You guys are probably gonna be furious with me. I always hate the author who interrupts the main story for a side story. However, this is very important to the story. So...I'm sorry. I've been dubbed the next JK! Bow down and worship me...MUAHAAAAHAAAA...squeak...cough...Everybody likes me. I've never gotten better reviews...i love you allllll!

Disclaimer: Not mine

A.N.: These events take place shortly after the end of the school year

Harry Potter and the Alliance of Blood

Chapter Five

Sirius Black was basically dead. That "basically" kept Remus Lupin awake at night. He had been hit by a fire curse, very powerful, (not to mention illegal), but not deadly, just painful. But he had fallen through The Veil, the passage into the world of the dead that was hidden in the Department of Mysteries. And now Sirius, Padfoot...he was gone. But "basically" kept running through Remus's head, and all he could think of was his best friend wandering alive in the afterlife, confused and scared. He couldn't take it anymore. He raided the Restricted Section of the Hogwarts library, and found studies that had been conducted after The Veil had been deliberately opened, so the Ministry could discover the answer to a long-asked question:What happens after we die? studies were inconclusive, case closed indefinetly. But...three people had been sent beyond The Veil, and none had returned. Perhaps, if he could find a way to get back...Remus went to Severus Snape, who had sneered at his request, but supplied the book. And Remus had read, and studied, and practiced, and perfected the spell, and had ventured into Knockturn Alley for ingrediants to the potion, waited two weeks for it to be ready...he was ready.

Dumbledore had been working with the Ministry officials in studying the Department of Mysteries, looking for clues to spells cast, and maybe even evidence as to Voldemort's whereabouts. It wasn't hard to convince Dumbledore to give him security clearance, though he was sure the Headmaster was suspicious, and might even know what he was planning, but he didn't stop him. The room was empty, and Remus downed the Sustenance and Focusing potion, and cast the spell that would blast open The Veil for three seconds when he uttered the second part of the spell. Remus took several deep breaths and slowly lifted the curtain. It revealed a seemingly empty alcove, but soft whispers darted off the stone at his intrusion. He stepped through, and everything...shifted abruptly, throwing him off balance. He fell to his kness, and he was no longer in an alcove but kneeling beside a river. The river was wide, black, and shining, and people were swimming across it, only to be pulled under the water, screaming. Others crossed in boats that seemed to make it across. The water must have been shallower in some places than others, because some of what Remus realized were the dead simply walked across. It was a reflection of what the afterlife did to rational thought that he didn't think to wonder why others didn't attempt tp cross their. His side of the river was filled with dobbing, moaning, screaming, smiling, laughing, weeping, talking...souls. he saw couples rushing into each others arms and crossing together. He saw even more others screaming at each other. It was...different than he was expecting, to say the least.

"Remus" a surprised voice asked behind him. He turned and saw Amanda Radcliffe. They had been firends in Hogwarts.

"Amanda."

"But you aren't dead" she cried pleasantly, walking towards him to lay a hand on his arm. She looked...faded, very subtly, but became very obvious when she layed her hand on his sleeve.

No. I'm looking for Sirius. He fell through about a month ago, by accident." Amanda smiled brilliantly.

"Yes, I saw him. He went across the river, looking for James and Lilly. Since you're alive, you can just go right across. You know, because you don't have to overcome your former life. It's a good thing he moved, actually. You'd never be able to find him in this mess. Only the dead have the ability to find the person their looking for." Remus bit his lip, looking towards the river and back to his deceased friend.

"Why are you still here" he asked gently, not wanting to upset her. She just smiled again.

"Oh, I stayed to watch my family. If you look into the water, you can see the life you left behind. I could probably cross, but I'm not sure Id be able to see them. No way to be sure of anything, really. I'm going to wait for Anna, and stay until we can cross together" she replied, her voice wistful as she gazed into the ebony waters, seeing something he couldn't. She ket out a chuckle and turned back to him. He remembered how she had been his friend when he had pulled away from his friends in sixth year. He'd found himself thinking of Sirius in a very non-platonic way, and had been horrified, remembering the prejudices of his Muggle grandfather who he had spent a lot of time with in his childhood. Amanda had been an acquaintance before he had broken away from James, Sirius,and Peter, but had wormed her way into his trust, becoming the only person he would speak to. He had trusted her with his secret because she was dating Anna, the Ravenclaw prefect. They were open about it, and came to no grief, but Remus's Gryffindor courage had failed him. Eventually (after three months), she had coaxed him to apologize to his friends and 'trust them, for God's sake!', explaining to them why he had moved away the way he had (Yelling in the middle of the Great Hall"Get away from me") His friends had given him his space, and when he had profusely apologized (for three days, not bad considering), they had forgiven him, providing he supply a suitable explanation. He had provided a partial one.

"That's all! You stupid prick"

That had been James.

"That is a pretty dumb reason, Remus."

Peter.

"You're are best friend, Moony."

That had been Sirius, at first, but later.

"You really are an idiot."

They had kissed for the first time that night, and Remus had only Amanda to thank. He had mourned when the Death Eaters had killed her and... The spirit of his old friend gave him a ghostly kiss on the cheek, cutting off his thought that disappeared like a whiff of smoke.

"On you go. I'll see you later. Have fun" she chirped, giving Remus a light push towards the river. He turned...to thank her, or say goodbye, or anything, but she was gone. He took a step off the bank, holding his breath, and it was as if his foot had landed on pavement. He spared one last glance at the shore, and walked towards the obscure opposite bank, one single thought, all his fogged brain could manage, high in his mind.

Sirius

OVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOV

They stubled hand and hand across the river, each sporting a few more grey hair, and lines. But some of these wrinkles were from laughted. The farther they ventured past the afterlife, the foggier their memories became of it. When they reached the writhing mass of people at the opposite bank, the memory was faded to a vague recollection of horror, and laughter, tears of happiness and sorrow, a reuniting and a parting, of centuries passing, or was it seconds? But then it ceased to matter. All that did was getting...home, a seemingly unfamiliar word. Remus focused on the vaguelly recollected second half of the spell, and uttered the words. They stepped through, and were gone. And the lonely ghost of Amanda Radcliffe watched them go, a happy smile on her lips. Her task complete, she crossed the River of Life, hand in hand with Anna, the Ravenclaw prefect.

OVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOVOV

I know it was short, and I'm sorry. And I know it was vague, but it was deliberate, because life, and what lies beyond it, is vague. I bet a lot of you are wondering why I didn't talk about the opposite bank of the river. I don't feel it's my place to say what it's like. There'll be another, back to the main story chapter, in about a week. Please don't hate me! Cringes Oh, and in case you're wondering when they arrived back into the world of the living...I'm not telling. MUAHAHAHAAAA...squeak...cough..."ahem"

Review, please! I really do love them, but I just don't have time to acknowledge them all. I'm in three AP classes, and I hate second semester! Curse you, second semester!