Keyword: Breaking the Rules

Sirius paced the length of the kitchen angrily, ignoring Remus's attempts to comfort him. They had received the news almost an hour ago about Harry leaving Hogwarts and flying to the Ministry and Sirius had been pacing the kitchen ever since.

"You know what? I can't take this anymore. All I've done this past year is sit on my ass, only helping by cleaning this bloody house and occasionally sitting in on some meetings but never actually doing anything to help! Snape's taunting is driving me completely insane and I'm sick of it because all he's saying is true! No more. I'm leaving," Sirius ranted and grabbed his travelling cloak from the chair he'd thrown it on angrily when Remus had first told him that he wasn't going anywhere.

"Sirius, no, we can't!" Remus protested, standing quickly as Sirius fastened the cloak around his neck.

"There's no one here to stop us, Moony, and I for one am not going to sit back and wait to be told about whether my godson's alive or not! James wouldn't want his best friends to sit on their asses whilst his son is out there fighting! Dumbledore's made me hunker down and keep inside for my own safety this past year and I've done what he's said, but now that Harry's involved I'm breaking the rules." He swirled out of the kitchen in a flurry of black robes and cloaks. Remus gave a weary sigh and followed him quickly.

Only moments later they arrived at the ministry and were in the lift down to the Department of Mysteries. Someone had somehow charmed the room of revolving doors to stay still and they sprinted straight through it, joining Moody, Tonks and Kingsley who gave Sirius exasperated looks but said nothing as they all started making their way down to the floor, raining spells upon the Death Eaters.

Sirius was feeling so… so right in the moment as he fought and injured and protected his godson and the prophecy. After such a long year of being cooped up inside he was finally out and it felt so good to be a part of the action again and as he turned his wand upon Bellatrix he had never felt so alive.

Then a flash of red hit his chest and he was falling backwards so slowly it felt as if someone had just about stopped time, but not completely. He could see everyone from this position, from Mad-Eye lying on the floor, groping for his eye, to Harry turning slowly to see, his face full of disbelief.

I'll tell them all about you, Harry, they'll be so proud... he thought as he felt the whispers from behind the veil reaching out to pull him in.