It had taken only a moment for Harry's world to shatter, his last hope at having a family disappearing along with Sirius through the veil. If he could just reach him in time, pull him back out, then everything would be okay. Harry reached the veil, moving faster than should be possible, his fingertips just brushing the fabric and the voices within calling out to him loudly, when he was yanked back by Remus. He fought against Remus hold, kicking and screaming and clawing like an animal wherever he could reach, but Remus only tightened his arms, making sure Harry couldn't break free. Harry kept struggling until he heard the high-pitched laughter of Bellatrix Lestrange, the one whose spell had sent Sirius into the veil, the one who had ruined his hope for a family. He went limp as the laughter rang in his ears, the sudden lack of resistance making Remus' grip go slack, before he broke free to chase after the madwoman. He didn't know what he would do if he caught up, didn't care if he actually did, he just needed an outlet for all pain and desperation that had suddenly taken hold of him when Sirius disappeared behind the veil.

This way.

Harry paused at the sound of another voice, one that he didn't recognize but felt he should, before he heard Bellatrix taunting him up ahead and he started after her once more.

Wait, do not follow her.

Harry stopped again, the voice sounded desperate now, and found himself turning before without conscious thought. Bellatrix was getting away, he'd never have the chance to avenge Sirius if he didn't follow, but she was also a fully trained wizard, a death eater that wouldn't show any remorse at murdering or torturing Harry if he did catch her. Sirius wouldn't want Harry to avenge him, not if there was any chance Harry could come to harm. He didn't think to question his somehow rational thoughts as he let Lestrange get away, laughter getting fainter by the moment.

Harry was still in the Department of Mysteries, that much he knew, but trying to remember all the twists and turns he'd taken following the voice was near impossible. It looked like he was in an abandoned section of the Ministry, the halls were dark and stuffy, and every step he took caused small clouds of dust to swirl about his feet. Eventually he came to a door, no hinges or handle in sight, and Harry only knew it was a door thanks to the white stone it was made of, contrasting sharply with the dark stone of the walls.

Open the door.

Harry didn't have any clue how to open the door, he doubted throwing a blasting curse at it would do much good, so he put his hand over it and tried pushing his magic into it like the entrance to Diagon Alley. He was surprised when it swung inward silently, a small woosh of air blowing past him, to show nothing but darkness. Harry cast a quick lumos before he stepped inside, the door swinging shut behind him. He whirled around quickly, greeted by a wall of white stone and no sign of where the door had been.

It's been a long time since anyone has been able to hear me.

Harry sucked in a breath and tried to turn around as a weight slammed into him and knocked his wand away, the light going out before Harry had a chance to see what it was. He found himself laying on the ground, a clawed grip holding his wrists above his head while a solid weight pinned him down.

I've never met something like you before.

Harry, already tense from being pinned and fighting back a panic attack, stopped breathing at the sound of the voice right above him. It still held that strangely familiar quality, but now it sounded inhuman, too smooth to be natural. Harry focused on the voice, the unnaturalness of it assuring him it wasn't human, and found himself calming down despite his circumstances. "What are you?"

The grip on Harry's wrists slackened and the weight lifted slightly, still restraining but no longer aggressive, and he relaxed completely.

I am a Hollow. I've been trapped in this room for a long time, and I am so very hungry.

Harry felt like he should have tensed at the Hollow's words, felt something other than an overwhelming calm, but there was a fog over his thoughts, preventing him from lashing out. His magic was stirring beneath his skin, slowly getting rid of the haze, while Harry closed his eyes and tried to concentrate. If he focused hard enough he could see everything using his magic, the way he used to do in his cupboard when his uncle would take out the light bulb, though he didn't know it was his magic back then.

The ones who trapped me here didn't know what I was, couldn't understand me, but you can. I wouldn't eat you if I weren't so hungry, I haven't held a conversation in a very long time.

