A/N- Here is the next chapter. I hope you like it. This chapter really
flowed as I was writing it and I think I liked it a lot. I have planned out
all chapters for my next story which I have decided will be Under the Full
Moon. I hope you will read that when I start it but I am not sure when that
will be, probably after this story and The Velvet Glove is finished. PLEASE
REVIEW. IF I HAVE 255 reviews I will update tomorrow!!
~!~
Return to the Veil
~!~
The busy schedule Harry had didn't lessen. The aurors were getting bored but Harry wouldn't let them go back. It was soon March and time went by in a blur. The defense training was going very well and most of the Slytherins quit except for Draco Malfoy and a few others. One day after defense class Harry saw Remus going down the hallway.
"Hi Remus," Harry greeted.
"Hi Harry, how are you doing?"
"Fine, where are you going?" Harry asked.
"I was going to go to the ministry. To the um.department of mysteries where the veil is."
"Oh, how come?"
"I just needed to check something. Do you want to come?" Lupin asked.
"Sure, we can take a portkey there."
Harry and Remus went to the department of mysteries. The minister wasn't sure why they were there but it brought back bad memories. It was exactly as mysterious and unchanged as the last time he was there. It felt like yesterday but was in fact almost a year ago. They walked near the archway and Harry saw Lupin looking around.
"What are we looking for?" Harry whispered. He wasn't sure why he didn't want to talk louder then a soft hush but it didn't feel right. Harry noticed Remus scanning the room. The minister still didn't go near the arch.
"I am looking for something Harry. I can't really say what it is because I don't know but I am pretty sure it will have writing on it. Please look around and tell me if you see anything out of the ordinary. Remember not to go to close to the veil."
Harry nodded and started walking around. He got a little closer to the veil and he thought he heard whispers but shrugged it off. There was a flapping sound but he couldn't tell where it was coming from. For the next fifteen minutes they looked around without saying a word and not finding anything. Something on the wall caught Harry's eye. There was a light gray plaque on the wall with engraved cursive. Harry read slowly and amazed.
'This is the veil of the spirits. Once fallen in this archway you will immediately become a spirit. The only reason you would be able to come back is to take care of some unfinished business. When the business is done with you will return to the land of the dead and stay there permanently.'
Harry started breathing rapidly. He clutched his stomach and felt as if he was hyperventilating.
"Harry! What's wrong?" Remus yelled.
Harry couldn't say anything because he was now sobbing with dry tears. He just pointed at the plaque and closed his eyes. The ghost floated over to where Harry pointed worriedly and read in his head. He wasn't surprised at the information he was learning. Lupin was more concerned about the-boy-who- lived who was now heaving, probably in shock of the information that was just learned.
"Come on, Harry. Let's go."
Harry went back to Hogwarts with Remus. He had never felt guiltier. He even felt less guilty when he thought it was his fault that Sirius fell through the veil. Now, even after Remus had come back he would be leaving soon. Even if Cedric's death may not have been his fault he still felt that Lupin's was. His guilt was taking over and all he wanted to do was sleep a nice dreamless sleep. That would only be possible tonight if he had a dreamless sleep potion but Harry was to out of it to go and get a vial of it from Professor Snape. Lupin tried to talk to Harry on the way back but Harry was in a trance like stare and didn't seem to hear anything he had said. Harry collapsed in his bed and immediately fell asleep. His night was filled with terrible dreams. One in particular was the same one he had quite often of the veil on that night so many months ago, except this one was slightly different. Harry watched as Remus fell through the veil instead of Sirius while Sirius held him back.
Harry woke up with a start and a shriek in his bed. He was sweating and his hair was ruffled. It was only 3:00 a.m and Harry knew that he wouldn't be getting back to sleep any time soon. He wandered the halls aimlessly and found himself saying the password to Sirius' room. Sirius was up drinking a cup of coffee. Harry knew it was coffee even though the wizarding world didn't often have the dark caffeinated stuff, because he had given it to his uncle so many times before. Harry went and sat down next to his godfather and wordlessly poured himself a cup of coffee. Sirius then noticed his godson.
"Hi Harry, I didn't hear you come in. What time is it?" Sirius croaked.
"It's almost 4:00 a.m." Harry replied tiredly. "You know..."
Sirius nodded and gulped his coffee down. Harry thought usually in these cases people drank alcohol but apparently not. Harry sighed and looked down at his drink. He took a sip and quickly spit the stuff out. Sirius let out a half chuckle but Harry didn't notice.
"It's all my fault," Harry muttered.
Sirius shot his eyes up.
"Harry, it's not your fault!" Sirius yelled.
"Yes it is Sirius! It's all my fault! I know I got over it before but that was when I at least thought he was going to stay and be with us, be with you!"
