siriusbrontide:
He lets out a rough woof at the sound of his own name, perking up again. Ted is a godsend, seeing them is a blessing. Sirius has been aching, missing people, missing Ted and Andromeda and Dora. It was easier at the start, but hes been feeling the absence like an constant ache lately, feeling distant and at odds with the world. Hearing his name now, on the lips of someone he loves, it does a lot to bring him back to himself. There’s no sneer to it, no haughty tone. The last few weeks, he hasn’t heard it as anything but a taunt.
Ted sends their patronus away, the promise of help and Andromeda and Hogwarts on their tongue. With a great deal of effort, Sirius sits up again, shifts to lick Ted’s face in thanks, press heavily against their body. He wants to change back, be a human again, get a real hug from someone who’s been as good as a sibling to him since he was a teenager. But he knows it isn’t safe. Every time he’s become human somewhere unwarded the last few weeks, there have been Death Eaters hot on his trail. He won’t lead them here, to this house. A whine of agreement then, at the mention of the castle. He could change back there, if the wards were holding.
Harry is still crying by Ted’s side, big wet tears, and Sirius nuzzles him gently. The best course of action seems to be to pretend to be almost fine –– fit and ready to face the world head on. Back on four legs again, though his body is hot with pain, Sirius stands ready to move, nudging Ted as if to say: alright then, lets go.
They give his fur a gentle pat as he leans against them, careful not to touch any hidden wounds. It’s not much comfort, but then even just seeing him here, knowing that he’s alright, nearly safe, that’s got to count for something. The problem now is getting him up to the castle, where he’ll actually be safe, and they can start helping him. And there he is, even in his clear pain, trying to comfort Harry, seemingly all the more determined to show him he’s alright.
“Look, Harry, Padfoot’ll be alright, he’s going to come with us all the way up to the castle and we’ll get him all fixed up, I promise,” Ted comforts, before getting up himself, and scooping Harry up into his arms. He looks around for a second, trying to think of a better way to get them there, but anything else would be too risky, or too impossible in his state.
“We’ll make it up to the castle, then you can change, and by the time we get up there I know Dromeda will have everyone waiting to help you. I’ve been working on the wards with a few of the others; they’re not what they used to be, but they’re strong enough to protect anyone with...you know...and Mary’s been working on a way to get rid of that problem, so you’ll be alright...” they finally stop themself, realizing they’re rambling from the pure adrenaline pumping through their veins, the worry, the determination to just get him up to the castle any way they can. He nods, half to himself, half to Sirius and Harry, then starts leading the way out of the garden. “Slowly, but surely, we’ll make up there, alright?”











