A/N: I want to make sure people understand what I'm doing so here's the second chap. I wonder if anyone has written on like this before. I only got one review for the last chapter but I'm going to thank lonely fish in da fish bowl for reviewing. I'm glad you like it. This story was supposed to mock all the genres but as you can see that didn't happen. Anyway, on with the story. This is in Sirius' point of view.
Genre 2: SpiritualFalling through the veil didn't hurt like I told it would. It was like slipping between velvet. It was much softer than what it looked. Of course it hurt when I hit the floor except I was falling for what seemed like hours. Hitting the bottom in complete darkness was the scariest thing I have ever experienced.
That's when the voices started.
"Sirius… Sirius…"
I didn't know what was going on. It was complete darkness. Looking up I could still see the veil blowing in that nonexistent breeze. It was so cold and I still couldn't see anything. The voices were still calling me. It sounded like a man's voice.
"Sirius… Sirius… Sirius…" they kept calling. Luckily enough I still had that wand. I could still hear all the fighting and the sound of Harry calling for me.
"Harry I'm coming back!" I screamed, but I don't think he heard me or that I might be coming back. This was the death room of the ministry. The stories told to us by the men who led me to Azkaban were much worse than it had actually been. The told me that people sentenced to death lost their souls as soon as the slipped through the veil, sentenced to float endlessly into nothing.
Not that it seemed that way now. I still had my body unless I did lose it. After casting the light charm I peered around in the blackness. It was a cold stone circular room. There was no draft, only the sound of the disembodied voices calling to me. Looking around I still didn't see anything.
At that moment I felt a cold hand touch my shoulder. It spun me around face to face with James Potter, my long lost friend, my dead friend.
"James?" the name came out in a whisper so soft I could barely hear myself. "James," I said again this time louder.
"So mate," he said causally, "how did you die?"
"How, how did I die?" I stammered.
"Yes Sirius, how did you die? You wouldn't be here if you were alive unless you became some kind of seer that can contact the dead. They come frequently. They just show up and start asking for certain people. Asking questions and the like you know."
"No, James I don't know I just got here. I was fighting Lestrange and tripped through the veil in the death room of the department of mysteries."
"Why were you there?" James asked looking puzzled.
"Harry had gone off there looking for me thinking he-who-must–not-be-named had me and was torturing me for a prophecy. Dumbledore had told me to stay behind and be safe but when I heard that Harry was in trouble I wouldn't let them talking me out of it." I started crying then. I don't know why.
"I feel like I've failed you James because I said I would protect Harry no matter what and look at me I'm dead and I don't know what is happening with Harry, I don't know whether he safe or not."
"Sirius look," he had put his icy cold hand on my shoulder again and was pulling me close enough to whisper in my ear. "Sirius, you did the best you could, you protected my only son until your dying day and I'm proud of you and thankful for everything that you've done but I have to leave you know. They sent me to see of your soul was worth saving or not and because of you selflessness you have proven it is. You must make your way through the gate. Once you have passed you will be judged. Your judgment will consist of a test. If you pass an angel will come, if you fail a dementor will come and swallow your soul. You mustn't fail my friend. I believe you can do it."
He pulled away from me but kept me at arms length just looking at me. "You've changed so much. You better pass that test so you can tell me about what happened after we left."
"James wait I don't understand. Why do I have to do all of this? What happen to just sending people to St. Peter to be judged?" But he had already gone. He just vanished before my eyes. A gate had appeared just then. Walking closer I saw it was a black iron gate. Interlocking, were the bars so tightly that not even ladybug could crawl through. How did he expect me to open this gate?
Looking at it again I saw there was a keyhole but looking around I saw no keys anywhere.
"James!" I called out. "How am I supposed to open this gate when it's locked?"
Seeing that he wasn't going to help me I tried the opening spell.
I didn't work.
"Haven't you ever seen an Empathy Gate before?" came a woman's voice. It was mocking and cocky like mine when I was young.
"No I haven't, if you don't mind. Unless you're here to help me out, then please leave me alone." I said getting irritated.
"Well I can't help you but I was sent to watch over you. A woman named Lily sent me. She said "Make sure Sirius doesn't do anything stupid nor does he hit on anyone."
That Lily always saying things like that, she knows I don't do things like that. Ok maybe I have done it once, twice. Ok I did it about twenty times but that was it.
