A/N: I hope this chapter doesn't make anyone tooooo mad! I know there's been a lot of frustrated comments around the Maurader's/Snape situation, but I've had this in my head visually for a while and I wanted to try and introduce Sirius. I thought it made sense he'd be going to visit their grave. I hope everyone's healthy and doing well! So much gratitude and love to all of you keeping up with this story and being so invested. It's been such a bright spot throughout all this!

It would have been a difficult night, no matter how much time had passed, no matter what people would believe, and no matter what the truth was. There was no truth; not when the truth was so grey. He had held onto the idea of innocence to the survive the maddening nights surrounded by Dementors, but as he stood and looked at the stature of his deceased friends, a memorial he had heard whispers of over the years, his stomach rose into his throat. It was the first time he had returned to Godric's Hallow since the night of their murder, twelve years later.

Looking up at the window where his god son had once slept, Sirius felt a pang of disappointment that his attempt to get into Hogwarts earlier in the evening hadn't given him even a glimpse of Harry. Until the first time he had laid eyes on his now grown godson, Sirius had never known what it felt like to be a parent, or, at least, the closest thing he could imagine it felt like. The only thing his own godson knew was that he had allegedly murdered his parents. If anything came out of his life on the run, Sirius hoped that he could at least rectify things with Harry. The last time he had had any contact with the boy had been prying him out of his dead mother's arms.

The image of James and Lily's bodies had weighed heavily on his mind over the years, but as he walked himself towards the graveyard, it finally sank in. Thankful that dogs didn't cry the same way humans did, James slowly walked into the large cemetery, unsure of where the stone lay. As much as he'd tried to put it off, he needed to visit where they lay. In some ways, he hoped it would give him closure- a sight more peaceful than their demise.

A sudden thud startled him, and Sirius squinted, adjusting the eyes of his Animagus form. The figure that appeared, it had been so long since he'd apareted properly, he thought to himself, was all at once familiar. The long black hair and equally black robes stood out even in the dark of the night. Snape.

A sudden hate rushed through him- a hate for the man who, for most of their childhood, had been illusioned by the same ideals his family had tried to corrupt him with, and who had committed deeds Sirius knew all too well from family dinner conversations. As Snape walked through the graveyard, Sirius growled slightly, careful not to alert him to his presence. Rumors had spread throughout the prison that Snape had taken a deal, changed sides, was teaching at Hogwarts for years without a sign of turning back to Voldemort. Even if it was all true, which Sirius didn't think he'd ever bring himself to believe, he couldn't shake the desire to strike.

But, as Snape sunk down in front of a stone, Sirius held back the urge. Silently, hiding behind the trees and stones he could, thankful his dog form was black, Sirius tried to get closer. Snape was breathing heavily; the late hour and quiet streets made the sound stand out. It almost sounded like he was crying. Close enough to read the stone, but not close enough to be noticed, Sirius saw the names on the stone: James and Lilly Potter.

What was the man doing? Weeping for people he'd hated? Weeping over deaths that, even if not directly, his actions had caused? Sirius slowly stood into his human form, still very much covered by the darkness of that All Hallow's Eve. Reaching into his pocket, he was griping tightly to his wand, battling the anger building inside of him. He couldn't reveal himself; there was no way he could overpower Snape, and Snape would turn him over to the Ministry in a heartbeat.

Another thud came, and at the oddly comforting sight of a large witch's hat, he slid his wand back into his pocket. McGonagall?

In the matter of moments, she behind him, a hand on his back. "Severus?" she asked quietly, clearly alerting him to her presence, so he didn't react. The slightly Scottish brogue that seeped into her voice made him smile. The woman had been the closest thing to a mother he'd had as a child, even if she never knew it. He felt a sense of regret at the havoc he knew he had caused for her trying to break into the common room hours before. Knowing McGonagall, she'd given the Fat Lady a good shouting. As a child, he'd received many of those McGonagall punishments, and he knew the fear she could inflict. Age had certainly only made her stricter. He almost laughed at the thought.

Snape turned around at the sound of her voice, and thankful that his eyesight improved as a human, Sirius saw that Snape's face was contorted. He was crying. In all the years Sirius had known him, it was the most emotion he'd ever seen on the infuriatingly monotone face. "The common room?" Snape asked.

