Chapter 53: Broken Spirit

Bursting through the doors, he headed down the elevator and through dozens of rooms, trying to get some clue as to what room in the Department of Mysteries everyone was. A handful of the department's rooms that he did pass were half destroyed—clearly showing signs of a struggle and he knew that he was heading in the right direction.

When he went through Time Chamber, there was a stunned Death Eater on the ground, and another whose head kept changing into that of a baby, and then back into an adult. Ensnaring them both in strong ropes, he jumped over the shattered Time-Turners and continued through an office and headed down to the Brain Room.

To his relief, and horror, he found that four of his students were there. Hermione Granger was lying on her side—out cold on the hard floor. Ginny Weasley was leaning up against the wall, holding onto her ankle and hissing in pain, Luna Lovegood was in the center of the floor and moaning softly with blood entangled with her hair, and finally, Ron Weasley who was wrestling with a brain.

He moved forward to help but Ginny Weasley pointed wildly to the only other door and cried out, "Down there! Harry and Neville went running through there! They might be in trouble!"

He nodded in understanding.

"I'll send the others for you," he promised and headed down to what he knew was the Death Chamber. Holding his wand high, he came bursting through the door; and at once, he could see the chaos happening around them. He was standing up on the stairs and watched as members of his Order, and the Death Eaters dueled each other, the sounds of crashes and explosions, the different flashes of light flying every which way…

And just below him, were Harry and Neville Longbottom, and as he looked, he saw the remains of glass at their feet and the ghostly image of Sybill just disappearing.

"Harry, I'b sorry!" cried Neville, as his legs floundered around in an uncontrollable manner. "I'b so sorry, Harry, I didn'd bean do -"

"It doesn't matter!" Harry shouted, pulling him up and dragging him upwards. "Just try and stand, let's get out of -"

As he tried to regain control of his legs, Neville suddenly looked up and spotted him.

"Dubbledore!" he cried up.

"What?" Harry shouted.

"DUBBLEDORE!"

Harry turned to look up at him. Though he was relieved to see that they were alright, Albus also knew that there was work to be done. Hopefully they'd be able to capture the Death Eaters and get the children out quickly before anything else happened.

He almost flew down the stairs, passed Harry and Neville, and before anyone else knew that he was there it was too late. When the Death Eaters finally noticed, they all tried to make a break for it. One actually tried to climb up the stairs on the other side.

'Oh no you don't,' he thought as he pulled him back with little effort.

As he rounded them up, he looked to see that most of his people were bleeding and hurt—Alastor was just getting up from the floor, his thick hair full of blood as he looked around for his missing eye and Tonks was still out cold; Remus, Kingsley, and Sirius were each still dueling separate Death Eaters. This was all good… it didn't seem as though anyone was too badly hurt.

He jumped down to help them all, trapping them all with ropes as the others started to fight even harder—feeling new hope.

"Come on, you can do better than that!" echoed a voice, that he knew belonged to Sirius. He sounded truly alive here—as if this fight was something that he had been waiting for all year. He could also hear Bellatrix's frustration as she fought with her own cousin, and Sirius was roaring with laughter. But suddenly, the laughter died at once. Knowing that something was wrong, he turned… and he saw, as if in slow motion, caused a helplessness and desperation to go throughout his whole body.

Sirius and Bellatrix were standing on the dais, right in front of where the famous veil and the archway were. An ancient, crumbling stone archway, unsupported by any surrounding wall, and the tattered curtain which fluttered as if a light breeze touched it… the veil that acts as a portal… linking the lands of the living and the dead…

There was still a touch of laughter still in Sirius's face, but his eyes were wide in shock. He stood there for a brief second before he slowly fell backward, his body curved in a graceful arc as he sank backwards to the veil.

"No," he whispered as he watched the mingled fear and surprise on Sirius's 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 returned to its normal state.

Albus's throat became dry as he stared in horror at what just happened. He didn't believe his eyes; he was just sure that this was a nightmare and it wasn't true. But then Bellatrix let out a triumphant laugh—and he knew that this wasn't a dream. He had been preparing himself for someone's death throughout the year—almost waiting to hear it. But he never dreamt that this would happen like this… and not to Sirius…

That was when he heard a familiar voice shouting out, "SIRIUS! SIRIUS!"

That voice was more painful than anything else that happened to him that night. It was as if someone had stuck a dagger into his heart over and over again. He turned, and in terror, saw that Harry had left Neville and was now running to the dais.

