Author's note: This story deals with war and violence. With the horrific attacks by Hamas and the growing violence in the Middle East and around the world, please be mindful of your mental health before reading this.

One of the coauthors of the Animorph series, K.A. Applegate wrote an open letter to her fans (~2001) in response to their disappointment that the series did not end happily ever after. I'm going to quote part of it here as I think it is just as pertinent now as it was then:

"Here's what doesn't happen in war: there are no wondrous, climactic battles that leave the good guys standing tall and the bad guys lying in the dirt. Life isn't a World Wrestling Federation Smackdown. Even the people who win a war, who survive and come out the other side with the conviction that they have done something brave and necessary, don't do a lot of celebrating. There's very little chanting of 'we're number one' among people who've personally experienced war."

This is a canon compliant short story taking place in March 1980, and follows Sirius as he imparts on another mission for the Order of the Phoenix.

Chapter 1: The Mission

March 1980

Sirius Black stifled a yawn as he stirred cream into his coffee. Beside him, Peter Pettigrew was sipping his tea and watching the crowd of people fawning over James and Lily Potter.

"You'd think no one's ever seen a pregnant woman before?" Peter grumbled, but he too was gazing fondly at the couple. Lily, only a few months away from giving birth, was beaming at the attention.

"New life among all this death? We could all use a little bit of hope," Sirius replied. Peter nodded in agreement.

Sirius and his friends had joined the Order of the Phoenix shortly after leaving Hogwarts. Around eighteen months had passed; which felt both ridiculously quick and as if he'd already lived a lifetime. The Order had gotten a lot busier in the last sixth months; more missions, Death Eaters to tail, intelligence to gather. Sirius was always a willing volunteer, throwing himself headfirst into danger. Along with his friends, he was one of the few full-time fighters. He and Remus had been involved in the highest number of missions. Peter was overall more cautious in his involvement. Lily hadn't been as active since divulging her pregnancy, and it had been weeks since a lot of the Order members had seen her. James had taken time off to grieve the loss of his parents, and he was planning on keeping a lower profile once the baby was born.

Sirius had not taken time off after Fleamont and Euphemia Potter had succumbed to Dragon Pox. The Potters had taken him in when he'd run away, treated him like a second son, but he hadn't felt like he'd earned the right to mourn them.

The chattering crowd quieted as Albus Dumbledore called the meeting to order. The Order of the Phoenix was congregated in the large drawing room of the empty estate. It was the summer house of some wealthy Muggle Family that had no connection to anyone in the Order. It would serve as their outpost for the next week or so. Protective enchantments had been placed around the property as well as alarms to signal any unwanted guests. Moving around frequently was inconvenient, but a necessary safety precaution. It was dangerous for them all to meet in one place, and they didn't do it often.

Across the room, Sirius spotted the last member of his friend group, the elusive Remus Lupin. As their eyes met, Remus only offered a tight smile. Sirius frowned. Remus had been growing distant over the last few weeks and he'd missed their last get-together at the Potters. He had disappeared for a few days around the last full moon without telling anyone where he would be. They were too busy to all be there every full moon, but one of them usually could find the time. Remus had returned with little explanation, his self-inflicted wounds bandaged and healing.

Dumbledore finished his usual pep talk; thanking them all again for their commitment and bravery. Then he turned the floor over to the Aurors, Alastor Moody, and Alice and Frank Longbottom.

Alice was the first to speak. She wore loose-fitting purple robes that somewhat hid her growing belly. Alice Longbottom was also pregnant and due around the same time as Lily. She'd still been working actively during her pregnancy as an Auror.

"A Death Eater stronghold has been discovered. There will be a coordinated attack with all branches of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement – Aurors, Hit Wizards, and the Magical Law Enforcement Squad. If this mission is successful, it will change the projection of the War in our favor. To increase the chances of success, the Ministry has agreed – for this one mission – to work with the Order of the Phoenix."

There was sudden murmuring from the crowd with that news. Despite being on the same side, the Ministry appeared to find the Order meddlesome and tiresome. Technically speaking, Aurors weren't allowed to be members of Dumbledore's clandestine group.

"Cooperation of the Ministry with the Order will not be made public or acknowledged. As this will be a larger operation than usual, we will need volunteers for sifting through gathered intelligence, logistics and planning, surveillance, and wands on the ground for the raid. As always participation is completely voluntary. If you have any concerns or questions, do not hesitate to ask.

