Review Responses:

Got-lotr: Yummy…mmm sweets, penguins (if they are chocolate that is) and … bananas? Um, I don't eat bananas…unless they were smothered in chocolate. And here is some chocolate frogs for you.

Galadriel Evenstar: You'll be finding out where the other Veils are in the coming chapters.

ThE 3 cAbAlLeRoS: You'll have to see whether Sirius is okay or not. Hope you liked this chapter!

Phoenixtears: I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

LunaShadows: Why is this story making you nervous? Anyway, thank you for the review.

Moon Lace: Harry ignored his parents because he was unsure of what they were. He was suspicious and was not ready to believe what the Veil-Boggart was showing him. He didn't see Sirius mainly because the Veil would only show dead people, and Harry now knows Sirius is alive, so he doesn't see him. He knows his parents are dead so he does see them because he longs deeply in his heart to see them and be happy. I hope that clears that up! If not just ask me either in a review or by e-mail. Enjoy this chapter!

There is only two more chapters after this…so it really now is coming to an end. That's all I have to say now, so, enjoy!

Chapter 15: The Veil

Harry didn't know how they did it but they did.

A year ago Harry had used Threstrals to get to the Department of Mysteries however he decided not to this time. As he, Ron, Ginny and Claire could use broomsticks they opted to travel on them. In order for the others to get there, Harry had decided to guide them on school broomsticks. Once they were all ready he used a disillusion charm which kept them hidden from Muggle or magical view.

They kicked off from the ground: Harry in the lead; Ron behind helping Hermione and Luna (neither were very good on a broom) Claire and Ginny aiding Neville, who had never been properly on a broomstick since his accident in the first year during flying lessons. He looked scared but with help from two expert flyers managed to stay on for the whole flight. The flight took nearly three hours but at last at 4AM they reached the road in which the Ministry of Magic was located.

A battered telephone box stood beside a building, and Harry entered it with the others crowding behind him. He dialled the necessary number: six, two, four, four, two. The phone box began to descend into the ground taking them into the Ministry of Magic.

He had his invisibility cloak with him but he knew it wouldn't fit all of them. He placed the disillusion charm on the others again. They could see each other but they blended into the scenery which meant anyone looking in their direction would dismiss as an out of place piece of furniture or wall paper.

The Ministry now had recording balls that recorded everything happening in every part of the Ministry keeping a good check. The only place not kept watch upon was the Department of Mysteries because of the important and dangerous subjects. No one was meant to know what was there except for unspeakables.

Harry led the way downwards to the Department of Mysteries. Only Claire had not been here before. For the others it felt like they were reliving a dream. None of them could forget the terrible events of last year.

Finally they came to the Department of Mysteries and by five-o-clock had located the 'Death' room as Hermione had nick-named it. The Veil stood where it had been before a year ago, shining, the black veil fluttering in the cool air.

Harry stepped forwards his breath in his throat. Think of a happy memory, he told himself.

"Harry?" Hermione sounded scared.

He opened his eyes and turned to face them. "I'm going through. I have no choice." He nodded to Claire and Luna. They would stay behind and help channel the power Harry would need to get back. He planned on saving Sirius, then finding (if Voldemort had access to one) getting to a Veil there, and getting to the Department of Mysteries and then using that one to get back to Hogwarts. He knew it was a long shot but it was the only plan he had.

"Remember think happy thoughts. Start doing it again in an hour. I should be on my way back by then. Try and not be seen if anyone comes down here. Keep doing the charm." Harry instructed.

"Right." Claire said. She was a little afraid that she might do it wrong but Harry had already told her he had great confidence in her ability.

Taking hold of Hermione's hand; she took Ron's; he took Ginny's and then Neville latched onto hers, Harry led them towards the Veil, thinking happy thoughts. If he failed here he would die. He focused on a memory the house had shown him: the time he had crawled to his mother on the second floor. Whenever he thought of it he felt happy, ecstatic.

Concentrating and not wavering from his memory: Harry stepped through the Veil, leading the others through.

