Kieren hadn't expected such an outburst, but his own patience isn't exactly at its best levels right now, which means that he's not going to just take this silently. "So could you!" he shouts back at him, his whole body shaking now not from panic, but anger. "You could step in front of a bus or you could get hit with some random disease or one of those things you just said! So why am I the one who has to get wrapped up in cotton padding? I'm not weak!" he snaps, pushing himself from the chair to pace around the kitchen, running a hand through his hair in frustration.

"You can't prevent me from living, Sirius," he insists, eyes wild. "I've died before, if it happens again, at least it'll be while I'm actually living and not just ignoring all the bad in my life. You can't protect me from everything."