Chapter Title from "Say Goodbye" by Fleetwood Mac.

"Please state your name and your Ministry business," a rather automated voice spoke from a box at the entrance doors.

"Um, Rhiannon Aspenfell, Professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry," she answered as confidently as she could muster. She quickly calculated the time in her head and prayed Harry had already arrived, if he had found a way to get there. "I received notice that one of our students, Harry Potter, may be here, and I— I've come to retrieve him."

"Professor Aspenfell!" the female voice now cooed. "What an honor! Would you be so kind as to stop and autograph my book on the way out? I would be so grateful!"

"Yes, of course."

A cha-ching noise rang beside her and a badge appeared in the metal slot that read "Rhiannon Aspenfell- Honored Ministry Guest." Celebrity definitely had its advantages.

"Umm, Miss?" Rhiannon asked again, her voice smooth and charming. "Would you mind telling me where to find the Department of Mysteries? I believe that's where our bold young student may be found. I'm ashamed to say this is my first Ministry visit! If you could be so kind?"

It worked like a charm, and Rhiannon and her birds made their way to a dark tiled series of hallways. It was cold and extremely sterile, like not even a speck of dust was permitted. There was a desk where it seemed a security guard should be posted, but it was strangely vacant. The quiet that fell over it was deathly. She tiptoed into a circular space lit by a dark blue light— identical doors lining the walls.

Which door? She felt impatient as she tried to decide. Of course there was no directory; the room assumed anyone there had a purpose and a prior knowledge that would keep them from the quandary Rhiannon found herself in now. As she moved toward one, her senses were awakened. She smelled...Sirius. The spicy cologne, the beautiful garden at Grimmauld Place, that amazing tropical coffee. This must be the door— but how could she possibly smell him from the hallway? Was it a trick?

Rhiannon floated inside the door, surprised that she didn't have to use any spells to grant herself entry. At the center stood a majestic fountain with waterfalls of reddish pink potion spilling over into a pool at the bottom. Her blood raced a bit.

Amortentia. She had studied it in her sixth year Potions book, but Snape would never agree to brewing it in session. Now she knew why. He feared what she would smell. She seemed powerless to stop breathing it in. She knew minutes were being wasted — she could hear one of her birds chirping incessantly and thumping against the cage, seeming as aware of impending danger as she was. But all she could do was stand there and breathe in Sirius's scent as if it were a drug.

Stop. Keep looking. And stop wondering why you smell him and not Snape. It doesn't matter. It's just a freaking Potion.

Rhiannon left and chose another door. This time she was staring at a crystal dome that housed an egg inside. Cracks appeared slowly on the surface of the egg, and she watched, mesmerized as the shell fell away and a bird emerged— tiny, wings fluttering. Her own birds were all stirring now, beating their wings against the sides of the cage. The bird inside the dome rose to the top, then promptly sank back down, back into the egg.

What magic is this? she wondered, but there was no time to dwell. This obviously wasn't where she needed to be either.

She tried a third door, this time a large, ancient looking stone archway stood at the center, a silvery blue curtain waving tantalizingly within the arch. It certainly beckoned her, but not in a good way. She knew immediately it was something to fear...no, something to be conquered. As Rhiannon stepped nearer she heard distinct voices whispering— so many voices. She jolted suddenly with a memory of her mother— how her hand felt in hers the moment she passed away. Rhiannon jerked back. This was it. The room where she was needed. The enemy was Death, and she was here to fight it.

But Sirius wasn't here. Should she go looking for him? No. She had promised Severus she wouldn't be seen by a Death Eater. The force that had drawn her here told her to stay in this room and wait. Her stomach was in knots. Her eyes scanned the room for a place to hide. The archway itself sat atop a large stone platform, and a series of other stones were placed haphazardly around the room. All she could do was choose one and hope it would keep her hidden when the time came.

"Please be quiet, loves," Rhiannon whispered to the birds. She patted the cage nervously as she waited, each second seeming like a minute, minute seeming like an hour.

The children appeared first— Harry, Ron, Hermione, Luna, Ginny, and Neville— their bodies suspended midair under some type of curse. It expired within a few seconds and they hit the stone ground with a thud. Rhiannon had to fight her instinct to run to them.

Horned Serpent tonight, Rhiannon, not Thunderbird. Think before you act.

She heard a "cheep" in response that she knew of course was from Thunderbird herself.

