"Before we discuss that, I need to know what you want."
Silan waved his wand, transforming a few blades of grass on the ground into a table and chairs. He gestured gracefully toward a seat.
"Sit down, Uncle Sirius." He seemed to have grown used to calling him that.
Sirius still looked uncomfortable. He nodded blankly and sat down.
Silan took some snacks and a pot of warm black tea from his Ring. He had prepared them before coming in.
Steam curled up from the tea and drifted past Sirius's nose like wisps of smoke, snapping him back to himself.
Sirius ignored the tea. He stared at Silan and said urgently, "Protecting Harry comes first. And then we need to catch that traitor Peter. I'll kill him myself! I'll avenge James and Lily!"
He practically ground the words out through his teeth. At the mention of Peter, even his hair seemed to tremble with rage.
For Silan, both matters would be easy to settle.
But that outcome would be the worst possible one for him. It would fall far short of what he needed.
Silan silently lifted his cup and took a sip of tea. He held it in his mouth for a moment before swallowing, waiting until its warmth reached his teeth.
It was a habit left over from times when he had been cold and hungry, a way to draw out every bit of warmth.
"What's wrong?" Sirius asked anxiously when Silan said nothing. "Is it difficult?"
"No." Silan shook his head. "In fact, it's quite easy."
"Actually, you're the greatest danger to Harry..." Silan glanced at him. "When he ran away from the Dursley family, he met a big black dog. I don't need to tell you who that was."
"Harry now thinks that dog was an