A/N: Hey Guys here's chapter eighteen, if you haven't already done so please go back and read chapter 16: The Reception. I forgot to put it in before, I didn't realise that until I went to put this chapter up... I hope you like this one... Review please...

Chapter Eighteen: A Journey to the Other Side.

Ginny was in the common room doing homework, the room was once again empty. Harry went and kissed her before making his way up the boys' staircase. He knocked on Ron's door; not even noticing the sign on it:

Head boy and girl
R and H Weasley

'Come in!' Hermione's voice drifted through the closed door. Harry entered. Hermione was sitting on Ron's knee; he had his hands on her belly. The room was exactly the same as Harry's only that it had a double four poster hung with think red curtains and a basinet in it now.

'The baby's moving Harry, come here' Ron said.

Harry sat down on a chair.

'What's the matter?' Hermione said leaving Ron's knee and patting Harry on the shoulder.

'I know where the cup Horcrux is,' He said.

'You do? Where?' Ron asked.

Harry nodded 'beyond the veil,' He answered.

'Beyond the… But Harry… You'll' Hermione said.

Harry shook his head 'Got an hour, not properly dead' he said.

'What does that mean?' Hermione asked.

'Before the second triwizard task, the merpeople's song. Well it wasn't just the instructions for that task. It also means that I have to go beyond the veil in the department of mysteries, I'll have an hour to find the cup and since Sirius isn't properly dead, I have to rescue him as well. All within an hour' Harry replied.

'Are you serious Harry?' Ron said.

'As serious as I've ever been in my life' Harry said to his friend.

'But that's really dangerous…' Hermione said.

'That's how Voldemort works Hermione, he thinks there's nothing worse than death' Harry said.

'How are you going to find your way back?' Ron asked.

'Tie a rope around my waist and mark the entrance, I need help though' Harry said.

'We'll come with you' Hermione said.

'Hermione, I'm sorry but I really don't want you to come its too dangerous. I'm sorry hon but you're five months along, you might even be six by the time this is all sorted, you need to take it easy, I don't want to put you or the baby in any sort of a bad situation' Ron said to his wife.

'But I…' she looked at Harry.

'I'm sorry Hermione I have to agree with Ron on this one. You really should be taking it easy, its way to dangerous this time' Harry said.

'But I… ok you're right, I won't come' she said admitting defeat.

'I'm going to ask Remus and some other members of the order to help me out on this one, who knows what might happen' Harry said.

A week later Harry had everyone rallied, ready to go to the department of mysteries. In the middle of the night Harry and Ron (who Harry could not convince to stay behind) snuck out of Gryffindor tower under the invisibility cloak to meet Lupin outside the Hogwarts gates. Lupin had a backpack strapped to his back with several long lengths of rope and a torch that they were going to light and leave as a marker inside it.

'Are you ready for this Harry?' Lupin asked when they met him.

'As I'll ever be,' Harry said nodding.

All three of them Disapparated, there was the visitors entrance again they climbed in.

'Welcome to the Ministry of magic. Please state your name and the nature of your visit.' The cool female voice said.

'Ronald Weasley, Remus Lupin and Harry Potter to destroy a Horcrux.' Lupin said.

Three badges clanked in to the coin return slot, they all clipped them on as the phone box slid in to the ground.

'Visitors to the ministry please submit your wands for checking at the far end of the atrium. Have a lovely day.' The voice said before they climbed out.

The atrium was deserted so they made their way to the lift.

'Where are the others?' Harry asked.

'Waiting, come on' Lupin answered.

The three of them got in to a lift; Ron pressed the number nine button.

'Department of mysteries' The female voice said.

As Harry, Ron and Remus left the lift three more people greeted them Mad-Eye Moody (an ex-Auror), Kingsley Shacklebolt (an Auror) and Tonks.

'We've marked the door,' Shacklebolt said.

Harry nodded and moved towards a door at the end of a long corridor; Harry had been here once before.

Lupin caught up to Harry 'It's ok to be scared Harry' he said.

Harry nodded and kept on walking.

The door opened for them when they reached it. They were inside a circular room with doors all around them.

'No, the mark's gone' Tonks said.

The walls started moving around.

'Try any door' Harry said.

Everyone split up taking different doors, marking them before the room moved around again. At last Harry found the door, he recognised the room with a large stone dais, on top stood a stone archway hung with a veil, and this veil was fluttering even though there was no breeze. The group started down the steps, they were right in front of it.

'Are you absolutely sure that you can get back to us within the time limit?' Tonks asked.

'If I cut it to finely just pull me out as fast as you can' Harry replied.

They nodded; Harry started tying the rope tightly around his waist. Ron started tying a rope around his waist to.

'What're you doing?' Harry asked Ron.

'Coming with you, who knows what, could hap…' Ron started.

'Ron, you are not coming with me, you've got Hermione and the baby to think about' Harry cut across Ron's words.

