Disclaimer: Harry Potter is the exclusive property of J. K. Rowling.

This story is a joint effort between my sister and I. Yes, we're still noobs to this whole fanfiction business but hey, we're trying. Reviews, comments and suggestions of any form are welcome and much appreciated. ;)

There were nights when she felt as empty as the starry sky above, the lone patch of field next to Arturia serving as a constant reminder that even the brightest stars whither and dim out of all existence. Perhaps it had been then, in that frost covered field near Hogwarts that the idea had first crossed her mind. Back then it had all seemed so rational, so sane; as if her sole purpose in life was to accomplish what even Merlin in his great wisdom dared not attempt.

Now, staring into the abyss, inches from the Veil, the fallacies of her plan flashed like wildfire through her mind-such was the illogic of love. Arturia knew that what she was about to do was a sin against nature, forbidden by all of the wizarding world. And for good reason too. Arturia would be tampering with the very fabric of time itself, an act which could quite possibly alter the course of history for generations to come. Which was no small matter to be sure.

What Arturia was about to perform was an ancient spell of the blackest of magic-an incantation used to raise the dead. At age twenty-three, Arturia was about to attempt what dozens of master wizards and witches of their craft had tried and failed to do for centuries. True the odds weren't stacked in Arturia's favor, but when hasn't love been faced by impossible odds before?

Arturia tremmered in front of the portal, her stomach giving a lurch of protest. "I really do hope what they say is true, that love can overcome all obstacles…" Raising her wand with a tremulous hand, Arturia began the incantation and sealed her fate and possibly the destinies of still others. "Grant me access to the world beyond to seek the soul of Sirius Black. I give in recompense my body, blood and soul…"

The Latin incantation rolled smoothly off her tongue, every word, every syllable bringing with it a new gash and a fresh wave of pain and blood. So this was the price of life? Arturia's mind wavered on the brink of deliriousness. Dark scars which would pock mark her skin for the rest of her mortal years seared her arms and legs with cruel malice, forever branding her an outcast from her witch and wizard brethren.

"…Hear me now oh spirits and guide me to the soul of Sirius Black who dwells within your mystical realm, banished from a mortal's eye." The spell ended and so it seemed had reality itself. Vaguely Arturia became aware of the sensation of being lifted upwards, towards a great white light. Voices echoed from the place of her summons, beckoning her onward. Below Arturia lay the lifeless shell of her sanguinary corpse. Arturia shuddered at the lifelessness of herself-of the half-lidded eyes which gazed listlessly at her spirit self.

Fear of death, of demise almost drove her back into her body; almost forced her to retreat back into the safety and promise of a long life. If her love had been any less or her courage wavered any further in the reality of the moment, Arturia might very well have given up all hope and abandoned her task without a second mores hesitation. But hesitation was a luxury and thought a convenience Arturia couldn't afford at the moment.

Besides, with the incantation made, Arturia was bound by magic to return to her body only after she had found the soul of Sirius and guided him back to the land of the living. To break the spell would result in a violent magical reaction which could cost her anything from a limb to her life.

Never before had Arturia tottered so precariously on the brink of death and how ironic did it all seem that it was in the name of life. The blinding light engulfed Arturia's spirit, halting all thought. Arturia felt almost as if she was adrift in an ocean of golden light-a lone soul lost at sea. Here there was only Arturia and the light, nothing else existed beyond the scope of her perception. Around Arturia the light seemed to flux and breathe with a vitality all it's own.

Then, all at once, the light resolved itself into shapes, figures, faces. Shimmering trees of gold and silver dotted a vast and lush field, abloom with flowers of all colors. Everything seemed to emit a phosphorescent light, an eternal glow far more beauteous than any magic Arturia had ever beheld. A stream of crystalline water cut through the countryside, adding it's melody to the song that was the landscape. The sky above, if sky it was, contained no sun but appeared to consist of pure light. The sky blue as sapphires, the grass as green as emeralds, combined with the soft sound of the trickling stream eased Arturia's nerves, quelling any fears she may have held before.

Paradise Arturia mused dwells just beyond our reach, just out of sight of our mortal gaze. Man sees too much of the world that the realm beyond has almost become lost to him. Incomprehensible and alien, he fears it. It's not until that moment of judgment when he arrives in the land just beyond the Golden Gates that he finds out how unwarranted his fears have been.

From all around, Arturia heard the sound of birds singing merrily to those willing to lend an ear. The clouds were of a pure white; resembling the softest cotton you could ever feel. A warm breeze caressed Arturia's body, while leaves danced lazily in the wind, spinning and twirling. Arturia grew curious, slowly edging her way about the landscape, daring to explore this strange new world. She could feel nothing but the sensation of peace and tranquility emanating from every tree, leaf, and person around her. Even though Arturia grew anxious inside, wondering where in all this vast place Sirius dwelled, her happiness overwhelmed all anxieties. Arturia turned around to see a forest. A sudden impulse seized Arturia and before she was aware of it, Arturia found herself bounding headlong into the maze of trees and bushes. Something, some unseen force seemed to be pulling her ever further and further into the wooded land. Unsure of what compelled her into the woods Arturia pressed onwards, a gut feeling was better after all than nothing at all.

