Disclaimer: The characters all belong to JRK with the exception of Fallon and Maggie. I'm just playing with the others.

PROLOGUE

It was a beautiful spring day and with the absence of attacks and no sign of trouble brewing Dumbledore allowed for a Hogsmeade weekend, a costly decision. There had long been concern about the wards around Hogwarts and if they could hold the Dark Lord out should he ever put all his efforts and those of his followers into bringing them down, now they would never know. He gained entrance by simply walking through the open gates. As the first group of students began to exit the school grounds Voldemort suddenly appeared in front of them surrounded by Death Eaters. Curses and spells began to fly and the students were pushed back onto the school grounds as their attackers streamed through the gates.

There had been no sign of movement from Voldemort since the attack on Diagon Alley right before the start of Harry's 7th year. The losses that day had been devastating. Hermione's parents two of the victims along with Dennis and Colin Creevey's parents and Seamus Finnegan's father. While Harry and members of the DA were attempting to provide cover for the Aurors and Order members as they Apparated to the scene no one noticed two Death Eaters enter Flourish Blotts. Once inside they made their way through the store and found what they were looking for, the Grangers, and the other Muggle parents along with several young children and students, hiding in a secret room in the back of the store where they had been told to stay until everything was over. The Muggles were killed, the children left physically unharmed. At first there was shock that they had not taken the opportunity to kill everyone, Death Eaters had certainly not shown restraint before. Then it was realized that the murders had a purpose. To punish Hermione, send Harry into a fit of guilt and self-pity blaming himself and their friendship that had made her parents a target, and too send a warning to the other Muggle-borns of what was to come. The warning had backfired. Hermione was devastated but it gave her a fierce sense of focus to help Harry find away to destroy Voldemort. For Harry his resolve to accomplish his destiny was intensified ten fold and membership in the DA grew with training at a nearly fevered pitched.

Harry and Ron had been standing at the main doors of the school waiting on Hermione and Ginny when the attack started. They did not hesitate to join the fray. They had been preparing for this day since 5th year. Harry had trained the DA members well. They knew their spells and curses, they were partnered to maximize each other's strengthens and cover their weakness. The teachers and staff fought knowing that their students could well defend themselves.

Harry and Voldemort searched each other out immediately. Dumbledore and Ron followed providing Harry the opportunity to concentrate solely on his mission as they fought the Death Eaters who would hope to aide their Master in his fight. While the others fought around them Harry and Voldemort clashed in a rain of sparks, flashes, and smoke. When the smoke cleared Voldemort was dead his body at Harry's feet. Ron was bleeding but still standing, Lucius Malfoy was dead. Dumbledore was seriously injured but standing as well. He surveyed the sight before him and knew something was not right.

Remus Lupin and Bill Weasley, who had taken the position of Defense Against Dark Arts teacher to help provide Order protection at the school, also knew something was wrong. Many of the Order members had never arrived. The call had gone out almost as soon as the attack began and Remus had Apparated to Hogsmeade immediately along with Fred and George Weasley who had been at headquarters at the time. It was quickly realized that all of the missing Order members worked at the Ministry of Magic, Arthur and Charlie Weasley, Kingsley Shacklebolt, and Nymphadora Tonks the most prominent in their absence. Dumbledore sent Bill and Remus there to investigate along with Harry and Ron. Fred and George were still fighting Death Eaters trying to escape after the fall of the Dark Lord.

Once clear of the Hogwarts gates, Harry and the others Apparated directly to the main atrium. Though still in school Harry and Ron were both seventeen and the Minister of Magic grudgingly gave consent to allow them to receive their Apparation license early. It was a simultaneous attack on two fronts. While Voldemort and the majority of his followers descended on Hogwarts the remainder led by Bellatrix Lestrange attacked the Ministry of Magic. The attack was aided from the inside. Standing in the atrium they saw immediate proof that some thing was indeed wrong. Ernie the security guard laid dead amongst the debris that was once his desk and chair. Battles were being fought in two's and three's.

Making their way through the chaos they subdued many of the attackers. They found Shacklebolt and Tonks in the Aurors office, both dead. The bodies of five Death Eaters scattered around the room. The Aurors had died fighting which was more than could be said for many that had been caught unaware and killed still sitting at their desks or attempting to flee.

