"There are some things that can't be helped, but others that can," he argues right back. "I at least have a wand. It may not protect me from a bus or dragon pox, but if I find myself in an alley with a rabid dog, I've got some means of protecting myself. What've you got? A mobile? What, will you chuck it at him next time?"

Distantly, Sirius knows this isn't the best way to go about things, but... but, fuck it, he's scared. He'd not realized before now how truly vulnerable Kieren is now that he's human again. He could have died. For good this time.