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He is startled awake by the ringing of his cell bars... He doesn't even know how long he's been here... Days. Weeks. It could have been minutes for all he knows.
He groggily realizes someone is talking to. Something about his master not even being able to finish the job correctly. That couldn't be right he doesn't have a master.
His musings are cut short when something smacks him in the face. He peers at the offending object and blearily re-reads the headline stating "THE BOY-WHO-LIVES RETURNS HOME" when he's jerked into attentiveness by the picture on the front page.
It's Harry... His Harry. But that can't be right Harry's only a toddler.. This Harry is way too old. Before he can make out more of the details the paper is suddenly ripped out his grasp.
Nooooo he tries to scream but it comes out more as a whimper.
The guard finds this funny for some reason as he snarls at him "you'll never lay a finger on the boy. You failed, you piece of scum." He then hears a clanging as the unknown guard walks away.
The preceding nights are the worst he remembers as he continuously relives the worst night of his life.
He's sprinting up the steps. Not even processing the blown apart roof. All he sees is the door blasted off its hinges.
He immediately comes across the first body and collapses immediately.
"Nooooo" he's able to scream this time. "James what have I done!! It's all my bloody fault".
He's jerked outta his self loathing because he just knows he needs to see the confirmation of his greatest failure.
As he stands up he whispers "we'll see each other soon Prongs. I promise you that."
He doesn't know how much longer it is but he's thankfully pulled from the nightmare of reliving finding James' prone body next to the couch by the rattling of his cell.
He doesn't know how much longer it is but he's thankfully pulled from the nightmare of reliving finding James' prone body next to the couch by the rattling of his cell.
He blearily stares up at his cell door when he recognizes Moody and no that's not right Nymphy is just a little girl. And she'd never look at him with such disgust. Such contempt.
But no, it's not Moody or even his little cousin that grabs his attention. It's another newspaper headline but this time it proclaims loudly "HARRY POTTER MEETS FAMED GILDEROY LOCKHART!"
He reaches out as if it's a lifeline. He's older this time but he can tell it's been a year maybe two this time. He whimpers out a soft "I'll find you Harry. I'll find you."
"Not on my watch you wont Black" Moody sneers.
If he thought his dreams were bad after the previous newspaper he was sadly mistaken. It's as if the dementors could sense the new happiness inside him.
He doesn't know how but he's able to drag himself up the stairs.
Another door blasted apart. "Oh Lils why didn't you take Harry and flee. It's all my fault."
He collapses the second time that night next to the body of his sister. The person who knows him better than anyone besides James. The one who understands his terrible family only like someone who can because of shared experiences.
He can't even muster a cry of anguish this time as hot tears cascade down his cheeks. He doesn't even immediately feel the frigid cold November night air against his skin.
It's the soft voices this time that wake him from his self hatred. He's not even sure why he asks for the newspaper he sees the man holding. He deludes himself it's for the crossword, like he could possibly solve it in his current state. But it's definitely not for the infinitesimal chance to see his godson on the front page.
He does a quick glance at the front page and sighs in disappointment when he doesn't see Harry. He barely registers the story on the bottom with a picture of smiling happy family before he angrily tosses it into the corner.
Why was he being so stupid to think he would actually see Harry again.
It's hours later or maybe it's days or weeks who knows in this godforsaken place he definitely deserves to be in when he finally gives the photo at the bottom more than a passing glance.
He doesn't know how long he's staring at the photo trying to convince himself of what he's actually seeing.
"There's no way. He was never quicker than me. My curse hit him." But there's no denying that rat sitting on the boys shoulder is THE RAT. The rat that betrayed them all.
He should have known better than to think his nightmares couldn't get worse after seeing his godson for the first time in the previous articles. Since when did things ever work out for him. He's a Black for crying out loud. Nothing but destruction followed his wake. So in a twisted way he knew he deserved the horrors that awaited him that night.
That's when he finally hears it. The whimper that would haunt him forever. The whimper of his godson calling for him "Pa'foo!!"
He's on his feet and at the crib and picking Harry up in an instant. Every other thought immediately leaving his mind.
He's so focused on consoling Harry he doesn't even see the blood trickling down his forehead.
"Sshhhh Harry. It's ok. I'm here kiddo. Sirius is here buddy." He knows he's lying to the kid but he knows he needs to be strong for him.
He carefully hides his godsons face in his neck as he carefully steps over Lily to take him downstairs and away from the horrors within.