The cry of shouted spells spurred them on. They came to a sudden halt and the sight before him stunned Bill. His father and brother Charlie were attempting to protect the Minister of Magic who was badly injured. Their attackers closing in on them - Percy was one of them. It took Harry and Ron a quick moment to realize Percy's presence and actions. Suddenly it all became clear. Ron and Bill had never fully accepted his reconciliation with the family. Truth was only Arthur and Molly had. The children had found his apology lacking and couldn't forget the pain he'd caused their parents. Bill now saw that Dumbledore had obviously found it lacking as well. He had never invited Percy to join the Order. Every other member of the family was, save Ron and Ginny. Though they were in fact unofficial members. Dumbledore had allowed him to participate in discussions not dealing with Order business or what could be considered sensitive in nature. It was obvious now that all information fit that category when it came to Percy. Ron knew in that instant that it was is own brother who had told the Death Eaters where they could find Hermione's parents that day in Diagon Alley. Anger such as he had never known welled inside of him and flowed out through his wand as he sent curses and spells flying.

Suddenly out numbered the Death Eaters fled. Assured that Arthur and Charlie were all right and leaving them to tend to the Minister and the two Death Eaters that Harry and Remus had managed to bind, they followed. They raced through the corridors and found themselves in a long hallway lined with doors. Harry and Ron looked at each other knowingly. Movement at the end of the hall sent them racing again. Throwing open the last door they found themselves in the Death Chamber. Harry and Remus had hoped to never see this room again. Neither could shake the sense of déjà vu as they scrambled over the stone steps and benches throwing spells and dodging curses. Belleatrix found herself caught between them. For a brief moment the temptation for revenge was so great they could both taste it. They swallowed the temptation and threw binding and silencing spells. Thick robes wrapped around her body that had been frozen by a stunning spell. Her mouth was magically taped closed and they took the extra precaution of chaining her to one of the benches. Harry snapped her wand in two.

They could hear Bill and Ron's battle with Percy and turning to see how they could provide help Remus could not help but be surprised by Percy's skill. When he had been in Remus' DADA class in his 7th year Remus could find no fault in his homework or written tests, but he'd always found his wand work to be stiff and regimented. Obviously training with Death Eaters had brought remarkable improvement.

As these thoughts filtered through his mind he watched Percy leap onto the dais. The stone arch way stood there seemingly innocent, the thin black veil ruffling slightly both looking less threatening than the actual truth. Every thing that followed seemed to happen at once. Bill and Ron each cast spells at Percy just as he cast a curse of his own while jumping backwards to avoid the speeding spells coming towards him. Percy's body, the curse, which Harry had deflected back towards him and the two spells all, hit the veil at the same time the result a deafening explosion that threw them across the room.

They staggered to their feet coughing, eyes watering from the dust of crumbled rocks and mortar. After making sure that each of them were all right they turned their attention to the dais. It took several moments to accept what they were seeing. The arch was destroyed the black veil laid torn in two and standing on the dais were thirty or so men and women, their dress and appearance varying by decades. They seemed as shocked to see the four wizards covered in dust and sweat, as the wizards were to see them. Slowly they began to stir and there was a buzz of whispers and soft voices. Remus and Harry watched in amazement as a man with long black hair made his way from the center of the crowd to the edge of platform. Ron and Bill gasped in recognition.

Sirius.

Sirius sat calmly in his chair directly across from the Headmaster's desk. Harry sat sideways on the edge of his chair, eyes riveted to his godfather afraid to blink for fear he'd disappear again. Remus seemed to have the same concern standing beside him with one hand resting on his shoulder. After the initial shock of seeing Sirius standing on the dais they had fallen on each other in hugs, tears and a myriad of questions.

Now at Hogwarts and after telling Professor Dumbledore of the fight at the Ministry and the full detail of the events in the Death Chamber, uncertainty and the need for answers had each on pins and needles. After several moments it was Remus who broke the silence, "What does this mean Albus?" his calm voice belying the emotion that was flowing through him.

Sirius spoke but kept his eyes on Dumbledore "It quite obviously means that the rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated Moony."

