It's an AU in which Sirius lives on and continues to rock! The background of the story is Harry's summer before he starts his sixth year while Voldemort is still at large, hoping to predominate the world. So that three blocs of people (Order of the Phoenix, Death Eaters & the Ministry) are struggling to get the upper hand. I hope you'd like it :)

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Unmasking The Past
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"Stupefy!"

As Bellatrix Lestrange sprang out of harm's way with a manoeuvre, Sirius advanced on her. They were dueling one on one just in front of an ancient archway. When he aimed his wand at her again, there was a round of simultaneous gasps and shouts.

Sirius tore his eyes from Bellatrix in alert and searched for his godson in the mist of the Death Room. To his relief, Harry was standing at a corner with a plumb boy, unaccompanied by any potential harm. Blowing air from the corners of his mouth, Sirius turned back to his cousin.

It was lucky he had turned a second earlier than Bellatrix hoped, he duck the spell directed at him just in time. Looking at her sullen face, the once beautiful face that he hadn't seen in twenty years, he laughed belligerently, "Come on, you can do better than that!" His voice echoed around the cavernous room.

He could always quickly end the little fight, since he clearly had got the upper hand over Bellatrix now. But he wasn't ready to let her rejoy so soon. She deserved a bit more suffering and struggles before being arrested and locked in Azkaban again. And he deserved a bit more actions and enjoyment before letting go. He knew he was being reckless and provocative, but who could blame him for that?

For more than 15 years, he had been shouldering the condemnation of a crime he didn't commit, while psychologically he couldn't help feeling guilty that his miscalculated judgment had led to the deaths of two of the people that he had loved the most. The decade he spent in Azkaban was awful, days after days he dreamt of the Potters, of some other people and of scenes from his life before being sentenced to prison. And sometimes when the Dementors were not starved, when he was able to muse, he would think of possibilities. All kind of possibilities. Then he sank to deep regrets and self-shamefulness every time. The years in prison were with no doubt the most intolerable period in his life, but he was not much better off in the 3 years afterwards.

The worries about Harry's safety, the need to lie low and be cautious of being spotted, and the comprehension that he couldn't contribute much to the Order, etc had been killing him mentally. And all he could do to vent out his frustration was to ripe his parents' house apart, but even that had to be under repression as providing the house as headquarter of the Order was the only thing he could do.

Memories, and denials of chance had tormented him for years. And this could go on forever and ever. This was his only chance to prove that he was a completely able man, one who should be valued and fully utilised.

"Want to join the Dark lord, cousin?" Bellatrix was hissing under her breath, her smile a tight but malignant one. "You will be far more successful than being a dog at the old fool's –"

"Expelliarmus" Sirius yelled. The spell missed Bellatrix by a millimeter, but he was surprisingly not irritated in the least bit. "You freak, you know what you are? A piece of scum. Not even qualified as animals."

He spared a second to look at Bellatrix's intoxicated face, she didn't seem discouraged in the least bit; instead she shot him another curse. She let out a shriek of triumph as the jet of red light hit him squarely in the chest. Sirius widened his eyes in surprise as he was forced backward. He couldn't even draw a breath before he felt the cool surface of the veil on his back. And as the smell of grave invaded his nostrils, his eyes were suddenly clouded over. For a moment it was as though he had lost his sight, for he couldn't see anything but whiteness. The blinding white light was hurting his eyes, but as sudden as the light had appeared, it was gone.

In place of the white light was something like films. Scenes were flashing like mad; it was like someone invisible with a million hands was rolling the films up nonstop. Sirius willed himself to open his eyes wider and then a horrible realisation struck him hard.

He was going to die.

He was definitely going to die, he had once heard someone saying that in the nanoseconds before one died, the person would first review his whole life again. And … that's exactly that.

From the blurry images, he could roughly make out some important moments in his life. He saw himself sitting on his mother's bedside staring at a new-born baby … playing unwillingly with Bellatrix and Narcissa … being scolded for his unsatisfactory behaviour … and was given a lecture before the tapestry in Grimmauld Place.

