"How long has it been?" The tone of the query was one that lacked hope or any sort of conviction.
"Too long. He'd have been in there longer than any human; the chances of him still being alive…" the second voice trailed off, sounding incredibly heartbroken.
"But maybe…" this was a voice different from the other. It had some hope to it, a sort of dejected optimism. "He was always so strong. He survived Azkaban!"
"Perhaps," it was the first voice again. A voice belonging to a haggard, but youthful looking man named Remus Lupin, and he didn't sound at all like he believed the word he'd just spoken. His face looked even more tired than usual and his gaze was gloomy as he looked around at his companions. Nymphadora Tonks, Alastor Moody, Kingsley Shacklebolt and of course, Albus Dumbledore were all crowded around a battered old archway in the Department of Mysteries all looking extremely grim. It was the second week into summer holidays, nearly a month since Sirius Black had vanished though the veiled archway that they now surrounded.
"We've got to try though, don't we? For Harry's sake as much as Sirius's," Tonks, who's hair was still short, but a vibrant sapphire colour, was saying.
Dumbledore nodded almost absently, staring at the shabby black curtain that was hung from the archway. "The odds are very much against us, but stranger, more miraculous things have happened, so I wouldn't lose all hope." He pulled out his many-handed golden pocket watch and studied it for a moment before stuffing it back into his pocket. "Now is a good a time as any. Tonks would you care to lead us through?" He asked, glancing at the blue haired woman and no one questioned as to why Dumbledore didn't take them through the veil himself. Tonks took a deep breath, pulling out her wand, but before she could utter the words to the spell she was about to perform there was a noise from behind the veil, an odd sort of musical hissing the surprised everyone, except for Tonks who cocked her head and stared at the black cloth.
Suddenly the veil shifted aside to reveal not only a swirling, sparkling mass that looked a bit like jell-o, but a colourful and very odd looking figure. It stepped completely out of the gelatinous gateway, followed by two others who were carrying what seemed to be a high decorated and jewelled coffin. Tonks squealed happily despite the situation and threw herself as the strange being that was only just taller than her, hugging it close.
"Lord Ylai!"
"My dear Tonks," the creature replied. "How are you? It's been too long." Tonks released the decidedly male being and everyone was able to get a good look at him. He was fairly short and thin enough to make one wonder just how his limbs supported his weight, even if it was sure to be very little. It's facial structure was odd, with a little definition to speak of and very large expressive eyes. He was dressed in very bright colours with a long cloak wrapped around himself and he seemed to be wearing what looked like a jester's hat. "Albus, so good to see you again," he said in an indistinguishable, but very pretty accent and step forward to clasp Dumbledore's hand, seeming to leave a glittering trail as he moved.
Dumbledore's eye brightened considerably upon seeing the being and he shook his hand enthusiastically. "And you Ylai. These are Remus Lupin, Alastor Moody and Kingsley Shacklebolt," he said gesturing to each as he introduced them. "They are with the Order as well."
The creature, Ylai nodded in greeting to each of them and then named his two helpers as Mannir and Leeff.
The members of the Order, oddly enough, were not confused or frightened by these other beings, but merely acknowledged them with hopeful looks in their eyes. They also looked very relieved to see them there, rather than them having to go through the veil themselves.
"Ylai is the Headmaster of the D'ræya College of Magi, and reigning Lord of his world," Dumbledore told them. "He and I are old friends." He beamed, obviously very happy to see Ylai. Then a look of confusion crossed his face. "But what are you doing here? I thought we arranged to meet in your world."
Ylai shrugged, looking as if he detested what he was about to say. "Just a minor consideration, considering the news we have to bear to you."
Immediately every heart of the members of the Order sank and Lupin made a quiet sort of strangled noise as they all craned to look hesitantly at the casket that Leeff and Mannir were holding. Dumbledore looked stricken, but not surprised.
"I'm so very sorry, Albus, there was nothing we could do for your friend. While he was a very strong Dreamer, full of courage, he was wounded when he fell through and the strain of Dreya was too much on him." Ylai shook his head sadly. "I think he might have survived had he have been at full strength."
While everyone had a desolate, slightly shocked look on their face, Lupin looked the worst for wear with all the colour drained from him and tears streaming freely down his face. "So, that… he's in there?"
"Yes," Ylai replied. "We made him as comfortable as we could, and he had no pain."
The Order was silent, the blow of the news finally having sunk in; their fears confirmed. Dumbledore finally spoke into the strained, grief-ridden silence. "Thank you Ylai, I know you did all you could for Sirius. We should be on our way then before our distraction loses it's effect."
"Of course," Ylai gestured for his two companions to hand the casket over to the Order, Moody and Shacklebolt taking up the task of carrying it. "Please, give my sympathies to young Harry, and would you give him these?" He handed Dumbledore two decorated packages, a long thin one and a small, rather lumpy one that had a scroll tied to the top of it. "I will be in touch about our next meeting."
Nodding, Dumbledore took the packages without question and clasped Ylai's slender, fragile looking hand in his own again. The creature hugged a heartbroken looking Tonks again and he and his companions disappeared through the veil.
"So," Dumbledore said softly, his voice slightly husky with emotions. "Sirius Black is indeed dead."
