Future Insights (Sirius) (R)

A twisted grin spread across Mephisto's face as his eyes locked on the great black dog that exited from St. Mungo's. Oh, Sirius.... Not nearly careful enough... Stepping from the shadows, cloaked and masked, he silently moved in behind Padfoot. When he was nearly next to him, Mephisto snorted softly. "Work or pleasure, Black? What brings you here?" he asked him with a dark snicker.

Padfoot’s paws dug into the ground, the dirt being hurled away with every pounce. His glowing bright yellow eyes watched every corner, because one was never too careful. Sometimes padfoot wondered if there was someone constantly on his tail, watching his every move out of curiosity. Being in Azkaban for more than ten years made Sirius wary and while in padfoot form he wasn’t any different. He couldn’t wait to get Pettigrew so everything was over with and he could go home to be with Mira and his children. He wondered what his little girl was like every second of his seemingly long life, and was proud that Drake was growing up so well. His mind also flew to Atticus on occasions wondering what his brother’s son was like. 

He missed Regulus dearly and wasn’t afraid to admit it, he was the first - other than Kreacher - to know what happened to Regulus and although Sirius had stopped crying long ago, grief still struck. Hard. Regulus, no matter what his side was, how much of a bastard he was - much like Sirius himself - was still his only brother and perhaps his only family beside Andromeda and Mira. Knowing that Pollux was taking care of Atticus and that the boy would one day inherit the house made him smile. No matter what Atticus was like he knew the boy would have some of his father’s traits and would be a…good boy.

He stopped abruptly when his last name was uttered by a deep, tough voice, but decided against turning around immediately. It seemed that not even with his eyes focusing on every corner on every bush and tree, he was able to catch sight of the one who addressed him. Not many knew his animagi form, only those who were close, so he wondered just who was the owner of that very unfamiliar voice. Jumping towards the nearest tree, Sirius’ paws dug into the wood, before propelling himself backwards, flipping over the man. Before he landed he was back to his human form. Reaching into the bag Kronos had given him a sword materialized in his hand and he gripped the hilt tightly.

Unsheathing it, he pointed it at the back of the one who found him, "Now who would you be?” he growled the question before blowing his hair away from the front of his eyes slightly. “One thing I know is that you’re a stranger who won’t walk away with his life but still, I’m curious about the rest,” he snarled, in a low tone, his sword aimed at the bastard, though not close enough to even graze him. “Speak,” he ordered the man.

Mephisto was not at all surprised by Sirius' reaction to his not only spotting him, but calling him out on the form that he was in. He knew that not many people knew about Sirius' animagus form, which only helped to set the man, dog, on edge. Not even flinching as Padfoot propelled over him, shifting into Sirius' human form, he simply linked his hands behind his back and waited. Chuckling darkly, Mephisto turned to face the man that was now armed, pleased that his mask and cloak concealed him perfectly. "You could say...." he began, eyeing the sword that was aimed at him, "I'm a friend. I bring you insight that you may find....useful....in the future." If he hadn't had his mask on, Sirius would see the man's twisted grin spread across his face.

Hearing that this man was here to bring him 'insight' about the future - as he put it - Sirius' curiosity began taking over, however, his wariness was still very much there and wouldn't leave him no matter what. Although now he was more focused on hearing the man's words, it didn't mean he would swiftly stab him through that mask anyway, "Like I said a moment ago...." he drawled taking a deep breath before his dark eyes narrowed zooming on the lines on the man's mask, "Speak...my friend," he told him tilting his head slightly.

Remaining cautious of the blade still aimed at him, Mephisto paused as he organized this thoughts for how to tell Sirius what he needed to know. "Unfortunately, what information I have for you is not all moonbeams and starlight. Regardless.... You are friends with the Grand Master of the Templars, correct?" he asked with an exaserbated sigh. He knew the answer to this, but figured why not let Sirius tell him, string him along a little before simply revealing his secrets.

Narrowing his eyes, Sirius' mind began flowing away from his grasp unknowingly as he waited for the man to tell him whatever he planned on telling. He thought about one person in particular, whom obviously was James. No matter how much Sirius also loved Lily, James was a different case. Whenever someone pointed out Lily was 'there' for him, they forgot to mention that the one that was there after he came back waiting for him was James. Lily fought Sirius' darkness with kindness, James used his own light and in the end he succeeded. Of course neither of them saved Sirius, in fact, Mira did.

