HARRY POTTER AND THE BREATH OF LIFE

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any other known character from the Harry Potter series. I do own the plot and a few characters.

Like the great Neo said to the ever so great Mr Smith in the highly misunderstood "Matrix Revolutions": "You were right Smith. You're always right. It was inevitable." I present to you inevitability. Enjoy.

Chapter 29 – Harry sixth year – A Love That Never Died

            Still not believing his eyes Sirius made his way to the door. Unfortunately Lupin arrived first.

" What took you guys so long?" he asked the group.

" We have work to do Lupin. It's not all fun and games you know." answered Harry.

" No matter. You are here now. Come in Rachel." He said making sure that the 'Rachel' was listened by everyone.

 Sirius stopped dead in his tracks. There was something wrong. He was almost sure that woman was Iris but apparently he was mistaken.

" Come and meet Sirius." Lupin continued.

 The woman called Rachel followed Lupin to Sirius's location. He looked her in the eyes. The exact same brown and green. She had to be Iris. But he was going to play their game.

" Rachel, this is Sirius Black." Lupin presented.

 They shook hands and once again Sirius felt something he was sure he had felt before. Iris's soft touch.

" Nice to meet the infamous mass-murder Sirius Black. You would be careful if I were you. If I had that bounty on my head I would try to meet as few people as possible. Someone might turn you in." she said.

" Would you be that person? Could you turn me in?" Sirius asked seriously (no pun intended)

" I'm not in need of that money right now. You have nothing to worry about in relation to me."
" I'm relieved. Can I ask you a few questions?"
" Certainly. Go ahead."
" What's your last name?"
" My last name is Treana."
" Interesting name. Never heard it before." Said Sirius.

" Well, it's not very common."
" Next question. Where do you know Remus from?"
" Professor Dumbledore introduced us."
" How do you know Professor Dumbledore?"
" I'm a teacher at Hogwarts. Obviously I would have to know Albus Dumbledore." She answered like it was the most obvious thing in the world and only twits wouldn't know that.

" What do you teach?"
" Defence against the dark arts."
" I see. Very well. How do you get along with this bunch?" Sirius asked pointing towards the kids.

" Oh, they are great. We get along just fine. They are excellent students."

" I'm sure they are. I just have to ask this. Have we met before?"
 The woman hesitated. Sirius was achieving something.

" I don't think we have." She said. " What makes you think that we have?"
" You remind me of someone."
" Someone good or bad?" she asked hesitant.

" Someone very good. One of the best people I have ever met. A former girlfriend in fact."

 That had to do the trick. He was just waiting for confirmation. But it didn't come.

" That's nice. But I'm sure I have never seen you before except for your wanted pictures."

 She was getting hard to bend. Sirius was running out of ideas to crack that woman so he decided to wait. She was going to show herself before the night was over. If not then he was wrong and she had nothing to do with Iris. Just then a new question arouse in his mind.

" You wouldn't happen to know someone by the name of Iris Renata, would you?"
" Iris Renata… don't think I do. Should I?"

" No. Stupid question, really."

 That was it. He hadn't felt the hesitation or anything that could give her away. He was wrong. That woman was not Iris. He smiled at her and made his way back to the centre of the party were he joined Kingsley, 'Mad-Eye' and Arthur who were talking about Quidditch.

 On the other side of the room another group was watching. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny, along with Fred and George who had no idea about what was going on, were keeping their eyes on the duo's conversation.

" Do you think he suspects?" Ginny asked.

" Maybe. I'm not sure." Harry said.

" What if he does suspect? Will he be mad or something?" asked Ron.

" I have no idea. Who knows what's going on in his head? I hope he doesn't screw up."

" He won't. But he looks disappointed. Maybe he didn't find out." Said Ginny.

" He doesn't seem satisfied. Let's wait to see what happens." Said Ron.

" Maybe we won't see." Said Hermione.

" What makes you think that?" asked Harry.

" Well, because they're probably going to wait until everyone's gone to talk. That's what I would do." Hermione explained.

" I agree with Hermione. It's safer that way." Said Ginny.

" Girls. Go understand them." Ron whispered in Harry's ear.

 They laughed a bit but stopped when the girls looked at them. They were not going to reveal their secret.

            Soon it was late and everyone started to leave. Mrs. Weasley made sure that all the kids were off to Hogwarts. Harry hardly had time to say goodbye.

" This time it will be different Sirius. I'll come more often. I'll spend more time with you."

" It's all right Harry. You don't have to."
" We have a chance to change things and I really want to embrace that chance. I'm not losing you again." Harry said crying.

" You won't lose me. I'm here for you. Forever. I'll never leave you alone again. Ever."
" Promise." Harry asked his tears growing and clouding his vision.

" I promise. Nothing will separate us anymore."
" I love you, Sirius."
" I love you, Harry. I've always had."

 Harry nodded and cleaned his eyes with his sleeve.

" Oh, I forgot. I gave your Gringotts key to the Weasleys."

 Sirius smiled.

" You did well. I though you would do that. I don't mind. I can take from you."
 Harry laughed but the conversation was cut short by the hand of Mrs. Weasley on Harry's shoulder.

" Let's go. Time to go back. It's very late." She told him.

" Bye Sirius. I'll come when I can."

" Bye Harry. I'll be waiting."

 Harry left and Sirius was left with Lupin and that woman. They were talking very close when he returned to the kitchen so he decided not to linger there. He cleared his throat to catch their attention.

" Ahem. I'm going to feed Buckbeak."
" Sure. But I'm leaving soon. Rachel is going to stay for a little longer. I was hoping you would keep her company."

