"Hartley and you have got something special. I've never seen you be soft with anyone. Or sweet." But he always was with Hartley, in their own way. Adored him, clearly. "It's what matters most. To love and be loved in return." Maybe it was a cliché, but Sirius certainly felt it was true.

"I'll take care of Remus. And we'll take care of Hartley and you. Don't write yourself off too quickly, yeah?" Maybe he'd die tonight. Maybe he'd live. It happened. Either way.

Hartley walked back in without warning, holding a kit-kat and a can of coke. He sat back down in his chair, looking Harry over and opening the kit-kat. "You need to eat something, drink something and then nap for a bit, because I've got to send off another email. Trying to reach people in New York. They all suck."