest. He felt surprise course through him as he stumbled backwards…into light…
When he could see again, the Quidditch Pitch swam into view, and he was aware he was flat on his back. Then his eyes landed on James, who was staring at him intensely.
I'm dead, Sirius thought. So for sure dead.
James approached him carefully. "Sirius, mate. How—how are you?"
Sirius sat up, and was surprised to find his head was not spinning. Definitely dead. "I—did that bitch kill me?"
James gave him another intense look. "Eh, sort of…she Stunned you…but you fell back into that damn archway. I always knew they shouldn't have something like that laying around! Then again…you were killed by a tapestry hanging in an archway…oh Padfoot…what am I going to do with you?"
Sirius looked at him, and was totally astounded that James could be joking at a time like this. Sirius had just died yet James was not consoling him, or even offering his sympathy. Then again, said a little voice in his head, this is how James used to deal. And James had been dead for so long…
And Sirius broke down. He tackled James in a hug. "I'm so sorry! It's my fault you're dead…my fault we're all here…my fault Harry is alone…"
James hugged back for a moment, then pushed Sirius back slightly. "It's not your fault, James. You suggested the rat, but I trusted him too…"
"I let Harry stop me and Remus from killing him…"
"And Harry was right to stop you! You are not a killer! Sirius, it's ok. Come on, Lily wants to see you too."
Sirius looked at his best friend, and even though he was sad he was dead—sad that Harry was, once again, alone (he knew that Remus could only do so much, given his problem)—but he couldn't help but be the littlest bit happy to see James again.
"Well let's not leave a lady waiting, then."