Harry listened to the Hollow talk with interest, he'd never heard or read about a magical creature called a Hollow. If the Hollow had been here long enough to be forgotten in the Department of Mysteries, probably the oldest section of the ministry, then he had been here for at least several hundred years. He couldn't fault the Hollow for wanting to eat him, it just wanted to live, though most of that thought was probably because of the calm that was still settled over him. He slowly opened his eyes in the darkness, his emerald orbs literally glowing with magic, and caught his first sight of the Hollow. It was humanoid in shape, taller than Harry by a few inches and just as slender. A white, bone-like mask covered its face, plain except for a row of teeth with sharp canines and a line of black underneath each eye hole, a pair of golden eyes looking out at him. It wasn't the strangest thing Harry had ever seen, it actually reminded him of the Thestrals for some reason, though it was hard to tell much else about the Hollow since its entire body was black. It was looking at him strangely, a starved glint in its' eyes that was both hungry and lonely, and it seemed to realize Harry could see it now. "Would you eat me if I got you out of here?"

The words escaped from his mouth before he knew what he was saying, there was just something telling him to help the Hollow, his magic was telling him to help it, and telling him how.

There is no escape for me, I have tried many a time.

"Yes there is, the ward on this place is simple and easy to break." Harry had no idea where the words were coming from, his magic guiding him, and he just went with it, well used to his magic acting on its' own. "This place was designed to trap you, but it uses your specific energy signature, I can change your signature and it will no longer be able to hold you."

The Hollow was staring at him intently, a glimmer in its' glowing eyes, as it moved a clawed hand away from Harry's wrists to rest on his scar.

If you can get me out and away from this place, then I will settle for devouring the shard of soul within you.

Harry's eyes opened impossibly wide at the news there was a shard of someone else's soul inside of him, his mind flashing back to Riddle's diary in second year, before the calm got rid of the panic and anger that had pierced him briefly. "You have to stop doing whatever it is that is keeping me calm, I can't help you if you don't."

The calm disappeared abruptly, making Harry gasp with the intensity of his emotions coming back to him, and he had to take a minute to breathe as the grief struck him. He had been able to forget for a short while that Sirius was gone, his complete focus on the Hollow, and barely registered as the Hollow released him completely. He jumped when the Hollow raised a hand to his face and swiped away some of his tears, staring at them intently as if he wasn't sure what they were.

You are in pain.

There was confusion in the Hollow's tone, surprising Harry, and the Hollow moved back slightly. Harry wiped his face quickly, not wanting to let his pain show, and stood up from the floor. He swayed on his feet, his head pounding in a way that told him Voldemort was in the ministry, and he wondered what was going on out there. It took a moment for him to get his bearings and locate his wand, his steps careful as he fought back the pain in his scar, and flinched when the Hollow was suddenly holding his wand out to him. He took it gratefully, the wood warm against his palm, and winced as a particularly shape stab of pain ran through his scar and made him stumble. Voldemort was close, and very angry. The Hollow caught him, Harry not even realizing it as he leaned his weight against the creature, and hugged his wand to his chest. He grit his teeth through the pain and forced himself to speak, taking his time so he wouldn't accidentally bite his tongue if Voldemort got any angrier and caused him more pain. "You said…you would devour the soul shard…when I got you out. Can you…do it now?"

Is that what is causing your pain?

Harry nodded slowly, still leaning on the Hollow. "Yes, it happens…whenever…the shard's owner is…nearby." There was a slight growl from the Hollow, vibrating low in its' chest and making Harry gasp, before he found himself being picked up and carried to a nearby wall. He was propped up against it gently, and Harry didn't flinch when a hand traced his scar, soothing the pain slightly, while another covered his eyes.

I do not know what effects removing it will have on your own soul, but I will not go back on my word. I will not spend the rest of my days in this place.

Harry barely managed to hold back a scream as pain rippled through him, spreading outward from his scar. He barely registered a high pitched scream before he blacked out.