DISCLAIMER: No, I don't own Harry Potter. Happy?

Chapter 4

Invisibility Cloak

Harry sighed. Leaning back in his chair, he thought over what had happened in the Department of Mysteries.

It seemed to take Sirius an age to fall. His body curved in a graceful arc as he sank backward through the ragged veil hanging from the arch....

And Harry saw the look of mingled fear and surprise on his godfather's wasted, once-handsome face as he fell through the ancient doorway and disappeared behind the veil, which fluttered for a moment as though in a high wind and then fell back into place.

Harry ran his fingers through his unkempt hair and left the room.

As he passed a few giggly girls, one of them asked him if he wanted to talk in a broom cupboard.

"Nope. Not interested," said Harry, with a yawn, not even glancing at her.

His scar prickled suddenly. Fearing the worst, he broke into a sprint.

Unbeknownst to him, the Marauders were following him in an Invisibility Cloak.

00

"Professor," said Harry, panting. "My scar was hurting. D'you think-d'you think Voldemort might be close somewhere?"

Dumbledore tapped his desk, thoughtfully. "It could be...But It is doubtful he should be. It could be that, perhaps, he is feeling an especially strong emotion, as Miss Granger has explained. Nevertheless, we will have precaution. Lemon Drops?"

"Er..No thanks. What precaution?"

"You'll see. Skip along now. I suppose you have your first DADA class now, eh?"

"Professor," Harry said. "Is there a way I could save Sirius?"

It was the question he always longed to ask. He had to save Sirius. Life felt simply unbearable without comfort from his father's best friend.

Dumbledore sighed. "Time is a confusing thing, Harry. There is one thing you cannot change-Death. Once a soul moves on, it stays. Even if you warn him of the Veil, Fate will find millions of other ways he will die."

Harry's heart plummeted.

"It will be foolish to tell Lily and James. Their lives were needed to destroy Voldemort temporarily until you became fully trained to thwart him and wipe him off the face of the earth completely."

"You..you..you don't..you don't know.," Harry said shakily. "You're talking about m-my parents as if they were j-just tools.."

"I did not mean it like that, Harry," contradicted Dumbledore gently. "Don't try to save them, Harry. Without them, millions of others would have died. It would change the entire course of history."

Harry swallowed, his temples throbbing. His eyes stung.

"I'll go, now, thanks," said Harry, turning to leave.

"Oh, and one more thing. Take care."

Take Care.

Take Care. Keep your nose clean. Be careful and don't do anything rash...Harry seethed. That was what Sirius had said. Keep your nose clean...

Harry walked out of the doorway and closed the door with a BANG.

He turned and saw the Marauders, whose jaw was hanging open with shock. Their invisibility cloak lay forgotten on the floor.

Peter was squirming.