Those interested please see Vance or Dearborn at the end of the meeting. Moody, Frank, and I will be meeting with Dumbledore to assign everyone into groups, and you will be contacted with more details. Those of you in current critical assignments will not be involved with this operation."

There were a few more orders of business and then the meeting was adjourned. Sirius saw James was making his way over to where he and Peter stood. Sirius, though, wanted to speak with Remus and he spotted his friend making a beeline for the exit.

"Sign me up for ground combat," Sirius said as James sidled up beside him.

"Padfoot, maybe you should-"

Sirius patted James on the back. "See you tonight for dinner."

And without any further explanation he sped after Remus. He was almost at the door when Fabian Prewett stepped in front of him, blocking his exit.

"Dumbledore wants to speak to us."

"Now?"

"Now. There's an office up the stairs and to your left, we'll be there in a few minutes."

Sirius trudged up the stairs feeling like he was back at Hogwarts being hauled off to the headmaster's office. He wasn't usually singled out for Order business. He was both too exhausted for a meeting with Dumbledore and to deal with the repercussions of ignoring the summons. Dumbledore had this uncanny ability to peer into one's soul; to fracture the confidence of even the most arrogant. He had wondered if Dumbledore truly saw him as a good person or as someone whose desire to be good could be used to further his cause.

Dumbledore and Prewett walked in shutting the door behind them. Sirius had been paired with Fabain Prewett over the last half of the year. Modeling the way, the Aurors worked, Dumbledore had begun pairing newer recruits with more seasoned members. The eldest of the Prewett brothers, Fabian, was seven years older than Sirius. Fabian was only a half an inch taller than Sirius, but his burly frame gave him a more imposing figure.

They worked well together. Fabian was one of the Order's top duelers with excellent physical and mental stamina. He not only excelled in the physical aspects but was a careful observer and excellent strategist. He had certainly earned Sirius's respect and Sirius had already learned a lot under his tutelage.

Dumbledore was the first to speak. "How are you faring, Sirius? I haven't had a chance to personally speak to you since your last assignment."

"Fine...as good as can be expected."

"You've signed up to take part in the next mission?"

"It's all hands-on deck, isn't it?" he asked, looking between Dumbledore and Prewett.

"You haven't been cleared from your last mission," Prewett stated quietly.

"I wasn't aware I needed to be."

The Order was trying to be more structured in its organization. While no one was officially considered a superior or subordinate yet, Sirius was growing wary of the direction it was going.

"I do...need to clear you."

"So, clear me."

Fabian shook his head. "Sirius, it's too soon."

Sirius folded his arms. "Don't you think I should be the judge of that?"

"It's only been a few days."

"I'm fine."

"It takes time to process what happened."

Their last mission had gone spectacularly wrong. A Muggle childcare facility had been attacked, and they hadn't saved anyone. Along with their three caregivers, eleven children under the age of five were found dead; perishing in a deadly fire started by the Death Eaters.

He and Prewett had burst into the burning building together. They'd grabbed several children, carrying them into the fresh air, pumping their chests in desperation. There was nothing to be done; the children lay lifeless and listless.

Sirius had been ready to rush back in – to try again. Prewett had pulled him back right as the building exploded. The force so strong, it sent them both tumbling to the ground. Sirius wasn't sure what was worse – the sight of the small bodies under the white sheets or the charred, unrecognizable remains inside after the fire fighters had gotten the blaze under control.

Sirius, angry, had pursued the retreating Death Eaters, and killed one in the preceding battle. Everyone had agreed it had been an act of self-defense. Sirius had narrowly saved himself from being impaled to death. The Death Eater had hurled by splintered wood, sharpened into wooden spears, directly at him. Sirius had reversed the spell instead of shielding; launching the wooden spears back toward his enemy. His opponent had not reacted fast enough. The Death Eater had fallen to his knees, the spears sticking haphazardly out of his body, blood gushing out of the wounds. He was dead before Sirius had even understood what he'd done.

It was his second kill since joining the Order. A worthless scum of a Death Eater – one who'd been a part of murdering innocent children. He knew that was a point of contention with some in the Order – the killing in general and the fact he hadn't been bothered enough by it. He wasn't some wide-eyed recruit with visions of heroism and grandeur. He knew what the Death Eaters were capable of. He knew what needed to be done to win. He wasn't afraid to get his hands dirty. He was glad he'd killed the Death Eaters. He was prepared to do it again.