He was about to raise his wand to stop him, but just as Harry reached the foot of the doorway, Remus charged behind him and grabbed hold tightly, keeping Harry from going anywhere. Despite the pain in his heart, Albus felt immeasurable gratitude towards Remus at that moment.

"There's nothing you can do, Harry -" he heard Remus say loudly as he struggled to pull him back.

"Get him, save him, he's only just gone through!" Harry shouted out, fighting tooth and nail to break free.

"- it's too late, Harry," Remus said firmly; his tone wasn't sad… it was… defeated. Albus couldn't stand to listen to it.

As Harry continued to shout out, Albus wanted to cover his ears and block out the distraught voices. He knew that everyone had to die at some point, but he hadn't expected it quite so soon, and certainly not Sirius. It was as if he was trapped and couldn't escape…

But there was no point in denying it.

This was his fault.

It was his fault that Sirius had died, it could only be his fault. He had foolishly forced himself to believe that he could prevent any of this from happening… only for it to backfire. In his determination to keep the truth from everyone—especially from Harry—he had ended up making another mistake that cost someone his life.

Why? Why? Why? Was all he could think. Why did he let this happen? How could he have let it get this far?

"He can't come back, Harry," he heard Remus call out again, his voice breaking—from the effort of holding back Harry, or stopping the flood of emotions that were welling up inside him—he didn't know. "He can't come back, because he's d-"

Albus tried to swallow back the lump in his throat.

"HE - IS - NOT - DEAD!" roared Harry. "SIRIUS!"

He did his best to push that shout out of his ears as he went back to rounding up the Death Eaters in the center of the room. There was movement going on around them, pointless bustling, the flashes of more spells. Alastor crawled over to Tonks and attempted to revive her as Kingsley charged forward to deal with Bellatrix. He looked up again and saw that this time, Remus dragged Harry away from the dais, who had suddenly become limp; and he knew that Harry finally realized the truth.

He didn't know what to say or do for that moment. But before he could think of something, there was a loud bang and a yell from behind the dais. Just as he spun around, he saw Bellatrix hitting Kingsley and making a run for it up the stairs. He aimed a stunning spell at her, but she deflected it; and was halfway up the steps now.

"Harry - no!" cried Remus. Distracted, he looked to see Harry had pulled himself free and went after her.

"Don't go after her!" he called to Harry, but he wasn't even sure if Harry could even hear him now.

"SHE KILLED SIRIUS!" bellowed Harry. "SHE KILLED HIM I'LL KILL HER!"

"No," Albus said, hurrying with an Anti-Disapparation Jinx around the Death Eaters, Lucius Malfoy glaring at them all furiously, before he took off after the boy. Harry wasn't thinking straight, he had to stop him. Justice is one thing, revenge is another. But no matter what was happening, Bellatrix was a dangerous woman. Harry couldn't beat her… he had to stop him before something else happened.

He dashed past Neville and ran up the stairs after the two of them. He ran back into the room with the swimming brains and stopped only to blast the brain that was now turning Ron's face blue.

"Dumbledore!" Remus shouted, he looked up at once to see Remus charging in after him. He made to go on, but Albus waved him down. "The children in this room need you more, I'll get Harry."

Remus opened his mouth to argue but finally noticed the other four and nodded. Breathing hard, Albus turned and ran back into the rotating room, calling out where they went. The room stopped spinning and a door opened… the door that led to the exit. Charging out of the room, he went up flights of stairs—he had been her at the Ministry enough times to know his way around, and how to get through quickly.

He sped forward, hoping that he would make it in time. 'Please, please, please…' he silently begged inside his head as he reached the first floor. 'If something else happens, I won't be able to ever forgive myself.'

Just as he reached the first floor and could see the gates, he heard it. A familiar, high and cold voice calling out, "Can't I, Potter?"

Whatever hope he had quickly faded as fear sank in again. Tom was here.

He ran harder and faster than he ever had in his life, raising his wand; he reached the Atrium floor and there he was. Tall, thin and black-hooded… Lord Voldemort had appeared in the middle of the hall, his wand pointing at Harry who stood there frozen, the broken fountain behind him gushing water everywhere.

Tom's back was to him as he raised his wand. "I have nothing more to say to you, Potter," he heard him say quietly. "You have irked me too often, for too long. AVADA KEDAVRA!"