"Also she said that opening your heart and thinking about the one's you love will help you greatly through this ordeal. Although I don't think you're capable of that. You don't seem to be the type of person to do so."
"What makes you think that?"
"You don't look it. Many other wizards have passed through that veil and your one the worst looking ones."
I decide to ignore her completely. I couldn't even see her and I needed to figure how to open this gate.
"You know I can read minds. If you want to see what I look like all you had to do was ask. As for the gate must I repeat what Lily said?"
"Well then let me see you and what is your name?" I asked the voice.
She stepped into the light the wand had managed to produce. She didn't really step into the light it was more like landing into the light. She had a pair of black feathered wings; green scales cover her clawed feet and legs up to her knees. She had on shorts and a shirt that showed of her arms that were the same color as a lions. She had talons for fingernails; her face was the same color with long brown hair that flowed down her back.
"What are you?"
"I'm the daughter of a sphinx." She said simply.
"Are you dead too since you're here?"
"No, I'm just here to do a favor for Lily. So are you going to open the gate or what?" She asked me impatiently. "I'm ready to go; you still have much to do."
"If I knew how I would have by now. Can't you see that's I'm trying."
"You weren't listening at all were you?"
"About what Lily said? Yes, you said that she said 'Make sure Sirius doesn't do anything stupid nor does he hit on anyone.' I heard that part."
"No I meant the second part. The part about you opening your heart and mind and thinking about the ones you love, that part."
"Yes I heard that portion also, but how is that supposed to help me?" She was confusing me. I just wanted to get the door open and be able to move on.
"You know what? Think about it for a moment and maybe you'll be able to figure it out."
"Look I don't have time for this. Can't you see that?"
"Ah but your wrong. You have all the time in the world. You're dead it doesn't matter anymore."
"Wow how comforting of you." I said back to her sarcastically.
"Thank you," she replied cheerily.
Opening my mined and thinking about my loved ones. How was that supposed to help me? I know it would only bring me more pain to think about holding Harry when he was born and Lily was threatening to kill James if looked at her again. The days when James and I was young and pranking professor McGonagall, she was so much younger then. The day James and Lily were married, it was the best day of the year for my mate. He finally got the woman he loved. Thinking about these memories caused the tears to well up in my eyes again. A tear did slide down my cheek, but I didn't care it was only the woman-sphinx.
"Aw is the little jail birdie crying." She cackled evilly. She had begun to hover in my face but looking up I saw the gate stood wide open.
"How…how did it open?" I asked her again. I still didn't know her name.
"By the way what is your name?"
"First it's Erica and second it looks like you finally found a clue and opened the gate."
"Yes, I know that but how did I do it?" I didn't get it. Why wouldn't she just tell me instead of playing all these mind games?
"What were you thinking about a moment ago?"
Looking her squarely in the face I said, "I thought you said you could read minds?"
"I can but you were thinking with pictures not words. I can't see into your mind. Just read the words you think."
"I was thinking about my best friends and their son, my godson who's still alive."
"Do you love them?"
"Yes," another tear was threatening to come out again at the though of them.
"There you go. You relaxed and thought about the ones you loved. Don't you know that empathy has to do with the heart and the heart has to do with love? Most people don't seem to get that. They sit here until they decide to become ghost because they can't figure it out."
Walking up to the gate I felt a cool breeze and the smell of daisies filled my nose. It was heavenly.
"You do realize that when you step through that gate you won't be able to come back? You can't become a ghost because then you would have moved on."
"What do you mean?" I asked looking baffled.
"When you step through you give up all claim to the world. Once you're gone you can't come back. Even when a seer comes to call it will be extremely difficult to talk to anyone on the other side. You will have to earn your wings in order to achieve that with little to no difficulty. Do you understand? This is also my job. Telling people about their options for the after life, except the ones executed here. But you fell here and have a choice."
"Yes," I said exasperated. I was really ready to go. I know that I'm willing to do anything and everything to get back to Harry. But first I need to get to Lily and James.
"Ok, I'm ready."
"Then walk through, If you can." She said once more evilly.
What was that supposed to mean? Was she implying that I couldn't do it? Well I was about to prove her wrong.
Taking another step forward the smell of daisies and that wondrous breeze intensified. It soon became overpowering but I wasn't giving up. I was two steps away from the gate; close enough to peer in. It was as black as this room was. The wand by my side wouldn't even be able to light the way in front of me.
