(no subject)

[lcviolin07]

 
Title:  Newspaper Madness

Author: lcviolin07

Prompt set: 100.1

Prompt: 59, Madness

Word Count: 330

Summary: Sirius in Azkaban with the minister’s newspaper.

Rating: G

Disclaimer: It’s not my sandbox, I only play in it.

Newspaper Madness

Sirius looked down at the newspaper clutched in his hand.  His grimy fingers clung tightly to the wrinkled newsprint.  He laughed maniacally, glaring at the photo on the front cover.

He had gotten the newspaper from the minister on his last visit through on the premise that he missed doing the crosswords.  Honestly, he couldn’t be bothered by such nonsense.  Who cared what a five letter word for plant was?  The photo…the photo on the front cover was the only reason for his want of the paper.

The happy family on the front page had won the Daily Prophet drawing.  He recognized them, faintly.  He thought the adults were his cousins, far down the line, but blood traitors obviously.  But it wasn’t the family he was paying attention to.  It was the rat.

The small animal was being held by a boy.  “He looks around Harry’s age” Sirius said aloud to no one in particular.  He recognized the rat as soon as he had seen the picture.  How many times did I see him transform?  How many times had we roamed the school grounds with James and Remus?

The thought that he was here, stuck in this prison, and that…that thing was free, being taken care of by a nice family; it was nauseating.  He was stuck in this hell and that rat was free.

He laughed again, startling the guard that walked past.  “Shut it Black, there’s nothing funny.  You want me to call the dementors?  They’ll wipe that smirk off your face.”  The guard snarled at him before walking back down the hallway.

I need to get out.  I can probably fit through the bars.  I’ll show him.  I’ll make sure that I’m the one who’s free and he’s the one trapped in here, in this hell.  I show all of them.  Show everyone who thought I would kill this best friend.  Leave my godson without his parents, an orphan.

Sirius drifted off to sleep, murmuring nonsense.  “Rat…Hogwarts…”