Without even thinking, he reacted instinctively. He pointed his wand at the statue behind the boy, causing the, now headless, statue of the wizard in the fountain to jump down and leaping between Harry and Voldemort. The spell merely bounced off its chest as the statue flung out its arms.

"What -?" cried Voldemort, staring around wildly until he spotted him. And then he breathed, "Dumbledore!"

Breathing hard, he stood there in front of the golden gates, his wand held high—readying himself for a fight. A look of fear and hatred came across Voldemort's face, but Albus didn't have time to deal with it as he quickly glanced around. Harry was still behind the statue, which was now forcing him backwards, away from Voldemort, as Bellatrix was sobbing at her master's feet. Understanding now, Albus turned back to his former student just as Tom had raised his wand at him again.

Knowing what was about to happen, he turned and disapperated so that he was standing right behind Tom—missing the curse all together. He didn't have time for this. He had to get himself and Harry out of this mess now. So he turned to the other broken statues and charmed them to come to life—ordering the witch to hold Bellatrix, having the goblin and house-elf to alert the Ministry officials, and chose to use the centaur to help him with this battle.

He looked at Harry out of the corner of his eyes and was glad to see that the headless guard kept shunting him backwards towards the wall, blocking his every attempt to get out from behind it.

One less thing to worry about…

He then turned his full attention back to Tom. "It was foolish to come here tonight, Tom," he told him calmly. "The Aurors are on their way."

"By which time I shall be gone, and you will be dead!" he spat furiously.

Like that would happen… he may have taught Tom a great deal, but he didn't teach him everything that he knew. Albus was prepared to die someday, but it wasn't going to be today if he could help it.

In his anger, Tom sent another killing curse at him, but he moved back in time so that it hit a desk instead. He then flicked his wand again and cast a powerful spell that has been known to destroy entire buildings. But as he thought, Tom was able to deflect it by conjuring a shield. The deep, gong-like note reverberated from it showing just how powerful the spell had been and seemed to send chills down his spine.

It was then that Tom's eyes narrowed from behind the shield and commanded, "You do not seek to kill me, Dumbledore?" he sounded more confused than angry now. "Above such brutality, are you?"

Albus shook his head sadly. "We both know that there are other ways of destroying a man, Tom," he said softly, coming forward. Even if he could kill Tom, he knew that it wouldn't matter; for even if he could, he also knew that it would only be temporary. However, after finding out about that trick to get Harry here, having Death Eaters hurt his students, and costing Sirius's life, he felt anger burning inside him. "Merely taking your life would not satisfy me, I admit."

"There is nothing worse than death, Dumbledore!" snarled Voldemort.

Albus fought the urge to sigh. Even after everything he had been through—forced to live as a specter for thirteen years, still hasn't learned his lesson… the same lesson that he, himself, learned long ago. "You are quite wrong," he explained. "Indeed, your failure to understand that there are things much worse than death has always been your greatest weakness."

Tom's eyes flared with fury and he shot another jet of green light from behind his shield. This time, Albus used the centaur to take the attack, but knowing that he had only seconds, he drew back his wand and created a binding flame to trap Tom before the pieces hit the floor.

He knew that it would take a lot more to finish Tom. And sure enough, the rope turned into a serpent and turned its flat head back to him—almost flying towards him as it released Voldemort. As soon as he was free, he then disappeared. Knowing how Tom liked to work, he knew that he was right behind him. He called Fawkes to help him just as he felt Tom appear on the plinth where the statues once stood. But he had to deal with the snake first, he trusted Fawkes to protect him for now.

"Look out!" he heard Harry yell just as he felt the heat of the spell coming at him and the snake lunging forward to strike. The sound of wings sounded behind him and the next thing he heard was the sound of flames burning. Thankfully, Phoenix's cannot truly die by magic. He used this brief moment to deal with the snake and caused it to disappear, before focusing on the water from the fountain to rise up and entrap Tom once again. Inside the cocoon of water, he watched as Voldemort turned to face him and saw the furious red eyes widened in malice.

And suddenly he disappeared… the water splashing the floor, flooding it. And that was what caused the real fear…

Not once during the battle did he feel fear for himself. But now he was almost shaking with it. He couldn't see Tom… He didn't know where Tom was or what he was planning anymore. In the faint shadow of a moment, he had been foolish enough to believe that Tom was gone.