"Shhh," Rhiannon whispered, but her own sound was drowned out by whooshing air as dark black figures swept into the room. Each one took hold of one of the teenagers almost instantly, holding them hostage with their wands while Lucius Malfoy approached Harry, just down from the veiled archway. He was dressed in finest silks, carrying a Slytherin staff in one hand. She scanned the room to identify the others; of course Bellatrix was here, her red mouth curling in delight as she restrained Neville Longbottom.

"Give me the Prophecy, and save your friends. It truly is as simple as that," Lucius said to Harry, his hand extended.

"Don't give it to him, Harry!" Neville shouted. Bellatrix pressed her wand tighter against the boy's throat.

Harry obviously struggled for a moment before reluctantly loosening his grip on the cloudy crystal ball. It was a fingertip's length from Lucius's hand when Rhiannon heard a POP sound and Sirius appeared. Her heart leapt into her throat.

"Get away from my godson," Sirius said almost casually, a tiny confident smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. His wand remained down, but he threw a punch like a regular Muggle in a street fight, right at Lucius Malfoy's nose.

Is it wrong to think that was hot? Rhiannon asked herself. The Prophecy itself shattered upon impact with the floor.

Gryffindor was chirping wildly in the cage, but his noise was drowned out by a series of pops filling the room. The Order had arrived, sent by Snape. Rhiannon breathed for the first time in minutes. She saw her friends immediately engage each Death Eater in battle...Tonks, Lupin...Kingsley...Mad Eye...Sirius. He was like a dancer in battle, endlessly graceful, every wand wave with a flourish as if he were an artist creating a masterpiece. Her mind wandered to the woman that would someday get to make this beautiful man happy. Rhiannon no longer wanted to claw her eyes out— she wanted to meet her and thank her— to will her into existence.

Sirius fought with Harry alongside, praising his godson proudly. They managed to best Lucius, then Sirius took hold of Harry's arms, speaking to him hurriedly. They seemed to argue a bit, Sirius finally convincing Harry to step aside. At that moment Bellatrix stepped up to take Lucius's place, wild with excitement at taking on her traitorous cousin in battle. Rhiannon held her breath once again. This was a whole new level of skill— and it was terrifying. She found herself wishing for Severus and the battle strength she'd witnessed from him that day in the Room Of Requirement. He could end this in seconds.

Sirius was beginning to tire, that much was evident, but his confidence was not. He dodged a bright red jet of light. "Come on! You can do better than that!"

His tragic words had barely fallen on the air when Bellatrix struck him with a second jet. Sirius's grey eyes shone with ethereal blue as they froze, just before his majestic form bent gracefully backward into the wisps of the veil.

No! The scream in Rhiannon's own head echoed Harry's, which reverberated off the stone columns like thunder into the ears of everyone in the room. Hermione let out a gasp of anguish when she heard it, like her heart was breaking.

Flashes of light still traded back and forth across the platform, but it was clear the battle had reached its climactic point— the death of Sirius Black no doubt considered a major victory by one side and a bitter defeat by the other. Remus grasped Harry against his chest, pulling him away from the chaos. One by one each Death Eater apparated away, Bellatrix gloating gleefully. The Order members followed Remus and moved to exit, assisting the teenagers who had been wounded in their earlier conflicts.

Rhiannon and her birds were left alone in the room. She threw the cover off the cage as fast as she could, her fingers shaking as she choked back tears. She didn't know how this was supposed to work. Would it even work? Or was she a silly, lovesick nineteen-year-old girl believing in a fairytale?

She opened the door to the cage and Gryffindor immediately flew out, soaring high into the air before nosediving straight into the veil. His companions chirped ecstatically but remained on their perches. Rhiannon felt a stab in her heart. Now she would lose him too.

She crept closer to the veil and lowered herself onto her knees, gazing up through a cloud of tears. The smell from the Amortentia fountain filled her nose again, this time only a memory but still potent, as if all of her mental energy down to her very senses was concentrated on bringing Sirius back. It seemed fruitless. The veil just continued to wave at her, mocking her pain. She swore she heard a voice like the Dark Lord's, calling her a stupid girl. Frightened, she peered around the room, but she was still alone.

Until she wasn't. She swiveled back and jumped when she saw Sirius's crumpled form lying at her feet.

"Oh, my god, Sirius!" Her hand immediately came to his heart, her other to feel a pulse in his neck. He was alive. Weak, but alive. She cradled his head to her chest, her tears falling into his dark brown curls.

"Well, this is a place I'm never thought my face would be again." He nuzzled her breast playfully. "Hello, love."

Rhiannon slapped his arm and laughed. "Sirius Black— you've officially escaped death and the first thing you choose to do is cop a feel?"

