Ficlet: Spark
Sep. 11th, 2009 10:54 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
trinitydayYou know how I was talking about writing 10 War Songs earlier this week (actually, I talked about 15 War Songs, but that was before I realized how badly I failed at math). Well, instead of thinking about something sensible, like a story which has already been started and needs to be finished, I spent my half hour wandering around before work this morning thinking of something for that. Except it turned waaaaaay too shippy for that, so I'm posting it here and now instead.
Title: Spark
Fandom: Harry Potter
Pairing: Sirius/Lily (with offscreen Lily/James)
Word Count: 731
Written for: Nothing? Could it be that I have had an original thought in my mind? How long has that been?
They are not winning the war.
That is the popular opinion—or it would be if people could overcome their fears enough to speak their minds—but Lily doesn't know if she subscribes to it herself.
She's all too afraid that Sirius does.
He was so bright, in Hogwarts, that sometimes he outshone even his best mate. Back then, the laughter in his eyes was there even when matters were serious. Sometimes now, when she looks at him, he's hollow. Lily hates herself for being so judgemental before. She misses that spark that used to define him.
It's been getting worse since Mared Yandle died. They were never close to the other Order member, but he knows who killed her. He won't tell Lily who, won't tell anyone who. He bottles it up but there isn't much left of him and it all spills out anyway.
James won't talk to her about the way Sirius is slipping away when she tries to bring it up. But James won't talk to her about anything now. He won't listen, he won't consider. He doesn't want to know and she can't make him.
Lily's losing everyone and she doesn't know how to stop it.
James is gone on another mission, alone. Even though he's volunteered for the more dangerous one, it's Lily and Sirius who are pinned down by Death Eaters. It's Lily and Sirius who are going to die.
It's desperation that allows her to pour enough strength behind a Shield Charm so that it holds up against their attacks. It won't last long, but it keeps a well-aimed Avada Kedavra from hitting Sirius. Lily retaliates with Deprimo, which unsettles them long enough to pull Sirius to the side, away from the lines of sight and spells.
She saves his life. And then she kisses him.
Or maybe she saves his life when she kisses him.
He is slack against her, his mouth only moving in wordless wonder, but Lily takes what he gives her and slips her tongue in between his lips. She knows the minute he relents and allows himself to kiss her back. The sensation is even headier than she imagined, and she closes her eyes to keep herself from falling into him.
Lily breaks off the kiss just as suddenly, gasping for breath. Sirius doesn't move. His forehead is still against hers. They freeze for a long moment, their only movements the rising and falling of their chests, silent except for harsh panting.
Sirius' breath is hot against her lips.
He grabs her suddenly, possessively. Any second now the Death Eaters will recover and kill them both, but Lily won't think of that when Sirius' arms are around her.
She is violently wrenched sideways.
The Anti-Disapparition Jinx surrounding the building faltered when Lily blasted the Death Eaters. Sirius has Apparated them out of there. Lily could have done the same at any time.
She is still wrapped in his arms. Lily should be worrying about the Death Eaters. They might have gotten away from the immediate danger, but they aren't safe. Apparitions can be tracked. Sirius has only bought them a few minutes.
Lily should be thinking about her husband. James loves her, has loved her for more years than she can wrap her head around. Lily loves him, too. She loves James with all her heart, but he isn't here with her now.
Sirius is.
She whispers his name. It's the start of something, but Lily isn't sure what comes next. She should say it was a mistake. She should remember that she's married. She should think about his best mate. She should step out of his embrace. She should let him continue to hold her. She should kiss him again.
But Sirius won't let her go down any of those paths.
"We have to get out of here," he says, cutting off any recriminations.
He steps away but doesn't let go of her hand, tugging her towards a doorway. Lily doesn't know where it leads, doesn't know where they've landed, but the Death Eaters won't know either, so that's all right.
They don't have much time, but Sirius isn't going to die today and he isn't going to leave Lily behind.
Sirius Black has too much life left in him to give into the Death Eaters without a fight today.
Lily might love him, just for that.
Title: Spark
Fandom: Harry Potter
Pairing: Sirius/Lily (with offscreen Lily/James)
Word Count: 731
Written for: Nothing? Could it be that I have had an original thought in my mind? How long has that been?
They are not winning the war.
That is the popular opinion—or it would be if people could overcome their fears enough to speak their minds—but Lily doesn't know if she subscribes to it herself.
She's all too afraid that Sirius does.
He was so bright, in Hogwarts, that sometimes he outshone even his best mate. Back then, the laughter in his eyes was there even when matters were serious. Sometimes now, when she looks at him, he's hollow. Lily hates herself for being so judgemental before. She misses that spark that used to define him.
It's been getting worse since Mared Yandle died. They were never close to the other Order member, but he knows who killed her. He won't tell Lily who, won't tell anyone who. He bottles it up but there isn't much left of him and it all spills out anyway.
James won't talk to her about the way Sirius is slipping away when she tries to bring it up. But James won't talk to her about anything now. He won't listen, he won't consider. He doesn't want to know and she can't make him.
Lily's losing everyone and she doesn't know how to stop it.
James is gone on another mission, alone. Even though he's volunteered for the more dangerous one, it's Lily and Sirius who are pinned down by Death Eaters. It's Lily and Sirius who are going to die.
It's desperation that allows her to pour enough strength behind a Shield Charm so that it holds up against their attacks. It won't last long, but it keeps a well-aimed Avada Kedavra from hitting Sirius. Lily retaliates with Deprimo, which unsettles them long enough to pull Sirius to the side, away from the lines of sight and spells.
She saves his life. And then she kisses him.
Or maybe she saves his life when she kisses him.
He is slack against her, his mouth only moving in wordless wonder, but Lily takes what he gives her and slips her tongue in between his lips. She knows the minute he relents and allows himself to kiss her back. The sensation is even headier than she imagined, and she closes her eyes to keep herself from falling into him.
Lily breaks off the kiss just as suddenly, gasping for breath. Sirius doesn't move. His forehead is still against hers. They freeze for a long moment, their only movements the rising and falling of their chests, silent except for harsh panting.
Sirius' breath is hot against her lips.
He grabs her suddenly, possessively. Any second now the Death Eaters will recover and kill them both, but Lily won't think of that when Sirius' arms are around her.
She is violently wrenched sideways.
The Anti-Disapparition Jinx surrounding the building faltered when Lily blasted the Death Eaters. Sirius has Apparated them out of there. Lily could have done the same at any time.
She is still wrapped in his arms. Lily should be worrying about the Death Eaters. They might have gotten away from the immediate danger, but they aren't safe. Apparitions can be tracked. Sirius has only bought them a few minutes.
Lily should be thinking about her husband. James loves her, has loved her for more years than she can wrap her head around. Lily loves him, too. She loves James with all her heart, but he isn't here with her now.
Sirius is.
She whispers his name. It's the start of something, but Lily isn't sure what comes next. She should say it was a mistake. She should remember that she's married. She should think about his best mate. She should step out of his embrace. She should let him continue to hold her. She should kiss him again.
But Sirius won't let her go down any of those paths.
"We have to get out of here," he says, cutting off any recriminations.
He steps away but doesn't let go of her hand, tugging her towards a doorway. Lily doesn't know where it leads, doesn't know where they've landed, but the Death Eaters won't know either, so that's all right.
They don't have much time, but Sirius isn't going to die today and he isn't going to leave Lily behind.
Sirius Black has too much life left in him to give into the Death Eaters without a fight today.
Lily might love him, just for that.