It was becoming obvious that they all thought he was going to break down – whether from the dead children or the dead Death Eaters. He was convinced someone had instructed James and Lily to talk to him. He'd been cornered on two separate occasions, ignoring their troubled glances and careful questions. He'd brushed them off. They were all wrong to worry.

He was fine.

He felt alive.

He was in control.

Sirius looked down at his bandaged hands. Burns that he hadn't let one of the medics heal – preferring the pain, a reminder of the lives lost, a reminder of the reason they were fighting.

"So how do I prove that I have – processed it all? I'm sleeping (a lie). I'm eating (half a lie). Socializing with my mates (mostly true). What else do you need to see, a journal entry with my inner most thoughts?"

"A sincere conversation about your feelings would be a start."

Sirius sighed in exasperation. "There's nothing to say-"

But Prewett saw right through him. "You think I don't hear their screams at night? See their bodies every time I close my eyes?"

Sirius shook his head, the words of denial stuck in his throat. Memories of that day overwhelmed him – the heat of the flame, the smoke choking his lungs, Prewett's face smeared with blood, soot, and sweat, the screams of the children, and the unseeing eyes of the dead on the ground. The wooden spears piercing the Death Eater...

He sank down into one of the armchairs, cradling his head in his hands. He looked up at Dumbledore and Prewett, his eyes wet with unshed tears, and he knew he'd lost the argument.

Sirius wasn't completely removed from the mission. They still needed his help even if he was somewhat of a liability because of his emotional state. His strengths were better utilized in active roles, but he was not allowed to take part in ground combat for the time being. So, he was placed into the surveillance group, comprised of eight people, including himself. They were scheduled to meet a few days later at the same Muggle Estate.

Feeling restless, Sirius arrived early for the meeting. He strolled into the drawing room and found Remus rifling through a pile of maps and drawings.

"Moony?"

Remus stepped back, looking guilty. Sirius noticed the tension in his shoulders, the bags under his eyes.

"What are you doing here?"

"Order business," Remus responded shortly.

Sirius narrowed his eyes. "Which group are you part of?"

"I'm working for something else for Dumbledore," Remus explained hastily. He glanced at the beat-up watch on his wrist. "I better get going."

"Can't spare a few minutes for one of your mates?"

Remus shrugged apologetically. "We'll talk soon. I promise. Tell James and Peter I said hello!"

Remus disappeared out of the room as quickly as he had the other day.

Sirius walked over to check out what Remus had been looking at. The maps and diagrams, on their own, didn't mean much to him.

"Padfoot!"

Sirius whirled around. "Wormtail?"

Peter was carrying a tray with sandwiches and Sirius's stomach growled at the sight. He hadn't eaten anything in several hours, and the meeting was scheduled for around dinner time. "Surveillance group?"

"Yea...I didn't think you were part of it though?"

"I'm not. They needed someone to keep an eye on this place, keep track of all meetings, tidy up...and I volunteered. Not the most glamorous of jobs, but somebody must do it." Peter placed the tray on the table. Peter had never been a risktaker like him and James, but by continuing to be a part of the Order he was proving to be a true Gryffindor.

"No job too small, right?"

Peter grinned. "Coffee and tea are almost ready. You can grab those maps behind you."

"These are of the facility?" If Remus wasn't part of the operation, then what business did he have looking at these at all.

"I believe so," Peter said uninterestedly.

"Did you run into Remus earlier? He was just here."

"Was he?"

"He rushed off rather quickly," Sirius said. "Barely said two words to me."

"Well, we're all busy, aren't we?"

"Yes...I suppose."

"You know... now that I think about it, I don't think he was on the list of people who were supposed to stop in..." Peter mused.

"There's a list?" Sirius asked tiredly.

Peter waved his hand. "To keep things orderly with so many new faces and people involved in the raid." He glanced sideways at Sirius. "Probably an oversight..."

"I haven't talked with him in ages...and I wonder how he's really doing?"

"The War's getting to everyone. Aren't we all struggling?

"Yea."

Peter hesitated before adding, "Though...I've noticed a change too."

"You have?"

"He's been more distant than ever. Something feels off..." Peter scuffed his shoe, nervously.

"You think he's hiding something?"

