Takes place during Chapter 3 of Power of Hogwarts.

So Close Yet So Far

It was highly unusual for Number 12, Grimmauld Place to be a place of meeting in the middle of the day but it was now. Ever since Harry Potter disappeared from Hogwarts, members of the Order of the Phoenix spent their days following up on leads and rumors only to hope for that one of them would be true. Nights were spent doing much of the same except for those who were needed to aid in the recent rise in Death Eater attacks. Order meetings were held every few days in the late evening hours but there was normally nothing but failure to report.

That was why everyone rushed to Black Manor the moment they received the notice of an emergency meeting for it could only mean one thing: Harry was found.

Molly Weasley was the first to arrive. The short, plump red-haired mother of seven was immediately greeted by her son, Charlie, and Viktor Krum. They were serving as ushers for the moment to move everyone along. Viktor had arrived two weeks ago after learning of Harry's disappearance and had become a lifesaver for Sirius. Since Viktor was such a celebrity, he really couldn't contribute to the search without being recognized. Therefore, Viktor helped in the only way he could. He helped Madam Pomfrey with Remus Lupin who was currently in an Enchanted Sleep while recovering from severe silver poisoning. This allowed Sirius to play an active role in the search for Harry, even if it was only flooing to Hogwarts and back to decide what leads and rumors should be investigated.

"Where's Sirius?" Mrs. Weasley asked nervously.

Charlie and Viktor shared a brief look. "He's vith Dumbledore, "Viktor said softly. "Everyone should vait in the kitchen."

Mrs. Weasley looked like she was about to protest but nodded and walked towards the kitchen. Moody was next to arrive and walked directly to the kitchen without saying anything to Charlie and Viktor. Bill and Fleur arrived shortly thereafter casting hopeful glances at Charlie who could only shrug his shoulders. Order members continued to come one by one, some taking a quick break from work while others apparently had escaped their duties, hoping for a quick announcement so they could return before their superiors noticed.

Finally, Dumbledore stepped out of the study with Sirius following him. From the look on Sirius' face, Charlie and Viktor knew the news wasn't good. They shared a nervous glance then followed Dumbledore and Sirius into the kitchen. Dumbledore took his normal spot at the head of the table while Sirius collapsed in an empty chair and buried his face in his hands. Charlie moved to where his family was seated while Viktor remained behind Sirius. Viktor currently wasn't a member of the Order but no one objected to his presence. It seemed that Sirius needed all the support he could get.

"Thank you for coming on such short notice," Professor Dumbledore said evenly. "There is really no way to say what needs to be said gently so I shall be blunt. Harry was spotted today in The Leaky Cauldron." Questions were shouted only to silence when Dumbledore raised his hands. "Tom immediately contacted me as I had asked him to do. I sent Nymphadora and Kingsley to retrieve him but they were cornered by Death Eaters." Frightened gasps broke out. "We do not know exactly what transpired outside the Leaky Cauldron but we do know that there was a duel which resulted in an explosion. Kingsley and Nymphadora are currently at St. Mungos being treated for minor injuries but I am afraid that Harry was taken by the Death Eaters."

Mrs. Weasley quickly rose to her feet and hurried to Sirius' side. The moment she wrapped her arms around him was the moment Sirius crumbled and held onto her as if his life depended on it. Everyone glanced at each other uneasily, unsure of what to say or do. They were well aware that Voldemort had several locations that were unplotable which would make it nearly impossible to find Harry. Of course, no one was about to voice the knowledge.

"Where's Severus?" Mr. Weasley asked quietly.

"Severus received an urgent owl and left without saying anything to anyone," Professor Dumbledore answered. "We can only hope that he was called to tend to Harry's injuries. Kingsley notified me that Harry was caught in the explosion and was in need of medical treatment."

"So we're just going to wait for him to return?" Bill Weasley asked incredulously.

"We can't do that!" exclaimed Fred. "We can't just leave Harry out there!"

Dumbledore looked at the Weasleys sympathetically. "I am afraid that is all we can do at the moment other than keeping our eyes and ears open for any Voldemort supporters," he said gravely. "With recent events, they may let something slip." Dumbledore slowly looked around the room, his face firm. "When Severus returns, we shall determine the best course of action to rescue Harry."

Sirius pulled free of Mrs. Weasley and turned his furious gaze to Dumbledore. "When Snape returns?" he growled as he stood up. "You're risking my godson's life with someone who hates me and Harry! Why wasn't I called when he was found? Why are we even discussing this? Time after time I listen to you and time after time Harry pays the price for it! Not anymore!" Sirius slammed his hand on the table to stress his point. "I'M THROUGH LISTENING TO YOU! I DON'T CARE WHAT IT TAKES! I'LL FIND HARRY ON MY OWN IF I HAVE TO!"

Before anyone could say anything, Sirius stormed out of the kitchen, up the stairs and into a room he had spent so many sleepless nights in. He pulled up the chair and sat down beside the bed where an unmoving Remus Lupin lay in his spelled sleep. Purple lines still covered his body showing just how far Remus had to go. Sirius stared at Remus for a long moment before he buried his face in his hands and let out a long shaky breath, the harsh reality of everything washing over him.

