Chapter 25: Beyond the Veil

May 1996

"Just hand him the prophecy, Harry, you don't need it," Haley whispered into his ear so that Bellatrix and Lucius wouldn't hear.

"No," he held his ground, "I won't let Voldemort have it."

"You dare speak his name?" Lestrange shouted, her expression coming off as crazed. "You filthy half-blood!" she tried insulting him.

"Why are you doing this?" Amaryllis spoke to her father, standing just behind Maggie (who remained at Haley's left side).

"Do not speak to me," Lucius hissed. He'd wanted nothing to do with the girl since she moved in with Andromeda and had tried taking Draco with her.

"Father-"

The aristocratic man abruptly directed his wand at her, causing all of the other teens and Bellatrix to go into defense mode.

"You are no daughter of mine," he informed her venomously.

"Have it your way then," Rye gave up. The man was clearly beyond her help. "Stupefy!" she began the attack, missing Lucius only slightly.

"Run!" Ron shouted, taking Hermione's hand just before fleeing from the deatheaters.

Haley quickly latched onto Harry and took off as well. Soon, each sibling began casting numerous curses at anyone who tried harming themselves or one another.

Amaryllis ran off after her father, determined to make him pay for the words he had said. And Maggie, who knew it wouldn't be wise to let her fight this battle alone, didn't hesitate to follow.

Ginny and Neville had mimicked Ron and Hermione's actions while Luna had mistakenly been left behind.

Fortunately, however, the entire group was eventually reunited (albeit rather clumsily as they'd all clashed upon simultaneously turning the same corner).

"Luna, are you alright?" Harry felt beyond terrible for having been so distracted that he'd forgotten her.

"I'm fine, truly," she assured him in spite of her busted lip.

He was about start apologizing when a clan of deatheaters found them.

"Stupefy!" Ginny acted reflexively.

Being too powerful for the redhead's own good, the teens eyes widened in both awe and horror as the thousands of prophecies began falling from their shelves.

"This way!" the fifteen year old took Luna's arm, thereafter leading the lot of them to a small black colored door.

Fifteen Minutes Later

"I killed Sirius Black, I killed Sirius Black!" Bellatrix sang as the man's godson chased after her.

Remus hadn't been able to go after Harry as Tonks required his help shortly after the boy had escaped from his grasp. Severus, unfortunately, didn't notice the teen take off as he'd been preoccupied with trying to keep his daughter away from Lucius (who currently carried on in his duel against both her and his own child).

Percy (who had joined the Order after declining to work for the Ministry when Haley, Harry, and the rest of his family had all but begged for him not to) only had eyes for Ron at the time since the younger boy had been badly injured and required his full attention.

Alastor and Kingsley also had their hands full as they were busy keeping the other students out of harm's way.

Needless to say, nobody noticed Harry leave, other than Lupin who couldn't afford to do anything about it.

Half an Hour Later

"It is not how you are alike, but how you are not," Dumbledore said determinedly.

"You can fight this, Harry," Severus kept encouraging his ward to overcome Voldemort's hold on him.

Haley and the others chose to watch from a distance as they knew their help wouldn't make much difference at this point.

Yet, it wasn't until Harry met his sister's gaze that he was finally able to push the other wizard from his mind.

Memories of all the happy moments he shared with not only her, but also with Luna and his friends played themselves out in his head. The love he felt for each moment had been enough to shove Tom out.

"He's back," Fudge gasped.

Maggie and the others held their breath as the Dark Lord vanished, leaving an unconscious boy and befuddled Minister in his wake.

Three Days Later

"Harry, I know…I know you don't really want to talk to anybody right now," Haley approached him slowly as he sat motionless upon his bed inside the boy's dormitory. "I wish I could relate to what you're going through so that I'd know the right things to say," she sighed, never having seen her sibling act this way before. It was breaking her heart. "But I know someone who can help you, if you're willing to give him the chance," she told him, hoping he'd let somebody in. "He knows how you feel," Haley went on, "how it feels to lose somebody you love…" she reflected back, "There was a story he told me years ago, when I had just turned thirteen," she started explaining when he opted to remain a mute. "He never felt it necessary to share it with you because…well it's one he barely told me. I practically had to drag it out of him," she recalled the memory. "But he's willing to tell you now because he believes it'll help," she carried on, "so please speak with him, Harry. He cares for you just as much as he does for me. I hope you know that….you should know that, really," she added as an afterthought. "Considering he's always treated us the same...but that's not important right now," Haley shook herself, realizing she'd gone off topic. "Will you talk to him?" she held her breath, awaiting his answer. He'd not let anyone get through to him since that night. So, to say she was worried would be an understatement.

"Okay," Harry agreed; his voice a bit raspy.

Haley beamed at him, "Thank you," she gave him a small hug and quickly exited the room.

"You can go in now," she told her father, whom had been standing just outside the door. They both knew that despite Harry's answer, he'd be speaking with him. They'd both been so concerned that the matter had never been up for debate.