James was his brother the only one that still believed one hundred percent that Peter wasn't a danger to them, and although he was wrong he showed how much he trusted his friends. Sirius valued that over anything else, he knew James loved and trusted him even after the things he had done in his youth, even after he took a turn for the worse and began delving into the dark arts. James never stopped trying to get to him even if he gave up on others.

He loved Remus but he knew Moony was too far gone at the time, and he would much rather kill him than allow Morana Gaunt to manipulate him into doing her bidding. He loved Morgan but they way she defended her choices made him focus only on Sirius. In the end, little did he know, they all came back.

That was the only reason Sirius was able to think of James and smile, because in the end the three people that he was afraid to lose we're seeking for the thing James had wanted since he his childhood: peace. In their own way, yes, however, peace was above anything else.

"Friends? Grand Master Epazal mentored me for a while, along with General Paulo and General Mephisto," he answered, and only gave out names because for the man to ask him, he had to know Sirius was involved with the templars, which wasn't known to many people, only those he listed, and Arthur.

Nodding his understanding of the information Sirius was telling him, Mehpisto couldn't help but grin. What would Sirius say if he knew just whom he was talking to? "I'll take that as a yes, then. You believe Grand Master Epazal to be strong and in control of his forces with them, then? Of course you do. Heed my warning, Black. He is not nearly as strong as you give him credit for," he began, rocking back and forth on his feet. "You should know, if your friend Arthur Weasley takes over....war is inevitable, and the Templars will fall," he finished tilting his head slightly before straightening and waiting for whatever kind of reaction Black would have to this potentially ill news.

Sirius held the blade sideways as if to show his confusion, "I believe he is powerful, which is true, although he's old," he shrugged but then narrowed his eyes and inclined his head forwards and tipped his head slightly as if to tell Mephisto to repeat what he had just said. "Come again? Arthur won't cause wars, on the contrary," Unless the loss of his brother had changed him a lot Sirius still thought Arthur was the same man. "If General Paulo took over I can imagine he'd side with the Daemones. But there's always a chance General Mephisto can take over and he's fair and kind," he told the stranger honestly.

Giving his head a shake, Mephisto replied, "I didn't say he would cause it. Simply that it will happen. Sadly, I can't tell you much more than that as these events have not come to pass. Just be warned..." grinning twistedly to himself following the praise from his former pupil. He had always tried to be a balanced mix of fair, kind, and firm. Apparently, it had paid off. "Next, The Ministry. You also hold that to be the powerhouse of its former days? As strong as ever?" he taunted him, beginning to paces aimlessly and pausing to look over his shoulder at Sirius.

Sirius' growls began to grow louder and louder due to Mephisto's words. How dare he say Arthur would lead the Templars to war? If he truly believed his own words this masked man had no idea who Arthur was, unless he had changed in those twelve years Sirius was away. "Well considering I just came out of jail I don't even know if he's alive," he answered his grip on his blade tightening, "But if so I guess yes, still as powerful as ever. What about Moody?" he asked with a crack of his knuckles and neck.

Bringing his hands in front of himself, Mephisto linked his fingers, cracking his knuckles, and replied, "Oh, he's very much alive. Alive and well, I dare say. I hardly think a warning such as the one I just delivered would hardly be necessary if he wasn't, now would it?" Turning to face Sirius once again, he could sense the frustration the man was feeling, not that he cared all that much. He was not surprised in the least that Sirius would believe The Ministry to be strong and secure, Moody or no Moody. "Moody is as mad as ever, Black. Be that as it may, just as every power does, The Ministry will fall, as well. It is still strong, for now... But it will not stay as it is for long. Powers will rise that will challenge that 'strength', as you call it. And the challenger will win," he said, revealing his second warning to the man before him. Sirius was no fool. He had proven that time and time again in and out of training. Mephisto knew that even if he didn't take his warnings now, he had planted the seed in Sirius' mind, and that was all that mattered.

Growling as the man continued to act as if he knew the future Sirius couldn't help himself and felt the need to attack the man and rip his throat off, "Tell me who the damn challenger is," he asked of him his fist clenching tightly around the hilt of his blade. He had had enough of games he was sick and tired of all the riddles, he had enough of that when he was young, this man was infuriating him, and he surely wouldn't like Sirius when he was angry.