Then he caught glimpse of James and himself dealing in their first encounter … both of them bullying Snape … Moony, Wormtail, Prongs and Padfoot striding across the Hogwarts ground under a full moon … their graduation feast … the Auror training … James and Lily's wedding … and her.

"Sirius."

He turned around in the couch. A little smile tugged on the corners of his lips at the sight of her looking out from the French door. "They've all left," she informed him.

"Come here, Rainzzi." The smile deepened.

He reached out for her waist and swept her onto his lap as she arrived. "What're you doing out here?" she asked in a whisper.

"Musing." He leaned in and laid a deep, passionate kiss on her lips. "About James and Lily…and little Harry."

She gave a discontented pout and gestured to leave, but he tightened his grasp. "They look very blissful together," he stated. Tilting her head to one side, she gave him a quizzical look before she turned and gazed up at the stars.

He stared at her in silence for a while, running his fingers gracefully in her long dark hair. And then he said abruptly, "I am jealous of James."

She looked at him in awe, "You what?"

"I envy him," he repeated, "because he has a family and I don't."

She held his eyes in a hard stare, as if trying to penetrate his mind. "You've got me."

"It's different," he said, his voice deadpan.

A surge of hurt spread all over her gorgeous face as she lifted her hands from his arms and looked away, biting her bottom lip. "I know you aren't that in love with me as James with Lily."

Alarmed, he launched himself out of the couch after a few moments of uncomfortable muteness but gently forced her back on it. She determinedly avoided his gaze when he knelt down before her.

"I didn't mean it that way," he took her hands in his, rubbing some warmth into them. "You know that!"

"Yeah?" she murmured miserably in mock obliviousness. "So what did you mean then?"

"Listen to me, Rainzzi," he whispered in a hush, eager to vindicate. He took a deep breath before he carried on tranquilly, "You know how my family is like. Ever since I learnt how to walk, they tried to indoctrinate me with the ideology of pure-blood. When I was strong enough to argue with them, they didn't reason with me, they just tried to make me get used to the purity mania. They are no family of mine. I have never got a family." He shook his head hopelessly and paused. "When I look at James and Lily, I get jealous. I realise then that they are the family I have dreamt of having…They are how a perfect family should be.

"And do you know what creeps into my mind whenever I look at them?" He looked sincerely into her puzzled eyes. "I imagine us to be in their positions."

He dug his hand in his pocket and produced a little velvety box, opened it and placed one of her hands on the thing inside. "As husband and wife."

She widened her eyes in shock as she took in the sight of a fine silver ring, on which bound a sparkling sapphire in the middle. "Si-"

"When I said we are different from James and Lily, I meant it. There's such a difference between a dating couple and a married one in terms of commitment. I've always been afraid of serious commitment…but I've come to comprehend that a serious commitment is more of a blessing than curse sometimes." He leaned closer, "Rainzzi, I know you are a bit too young for a marriage. If you prefer to postpone it, I'd happily wait for you. But can you just grant me an engagement?"

He looked into her eyes and cleared his throat momentously, "Will you marry me, Rainzzi?"

She stared at him unbelievingly and blinked a few times, trying to suppress the joyful tears. A faint smile made its way to her cheek which was flushing with emotions. She opened her mouth to speak but no sound came out. She looked down at her hands in embarrassment. And then…she leaned forward and nodded against his chest.

With a swoop of delight, he enveloped her tightly, the smile of felicity never leaving his face. "Thanks. I love you, Rainzzi Delanuit," he whispered tentatively against her ear.

"I love you, too," she giggled happily, before brushing her lips against his.

Sirius shut his eyes forcefully. He could not bear to review his life anymore, watching his cheerful early life made him feel frustrated. The happiness was exactly what he deserved, but what now? He had to die when light had finally come at the end of the tunnel. He should be cleared of all accuses and freed, instead of falling through the damn veil.

