The Story of the Marauders

Twenty-Six: Sirius

SIRIUS  

((Warning: brief self harm content))

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Sirius found himself busy with staring at seagulls circling something that could not be seen. It was a warm Summer day, and the stony prison had lost some of it's eerie presence with the arrival of sun rays filtering through rusted window bars. The warmth spread over Sirius and he practically bathed in the yellow light. He believed the sight of the sun cleared his mind, for none of his 'friends' showed up out of the blue. Beads of sweat dripped down Sirius' face and down his chest. Sirius had only recently shredded his shirt during a meltdown that he was not proud of having.

He envied the seagulls immensely. They were free of restrictions, unlike Sirius. He was trapped forever. More than once in seven years had Sirius attempted to tame one the birds that flew above him to carry messages to the outside world. The furthest he'd gotten was to have his note consumed by one of the birds he'd managed to lure in with bread crumbs. He did not give up, however. The next time a seagull came in proximity of his window, Sirius would dare to snatch it from the air with his hands.

The cell next to him was radiating joy. Margaret Paige was allowed visitation. Sirius wasn't even aware that visitation was permitted here. Of course, just about every Ministry officer in charge of prison checks was accompanying the whole exchange. Plus, Margaret was only allowed twenty minutes. Sirius would kill for such time, no matter how little minutes were given. Rumor had it Margaret's visitor (a mystery to him) paid an unbelievably high amount of money to be there. Sirius also envied Margaret's luck.

"Sirius Black, Sirius Black, I see her outside!" Margaret squealed like a child and knocked on the metal flap between them frantically. Sirius lifted his head from the heat of his skin and peered down into the pebbles that littered the island. A group of four Ministry workers surrounded a single young woman at the edge of the island. Sirius sank back into his shadowy retreat, thinking about another woman. Calysta still existed; Sirius kept reminding himself that. Somewhere out there, Calysta was living her life without him. His mood was immediately dampened.

"Bye bye, Sirius!" Margaret whispered loudly, waving at him through the hole in their cells. Sirius was now aware that he had a corner cell because all the cells had a metal flap between them and he only had one. How lovely it was for the prison to have gateways between prisoners so they may chat to keep their minds busy.

"Have a nice talk, Ms. Paige," Grumbled Sirius. Sirius knelt at the window again, staring directly into the sun. He wondered if anything was being done to get his case running again. He wondered if anyone even thought about him any more. None of his old friends would be. They had their own lives. But that didn't stop him from think about them. Calysta, Remus... especially James. Merlin, Sirius wanted nothing more than to get his hands on a Time Turner and have his own re-do of every moment beginning in seventh year. Nothing that happened would exist if Sirius had known the fate of the ones he loved and cared about. Nothing bad had to happen to any of them.

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"Oh oh oh, Sirius, my darling has grown up so beautifully! She's stunning!" Margaret mused over her daughter. Leena Daelynn came to mind then; Sirius wondered if she thought of Calysta often. Sirius turned back to face Margaret. Her skin was glowing with happiness. Not even passing Dementors could bring her spirits down. Sirius was, in a sense, proud of her. For overcoming the Dementors' effects and whatnot.

"You never told me you had a daughter, Ms. Paige," Sirius tilted his head to the side. Margaret's smile faltered slightly. She sighed.

"Lose track of people sometimes," She tapped the side of her temple with her fingertips repeatedly. "Her name is Marla."