Brilliant he was—had always been—since he had been from such an early age. Cruel, but brilliant. Being barely ten feet away, the anguish plea should have been so much louder—perhaps it was his own deafening thoughts that drowned Bellatrix's voice out, but he hardly heard her as he stared around.

A slight movement from beside him caused him to cry out, "Stay where you are, Harry!"

His voice echoed off the walls, unable to hide the fear that was filling him. Turning slowly, he reached desperately for a hint in what Tom was threatening to do now.

'Please, let me be wrong,' he begged. But no sooner had he thought that did he hear it.

He heard a strange choking sound and a shout of pain. He spun back in the direction of the nose and saw the statue being blasted away from Harry as the boy suddenly collapsed.

His gaze landed on Harry, and his heart seemed to stop. His worst fear, the one thing he feared had finally happened. He had seen the shadow of Voldemort lurking behind Harry's eyes and had done his best to push him away to protect him. He had hoped Voldemort would leave him be, would perhaps think that Harry was not as important as he truly was. But now Harry's eyes were distorted; dark, livid, and full of pain.

"Kill me now, Dumbledore!"

Though it came from Harry's mouth, it wasn't just his voice… it was mixed in with Voldemort as he fell to the ground.

"NO!" he shouted, paling. Tom discovered just how strong the connection was and was now using it against them. Albus desperately hoped Harry would be able to use what he learned in Occlumency to fight Voldemort off. But as he watched the boy in front of him was struggling, facing a battle that he alone had to fight; he forgot everything else. Prophecy child or not, he couldn't be expected to fight this alone…

He felt tears burning his eyes as Harry was now writhing on the floor, and suddenly the horrible voice spoke up again.

"If death is nothing, Dumbledore, kill the boy…"

"Harry," Albus whispered, now on his knees next to him, his hands out and searching for something he could do, some spell or charm, but there was nothing he could do to help here. He did not know what to do. In all his long years, with all the enemies he had faced, with all he knew, all he could do was watch helplessly as someone's mind was, literally, being torn apart.

"Harry," he said softly, "Harry you have to fight him."

But he wasn't sure if Harry could even hear him. Staring around for something, anything, to help—he felt a sensation he was quite unfamiliar with… panic. He knew that Voldemort was right, death truly was nothing, but it was to himself that it was nothing. He was old, he lived his live… not Harry, not him. Harry was the one person who he couldn't let die like this; Harry's life was the one thing that his own life, and so many others, had become about. He had spent all year trying to force those thoughts and feelings down, but they rose up wildly as he saw what was happening…

But even after all this, he couldn't do anything but sit and watch him die, anyway. And there was nothing he could do.

Harry suddenly screamed and his back arched as he rolled onto his stomach. It was too much… he would not be able to bear this much longer. Albus reached out and smoothed a hand over the boy's head—that was suddenly burning hot. He kept his touch on the boy, willing the comfort to help him somehow. "Harry… I don't know what's going on inside your head," he whispered to him. "But you can't let him win. It doesn't matter how alike you two are."

The dark, red eyes looked up at him as the breathing became hitched, twitching horribly… Albus knew just how much that thought must have scared him all year, he was only sorry that he never said it before now. "It's how you two are different that matters."

Suddenly, Harry opened his mouth and whispered, "Let the pain stop… let him kill us… end it, Dumbledore… death is nothing compared to this… And I'll see Sirius again…"

Albus shook his head, feeling as if his own heart was breaking. Harry wanted him to kill him, he did not care anymore. And he knew that it was Harry speaking, he didn't need to see the shift in Harry's eyes, saw a flicker of Harry's own self to know that.

"Harry… please…" he whispered, his own heart breaking. He couldn't do it… he could never bring himself to kill him…

Just then, Harry's eyes widened in agony and he let out an unearthly scream of pain. He reached down and gripped Harry's hand tightly, wondering just what was happening inside him to cause this. Harry suddenly gave a shuddering gasp, and became limp… his eyes shut and his body cold as ice.

Feeling numb, Albus's shaking hands suddenly shook his shoulders. "Harry? HARRY?!"

Harry didn't respond at all. But then, Albus heard a howl of rage and agony. He looked up to see that Voldemort had reappeared—but now it was different. Tom's face was contorted with pain, and he was gasping for air; a mixture of loathing and twisted pain on his snakelike face.