Abruptly, a determined voice materialised and forbade him to fall. The voice was telling him Sirius Black would never resign to fate and it generated a wave of faith in him, as if a blaze of hope was lit somewhere deep in his heart.

He grabbed hold of the collars of Bellatrix's robes. His grin was as wide as hers as he tightened his grip on her. For a moment, it seemed as though Sirius was just trying to pull her together to the coffin. But predominance was turned dramatically when he shifted over their positions and released her at the last second.

Bellatrix was the one falling now.

Her body curved in a graceful arc as she sank backward. What was left on her young face was nothing other than mingled fear and hatred when she fell through the ancient doorway and disappeared behind the veil, which fluttered as though in a high wind, then fell back into place.

Sirius descended on the floor instead. Panting slightly, he glared at the no longer existing figure and hastily stood up again. Remus was restraining Harry from running towards him; Sirius stopped Harry with a look of disapproval. "Stay where you are, Harry!"

He skimmed the room for the first time after Dumbledore's arrival. Ten or so Death Eaters were tied up in the middle of the room with invisible strings. In the heart of the small crowd, he could see Rodolphus Lestrange shouting soundlessly at him.

Standing no farer than fifteen feet from Sirius, Dumbledore was glaring heavenward, as though at something the others couldn't see.

When he snapped out meditation, his blue eyes were twinkling with a righteous glint. "Remus, Alastor, kindly help me retrieve the kids and escort them back to Hogwarts by a Portkey. Stay with them until I come back. Sirius, Tonks, Kingsley, station here and keep an eye on the Death Eaters while I meet Voldemort up at the entrance."

"We'll come with you," said Sirius and Kingsley in unison.

However, Dumbledore shook his head sternly, "It will be a battle between me and Voldemort personally."

"Please follow my instructions," he said, before he Disapparated.

Sirius pulled Tonks back on feet when Kingsley helped the plump boy do the counter-curse. Moody put his magical eye back to its socket and rubbed his arms with a frown. "You okay, Potter?"

Harry nodded. "Lead the way to the other kids," said Moody gruffly.

"But I want to stay." Harry looked at his godfather for support, which didn't come.

"Just do what you are told," Sirius snapped harshly.

"I won't be hindering anything here!"

Sirius looked stern. "Look Harry, Ron and Hermione are still lying somewhere! Are you going to stay here and ignore them? Just lead Remus and Moody to find the others and go back to Hogwarts right this instant!"

Harry glared at him. Sirius felt a twinge of guilt as he remembered the reason Harry was lured here. "Harry, you don't need to worry about me," he added in a softer tone, "Just be careful, there maybe some of them on the loose." He nudged one of the Death Eaters with his toes.

After one last sullen glance at Sirius, Harry left the room with the over-fed boy, closely followed by Remus and Moody.

Sirius, Tonks and Kingsley pointed their wands at the Death Eaters who were still struggling unsuccessfully in silence.

Time seemed to be passing a hundred times slower when Dumbledore fought against Voldemort single-handedly. Although they weren't really worried about Dumbledore's safe-being, they couldn't help tensing fretfully. For every minute they had to wait for Dumbledore, it meant that Voldemort was still surviving.

They all turned to the door expectantly when the sound of rushing footsteps appeared, but it was not Dumbledore who walked in. It was Dawlish and Williamson instead.

They kicked open the door and burst in, looking haughtily at the little crowd in the middle. Seeing the Death Eaters were all tied up securely in the strings, they glanced around at the standing figures.

"What the -?" Dawlish gawked and nudged Williamson, pointing at Sirius. "Sirius Black!"

He raised his wand at Sirius, but Sirius was too fast in his defense, "Expelliarmus" Dawlish was knocked off his feet; he landed hard on the stone floor and slid until his head collided with solid wall.

Williamson leapt towards Sirius immediately, but Tonks and Kingsley had seized him firmly under his arms. "Let go! What're you doing here, Tonks, Kingsley?" he gasped in bewilderment.