"What else what would you expect?" He grinned, but it quickly faded. He sat up with a start. "Harry?"

"He's fine— Remus took him and the others."

Sirius jumped to his feet.

"No— I don't think it's a good idea..."

"Rhiannon is correct. It's not a good idea." Dumbledore's white, wispy form apparated into the room. "I cannot stay long. There is an urgent matter in another room that requires my attention. But Sirius, it's imperative that you do not go after Harry. It's better if he thinks you're gone."

"WHAT? Are you mad? You can't separate me from my godson. James and Lily chose ME to take care of him, Albus. Not you— me!"

"While he lives with Lily's family he is under the protection of the blood magic she bestowed upon him. He must consider their home his home, until he is of age. It will keep him safer than you ever can."

Sirius looked confused and helpless. "Fine. He doesn't have to live with me full time. But he can visit. I can help him. I can be his family— his real family. Do you know what it's like to be hated in your own home, Albus?"

"He has the Weasleys. Hermione. Luna and Neville. Remus and Tonks. Minerva and myself. We will take care of him, Sirius. But as we saw tonight, you are a blind spot of emotion for him. He will lay down his life for you. He is too young to understand the idea of a greater cause than love for friends and family. We cannot afford to have another mistake like tonight. It has to be Harry— all the way through to the end. Sirius, you must go into hiding until the time is right."

"No, I'm not going back to that hellhole."

"Not Grimmauld Place. Professor Aspenfell tells me you have a soft spot for the Muggle world. And I believe I've heard stories about you that would echo that sentiment. I want you to take some time for yourself. The heartache you suffered as a boy— twelve years in Azkaban, being a prisoner in your own home, the ending of your engagement, now conquering Death— it's a lot to work through. I have a friend affiliated with St. Mungo's who can pay you visits wherever you settle in— help you sort through things."

"So now I'm crazy?"

"Crazy would be if you didn't accept help, Sirius," Rhiannon spoke up, stroking his arm softly. "Do it for Harry. Dumbledore has a plan to keep him safe— you work on you and be the best you can for when the time comes to reunite with him. Please?"

"The Order?" Sirius looked about ready to explode, not with anger but with desperation to be relevant, to be needed.

"You will still play a vital role in the Order." Dumbledore assured him. "Those who need to know of your return will be informed. Remus, of course. He will visit you with news and assignments. We will still need you— you are a remarkable wizard, Sirius."

A look of worry clouded Dumbledore's face. "I must be going. My assistance is needed elsewhere. Rhiannon, all you need do is ask for an exit, and one will be provided. Be wary on your way out. Will you and Severus please take care of getting Sirius settled somewhere until I return? And continue to use discretion for now. I have a feeling I'll be able to clear your name shortly though, Sirius. Maybe even before you see me again. Good luck!"

With a snap Dumbledore was gone. Rhiannon picked up on the urgency in his tone and she knew Harry wasn't yet in the clear. But she didn't dare mention it to Sirius. She let him lean on her as they sought the exit, first stopping to pick up her remaining two birds. They were tweeting contentedly in their cage. She looked once more at the veil and thought of sweet Gryffindor, his purpose now fulfilled.

"So now I get to be 'settled' somewhere by you and Snape. Why didn't you just let me die?" Sirius lamented dramatically.

Rhiannon rolled her eyes. "I think it will be a great opportunity for you to work on some of those issues Dumbledore was talking about. Let's start with the Snivellus ones, shall we?"

Sirius groaned.

Rhiannon's senses were suddenly overwhelmed with the smell of potion ingredients woven into wool fibers— specifically saffron— then black leather boots, and old books. She glanced at the door they were passing with a smile.

"Sirius, come in here. What do you smell?" She pulled him toward the flowing red fountain.

"Coffee."

Uh-oh.

"Muggle washing powder. And a perfume. Gods, that smells good. If I met a woman wearing that I'd forget all about you, witch."

Rhiannon laughed. "Good. Now let's find her."

"Exit?" She had remembered Dumbledore's specific instructions to ask for an exit, even though she remembered how to get back to the atrium.

A small door opened within the wall on the opposite side of Amortentia fountain, leading them down a secret passageway out into the London streets. Rhiannon thought she heard a distant shatter of glass back inside, just before the door closed.

Dumbledore's got this, she reminded herself.

"Maybe start with the coffee part?" Rhiannon suggested. And Sirius agreed.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Sirius's story continues in "Black as Night," Part 2 of the Wizarding World Romance series. Rhiannon and Snape will make appearances as well. Be sure to check it out in My Works/Profile!

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