The werewolf and ex-Hogwarts teacher known as Remus Lupin stepped quietly deeper into the old, abandoned Ministry of Magic building. Flanking him came the smaller, feminine figure of Nymphadora Tonks, hair in a dark shade similar to that of her robes, should she need to be camouflaged. Both had their wands out and were ready to defend themselves against any sudden, unexpected attack – although it wasn't likely in this dump of a building.
The ceiling of the main chamber had once been a beautiful shade of peacock blue, now it was practically black from all the dust and dirt. The polished, dark wood floors had rotted away, and in some places there were huge gaps where the fragile wood had given way. The fireplaces were filled and inaccessible, and where witches and wizards used to hurriedly scoot about, there was no one. Silence.
"This is ridiculous," Tonks grunted quietly as they made their way past the once proud fountain which contained a statue in the middle. Now the fountain was dry, and the statue was dull and rusty. The house elf of the statue had lots its thin toes and fingers, and the beautiful witch no longer had a head. Tonks raised her eyebrows at it and gulped, hurrying after Remus and clutching onto the back of his robes.
"Not just ridiculous," she continued breathlessly, while trying to hide her fear. "Reckless, too."
The duo had barely gotten the telephone box working to even enter the old, unused building, and despite herself, Tonks had been all but ready to give up at the first hurdle. But Lupin insisted, so here they were, heading for the Department of Mysteries. Sirius Black's final resting place…
Lupin looked over his shoulder at the short woman and grinned at her, despite the circumstances. "You're very welcome to turn back and go home any time, Nymphadora."
"Don't call me that!" Tonks pouted immediately, hurrying after him once more as he speeded up his pace, eager to get to their destination. "I hate it when you call me that."
"Very well, Nymphadora," Lupin continued cheekily. "But, seriously, just so you know … I don't mind, if you want to head home. Or be a lookout."
"Remus, you're my husband," Tonks said proudly, then took a moment to roll her eyes and finished jokingly, "Unfortunately. If I don't keep an eye on you, who will?"
Lupin chuckled and led Tonks into the circular room which was the entrance to the Department of Mysteries. Suddenly, turning back didn't seem such a bad idea … but no, Lupin came here for a reason. Besides, he had been here once before. He knew the way in … it wasn't so difficult…
Remus and Tonks carried on in silence as Remus chose the correct doors, strode past the benches, down into the sunken pit where a fierce battle had taken place many years ago, and finally they reached it. The veil.
"Lookout sounds good right about now," Tonks commented meekly, gazing up at the large, eerie structure.
The tall, beautiful archway hung in mid-air, completely unsupported, nothing surrounding it. The tattered black curtain flapped in a nonexistent breeze. Remus reached out for the veil, then paused and seemed to hesitate, withdrawing his hand. He could hear voices, swirling about on the other side of the thin material. Echoing in his mind he could hear the words he had spoken years before, in this exact spot…
"There's nothing you can do, Harry-"
"Get him, save him, he's only just gone through!"
"-it's too late, Harry."
"We can still reach him-"
"There's nothing you can do, Harry … nothing … he's gone."
Lupin became lost in his memories, feeling weak and faint, like he could just topple forwards onto the veil with the slightest push. He suddenly felt Tonks' palm hit his shoulder and he took in a sharp breath.
"Sure you want to do this?" his caring wife asked of him quietly, looking concerned. Remus paused, collecting his thoughts, then gave a firm nod. Months upon months of research and discovery had led him here, to this very moment. No, he had made up his mind. He was sure…so sure…
"Yes. I'm going in."
As Lupin approached the menacing shape, more thoughts and memories entered his mind. He could hear the sounds of the battle and the screams of terror as if they were happening right now.
"He can't come back, Harry. He can't come back because he's d-"
"SIRIUS! SIRIUS! HE – IS – NOT – DEAD! SIRIUS!"
Lupin swallowed the lump in his throat and took a step forward, the veil feeling cool to the touch, an invisible breeze wafting through it as he felt himself enter the impossible space.
Maybe Harry had been right after all.
"May as well let it in," Harry grunted with a short sigh, withdrawing from the window. Ginny frowned but did as her former lover had suggested, lifting up the sliding window with ease. The cat merrily hopped in and trotted off straight into the kitchen.
"What's its name?" Ginny asked brightly as she joined Harry once more on the little sofa. Harry had been reaching for his cigarettes, but seemed to realize something and shook his head, putting them back. He linked his fingers together and tried not to fidget.
"Name?" Harry echoed with a bark of a laugh. "Um, Kitty, I guess."
Ginny laughed lightly. "You never were one for imagination, I suppose."
Harry smiled but then his nose furrowed in distaste as a peculiar scent made its way into his nostrils.
"What's that smell?" he asked of her, wafting a hand in front of his face. Ginny turned to look at the clock and smiled knowingly.
"Ah, 6 o' clock," she proclaimed. "Opening time for the takeaway downstairs."
"Doesn't that get annoying?" Harry questioned, wrinkling his eyes. The scent was so strong it stung a little – it was something hot, spicy.
"You get used to it," Ginny explained, then chuckled. "Dad loved it when I first moved in here, of course. All the muggle shops and muggle food, so nearby."
Harry looked at her intently. "How are your parents?"
"Oh, they're doing alright, you know," Ginny said, half-distractedly. "Considering. I go up to see them at the Burrow every other weekend."
Nodding slowly, Harry suddenly felt very guilty. It was bad enough that the Weasley's had lost Percy, even worse that it was one of their sons who had killed him. But despite the family's feelings, no one deep down had genuinely wanted to lose George. But also, they had lost Ron at a very young age.
"I can't help but feel," Harry began slowly, fidgeting and shifting about, "That's Ron's death was … was all my fault."
"Oh no, Harry, don't say that," Ginny soothed, reaching up fondly to push a chunk of black hair behind his ear. "Ron stayed by your side until the very end. It was what he felt he had to do, and you understood that. Not like me, eh?"
Harry smiled sadly and thought what an incredibly understanding person Ginny was. She'd always been lovely, beautiful, funny, intelligent … if only things had turned out differently for the pair. That could be his son or daughter now, in Ginny's stomach…it could be he who was living here with her, taking care of her.
"Listen, why don't I stay?" Harry offered kindly. "I don't want to think of you alone in this flat, not when it looks like the baby may be due any day now…"
"Thank you, I'd like that," Ginny said happily, and for the first time in over a year, she embraced Harry as she had done when they had been together, all those years ago.
From behind the pane of the open kitchen door, the white-blond cat with evil blue eyes was watching the couple intently.