Tom had released him; Albus looked down to Harry and suddenly understanding went through him. Without wasting another second, he stood up and positioned himself between Harry and Voldemort—not going to let Tom near him again again.

"Try as hard as you will, Tom," he said firmly. "But you cannot beat someone like him."

Tom turned to give him a face of fury—holding up his wand—readying himself for another duel. But it was too late… at that moment, people started flooding into the Atrium through the fires. He lightly looked up to see many Ministry officials and, to his delight, seeing Fudge with them. Most of them were in their nightclothes, all of them looking tired and angry… but as soon as they looked up to where the fountain once stood… they stopped dead… all of them were staring with looks of shock and horror at Voldemort.

Albus looked back, knowing that Tom had lost more than just the prophecy now. Voldemort backed away, towards the statue that trapped Bellatrix, he gave her a look of anger and disgust before he grabbed her…

And they vanished.

They were gone… just like that…

Breathing hard, he turned back to Harry and bent down, fear griping him again. What had happened with Harry? Was he alright?

"Harry?" he asked softly, feeling sick inside at what had happened here. His breathing had become painful as he waited—kneeling down and looking at the unmoving body, fearing the worse. Finally, after a few more minutes, Harry finally moved.

Harry's bright green eyes slowly opened, and he could see that it was Harry, not Tom inside. He watched as he reached out with a shaking hand to grab his glasses and slowly looked up at him. His eyes were squinting at him, as if he was having trouble making him out.

"Are you all right, Harry?" he asked softly.

The boy didn't seem to be able to hold his head up, he was shaking so badly, and he did reply hoarsely, "Yes. Yeah, I'm - where's Voldemort, where - who are all these - what's –" He wasn't able to complete full sentences, shaking like a leaf. It is probably the aftermath of a painful possession, added to the trauma of what happened, it is a miracle that the boy is still alive

He looked up again, staring at what was happening around them. Albus sighed in relief—but he couldn't help but stop the sick feeling. Harry was still shaking violently, and in that instant Albus found that he had never hated himself more. Here was a boy who had already been asked to bear so much, and here he sat and he could do nothing to stop what he knew had been coming.

But for now, he was just relieved that he was alive and sane, he stood up and helped Harry back onto his feet. He also looked up to see the people coming in through the green flames. A flood of witches and wizards were emerging from them; all of them talking about what they just saw. He ignored them for a moment as Harry swayed slightly as if he was on a ship. He supported him until he was sure that Harry could hold himself up before he looked to see the stunned-looking Cornelius Fudge coming forward.

"He was there!" shouted a man he knew at once as Williamson. "I saw him, Mr. Fudge, I swear it was You-Know-Who, he grabbed a woman and Disapparated!"

It was a shame that Bellatrix escaped, but at least now that Fudge had no choice here but to admit the truth. There was no way that he could deny everything now.

"I know, Williamson, I know, I saw him too!" gibbered Fudge, and Albus felt a bit of malevolence pleasure to see how fearful he was. "Merlin's beard -here- here! - in the Ministry of Magic! - great heavens above - it doesn't seem possible - my word - how can this be -?"

'Because you were a blundering idiot,' he thought, glaring at him. He could not believe that such an incompetent Minister had ever been elected. If he had showed half a brain and listened in the first place, then none of this ever would have happened… he looked down at Harry one last time to see the broken, defeated look on his face and looked away quickly, suddenly feeling as if he had just insulted himself.

Doing his best to hide this, he stood up to his full height and said loudly, as he walked forward so that they couldn't help but see him, "If you proceed downstairs into the Department of Mysteries, Cornelius, you will find several escaped Death Eaters contained in the Death Chamber, bound by an Anti-Disapparation Jinx and awaiting your decision as to what to do with them."

Though, knowing Fudge, he'll probably close his eyes and pretend it was all just a bad dream. Maybe even think that the Death Eaters were the victims here. He then felt irritation how some of the wizards raised their wands at him and Fudge jumping as if he didn't believe his eyes.

"Dumbledore!" gasped Fudge, beside himself with amazement, pointing at him with a shaking hand. "You-here-I-I"

He looked wildly around at the Aurors he usually had around him and Albus frowned, already guessing what he was about to do. But he didn't have time for this… he was sick of acting pleasant and patient with these people. They need to wake up from their dream world and face reality. And after they saw Voldemort with their own eyes, they would have to. He knew that there is no way that he would be able to hide this from the public.

