A.N. Hiya, I know you guys really wanna get to the chapter, so a fool such as I will not stand in the way...
Disclaimer: None of it's mine...
The steady heartbeat under Harry's fingers reassured him that his Godfather was indeed alive and that all of this wasn't just some dream. Tears leaked from the emerald eyes as he looked into the face of a loved one he thought dead. Ginny had given him a kiss on the cheek, squeezed his hand, she and Ron left. Hermione had stood there, stunned, her hand flying to her mouth to cover a scream she feared she might utter. Remus had taken her shoulders and steered her out of the room, Remus returned within the hour. So everyone was gone, save for Remus and Harry.
The two men kept constant watch over the figure in the bed, never leaving his side. Some would have called it a fool's errand, watching over a sleeping man in the safest place in the world. Sirius was safer than anyone could ever ask. However, the picture of vampires invading the Great Hall was still burned on their eyes.
Harry sat at Sirius' beside, his head drooping from the fatigue that had come over him. Remus swayed where he stood as Madam Pomfrey bustled in, "Remus, please go get some rest, take the boy with you."
Remus' head snapped up, "I won't leave Poppy and neither will he. We will wait and that is final."
Pomfrey glared at Remus, not liking the fact that she was being told what to do in her infirmary. Although, when she looked at Harry she wilted a bit and left them to their own devices.
Hours passed by with no move from Sirius, but still neither of them left.
"Remind again why we are doing this Hermione," Ginny asked as she picked up the flask.
"Because, those two idiots have been there for a long time, not to mention they were woken at about three this morning. They are tired, all we are doing is taking them some coffee, although I despise the concoction," Hermione said matter-of-factly.
"But they really seemed to want to be left alone," Ginny said hesitantly.
Hermione nodded, "They did, but I doubt that we will get in any trouble."
Ginny sighed and followed Hermione up to the Hospital Wing. Hermione pushed the doors open and slid inside.
Madam Pomfrey lifted an eyebrow at the two young ladies, "And you are here because?"
"We brought them some coffee is all," Hermione said.
Madam Pomfrey snorted, "I'll be surprised if they are still awake."
Hermione and Ginny took the opportunity to leave and stepped past the curtains that concealed Sirius from the public's eye.
Remus held a finger to his lips motioning for them to be quiet. He then pointed to the bed. Ginny felt her heart melt at the sight. Harry's head was resting on his arms, his eyes were closed, and his hand rested over Sirius' heart. He looked so gentle and sweet when he was sleeping. Her heart bled with love and remorse for him and the fate that was placed on his young shoulders.
Ginny stepped forward running a hand through his hair. Harry stirred sitting up ever so slightly, "Sirius?"
"Shh, no he's still asleep. Here," Ginny said, holding the flask out to him.
"What is it?" Harry asked, his voice was gruff and laced with sleep.
A soft smile touched Ginny's lips, "It's coffee, so you can stay awake without drooling all over him."
Harry took the flask without question, downing half it's contents in one gulp. He raised his eyes to Ginny's and felt guilt flush his system. He couldn't ask her to watch everyone she loved go headlong into battle and be expected to sit there. 'No,' he thought, as he ran his hand down her cheek bone. 'I can't ask her to do that, as much as it kills me to let her out there.'
Ginny gave him a strange look at the tenderness with which he was handling her. She held his hand in her's and Harry just smiled.
Hermione let a gentle smile grace her face as she watched the two. Remus reached out and held her gently, just holding her helped calm his nerves which were presently in fritz mode. Hermione took his hand and placed the flask she had brought in his hand. Remus smiled and gently kissed the top of her head.
Silence encased the room as Sirius' sheets rustled as the man began to move. That same silence hung in the air as Sirius' eyes slowly opened, blinking against the sun that invaded the Hospital Wing.
Harry was in danger of hyperventilating as all the air whooshed from his lungs. Remus just stared as he watched his lifelong friend stare around the room bewildered.
"Sirius?" came the choked response from Harry. Tears were gripping at his vocal chords, doing their damndest to render him speechless.
