            "I’m sorry that I dragged you back to this life when you did not ask for that. I’m sorry that I made you marry me when you did not have a real choice in the matter. And I’m sorry—I am sorry, Sirius—that I did not tell you sooner about my feelings for Lucius." She closed the distance between them, finally pulling out a hand from her pocket, settling it on his chest, on the rune she had carved above his heart. The golden thread dangled between them, so fragile like it might snap with one wrong move. "But I am not sorry for doing what must be done to finish this prophecy." Sirius sighed, his chest caving in beneath her palm, warm, whiskey-tinged breath washing over her cold skin. "Please, Sirius," she choked out, like the words would break her if he rejected her again. "Please just come back."