It was dark and damp around. Sirius imagined huge old wood louses moving along the corridors between the cameras. It was the feeling that the Dementors caused. He felt how they were desperately trying to suck his soul out of him, but stumbled upon a barrier he had never seen. The Dementors tried to get to Sirius in the very inside, to take all the most delicious and valuable things, but they didn't have a damn thing, because Sirius's memories were endless like the ocean behind the walls of the prison, and they also gave rise to so many feelings in him that there wouldn't have been enough hundreds of these snails in the hoods to rid him of them.
Sirius closed his eyes, and the world around splashed in multi-colored spots.
...Graduation of Marauders and AB. What a glorious event!
McGonagall, incredibly proud of her students, handed them diplomas, brushing away tears from her eyes. Flitwick talked loudly to Madame Sprout, assuring everyone around he had never taught such obedient, amazing and talented children. James snorted from Flitwick's speeches, then from Slughorn's speeches, and swayed unsteadily next to Remus because he got drunk just before graduation.
It seemed wrong to Sirius to be there after everything that happened, but he asked himself: "What the hell? Do not come to your own graduation party?!" so he was the first to arrive on the Quidditch field in the ceremonial robe and with a square academic cap on his head. He was pretty amused because he got to the last year, passed exams (he lost only to Remus in the History of Magic) and even lived up to graduation.
Everyone around were beautiful and proud, glowing with smiles as if they had forgotten about the war, and Sirius snorted imagining what Beata would say if she tried to put this outfit. And when he imagined it, it became easier for him.
Then there was dancing. Fireworks blazed over Hogwarts, threatening to blow up a defensive field and Aurors patrolling the sky. Leprechauns jumped around, spreading butterbeer and engaging fairies in the dance.
Sirius did not know who poured bourbon into pudding, but the taste was obvious. The ice cream formed like symbols of all four houses was filled with whiskey. One barrel intended for compote was splashing with rum instead, and all the professors made puppy eyes, pretending they don't notice.
Hogwarts turned into one huge fair of happiness and feasting.
Sirius was having fun, too. He bathed in laughter and strong alcohol. That was an amazing day. It was like the Marauders, along with AB, went crazy at once and brought out their best jokes, and the professors, instead of punishment, assigned them an award.
Sirius stuck his back to some tree. There was a bottle in his hands with amber whiskey inside.
"I see you, Parker," he said hoarsely.
Emily sat beside a tree to Black's left, wrapped in her robe, so impenetrable, as if drawing all the light from outside. She had the same look as the last couple of months - focused and mechanical.
"I see you, too, Sirius," she said dully.
Black grunted and slid down the tree, scratching his jacket against the rough bark.
"Congratulations on brilliantly passed exams. I saw you with one old man from Aurors office. Have an offer already?"
"A lot of offers, Black."
"Where will you go to?"
"Away from people."
Sirius snorted. "Lily, Cissa, my brother and... Snivellus. Who would've thought?"
"Sometimes you should pay attention to those who attracts it the least."
Sirius, instead of answering, stretched out his hand to the left and the whiskey blurted inside the bottle. Emily hesitated, but still took it from his hand.
"I can't drink alcohol because of the potions I'm taking," she said, looking thoughtfully at the amber reflections on the glass walls.
"You and I both know that you don't take any potions. They prevent you from thinking, and you can't have it."
"You didn't tell Remus about this?" her voice faltered.
"No one. Even my gun."
"They haven't taken it away, huh?"
"No... I made a replica. McGonagall doesn't know much about Muggle stuff."
"I see."
There was the sound of a gurgling fluid, and then Emily's cough.
"Look, Parker, do me a favor."
Emily was silent, but he heard her turning her head.
"I will get up now, go to my brother and thank him for you. And then I will dance with my beautiful cousin, unless she won't reject the dirty, drunken Muggle lover," Sirius chuckled. "And you... dance with Remus. I don't care how you feel about him now, just dance with him. He fells like shit after everything that happened to you. He's so worried that he will soon turn gray. His life span becomes shorter with each full moon. Just do something nice to my best friend. He did not smile often in his life."