He then called out in a thunderous voice, "Cornelius, I am ready to fight your men - and win, again! But a few minutes ago you saw proof, with your own eyes, that I have been telling you the truth for a year. Lord Voldemort has returned, you have been chasing the wrong men for twelve months, and it is time - you listened to sense!"

Fudge just stared at him stupidly, "I - don't – well," he stammered as he stared around him, wondering what to do. Finally he said, "Very well - Dawlish! Williamson! Go down to the Department of Mysteries and see… Dumbledore, you - you will need to tell me exactly - the Fountain of Magical Brethren - what happened?" he added in a kind of whimper, staring around at the floor as if he just realized that the Atrium was mostly destroyed.

"We can discuss that after I have sent Harry back to Hogwarts," he said firmly. He didn't want Fudge, or anyone else, to question Harry why he was here… not until he had a chance to talk to him first before anything happened.

"Harry - Harry Potter?" he repeated.

Albus fought the urge to roll his eyes—honestly, who else would he be talking about?

Fudge wheeled around and stared at Harry, who was still standing against the wall beside the broken wizard head and jumped again.

"He - here?" said Fudge, goggling at Harry before looking back at him. "Why - what's all this about?"

'Things that happened because you were too big of an idiot to try and prevent them,' he thought, but instead he said, "I shall explain everything, when Harry is back at school."

He then went to retrieve the golden wizard's head on the ground and turned it into a Portkey.

"Now see here, Dumbledore!" said Fudge, as he picked up the head and carried it to Harry. "You haven't got authorization for that Portkey! You can't do things like that right in front of the Minister for Magic, you – you…"

Was he really worrying about that now? His threats didn't mean a thing. He could kiss his career goodbye after all this. And after everything that happened here, the last thing that he wanted to do was deal with him… he glared at him over his glasses as Fudge stopped, suddenly looking like a child who had been told to be quiet. He then said quietly, but firmly, "You will give the order to remove Dolores Umbridge from Hogwarts."

Words that he had been wanting to say since she had been assigned to Hogwarts.

"You will tell your Aurors to stop searching for my Care of Magical Creatures teacher so that he can return to work. I will give you…" he said as he pulled out his watch to check the time. "Half an hour of my time tonight, in which I think we shall be more than able to cover the important points of what has happened here. After that, I shall need to return to my school. If you need more help from me you are, of course, more than welcome to contact me at Hogwarts. Letters addressed to the Headmaster will find me."

Fudge looked as if his eyes were about to pop out of his head, his mouth was open and he started turning red.

"I – you…" was all he could muster out as he turned away, almost forgetting what he had to do now. He was going to send Harry back to his office; he was going to tell him everything now.

"Take this Portkey, Harry."

He held out the Portkey and Harry placed his hand on it, looking more tired than he had ever seen him. As if he were an old man himself, and no longer cared what happened to him.

"I shall see you in half an hour," he told him quietly, his heart aching and looked at the Portkey so that he wouldn't have to look at the dead, empty look anymore. "One… two… three…"

And then he was gone.

Albus sighed, knowing that Harry was safe at the moment, and he turned back to head to the Department of Mysteries. "Come with me," he commanded from Fudge and the Aurors.

He was so lost in his thoughts, that he barely heard Fudge bombard him with questions as they headed back to the Department of Mysteries. His heart was heavy with what he knew he had to do… but it lightened greatly when he saw that his five other students were already being moved back to Hogwarts and—according to Alastor, Tonks was being to St. Mungo's but should make a full recovery after a day or two.

Once he had overlooked the transfer of the children and Tonks to St. Mungo's and Hogwarts, he turned to Kingsley and Moody who were sitting on nearby tables looking beaten and tired. Staring around, he asked, "Where's Remus?"

Alastor gave him a grim look as he dropped his magical eye into a tall glass of water, and had a large pack of ice over his head, and jerked a thumb to the door that led to the Death Chamber. Albus sighed, knowing full well what was happening. He walked past them and towards the door as Kingsley started explaining to the other Auror's what had happened here.

He spotted Remus straight away. He was standing in front of the archway through which Sirius had fallen, staring at the black veil flowing gently in the breezeless room. His arms were hanging limply at his sides, and his head was bowed low so that his graying hair had fallen over his face, covering his eyes.