" Perhaps after I feed my hippogriff. You're not scared of being alone for a few minutes are you, Miss Treana?"

" Not at all. Take your time."

 A sound entered the kitchen. It was as if someone was pinching the windows.

" Do you hear that?" Lupin asked.

" It's raining." The woman answered.

" Great. I better leave now. Don't take to long with Buckbeak please. You finally have a woman who wants to be in your presence. Don't waste that." Lupin whispered to his friend.

 Sirius smirked and accompanied his friend to the door with Rachel following. She then accompanied Lupin outside and Sirius went up to the hippogriff's room.

 Sirius picked the bag of dead rats from the floor and started throwing them to the hippogriff. Then he sat down by the window. He had a clear view of the front entrance but he chose not to look. Instead he started talking with his animal friend.

" How can she not be? She is so like her. Eyes, touch, face. Everything just cries out 'I'm Iris, your long dead girlfriend.' What is this craziness that deceits my eyes? What?"

 After saying this he finally looked down at the entrance. Down there, under the heavy rain, stood a woman swirling, arms opened, embracing the rain.

:::::::::::::::::Flashback:::::::::::::::::

            It was pouring. Sirius could not believe how could someone like the rain so much.

" Iris, get out of there. Soon even your bones will be wet." He yelled to his backyard where Iris swirled, arms opened, embracing the rain.

" Come and try it. It's the best sensation in the world. You'll love it. Come on." She yelled back.

" I don't think so. Dogs are not very fond of water."
" I know. But I'm not asking Padfoot to come out here. I'm asking Sirius." She said with a sexy voice and a smile.

 Sirius could resist her sexy voice. He swallowed his pride and went to her. As he stood there with Iris, embracing the rain, he felt good. Like he had never felt before. She was right. It was a great sensation. He hugged her and smiled.

" You were right. This is great."
" I'm glad you trust me. Now let's go inside and get you out of these wet clothes." She said before kissing him.

:::::::::::::::::End of Flashback:::::::::::::::::

 Sirius was now absolutely sure. That was Iris. He ran out of the room and quickly down the stairs. The door was opened and he exited.

" I knew it was you." He yelled to her. " Iris."

 She stopped swirling and slowly turned to him.

" It's the best sensation in the world. Come out and try it." He said when she faced him.

" Dogs are not very fond of water." She said.

" I'm not asking Padfoot. I'm asking Sirius."

" I knew this was going to ruin my plan but I just couldn't resist. I haven't felt the rain in so long."

" Thank God for this rain. You actually thought that you were going to keep this charade for long?"
" Actually, yes. I was counting on it."
" Come inside. We have much to talk about."
" I think it's better if I just leave."

" Again? I don't think so."
 Without warning, Sirius made his way, through the rain, to Iris. When he reached her, he grabbed the back of her head and kissed her. It was a long awaited kiss. All the sorrow, distance, death and pain were washed away by the rain falling on them. The kiss seemed not to end.

 Finally, after what seemed like an age, they broke the kiss.

" Come. Let's get you out of those wet clothes." She said sweetly.

 Sirius smiled. Then slowly he led the way to the living room. A fire was already burning and they made their way near it. There they took of their clothes and made love by the hot fire. Silently they wished the night not to end. They both felt that it was not enough for them to talk and be with each other. After a short nap they sat by the couch and gazed at each other.

" Oh, my God. I don't believe this." Iris said while examining time's work on Sirius's body.
" What? I know I'm not the handsome, sexy man I used to be."

" It's not that. You still have the scar from that quidditch practice incident. The wound that served for many wake up calls from James."
" And Remus and Peter. They all took advantage of my wound. It was a deep wound and the scar will remain with me forever."

 Iris smiled and continued her examination. She passed her hand over Sirius's tattoos, the mark of Azkaban.

" You know, one day a short man came by Azkaban to tell the Dementors that I was not to be marked because I was going to be relocated."
" Relocated? That was sweet of him."
" That man happens to be the Minister of Magic. Not quite sure what he did on those days." She said frowning.

 Sirius got up and kissed her.

" I missed you so much."
" These last two months were very hard for me. I had come back and you were gone. I'm just glad I could bring you back."
" Saying 'Thank you' isn't enough to thank you for what you did."
" I didn't do it just for me. It was for Harry. He loves you Sirius."
" I know and I love him. Just as I love you."

 Iris smiled again.

" I love you too."
" I always loved you. I wanted to spend to the rest of my life with you."
" I'm sorry. I just could marry you. I didn't want to give more pain. To lose a wife is worse than losing a girlfriend."
" You're right. But thanks to a higher power our love didn't die with us. It lingered on and is still strong."

 They kissed again and made love again. They were together once more, proving that something big like death couldn't keep them apart. However they could never expect what the future held for them. Dark and troubled times await them.

      

TBC

            There you had it. The ever so inevitable reunion. Hope you are all satisfied. But be prepared, unexpected things are approaching. Beware.

            Couple of things I would like to point out. In chapter 23 I said that the bold writing would follow a ~@~ sign. I seemed to have forgotten about it. Sorry. Another thing: My doubt was concerning Achilles and Achilles4. I don't know if they are the same people. But I'm happy that you paid attention to that hpcrazy. About the soundtrack problem: thanks to Lily Lass for the tip. I'll try but I think I'm too addicted for a cure to work. But thanks anyway. By the way I'm planning to finish my story here, without a sequel. But you never know. I might just use an older Harry and some of my 'to come' characters. Who knows? I'll think of it.

 Once again I cannot find words to describe how I fell. 51 reviews! You guys are too much. I love you all.

 Cheers.