realityshifted | (no subject)

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harry potter (d1) sirius black

(no subject)

[There is a man on the Plane, but he looks more like a corpse. His face is gaunt and his body is nearly skeletal, as though he hasn’t eaten properly in years. His hair is long and untamed, and the tattered grey robes he’s wearing do nothing for his figure. Despite all this, however, he seems rather calm -- almost bored, in fact. His voice is hoarse when he speaks.]

This has to be the strangest nightmare I’ve had in a long time. Not that it’s much of a nightmare, mind you...

[shakes his head] Oh come on, drawing out the suspense isn’t going to make much of a difference, is it? Hurry up, I haven’t got all night -- well, I suppose I have, but that’s beside the point.

[then, he spies the booth of brochures, and picks one up] The Astral Plane? That’s a new one. If I wasn’t completely sure I was dreaming, I might think...wait a minute, there’s a kitchen?

[Sirius tosses the brochure aside and turns into an equally skinny (but very large) black dog, following his nose. When he arrives at the kitchen, he shifts back into human form, and stares.] Now I know it’s a nightmare. This is all going to be some sort of terrible trap, isn’t it?

Or I won’t actually be able to eat any of it, I’ve had that nightmare too... [he trails off, glancing around the kitchen suspiciously]

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Then you can tell me. [...after a moment] Or...not. If you're not ready.

[he's quiet for a long moment, thinking] I've wanted to tell you for a long time. I'm not sure how long it's been, really...it's a bit difficult to get my hands on a newspaper these days. Maybe five or six years?

But that's different. You're different. [hesitantly, and almost as though it's a foreign concept] You still...trust me.

[he just listens, quiet and intent, before staring at him, aghast] How...could I not? [shakes his head] You didn't trust me, but we talked, and...

...Did we talk?

[he removes himself from the embrace, looking awkward] I never told you I switched, because I didn't trust you, and that was stupid. Then there just wasn't time -- I had to hunt down Peter before he got away.

It was my fault, Remus. I could never be a spy for Voldemort, never turn in my best friends...but I as good as killed them myself when I trusted the rat with their safety. I wouldn't blame you for not trusting me even if you had known what really happened.

[shakes his head] I already forgave you...for... [he goes pale, then, falling back against his chair as his heart pounds in his chest]

[his voice is thin, now] You don't mean...Wormtail is - and they made him... [he can't quite finish, overwhelmed with shock and horror]

[Sirius nods, his voice tired and pained. He gets up though, attempting to make a cup of tea for Remus] James and Lily are gone, Remus. Voldemort was destroyed when he tried to kill Harry...I wanted to keep him, but Hagrid took him to the Dursleys of all people. Dumbledore's orders. After that...I had to find Peter.

I managed to corner him, and he yelled out that I'd betrayed them. Then he killed twelve people with a single curse, and faked his own death. [he hands Remus the cup of tea without spilling any when it's finished, thanks to some epic determination to ignore his trembling hands.]

[he almost protests, but he remembers all the times he's done it, and at least Sirius isn't bleeding into the tea, so he simply accepts the cup – with the hand not gripping the arm rest with white knuckles

he sips, first, before speaking, voice weak but steady] We knew…that there was someone. ...Imperius, they must have - he couldn't...Lily and James... [his voice breaks, just a bit, as he imagines it]

[Sirius takes Remus' hand (the one that isn't holding the tea, obviously), squeezing it gently, trying to comfort him -- trying to keep from breaking down himself, like he's done so many times] But it's different for you. None of that's happened, they're still...they're still alive for you, Remus.

You can change it. Stop Peter before it's too late, now that you know.

[his hand relaxes beneath Sirius', and he even manages the slightest smile] I don't need to stop that, at least. ...They chose Albus, Sirius.

[stares] They chose Albus? ...They're safe then. James and Lily are safe... [he's intensely relieved by the thought that they're safe somewhere, even if it isn't in his own timeline] You have no idea how lucky you are, Remus.

I certainly didn't. To think I miss them - but at least they're... [shakes his head, and sips he tea, and makes a decision; when he speaks, now, it's stronger, firm] The people here...if they spend another time together, Sirius, their times, their realities, will blend together.

[Sirius takes a step back, looking a bit scared] I should go, then. I don't want anyone's reality blending with mine, especially not yours.

[his hand shoots up, grabbing Sirius', revealing the strength in the thin, pale fingers] No, Padfoot. We'll just need to make sure my reality is stronger.

[shakes his head, though he doesn't pull away] You don't understand, Moony. It's Azkaban. That's where I've been ever since Peter turned James and Lily over to Voldemort. Ever since he faked his death, and massacred those people.

They thought I was responsible for all of it.

[he's been expecting it, but the hard confirmation makes him wince, and his grip on Sirius tighten; then, with quiet intensity]

So we'll get you out.

[sighs] Even if I could get out, where would I go? You've already got a Sirius in your reality, and the Dementors would hunt me down in mine.

[slight shrug, grip never lessening] The war could use another Sirius.

[softly, intently] We will protect you.

[after a long moment, have another grateful hug, and a noise that sounds suspiciously like a sob] ...I've missed you, Remus.

[he'll hug him right back, as tightly as he'll allow himself; Sirius feels so fragile in his arms] I'm sorry I believed it.

[and now, Sirius' voice is firm] Don't be. You couldn't have known the truth.

[just shakes his head, brushing against Sirius'] I still shouldn't have believed...

[pulls back slightly, just enough to meet Remus' eyes] I forgive you for it, just like you forgave me for not trusting you. Don't argue, Moony.

[his lips part to do just that, but instead curve into a weak smile] All right, Pads. [...and his nose wrinkles] You really do need a shower.

[laughs softly] How about you take me on that walk, then? [he can't help thinking about it in doggy terms]

[faint smile] A slow walk.