Still too easily frustrated, Sirius... Pausing to take in the sight of his former pupil, still so easily infuriated by the way his own mind worked and the way he tried to get his mind working to solve any puzzle he might be faced, he chuckled internally to himself. "Voldemort," he answered him simply, "Voldemort is the challenger that will rise to power once again. The Ministry will fall. But, The Dark Lord will also fall." He could sense Sirius' anger and knew that while his anger was nothing to toy with before he did his time in Azkaban, it was certainly nothing to mess with now. Keeping careful watch on him, he was ready for whatever was to come. Having trained him, himself, Mephisto knew what he could and could not do against him in a brawl.

That name echoed in his mind as his anger hit a level he had thought deep asleep, the one he used to harm James, the one he felt when Armen was controlling him. "Voldemort..." he echoed the name of the filthy bastard, "Voldemort is dead," he uttered and lunged at the man swinging his sword at his head.

Having been waiting for Sirius to finally lash out, he was pleased that it took him a little longer than what he normally would have to snap. Moving his hands in an arch above his head, a steel chain, cuffed around his wrists formed just in time to block the attack by him. Sparks flew as Mephisto looped the chain around his blade and yanked it down, hard as her turned slightly. Holding Sirius' blade tightly in the chain, his eyes locked onto him. "Only in a matter of speaking, Black. He is growing stronger. Surely you feel it. He will rise again. He will regain his power. But.... He WILL fall once again," he spoke firmly, darkly to the man before him, letting out a slow breath through his nose.

Sirius growled pulling his sword forcing Mephisto closer to him as he pulled the chains bounded to the man as well. He began holding the sword only with one hand, and set his other hand on Mephisto's shoulder, pulling him even closer but instead of headbutting him or doing something like it, he used Mephisto as a propeller as he flipped over the man, landing graciously on his feet behind him. Pulling his sword that was still attached to the chains, the chains gave way and began shattering until they were completely split apart and destroyed. The impact of the chains being destroyed pulled Mephisto on his back but before he fell Sirius got on one knee and kicked him in the back, sending him crashing towards the floor. Before he could get up however Sirius was on top of him, each of his boots next to his head, his sword pointing at his mask. "... Enough people have died because of him ..." he growled once again.

As Sirius fought against him, as he had been trained to do, Mephisto's face hardened, unseen behind his mask. When their places were exchanged and his chains shattered, he vanished them as he was sent flying to the ground following a solid kick to the back. Well done, Sirius... Even as adults now, Mephisto still critiqued his pupil. Laying on his back, his hard eyes looked up at Sirius, as his blade pointed at his face. "And, I agree," he said through gritted teeth. "But, it's not the end of the list of deaths to be dealt out by his hand. You know whom he seeks...." Mephisto growled, holding his hands, palms up, near his head. He wasn't beaten, but he didn't come to fight Sirius. However, if he had to, he would.

Shoving the tip of the sword into the ground next to Mephisto Sirius growled silently as he mentioned the dark lord would resume his search for the boy spoken of in the prophecy. "And I know whom will stop him..." he answered referring to the same person Mephisto did. Voldemort would surely attack Harry should he come to power but Sirius could bet his godson would do the memory of his parents right and defy the dark lord.

Blinking as Sirius sunk his blade into the ground next to his head, Mephisto kept his eyes locked on the man above him. Grinning, unseen due to his mask, he spoke softly, "Excellent.... Watch over him. You and yours, Black. Many eyes make the watch more effective." He knew that Sirius had eyes in all sorts of places. If the Dark Lord knew about the boy in the prophesy, as he knew he knew he did, then he would find him. It was only a matter of time. If Sirius could get as many sets of eyes on the boy, his success would have an easier time to pass, which is what everyone needed to happen. Giving his former pupil a curt nod, he said, darkly, "Until we meet again..." As soon as Mephisto uttered the last word, he apparated away, leaving a small collection of black wisps of smoke.

Sirius could've followed his apparation trail, however he decided against it, he was not gonna go on a hunt for that masked man when he had more important matters to attend. He couldn't lose time, he had to get into Hogwarts and that was what mattered most at the moment, afterwards he could focus on finding Mephisto but for now Pettigrew was his main goal.