Sirius immediately turned and looked at the emerald eyed boy with tears streaking down his face. He raised a shaking hand to the boy in front of him. A boy who had been ridden with guilt since that moment that his Godfather had fallen through the veil. Only living as a shell, fighting with himself day and night. His fingers gently touched the boy's cheek.
Harry was racked with a sob as Sirius' hand touched his cheek. Harry's hand encased his Godfather's, holding it against his face.
All restrictions were lost as Harry threw himself into Sirius' embrace, clinging to the frail man and wailing his regrets, "I'm so sorry, Sirius. It's all my fault! If I hadn't rushed into things, if I hadn't believed Kreacher, if I had listened to everyone this wouldn't have happened. It's all my fault and you... I though you had died and... And..."
"Shh, Harry, I'm back now. It's all right," Sirius said, wrapping his arms around the young boy in his arms.
Harry sobbed uncontrollably on Sirius' chest, twisting the bed sheets in his hands.
Remus eyes held tears that were barely in check as Sirius looked at him. Hermione stepped away from Remus and slipped out to go get Dumbledore.
Moony stood stiff-backed as Padfoot smiled softly at his friend.
Remus felt relief flood his system, for a long time he had accepted that he was the only true marauder left. But now, now life was back to normal, Sirius was back.
The curtain was swept aside as Dumbledore came in. There wasn't a dry eye in the room. "Sirius, welcome back," the aging Professor said endearingly.
Sirius' face split into a huge grin and he nodded.
"How did you get back?" Ginny asked.
Sirius turned to her, "I'll explain, but can I get something to eat first?"
"I'll get you what you want, which would be?" Hermione said.
Sirius grinned, "Some coffee and maybe some eggs."
Hermione left to get Sirius what he asked.
Snape opened the door to his study, unlocking it before turning the handle. He crept quietly into the dark room, searching for the young woman that should be within.
"It's alright Severus, I'm back here," Celine said. It sounded like she was in the far corner.
He walked over to her, his footsteps echoing across the walls. He placed the candle he had brought on a table next to where she lay on the floor. Kneeling down he turned her over, she smile weakly at him.
"So what do you think of me now? Now that you have seen the carnage I am capable of?" she asked quietly as Snape put a flask of water down next to her.
Snape remained silent, placing a hand on her back and helping her to sit up. He placed the flask in her hand, wrapping her fingers around the leather.
"You didn't answer my question," she said.
"I know," came the reply.
Celine sighed and looked down, how could she have expected a different answer? Not ever Severus Snape could look at her after seeing that, after watching her feed.
"Why are you still weak?" he asked.
"I hadn't fed in weeks, and then I overfed. It's my own fault," she said, scooting away from him.
"Come," he said taking her arm and helping her stand. "You need a bath."
Celine lifted an eyebrow, "I can't leave, the sun is out."
Snape simply pulled on her arm, insisting. Celine gave in and walked behind him forcing herself to remain upright. When they came to the door, Celine planted her feet. "I can't Severus."
Snape gave her an impatient look, "We are in the dungeons, I doubt sunlight will reach us down here."
"Oh," Celine said.
"Honestly, you treat me as if I don't know what I'm talking about," Snape said irritably.
Celine glared and wrenched her arm out of his grasp, "Why do you have to be such a scrooge all the time?"
Snape smiled a rather sour smile, "I always have been a scrooge, why do you presume something different?"
Celine glowered at him, "Pardon me for thinking you could possibly be human!"
Snape's eyes narrowed the slightest as he opened the door and walked down the dark corridor, "Follow me."
He led her to the Slytherin Prefect bath and closed and locked the door behind her. Celine glared at the door, wishing it to burst into flames. It stayed predictably serene.
Celine stripped her shirt off, turning the taps on the water. 'Typical male, I swear they are all useless.'
Sirius finished off the plate of food Hermione had brought back with joy, a strange and eerie silence always hung over the room. He looked around at the expectant faces, grinning at the anticipation he was causing. He set the plate on the side table. Madam Pomfrey made a grab for it, trying to remove it. Sirius held up a hand to stop her, "I believe I owe you all an explanation."
All the eyes in the room were glued to him as Sirius began.
"It was never truly explained what the veil was, because no one knew why. What the veil is is a kind of portal. A portal to where the dead are..."
