Harry woke slowly and feeling groggy, he'd been drugged and by the dull ache in his stomach, he could understand why. He blinked his eyes open and groaned when he saw white walls, white floor and even white chairs. He was at St Mungo's.

"About time that you woke up."

He rolled his eyes slightly to see Severus seated on the other bed beside him. He had a book in his hands as he sat with his back to the headboard of the bed.

"Did I have meeting?" Harry questioned, his voice hoarse.

Severus shut his book and turned to sit on the side of the bed and look him over. Harry frowned at the expression on Severus's face and tensed.

"What did I do this time?" Harry uttered and Severus snorted.

The other man stood and stepped over towards his bed while Harry just watched him.

"We had a meeting while you were out," Severus intoned, his voice smooth. "About you and your current work status."

"Is that so?" Harry broached and knew he should be annoyed but the drugs in his system didn't allow that.

"Callum has decided that Melissa's protection will fall under him," Severus continued. "Once her training is complete then they will decide what happens from there. Bill has taken over any of your jobs at Gringotts and Dylan has withdrawn your Department badge and put you on medical leave."

Harry felt his stomach drop and he was reminded of the time after he was tortured or when that snake had bitten him. He couldn't feel much of his body besides that ache and it concerned him, then the drugs pulled away his concern.

"Why?" Harry whispered.

"Because," Severus drawled with a glint in his eyes. "You are past retirement age."

Harry stilled before he snorted loudly and Severus placed a hand on the side of his face in amusement. Dracka shifted on the other side of him and Harry glanced over at him.

"It's time that you rest, old man." Severus stated.

"Do you think that will last long?" Dracka asked.

"We shall see," Severus said smoothly and Harry shivered at the tone.

Dracka stepped over and slipped an arm around Severus waist then sniffed.

"If it keeps us away from this place," Dracka sneered. "I'm happy."

Harry quirked a smile as he looked at the two men and the drugs happily sent him back under. Maybe it was time that he thought about retirement but Harry knew that it wouldn't last. It never did.

xXx

Callum Genger stood before the gates of the house that he now owned. There may be goblins and Gringotts personal and the odd Auror but the house was now his. The wards of the dark manor had transferred to him after Blake's death and he still wasn't sure what to think of that or the skeleton thin man. There was no doubt of his connection to the house and Callum hoped that his thin blood line to the Lestrange family would be enough. Not that he was planning on moving in, he thought with a snort. He didn't have a death wish.

"Taking in the view?"

Callum turned at Blake's voice and took in the man as he leaned into a cane in his left hand and his lips twitched up.

"Getting flash backs, old man?" Callum questioned with a smirk.

"Don't get smart," Blake groaned, but the glint in his eyes gave him away.

"Should you be up?"

Blake just waved his hand but he did look pale and Callum glanced around as he looked for the vampire or Severus. He didn't see either but he did see Melissa standing over near Bill. He could still feel that slight connection to her and he knew it would only strengthen as they started their apprentice and master training. Much like his connection to Blake.

"How does it feel to own a house?" Blake questioned as the silence stretched.

"It hasn't killed anyone yet," Callum replied. "Or collapsed on my head.

Blake groaned, "I'm never going to live that down."

Callum just laughed and laid a hand on the other man's shoulder. Blake gave him a familiar grin and they turned back to the house as shouting sounded on the air. Black smoke started to roll out of one of the windows on the second floor while a high-pitched squeal raised the hair on the back of their necks.

"I should probably check that out," Callum remarked. "Even if I hold the wards and title, this house is still full of surprises."

Light magic then flared out and Blake chuckled.

"I think the goblins have it under control," Blake said with a wink. "About time that they did their own work."

xXx

Harry shifted slightly on the hard stone seat as he looked down at the archway and that fluttering cloth. There was something about the archway that had always unsettled him and he was sure it had more to do with what it was and what he was then what the Veil of Death did. It called to him in a way and he hated it. He had given into that weakness once before, which had led him to this time through a time gap. The Veil called to him the same way, a whispering on the edge of his hearing.