Harry's heart was beating so hard against his chest he was amazed it hadn't popped out, "It's not a joke Sirius," he snapped. "We saw you pass through the veil." His voice shook "We saw you die."

Professor Dumbledore was leaning back in his chair, his long thin fingers templed against his lips. "No Harry I don't believe you did." He held up a hand against the protest that Remus and Harry were both preparing to make "I admit at the time I too believed that you had indeed witnessed Sirius' death. Now I see that it was otherwise." He turned his attention to Sirius, "Tell me what you remember about that night in the Death Chamber."

Sirius took several deep breaths "I remember all of it. We received word that Harry and some of his friends had been lured to the Ministry of Magic and I insisted on joining Remus and the other Order members in getting them out of there. I became involved in a duel with my cousin Bellatrix and we fought for several minutes. We threw spells, curses and insults at each other just like we'd always done since we were children. I was hit with a spell and fell backwards. The next thing I knew white light and a room full of people surrounded me."

"You were dead," Harry whispered.

Sirius shook his head vigorously, "NO! That's just it. I wasn't dead. First the spell was only a stunner. She wasn't ready to kill me just yet and secondly I don't know where I was but I know I wasn't dead." His voice had risen to a near shout.

Remus applied a slight pressure to Sirius' shoulder to calm him. "I don't understand," Harry said.

Professor Dumbledore leaned forward and rested his arms on his desk, "Life Harry comes to all of us in the same manner. We are conceived and then we are born. Death however comes in many fashions. For the lucky ones it comes at the end of a long and joyous life while in sleep. For many it comes before their time. Which is part of the reason Sirius is with us now."

Harry interrupted him "Surely it wasn't my parents time to time. Prophecy be damned, they were too young to die. Shouldn't they have been on the platform with Sirius?" Sirius reached over and took Harry's hand. The young man looked at him and down at their hands and tightened his grip.

"No Harry they would not," Professor Dumbledore said. "I agree that they were too young and surely it should not have been their time, but death did come and they passed on. I believe in the case of Sirius and those who were with him that it is the method that was used that kept them from actual death." Remus, Harry and Sirius shared confused looks. "As I said death comes in many ways and the paths to what lies beyond this world are varied. The arch was used as an instrument of death to punish the guilty. However its use was discontinued when concern grew that the wrongly accused and innocent were being killed. I believe the reason that Sirius is with us now is because he passed through a device that's sole purpose was to put to death the guilty. He was an innocent man guilty of no crime and as it was not his time to die he did not."

Sirius nodded in agreement "That makes sense. The one thing that all the others had in common was that they had been tried and convicted of crimes that they claimed they were innocent of. There were a few more people there when I first arrived but as time went on six or seven just disappeared. The others told me that it happened often. One moment someone is there and the next they were gone. They vanish."

"Their time had come and death took them," Professor Dumbledore said.

"Percy," Harry mumbled.

A sadness crossed Dumbledore's face, "I'm afraid Mr. Weasley created his time. He was certainly guilty of many crimes, how many we may never know but he was guilty none the less and the veil administered its judgment." It was quiet for a moment then Dumbledore returned his attention to Sirius, "Tell me Sirius what was it like."

Sirius sat completely still seemingly attempting to gather his thoughts "It's difficult to explain. It just was."

Remus and Harry looked at each other, eyebrows raised. "What do you mean 'it just was'," Remus asked. "Was it a parallel universe? Could you see what was happening on this side? What?"

Sirius stood and moved over to the perch were Fawkes was sitting quietly. "No it wasn't a parallel universe or anything like that and I couldn't see what was happening here. It just was. We were just there. Waiting. We weren't hungry or cold. No one ever got sick. There was no hierarchy, no tempers or arguments. No crying. We spoke. We talked about our lives and our loved ones but we mainly just existed and waited. When someone would vanish, they were just gone. It just was." He stood there silently, his head bowed. Fawkes trilled quietly in his ear.

Harry got up and walked over to his godfather "Welcome home Sirius," he said and pulled the man into a tight embrace.

Remus stood behind Harry and when he let Sirius go he reached for him himself "Welcome home Padfoot."

After a brief moment they pulled Harry in and the three of them stood there unashamed of their tears as they clung to each other. Voldemort was dead, Sirius was back and life just got a whole lot better.