Harry escorted Michael to the library of Potter Castle. Dobby appeared with a tray of tea and crumpets of his own accord, Harry was pleased.
"So Harry, I hear you're still dead." Michael said jokingly.
"So did I, I can't imagine who would have started such a vicious rumor." Harry said smiling.
"I presume you're still trying to draw Riddle out of hiding." Michael surmised.
"My plan exactly," Harry stated.
"And I also presume the ghost sightings are designed to continue to make him nervous." Michael continued.
"Something like that." Harry said.
"Good plan but I expect the wizarding community at large is still saddened by the loss." Michael deduced.
"They are but there's nothing I can do about that, they'll just have to get over it." Harry said coldly.
Michael nodded taking a sip of his tea.
"The Black family fortune I presume." Michael said motioning to the castle.
"And some of the Gryffindor fortune," Harry clarified.
"You used the Gryffindor fortune? Did he tell you about it, or did you use the knowledge of one of the timelines?" Michael asked exasperatedly.
"I used my memories, but I'm sure he would have told me in this life as well. Hell, only Godric's chosen heir can access it." Harry explained.
"But you could have at least waited until he told you." Michael said.
"I had very specific plans that needed to be put in motion." Harry continued defending his decision.
"How have you been otherwise?" Michael asked taking another sip of tea.
"I miss Sirius a lot; I wish he could be here for the final battle." Harry said introspectively.
"That's the true problem with humanity it's such a finite existence. How did Sirius die?" Michael asked, hoping to help Harry by letting him mourn.
"I never told you the story?" Michael nodded. "Well, towards the end of my fifth year I was lured out of Hogwarts to the Ministry by Riddle, he used our connection to show me things that weren't true. To make a long story short, Sirius came to save me, and went through an archway that kills." Harry answered.
"An archway that kills," Michael asked.
"Yeah, apparently it's an ancient artifact that if you step through it you die." Harry clarified.
"I'm sorry Harry, did you say an ancient artifact that if you step through it you die?" Michael asked disbelievingly.
"Yeah, why," Harry now asked.
"I have been around a long time Harry, I have never heard of an archway that kills." Michael explained, and then got a look of understanding. "Did you hear any voices from the archway itself, and did it have writing on both sides, writing you've never seen before?" Michael asked.
"Yeah I did, and yes it did, I later heard the Ministry has yet to decipher it." Harry said.
"No, of course they wouldn't have deciphered it, its angelic script." Michael explained.
"Angelic script," Harry asked.
"It's my language, though I haven't used it in centuries." Michael said.
"What does it say?" Harry asked with his curiosity now peaked.
"Quite a bit, but the important thing you might be interested in hearing is; Enter here all who seek the Wait of the Dead but be warned, neither space nor time have meaning, lost you may become." Michael said in a deep voice that was not his own.
"The Wait of the Dead," Harry asked.
"Purgatory, it's a door to Purgatory." Michael clarified.
"Purgatory, no wonder I couldn't contact Sirius afterwards." Harry said more to himself than to Michael. "So Sirius is truly dead." Harry said sadly.
"I guess that depends on your definition of dead. If by dead you mean he's gone from your plain of existence, then he is truly dead but if you mean he can never come back, then he's very much alive." Michael said calmly.
"WHAT!" Harry yelled at the top of his lungs causing everyone in the castle to run into the library.
Michael just sat there quietly as they all filed in with Ginny in the lead.
"Is everything all right Harry?" Ginny asked breathlessly.
"Yes, everything is fine." Harry said composing himself. "I need a moment of privacy with Michael here." Harry said to her as he sat back down.
"Michael, the Michael you told me about?" Ginny asked, staring at the man sitting across from Harry.
"Yes," Harry answered simply.
"And you must be Ginny. I've heard quite a lot about you, it is my honor to meet you." Michael said, standing to kiss her hand.
"Please Ginny, give us a few minutes." Harry pressed.
"Ok Harry, we'll be in the dining hall." Ginny said, ushering the rest out of the room.
"What did you mean by very much alive?" Harry asked as soon as everyone was out of the library.
"It is called the Gateway to Wait; we use to use it to communicate with our kin in other timelines. You see, regardless of how many timelines or universes there are, there is only one Purgatory, so we would meet inside Purgatory to discuss with ourselves the various goings on in these other timelines. When I told you I was "Tuned" in to these other timelines, I meant that I had spoken to other Michaels from these timelines. But you must understand, Purgatory is only designed to hold human souls, not bodies, so Sirius is very much alive and well, albeit lost and confused no doubt." Michael explained.