"Sirius…" A voice rang in his head. Sirius opened his eyes, stretching from underneath a willow tree. He looked around for the source of the voice and not finding one shook it off; he was comfortable underneath the tree. In Paradise they said you could feel no pain, which was true. Even in the most uncomfortable circumstances he felt no pain. Sirius was content, at peace with himself and his surroundings. To be sure, Sirius missed everyone and his heart ached time to time for those he left behind, but he was happy to find at least some measure of peace. He wished he could be back with his godson and his love, the woman who had given him more happiness than paradise could ever offer. When she smiled, Sirius mused, it seemed to him that the clouds would clear from the sky and the sun would shine as brightly as a canary diamond. Sirius stood up and let out a soft sigh.

"…Sirius…" Sirius' head jerked up, he looked around him. The voice echoed, louder this time. He began to walk slowly. "Sirius…" The voice was softer, nearly inaudible. Sirius turned around as the voice echoed louder this time in the direction he began to pursue. "Sirius…" That voice, he knew that voice. Sirius' heart leapt at the sound of it, immediately he knew it was she, it was Arturia. Arturia's voice came louder still, as clear as crystal.

"It can't be…Arturia…" Sirius began to run, full tilt, his footfalls taking him closer to the sound of her voice. Where, where was she? By the sound of it he had to be right on top of her right now… And that's when he glimpsed her, meandering in a field just on the other side of a shimmering birch tree. Her brown hair, her green eyes as dazzling as he remembered froze him in his tracks. The whole moment seemed so surreal, Sirius felt as if he'd strayed into a dream and now that he saw Arturia, Sirius didn't want to wake up. This was his paradise, Arturia was the only paradise he would ever want, could ever desire.

"…Sirius…" Arturia caught sight of him, her eyes wide with surprise, bewildered at the sight of him. "Sirius? Is that you?" Arturia all but whispered, edging her way towards him. Sirius walked out of the woods and into the clearing where she stood. The sun shone brilliantly in his dark hair, his eyes glittering with untold mirth; the gleam that was once gone had returned. "Sirius, please… Come closer. If it's really you, please come back to me." Sirius walked closer and now Arturia's heart began to pound as loud as a drum. It was Sirius. Arturia had waited so long for this, this moment of forbidden magic. "Sirius." Sirius' forehead pressed against hers as he clasped his hands around her face and smiled, tears brimming from his eyes. "Please, come back. I came here for you, to bring you back…"

"Arturia, why?"

"Because, it wasn't time for you to go. Take my hand Sirius." Sirius glanced down to see her hand going up to grasp his own. "I know if I do this I won't be able to go back to Amadea, let alone anyone else. But I want you with Harry, with your friends, and with me." Arturia's eyes pleaded for him to say yes, speaking the words her heart was unable to express. Wordlessly, Sirius laced his hands with hers in silent ascent even as Arturia brought out her wand, chanting the final incantations of the Forbidden Spell. A sudden blue flash of light, combined with the feeling of apparating and of being sucked out of a vortex made Sirius grasp onto Arturia's hand tighter as they were thrown out of the Veil's spell and taken out of Paradise. Arturia's last thoughts were of holding onto the warmth of Sirius' hand as she surrendered her consciousness to the coming darkness.

"Arturia, where are you? Arturia! Come on stop playing jokes with me! Artu-!" Amadea stopped short at the sight of the piece of parchment resting atop her bed. A knot of dread tightened in her stomach as Amadea grabbed and devoured the contents of the letter.

Amadea,

I don't expect you to understand why I am compelled to do what I'm about to do. Love is such a silly and painful thing, wondrous and terrible in it's propensities all the same. I've taken the Forbidden Incantations from our study and I'm sure you can guess what I intend to use them for. These past few years have been murder upon my soul, or at least what is left of it. As such I'm going to reclaim the lost portion of myself which was lost to the Veil so long ago it seems. I know what the consequences of my actions may mean for you and the others and believe me when I say that I am truly sorry Amadea for what I am about to do. But if my life is to have any meaning at all, if I am to do anything meaningful in my life, it will be to bring Sirius Black back into the realm of the living. You are and will always be my baby sister, come what may.

Your loving sister,

Arturia

"No… Arturia how could you?" For a moment Amadea sat, paralyzed and sick with worry. She needed to get help, to tell somebody, anybody. No one else lived with them, it was only Arturia, her older sister, and herself. Perhaps it wasn't too late. Perhaps there was still time to stop Arturia from carrying out her disastrous intentions. Driven by adrenaline and fear Amadea ran pell-mell out of the house. On shaky legs Amadea followed the narrow road to the outskirts of the Burrow. Catching her foot on a stone Amadea fell down onto the cobblestone road, scraping her hands and knees on the unforgiving ground. Through a haze of tears Amadea could vaguely make out someone running towards her. She didn't care who it was, fully believing that her sister would never return from saving Sirius. For all she knew, Arturia might even be dead.

"Amadea?" She looked up and saw George giving her a worried look.

"She… She left."

"Who? Arturia? Why?"

"To save Sirius."

"How?"

"She used the Forbidden Incantations. I told her not to…but she didn't listen George, she's gone." Amadea snuffled as he helped her up.

"Here, let's go into the house and get you settled down."

"Arturia's gone George."

"Don't you worry," George coaxed with an uneasy smile, "I'll talk to my dad, we'll see what we can do. Just pray, they'll be alright I'm sure."

"…I hope so…" Amadea stared forlornly at the ground as George wrapped his arm around her shoulder, escorting her into the Burrow.