"They are on my order here," said a booming authoritative voice. Albus Dumbledore finally returned. However, he wasn't the only one walking in. Cornelius Fudge ensued, and there were a few more serene-looking people, all of whom holding their wand steadily.

"Tonks and Shacklebolt belong to the Auror Department under the Ministry of Magic. You don't have the authority to order them anywhere, Dumbledore!" Fudge protested indignantly.

"They have the freedom to do anything they want in their leisure hours, Cornelius," replied Dumbledore coldly. Fudge glared him a bit, but he was unable to meet his stare directly.

"Minister!" Dawlish puffed on the floor, massaging his head angrily. "Sirius Black is here, Minister!"

Fudge turned where he was pointing and took notice of Sirius for the first time. There was a flabbergasted speechlessness during which he seemed to have lost the ability to speak. He pointed a finger at Sirius shakily.

Sirius nodded nonchalantly.

"Tie him up!" Fudge bellowed at the accompanying Aurors.

"He is not to be tied up. Cornelius, he's on our side," said Dumbledore calmly. The Aurors hesitated in their tracks; they looked forth and back from Dumbledore to the Minister for Magic uncomfortably.

"Dumbledore, there's something you haven't explained to me! Sirius Black, honestly, of all people, convicted murder of twelve Muggles and a wizard, is on our side?" Fudge glowered at Dumbledore, visibly scandalised.

"He didn't kill anyone. He wasn't the secret keeper of Lily and James Potter. He's innocent."

"Very logical indeed! You provided evidence fourteen years ago! You yourself claimed that he was the secret keeper, Dumbledore!"

"Cornelius, I can guarantee with my life that Sirius Black is on our side."

Fudge looked at Dumbledore skeptically but he dared not challenge him, "He has to be held for a bit interrogation."

Dumbledore looked at Sirius, who shrugged nonchalantly.

"That is of course up to you, but this is of no immediate importance. We are to inform the public of Voldemort's resurrection as soon as possible first," said Dumbledore, with a tone of supremacy.

Fudge watched the Death Eaters silently with knitted brows; his distaste seemed to be most pronounced when he found Lucius Malfoy among the arrested. "Lucius?"

"I think I've elaborated to you clear enough just a while ago, Fudge. They were caught here on a mission ordered by Voldemort. I've reiterated the fact he has come back again and again throughout the year, but you have refused to believe it, saying there's no proof. You saw Voldemort up at the entrance, I'd rather think that's enough of a proof," said Dumbledore, staring at the Minister for Magic through his half-moon spectacles.

Fudge blushed bright red. He turned his back to Dumbledore and faced the Aurors. "Williamson, arrange for me a thorough interrogation for Sirius Black. Rainzzi, lock him up in a top-security suspect room and closely guard him day and night until he got the retrial. The rest of you, send the Death Eaters straight to Azkaban and stay guarding them until further notice," he ordered with the last prestige he could master.

"Not you two, Tonks, Shacklebolt. Kindly enjoy doing what you want to in your leisure hours!" he added furiously to Tonks and Kingsley who let go of Williamson and progressed to help their colleagues.

Sirius froze. For a long while his mind was as blank as it could be. Had he really heard what he thought he had? Or it's just an aftereffect of his earlier reminisce of her?

Rainzzi

It wasn't until a few seconds later that his brain clicked into gear again.

Both Dumbledore and Fudge were no longer in sight. There was a blast of actions in the Death Room when the Aurors carried out their duties. A dark-haired witch in her early thirties approached and gently took away Sirius' wand. She conjured up a handcuff and chained it to his wrists.

"This way please, Mr. Black," said the Auror politely, but her scrutinising stare didn't quite match her civility. It was almost with contempt.

"Rainzzi." Sirius touched her hand but she swiftly withdrew and stared at him suspiciously with furrowed brows.

Despite the fact that Rainzzi Delanuit, Sirius' fiancée looked just as she used to, she didn't seem to recognise him at all.

A/N: Please review and tell me how you'd like the story to go ;) Your wish is my command.