Sirius Black's Twin

Tragedy

Sirius knocked on Lyra's door, his expression grim as he reread the letter James had sent him.

Dear Padfoot,

I know you and Claws were going to come to my house today to eat Sunday Lunch with my parents and I, but I would be grateful if you just stayed away for today.

Thanks, Prongs

Sirius knew instantly what had happened. Sirius and Lyra knew that the day would come when Mr. and Mrs. Potter would pass on, but now that they have Sirius found it unbelievable.

Lyra opened the door, her hair messed up and her black robe around her body. Nick Blue was behind her, also in a black bath robe; his hair was even more messed up then Lyra's.

Sirius, momentarily distracted, glared at Nick in horror.

"He had a fight with his Dad, Padfoot," Lyra rolled her eyes at her over protective brother. "I let him sleep in the guest room, he had a rough night."

"Oh," Sirius said, searching his sisters' face. She was definatly telling the truth. "Well, get dressed, we're going to Prongs' house."

Lyra looked taken aback. "Why? It's the morning, lunch ins't until eleven-"

"It's Mr. and Mrs. Potter," SIrius said, looking Lyra straight in the eyes that were so similar to his. "We need to support Prongs."

Lyra stared into Sirius' eyes and felt herself blink back tears. She hadn't cried since she seen Cormac with Mary, but the death of her adoptive parents overwhelmed her.

"Alright," Lyra said, her voice thick, she forced her tears to stay in her eyes. "Go. I'll meet you there."

Sirius nodded and apparated away.

Lyra ran her fingers through her hair and looked apologetically at Nick. "I'm sorry, Nick, my friend needs me. Can we do a rain check on our date?"

"Of course," Nick said, wiping a tear that fell down Lyra's cheek. "We can talk about that later. Just go help your friend."

Lyra felt warmth spread through her body as she looked into Nick's cute brown eyes. She loved how understanding he was. SHe gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and ran up her stairs where she got dressed quickly to go see James.

Meanwhile, Sirius had just apparated straight into James' living room, where he shivered at the coldness in the air.

"Prongs?" Sirius called.

There wasn't an answer and Sirius looked around the house. James wasn't in the kitchen, where Sirius half expected to see Mrs. Potter making cucumber sandwhiches for snacks, James wasn't in the backyard, where Sirius could practically see James standing with a snitch in his and a broom slung over his shoulder; James wasn't in the trophy room either, where SIrius half expected to see Mr.Potter telling Lyra stories of how he had won each of the Quidditch medals.

FInally, Sirius checked in Mr. and Mrs. Poters bedroom, where he seen a slumped figure in the chair next to the bed. On the bed was Mr. and Mrs. Potter, both with their eyes closed and their mouths slightly open. Other then being ghostly pale and still, they looked as though they were sleeping.

"I told you not to come," James' voice was raspy, he looked up at Sirius with watery hazel eyes,though there was no anger in them. "I should have known you would never listen."

"Of course," Sirius didn't feel like making a witty come back, this was serious. "Are you okay."

James stared blankly at his parents and SIrius realised what a stupid question that was.

"I - I'm sorry, it was a stupid question," Sirius wished Remus was here, he was always good with comforting crying people.

"It's okay," James said quietly. "I was shocked at first. . . but I guess I accepted that they would leave soon a long time ago."

Sirius was glad that James had stopped crying and he took the chair at the other side of the bed. "They look like they're sleeping."

James smiled a bit, though it didn't reach his eyes. "I'm glad for that, at least. Where's Claws?"

"She's coming," Sirius said. "Do you want me to get you something?"

James shook his hea and kept staring blankly at his parents. SIrius just noticed that James was holding a picture in his hands, one that he kept twirling in his fingers. Sirius looked at it curiously and just caught a flash of a very pretty girl with dark red hair.

"She finally agreed to give me a chance," James explained, knowing Sirius wanted to ask why he was holding a picture of Lily. "Not to go on a date but to just become friends. She sent me the letter just this morning."

Sirius felt sick. James had been looking forward to getting on Lily's good side since the end of second year and now that Lily has agreed to become friends - which should have been the happiest day of James' life - James came into his parents bedroom to see that he could never share the good news with them.

"I've also got my Hogwarts letter," James went on. "I'm Head Boy. Mum would have been proud."

Sirius didn't like the emptiness of James' voice now, he wished he knew what to say. But what do you say to an almost adult who had finally become what he wished to be his whole life (Headboy, Quidditch Captain, and having a friendly relationshipwith Lily Evans) just to find out that his parents would never knowthese things?

Sirius was spared to say anything when Lyra came in, her cheeks filled with tears. She rushed forward and hugged James fericely, not even caring that she was sobbing loudly.

"I'm sorry I'm late, Prongs - Sirius told me - I had to get dressed - I got splinched when I apparated = I'm sorry I'm late!" Lyra said, pulling away from James when she found out that he wasn't hugging her back and wiping her tears away.

Sirius noticed that a rather large cut was healing on Lyra's shin. She was a master at healing spells.

"It's okay," James said. "I'm glad your here. I thought I wanted to be alone but. . . I like it better with you two here. It's like the whole family is reunited."

Lyra and Sirius glanced at eachother and they both went over toJames and wrapped their arm around his shoulders. Lyra rested her head on James' shoulder and the three of them gazed sadly at Mr. and Mrs. Potter, who would never gaze back at them ever again.