Darkness swirled around them, engulfing them, dragging them into the confines of the spirit world. They landed upon their feet. Only here did Harry open his eyes and see a door taking shape. Take me to the graveyard by Riddle House. Graveyard, Riddle House.

Walking forward; the others followed, towards the door standing in the darkness. Around them yellow balls circled through the air.

"What are they?" Ginny breathed.

"Spirits," Hermione answered, "of the dead. Look!" she pointed ahead. Six of the balls had begun to take the shape of six people, and Harry realised when he looked at them, it was the spirits of his mother and father and their parents.

James and Lily Potter stood smiling at Harry, behind James was his parents and behind Lily were hers. James had the look of his father: his black hair fell over his face tinted with grey and his mother had brown hair, shining blue eyes. Lily's father had brown-reddish hair, his eyes shone green just like Harry's, yet Lily's mother reminded Harry of his Aunt Petunia because everything about her was reflected in Lily's mother.

"My son," Lily said, reaching out and touching his face, "I never thought I'd see you again."

He seemed stunned. Where they truly the spirits of his parents. If they were ghosts then surely they could come back?

As if sensing Harry's discomfort, James spoke up: "Every person who dies comes here. The spirits reside here to be called forward when service is needed to those who need life. Some are afraid of this and choose to remain in the world of life. Yet even from here, Harry, we watch over you. Whenever you saw us in magical objects we are truly with you, unable to take shape though. The night you fought Voldemort, we journeyed from this world to appear to you."

"We are so proud of you," Lily said, "Everyday we have watched you growing up, unable to communicate, and now at last we can. Whenever you want you can come to the Veil and talk to us. We will always be there to guide you."

A thought suddenly struck Harry. "Did…you…" he was still in awe that he could speak to his parents whenever he wanted, "…you…see the night when Sirius fell…through?"

James nodded sadly. "I did. We did not appear then but watched. Wormtail was with him that night. I am grateful that he convinced Voldemort to spare his life…yet I do not know whether it was for good or for bad. We could hear you shouting for someone to save Padfoot; we hoped that you had learnt about the Veil but you hadn't. We've waited many long years for the day when you could come here, Harry, and speak to us, and still go back to the land of the living whenever you could."

Someone nudged Harry's arm. "If we're going to save Padfoot it's time to go!" Hermione said.

"I've got to go," Harry said, "I'll come back, I promise."

"We know you will," said James' father.

And though it pained him considerably Harry forced himself to walk forward. He at last came to the door; he looked back and saw his parents smiling, and he smiled to, and shouting: "Graveyard, Riddle House!" he opened the door and fell through.


The others toppled beside him landing on the hard stone floor. "Don't move!" he hissed.

Quickly he got his invisibility cloak which he had stored inside his pocket and laid it over them all, then carefully they got to their feet instructed by Harry. Surprisingly, the clock fit them all. Hermione was apprehensive; Ron was, Harry thought, shocked; Ginny looked white and Neville just looked scared.

It was here in this graveyard Harry had watched Cedric Diggory die. Suddenly his eyes began to cloud over and he saw once more the body of his friend fall to the ground, lifeless, and then the scene shifted to Voldemort rising from the cauldron in full form. That night had been one of terrors; a night that Harry had been sure he would not survive.

Hermione held onto his back; she was shaking. Ginny was behind her, followed by Neville and finally Ron.

"Come on," he whispered.

All around were gravestones, some cracked from the spells cast upon them. Up on the hill stood a dark and eerie house. Harry scrunched up his eyes to tiny slits searching for a rat, and then behold! in the darkness he saw a rat sitting on the floor, its nose twitching and small watery eyes searching.

Quickly and quietly Harry moved the others forward. Once he was close enough, Harry bent down, and showed his hand to the rat. As if knowing he was there the rat – that was Wormtail – began to run off in the direction of Riddle House.

Harry urged the others forward as quickly as possible. As they got nearer they discovered that Death Eaters stood at every corner of the house.

Hermione whispered: "We won't be able to get in!"

"We will! We've got the Invisibility Cloak! They can't see us. As long as we are quiet we should be able to do this."

