The next day Harry went to Talitha's office for his Occlumency lesson as planned. He knocked on the door and walked in. Remus was there and Talitha looked upset.
"Sorry, do you want me to come back later?" Harry asked. Talitha shook her head.
"Harry, come and sit down" Remus told him
"We found out something today Harry and I think you should know" Talitha said. Harry looked worried. Talitha smiled at him
"It's nothing terrible" she reassured him "It's just come as a shock that's all"
"What is it?" Harry asked
"Dumbledore thinks he may have found a way to bring Sirius back"
Harry started to speak but found he didn't know what to say
"What? How?" he eventually managed to say.
"Alastor captured Bellatrix Lestrange yesterday" Talitha told him. "He's been questioning her using Veritaserium, the truth potion"
"We all thought she had used Avada Kedavra on Sirius" Remus continued "We thought that's why he had gone through the veil"
"It turns out she only used Crucio. It must have been the pain that made him stumble backwards. He only fell through the veil Harry, he didn't die" said Talitha
"So why didn't he come back through"
"It's very complex, Harry. He couldn't just get up and walk back through. Someone has to go and get him and it isn't that easy. Even Dumbledore isn't sure exactly what needs to be done. He's still trying to figure it out."
"Who is going to go?" asked Harry
"We aren't sure yet. The problem is, if it goes wrong, the person who goes in may be stuck there as well" said Remus
"And before you even think it, it won't be you" Talitha warned
"But …" Harry started to say
"Harry, it isn't something you can do. Even if you could, it's too much of a risk. Not just for you but for everyone" Talitha told him "We can't risk losing you like that. I hate to put it this bluntly but you are our only weapon against Voldemort"
"Ok, I understand but can I at least help if possible"
"I'm sure if there is anything you can do, Dumbledore will let you" said Remus
"So who then?"
"We've both volunteered Harry" said Remus "but Dumbledore has said no to that as well"
"Why?"
"He doesn't want you losing anyone else Harry. At least at the moment you've got me and Remus" Talitha explained
"And it won't be Dumbledore unless absolutely necessary"
"It looks most likely that Moody will go but like Tali said, Dumbledore's still working out how to do it" said Remus
"Harry, you mustn't get your hopes up though. This isn't something that will definitely happen. You must get on with school and everything" said Talitha
Harry nodded.
"And don't go telling everyone about it. Sirius' name hasn't been cleared yet. The Ministry will do everything they can to stop us doing this if they find out. Even if we manage it, Sirius will have to go back into hiding again until we can prove his innocence.
When he got back to the common room, Harry looked around for Ron and Hermione. He needed to talk to them.
"They went to the library" Ginny called over to him. She was sitting near the fire reading a book.
"Oh" said Harry, sounding disappointed.
"You can talk to me you know" said Ginny.
"Ok but not here. Let's go for a walk" Harry replied. They walked around the school grounds and Harry told her all about Sirius. He never realized how easy Ginny was to talk to, she was a really good listener and she didn't interrupt like Ron and Hermione did. When they got back Harry decided to go to bed as he was exhausted. Ron was already in the dorm when he got there, He was telling Ron the news about Sirius when Hermione came bursting in.
"Ginny just told me" she said excitedly "I can't believe it"
"Calm down Hermione. It's only a possibility. I'm trying not to get too excited in case it never happens" Harry told her. Ron started laughing.
"Harry you sounded just like Hermione then" He said. They all started giggling.
"Sorry, do you want me to come back later?" Harry asked. Talitha shook her head.
"Harry, come and sit down" Remus told him
"We found out something today Harry and I think you should know" Talitha said. Harry looked worried. Talitha smiled at him
"It's nothing terrible" she reassured him "It's just come as a shock that's all"
"What is it?" Harry asked
"Dumbledore thinks he may have found a way to bring Sirius back"
Harry started to speak but found he didn't know what to say
"What? How?" he eventually managed to say.
"Alastor captured Bellatrix Lestrange yesterday" Talitha told him. "He's been questioning her using Veritaserium, the truth potion"
"We all thought she had used Avada Kedavra on Sirius" Remus continued "We thought that's why he had gone through the veil"
"It turns out she only used Crucio. It must have been the pain that made him stumble backwards. He only fell through the veil Harry, he didn't die" said Talitha
"So why didn't he come back through"
"It's very complex, Harry. He couldn't just get up and walk back through. Someone has to go and get him and it isn't that easy. Even Dumbledore isn't sure exactly what needs to be done. He's still trying to figure it out."
"Who is going to go?" asked Harry
"We aren't sure yet. The problem is, if it goes wrong, the person who goes in may be stuck there as well" said Remus
"And before you even think it, it won't be you" Talitha warned
"But …" Harry started to say
"Harry, it isn't something you can do. Even if you could, it's too much of a risk. Not just for you but for everyone" Talitha told him "We can't risk losing you like that. I hate to put it this bluntly but you are our only weapon against Voldemort"
"Ok, I understand but can I at least help if possible"
"I'm sure if there is anything you can do, Dumbledore will let you" said Remus
"So who then?"
"We've both volunteered Harry" said Remus "but Dumbledore has said no to that as well"
"Why?"
"He doesn't want you losing anyone else Harry. At least at the moment you've got me and Remus" Talitha explained
"And it won't be Dumbledore unless absolutely necessary"
"It looks most likely that Moody will go but like Tali said, Dumbledore's still working out how to do it" said Remus
"Harry, you mustn't get your hopes up though. This isn't something that will definitely happen. You must get on with school and everything" said Talitha
Harry nodded.
"And don't go telling everyone about it. Sirius' name hasn't been cleared yet. The Ministry will do everything they can to stop us doing this if they find out. Even if we manage it, Sirius will have to go back into hiding again until we can prove his innocence.
When he got back to the common room, Harry looked around for Ron and Hermione. He needed to talk to them.
"They went to the library" Ginny called over to him. She was sitting near the fire reading a book.
"Oh" said Harry, sounding disappointed.
"You can talk to me you know" said Ginny.
"Ok but not here. Let's go for a walk" Harry replied. They walked around the school grounds and Harry told her all about Sirius. He never realized how easy Ginny was to talk to, she was a really good listener and she didn't interrupt like Ron and Hermione did. When they got back Harry decided to go to bed as he was exhausted. Ron was already in the dorm when he got there, He was telling Ron the news about Sirius when Hermione came bursting in.
"Ginny just told me" she said excitedly "I can't believe it"
"Calm down Hermione. It's only a possibility. I'm trying not to get too excited in case it never happens" Harry told her. Ron started laughing.
"Harry you sounded just like Hermione then" He said. They all started giggling.