For me? Why? And what for?
My head throbbed with questions, but I swallowed them. I already knew what Slythrein would say.
In that diary.
So instead, I forced the only question that mattered to the surface.
"The diary, Slythrein. It has the answers, doesn't it?"
"Indeed," he said, calm as ever. "That's what she told me."
"And? When are you thinking of giving it to me?" I pressed, my left eyebrow raised.
His gaze didn't waver. "Soon, child. But first, there is something more important I must take care of."
The certainty in his voice made me pause. What could be more important than the truth my mother left for me?
Questions rattled inside my head, but I bit them back.
I already knew what he would say
'Wait'
Instead, I watched as he shifted slightly, turning his attention toward the figure curled against the stone.
Slythra lay asleep, her breathing steady, face soft and in the firelight.
' She reminds me of Sylvie '
With gentleness, Slythrein reached out and brushed the air above her, as though nudging her from a dream without touch.
"Slythra," he said quietly. "It's time."
She blinked up at him, confusion dulling her still-sleepy eyes.
"Time…? For what?" she murmured.
But then she froze.
The fog lifted in an instant, and the color drained from her face. Her eyes widened, horror and recognition all at once.
"No… no, you don't mean- " Slythra's voice cracked, and she sat up suddenly.
Her claws scraped against the stone floor as she shifted her weight, as if her body sought some way to block him, to hold him there.
" No," she whispered, shaking her head. " Dad. You need to think this again. You said- " Her words tangled, caught between fear and denial.
Slythrein did not waver as if he had expected this.
I looked at Slythra, her breaths came sharper, and her face lashed in protest, but the resistance broke before it was born.
Her shoulders dropped and she ran towards Slytherin.
She pressed herself against him, trembling... a low cry escaping her throat.
Slythrein's hand rose, steady and kind, stroking her head as though she were still the pup he once guarded.
A faint smile curved his lips.
"I told you, child. This day would come. And you have not disappointed me. You grew strong, stronger than I ever thought you would. I am proud of you " he said quietly. "More than you'll ever know. Take care of yourself, little one. That's all I ask."
Her tears dampened his chest, but Slythrein's eyes did not falter.
His gaze stayed steady, fixed on the girl weeping into him.
Behind them, I was restless and confused.
Why was she crying all of a sudden? What time?
I spoke, my voice broke the silence,
"What's happening? What the hell is going on?"
It carried a tinge of anxiety and restlessness.
Slythrein heard me, but did not answer.
Instead, he kept his hand upon Slythra's head, his voice low and steady, carrying the weight of finality.
"This was always the way."
His hand lingered on her head, trying his best to compose herself.
It was as if through her, he could compose the storm shaking inside him.
When he spoke, his voice carried no hesitation, only the calm weight of truth.
"I cannot stay," he said to no one in particular. I couldn't even tell who he was talking to, me, Slythra...or maybe even himself. "This form, this half life… it was never meant to last. I remained because she asked it of me."
He finally turned his head towards me, "Because you were not ready, Sirius. But years wear even on dead. And I am half of it."
Slythra shook her head against him, choking on the sound that left her throat. He must have told her long ago, and of course, that didn't make the moment any easier.
"You mean…" My voice cracked, the words clumsy, unfinished. My chest rose unevenly, as if the air itself had stolen the words. "You're going to- "
"Yes,"Slythrein answered. His hand still petting his daughter. It was clear, that it was hard for him to do as well,
"I will end what should have ended long ago. My time is over."
I stared at him, disbelief was running through my emotions. What?? Why??
"Why?" I asked at last, the word breaking out almost childlike. "Why would you do this now? After years? After everything?"
His lips curved faintly but there was no amusement in them, only weariness.
But his gaze never left Slythra.
" Because I am tired," he said, the words quiet and tired. "And because it is the right thing to do."
---
Slythra stiffened at his side, her breath catching. Her eyes widened as though the memory of an old conversation had just made its way back to the surface.
She had known this moment would come for a long time.
But knowing didn't make it hurt less. She had almost forgotten about it. Or maybe no, she didn't forget she just pretended she did.
The moment Sirius came into the forest, the moment her father recognised him.
She knew, she knew it was the time. There was this constant beating of heart, a voice in her head screaming that she's gonna lose him. Her only family.
And yet, she feigned ignorance. She tried to be mature, to support his decision, to be brave.
But in the end, she was just a child.
She was around 30, in human years though, only 15.
Most of her life, he was without a body.
There were times she craved for his warmth, for him to hug her.
To kiss her on her forehead, to play with her.
Back then, she had fought him.
She couldn't accept why he endured this hollow, half life. It pained him a lot to keep going, yet he endured.
She resented that he would go after his completing his promise. Was she not worth it? Did he not love her?
He had told her it was not Sirius that bound him here, but a promise he made to Allysane, sworn in her final breath.
He remained to show Slythra the weight of a promise, that such words were never spoken lightly.
But she was too young to understand it. Duty, promise, everything seemed fake, useless.
Her mother had died just after giving birth to her. So he was her whole world, and yet maybe she wasn't.
Or so she thought.
After all the arguments, all the nights she had begged him to stay for her and not just for some oath… one evening he confessed the truth, one he called selfish and she disageed.
'Yes, it is a promise that bound me, but I am also carrying on because I want more time with you. Time to see you grow, to watch you stumble and rise, to simply be with my daughter. '
These were his exact words.
That was years ago.
But she never forgot the night he told her the truth.
The first and only time she had seen him cry.
It was then she learned how deeply he loved her, how much it cost him to linger in this hollow state.
And as time passed, she adapted.
She accepted the situation and found solace in company of her father.
His presence was enough to calm her down, and his eyes were enough to show how much he cared.
And now, watching him hold her, she knew the same truth still burned inside him... that he was barely holding on, only for her sake.
She was gonna lose him. Her only family. The kind of pain she wouldn't wish on anyone.
So she did what she was supposed to, she pressed against him harder.
She tried to speak, tried to force something out between her sobs... but the words broke apart before they could form.
" There is something I need to ask of you," he said. His tone was calm, too calm for what was unfolding. "And something I need to tell."
Sirius swallowed hard, the unease coiling in his gut. "What is it?"
Slythrein drew a slow breath. "It is not an order, nor a debt to be repaid. I ask it as a father… and as one who has no time left.""
He paused, his eyes shining on his daughter beside him.
"Take care of my child, Sirius. As though she were your own."
The words landed heavy, simple, and inescapable.
" Dad?" This time, Slythra found her voice again.
She was confused, as she looked at her father's face.
But before she could ask more, Sirius spoke up.
" I- " his voice faltered, breath catching in his throat.
He drew in a sharp inhale, steadying himself, and nodded once.
"I will try my best. Slythra will be as much a daughter to me as Sylv is."
Sirius's words still echoed in her ears.
She wanted to believe them. Wanted to trust that he could keep her safe the way her father always had.
He wasn't her father. He could never be.
But she had seen him with Sylvie... the way he loved her, every gesture.
That love was real. And maybe, just maybe, he could give some of it to her too.
The thought didn't erase her fear. It didn't erase her doubt.
But it was enough to steady her, enough to let her try.
If her father believed in Sirius enough to entrust her, then she would try.
For now, she pressed closer, trembling, caught between the warmth of her father's embrace and the terrifying certainty that it would not last.
Her father's promise was already ending. And even till the end, he wasn't leaving her alone.