Lana heard footsteps coming up the stairs, but they sounded miles away. The door flung open, and Lana stood there, motionless, staring at the person who had just entered.

Lupin looked at her for a moment. "You alright?" he asked, without concern in his voice.

"Oh..." said Lana, her breath feeling raggedy in her chest. "Wolf....hasnt got your....tongue then, I see."

"I was sent to see how you were, and now I know, I'm leaving." said Lupin, shutting the door as he walked out.

"Well thats just...." Lana glared at the door, wishing that she had never done what she had, but comforted by the thought that she had something that Voldemort wanted.

A hand grabbed Lana over her mouth, and the other arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her backwards. She struggled for a few seconds before realising it was hopeless, and she passed out.

Lana opened her eyes slowly and became aware that it was night now, or it was just very dark. Her muscles felt heavy and ached. She tried to move her right arm but found it was bound tightly behind her, as was her left. Her ankles were tied together and then tied to the chair upon which she was sat.

Upon trying to speak, she found that she had been gagged. She could barely see in front of her.

"So you're awake. Finally, thought I'd killed you or something." said a voice Lana could barely hear, but she assumed it was a man. "Lumos," he said, and a few candles lit the the room.

In the dim light, Lana could make a shadow in the corner of the room. The room was destroyed, furniture ripped, wallpaper peeling off, dust everywhere. Lana had a sense of familiarity with the place.

"I suppose you think you can do anything, don't you?" the man asked, staying in the shadows. "Think you can mess with the laws of nature and there will be no consequences?"

Lana shook her head, her heart pounding.

"Have you any idea of what you've done to me?" the man asked, moving so quickly Lana didn't see him until he had slammed his hands down on either side of her, his face no more than an inch away from hers.

It was Sirius. His face was green, with flesh hanging off, blood trickling down his face. As he laughed, more skin fell from his face, he reached up and pulled at his hair, pulling flesh and hair from his skull.

Lana was horrified - she was trying to scream but found she couldn't. She tried to get away from this, this thing, and started thrashing around.


"Lana....Lana....Lana!" came Harrys voice over the screaming and Sirius' laughing.

Sirius struck her across the face, hard, and sent her reeling. She opened her eyes to see Harry stood above her.

"Lana...Are you okay?" he asked, green eyes concerned.

Her breathing was extremely heavy, her hair stuck to her face with sweat.

"I...I..." Lana couldn't speak. That face... It wasn't real. Not real.

"I heard screaming." said Harry sternly.

"I was having a nightmare. That's all." answered Lana, wondering who was the Godparent of who. "How long have I been asleep?"

"Two days, almost. It's half past eight in the morning." Harry then went to ask Lana something, but then didn't.

"What is it? Something you want to talk about?" asked Lana.

"Well - It's just - What happened to you beyond the Veil? I thought you died if you went through it. Thats why - when - Sirius - I didn't - Couldn't - " mumbled Harry.

"I know. But you can bend rules sometimes Harry. And I do have to admit it was extremely stupid of me and I dont want you to go anywhere near the Ministry again without me or anyone else present."

"What happened to Lestrange?" asked Harry, tears welling. The woman who killed his Godfather had been dragged through the Veil with Lana, although she hadn't come back through with her.

"Oh...I don't know." said Lana, not completely honestly. "Is everyone mad at me?"

"I don't think mad is the right word. Except for Dumbledore, he was furious. Scared is more like it for the rest of them. They're afraid of what you might do next."

"Are you scared of me, Harry?" asked Lana.

"No." he said defiantly.

"Well you should be. Fear is what keeps you alive. Fear of your loved ones dying; fear of yourself dying; fear of not knowing how the story ends. At least thats how I see it." said Lana quietly, more to herself than to anyone else.