"time's never been on our side, so would you wait for me?"

*

Tiny pinpricks of pain made Eva's side feel like fire. She opened her eyes and, ignoring the agony it caused, pushed herself into a sitting position. The hospital wing was relatively deserted, with her three students being the only ones occupying beds. She breathed a sigh of relief at seeing them safe, but the sound of muffled voices behind the door caught her attention. Slipping out of bed, she hobbled over to the door as best as she could, still clutching her side, and pressed her ear to the door.

"...Lupin is still wandering the grounds. We can't do much about him right now, unfortunately." The Minister, Eva realized.

"And what of Black?" came a snide voice. Severus. "He conspired with Lupin to kidnap Potter and nearly killed his wife in the process."

"Perhaps we shouldn't be hasty in our decisions," Dumbledore suggested, his voice quiet. "We should wait to speak with Professor Lupin before taking action that cannot be undone. He might have additional insight to explain the events of tonight."

"Nonsense. The woman's as good proof as any. If you hadn't found them, Snape, I don't know if she'd still be breathing. We owe you a great debt of gratitude. Once Black receives the Dementor's Kiss-"

"No!" Eva pushed open the door, her eyes wide and face void of all color. She winced at the pain that simple motion caused. It was all she could do to keep herself upright. "Minister, you've got the wrong man."

"Professor," Severus whispered. What might have been genuine concern flickered in his black eyes. "You shouldn't be up. You need rest."

Fudge only looked at Eva with pity. "You're not in your right mind. You bled quite a bit."

"I'm not lying-"

"Of course you're not," he said soothingly, patting her hand. "You're just tired. You'll feel better in the morning. How about we find Madam Pomfrey and get you back to sleep?"

He was treating her like a child scared awake from a bad dream. It felt like she was back in the Ministry twelve years ago, seconds away from a nervous breakdown.

This is a nightmare.

"I'm not mad," Eva said wildly, looking back and forth between the three men. Where was McGonagall? Surely she would believe her. "Headmaster, Severus, please, you have to believe me, he didn't do it, it wasn't him, I promise it wasn't him-"

"Minister," Dumbledore murmured, his eyes on Eva. "Perhaps we should listen to her story as well."

"Dumbledore, she's been a fraying nerve all year long. Can't you see it? The girl finally snapped! Let her be for her own sake. Now Professor Taylor, I really think you ought to-"

"It's Mrs. Black! Do you hear me? That's my name! Mrs. Eva Brandi Black!" She cried. Another wave of lightheadedness crashed into her and she leaned against the stone wall for support. "We had it all wrong! It wasn't him! I... I spent years and years trying to hate him for something he never did! But he's my husband! I love him! I love him more than anything in this world and I... I... I... I can't lose him again!"

It was all too much. Darkness infiltrated the edges of her vision, turning Eva's world cold as her knees buckled and she fell, a pair of arms catching her just in time.

*

When Eva woke again, she found she could not move. Some kind of spell kept her restrained to the bed. After struggling pointlessly for a minute or two, she closed her eyes and concentrated with all her might.

Finite.

The invisible bonds were broken, and Eva slipped out of the hospital wing for the second time that night. This time, she felt much better, with only a mild ache in her side. Perhaps Madam Pomfrey's magic was finally working.

She didn't know where she was running to, but tears ran down her face and all she could think about was fresh air. Her footsteps echoed in the empty corridors, quick and erratic as she stumbled into the courtyard. Above, the full moon hung in the sky, taunting her.

Eva leaned against a stone pillar and sunk to the ground, sobbing. Surely hours had passed. He was gone. They'd stolen her Sirius away. She was alone again.

"You're okay," said a voice, relief in his tone.

Her head whipped around as Sirius ran across the courtyard. He gently helped her stand and enveloped her in the warmest hug she'd had in many years.

"Harry told me you were in the Hospital Wing. I assumed the worst."

"I - how are you - I thought - the Dementor's kiss - the Minister-"

Sirius chuckled and shook his head. "You've got some pretty smart students. I'll never be able to repay them."

Eva smiled through her tears. "I don't understand."

"I'll tell you everything, but I don't have the time now. Soon. There won't be any more secrets between you and me ever again. Deal?" He kissed her knuckles, his eyes resting on the rings. "I like seeing those on your hand again."

"I like seeing you again," she whispered, tucking a few messy locks of hair behind his ear. "Sirius, I don't want you to go. I just got you back."

"I know."

"I spent years watching you leave, never knowing if you'd come home to me." She blinked a few times. "And one day, you didn't."

"Hey, hey. Look at me. It's not like that this time." He lifted her chin. "I wish I could, but I can't stay. It would be too dangerous for both of us, and I won't let you risk yourself because of me. I'll write to you, though. We'll see each other again soon. As soon as the term ends, I intend to make the last twelve years up to you."

"You do?"

"Yeah, I do." Smiling a bit, his hand closed around hers. "Remus said that this is our second chance."

Eva bit her lip, her eyes never leaving his. All she wanted to do was look at him as long as possible. "I hope it is."

"I know it is," Sirius whispered. "Blondie, I've got to go, but soon we'll see each other and I'll never let you go again."

"And I'll take care of you forever."

Their lips met for a soft, slow kiss. Eva closed her eyes, her tears mixing with his on their cheeks. He squeezed her hand tightly before regretfully pulling away.

"I love you," he murmured.

She nodded, doing her best to fake a smile for him. He didn't need to see her broken. "I love you, too."

"Oh, darling." Sirius rested his forehead against hers for a moment and ran a thumb down her cheek. Involuntarily, her eyes fluttered shut. "You never have to put on a brave face around me. You've been brave for far too long. Let me be the strong one for a while."

"Okay," she whispered.

With one more kiss on the cheek, Sirius backed away, a sad smile on his face. He mounted Buckbeak, winked at her, and rode off into the moonlit sky.

Eva fell asleep that night dreaming of the warmth of his hand in hers and the future they had once hoped for.

Shorter chapter, but it gave me the feels

This chapter is inspired by "You and Me" by Niall Horan. I've always thought of it as an Evarius song.

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