Wormtail led them round to the very back of the house where there was a shed situated in the garden. There was a hole in the door that he ran through. Harry, not taking the cloak off, opened the door and slipped inside shutting the door as Ron stepped in.

Wormtail was now in his human form, and Harry took the cloak off.

"Why have you led us here?" Harry asked angrily.

"There is a passage running here leading into the house. We would not be able to get in any other way." Wormtail explained.

"Fine, just get me in there." Harry demanded. He was getting impatient.

Wormtail twitched his nose like a rat, and then he lifted up the floor-boards in the shed revealing a gaping hole. "From now, I must remain in my human form. I must still pretend to be on the side of the Dark Lord. I will do what I can to ensure you escape."

Climbing down the ladder, Wormtail disappeared into the darkness. Harry told Neville to go down and then the rest followed, with Harry last, clinging onto the Invisibility Cloak. Once his feet was on the ground once more, he pulled the cloak tight over everyone else, and followed Wormtail through the passage.

The passage that led towards the house was carved out if dry mud, a few stones were embedded in the sides, supporting the passage, though Harry sure it was strong Dark Magic which held it up. As they passed a doorway, Harry stole a quick glance inside and his heart began to beat.

Inside was a Veil. Another one. So, Harry realised, this is where Voldemort used it from on that night a year ago.

He wondered if it had been there anyway.

Ignoring it, he continued onwards following the shape of Wormtail ahead. After about ten minutes of walking they came to another door, but to Harry's horror he found that they were guarded by Dementors: two of them.

He felt the cold swash of darkness embedding his soul as he drew closer. He could not faint, he could not, or he would be discovered. He could do no spell either because it would alert the enemy to his presence.

He breathed in slowly and mustering himself stepped forward again, trying to block out the sounds of his father and mothers death. But this time he saw the scene of James fighting Voldemort inside his head, and then it was gone…he was passed the Dementors; sweat pouring down his brow and he was shaking.

"Harry?" Hermione whispered.

"I'm fine. Just the shock." He returned trying not to show any weakness.

They were now through the door and Harry found himself facing a set of stairs leading to another door.

Wormtail whispered: "The house is through there. Follow me."

Carefully they climbed the stairs and then through the door. The cloak – though made him invisible – Harry still felt naked with it covering him. The Dementors could see him, he knew that even when he had the cloak on. He only hoped they would not pass a message on to the others.

They entered into a hallway which felt evil and dark. The presence of Voldemort filtered through the house causing him to shiver. The others were all afraid but had to go on. They were led to the other side of the house, pass doors that revealed Voldemort's Death Eaters, yet no sign of the Dark Lord himself, which Harry was relieved about.

At last they stopped in front of a door that was bolted from head to foot and a slight glow erupted round it.

"It's charmed." Wormtail whispered, raising his own wand. "Alohomora!"

The slight glow disappeared and then the words: "Accio bolts!" were heard. Every bolt across the door slid across so it was unlocked. Harry felt his stomach aching with anxiousness. He didn't even know that Sirius was still alive. For a moment a thought crossed his mind that he had been betrayed, but as soon as Wormtail stepped aside Harry leapt out of the Invisibility Cloak following him.

Inside the room stood another Veil, a Veil that had snakes etched onto the sides and the words Salazar Slytherin ran down it.

Harry felt fear grip his heart. "I thought you said Sirius is alive?"

"He is," Wormtail said, "He's been kept in the Veil."

"Then I should've passed him on my way here!" Harry said, stubbonly. "When I came through the other Veil!"

"No," Wormtail shook his head, "the Dark Lord stopped anyone from accessing the place where he is. You can only reach him from here."

"There are two Veils here? One in that passage and this one. How did he get them?"

"He found them in the mountains. One he blocked off to stop people from going through it save himself, which is this one, and the other one takes him to places where he is needed."

Harry gripped his wand. The others joined him, and taking there hands, thinking a happy thought, he stepped through the Veil and into darkness.

TBC

Now that Harry is at Riddle House, will he be able to escape unnoticed? I don't think so. Chapter 16 is entitled: Fight to Hogwarts!