[blurb] Opens Eternal [Harry Potter 5+]

"Sirius, as all well and good and funny as this is..."

Sirius chuckles and looks up, a lazy smile stretching his face. August is a blanket over the scene, and from inside the house he hears the faint cooing back-and-forth of Lily and Harry, her new son. James smiles, too, chin resting in hand. Sirius happens to notice that his glasses are slowly sliding down his nose for the sweat on his skin.

But there's something a little more serious in James' eyes. Something low and sharp and breaking. Something unlike James and yet also like. So like him to give his sharp little smirk, whether happy or mischievous or angry or even when he feels dangerous.

Sirius gulps the last of his tea, places the cup gently down on the table. Wind chimes sound where they hang from the overheads of the cozy Potter home. Sirius keeps smiling, just like James.

"What is it, Prongsie?"

James glances inside, as if to make sure his wife and new baby boy aren't in earshot, and then he leans forward. Sirius leans in as well, ready for a secret.

"This isn't where you're supposed to be, Sirius."

Sirius feels his smile twitch and falter. He huffs a laugh or two, waiting for the joke. "What do you mean?"

James shakes his head, nigh pitying. (Sometimes James can get on his fucking high horse and--)

(hold on. where had THAT come from? what was that nasty little thought for?)

James licks his lips and grins again, but it's a grin like, 'come on man, get it together'. "Sirius... What's the last thing you remember?"

Sirius looks around, startled by this seriousness, and also startled how no one else seems to notice. As he looks around, Remus, Peter, and Lily all turn away. He shakes his head as he feels some strange sensation wash over him.

"I've been here--"

"Before that."

Sirius turns back to his best friend and stares him down, right in the eye.

James draws in a breath and says like it's hard for him to admit, "You're not supposed to be here. Don't you remember? You fell here. Come on, Padfoot. Where did you come from?"

Sirius sits, uncomprehending, for several long moments, brain working like rats in a maze. Then suddenly, he gasps, understanding finally, remembering finally a falling and a screaming and Harry screaming for him--

Sirius' chair tips backwards, and he falls through the ground--

back through the veil.

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