8. R.A.B.

Sirius!" Harry shouted, as he ran towards him. His godfather had been sitting on the floor, but he quickly stood up, and thrust his arms around Harry.

"Harry, did you get my letter? How long did it take you to get here?" Sirius asked. Harry didn't hear him.

"Where are we? What happened? Why didn't you come back?" Questions tumbled from Harry's mouth. He just noticed movement behind Sirius. He turned sharply.

A misty ghost, that looked a little bit like Sirius was there. When it spoke, it's voice sounded a little bit like running water.

"Welcome, to the Fortress of Shadow," he said. Harry didn't understand.

"Harry, I would like you to meet my brother, Regulus Black," Sirius said.

"But, I thought... Aren't you dead?" Harry asked, bewildered.

"Yes, I am. That's why I'm a shadow." Harry still couldn't comprehend what was going on. All of a sudden, a question popped into his head.

"Did you say, Regulus Black? What's your middle name?" Regulus smiled.

"You're right Sirius. He's a quick thinker. My middle name is Alphard." Connections were forming in Harry's mind. Regulus Alphard Black?

"So, your initials would be R.A.B.?" Regulus nodded.

"You're the one who found the locket?" Harry asked incredulously. Again, he nodded.

"I still don't get it. What is this-this Fortress thing?"

"Like I said, it is the Fortress of Shadow. Maybe I'm not the best person to explain. I think there's someone else who would be interested to know you're here." he tilted his head sideways.

Harry turned around, and noticed that many other ghosts were curiously watching him. This made him rather nervous. But then he saw it. He saw the person Regulus was referring to.

Harry could barely breath; it was Dumbledore.

"Dumbledore!" Harry called, and he glided over. "What's going on? What is this place?" Dumbledore smiled serenely, his eyes twinkling.

"Hello Harry. This is the Fortress of Shadow. I never knew this is where you go when you die, but I knew death is not the worst thing, as I have tried to explain to Voldemort on numerous accounts. As you can see, Sirius is not dead. Now, you must understand that when one dies, the one thing taken from them is their body. For I can still think for myself, and fully understand things going on around me. Everyone who dies, has the choice to either be in the Fortress, or be a free ghost. Most people choose the Fortress. Everyone who ever dies a magical death, and chooses not to be a ghost comes here. Whether you are a Muggle, who dies at the hands of someone or something magical, or simply a witch or wizard, this is where you end up. Sirius, who fell through the curtain, which is the entrance, did not die. But he could not leave. You have to have two people to help each other out, in order to leave. No one else has ever ventured here before. Also, when you die, and choose the Fortress, you are very much alive, but made of smoke. We call ourselves Shadows.

Comprehension slowly dawned upon Harry.

"Does that mean, my parents...?" Around the corner, two more ghosts came to see what the commotion was. Harry's eyes started to sting. He couldn't help it, as tears leaked out. It was his parents. This was a feeling that had been missing from his entire life. There was an emptiness he never knew he had, but now it was starting to fill.

"Mum, dad," he sputtered. If ghosts could cry, he knew they would be. His father's mouth opened with shock, just as Harry's did, before he realized what was going on.

"Oh Harry darling,"Lily gasped. Harry wanted so badly to hug his parents, but they seemed to be made of smoke. It was very hard to not have love and affection in his life. That's what he desperately needed. He felt a strong desire to have someone in his arms. His face was now completely wet, as tears poured freely down his front.

"This... can't... be," he said.

"Harry, my son," James said incredulously. Lily was beyond herself.

"Oh Harry," seemed all she could bring herself to say. Her hand was over her mouth, and she just stared at Harry. Harry was reminded of the way Hermione stared at Ron, when she thought Harry had given him the love potion.

"I miss you guys so much," Harry said, after a few minutes of wiping away tears. Harry figured his parents felt the same way. They had been made of smoke for sixteen years.

Did they also need to have someone in their arms? But they had each other. Harry had no one; he was alone in the world. "Mum, did you know that your sacrifice saved my life?"

Time seemed no matter, as Harry told his mother and father practically everything that had happened in his life.

"I'm so proud of you Harry," James said, when Harry finally finished. Lily turned her head sharply. More shadows were coming. A bunch of them were muttering excitedly. Four shadows entered the chamber behind the pillar where Harry was.

It was unmistakably the founders of Hogwarts.