Never Letting Go [A Marauder's Story]

The Trouble with Padfoot

For all the 4 boys knew at the tent, Sirius would be returning eventually but there was quite a lot they didn't know. It was what had happened with Sirius since he'd left, and if they knew they'd all be acting differently.

After those words had reached Sirius' ear, the hurtful thing that Remus had said, he'd made up his mind to leave. No matter how mad both Remus and Sirius had gotten at eachother they'd never use anything like that against eachother...until that moment.

As soon as Sirius apparated, he regretted it. He wanted to return but he knew for a fact they'd all be mad at him and Remus would still be upset. So Sirius stayed put, looking around him curiously, not even knowing where he'd ended up in all of his blind rage of leaving. He observed that he was down an alleyway that seemed familiar to him, he immediately went to the bright building near the end of it and found himself in the midst of a street in Diagon Alley. Of all places he hadn't expected to be there. Maybe he'd thought of somewhere to calm down and this is where he'd happened to end up.

He sighed to himself before staying near the walls, passing the shops with swift movement. As much as he found comfort in the alley, most of the comfort seemed to have vanished. The signs were crooked and almost falling from the shops and stalls, some windows were smashed and some doors were even missing. He couldn't quite believe what he was seeing. It seemed almost completely isolated and Sirius began to worry, he wanted to apparate but his curiosity took over as he began observing each broken down shop as he passed. Eventually he saw the kind face of Mr Olivander in the wand shop window, once smiling but now looking utterly heartbroken. Sirius knew that Olivander was against Voldemort's views and actions as much as the order so he knew he could trust him. That was what made him walk into the shop. It wasn't as badly damaged as some of the other shops he'd seen down the alley but he could see the shelves collecting more dust than usual, and the windows seemed to be on the brink of breaking, like something had hit it but not quite broken it yet.

"Mr Olivander" Sirius said as he entered, the tiny bell ringing in a dull tone as he did so.

"Mr Black" Olivander said, seeming extremely surprised to see him "What are you doing here in Diagon Alley..."

"It's...a...long story" Sirius said, trying to laugh it off but barely managing to force a smile.

"You need to get out of here" Mr Olivander said hastily, his eyes now full of worry, his white hair sticking up in all places. He looked pale and like he'd been sitting at that desk for quite some time.

"Mr Olivander..what happened here?" Sirius asked in response, wondering how the bright and beautiful alley had become so dark and awful of a place.

"Surely you heard on the news..."

"James would've heard...I should've checked his bloody list before I left..."

"You were with Mr Potter?" Olivander asked, seeming to become more intrigued "Where have you lot been?"

"In hiding" Sirius said before glancing at his shoes sadly "I...I left"

Olivander seemed to be thinking over his words in silence before a response finally arrived.

"You should've stayed with your friends" Olivander said sadly "I'm so..sorry Sirius"

Sirius looked up from his gaze on the floor and gave the old man a confused look.

"What...why would you..."

But Sirius had that question answered for him in the few seconds. He heard the bell ring out again and footsteps behind him. He heard a mix of heavy boots and dainty footsteps, recognising it all too well.

"Hello cousin" he heard Bellatrix's voice cut through the air with it's playful but terrifying tone.

Sirius looked at Olivander in shock and saw the sadness in the mans eyes...had he been waiting for an opportunity to get himself on the death eaters good side?

"Bellatrix" Sirius said through gritted teeth, slowly reaching for his wand. He turned around, seeing his cousin for the first time a while. She looked as sadistic as he'd ever remembered but there seemed to be an extra glint of malice in her gaze.

"You've been a hard one to track down" she said with shrill laugh, making Sirius roll his eyes.

"Quit the small talk Bella" Sirius snapped sharply before slowly getting a grip on his wand which was still in his pocket.

"You've grown colder in your time away" she observed with a grin that made Sirius' insides crawl "Too bad you joined the wrong side, you would've been a great death eater"

"See, that's where you're wrong" Sirius muttered before pulling out his wand and pointing it at her, causing her raise hers too. "I'm nothing like any of you"

"You say that" Bellatrix hissed "but it's in your blood"

This hit a nerve and Sirius looked to the ground at the words. This, he realised, was a mistake because as soon as his eyes were no longer on Bellatrix he heard another voice shout "Expelliarmus!" and his wand flew from his hand.

He felt himself panicking but tried to stay calm, looking around the shop for a way out. To his dismay there were more death eaters behind Bellatrix and more surrounding him. There was nowhere to run.

"Not so tough without your little friends" Bellatrix commented with a smirk "Where are they Sirius, got tired of you did they?"

Sirius felt his hand clench into a fist "Leave them out of this"

Bellatrix grimaced before laughing again "You see, I can't do that" she said stepping forward.

Out of impulse Sirius stepped back slightly. The circle of death eaters were getting closer and closer and before Sirius could even think about it, he felt strong pairs of arms grab him.

He tried to fight them off but they were fairly strong and without his wand he felt completely hopeless. He grunted as his arms were held behind him, some of the death eaters laughing at his attempts to free himself.

"It's pointless to try and escape cousin" Bellatrix pot ed out with a grin "You aren't strong enough to fight all of us"

Sirius knew she was right but hated to admit defeat. He shook his head and glared at Bellatrix.

"What do you want with me?" he asked, trying to tug his arms free but it was no use.

"I thought that was obvious" she responded with a shrug.

Bellatrix's behaviour hadn't changed much since he'd last set eyes on her. She was still working for Voldemort and she seemed to be knee deep in loyalty. And now she had a plan, he could see it in her eyes. It was a look that he feared.

He was snapped out of his thoughts when he felt the tip of her wand at his neck.

"Where are they Sirius?" she asked politely, the sweetness in her vice sounding more like sadistic giddiness.

Sirius felt a rush of dread run through his body. He turned his head to the side, feeling the wand dig into his neck and letting out a sound of pain.

"Like I'd ever tell you" he said through sharp breaths as Bellatrix pushed her wand further. He squeezed his eyes shut, not wanting to give her the satisfaction of seeing him in pain.

"You will" she responded, her confidence sending a shiver down Sirius' spine.

"Well, we got what we came for" Bellatrix said to the other death eaters and nodded to the two holding Sirius "You know where to take him"

Sirius' head lolled down after Bellatrix removed her wand and he could feel his breathing getting faster. He'd left Remus after a fight...possibly the worst fight of their lives.

'Remus' he thought, hurt spreading like wildfire around his nerves 'He'll hate me. I have to go back. I have to explain' But in that moment, he was trapped and he didn't know when he'd see the man he loved again.

Just as the two holding him began to force him towards the door he heard Bellatrix call out "by the way cousin, your parents and brother will be thrilled to see you!"

Sirius felt sick and pushed harder against the two holding him but in a second he felt a heavy blow to the back of his head and all he saw was pitch black.