Eunoia | Sirius Black

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Sirius
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By the time it's midnight, I've sent more than three patronus to Elena. My anxiety is out of the world when she sends none back.

Even though I know there are things more important at hand with dad's health declining, and for all I know Elena might've gone to sleep after a tiring day at her grandfather's - I still don't feel okay without her being here.

Apart from all my friends, I need her right now. I need her to hold my hand, I need her comfort more than I need anything else.

Elena is my lifeline often without her even knowing it, times when my monsters claw inside my mind - driving me back to a time when I was living with Walburga and Orion. And it's her who manages to bring me out.

I feel tears build up, prickling my eyes and my throat closes up for the umpteenth time that day. Where is she?

"Dad wants to see you."

I look up at James and his knuckles have gone white, his jaw is clenched and I know dad said something that has him holding his breath and praying for no more tears.

I nod and go inside the room where his bed is and instantly, I feel nauseous.

Charlus Potter was one of the few men who knew how to embrace life. Never had I ever seen him as hopeless as he looked now. But even in that state, he was smiling brightly.

His screen was pallid and pale, sickly green but his eyes shined with secrets still. "Come sit,"

I did as told, knowing I wouldn't be able to say no to him anyway. "You're dying."

I say it up straight because I know it's the truth. The healers keep telling me to be strong and mum keeps telling me to not fall apart. They all know.

He nods, "Dragon Pox has a cure but it doesn't seem to work usually."

"It worked on some people," I complain bitterly.

"I said usually. I seem to be of the major percentage." He coughs and my hand instantly goes towards the glass of water at his bedside.

He looks at me gratefully and takes a gracious chug, "Your mother and I, we haven't been home half as often as we had you believe."

I brace myself because here it is, the truth. The truth of who took away my father from me. "I know."

"We work in a secret society founded by Albus Dumbledore himself."

Whatever I'd expected, it wasn't this. "Wh-What?"

He smiles again and cocks his head, "Sirius, you have so much potential. James is quite a good dueller himself but you, you have the same black blood that Dorea does. Power, unmatched and raw runs in your veins."

"I don't know where you're going with this," I tell him.

"Dumbledore recruited teenagers from your school at the ripe age of seventeen for society. I had him warned that he wouldn't go near your friend group until you were ready for it. Now, you are."

"So they fight Death Eaters under the radar?" I frown.

"Somewhat." He nodded. "The Order was formed to combat Voldemort's increasing threat and power. Recruitments happened as early as Hogwarts, Aurors and trainees have now begun to join the Order to participate in more secretive, sudden assaults aimed to crush the Dark Rebellion. Your mother and I have been a part of it for four years now. We recently had a mission with rescuing children from Death Eater camps in Scotland. A few of them had Dragon Pox, turns out that's why they hadn't moved the children elsewhere. They couldn't have, they were dying."