"Can we get him out?" Harry asked the question that was plaguing his mind.
"We, I don't know about we, but I could." Michael said.
"No, I need to find him, I NEED to rescue him." Harry said in no uncertain terms.
"Harry, it could take weeks for me to prepare your mind for this place, the longer we wait, the longer Sirius remains in exile." Michael said pleadingly.
"I don't care, I want to save Sirius." Harry stated again.
Michael sat in the oversized chair for fifteen minutes without saying a word, then without warning, he spoke again.
"Halloween, we'll go on Halloween. I'll spend the next few weeks teaching you proper mind control, and we'll set off for the Ministry on Halloween." Michael said quietly.
"When do I start my training?" Harry asked excitedly.
"I will come hear at three o'clock every morning from now until then. We'll meet in your training area, I assume you have one," Harry nodded, "then you will not discuss the training or Sirius or the Gateway with anyone, do you understand?" Michael added.
"Yes," Harry answered.
"Then I'll return tomorrow night at three, meet me at your front door to show me the way to your training room." Michael said standing.
"Thank you, this means a lot to me." Harry said sincerely.
"Don't thank me yet, you still have to suffer through Purgatory." Michael said cryptically as he shook Harry's hand.
Harry escorted Michael to the training room of Potter Castle the following night. Michael waved his hand and two oversized pillows appeared on the floor for them to sit upon. Michael motioned to Harry to sit, and he sat himself.
"Let me explain what will happen when you enter; your mind will automatically create your surroundings, so if your thinking of Potter Castle, then you'll appear in Potter Castle, if you're thinking of Hogwarts, then you'll appear in Hogwarts. The problem lies in the fact that I see what is actually there, nothing, blackness, I'll see you interacting with things that aren't really there, so if you're being attacked by some monster your mind created, I cannot help you, oh, and neither can your magic." Michael explained.
"So what do I have to do?" Harry asked.
"You'll have to keep your mind completely clear of all thoughts. Your mind cannot wander, it cannot focus on the task, it has to be completely blank." He said.
"Then how can I rescue Sirius?" Harry asked annoyed.
"That's what I'm going to teach you. You will learn how to perform tasks without having to use your conscious mind; you will use only your subconscious mind." Michael answered.
"The subconscious mind doesn't affect Purgatory?" Harry asked.
"No, only the conscious mind does." Michael clarified.
"I wonder what hell Sirius' mind has created." Harry said more to himself than to Michael.
"One can only guess Harry, but, let's not think about that right now, you need to begin your training. We'll start with simple mind clearing exercises over the next week, and move to more complex training next week. Are you ready?" He asked Harry.
Harry looked resolute. "Yes I am." Harry answered.
Michael spent the following weeks teaching Harry everything he needed to know about controlling his own mind. Out in the world at large, there were fewer attacks by Death Eaters but more by giants. The giants managed to slay several Dark Aurors before Neville and Snape were able to stop them. During that time, more than two hundred innocents were killed; twenty six Aurors and eighteen Dark Aurors were also killed. Harry became so obsessed with rescuing Sirius that he had made no ghostly appearances during his training. His friends kept pressuring him to tell them what was wrong, but he remained true to his word and said nothing.
Harry made sure that all his friends would be at Hogwarts for the big Halloween feast. He even instructed Ginny to take Cindy along for the festivities. Harry and Michael had made arrangements to meet at Castle Potter at nine o'clock sharp, and Michael was as punctual as always.
"Are you ready Harry?" Michael asked patiently.
"As ready as I'll ever be." Harry answered but doubt was showing in his words.
Michael folded space, and took himself and Harry through to the Ministry. When Harry looked at the artifact, he almost broke down crying. Perhaps it was Michael's training, or perhaps it was simple self control, but Harry composed himself and followed Michael down to the bottom of the pit.
"It's the moment of truth Harry, I'll ask you one last time, are you ready?" Michael asked again.
"Let's go," Harry answered simply.
They both entered together, side by side. When Harry looked around, he saw nothing but blackness; he took this to be a good thing. Unfortunately by thinking at all, the world around him changed. He was standing in the graveyard where Voldemort had made his return. Harry looked down at his feet and saw the gravestone of Tom Riddle senior, Harry jumped back.