(Sirius POV)
I felt the stunning spell hit me square in the chest, my face expressed surprise and just before the spell took a true effect, I felt the soft silk of the veil caress my arms as my body fell through.
When my head passed through the stunning spell seemed to just disappear and I found myself in a void. There was nothing, it was completely black. I first thought that was what the veil was, nothingness, an empty void. I heard this noise, but since there was nothing to see, I couldn't place what it was...
You'd be amazed how much time can go by when there is nothing to weigh it against. I don't know how long I stood there, just staring into nothing. I meekly wondered if I was dead that maybe I'd get to see Lily and James again...
After what seemed like an eternity, there was this bright flash of light and I landed on my arse. I opened my eyes with great difficulty, the light blinding me from my solitude. I raised a hand up and shaded my eyes. Everything was grey; no real color existed in this new world I was in... I immediately felt sick to my stomach and my head began to pound.
Then, these people appeared. They gathered around me and spoke in whispers I couldn't hear a thing they were saying. I didn't recognize any of them... I was scared. I thought for sure I was dead, but could dead people experience pain?
As I fought to keep the contents of my stomach in my body, I was kinda new there and throwing up all over them was not something I thought anyone would take lightly to. In any place or time for that matter. That's when they spoke to me.
"Who are you?"
"How did you get here?"
"Why are you not dead?"
These people gave me a bad feeling, I crawled away or at least attempted to. I couldn't, I could barely see with all the pounding in my head. I only managed to scoot over all of four inches before stopping again, gritting my teeth against the pain.
"Why are you here?"
I looked up. It was a young girl, she was kneeling down next to me. A child no older than four or five. She cocked her head to one side, giving me the oddest look.
"I fell, I fell through the veil," I said, panting slightly from the pain.
The girl's voice turned grave, "Then you really are alive..."
"Aren't you?" I asked completely bewildered.
"No, I am dead. Everyone here is dead. I pity you," she said, standing and walking away from me.
I sat there thunderstruck as the crowd dispersed from me, leaving me to wallow in pain. Then someone touched me.
"James, come quick!"
There was the sound of footsteps falling.
"Oh no..."
"He's not dead! We have to get him back to the portal."
"Lily... I'm not even sure I know where it is anymore..."
"Please James, we have to get him back! Are you going to leave your friend here to die, I know you miss him but Harry needs him you've seen how he has been lately. If it weren't for that Ginny girl, he'd be a wreck! Help me lift him."
"Lily, even if we get him out, there's no guarantee he'll live long enough to find his way back!"
I wanted to open my eyes so badly, I knew they were there. Strong hands grabbed my arms and threw me over their shoulders. And I felt the gentle sway of someone walking.
"James," I said weakly.
"Yeah Padfoot," James said somewhat jovially.
"It's really you," I said. Despite the pain I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and hugged him.
"I'll get you back to Harry, I promise," came the gentle baritone voice.
"Why can't I open my eyes?" I whispered.
"You are in the place of the dead Sirius, you are alive and death is feeding off of you. Be silent, the less you do the better," Lily said, her voice falling on my ear.
"We're here," James said putting me on my feet. Every nerve in my body screamed it's protest as the pressure of my own body returned to me.
"Open your eyes Sirius."
I did as I was asked and there they were, right in front of me. Both of them, tears flooded my eyes as I reached out to them, the pain I had felt earlier was by no means gone, just somewhat trivial at this moment.
James smiled that lopsided smile of his and Lily's gentle demeanor touched her face.
"Are you happy in such a dreary place?" I asked.
"To you it is dreary, to us, we can see everything as if we were in your world. We are worried, but happy," Lily said.
"When everything goes black, think of Harry and you'll return to him," James said gruffly.
"I'll take care of him," I whispered.
And then everything went black, just like they said it would and I thought of Harry...
"Wow," Harry said softly. "So they're ok? They're happy?"
Sirius nodded, "They are."
A.N. OK, I am like overtly nervous about this chapter.... So if you don't like tell me bluntly and I'll take it down and re-write the chapter. I just let the story flow and this is where it brought me...
TTFN
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