"I can't do this anymore, Moony," Sirius said brokenly. "I need you here. I need you to tell me what to do. Voldemort has Harry and Dumbledore says we have to wait. I can't wait. Harry's probably being tortured now and I'm just sitting here. Why doesn't Dumbledore understand? Why doesn't he see that Harry is my life? He's the reason I continue fighting."

Sirius ran a hand through his hair as the realization of everything hit him. The Death Eaters had Harry. Voldemort had Harry. Harry was probably locked up somewhere, cold, frightened and alone while everyone who should be looking for him waited for Snape. It wasn't right. None of this was right. Harry should be here and Remus should be conscious to tell Sirius to stop acting so overprotective for Harry's sake.

Why couldn't anything be like it should be?

Sirius let out a tired sigh as his gaze returned to Remus. He didn't know what to do. He didn't know where to start. He just knew he couldn't sit around and wait. He had been patient for a month and as a result Harry was even further out of reach with very little time left. Sirius wasn't stupid. He knew that it was only a matter of time before Voldemort gave up on recruiting Harry and decided to kill him.

A knock on the door startled Sirius out of his thoughts. His head turned quickly to see Viktor standing in the doorway with a worried look on his face. Sirius let out a frustrated sigh. Viktor had put up with so much that it was a wonder why he was still here. Harry. He's still here because he's Harry's friend. "I'm sorry for what happened down there, Viktor," Sirius said. "I just can't sit and wait for everyone to do what I should be doing anymore."

"You're vorried about Harry," Viktor said with a shrug. "I vould act the same if it vas my family. Ve all understand, Mr. Black. It's hard to vait vhen you know someone you care about is in danger. Harry vould probably be acting the same if he vere in your place."

Sirius nodded as he rose to his feet. "That's why I have to do something," he said firmly. "Harry needs me."

Viktor stepped into the room as a resolute look appeared on his face. "I'm not here to be a part of Headmaster Dumbledore's group, Mr. Black," he said. "I'm here to help Harry. Tell me vhat you vant me to do and I vill do it. Nymphadora and Charlie vill too. They vant to help. They know vhat you have been going through vith Harry and Mr. Lupin."

Sirius shook his head slowly. It was a welcomed gesture and he knew Viktor was right. Tonks and Charlie Weasley would follow him anywhere if it meant getting Harry back. Sirius also knew that the majority of the Weasley family would be close behind. Sirius wasn't blind. He knew that the Order was nearly split in half with those who were completely faithful to Dumbledore in one group and those wanted to help a boy they had grown to love on the other. The problem now was that it was extremely difficult for the Order to act as one group and everyone knew it.

A knock on the door once again pulled Sirius out of his thoughts. He groaned in annoyance as he turned and saw McGonagall standing in the doorway. Why couldn't everyone just leave him alone to think of someway to find Harry and rescue him? "I don't want to talk about it, Minerva," Sirius said sharply. "You can tell Dumbledore that he can stick his plans and theories up his—"

"—I will do no such thing, Sirius Black!" Professor McGonagall said sternly. "I know you are angry with Albus but he is not to blame for this. I'm just as worried as you are but if we begin to attack each other then Harry has no chance."

Sirius glared at her. That was a low blow. "Don't you dare pull the guilt card," he growled. "Harry is my godson. He's my responsibility! I should be the one out there looking for him!"

Professor McGongall's eyes softened. "You are also the one person Harry loves more than anything in the world," she said sincerely. "Think about it, Sirius. You-Know-Who wants to destroy what prevents Harry from turning. The moment you make yourself a target, You-Know-Who will find you and kill you just to make Harry suffer. Is that what you want?"

"Of course not!" Sirius barked irritably. "I'm not some child! I won't get caught! I just have to…"

Professor McGonagall approached Sirius and rested a hand on his arm. "I know, Sirius," she said sympathetically. "I know you feel like you have to do something. We all feel that way but we need some sort of idea where to look for him. Please, Sirius. Please wait until Severus returns. If he says or does anything, I give you my permission to make him pay for it."

Sirius's shoulders sagged as he collapsed in his chair. "But that could be hours," he protested weakly. "Harry—"

"—knows we will do everything in our power to find him," Professor McGonagall urged. "We will find him, Sirius. I know it."

Sirius looked at McGonagall skeptically. "How can you be so sure?" she asked.

Professor McGonagall gripped his hand firmly and smiled. "I know Harry," she said assertively. "He will find someway of alerting us to where he is. He's a fighter, Sirius. He has never given up before and he won't now."

"I wish I had your confidence," Sirius mumbled.

"You should," McGonagall said firmly. "You trained him, Sirius. You trained him how to think and act in a crisis. If you were in Harry's place, what would you be doing at this moment?"

Sirius looked away as he forced himself to consider the question. Personally, he would probably be panicking but he knew Harry wouldn't be. Harry was so much stronger than he was but Harry also had a tendency to dwell on guilt concerning matters he had no control over. If Harry succumbed to his guilt then no amount of training could help him through this. That was why Sirius was determined to do something before it was too late, no matter the cost.

A/N: There's the second deleted scene for Power of Hogwarts. If anyone has any preferences to what the final one should be, let me know.