A/N: Here is 36! Sorry for the shortness of it... I've been focusing a bit more on one of my original pieces lately :|


February 23, 1994

"What the bloody hell are you on?" Rachel exclaimed.

"That was actually quite rude," Remus muttered. "What a shock. I never expected that from you," he added sarcastically.

Rachel rolled her eyes and sighed heavily. "I don't understand how you could still have doubts about Sirius's innocence," she continued. "You are nutters."

"Well, I don't anymore," Remus said. "Thanks to the handy-dandy Marauder's Map." He threw down the parchment on his desk.

Rachel smirked. "That old thing is still around?" she asked. Oh, how much trouble that had caused.

"Yes, believe it or not," Remus confirmed. "It was in the safekeeping of Fred and George Weasley, who kindly handed it down to Harry."

"Weasley, eh?" Rachel questioned. "And what a coincidence that Harry should get it."

"Yes, and they're Molly's sons. Remind me an awful lot of Fabian and Gideon," Remus said. "It is. There is something even more astounding though. You'll never guess who popped up in the middle of the night."

"Surprise me," Rachel said. "Wait, was it Sirius?"

Remus scoffed. "He might've been friends with Prongs, but he wasn't that big of an idiot," he said. "It was, in fact, Wormtail."

Rachel's eyes widened in surprise. "Are you kidding me?" she hissed. "But wasn't Sirius framed for his murder?"

"Think about it a bit harder," Remus said sourly.

Rachel's mind tried to work out what was happening as silence fell in the room. Suddenly, her jaw dropped slightly. There was no way.

Her surprise quickly turned into anger.

"I know that look," Remus said. "Don't you dare hunt him down."

Rachel gritted her teeth and sighed. "Fine," she grumbled. "Well, I better be getting back to work."

"Right, you're training Aurors now," Remus said. "I always thought you'd stay with the difficult work."

"So did I," Rachel agreed. "But clearly, a lot of things didn't go to plan."

"I'll say," Remus muttered.

They said their goodbyes and Rachel exited the stone office. She rushed down the familiar school hallways, her eyes doing the same routine as always. It was completely involuntary, but every time she visited Hogwarts, her eyes searched for Harry. She didn't even have to think about it.

Rachel was so lost in the activity, though, that she almost crashed into someone.

"Oi, sorry about that," she muttered, taking a couple of steps back. When she looked up to address the person, she almost cursed aloud.

"Not a problem," Snape slowly replied, immediately recognizing the Auror in front of him.

Rachel pursed her lips and looked around aimlessly. "Well then, g'day Professor," she said, sweeping past him.

Reminiscing with Remus was rather fun. Something just told Rachel that it wouldn't be quite as pleasant with Snape.


When he thought about it, Sirius couldn't believe his luck. He had been so close… almost made it to the free land, almost set everything right. But that was the key word: almost. He'd almost got it all—but he didn't. It just wasn't good enough.

However, he didn't almost get caught and sentenced again—that one was quite the simple task to complete.

Who knew twelve years in Azkaban would inevitably result in his execution?

However, if Sirius were given the choice between the two, he would choose execution. Azkaban had been… positively frightening. His life before it had been perfect happiness, even during the war. Sticking him on an island with Dementors was just about the most damaging thing. And on top of that, there were his demented cousin's shrieks every freaking day. It was enough to drive him mad.

Sirius sighed. If this was how it was going to end, then he was happy that he got to speak to Harry first.

Suddenly, Sirius remembered the aged envelope Remus had given him.

Sirius quickly pulled the envelope from its hiding spot under his shirt. His heartbeat slowed down for a good minute as he took in the writing on the front. It was his name. Written in Rachel's writing. He would've recognized that curvy and neat longhand anywhere.

Slowly, he ripped open the envelope and pulled out the parchment.

Dear Sirius,

Bloody hell, this is a really late reply.

In case you haven't realized yet, I'm replying to that silly old letter you wrote me way back in that summer before seventh year. Weird times, eh? You came to my house and were all silent and then you kissed me (it was a bloody magnificent kiss, by the way) and then you suddenly Apparated away (which was really fucking rude). Anyways, you left behind this letter that seemed to be written with your hormones and actual emotions instead of your brain.

It was really fun to read, considering you were falsely imprisoned at the time when I read it.

Yes okay, I read your letter five years late. Sue me.

But anyways, I just wanted to say that not telling me how you felt pretty much made the whole thing that much more fun (so don't feel too bad—we did get engaged). Secondly, it's really sweet that you didn't consider me just another slag. Honestly, I'm touched.

Also, Sirius love, I also think you are as equally wonderful as you think I am. Which, apparently, is a whole awful lot.

I don't really know the point of this letter, either. I guess I just wanted to feel like I was talking to you. Bloody hell, I already miss you and it's only been three weeks. Stupid life sentences.

Your amazing fiancée,

Rachel

P.S. – Yes, I am most likely still alive and no, I have not become a cat lady, thank you very much. I will forever be sophisticated.

Despite his sorry state, Sirius couldn't help but laugh to himself. This letter was so much like Rachel. He had regretted not being able to talk to her before his sentence, but it seemed to him that they had just had one lengthy conversation. Which was actually true considering this started way back in seventh year.

He had missed her too. Now that he thought about it, thinking of her was the only thing that kept him sane in Azkaban.

Just as Sirius had relaxed, he heard a loud BANG! Sirius looked up quickly and saw… well, to be perfectly honest, he saw Harry, Harry's oddly smart friend, and a hippogriff that seemed to have anger issues.

And Sirius also no longer saw any bars restricting him.

Well, this was a certain turn of events.


I'm sorry again for the crappy length! D:

-Grammar/spelling?
-What did you think of Rachel's letter?
-Hope the time jumps aren't bothering anyone... there isn't much else to write about in between.

Thanks for reading! :)