Chapter 32

It had been almost six hours since Harry had seen or heard anyone. All the confidence that Harry had had was gone. Harry was even seriously considering joining Voldemort or at least killing himself. It would be easier then dealing with the pain. The Dark Mark was still burning on his chest and Harry wondered wether or not the wound would ever fully heal.

Then Harry felt the presence of three people that shouldn't be there. In fact it was impossible for them to be there. All three were dead. Harry looked up to see Lily and James Potter bathed in a bright white light. They were waving at him. He turned his head a little only to be met with a very pissed off black dog.

There was no light behind the dog. In fact the dog looked solid. Harry knew the dog well, but if it really was Sirius then why won't he transform.

"I can't transform." The voice of Harry's Godfather rang in his head.

"Where did that come from?" Harry asked the room.

"It's really me, Harry." Sirius' voice was once again in Harrys' head.

"It can't be. Your dead. I saw you die." Harry said out loud.

Harry heard a sigh in his head as the dog trotted over to him. The dog softly nuzzled Harrys' hand and Harry knew that it really was Sirius. He didn't know how he knew, he just knew. His parents were slowly moving closer too.

"But how? I mean I saw you go through the veil and what do you mean you can't transform?" Harry asked.

"How can I explain this?" Sirius thought. Then decided. "Sirius Black the person is dead. The only way I was able to come back through the veil was in dog form. Since in all reality I'm dead I can no longer use my human body. Do you understand?" Sirius asked.

"I guess so. Just one more thing. If you're a dog how come I can understand you?" Harry asked.

"Because I came back to help you. You will be the only person who can understand me." Sirius said. "I'm back for good. Or until you die." Sirius said answering Harry's question before it was asked.

Harry nodded and then looked up to his parents who were starting to look more angry as well.

"What did I do?" Harry asked.

"Since I'm the only one that can talk to you I'll answer." Sirius said. "We can hear your thoughts. What are you doing thinking about joining Voldemort? Or killing yourself? We didn't die for you to do that." Sirius said with a low growl to emphasize his point.

"It's the easiest thing to do." Harry said out loud knowing that it was a lame excuse.

As he said those words something that Dumbledore had said at the end-of-term feast for his fourth year rang through his head: 'Remember, if the time should come when you have to choose between what is right and what is easy...'

"We should choose what's right." Harry said as his parents and Sirius nodded their agreement. "Voldemort will have to kill me before I give in." Harry said the fear and doubt still evident in his voice.

Lily gently reached out to Harry. Her hand stopping on the Dark Mark. Harry had expected pain to flow through the mark again but instead it subsided and then disappeared. Harry looked down trying to see what had happened.

"Is it gone?" Harry asked.

"I'm afraid not. But it is healed." Sirius said.

James reached out to Harry next. He placed one hand on Harry's head and one on Harry's heart. At first Harry thought that James was trying to say that he would always be in Harry's head and heart. After a couple of minutes, though, Harry felt his hope and confidence return. He once again felt like he could defeat Voldemort.

"Thanks." Harry whispered. James and Lily smiled and waved as the faded from sight.

"Harry, I need you to try and sense if there are any Order members outside." Sirius said getting down to business.

Harry was silent for five minutes as he tried to sense anyone familiar. At last he was able to sense Lupin, Tonks and Dumbledore. Harry smiled as he told Sirius the good news.

"Ok then we need to get you out of here." Sirius said jumping up and somehow managing to detach Harry from the wall.

Harry quickly banished the chains and took out his wand. Footsteps could be heard getting closer and Harry's scar started to burn. He knew what was happening.

"Sirius there's no time to do anything." Harry thought desperately.

"You need to put a hole in the wall so you can escape and if nothing else the Order members can find you." Sirius replied.

"REDUCTO!" Harry said putting as much force as he could behind the spell.

The wall cracked and then crumbled. Sirius immediately grabbed some of Harry's robes and drug him outside. When Sirius had gotten Harry out of all the ruble and dust and into an open field he let go of Harry's robes.

"Stay here. I'm going to go and find someone. Hopefully Moony or Dumbledore. I'll bring them back here." Sirius said as he took off at a run.

Harry was alone, at least for the moment. After about five minutes Harry started to get worried. Voldemort had never given up that easy before. His fears were confirmed when about twenty people apparated around him. The Death Eaters all formed a circle around Harry and Voldemort.

"That wasn't very intelligent Potter. Besides I thought that Gryffindors never ran." Voldemort said unaware that there were any Order members around.

"I didn't run I just evened out the playing field. It was hardly fair for me to fight you at your Headquarters. This way we're both on equal ground. Except for the fact that you feel the need to outnumber me twenty to one." Harry said all his confidence renewed.

"Where are you Sirius. I need help NOW!" Harry thought hoping that Sirius could hear him.