MELANCHOLY

9

"Would you stop your whimpering, Ronald."

"You weren't brutally attacked, were you?"

"That's in the past, we're in the present so would you please shut up!"

Max had his hands pressed into his temples, eyes rolling into the back of his head as he tried to ignore Ron's yelling.

"You do realize we're in the Shrieking Shack? If that mutt doesn't kill us the ghosts sure will."

"If that dog wanted to kill us he would've done so."

"That is very right."

Maxwell's entire body tensed up, his heart pounding in his ears as he turned around.

Standing there in the corner of the room was Sirius Black. Still in his Azkaban attire with a dirty coat draped over him.

"You look just like your father," Sirius mumbled with a small smile.

Max tried to ignore Ron's terrified cries, standing with shaky legs.

"You didn't do it," Max whispered.

"I did not."

"Ron! Max!"

Max wanted to ask Sirius more questions, but Harry and Hermione bursting through the door cut him off.

"Are you both okay?" Hermione asked.

"The dog, where is it?" Harry looked at the two.

"Harry, it's a trap. He's the dog. He's an animagus."

Harry stepped beside Max, seeing Sirius in the corner.

Hermione stepped in front of both Max and Harry.

"If you want to kill them you'll have to kill us too."

"No," Sirius glared. "Only one will die tonight."

"Then it'll be you!"

"Harry stop it!"

Max yelled as the Potter lunged at Sirius.

"Max, have you gone mad?"

The Prince's head was pounding with all the yelling going on, all his thoughts jumbled up as he tried to understand what Sirius was doing.

Coming back to the problem at hand, Max turned to see Harry on top of Sirius with his wand at the man's throat.

"Are you going to kill me, Harry?" Sirius chuckled madly.

Before Max could pull out his own wand, Remus burst through the door.

"Expelliarmus!"

Harry's wand flew from his hand, the boy gaping at Remus.