"Are you going to go in or not? What are you waiting for? Oh it must be the smell. Yeah I hate it too."
"Would you shut up? I'm trying to leave you behind." She was really getting on my nerves. Why couldn't she just leave me alone?
"But I can't. Normally this is where I leave most people but Lily asked me to watch over you until you meet your guardian angel or your demise. Which ever, except she said not to let you die or so to speak, so please hurry up and walk through you still have other things to do."
"How would you know if you leave people here?"
"I watch from some other place. Each test is different. It never gets boring. You never know how it's going to end." She had a strange smile on her face now. It was very unsettling. She left me wondering how many people passes and how many failed, but at the thought of 'dieing' again left I even more unsettled.
"Sirius," Erica called to get my attention. "Look, stop spacing out and move!" She had begun to nudge me in the direction of the gate.
"I can do it on my own you know."
"Yes I know that but you won't move and I'm really getting tired."
I took a deep breath and walked up to the gate. Looking at Erica I could tell she was getting very annoyed but I didn't care. If really had all eternity to do this than why should I be rushed?
"Because if you don't" she said through gritted teeth, "I will personally rip you head off."
"Ooh feisty."
"Shut and walk."
Walking through the gate was like stepping through an icy cold waterfall after the water from the top of the mountain peak had melted. Crossing over seemed to be the easy part however. Looking around it wasn't dark anymore. I was in a lighted room. It wasn't necessarily white because it had color but it had light and that was definitely better than the room I had just come out of. Across the room sat a middle aged man with graying hair. Turning around I saw that Erica was still with me.
"Told you I was coming too," she whispered. "Go ahead and walk over, he's not going to call you."
Walking up to the man I grew more worried about what kind of test I would have to take. She said it was different with each person but she was coming with me. Wait would that be any better. I had reached the man before I knew it. He was sitting at a desk writing in a large book. I saw my name was at the very top of the page. He didn't seem to notice me at all but I wasn't about to disturb him. He seemed to writing my life story. I tried to sneak a peak at what part of my life but he caught me looking.
"Well Sirius Black long time no see. How did life treat you?"
What was he going on about?
"Sirius don't you remember me? Oh of course not you've forgotten haven't you? I thought you and James would remember since you cause so much trouble in heaven before you left. You weren't born twins were you?"
I just stared at the man. What was he on? I've never been to heaven, although I really hope I get there.
"Excuse me but I don't know what you're talking about."
"Sirius before everyone is born they live in heaven in with others. It's kind of like angels getting to have mortal lives. But once your born you forget what you life was like before. You were best friends with James before you two were even born on Earth. But your not hear to here me rambling about what you used to do but to face judgment," I flinched when he said that. I didn't want to face judgment and fail. I guess he could read the expression on my face because he looked at me with sympathy.
"Sirius look at me. In your life you may not have been the best person nor was the family you were with but you didn't become like that. I have faith that whatever you test is you will pass it. Just remember God is love and love you r friends. Don't worry. I have faith in you too. By the way, Lily and James says hurry up they're tired of waiting."
That put a little smile on my face knowing that I have the strength to do this, whatever it was that I was to do. He also gave me a smile and came from behind the desk to lead me to a door I hadn't noticed before. It was a tall black oak door. Erica appeared right behind be all smiles for some reason.
"Good luck Sirius. Erica you're going with him? You haven't been known to do that before why now?"
"Lily asked me to."
"Alright don't get in the way. You know he has to do this alone. Go on."
The door opened and filled the room with even more light. It was blinding. I slowly walked through, narrowing my eyes in the process. I could see Erica faced the light head on.
As we step in the room it became darker with each passing step. Suddenly we were covered in complete darkness.
"Oh this should be fun," said Erica.
I felt the floor give way underneath me but I still couldn't see anything. Erica started to move closer to me. I could feel that she was starting to get scared. I moved to help her but she was gone in an instant.
"Erica! I thought you were staying here? Where are you?"
There wasn't a reply, but looking of into the distance I could see something similar to a sunrise crest over the darkness. It soon filled the whole room with light but it turn out not to be a room anymore. I was standing on a pillar in a bottomless pit. The sky above was a blood red. Across from me was a ledge and there sat unconscious was Erica. Her wings were covered in blood the color of gold and her legs looked twisted.
