Who: Sirius Black (and open) What: Coming back from the dead. Where: Middle of Diagon Alley. He likes to make an entrance. When:Monday. Dusk.
He wondered if it was just him that noticed the way the light that used to burn so brightly from the gap in the archway had dimmed. He wondered if he was the only one to notice how loud the sound was that came from it. Not the previous low notes, murmurs of contemplation, chanting, but sounds of life. Voices not aimed at the dead, but at other living people.
The dimmer light was less intimidating. Not that Sirius had a lot to fear, the worst had already happened. It was peaceful here, of course it was, but he wasn't tangible. He couldn't run around, he couldn't do magic or torment people (including Snape! Oh, the fact that he saw Snape so soon after Remus arrived, it was glorious until he realised he couldn't do anything to wind him up. Heaven was supposed to be awesome!) and his friends all seemed at peace, completely. Lily and James watched over Harry, and though Sirius could, too, it was more of an intrusion now than it had been when he was alive. Remus really was in heaven, it seemed, completely at ease, no changing moon, endless time.
If Sirius went towards the arch could he come back? Well, none of his friends had fallen through here when they'd died so- he probably would be able to, right? Yeah, probably. He didn't want to mention it to Remus or James and Lily, he didn't want to worry them. It took seconds for him to reach the foot of the archway, but minutes more before he had the nerve to walk through. He felt the cold immediately, and immediately he regretted his choice, but it was only two steps and he was through, out into the sinking darkness and freezing air, the smell of life and rain and mud and other people, and food-
Sirius drew a breath, his lungs ached, his eyes hurt. His body felt too heavy for his feet for a moment, and his next step was more of a stumble. Diagon Alley. He hadn't been here in nearly two decades.
"Merlin's Beard!" a voice to his left exclaimed, loud and rough to Sirius' ears. "Where the ruddy hell did you come from?" A man in black robes, clutching his wand, looked at Sirius with terrified eyes. "Call one of the aurors! Someone call one of the aurors!"