"What am I doing here?" He asked himself.
Harry turned to a small hill that he recognized at the spot where he and Cedric appeared at the end of his fourth year. Suddenly another Harry and Cedric were standing on that hill clutching the Tri-wizard Tournament Cup. Harry watched as Cedric was killed and he began to try and intervene, but there was nothing he could do.
He tried to kill Wormtail, but his wand was just not working. Suddenly he heard a whisper in the air; "Harry come back," he looked around but saw only the graveyard. Then again; "Harry remember your training," Harry thought for a moment. The voice sounded familiar, but he couldn't place it.
"Training, what does it mean training?" Harry wondered.
Harry looked around again; he was standing in the training room of Potter Castle. Another Harry was being trained by Michael, "What's he teaching me?" Harry thought. "Mind control," Harry realized. Harry immediately reverted back to his training. When he opened his eyes, he was standing in complete darkness next to Michael.
"Try to stay focused." Michael told him condescendingly.
They walked through complete darkness; Harry had to fight his thoughts at every turn. There were millions of questions he needed to ask, but could not for fear of loosing his concentration.
They continued walking for what seemed like hours and hours, but still all they saw were small white mists floating around. Then Harry saw someone, could it be him, could it be Sirius. Harry made no attempt to think about it, he just kept walking towards him.
Then Harry saw someone else, someone he had never seen before. This man looked no older than Michael looked, but was dressed in flowing robes of white and walking directly towards them.
"Why did you bring him here Michael?" The robed man asked.
"Gabriel, how nice to see you too," Michael said sarcastically.
"You know it's forbidden to bring a human into the Wait of the Dead." Gabriel told him.
"Harry, continue on, you see him now don't you? Michael asked.
"Yes," Harry answered.
"Get him like I taught you, and bring him here." Michael commanded.
"So Gabriel, what are you going to do, flight me?" Michael asked sarcastically.
"No Michael, I'm not going to fight you, but we are." Gabriel answered motioning to the other Gabriels that appeared.
"What's this, so many of you, should I be frightened?" Michael asked, still being sarcastic.
"There are over a hundred of me here, we can defeat you." Gabriel stated emphatically.
"Gabriel, I would hate to deprive over a hundred worlds of your existence, but I will if I must." Michael said turning as cold as ice.
"You are no match for a hundred of me." Gabriel said.
"You lost most of your power when you joined our brother Lucifer, he is my only match." Michael said coldly.
"Then maybe he should show himself." Michael heard a voice from behind him.
"Hello old friend, what brings you here?" Michael asked Lucifer.
"Hello brother, just wanted to know if you wanted to join me?" Lucifer said smiling.
"You know I'll never join you, I am God's sword, I defeated you once, and I'll do it again." Michael said calmly.
"Just thought I'd ask, so, I hear you're playing God these days." Lucifer said jovially.
"No, just helping out a friend." Michael answered back just as warmly.
"Well I've got to get back to my universe; I'll leave you to deal with the Gabriels." He said turning to go.
"Master, help us, we need you." Gabriel called out to him.
"No, you got yourselves into this mess on your own." He answered coldly.
"So, are you going to stand there looking stupid, or are you going to do something?" Michael asked Gabrielle speaking as coldly as Lucifer.
Harry walked up to Sirius, it was apparent that Sirius was yelling something Harry could not hear. Harry immediately thought of his training. He was to concentrate on Sirius with his entire mind and he would then open his eyes and see what Sirius saw.
Harry was standing on what he recognized as Godric's Hollow, his parents home before they were murdered by Voldemort. Harry was standing next to Sirius who was screaming at the sight in front of him. Harry looked and saw his father and mother being killed over and over again. Harry shook the picture from his mind and turned to Sirius.
"Sirius, it's me, Harry." Harry said calmly.
"NO, Harry is over there, I couldn't save them, they're dead!" Sirius screamed.
"Sirius, I'm over here! What you're looking at happened many years ago, it's only a memory!" Harry yelled at Sirius.
Sirius turned to Harry. "They're dead! It's all my fault! I killed them!" He screamed.
"NO SIRIUS, YOU DID NOT KILL THEM, VOLDEMORT DID!" Harry screamed back at him.
"They're dead!" Sirius screamed again.
Harry did something he never thought he would; he punched Sirius in the face.
