A/N: Disclaimer- unfortunately I don't own the characters, they belong to JK and I just write about them.
This story is set about 5 years after the end of the war. It's a short little introduction of where the story starts.
Chapter 1
It was at 4pm on a Friday afternoon that the memos were delivered. Each reached their respective destination at the exact same time and contained three identical messages:
Please come immediately to the Department of Mysteries
This is a matter of absolute urgency and secrecy
Kingsly Shaklebolt, Minister of Magic
Two of the recipients worked in the ministry. The third was a quidditch player who, fortunately, had the afternoon free from practice. All three of them left for the Department of Mysteries immediately.
Weasley, the gangly, ginger quidditch player flooed into the atrium and, as the memo had noted urgency, ran down the stairs instead of waiting for the lift.
Potter, the black haired auror covered himself in his father's invisibility cloak, left his office unnoticed and proceeded downstairs in the lift his friend had forsaken.
Granger, the curly haired brunette inventor uncorked a vial of potion of her own making, drank down the contents and apparated to the door of the Department of Mysteries unhindered by the anti-apperation charm in place throughout the building.
As she apparated, Weasley rounded the corner and almost ran into her. They waited less than twenty seconds for Potter to join them and pushed open the door they were gathered around.
The entered a circular room where a ministry official was waiting for them. "We must hurry. The veil is active again." He turned and opened another door, disappearing into it. The trio exchanged worried glances- they all hated and feared the veil- before following the man into the room.
They stood at the top of another round room where stone steps descended towards a dais with a veil. Normally the veil absorbed darkness but right now it was glowing at an almost painful level. The trio's fear increased: the last time the veil had been active Bellatrix Lestrange had escaped. Potter's department were still focussed on finding her, despite the fact they had no leads.
The trio descended the stone steps and joined the Minister of Magic and ministry official at the bottom, spreading out to surround the veil with their wands raised. They waited anxiously for the veil to spit out whoever it had decided to bring back to life.
The floor started to vibrate roughly and the light brightened even further. A man-sized shape started to form, the outline growing darker and darker every second. A hand reached out and swept the veil aside, stepping out.
The wizards opened their mouths to cast a stunning spell but found themselves frozen in place as the witch cried out. "Stop! Don't you see who it is?"
The dark haired man turned towards her, then to the rest of the group. "Harry? Hermione? Ron?" Then he fell to the floor in a faint, his eyes rolling back into his head.
Hermione Granger let out another cry and ran towards him as the others felt her spell release them. She knelt on the stone beside him and cradled his head on her lap, running her hands soothingly through the long black hair.
"Hermione." Harry Potter called hesitantly. "Is that who I think it is?" He took a step towards her, lowering his wand only slightly.
She turned towards him with a shocked expression and smiled slightly. "Yes. It's Sirius."
The room let out a gasp and crowded closer. "That can't be Sirius." Ron mumbled. "He's far too young. He looks like he's barely left school."