Falling.

Ice.

White.

Sirius opened his eyes as soon as he landed, surprised to see that he was lying under the frozen Whomping Willow. Was this - was he…?

It all came back at once and he breathed in a gasp and struggled to get to his feet when he remembered. The ministry, the fighting, Harry, Bellatrix…

Sirius Black knew he was dead.

What he most certainly did not know was what he was doing here. He looked down at his person, and to his shock, realised that he was no longer dressed in his wizarding robes. Instead, he wore a Hogwarts school uniform. His hands didn't look fatigued. His hair was short again. He was young again…He was fifteen again.

What the hell did this mean? Was he going to spend the rest of his….existence stuck in some perpetual reminder of his glory days? Suddenly he heard something. He could almost feel his ears prick up, but he didn't need to struggle to recognise who it was.

James.

Sirius glanced down at the opening at the base of the tree, made obvious by its still state. So this was his choice - he'd heard enough people talk about death to know. If he slid down the passage, he'd return to the realm of the living - in some form of an imprint, probably as a ghost. If he didn't, he'd officially move on. He almost did it. He wanted nothing more than to help Harry, but then the voice grew louder and he knew.

He wouldn't be much use as a ghost and besides - if he had a chance to see James again - to see her again, would he really be able to let it go?

The force of the impact knocked him to the ground but Sirius didn't care. They were both laughing uncontrollably, but Sirius knew that they were crying too, and for the first time in much too long, he felt a lightness in his chest that hadn't truly been there since they'd died.

"You made it up here too soon, Padfoot."

"I could say the same of you."

"I guess but - it wasn't supposed to be like this, you should have lived longer."

"Were you not watching?"

"Of course I was - 'not a day goes by that I don't miss your father' - never pegged you for the sentimental kind Black."

"Sod off Prongs."

"I missed you too, mate."

They got up and leaned against the trunk as Sirius marvelled at their surroundings.

"Prongs?"

"Hm?"

"Where is she?"

o-O-o

For the third time that day, Sirius was knocked to the ground, although it didn't really matter to him. They settled on their sides and he brushed the hair out of her face. She pulled his mouth to hers and they kissed, and for the first time in a long time, Sirius felt his heart jump and his stomach flutter. He pulled her closer and, wrapped in each other's arms, they proceeded to kiss for a very long time. Eventually he pulled back, but only so that he could kiss every inch of her face.

"I thought I'd never see you again." He said, tasting the salt of her tears. His cheeks were wet too, but it didn't matter.

"The feeling's mutual."

"When you died, I felt…"

"I know, Sirius, I saw it all."

"God 'Lene, I've missed you so much."

"I missed you too." She was crying again.

"I can't believe - this is insane - I mean-"

"I know Sirius, I know." He looked straight into her eyes then, gazing into them intensely.

"I love you Marlene McKinnon." She smiled. The last time she'd heard those words had been the eve of her death.

"I love you too."