ok. I already posted this chapter, but I had to edit it, so I replaced it and...yeah. you don't care. ok. chapter two! I'm sorry that this chapter isn't really very long, but the next one will be! there isn't any slash...yet...so I'm not gonna do one of those warning things. also, and this is IMPORTANT, in the last chapter I said it was 5 months since Sirius died, and I'm changing that to one year. I'm just too lazy to edit and re-upload the last chapter. also, this chapter is in the summer after Harry's 6th year, and Dumbledore is still alive. sooooooo read, enjoy, and review.

Disclaimer: I still don't own Harry Potter or any of the characters. ;;

Reflections

Chapter Two: Waking Dreams

Harry looked around. He was standing in a world of shadows, desperately looking for something he knew he couldn't find. Standing in the swirling blackness surrounding him, he was completely lost and alone. Suddenly he saw a figure standing ahead of him, clear against the darkness. He walked closer, and with a surge of joy and relief realized that this was the person he was searching for.

"Sirius?" His godfather only smiled in response. "Sirius!" Harry ran towards him with his hands outstretched, only to pass straight through him. He spun around, but where Sirius had been standing there was now only an old cracked archway hung with a fluttering black veil.

Harry dropped to his knees. "No…Sirius…NOOOO!"

Harry woke with a start. He was laying in his bed in Privet Drive, panting and shaking. The school year had ended a week before, and he had come to stay at his Aunt and Uncle's house until he could go to the Weasley's. He tried to slow his ragged breaths, worried that the Dursleys would hear him. However, Dudley and Uncle Vernon were still snoring loudly and steadily down the hall. He disentangled himself from his sheets and swung his legs out of the bed. He crossed the room and wiped off his face, which was covered in sweat and tears. Leaning against the window, he stared unseeingly out at the quiet street. He'd been having dreams like this since he saw the Mirror in the Room of Requirement. Every time it was the same. Harry clenched his fist. Everywhere he looked he reached a dead end. The two-way mirror hadn't worked. The Mirror of Erised just taunted him with what he couldn't have. Now, even in his dreams he couldn't be with Sirius.

Harry grabbed his wand from his bedside table and pulled a shirt on. He quietly opened his bedroom door and tiptoed down the stairs, avoiding the spots that creaked. A long walk would probably help him get his mind off things. It wasn't safe, he knew, as he closed the front door behind him, but he didn't really care. It's not like he was ever safe in the first place. Neither can live while the other survives. It almost seemed that now he was only staying alive to fulfill his duty and defeat Voldemort. He just had to find the Horcruxes, destroy them, and eventually destroy the final piece of Voldemort's soul that was inside his body. After that, Harry didn't really know what to do. If he even got that far. Dying wouldn't really be all that bad anyway. At least then he'd see…but no. He had to stop thinking about him.

His feet led him down a few more dimly-lighted streets until he reached the park. He sank down on a swing and stared listlessly into space. He sat there for a very long time, just thinking. Or rather, trying not to think.

There was a slight pink tinge on the horizon when Harry finally came out of his reverie. He got up and stretched, deciding that it was probably time to head back to the Dursley's house. He didn't want to, he'd much rather just stay here until it was time to go back to Hogwarts, but that unfortunately wasn't an option. He walked slowly across the park and down a couple of streets, hoping that the Dursley's hadn't noticed his absence yet. Now he was passing the place where he'd boarded the Knight Bus before his third year. It was also the place where he saw Sirius for the first time. Harry glanced at that certain alley as he walked by, and did a double take. Sitting there was a large black dog. He looked away and quickened his pace, his heart pounding. Just my imagination, just my imagination. In spite of himself, he looked back over his shoulder. The dog got up and padded closer. Harry stopped now and took deep breaths. He was probably dreaming. Even if he saw Sirius again, the moment he got close his godfather would just disappear. Or maybe it was a trick. Harry gripped his wand and forced himself to start walking again.

"Harry." He halted and stood still, telling himself that if he turned around, nothing would be there. Nothing. He suddenly spun around and saw Sirius standing a few feet away from him. He looked just like he had in Harry's dreams, except he also seemed worn and tired.

"No. You're not real. You're dead. This is just-just another dream," Harry felt a lump rise in his throat. It couldn't be real. No matter how much he wanted it to be, it just couldn't.

"Harry, no…I'm back, I had to come back," Sirius pleaded, and took a few shaky steps forward. Harry stared at him for a few moments that seemed like an eternity, then walked uncertainly towards him and stretched out his hand to Sirius's face. His fingers touched warm skin.

"You're…You're real?" Harry whispered with his hand still on Sirius's cheek.

"Yes," Sirius smiled.

"Sirius!" Harry wrapped his arms around Sirius and hugged him with all his might. "But I saw you! You fell through the-the veil!" Warm tears were spilling down Harry's cheeks. Everything seemed unreal. Harry still wasn't sure if this was real. But Sirius hadn't disappeared...

"I did. But then I saw you…" Sirius wavered where he stood. Harry looked at him worriedly. "Sorry. I'm weak…but…had to get out…you…" Sirius's eyes fluttered and he fell back. Harry caught him, but sank to the ground under his weight. Sirius's eyes were closed now and his breathing was shallow. Harry looked wildly around, not knowing what to do, and then back down and the unconscious man he was holding.

ok, so, now that you've read it, review! I'll post the next chapter soon. ;)