Ron looked down at his wedding ring and sighed, 'I know that Harry but I want to come, someone should,' he said.

'I don't want you…' Harry said.

'If I don't come back, tell Hermione I love her… and the baby ok' Ron was telling Lupin, not hearing a word Harry said.

Lupin nodded, Ron tied the rope tightly around him self, also attaching it to Harry's. Mad-Eye lit the torch and handed it to Harry.

Both boys took a deep breath and stepped forward, through the veil. Harry planted the torch in the ground by the entrance. They looked back, the veil was gone but the torch was burning and the ropes were protruding from the middle of a very solid looking tree.

In front of them was a long stretch of the greenest grass they'd ever seen, planted here and there were wild flowers of all different colours. Trees lined either side of the grass that seemed to go on forever, all different kinds of trees, fruit trees and oak trees, the sky was bright blue, it was daytime here, relaxing music was playing all around them.

'Sirius' Harry called though not loudly; it seemed a shame to break the peace and tranquillity of the place.

Something dropped out of a nearby peach tree.

'Harry, Ron… what're you…' Sirius said.

'No time for explanations, we have to find a small golden cup, have you seen it?' Harry said to his Godfather.

Sirius pointed up to the tallest tree there 'its right at the top but it's an easy climb' He said.

'What? No need to climb' Ron drew out his wand 'acc…'

'Magic doesn't work here Ron' Harry said pushing his friend's wand down.

Ron looked disgruntled as he put his wand away 'well how do we get it then?' he said.

'We climb just like Sirius said' Harry replied. He headed towards the tree, forgetting he was attached to Ron.

Ron jerked forward but straightened up and walked quickly beside Harry. Harry pulled himself up on to a low branch; Ron was pulled again this time falling to the ground.

'Harry, maybe we should untie from each other while we climb up,' Ron said getting up and rubbing his ribs.

Harry agreed, untying the rope joining he and Ron together and placing a foot once again on the low branch, he pulled himself up to the next one and the next and the one after that, Ron following all the way, it took half a precious hour to get all the way to the top of the tree, Harry and Ron (Sirius having stayed on the ground) were scratched all over and they were running out of time. Harry reached towards the golden cup, his hand closed tightly around one of the handles, he pulled it hard and lost balance, he fell to the ground, twisting his ankle badly, collapsing and landing on his back, he was winded, the cup in his hand.

'Sirius, other than finding the cup we're here to take you back, come on there's not much time' Harry said gasping for breath. Ron, who had jumped right from the very top of the tree picked up the rope that had joined them together and once again tied them back together, he then tied a longer length of rope that they'd brought spare around Sirius and tied him to Harry. They headed towards the torch burning at the spot where the rope came through the tree.

All of a sudden, the ground beneath them split! Ron and Sirius fell; Harry who was still catching his breath fell back to the ground and grabbed a tree root, hanging on for dear life.

'SIRIUS! RON!' He yelled.

'HARRY PULL US UP!' Sirius shouted from a way away.

Harry pulled as hard as he could, they wouldn't budge 'I CAN'T!' He yelled.

'COME ON HARRY I KNOW YOU CAN DO THIS!' Ron shouted, he was closer but his voice was weak.

Harry tried to tie another rope to the root with one hand, he couldn't do it, he slipped and nearly went over the side of the crevasse but he caught himself on another root in time.

Harry's legs were dangling over the edge; the cup had clattered away towards the torch. When Harry dropped it after falling from the top of the tree, his ankle was really hurting him and there was a long gash across his chest which was bleeding profusely, he was losing strength and Ron might pass out at any moment judging by his voice.

Harry grabbed the rope behind him and tugged hoping that Lupin and the others would get the message and pull. They must have because a moment later Harry felt the rope tighten around his waist and he was pulled away from the edge. Once he was on solid ground Harry turned to grab Ron's rope and pull him out, Ron was unconscious so Harry pulled with all his might, soon Ron was sprawled out on the ground beside him, he untied Ron from himself and tugged the rope, Ron was pulled out of sight, to the other side of the veil Harry hoped. There were only fifteen minuets left before he and Sirius would be lost forever.

'SIRIUS! RON'S SAFE. BUT WE DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN USE TO HELP CLIMB OUT?' Harry yelled.

'NO! YOU HAVE TO PULL ME UP HARRY!' Sirius yelled back.

'OK!' Harry said, he took the rope with his Godfather dangling on the end in his hands and pulled with all his might.

Harry pulled and pulled. Ten minuets later Sirius was beside him.

'Than…' Sirius started.

'No time… RUN!' Harry said. Even though his ankle was hurting like hell and the gash on his chest still bleeding heavily Harry ran. On the way he scooped up the cup. Sirius and Harry ran full pelt in to the tree, there was a fluttering of fabric around them, they were on the other side, and both Harry and Sirius fell to the floor unconscious.