"I wouldn't say that..." Peter said backtracking. "I'll see if he'll agree to meet up with just me. Maybe I can figure out what's bothering him."

Sirius wanted to take offense, but he probably wasn't the best person to get Remus to open up. Sometimes he felt like he'd traveled back in time to those awful weeks after he'd told Snape how to freeze the Whomping Willow. Remus had avoided him back then too.

Peter went back to the kitchen area, and other members of the team arrived within minutes of each other. They introduced themselves to Sirius quickly as the rest were all vaguely acquainted.

Violet Lee, team lead, was a high ranking Senior Auror. She had a no-nonsense aura about her. She wore her graying hair short and dressed in Muggle attire.

She brought along two others from the Auror Department: Alex Moore, a petite woman in her early 30s who wore her blonde hair in a tight bun and someone Sirius vaguely recognized from Hogwarts, Jack Wright. Wright was an average looking bloke, with square glasses and light brown hair.

The second in command was an officer from the Magical Law Enforcement Squad named Thomas Hill. Hill was tall and lanky, and looked to be in his early forties. He was still dressed in his formal Ministry robes.

He brought with him three others from his department – Tanya Bahl, Christopher Sallow, and Sott Bell. He knew Tanya Bahl, from Hogwarts. She'd been on the Ravenclaw Quidditch Team, having left Hogwarts about three years before him. Tanya was very pretty with warm brown skin and long black hair. During her introduction, she grinned at Sirius in recognition.

Christopher Sallow, was a man in his late twenties. He wore his black hair short and had a serious look about him. Sirius didn't think he saw him crack a smile through the entirety of the meeting. Last was Scott Bell. He was also dressed in Muggle Attire, and he had rolled his sleeves up revealing an intricately drawn tattoo on his bicep.

Lee explained the plan and protocol that was supposed to be followed. They would be there only to observe and gather intelligence. They were not supposed to engage unless forced to. And if they found themselves in an altercation, the goal was to get out of the situation as quickly as possible, even if that meant losing intelligence gathered.

Lee spread out the maps on the table.

"We've narrowed it down to six possible buildings." She grabbed a quill and labeled the buildings A-F. "Keep in mind that this is an industrial area with large, dangerous machinery inside. This Muggle Factory which produced fabric and ribbons was unexpectedly closed three weeks ago. The owners were apparently involved in some sort of financial scheme. The details aren't important, but we believe this was orchestrated by the Death Eaters so they could use these facilities undetected."

"What would they need such a large space for?" Sirius asked.

"Nothing good, Black. Nothing good," Hill mumbled.

"Building C is our likely target. It's the second largest of the buildings, and its location in the middle helps shield it from prying eyes." Lee paused. "Or building F. It is the second smallest but located near a creek with wooded area beyond that. The wooded area is a mile long...and leads straight towards a large city populated mostly by Muggles. There is concern that Death Eaters may be planning to launch an attack from the woods."

Their strategy discussion lasted roughly 40 minutes. With the maps rolled up, they gathered around the food and drink. Conversation flowed easily between the others, but Sirius remained uncharacteristically quiet.

Lee approached him while he was pouring himself another cup of tea.

"How are you? Nervous?" she asked refilling her cup as well.

Sirius scoffed. "I'm fine...and no."

Lee took a sip of her tea, regarding him quietly. He wondered what Dumbledore had told her about him. He wondered what the team thought of having a Black be part of the mission.

"I am glad to have you as part of this team. This is a strong, talented group...but newcomers always bring with them a fresh perspective." She nodded at him. "Get some rest these next few days, a long night awaits us."

Three days later, early in the evening, they apparated to the location. It was a clear night, and the stars shone brightly above them. The stars were no source of comfort to him. It felt like generations of Blacks were judging him from above, disgusted with his choices. He glared upwards because the shame went both ways. Sirius inhaled deeply as the wind whipped around; the crisp air enlivened him and banished away his negative thoughts.

The team was dressed in dark blue robes to help blend into the darkness. They were stationed along a low wall that was along a hill overlooking the area. Two slow hours passed, and so far, nothing of notice had happened. No Death Eaters coming and going, no strange lights or sounds or smoke or smells. Sirius was bored, and the team was beginning to grow restless. They'd already confirmed what they could on the maps, updating any changes, such as boarded up windows or blocked exits.

