Harry Potter and the Dark Heir

By Lady Paradox

Disclaimer: Harry Potter and affiliates do not belong to me or will they ever (sadly). The excerpt from the beginning is from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

Prologue

They were saved.

Dumbledore sped down the steps past Neville and Harry, who had no more thought of leaving. Dumbledore was already at the foot of the steps when the Death Eaters nearest realized he was there. There were yells; one of the Death Eaters ran for it, scrabbling like a monkey up the stone steps opposite. Dumbledore's spell pulled him back as easily and effortlessly as though he had hooked him with an invisible line –

Only one couple were still battling, apparently unaware of the new arrival. Harry saw Siruis duck Bellatrix's jet of red light: He was laughing at her. "Come on, you can do better that 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 Siruis an age to all. 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.

"SIRIUS!" Harry yelled, "SIRIUS!"

He had reached the floor, his breath coming in searing gasps. Sirius must be just behind the curtain, he, Harry, would pull him back out again….

But as he reached the ground and sprinted toward the dais, Lupin grabbed Harry around the chest, holding him back.

"There's nothing you can do, Harry –"

"Get him, save him, he's only just gone through!"

"It's too late, Harry –"

"We can still reach him –"

Harry struggled hard and viciously, but Lupin would not let go….

"There's nothing you can do, Harry… nothing… He's gone." 1

But Harry knew that Remus understood just as much from the scene then he did. Sirius had to be just behind the veil, waiting for Bellatrix to lose her guard and attack her. Sirius was obviously planning one of his stunts or pranks again.

All around them, the battle was continuing, but with Dumbledore's appearance, the defeat of the remaining Death Eaters was unavoidable.

In a twist of fate, a stray curse from a new battle between Kingsley and Bellatrix headed in the direction of Harry and Remus. Harry, seeing his chance, broke free of Remus' hold just as he was issuing a Protego from his wand and dashed frantically towards the veil. He paid no attention to the fleeing Bellatrix or the whispers of doubt that flittered through his mind. As he finished his sprint down the steps and reach the dais, he also paid no attention to the shouts of panic that followed him.

Stopping right in front of the veil, Harry looked back and saw the terrified looks of Remus and Neville, who were the only ones who had noticed the predicament. With the burst of adrenaline that had propelled Harry forward to the veil, the horrified Remus could never reach him in time.

Shooting them a determined smile and without fear or hesitation, Harry Potter continued his trek through the veil, and disappeared from their sights.

Immediately after crossing over the threshold of the curtain, Harry saw another doorway which he continued running toward.

Stepping into the light and past that dreaded curtain, he gasped in astonishment with the sight that greeted him.

He was still in the ministry.

Yet, the ministry was quiet, as if the battle with the Death Eaters had never occurred. Curious, Harry walked a bit farther from the veil and saw no sight of his godfather. Furious that his plan had not worked, Harry tried to clear his mind and figure out where the Order and the subsequent Death Eaters had gone. Knowing that the veil had not brought him to his Godfather, he figured that Dumbledore had quickly finished the battle and found the Sirius that stumbled back past the veil.

Now knowing for certain that the veil did not contain death, Harry slightly berated himself for doubting his Godfather. Without a question, his childish stunt had worried Sirius for no reason. With that thought in mind, Harry left the shadow of the veil and started to walk up the steps to find an Auror and the way out.

Just as he crossed the dais, he was alerted by a sound to the right of him. Harry turned to head to see the faces of two Aurors.

"Hey guys, where did everyone go?" Asked Harry, a smile starting to creep across his face, because he knew they had definitely won.

Harry started to ask where Dumbledore was when the gruff voice of one of the Aurors reached him.

"Quiet you! Hands where I can see them!"

Startled, Harry started raising his hands up. "What's wrong guys? What happened?"

The Auror who had voiced the command, gestured at the other one, and while he kept his wand raised, approached Harry. Quickly and deftly, he pulled Harry's hands behind his back and with some device Harry couldn't see, restrained his wrists.

"What's going on? Let me go!" squirmed Harry, trying to get out of the device.

Irritated by his chattering, the Auror who had not spoken informed him. "You are under arrest by the Ministry of Magic for trespassing and suspicion of treason."


1. Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. New York: Scholastic Press, 2003