Silence
Theme 46: Tergeo


James's scream went up in the air, like a red Indian's smoke signal - Distorted. Fiery. Fantastic.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Remus bit his lip, as a dumbstruck Sirius helped himself to his feet. There were bits of turkey in his hair, and champagne running down his chest. The tall vase - James's favourite - lay nearby.

- Shattered.

"Gosh - Prongs - I'm so sorry - I'm sure it wouldn't - We can still - Tergeo -"

The napkin Sirius had pointed his wand at gave a feeble sort of wriggle, then fell on the ground, unchanged.

"Um - Prongs?"

But "Prongs," having directed all the energies he had had left into the one "no" he had screamed half a minute before, did not speak.

"Prongs? Prongs, mate, are you alright?"

James made an odd noise that sounded halfway between a wail and a hiccup.

"Padfoot, you -"

But what exactly Padfoot was, Sirius never found out. For, at precisely that moment, the brass doorknob turned, and the door of the Room of Requirement flew open.

- Lily Evans walked in, hair pinned at the back of her head, and looking immaculately beautiful.

"Sorry if I'm early, James, my watch -"

Her words faltered, and died on her lips.