"Harry it's not your fault," someone said from behind him.
Harry and Sirius both turned to see Remus floating a few feet off the ground. The boy looked down at his hands without making eye contact. He was avoiding his former professor's eyes.
"Moony, I think I am going to go to sleep. Um.I think you two should talk," Sirius said and went to his room leaving the minister and the ghost alone.
"Harry, why don't we take a walk?" Remus asked.
Harry nodded and got up and followed Lupin out the door.
"Harry, it's not your fault."
Harry said nothing.
"I don't blame you at all and I wish you wouldn't blame yourself."
"I'm sorry," Harry muttered.
"Harry, listen to me."
"But-"
"No, Harry. Please listen to everything I have to say."
Harry nodded.
"I know why you tried to save Sirius last summer and I know that it was a complete mistake. You had the person you loved at heart and you did what you could. Unfortunately the outcome wasn't too good. I was lucky enough to get the chance to come back and say my proper good byes and live my life..or death a little longer. It isn't even over yet. We have no idea how long I have. For all anyone knows we have a lot of time. When it is time for me to go it won't be all that bad. I got to know you and I got Sirius back. I have lived a wonderful life even if it hasn't been all that perfect but no one's life has been. I am so glad that I got to know you Harry. You are a wonderful person and I love you like my own son. When I do go I will miss you and Sirius so much but I will get to see Lily and James and people that have died that I miss. I don't blame you and I really hope you won't blame yourself. The last thing I want is for you to feel guilt"
Harry just looked at Remus in surprise. Tears were dripping down his cheek as he took in all what he just heard. He realized he was right but he still felt a little guilty. He remembered something Moony said in his little speech and then smiled.
"I love you too Remus," Harry said.
Remus smiled and they walked back to Sirius' room. Harry told him he would hug him he could and then Harry watched him leave. Sirius was dosing on the couch and Harry sat down next to him. Black woke up and smiled slightly at Harry.
"Hi," Harry whispered.
"Are you okay Harry?" Sirius asked.
Harry nodded and put his head down on his godfather's lap. Sirius unconsciously and lovingly stroked Harry's hair and the boy fell asleep within minutes.
"You know Padfoot," Remus whispered coming in quietly. "You will always have Harry."
Sirius smirked and nodded. "I will miss you Moony but let's not think about you leaving now."
"That's a deal," Remus replied.
A/N- Sorry this was a shorter chapter but I hoped you liked it. Some action is coming up soon and I will probably update tomorrow. Please review!!!
~!~
Return to the Veil
~!~
The busy schedule Harry had didn't lessen. The aurors were getting bored but Harry wouldn't let them go back. It was soon March and time went by in a blur. The defense training was going very well and most of the Slytherins quit except for Draco Malfoy and a few others. One day after defense class Harry saw Remus going down the hallway.
"Hi Remus," Harry greeted.
"Hi Harry, how are you doing?"
"Fine, where are you going?" Harry asked.
"I was going to go to the ministry. To the um.department of mysteries where the veil is."
"Oh, how come?"
"I just needed to check something. Do you want to come?" Lupin asked.
"Sure, we can take a portkey there."
Harry and Remus went to the department of mysteries. The minister wasn't sure why they were there but it brought back bad memories. It was exactly as mysterious and unchanged as the last time he was there. It felt like yesterday but was in fact almost a year ago. They walked near the archway and Harry saw Lupin looking around.
"What are we looking for?" Harry whispered. He wasn't sure why he didn't want to talk louder then a soft hush but it didn't feel right. Harry noticed Remus scanning the room. The minister still didn't go near the arch.
"I am looking for something Harry. I can't really say what it is because I don't know but I am pretty sure it will have writing on it. Please look around and tell me if you see anything out of the ordinary. Remember not to go to close to the veil."
Harry nodded and started walking around. He got a little closer to the veil and he thought he heard whispers but shrugged it off. There was a flapping sound but he couldn't tell where it was coming from. For the next fifteen minutes they looked around without saying a word and not finding anything. Something on the wall caught Harry's eye. There was a light gray plaque on the wall with engraved cursive. Harry read slowly and amazed.
'This is the veil of the spirits. Once fallen in this archway you will immediately become a spirit. The only reason you would be able to come back is to take care of some unfinished business. When the business is done with you will return to the land of the dead and stay there permanently.'
Harry started breathing rapidly. He clutched his stomach and felt as if he was hyperventilating.
"Harry! What's wrong?" Remus yelled.
Harry couldn't say anything because he was now sobbing with dry tears. He just pointed at the plaque and closed his eyes. The ghost floated over to where Harry pointed worriedly and read in his head. He wasn't surprised at the information he was learning. Lupin was more concerned about the-boy-who- lived who was now heaving, probably in shock of the information that was just learned.