Albus moved slowly down the stairs and across the room softly, where he gently put a hand on Remus's shoulder. He didn't make a sound, just listening to the whisperings and murmurings that were coming from behind the veil, like the sound of a light wind.

After a few minutes, Remus asked, "Harry?"

"I sent him back to Hogwarts," Albus said softly. "He is safe. The other students had been moved as well… Tonks will need to spend a few days in St. Mungo's but her injuries aren't life-threatening. All in all, everyone else made it through."

Remus nodded slowly, still not looking at anything else.

"You hear them too…?" he asked him suddenly, and Albus didn't need to ask what he meant. He looked up at the veil and listened. He heard the rumors… how only a handful of people can have the ability to hear these voices, and the degree to which they can be heard, is related to the individual's belief in an afterlife. These voices are said to be the whisperings of the dead, talking to their loved ones from the other side.

"I can…" he said softly, closing his eyes almost being able to hear Ariana's sweet voice again.

"Why?" Remus croaked and Albus glanced at him.

"Why him? Why now? Why not me? Harry - he… he needed him," Remus whispered, now shaking, his hands curled into fists. "He needed Sirius there. And Sirius needed him…"

Albus honestly didn't know what to say to him that could take away the pain he was feeling. "I don't know, Remus. I truly don't know. But what I do know, is that that's how Sirius wanted to go. Fighting to protect someone he loved."

"But it's not fair…" he whispered, sounding close to tears. He whispered so silently that he almost missed it.

"No, it's not," Albus agreed sadly. Sirius's death had also got to him as well, thinking about the lively trouble-maker with his best friends at his side. The kind of people who could laugh and even make others smile when everything seemed hopeless—a truly rare gift… one that was now gone forever. "But… you knew him better than I did, Remus…" he said softly. "And I know that he wouldn't want us to suffer. And now… I guess we can think of him finally being set free. He will no longer be held by walls or darkness… he is free from all prisons now. He is with James and Lily too so he's not alone… he wouldn't want us to suffer for him. He would want us to keep living."

For the first time Remus looked towards him who gave him a sad smile. Remus gave him a small smile back and nodded in thanks. Albus, knowing that he needed to be alone, gave his shoulder another gentle squeeze before he left him, slowly making his way back up the stairs. But as he left, he could have sworn that he heard loud sniffles and a shuddering gasp of a man who was trying to hold back tears.

Albus returned to where everyone else was and answered whatever questions that he could. He was grateful for Kingsley being here and doing most of the talking for him. Albus simply put his hand into his pocket and felt Fawkes there. He had remembered to pick up the little baby bird after he sent Harry back to school, and feeling him there seemed to give him some comfort.

"Give me strength for what I have to do next," he whispered to his old friend.

He stayed for a few minutes longer before he checked his watch and saw that his time was almost up. He was afraid that if he let Harry dwell for too much longer, it would drive him over the edge.

He turned and left Fudge standing there as he headed to the nearest fire. "If you need me, contact me in a few hours time," he told him firmly. "I have something that I must do."

"Now see here," Fudge demanded, but Albus turned to glare at him, stopping Fudge in his tracks.

"I have other, more important things to care for right now," he said darkly. "If you had heeded my words from a year ago we wouldn't be here now would we? Because of your incompetence, we just ended up losing a dear soul and hurt countless people. Because of the mistakes of foolish old men…" he hesitated for a brief second, knowing that he was talking to himself as well, "We ended up hurting a soul that had already suffered so much."

He didn't dare look at Fudge, knowing that his own anger could cause him to do something he might regret.

"I have to talk to that broken soul right now, who is most likely blaming himself for all this," Albus said turning back and walking away. "I don't want to hear another word from you for the next few hours."

He then gathered up a handful of Floo Powder from one of the many fireplaces in the Atrium and turned to the roaring flames, but then he stopped. Now that he was finally about to return to his office, he felt a since of fear and dread at what was waiting for him.

The time had come…

He had to tell Harry… everything…

Taking a deep breath, Fawkes letting out a tiny chirp in his pocket seemed to give him strength as he threw the powder into the fire and stepped inside. Before he could change his mind, he said, "Headmaster Office, Hogwarts…"

And he was gone in a whirl of flames.

(So we finally made it to the chapter that everyone's been waiting for. Sorry, but you have to wait a little longer. And I'm sorry for the long wait. I'm still in school, and I've been working on final exams and projects.)