Sirius handed over the magical binoculars to Bahl. "Is this job always this riveting?"

She laughed softly. "Honestly it depends-"

Sirius looked in the distance. He was giving his eyes a rest, not focusing on anything, when something caught his eye. "Did you see that?" he asked abruptly.

"See what?" Bahl asked.

"A shimmer. Around Building F."

There was silence as she stared in the direction. "I'm not seeing anything -" Then she cursed softly and called Lee and Hill over.

"Nice work, Black," Lee said after confirming with Hill that he had indeed seen something of note. It was deduced that the shimmer was from a protective enchantment, and that meant something of importance was being magically shielded.

"Team, we are going to have to move closer, which means closer to danger. We'll likely need to be within the enchantment to see what is being hidden. If we don't, the ground tactical team will be going in blind."

Sirius nodded in agreement along with the others. He felt his pulse quicken in a way that always made him feel more alive. The risk had increased, and he was ready to face it head-on.

"Remember that there are likely Anti-Apparition charms around and in Building F. Perhaps around the whole area."

"You'd think we'd see the Death Eaters coming and going," Sallow mused "They'd have to Apparate into the surrounding area, and then walk in."

"Not necessarily," said Moore. "We've seen it before when they cordon off an area from the charm inside the building. It's advanced magic, but possible."

"Remember this is still information gathering only," Lee reminded them. "No engagement unless necessary. Stay hidden. Look for information that will help the ground team - entry points, weaknesses in defense, and a rough number of Death Eaters present."

She unrolled the diagram on the ground, lighting her wand, and they gathered around. "Hill you take Black. I want the two of you to loop around, along the creek, and approach Building F from the back. There are several large dumpsters that should give you good cover."

Hill gave a curt nod towards Sirius in acknowledgement.

"Bahl, Sallow, and Moore you'll approach from the right side. You'll be passing buildings B, D, and E. Make note of anything unusual on the off chance they are using multiple buildings. Building F will still be your main target. Bell, Wright and I will approach from the left, with our focus on Building C. If there's nothing there, we will also head then to Building F. Wands out! Stay vigilant! We don't know what they are hiding or how many Death Eaters are present. We'll reconvene here within the hour. Any questions?"

There were none. Sirius and Hill started out first, down a gravel path and veered off into the wooded area that surrounded the buildings. The trees were sporadic, but the forest floor was dense with brambles, vines, and weeds. Sirius's heart hammered loudly with nervous energy as he followed Hill silently. An owl hooted and then Sirius sensed a presence behind him. He whipped around, a curse on his lips, only to see a fox leaping across the path. Hill was beside him instantly. Hill brought a finger to his mouth, and they stood there waiting for Sirius's heart rate to slow, to see if it had been them or someone else that had scared the fox.

The forest remained silent, so they continued. The magical shimmer from the enchantment became more visible as they drew closer. They left the safety of the woods, and crouched along the riverbank, eyeing the back of the building and the line of dumpsters. From their current location, this side of the building had no windows and only one entry point. The only sounds were the running water of the creek and their breath.

"I don't like this," Hill whispered. "It's too quiet. Something feels wrong."

"We're not in the enchantment yet, are we? We need to get closer."

"My guess is it probably starts around the line of dumpsters. On the count of three, we're going to run to that first dumpster. Ready?"

Sirius nodded.

"One. Two. Three!"

As Sirius scrambled up the slight incline of the bank, his foot caught on a slippery song, and he stumbled to his knees. A green light shot from across the embankment over him, passing so closely that he could feel the tingle of magic as it brushed over him. He flattened himself, about to shout a warning to Hill when a second green light hit Hill directly in the chest. Hill fell to the ground, dead.

Sirius jumped back to his feet (knowing If he didn't move, he'd be dead soon too). He rushed forward, the muscles in his legs straining, toward the dumpster and around, dodging another spell, so that he was between the dumpster and the wall of building F.

He felt a subtle change in the air as he passed through the enchantment. As he caught his breath, he looked around widely. He forced himself to focus, expecting to see some grand revelation of what the Death Eaters had been hiding.

Nothing.

There was nothing different.

It was the same windowless wall with the one exit.

A trap. Those words sprung immediately to the forefront of his mind. They'd walked into a trap!

Sirius couldn't worry about that now. Trap or not, he was in immense danger, and he needed to concentrate on escape.