"Come on, Harry. Let's go."
Harry went back to Hogwarts with Remus. He had never felt guiltier. He even felt less guilty when he thought it was his fault that Sirius fell through the veil. Now, even after Remus had come back he would be leaving soon. Even if Cedric's death may not have been his fault he still felt that Lupin's was. His guilt was taking over and all he wanted to do was sleep a nice dreamless sleep. That would only be possible tonight if he had a dreamless sleep potion but Harry was to out of it to go and get a vial of it from Professor Snape. Lupin tried to talk to Harry on the way back but Harry was in a trance like stare and didn't seem to hear anything he had said. Harry collapsed in his bed and immediately fell asleep. His night was filled with terrible dreams. One in particular was the same one he had quite often of the veil on that night so many months ago, except this one was slightly different. Harry watched as Remus fell through the veil instead of Sirius while Sirius held him back.
Harry woke up with a start and a shriek in his bed. He was sweating and his hair was ruffled. It was only 3:00 a.m and Harry knew that he wouldn't be getting back to sleep any time soon. He wandered the halls aimlessly and found himself saying the password to Sirius' room. Sirius was up drinking a cup of coffee. Harry knew it was coffee even though the wizarding world didn't often have the dark caffeinated stuff, because he had given it to his uncle so many times before. Harry went and sat down next to his godfather and wordlessly poured himself a cup of coffee. Sirius then noticed his godson.
"Hi Harry, I didn't hear you come in. What time is it?" Sirius croaked.
"It's almost 4:00 a.m." Harry replied tiredly. "You know..."
Sirius nodded and gulped his coffee down. Harry thought usually in these cases people drank alcohol but apparently not. Harry sighed and looked down at his drink. He took a sip and quickly spit the stuff out. Sirius let out a half chuckle but Harry didn't notice.
"It's all my fault," Harry muttered.
Sirius shot his eyes up.
"Harry, it's not your fault!" Sirius yelled.
"Yes it is Sirius! It's all my fault! I know I got over it before but that was when I at least thought he was going to stay and be with us, be with you!"
"Harry it's not your fault," someone said from behind him.
Harry and Sirius both turned to see Remus floating a few feet off the ground. The boy looked down at his hands without making eye contact. He was avoiding his former professor's eyes.
"Moony, I think I am going to go to sleep. Um.I think you two should talk," Sirius said and went to his room leaving the minister and the ghost alone.
"Harry, why don't we take a walk?" Remus asked.
Harry nodded and got up and followed Lupin out the door.
"Harry, it's not your fault."
Harry said nothing.
"I don't blame you at all and I wish you wouldn't blame yourself."
"I'm sorry," Harry muttered.
"Harry, listen to me."
"But-"
"No, Harry. Please listen to everything I have to say."
Harry nodded.
"I know why you tried to save Sirius last summer and I know that it was a complete mistake. You had the person you loved at heart and you did what you could. Unfortunately the outcome wasn't too good. I was lucky enough to get the chance to come back and say my proper good byes and live my life..or death a little longer. It isn't even over yet. We have no idea how long I have. For all anyone knows we have a lot of time. When it is time for me to go it won't be all that bad. I got to know you and I got Sirius back. I have lived a wonderful life even if it hasn't been all that perfect but no one's life has been. I am so glad that I got to know you Harry. You are a wonderful person and I love you like my own son. When I do go I will miss you and Sirius so much but I will get to see Lily and James and people that have died that I miss. I don't blame you and I really hope you won't blame yourself. The last thing I want is for you to feel guilt"
Harry just looked at Remus in surprise. Tears were dripping down his cheek as he took in all what he just heard. He realized he was right but he still felt a little guilty. He remembered something Moony said in his little speech and then smiled.
"I love you too Remus," Harry said.
Remus smiled and they walked back to Sirius' room. Harry told him he would hug him he could and then Harry watched him leave. Sirius was dosing on the couch and Harry sat down next to him. Black woke up and smiled slightly at Harry.
"Hi," Harry whispered.
"Are you okay Harry?" Sirius asked.
Harry nodded and put his head down on his godfather's lap. Sirius unconsciously and lovingly stroked Harry's hair and the boy fell asleep within minutes.
"You know Padfoot," Remus whispered coming in quietly. "You will always have Harry."
Sirius smirked and nodded. "I will miss you Moony but let's not think about you leaving now."
"That's a deal," Remus replied.
A/N- Sorry this was a shorter chapter but I hoped you liked it. Some action is coming up soon and I will probably update tomorrow. Please review!!!