"Harry," Severus stood before him, calling him by his given name (something he only ever did when they weren't in a classroom setting). "I assume you do realize that this behavior is hardly healthy," he gently reprimanded his ward. "However, I suppose that is beside the point," the Professor continued, conjuring a chair to place before the seat Harry occupied upon his mattress. Sitting down, he proceeded, "I have decided that, rather than verbally divulge my past experience with you, it would be better to show you."

"What experience?" Harry asked curiously, his voice still monotone.

"One similar to yours," Severus stated simply, aware those words were all that he would need to say.

The Gryffindor nodded in understanding.

"Follow me," he stood and strode from the dormitory, expecting Harry replicate his actions, which he did.

…

"Is he ever going to let this go?" Haley asked the Headmaster as she sat before his desk.

"Do you mean, will he forever allow this loss to consume him?" Albus suggested, better rewording the question.

"Yes," she nodded eagerly, wanting advice on how to help her brother.

"I do not believe he will," he mused, sitting opposite her.

"Is there anything I could do? I mean, I haven't really lost anyone like that…" she confessed, not having been close to her mum when she'd been killed.

"You know," Dumbledore began, about to give Haley a bit of insight, "it is a curious thing, the death of a loved one. We all know that our time in this world is limited, and that eventually all of us will end up underneath the earth, never to wake up," he proceeded with being fearlessly honest, "And yet it is always a surprise when it happens to someone we know. It is like walking up the stairs through complete darkness, thinking there is one more step than there truthfully is," Albus elaborated, "Your foot falls down through the air and there is this sickly moment of sheer surprise as you try and readjust the way you thought of things."

Haley merely remained seated, trying to process this newfound information. It didn't take long before she reached a conclusion: she absolutely never wished to feel that way.

…

"I didn't realize…I didn't know you and my mum were that close," he admitted, somewhat at a loss for words. He was certain that what his sister's father had gone through all those years ago was much worse than watching Sirius pass on to the other side of the veil. Having seen his memories of loving Lily to losing her the way he did…Harry couldn't even begin to imagine what it felt like.

"Whilst your sister was, no doubt, unexpected…" the Professor had been unsure of how else to phrase it, "the love I had for Lily was not."

Harry understood him. Seeing his mum and Severus meet at such a young age and remain best mates until fifteen…it's nearly impossible to not care deeply for someone you've known for so long. He'd do anything for Hermione, Haley, Severus, Ron, or any of the Weasley's.

…But the love he had for them and Sirius was very different from the love shared between the Gryffindor and Slytherin. It had been far more intense and complicated, which could only mean the loss had been the same: more intense and complicated than he could begin to comprehend.

"How did you get over it?" Harry wanted to know.

Several moments surpassed them before any sort of reply was given.

And once the words came, they were simple and laced with a blunt bitterness.

"I didn't."

Summer (the same year)

Haley had gone to the Diggory's place, as she did each holiday, while Harry opted to visit Luna for the week his sister would be away. Severus thought it best that they each get out of the Manor and take a much needed break from one another. It had been unhealthy the way they kept themselves locked up in their Library each day, reading everything containing information about the Veil. At first, he didn't see the harm in it, but later realized Harry should not be holding onto the false hope that he could somehow bring Black back.

"So you're going to work with your father?" Cedric asked as he and Haley sat on the grass in his backyard underneath a shade tree.

She nodded, "I'll be like an intern of sorts."

"Do you think you will take over for him some day?"

"Most likely," Haley confessed. Her passion for potions was hardly a secret. "I may work for the Apothecary once Harry finishes his last year."

"Wouldn't Professor Snape retire by then?" Cedric thought this to be so.

"I don't think he's sure yet," she told him truthfully. "Working for the Apothecary is just a backup plan in case he decides to stay at the school for a while longer."

"That's a good idea," he assured her.

"Thanks," Haley smiled at the teen sitting just across from her person.

"Do you suppose any of the other professors would be willing to have someone working under them?" Cedric inquired in a hopeful manner.

"Still no luck finding a job, Diggory?" Haley teased.

"I've looked," he spoke defensively, smiling nonetheless.

"You just want to work at Hogwarts so that you'll be closer to Cho," she brought the obvious to light.

"It's not the only reason," Cedric said, being ever honest.

"Why else?" Haley desired to know.

"I happen to like Transfiguration," he admitted. "I'd like to teach it someday."

"Truly?" she checked, having already known of his love for the subject.

Cedric nodded, "Is that so hard to believe?"

Haley shrugged, "Not really," she then noted the look her friend was giving her. "I take it you'd like me to speak with Minerva for you?"

"I would be grateful if you did," he grinned appreciatively.

"Then I'll see what I can do," Haley smiled back, aware that she would be able to convince the professor. She was her mentor, afterall. They had been close since day one.

"Thank you," Cedric said sincerely.

"Just don't forget to invite me to the wedding," she half-joked with him, inwardly hoping that he would end up with Cho.

"I'd never," he promised, although slightly embarrassed by the notion of marrying his girlfriend any time soon. They were far too young.

"Good," Haley laughed and stood from her place. "Now, let's head inside before it starts raining."