Severus placed his hand on his bouncing knee and he stilled. He didn't look at his lover but took in the comfort that Severus was trying to offer. He was sure that his nightmares would plague him tonight after this. His eyes focused on Dylan Dogwood as he stood near the Veil and that put Harry on edge. Why the Ministry still had the thing down in the Department he didn't know.

"Hey, Blake." Miller greeted as he came to stand next to them. "Are you coming down?"

"No," Harry said, flatly.

They were seated as far from the Veil that they could. There was only a small gathering of people around the room, since this was a closed execution. Harry's leg started to bounce even with Severus's hand in place and the potion master sighed. Miller noticed it as well as he clapped a hand to his shoulder before walking down towards the Veil.

"Bob," Harry called and the man turned back. "Don't get too close."

Miller nodded sharply and didn't shrug his warning off.

"You don't think this is the right thing to do?" Severus questioned beside him. "He deserves this, Blake."

"He deserves a short rope and a sudden stop," Harry countered as his eyes locked on the Veil again. "That is not it."

"What is it then?"

"I don't know," Harry replied, honestly. "But it is wrong. Everything about that Veil is wrong."

"They have proved there is no coming back after you pass through," Severus pointed out. "It is a death sentence."

Harry nodded sharply but said no more. This was the Wizarding way, not what he would have liked. A more muggle execution would have sat better with him.

"Hello," Hermione greeted as she came to sit next to him.

Harry nodded in greeting and Hermione didn't take offence at his silence. This was one case that they had both lost but in different ways.

"Ms Granger," Severus intoned. "I didn't expect to see you here."

"Witness to the folly of the wizarding legal system," Hermione grumbled and Harry snorted. "Hopefully this is the last time."

"Famous last words," Harry muttered.

Their focus was drawn back when they heard shouting before Scorpius Malfoy was dragged onto the stage. He had two large Aurors on each side of him and one behind. He still had the magic suppressors around his wrists as well as being cuffed hand and foot. The chains clinked as he struggled. His cold blue eyes wide in terror as he spotted the Veil. Dylan pulled his wand and gave it a flick. The blue spell hit the struggling man and the fight left him. Hermione hummed next to him in disapproval.

"Dylan has his own rules," Harry remarked.

Hermione just hummed again as Scorpius was pulled forward and Harry tensed.

"Scorpius Malfoy," Dylan stated, gruffly. "You have been found guilty of attempted murder and torture of a Department of Mystery's employee and treason against the Ministry of Magic, resisting arrest, mind magic and…well a lot of other offences."

"He needs to read out each one," Hermione huffed.

"It's Dylan," Harry remarked. "I'm surprised he read that much."

"The punishment of your crimes is death," Dylan continued. "Which is why we are here. Do you have anything to say before we carry out your sentence?"

Scorpius glanced around and Harry felt coldness flood through him as those cold blue eyes focused on him. The man's lips curled up in a cold smile and Harry felt a chill. He was sure that smile would haunt his dreams.

"You think this is over?" Scorpius stated coldly.

"For you it is," Dylan snarled and waved his hand. "Push him through."

The two Aurors grabbed an arm each and marched Scorpius up to the archway. Harry tensed as the whispers increased in the room and a cold breeze seemed to brush them. Due to Dylan's spell Scorpius didn't struggle and the Auror took care as they gave the man a push. A cold wind swept around the room as Scorpius disappeared through the cloth without a sound. Silence fell around the room as Harry held still.

"Well," Dylan announced. "That piece of shit is gone. Everyone back to work. Blake! Genger has a box that he wants you to look at."

"I'm still on medical leave," Harry countered.

"You're here, aren't you?" Dylan stated and Harry snorted. "Just remember that if Callum blows up the Department. It's you that I'll be haunting."

Harry gave the man a smile before his eyes were drawn back to the Veil. Just what had they sent Scorpius to? Harry liked to think it was to his death but he'd been around magic too long to think that it was that simple.

The End.