"Taken care of," she replied, her hands on his shoulders as she stood above him.

"Black?"

"No sign of him." Biting his tongue back from a vocal reaction at the mention of his name, Sirius continued to watch the two, trying to read the relationship between the former professor and student. There was an air of friendship about them.

Snape nodded, turning back to face the grave. "This year…"

"I know," she cut in, her voice softer than Sirius remembered hearing it. "I didn't know if I should come," she said. "I figured you'd want to be alone; but…I certainly feel like I've left you alone enough this year."

Snape pulled her down to kneel beside him, her robes spreading out below her. "I'm glad you came," he croaked, a few sobs escaping him.

The two sat in silence for a few moments until McGonagall began rubbing his back, and the former Death Eater practically collapsed into her arms. He looked pathetic, Sirius thought to himself. Sobs began coming from Snape, and McGonagall held to him so tightly, so unsurprised by his outburst, Sirius tried to come to terms with the fact that the two were likely lovers…only lovers held each other that way. With so much to process on top of the emotions that coming to Godric's Hallow had surfaced, he felt his head spin with more confusion than it had any night in Azkaban.

After a few moments, Sirius feeling uncomfortable watching what was clearly a private exchange, Snape sat up, McGonagall's hand still steady on his back. "There's an inn down the road," McGonagall finally said. "I booked you a room for the night."

"What?"

"I didn't think returning to the castle would be the best thing…you need to step away. With Black around and your fight with Remus…" Remus. The name stung Sirius; his former friend, too, thought him to have betrayed the Potters. It hurt him to even think about the man. After Harry, he needed to get to Remus, tell him the truth, make amends. "It's the best thing, Severus."

Snape sighed audibly, standing with, what looked like, shaking legs. McGonagall followed his lead, removing her hand from him, straightening her iconic hat. "I don't want you alone. If Black returns-,"

"I can hold my own," she snapped, sounding like herself for the first time since she'd arrived. The usual confidence- the true Head of Gryffindor. "I don't need you to watch me."

"I'm not running."

McGonagall pulled a piece of paper out of her robes and shoved it into his hands. "I'm not asking you to run. I am asking you to rest. Your room should be ready by now," she said, shoving a piece of paper in his hands in a way that was so demanding only Minerva McGonagall could make it. "Your first class isn't until noon; plenty of time to get back to the castle."

"Stay."

"I need to be with my cubs." He nodded. "You need to be with your ghosts. My being here only complicates things."

"You don't complicate things," he said weakly, taking her chin in his hands. Sirius thought they were going to kiss, and he wasn't sure if he was ready for it.

Instead, McGonagall grasped his wrist, resting her forehead against his. "You know where to come when you're ready."

She pecked him on the cheek and pulled away, wrapping herself up in her robes, walking away until Snape called her name and she turned around. "Thank you."

"The room is on Albus's dime," she replied, chuckling softly.

"I wasn't referring to the room," he replied, a hint of amusement in his voice. "But, I do have to ask. How did you convince Albus to extend such charity to me?"

"Since I keep the books, and what he doesn't know won't hurt him."

"Is that how you suddenly acquired a new set of tartan robes for the first Quidditch match this year?"

"I suppose."

Sirius almost laughed, but he held himself back. The times where the stern Professor McGonagall had been the most human to them as children were at Quidditch matches. "Thank you for…in the staff room."

"I should have done it earlier," she replied, Sirius lost in their conversation. Without another word, she had disaparated.

Left standing in the cold breeze that ran through him and his long-time foe, Sirius let out a quiet sigh he had been holding in. When McGonagall had left, Snape stayed by the grave a few more moments, Sirius growing agitated with irritation at nerves at the long-time dread he'd held about seeing their graves. For years, he'd thought about what it would be like when he faced his past again. As Snape stood to leave, Sirius, once again, felt the urge to draw his wand, but as he watched the man practically drag himself out of the cemetery, he felt a sudden pity for him. He looked tired, and in many ways, his time as a Death Eater, hadn't done much to change him. A surge of hate and pity ran through Sirius.

When Snape was out of sight, Sirius pushed himself off the tree he had been leaning on and began the walk towards James and Lily's grave for the first time since they'd been buried. Freedom was a fickle thing.