SHE'S ALL THAT ➭ SIRIUS BLACK ❨2❩ ✔︎

ACT SIX, SCENE ONE

THE OTHER SIDE

When she opened her eyes, she was met with a bright light and, surprisingly, a feeling of warmth and comfort. For the first time in months—maybe even years—she wasn't in any pain.

She blinked in the light, nearly blinded by it, until a hazy shape began to form in front of her.

The figure became clearer and clearer, and it soon took form in a woman, white-haired and wrinkled, wearing a kind, welcoming smile.

"Nana?" Sage asked, quiet and hesitant. She wasn't sure that she wasn't hallucinating.

Madeleine Fontaine smiled softly. "Hello, dear. I reckon you've had quite the journey, haven't you?" She said, extending a hand to her granddaughter.

Sage took it and allowed her to help her to her feet. "What am I—what are you—what happened?"

The last thing she remembered was seeing Harry's face and the look of shock and horror in his eyes. Everything after that was blank and empty.

"Darling girl, you're smart enough to figure it out." Madeleine said in response.

Realization washed over Sage like a wave of truth and pain. "I'm dead, aren't I?"

Her grandmother's lips turned down. "Unfortunately, yes." She waved her hand, and what had been empty whiteness shifted into something more familiar—Kings Cross, with one single train waiting to depart. "As much as I would love to have this chat and catch up, there are many who are chomping at the bit to see you. But one last thing while I have you here: you have made the Fontaine family proud. I know that much of the good you've done has been in secret, but trust me when I say that you have made us so very proud."

☾

When the train rolled to a stop in front of Hogwarts, Sage wondered for a moment whether this was heaven or hell. It could be either, really—heaven, because she was back at the only place she'd ever felt safe, or hell, because this could be a convoluted setup to torture her for eternity.

These thoughts plagued her mind as she shoved open the massive front door and walked into the deserted entry hall.

Even during holidays at Hogwarts, the school had never been this quiet and empty. There were always people milling about, whether they be students or professors. Someone was always around, no matter the time.

A strange feeling tugged at her gut and told her to go into the Great Hall, like some magnet located behind her bellybutton was drawing her towards its opposite.

She held her breath and opened the door, exhaling when she realized all the tables were empty except for the one she'd sat at for seven years.

And the unruly mop of black hair attached to the only person in he massive room was so achingly familiar.

"Julien!"

Sage took off running, feeling like she was eleven years old again and had just been sorted into Slytherin like her big brother.

Julien Chance Fontaine stood from his seat at the Slytherin table, grinning like mad, and caught her easily when she flew into his arms.

"Hey, Green." He said, laughter tainting his words. "Merlin, you got old. You're, what, fifty now? Maybe three hundred? Look at all the bloody wrinkles!"

She was too caught up in holding back tears to swat at him for his teasing. "I can't believe you're here." She said simply, and her lower lip wobbled.

She truly felt like she was a child again, except the pain of losing him was gone now, replaced by a pure, euphoric joy of being able to see him again. Even in her dreams, on the seldom occasion she hadn't had nightmares, he so rarely appeared to her.