Don't fear the reaper Characters: Sirius Summary: In an empty house, Sirius implements a plan
Sirius rose shakily from the writing desk, a sheaf of letters in his hand. He tucked them into an inner pocket of his jacket and rubbed his eyes. After spending several hours writing what amounted to suicide notes, he was ready to leave. He had started with the one to Gaius, which had been a mistake, for instead of crying only over that one and Harry's, he had wept uncontrollably through all of them. The unaccustomed storm had had a strange cleansing effect, leaving him peaceful, if exhausted. He cast a charm to soothe his eyes. On the third try, it worked.
He didn't think anyone was in the house, but he still trod quietly as he walked down the stairs. He petted Starless, but wouldn't let the dog come outside with him. "I'm going to fly," he told him gently. "You stay here and wait for Harry."
He'd seen James and Lily walking up the hill, hand in hand. After getting his bike from the barn, he started up that way, flying low. Near the tumbling waterfall, he landed a few yards in front of them, sending up a showy spray of dirt into the golden light of the sunset.
"Come on, ghosts," he said, at last breaking in a smile. "I'll give you a lift home."