I could both jump and try to help her or leave her behind and jump to the other ledge that lead to a green meadow, or at least it seemed to lead to a meadow. Erica's ledge leads to nowhere but maybe after she woke up she would help me jump back and go to the meadow. One thing I learned from my father was that things aren't as they seem.
Either way she was supposed to come with me and I didn't want Lily to come and hurt me because I left her friend behind even if I don't like her.
I decided to take a running start. Leaping onto the ledge I almost lost the wand but quickly stuck it into my pocket and just narrowly missing the ledge. Pulling my self up was almost impossible considering I was still so skinny from my trip to Azkaban. But heading over to Erica her eyes flashed open causing them to look completely black.
She slowly got up and started walking up over to me when I realized that nails or should I say talons were a different color and she suddenly had long bleached white fangs.
I knew this couldn't be Erica. She didn't give off the same vibe as the other one. I knew I should have gone the other way. I wonder where she is though. The other thing was advancing on me though. I started to walk backwards when I noticed that I had no ground left. The monster pretending to be Erica ran toward me but instead of moving out of the way and letting her fall over the edge I did move out of the way but I caught the thing's arm and flipped her to the ground.
Sitting on her back I asked, "Where is Erica? What have you done with her?"
The thing just growled at me but I began to twist its arm. It soon found a voice.
"Erica? What do you care about her for? She doesn't do anything to help lost souls. She is angel of darkness that leads souls to their doom."
"I don't believe you. She said she was sent by my friend Lily."
"She does that. She lies to them gaining their trust or at least getting them to follow them. She lied to you."
"And how do I know that you aren't lying to me too, especially since you just tried to kill me moments ago."
"Because," She said to me and I could hear the malicious grin forming on her face, "I don't give a damn about you or anyone else." She suddenly gained some hidden strength and pushed me from off her back. She almost sent me over the edge. Looking behind her I saw the real Erica tied up and staring at me. "Help me," came her muffled cry.
Above me towered the creature that had set out to kill me mercilessly. This time I found a rock and knocked her in the head causing her to swoon and pass out in front of me. I didn't want to kill her.
Hurrying over I untied Erica. She has some words to share with me when I got the gag off. I should have left on her.
"Why in the hell didn't you just kill her or better yet I'll do it myself." She started to get but I stopped her.
"Wait, who is she?"
"She's my twin sister, Jessica. She hates me for something I didn't do," she said trying to get up once more.
"What was that?"
"She blames me for the death of her kitten five years ago. I didn't even kill the stupid thing even though I wanted to."
"Well you need to talk about it one day-"
"Why are you butting into my business? This has nothing to do with you. Now move out of my way."
"Why are trying to kill her? If she blamed you for the kitten then you have no reason to kill her do you? No I don't think so. Come on you're going to help me take her to the field and were all going to get out of here together."
"Make me," she growled.
I wasn't about to put up with this. I had a very difficult day before I died and the way she was making my afterlife seem like hell if I ever reached there. Grabbing her arm I pulled her over the edge and threaten to throw her over because she was still weak from being captured. I wasn't going to do it but I didn't feel like this. She quickly cooperated with me and helped me pick up her sister. We decided it would be best if we took another running start. Backing up ran to the edge and left making to the pillar where I had started at. Taking another running leap we made it to the ledge that lead to the meadow. That's when Jessica started to wake.
She quickly wrestled out of mine and Erica's grasp and started walking towards the meadow facing us. She didn't say anything just looking at us in confusion.
"Why," came the squeak of her voice. She looked confused and hurt, like a lost child just helped by the very people who had hurt them for so long. I started walking closer to her but she kept backing away. Finally she turned and ran away from us. She disappeared in the blink of an eye.
"Well we better start walking, no point sticking around here," came the sound of Erica's distance voice. Everything started to get fuzzy. My vision was going out and I could feel myself falling backwards to the earth below me but Erica caught me. Or at least I thought it was Erica. She looked so beautiful, she was glowing. Her wings were no longer black but a brilliant glow.
"Sirius, because you helped me even though I know you didn't like me very well you have passes your test. The girl saw was the version of you that was evil, what you could have been but you're not. Sirius, you must listen to me very carefully. I'm your guardian angel and I'm here to take you to your friends. They've been waiting for you.
"Come Sirius it's time to go home."
Hallelujah I'm done. That was 10 pages long. I have never written anything over 4 or 5 pages. and I know that a one-shot may not be that long but I actually did it. I'm tired. Read and Review.