There was a small gap between the dumpster he was hiding behind and the next one. He edged as close as possible and took a quick look, before flattening himself once again against the side. A line of shadowy figures was walking across the riverbank. There had to be fifteen to twenty Death Eaters blocking his best escape route. He had already tried to Apparate, but Lee had correctly guessed there would be Anti-Apparation charms. Out in the woods he might be able to Apparate, but how was he supposed to get there...

"He thinks he can hide from us," a female voice mocked loudly in the darkness. "Hide-and-seek has always been a favorite game of mine!"

"Come out! Come out! Wherever you are!" another voice jeered, this time raspy and male. "Come out and play!"

Sirius knew he had to keep moving, so he continued along the dumpsters. He was getting closer and closer to one entrance. He didn't want to enter the building, but it was starting to look like his only option other than capture. There were loud bangs from curses hitting the metal dumpsters. The Death Eaters had begun levitating the dumpsters, letting them crash back down, trying to find him. He took cover as the one he'd been hiding behind was thrown at the wall with a large crash.

"There he is!"

Sirius sent wild curses in all directions before sprinting to the door. He hadn't expected it to open, but it gave way easily. It led to a long hallway of doors that wouldn't budge until he reached one that did. He tore the door open, tumbled inside to find a lone Death Eater.

They were in a bathroom, and the young man was washing his hands, his mask on the counter. Sirus brandished his wand, a curse on the tip of his tongue, when he faltered. The boy in front of him was slightly shorter than he was, with black hair, grey eyes. He looked so young, so out of place. He looked so much like his brother. The boy's eyes widened, and for several seconds they stared at each other.

There was commotion outside and the boy, who Sirius now saw wasn't Regulus, shouted on the top of his lungs, "IN HERE!"

Within seconds, Death Eaters swarmed the bathroom. It didn't take them long to subdue him. He was forced to his knees and his hands wrenched behind him.

One of his captors grabbed him by the hair, pulling his head up and exposing his throat. Another crouched so he was eye level, he jabbed a wand under his chin, slowly increasing pressure on the sensitive area while he watched in amusement as Sirius struggled against the constraints.

"Caught us a big fish! One of Dumbledore's brave little vigilantes!"

"More like wand-fodder..."

"Search him, bring him into the lobby, and get back out there. The threat hasn't been neutralized."

Rough hands searched over him for weapons, and then, without warning, he was violently hit in the stomach once and then a second time. The pain was instantaneous, and he gasped for air. He would have buckled over if he had not been forcefully held up. He broke out into a cold sweat as waves of nausea hit him. He wasn't given time to recover before he was hauled to his feet and dragged out of the bathroom down the hall and into another room.

There were even more Death Eaters here, milling about and laughing. Many of them disappeared down a set of stairs. In the middle of the room, he saw another member of the surveillance team. Lee was bleeding profusely from a gash on her head and her right leg was bent at an impossible angle. He was deposited next to her, and his hands bound in front of him.

"Hill?" she managed, her voice hoarse and laden with pain.

Sirius couldn't get the words out, still recovering from the beating and. He gave a quick shake of the head, and then hissed because the ropes that bound him suddenly tightened, cutting into his skin.

"Bell's dead." Lee winced. "I lost track of Wright."

"Oi! Quiet you two!" a Death Eater shouted walking towards them, and he kicked Lee in her broken leg. She bit back a scream.

There's a lot of noise and conversation floating around them, but Sirius couldn't make sense of any of it. He couldn't focus on anything, the room was spinning, his heart was racing, his breathing too fast. His wrists stung and were now bleeding. The enchanted ropes kept tightening and tightening with every movement he made. He was able to pick out certain words "Aurors", "bloody Order of the Phoenix", "Dumbledore", and "take care of them'.

No one seemed to be paying attention to them, so Sirius scooted closer to Lee. She had her eyes closed and he could see her breathing was getting more and more shallow. She opened her eyes, and grasped his arm, he leaned closer to her, ignoring the pain as ropes cut even deeper, and he felt her slide something into his pocket.

"Blue," she mumbled and then slumped backwards, away from him. He tried to nudge her back awake with his body when he heard a clearing of the throat.

Sirius looked up to see a wand pointed at him. "Nighty, night blood traitor."

And the world went black.

Author's note: I'm back with a new story. This will be three chapters long. This is cross posted in AO3.