"Less draining, but still draining," Sirius replies, less statement than question as he doesn't want to presume. "I won't argue that your help would be invaluable, but I won't entertain the notion if it'll make you any worse off."

But, given the men they've already encountered yet today, Sirius also isn't at all sure he could fight them off on his own.

He's already let James and Lily down once. He won't again.

"If we leave the traveling up to me maybe," he says, stepping closer. "There are a few places yet we can try. And you promise not to use your own blood again unless absolutely necessary."