The Night of Revenge

A Saturday night. The sun has fallen down an hour ago and the moon is hiding behind clouds. Only light around comes from a cottage near a forest and even that light is faint and flickering.

Some owls are flying around. They're probably Ministry's, those people never let their owls rest. Some people think it's not fair that owls don't have decent working hours, but the people in the cottage don't think so. That's partly because they don't really care but mostly because they are not counted as "people".

If somebody was listening behind a window of the cottage he would hear a conversation like this:

"I'll pass."

"Me too."

"Fine. Seems that I'm the only one with enough courage to keep going."

"Well. Let's look then."

"Fine."

Then that possible person would hear a series of gasps and moans and a sound that could be heard only when a piece of gold hits an other piece of gold. By that time the person would probably be interested enough to peek through the window.

He'd see four tall, though hunched, human-like beings sitting around a table. All four of them are wearing black robes and their hoods have been pulled so low that one can't see their faces. Of course no one would want to. The four beings are Dementors.

The faint and flickering light comes from a single candle that is standing on the table. Beside it there are some playing cards and quite a lot of gold. Most of the metal is right in front of one of the Dementors He also has four aces in front of him.

The one opposite to the richest waves his hands frantically and calls him a cheater. The hands look as if they belong to something long ago dead. After a moment the waver settles down, which makes the ones sitting next to him relax.

"Fine. But now it's my turn to deal," the waver says.

"Well, get on with it then," the rich one replies. It sounds as if he's smirking under his hood.

"Fine. Let's see who wins this round." The Dementor had finished dealing and all four take their cards.

"Hmm, I'll take two more," says the Dementor on dealer's left side.

"Me too," says the one on the right.

"Well, I'll settle for just one." The last Dementor moves his fingers slowly among his galleons.

"Fine."

Suddenly there comes noise from outside the room. Four Dementors look at each other in confusion. It sounds like someone's tearing the place apart.

"What was that?" whispers one Dementor.

None of them has the courage to answer.

Then the door crashes open. Cold wind blows out the candle and deep shadows darken the room. There's a black silhouette in the doorway. Wind blows his cloak and the full moon shines behind him so that he looks almost unreal. The ruins of the porch say something else. Two Dementors, that they had left out to guard, lie on the ground, not moving.

"What? Your not saying hello to your old friend?" says the silhouette with a too kind voice. "That's bad manners, you know."

"Wh-who are you?" asks one Dementor, still whispering. One could almost see how silhouette raises his eyebrows. Then he smiles and moon shines on his teeth. Now he looks like a werewolf. But he isn't. One of his friends is.

"Don't you remember? We've spent twelve years together. In Azkaban." The Dementors look shocked and confused.

"I'm Sirius Black."

The Dementors change quick looks.

"Well, Mr. Black, would you like to join the game...?"

"No. I'm not here for that," Sirius says calmly brushing his fingers gently through his black hair.

"I'm here to finish you."

He takes his wand out and points it at the first Dementor. After a moment there's nothing left to point at. A flaming purple light kills the second Dementor while they are still too shocked to move. But the scream of their dying mate snaps them out of trance.

One rushes forwards pulling his hood down and revealing his horrible face. Sirius shivers when he sees that open mouth ready to drain him, but only for a little time. His black eyes are like two onyxes when he decides that this one shall suffer.

"Expecto Patronum!" he shouts and a silver beam shoots out of his wand. A shape of a large dog knocks the Dementor to the floor. The screams are louder this time. Sirius watches the silver dog ripping the Dementor to pieces and he smiles coldly.

There's a crash when the window breaks. The fourth Dementor decided that running was probably the best alternative. He took his winnings with him.

The dog stands on the remains of the third Dementor. Sirius crouches to pat it. He's smile is more warm now.

"Yeah, you can't trust anyone but yourself these days," he murmurs to the dog who disappears. He rises up and looks at the broken window.

"Well, it won't get far."

Suddenly a giant black dog is standing in place of Sirius. It runs silently out of the cottage and after the only remaining Dementor. It has no troubles finding him, all it has to do is to follow the line of golden coins.