author_by_night | Seasonal Drabble Requests, Round II

Request post

Round 1: Harvest for Daintress, Neville/Luna

Title: Crossroads at the Willow

Characters: Sirius, Regulus

Notes: This takes place after Order of the Phoenix.

Where was she?

Sirius couldn't see her anywhere. All he could see was the beginnings of a forest... a forest he hadn't even realized he missed. There hadn't been time to acknowledge his real feelings. He just knew that he'd wanted the best for Harry, because that was what James had wanted, and he wanted James. He hadn't connected it to much else. It had seemed just that simple at the time.

Why was he only realizing this now?

"You always fell for their traps."

Sirius turned around, and realized where he was. He was standing right in front of the Whomping Willow. And by it was Regulus.

"I wasn't the one they wanted," Sirius pointed out. "He's okay, right?"

"Yeah, but they also wanted you, and you're dead."

Sirius wasn't surprised - he had known that this was coming, and hadn't wanted it to, but somehow knew it was inevitable. Not that he was thoughtless.

"What about Harry? Dora? Remus? Andromeda?" He would never be able to help Harry win this war, would never see Dora and Remus marry, would never be able to have the same thing he'd had with Andromeda before.

"They'll be okay," Regulus said. "And so will you. I've come for you."

Sirius studied the face of his brother. "I only hated you for dying, y'know."

Regulus laughed. "Of course you did."

The two brothers hugged.

"So are we ghosts, then?" Sirius asked.

Regulus shook his head. "No. This is just your path. Of course, you'll have to show me what to do next, how to get to the rest of them."

"Is... James there? Wherever 'there' is?"

"Yeah, he is. I reckon he'll be a little sore about you dying on his son like this, but happy to have you back."

"It won't be the worst quarrel we've had," Sirius said.

Sirius picked up a stick and led his brother to the Willow for the first time. He poked the bark and said quietly, "mischief managed."