Beyond the Veil

Summary: Sirius Black has passed through the dais in the Department of Mysteries. What will happen to him?

Characters: This chapter features Sirius mainly but we also 'see' Harry.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. The quote in the beginning is from chapter 25, pages 805-6 of US edition, of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

The action is seen through Sirius' point of view but that might change later on… If it does, it will be OC point of view.

The story is a tad bit dark: it starts that way and finishes that way. I'm not saying that it's a happy or sad ending, you'll see. But don't worry, there are some happy moments!

Prologue

"Only one couple were still battling, apparently unaware of the new arrival. Harry saw Sirius duck Bellatrix's jet of red light: He was laughing at her. "Come on, you can do better than that!" he yelled, his voice echoing around the cavernous room.

The second jet of light hit him squarely on the chest.

The laughter had not quite died from his face, but his eyes widened in shock.

Harry released Neville, though he was unaware of doing so. He was jumping down the steps again, pulling out his wand, as Dumbledore turned to the dais too.

It seemed to take Sirius an age to fall. His body curved in a graceful arc as he sank backward through the ragged veil hanging from the arch…

And Harry saw the look of mingled fear and surprise on his godfather's wasted, once handsome face as he fell through the ancient doorway and disappeared behind the veil; which fluttered for a moment as though in a high wind and then fell back into place."

As Sirius fell he saw Harry's face contorted with fear, yet he could also see anger. He had taken out his wand and would probably attack Bellatrix soon. But hadn't he told the boy that it was too dangerous for him and his friends? That Voldemort had been manipulating him all the time? Why had Harry believed all of this silliness, hadn't the clever witch told him not to go? He knew that they too were fighting; yet Ron and a few others seemed in a bad shape. But they would get out of it. Not like him.

His memory seemed to slow down; suddenly he was forgetting things that had happened barely moments ago. What spell had his cousin cast at him? He was sure it wasn't the Killing Curse because what had come out of the wand had not been a green light but rather a red one, which meant that he had been jinxed. But hadn't the spell hit him in the chest? Sirius felt the spot where his heart beat and felt nothing. He was suddenly aware of what lay around him; everything was pitch black and he had the sensation of falling, yet never reaching the floor or what ever was below. Is that how it feels to die? Tears slowly flowed from his eyes. His vision blurred, but then what did it change since the picture of Harry had disappeared long ago? As he had fallen and passed through the dais, so surprised at being caught, he had seen Dumbledore. He had probably just arrived and come to help. He should've listened to him more, and kept inside Grimmauld Place, then none of this would have happened. If Harry was in danger, and he dead, it was his entire fault. He had never been careful, and always thought of himself before others. He had tried to take care of his best friend's son but all he had managed to do was put him in danger. "Protect Harry." Sirius tried to say those two simple words but his mouth would not respond. In fact, he couldn't feel any of his limbs, only the tears that stuck to his face.

He cried for what seemed an eternity, yet he did not know how long it really was. He was still falling, or was it merely an impression? When he had passed through the veil he hadn't even felt it, nor had he seen it. He had put his arms backwards, reaching for the floor but his slender fingers had never touched the hard, cold stones. Suddenly, just as he was going to call for Harry, the black veil had swished back and forth in front of him like a curtain to ward off the light. It had taken him some time to realise that he had gone beyond. "Perhaps Dumbledore knows something to get me out of here." But as Sirius thought he knew that nothing, not even the most powerful enchantment, could overcome death. Yet he wouldn't believe it; he felt so alive!

Just as fear of what lay beyond started to overwhelm him, a small yet comforting ray of light broke the dark atmosphere. His mind cleared and as the light grew stronger and warmer, hidden memories he had tried to forget came to his eyes. He was sitting behind bars and between three great, unbreakable, and cold stone walls, the one farthest away bearing a window. He was waiting eagerly in what must be the Wizard Prison of Azkaban. A little girl of about five years of age ran towards him. She had deep brown eyes that twinkled of happiness, and her honey coloured hair reflected the little light. Her sweet smile warmed him, and he could smell the sent of peach that clung to her body.

The image disappeared as suddenly as it had come. He finally landed in delicate grass where flowers of every colour bedded. But he simply stood there blind of every beauty except for one, one that he had lost long ago. Sirius fell on his back, his fists clenched. He closed his eyes and tried to forget, but the image of the little girl did not fade. Again the tears came as abundant as ever. Before fainting, he uttered one last strong an full of love word:

"Felicy…"

So, what do you think? Is it a bad beginning? Who is this mysterious Felicy? Oh, I'm so excited!

I'm currently working on chapter 1, I don't know when it'll be on as I have a lot of schoolwork, but I hope soon.

Don't forget to review!