The receptionist was Cho Chang, who was sitting at a small desk in the Entrance Chamber. Her face was pale blue under the candle light. She stared at Harry as if she would cry soon. Then she said, 'I heard you were coming from Kingsley. Harry, I reckon you came to get information, but be careful. The Unspeakables demand a return.'

'What return? Money?'

'No. Your secret. That's how they have built up the magical secrets. If you don't feel like right, don't reveal it.'

'Thank you, Cho. I'll keep it in my mind.'

'They reported that two hundred and thousand souls were sucked in the conflict zone in total. It is so horrible. Stop the uncontrolled dragons, Harry.'

'I can't stop them by myself. Everyone works hard. We must stop them.'

Cho nodded and whispered, 'There they come.'

Harry glanced back. Three hooded witches were coming. Partially their face could be caught by his eyes.

One of them muttered, 'His eyes are green, druidic.' Her voice sounded older than Molly. The other woman seemed quite older, the wrinkles around her mouth told it. The third woman, he guessed younger, her curve was attractive and she was slim.

The oldest spoke, 'I heard you want to know the secret about the gate of the Veil. We won't tell you without your secret. What information will you give us?'

'The secret how I came back from the ...' Harry tried to remember what Dumbledore said, 'stream of...' what did he say? Souls...yes, 'souls. Sir. Lancelot and me, the only two came back. I am sure Sir. Lancelot aka. Sirius Black is hovering in the twilight zone.'

The younger witch gasped. The other witch hushed her and spoke, 'Very well. I pass this phial to you and you put your memory into it.' The oldest handed him a purple glass bottle, 'You know how.'

Harry pulled his wand and pointed the tip at his temple. One of the tricks he first learned when he joined the Auror training was pulling his memory. He gingerly passed it back to her after containing the silvery thread of his.

She made it tucked away in her sleeve and left. He guessed she had gone to examine his memory. The other witch spoke, 'Don't worry. Your secret will be strictly confidential.' And she added, 'Follow me.'

They stood in front of twelve doors, Harry remembered confrontation with twelve Death Eaters. After the oldest came back, they let him pass one of the doors with them, which meant his secret around Riddle's Horcruxes was worth trading with them. He passed the test.

They let him in from the one of the doors which was shut immediately after they entered. He heard the floor move round and round. That was how the intruders couldn't find the right door next time.

An enormous black gate stood in front of him just like when Sirius had gone. The memory pierced him through. The killing curse took away his dearest person. Harry tried hard to stay calm, when the sadness, the loss of his godfather attacked him. Then he heard many voices, not pleasant, very sad feelings. They suffered, he thought physical or mental pain.

'You hear them. Talk with them. You have the ability.' The youngest witch whispered from behind.

'What ability?'

Before her answer, Harry heard his voice clearly.

'Ha..rry. Finally, you came. I'll reach you.'

It was Sirius. The shock robbed Harry of his speech. Sirius continued talking to him,

'The bond between you amd I is so strong that nobody will sever it.'

The Unspeakables started singing.

The wind blew round and round the gate

Nobody cuts the rope away.

The flare stood in front of them,

The Death unmarked him and his mate,

So we will allow him to stay.

As he will stretch the tree's stem:

They are magical, his antlers,

Obey him, the keeper, let him pass.

The phoenix will sing the answers,

A bright flame will melt the glass.

Then the miracle happened when their chorus stopped.

Sirius appeared from the gate, his body unharmed. He looked younger compared with the last moment when Harry was with him.

They hugged, stared each other. Harry tried to call his godfather's name, but he couldn't, he was overwhelmed.

'Been a long time, Harry. I came back. Say something. You look pale.' The voice was surely his godfather's, gentle and assuring.

'Sirius, I...'

'Don't say the word, sorry. It was not your fault. My evil cousin. Her madness is tenacious.'

Harry's eyes caught Sirius' legs.

He chuckled, 'I am not a ghost, Harry. I am hungry.' His eyes glinted as if they were the wild animal's, the dog's ones.

'Come.' The oldest witch beckoned them in. 'Don't look back until I shut the door.'

'If you turn your head, you will bring the other soul.' The second witch warned Sirius.

Harry saw his face stiffened. They walked and stood in front of the door. The door was opened and Harry followed after the witches. Then Sirius didn't move. Harry had a sinister feeling, when Sirius turned his head, a bit. Something shadowy brushed pass Harry. The door was shut and the spot began rotating.

Cho was not there when they came back. It was lunch time. The second witch handed Harry a small bottle,

'Give him the sacred water before he eats food. I feel her. He broke the rule. I predicted he would, his destiny. Enjoy a brief reunion, Mr. Potter. After that, you will have a great feat to do.'