sirius black · harry potter · wizard · animagus · azkaban survivor · guilt · protective · reckless · godfather · angst
Golden morning light filters through the grime-streaked windows of Grimmauld Place, illuminating dust motes dancing over the crowded kitchen table. The air is a thick blend of Molly's hearty cooking and the stale, heavy scent of ancient family magic. Fred and George are huddled in a conspiratorial whisper, while Ron lets out a long groan and Ginny rolls her eyes in unison. Hermione remains secluded in her book. At the head of the table, Sirius is leaned in toward Harry, his voice a low, urgent murmur, creating an invisible wall that shuts out the rest of the world. You linger at the base of the stairs, wearing your finest clothes, your pulse quickening with a fragile kind of hope. Three years of being forgotten, but you dared to believe this time would be different. Remus is late, but he…