Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and company. Sure would be a nice birthday present though! (Hint, hint.)

Spoilers: An excerpt from a page in Harry Potter and The Order of The Phoenix. And the fact that it tells of the death of Sirius.

Warnings: None for this chapter. After all this is a PG-13 rated fic. Not much bad stuff will happen in here. Later on might have some swearing and cussing and maybe a snog fest… *shrugs* Who knows? ^_~

Dedications: Thank you so much Red (especially you girl! ^_~), Stephen (luv ya lots, babe!), Kneazle (You are my idol!), Elfkin (The absolute best), Katherine (The world's best friend and dancer!) and all those who have been so supportive and have just been the best human beings EVER! ^_^ I LOVE YOU GUYS! (And girls. ^_~)

Also thank you ever so much to Mrs. J.K. Rowling for creating the wonderful world of Harry Potter. Even if you did create and kill off the greatest convict ever- we still love you.

Author's Note: So, as it's been literally YEARS since I've last updated this story, and considering I started writing this back in middle school and I am now in college, I've decided to go back and re-write this. Well, more like seriously edit it, because I still like the plot. There will be definite changes, some major, mostly minor, since I haven't really written much of this for it to make a big difference.

To keep this short and to the point, I hope this fares better this time around! Please be kind in your reviews, being whiney and bitchy over the little things won't stop me from writing. So ha. XD

Chapter One

"…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.

Harry heard Bellatrix Lestrange's triumphant scream but knew it meant nothing- Sirius had only just fallen through the archway, he would reappear from the other side any second…

But Sirius did not reappear…"

He was floating. Everything was pitch-black but he had the curious sensation that he was floating. He couldn't see anything else but he knew that he was floating; that was for sure. He had no idea where he was or how he got there. He didn't know how to get out of… wherever he was either. And did he mention that he was floating?

Sirius Black berated himself for thinking such flighty-floaty!- thoughts. He needed to get back to his godson- Harry was in trouble! He racked his brain (that is if he had one- he wasn't entirely sure he even had a body), trying to remember what had happened to him to get him in this… this place, or whatever this was. Hopefully whatever Sirius found in his memories could perhaps help him escape this place he was in.

It hit him- he had been dueling with his deranged cousin, Bellatrix Lestrange, in the Death Chamber. Suddenly she hit him with a curse and he fell through the archway that had claimed so many lives before him.

The thought stunned him. He was dead? Denial shot through him- it wasn't possible, he was right here! He could still think, he still had his memories… hold on. He couldn't see anything but he could feel- didn't that mean he still had a body?

But now that he thought about it, he wasn't aware of anything except his feelings, thoughts, and the weird sensation that he was floating. He couldn't tell anything about his surroundings and the fact that he could tell it was dark everywhere didn't say much. He wasn't aware of his heart beat, he couldn't tell if he was breathing or not- he just… existed. It was as though his soul was separated from his body.

Panic and extreme claustrophobia began to set in. He can't be dead! He was needed- Harry needed him! Sirius was frantic- he had to get back. There was no way they could get rid of him that easily!

But what could he do? He didn't even know where he was, much less how to get back. He thought hard. Sirius had heard much about the Death Chamber and the veiled archway in the middle of the room. Mostly stories of the victims of the "Veil of Death" and the circumstances of their deaths; The Death Chamber was used as a form of execution. Much like how Muggles sentenced criminals to the death penalty, using lethal injection or- What was it called?- the electric chair. 'Yes, that was it.'

No one knew what was beyond the tattered veil and those who did… well, they can't exactly sit down and describe it over a cup of tea. But then again, neither could he- that is to say, describing what it's like beyond the veil. He wasn't even sure he was beyond the archway.

Where in Merlin's beard was he?

If it weren't for the fact that he desperately needed to get back and was downright determined to get out of this place, Sirius wouldn't give a care where he was. Aside from the floating sensation, he also felt peaceful. Or he did; now he was putting all his brainpower into thinking of a way out of where he was stuck in. He couldn't think of anything. Despair overtook him and grief began to settle in.

'Harry…' Sirius thought desperately. He had to get back- he just had to. Or at the very least get out of this dark, solitary confinement in which he was trapped. It didn't matter where he ended up, as long as he was out of this void and be able to be of some use. Emotion swelled up inside the very core of his being. 'Please, God, or whoever's listening… let me live… let me see my loved ones…'

Suddenly, as though someone had heard his plea, a bright light exploded before him, enveloping him with warmth. He had the most uncomfortable sensation of being pulled in all directions. Then it felt as though he were pulled down and backward. It was hard to explain but it certainly felt strange.

Then, as quickly as it happened, it stopped. He felt extremely weak. But he could feel- really feel! He could feel the ground underneath him, the slight breeze fanning his face. He could feel his own heartbeat and could feel air rush into his lungs as he inhaled. He was alive! Joy washed over him in waves.

Sirius tried to get up but his body protested fiercely and excruciating pain shot through him with every small movement. He collapsed back down on his back, agony coursing though him like wildfire. He took deep slow breaths to calm himself- he could feel sweat drip down the side of his face from the amount of effort he exerted. He kept his eyes shut; it felt like it would take a tremendous effort to open them.

Hold on- was it his imagination or was there a hand pushing away the hair from his face? No; clearly there was someone pressing their hand against his forehead and was also making soothing noises as he panted heavily, trying to get his body to relax.

Slowly, he opened his eyes but then squinted as the bright light temporarily blinded him, distorting his vision. Through the slits of his eyes, he was able to see a blurry figure leaning over him. Sirius blinked rapidly and as his eyes quickly adjusted to the light and the person slowly came into focus, he saw that it was actually a young woman.

A very attractive young woman.

She looked young, at the most in her late twenties. With long silky black hair and a small but kind-looking face, she had the look of one of those sweet girl-next-door types. Her almond-shaped eyes were filled with worry and her slender arched eyebrows were pulled together in a concerned frown.

"Where does it hurt?" she asked softly. 'She has an American accent,' Sirius realized. Then she was either a tourist in Britain and just happened upon him or he was in an entirely different country. It hurt him too much to keep his eyes open; he closed his eyes and thought about his current situation. 'She has to be a Muggle who lives in the country or else she would've recognized me and turned me in already…' But something told him differently. 'Then why? Why doesn't she show any recognition whatsoever?'

He didn't have enough time to dwell on it because the woman placed a hand on his cheek, urging him to open his eyes. "Sir, can you understand me? Can you hear me?" she asked. Sirius looked back at her and slowly nodded, grimacing at the pain the movement.

The woman's features relaxed in relief. Her warm eyes still contained worry, but now also had confusion and concern.

"Can you speak?" she asked.

Sirius nodded again and replied hoarsely, "Yes." He was captivated by her eyes- they were beautiful, and held a kindness and sincerity he hadn't seen in anyone since Harry...

"That's good." Relief shone in her eyes once more but this time a sheepish yet sweet smile graced her face. Sirius couldn't help but return a small smile. But it disappeared at her next words.

"Then do you mind telling me how you ended up in the middle of my backyard?"

A/N: Hoo boy! How's Padfoot going to explain this? And why doesn't this mystery woman know anything about him? Her identity and the bizarre circumstances of Sirius's sudden reappearance will be revealed in the next chapter! XD