"Snap out of it! You are not responsible for these events, Voldemort is!" Harry yelled again.
Sirius stared at Harry; it appeared like he was trying to remember something.
"Harry, is that you?" Sirius asked, touching Harry's face.
"Yes it's me, my godfather; I need you to listen closely, close your eyes and don't open them until I tell you. Do you understand?" Harry asked breathlessly.
"Yes," Sirius answered.
"Close your eyes now." Harry commanded.
Sirius did as he was told. The world Harry was looking at faded, and he was staring at the blackness once again. Harry picked up Sirius and began walking back to Michael.
Michael was standing nose to nose with one of the Gabriels, the rest were closing in on them.
"Well, what are you going to do?" Michael asked again.
"I think it's about time you died my old friend." Gabriel answered taking out a sword from under his robes.
"So be it." Michael answered, conjuring a sword of his own.
Michael watched as the other hundred Gabriels pulled out swords of their own. The fighting began without any prerequisite, Michael kept himself positioned so that all of the Gabriels were out in front of him, and would allow none to come in behind.
Michael was relentless, he wielded the sword like the master swordsman he was. No magic was being used, either by choice or happenstance, but none was used just the same. The battle waged on as Harry approached, being the swordsman he was from one of the other timelines; Harry decided to help his friend. He placed Sirius on the ground, instructed him to keep his eyes closed, picked up a sword from a dead Gabriel, and attacked from the opposite side.
Harry was as relentless as Michael; he took down Gabriels almost as fast as Michael had. After an hour of constant fighting, the last Gabriel stood toe to toe with Michael.
"You're the last; do you really want to continue this?" Michael asked him calmly.
"Your protégé fights with great skill, you've obviously taught him well." Gabriel said, placing the sword on the ground.
"You are a Magi of honor, I salute you." Michael said, raising his sword to his head and bowing.
The last Gabriel turned and left. Michael looked at Harry with a new found respect.
"Let's get Sirius home." Michael said simply.
Harry secretly placed Sirius in one of the unused bedrooms, he instructed Dobby and Winky to nurse him back to health. Sirius' ordeal in Purgatory left him in shambles, he had almost no strength to speak of, and his magic still had not returned.
"Thank you Michael, for everything." Harry said with tears in his eyes.
"Now, all that's left is Riddle, get rid of him so I can visit more often, and we'll be even." Michael answered Harry with a smile and an embrace. "Take care of yourself Harry, and follow your heart." Michael said turning to go.
"Michael, are you really thousands of years old?" Harry asked curiously.
"About forty thousand Earth years old to be exact," Michael said smiling. "But I don't look a day over thirty thousand." He added, leaving Harry with a smile.
Harry spent the first week of November caring for and watching over Sirius. Everyone in the castle kept asking him where he was getting off to, but Harry would not answer. Fred and George had passed their NEWTS, and Molly and Arthur were proud. Fred and George scored the largest number of NEWTS of any Weasley, even Bill and Percy.
The routine at the castle was starting to go back to normal. Harry was smiling and laughing again, he was playing with Cindy more often, and was much more affectionate towards Ginny than ever before.
On the morning of the 9th of November, Dobby appeared to Harry babbling incoherently, until Harry could calm him down.
"What is it Dobby, is everything all right?" Harry asked impatiently.
"Master Sir, mister Sirius Black is awake." Dobby managed to spit out, Harry apparated to Sirius' room.
"You look good for a dead guy." Harry said with tears in his eyes.
"How long have I been asleep?" Sirius asked.
"About nine days." Harry answered.
"Did everybody get out of the Ministry alright?" He asked, referring to the night Sirius went into the Gateway.
"Yeah, no problems," Harry said smiling.
"What happened to me? The last thing I remember was dueling with Bellatrix, then I, I don't remember what." Sirius said.
"It's a long story, and I think you're still too weak to hear it." Harry explained.
"Where am I?" He asked, not recognizing the room.
"That's also a long story, but we'll talk after you've eaten." Harry said, taking the tray Winky had brought in, and placing it on Sirius' bed.
Sirius ate quietly; Harry sat patiently as he finished off four sandwiches, and three bottles of butterbeer. When Sirius had finally finished eating, his willingness to wait for an answer to his questions diminished.
"Ok, I'm stronger; now tell me what I want to know." Sirius demanded.
