Dumbledore's office housed one of the select few fireplaces in the castle accessible by floo, and for that, Remus was very grateful as he and the black dog strode out of the green flames and into the presence of the Headmaster. Dumbledore was sitting at his wide oak desk and greeted them as if expecting them. Fawkes cooed and flew down to sit beside the dog.

"Ah, Remus, how good of you to visit. And...could this be…?" He gestured at the dog. Remus locked his eyes and seemed to brush off the question.

"Albums, could I possibly have some of your time? We desperately need answers."

Dumbledore considered them, his blue eyes seeing through him.

"Of course. How may I help you?"

Remus glanced down at the dog at his side and then back up at the wizard in front of him.

"C-Could you tell me…everything you know about…Animaguses."

Dumbledore continued to gaze at them, the tips of his long fingers placed together.

"Remus, my dear friend, surely you're not considering—"

"Please." Remus squeezed his eyes shut.

There was a long pause, after which the Headmaster conjured an old book out of nowhere and said finally, "I don't pretend to know a lot about that subject, however, I have read a number of books that have given me some knowledge you might find helpful."

He looked down at the cover of the book, encrypted in runes, which Remus could not read, and covered in pictures of many different animals intertwined to make one big picture. It reminded him of a Celtic Knot. He also noticed human forms mingled with the animals.

"What most people know about Animaguses, is that they are a human that can change their form into that of an animal. What most people don't know is that, when an Animagus transforms, he does not simply change his physical form to look like an animal, he actually borrows the body of a living organism that is very real on another plane of existence."

Remus looked quite confused and a little disturbed at this, but Padfoot was watching Dumbledore with fascination and clear understanding in his eyes. If he were a person, Remus thought, he would be listening with the air of hearing something he already knew, but found interesting to hear again.

Remus looked back at Dumbledore. "Another plane of existence? Like…?" He let the question drop however, because he really didn't even know what to ask.

"Oh yes. Not much is known about it though, except that it is not affected by our kind of magic, and possibly even repels it."

Remus thought for a moment, but Dumbledore went on. "Also, the animal of which the body is borrowed is joined with the human Animagus through a connection of their souls. The soul of the human and the soul of the animal are merged. That is why the "human in animal form" has conscious thought and is quite more intelligent than the animal alone."

Remus guessed it was time to reveal to the Headmaster why he had come, although he was sure Dumbledore already knew. He cleared his throat against the constriction built up at the thought of such a hope.

"Um, Albus, this dog I've brought…I…have a feeling he's Padfoot. Er, Sirius, I mean."

Dumbledore smiled at him pleasantly. "Oh yes, I quite concur. Although you were right the first time: 'Padfoot', not Sirius."

Remus was so prepared for Dumbledore to not believed him, that he kept talking, trying to convince him again.

"I've seen Sirius transform so many times I could recognize him anywhere! And just look into his eyes: they're so human-like you can tell he can understand everything we're saying perfectly. And he's even starting to talk! He barks a sound that I swear is my name! Well…maybe more like 'Remuf', but I can tell. And when he howls, it sounds just like 'moony'—"

Remus stopped at Dumbledore's raised hand and followed his gaze down to the dog, who was looking up at Remus with an amused expression.

"Remus, as I've said, I believe you. Now, I think, the question on both our minds is 'how is this possible?'"

"Yes! I-I saw him die a-and fall through the Gateway…"

He stopped as Padfoot gave a low growl that got his attention. He seemed to be regarding him with a face that said "wrong! You can do better than that."

He let out a soft "Rrrremmuf."

Dumbledore, who had been watching the exchange, spoke up. "Perhaps what you think you saw was not the truth of the scene. Tell me, Remus, what do you know about that Gateway…?"

Remus looked at him. "Well…just what's common knowledge really…"

"'Common knowledge'? And what is that?"

"That the Gateway is a…well, a gateway to…other planes of existence…"

As he said it, it dawned on him.

"Albus! You don't think…? Is it the same plane…?"

The Headmaster gazed at him, like a teacher that was proud his pupil had gotten the connection himself.

"As I've said, I don't pretend to know much, but I would say there is a strong possibility that may be the case."

Remus closed his eyes. It still didn't matter. "I still saw him get hit by the curse…"

"Hmmm, indeed, we all did, didn't we? As I saw it, the curse was what pushed him into the Gateway in the first place, wasn't it? Perhaps even slightly before the curse fully hit him? I guess, then, that we can be grateful he was pushed into a place that repels our magic…"

Remus stared at him in stunned silence, torn between the overwhelming joy of that sliver of hope, and the frustration of the professor toying with him like some student when he'd had the answers all along. He decided to ignore the latter.

"So, then, he might still be…alive?" He could hardly believe he could choke the words out.

Dumbledore thought about this, apparently giving up the cat and mouse game Remus was angry about and giving it serious thought.

"Possibly. Although it is more likely that he is just stuck on the other side of the Gateway, meaning, of course, on that other plane of existence. I would guess that once Sirius was pushed into his world, Padfoot had to come to this one, probably because both cannot be in the same world at the same time."

Remus looked for all the world like a child begging to be right at something. "So, could he come back? Transform back into Sirius?"

Dumbledore sighed. "I believe that would be up to Padfoot." When Remus looked confused, he continued. "You see, Padfoot is the one in the commanding Animagus position now that he is the one on this plane. Although, I have a feeling that if he did decide to transform into Sirius, it would be to his own destruction. At the very least, he would probably not be able to ever change again. So if he did help you, it would mean sacrificing himself in order to restore Sirius to us."

Alrighty! Chap 2 This story was largely inspired by Helene's story "Beyond the Veil" go read it!! It's the best fic you'll ever read!! Also inspired by Guenwyvar from R.A. Salvatore's Drizzit books:P