"Too long. He'd have been in there longer than any human; the chances of him still being alive…" the second voice trailed off, sounding incredibly heartbroken.
"But maybe…" this was a voice different from the other. It had some hope to it, a sort of dejected optimism. "He was always so strong. He survived Azkaban!"
"Perhaps," it was the first voice again. A voice belonging to a haggard, but youthful looking man named Remus Lupin, and he didn't sound at all like he believed the word he'd just spoken. His face looked even more tired than usual and his gaze was gloomy as he looked around at his companions. Nymphadora Tonks, Alastor Moody, Kingsley Shacklebolt and of course, Albus Dumbledore were all crowded around a battered old archway in the Department of Mysteries all looking extremely grim. It was the second week into summer holidays, nearly a month since Sirius Black had vanished though the veiled archway that they now surrounded.
"We've got to try though, don't we? For Harry's sake as much as Sirius's," Tonks, who's hair was still short, but a vibrant sapphire colour, was saying.
Dumbledore nodded almost absently, staring at the shabby black curtain that was hung from the archway. "The odds are very much against us, but stranger, more miraculous things have happened, so I wouldn't lose all hope." He pulled out his many-handed golden pocket watch and studied it for a moment before stuffing it back into his pocket. "Now is a good a time as any. Tonks would you care to lead us through?" He asked, glancing at the blue haired woman and no one questioned as to why Dumbledore didn't take them through the veil himself. Tonks took a deep breath, pulling out her wand, but before she could utter the words to the spell she was about to perform there was a noise from behind the veil, an odd sort of musical hissing the surprised everyone, except for Tonks who cocked her head and stared at the black cloth.
Suddenly the veil shifted aside to reveal not only a swirling, sparkling mass that looked a bit like jell-o, but a colourful and very odd looking figure. It stepped completely out of the gelatinous gateway, followed by two others who were carrying what seemed to be a high decorated and jewelled coffin. Tonks squealed happily despite the situation and threw herself as the strange being that was only just taller than her, hugging it close.
"Lord Ylai!"
"My dear Tonks," the creature replied. "How are you? It's been too long." Tonks released the decidedly male being and everyone was able to get a good look at him. He was fairly short and thin enough to make one wonder just how his limbs supported his weight, even if it was sure to be very little. It's facial structure was odd, with a little definition to speak of and very large expressive eyes. He was dressed in very bright colours with a long cloak wrapped around himself and he seemed to be wearing what looked like a jester's hat. "Albus, so good to see you again," he said in an indistinguishable, but very pretty accent and step forward to clasp Dumbledore's hand, seeming to leave a glittering trail as he moved.
Dumbledore's eye brightened considerably upon seeing the being and he shook his hand enthusiastically. "And you Ylai. These are Remus Lupin, Alastor Moody and Kingsley Shacklebolt," he said gesturing to each as he introduced them. "They are with the Order as well."
The creature, Ylai nodded in greeting to each of them and then named his two helpers as Mannir and Leeff.
The members of the Order, oddly enough, were not confused or frightened by these other beings, but merely acknowledged them with hopeful looks in their eyes. They also looked very relieved to see them there, rather than them having to go through the veil themselves.
"Ylai is the Headmaster of the D'ræya College of Magi, and reigning Lord of his world," Dumbledore told them. "He and I are old friends." He beamed, obviously very happy to see Ylai. Then a look of confusion crossed his face. "But what are you doing here? I thought we arranged to meet in your world."
Ylai shrugged, looking as if he detested what he was about to say. "Just a minor consideration, considering the news we have to bear to you."
Immediately every heart of the members of the Order sank and Lupin made a quiet sort of strangled noise as they all craned to look hesitantly at the casket that Leeff and Mannir were holding. Dumbledore looked stricken, but not surprised.
"I'm so very sorry, Albus, there was nothing we could do for your friend. While he was a very strong Dreamer, full of courage, he was wounded when he fell through and the strain of Dreya was too much on him." Ylai shook his head sadly. "I think he might have survived had he have been at full strength."
While everyone had a desolate, slightly shocked look on their face, Lupin looked the worst for wear with all the colour drained from him and tears streaming freely down his face. "So, that… he's in there?"
"Yes," Ylai replied. "We made him as comfortable as we could, and he had no pain."
The Order was silent, the blow of the news finally having sunk in; their fears confirmed. Dumbledore finally spoke into the strained, grief-ridden silence. "Thank you Ylai, I know you did all you could for Sirius. We should be on our way then before our distraction loses it's effect."
"Of course," Ylai gestured for his two companions to hand the casket over to the Order, Moody and Shacklebolt taking up the task of carrying it. "Please, give my sympathies to young Harry, and would you give him these?" He handed Dumbledore two decorated packages, a long thin one and a small, rather lumpy one that had a scroll tied to the top of it. "I will be in touch about our next meeting."
Nodding, Dumbledore took the packages without question and clasped Ylai's slender, fragile looking hand in his own again. The creature hugged a heartbroken looking Tonks again and he and his companions disappeared through the veil.
"So," Dumbledore said softly, his voice slightly husky with emotions. "Sirius Black is indeed dead."