Sirius rose, leaning on the trunk, shook himself off and, putting a seductive smile on, moved away. Emily watched him cross the border of light and darkness. She stared for a minute more in the flicker of colors and smiles, not thinking about anything and slowly shaking her hand with a bottle. Then she got up, dropping the robe and staying in a dark blue long dress before going to search for Remus.
Sirius saw how like a shadow trying to escape from the light, Emily quickly crossed improvised dance floor. As she approached a guy in a gray suit with a Gryffindor badge pinned to his chest. As she took him by the hand, and he lifted his head in surprise. As slowly swaying and putting their heads on each other's shoulders, they were the only ones in all this mess, dancing a slow dance, while firecrackers exploded over their heads and rhythmic fast music boomed in the air.
Moments after, Remus and Emily disappeared from his eyes, obscured by dozens of other dancing couples. He himself was again carried away to the next dance, where there were smiles around, sparkling jewelry and bare shoulders, knees and necks.
James with Lily in his arms danced past him. The redhead laughed loudly, hugging Potter and kissing his cheek with scarlet hot lips, while he jumped up and down, tearing half-frightened screams from her lips.
Flash.
McGonagall dancing with Flitwick, Dumbledore with Pomfrey. They are all wrinkled, with slouched backs, but the flames of Gryffindor are beating and roaring in their eyes. And it doesn't matter that Pomfrey was Hufflepuff and Flitwick was Ravenclaw.
Flash.
Peter gently holds Eliza's hand. He is so small compared to her, and she is so beautiful compared to him, and together they are absolutely charming, and Sirius likes just to watch their modest dance.
Flash.
Regulus bows to Narcissa before inviting the secret love of his life to the dance, and she nods in favor of him. His eyes are burning, and Narcissa smiles gently, but with a chill, and together they float by, filling the air with the scent of floral perfume.
Flash.
Marlene dances with young drunk Auror. He is handsome, holds her waist, not allowing himself too much, and looks incredulously at the Gryffindor beauty like at a strange flower, delicate and clean. She laughs and kisses his lips, and he stiffens, and the happiest of smiles blossoms on his lips against his will.
Flash.
Alice and Frank, who arrived at Hogwarts on the occasion of graduation of their friends. Already battered in battles, but infinitely happy together. Both have rings on their fingers, Alice with a short haircut which makes her more daring. Frank is just as serious as he was and even a little severe. He holds Alice by the waist, and she leans back and again rushes to him to spin in the next whirlwind.
Flash. Flash. Flash.
Sirius lies in a black cell and looks at the stars in a tiny barred window. Outside, the surf and thunderstorm, and all this reminds him of Maine's cliff, strong cigarettes and touches of one of the most recalcitrant Slytherin girls.
"You won't take it from me, never!" he furiously whispers into the darkness, and the shadows of the Dementors recede from his cell for a while.
And before his eyes, Beata.
She's at Blackshire's gate, looks into his eyes and says something. And then their fingers break the touch, and Black sees her taking the first step away from him. The very moment when something inside him whispered: she won't be back...
"Wait!" he shouts, and Beata instantly turns around. "Don't go..." She looks back inquiringly, then steps back, takes his hand in hers and smiles.
Sirius imagines what has never been and will never be and tries to believe the impossible. Because only the impossible can save him now.
Sirius sighs and mutters to himself. His prayer.
He imagines Beata coming back. He imagines that she did not go alone to the battle, but stayed with him. Sirius grins back at her, sighs and closes his eyes, falling into the sweet deep slumber of hopes and dreams. Beata still looks at him affectionately and slowly, almost weightlessly, strokes his arm. Just like she did when he was dozing on his wide Gryffindor bed. She thought he didn't notice; she was scared to be gentle.
The Dementors grumble and roam around his cell, annoyed by the prisoner's insubordination, but Sirius does not hear them. He again and again imagines the happiest day of his life, he sees his friends, his professors and his beloved girl.
He sees hope.