"We all thought you were dead. You stepped into what the ministry thought was an arc of death, but it turned out to be a gateway to Purgatory, which is where you've been for the last year and a half." Harry explained.
"Purgatory, a year and a half," Sirius couldn't believe his ears.
"There's more, since you've been gone, Arthur Weasley has become minister, I have finished school, I got married and, oh yeah, I adopted a daughter." Harry said quickly.
"You what," Sirius exclaimed.
"You heard me; I'm a husband, father, lord of Potter Castle, and dead." Harry said shortly.
"Dead, you don't look dead to me." Sirius said.
"I was hit in the chest by a killing curse from Voldemort." Harry explained.
"If that's true, than how are you talking to me?" Sirius asked.
"Because I've learned quite a bit of magic since you disappeared." Harry said.
"There is no defense from the killing curse." Sirius stated emphatically.
"Really, than why didn't Voldemort die when his spell rebounded on him when I was one?" Harry asked in return.
"Um, I don't know, but there has to be a logical reason." Sirius deduced.
"There is, he's a phoenix animagus, and since a phoenix is reborn from its own ashes, he cannot die, so he just maintains a half transformation so he's outwardly human and internally a phoenix." Harry explained.
"But how does that relate to you?" Sirius asked his curiosity now peaked.
"Because I am a griffin animagus," Harry answered.
"Oh my, I have been out of touch." Sirius said confused.
"I won't go into details now about how I was trained, but I'll still try to get you up to speed. Let's see, where do I start? Oh yeah, here goes, you are in Potter Castle, I built the castle using the Black family fortune you left me, apparently you didn't know how vast the fortune was. I married Ginny Weasley with the approval of her father Minister Weasley. I was in charge of the Ministry's newest department the Department of Dark Magic Enforcement, the DME for short. Everyone who works for the DME are called Dark Aurors. I faked my death in front of Voldemort so he would come out of hiding but still hasn't. I adopted a five year old witch named Cindy; she'll be six in December. I can do wandless magic, elemental magic, advanced apparition, and like I said earlier, I'm an animagus. I have trained members of the Order of the Phoenix, members of the DME and even my own daughter Cindy. She's capable of wandless magic, elemental magic and is also an animagus." Harry said, finally pausing for a breath.
"You taught a five year old girl how to do wandless and elemental magic, and trained her to be an animagus?" Sirius asked more impressed by these issues than all the others.
"Would you like to meet her?" Harry asked.
"I would love to meet her." Sirius stated unequivocally.
Harry closed his eyes, and a little girl appeared.
"Yes daddy," she asked.
"Cindy, remember how I told you how important godparents are?" Harry asked her.
"Yes daddy," she answered smiling.
"This is my godfather, Sirius Black." Harry said, motioning to Sirius on the bed.
"Hello Sirius, aren't you dead?" She asked in her childlike voice.
Sirius began laughing. "Yes Cindy, they tell me I was." He managed during fits of laughter.
"Cindy, I think it's time everyone in the castle should see Sirius." Harry told his daughter.
Harry told Sirius to change while he informed the others about him. Harry went down to the library and asked Winky to assemble all who were in the castle, and to go to Hogwarts and inform Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, Charlie, Hagrid, Ron, Hermione, Neville, Ginny, Luna and Draco that he had a very important announcement to make and needed them all here.
When they and Arthur, Molly, Bill, Annie, Peggy, George, Fred, Tonks and Lee were all present, Harry began speaking.
"I'm sure you've all either seen or have heard that I have been acting strangely and secretive, the reason for this has been that I came across important information about the way Sirius died." Harry started.
"Was this information from Michael?" Ginny asked.
"Yes my love, it was. I have never been the same since he died, so anything to help me cope was good, except this information would do more for me than help me cope, it would make me whole again. Michael informed me that the archway in the Department of Mysteries is not an archway of death, but a gateway to somewhere else." Harry continued.
"To where, Harry?" Arthur asked.
"To a place called the Wait of the Dead, or as we call it; Purgatory." Harry waited for the information to sink in.
"So either way he's dead." Snape said.
"As it was put to me; if by dead you mean he's no longer in this realm, than yes he's dead, but if you mean he can no longer return, than he's very much alive." Harry answered using Michael's words.
"How can he return?" Albus asked.
"Well, someone would have to go and get him, someone like Michael or me for instance." Harry answered.
"No Harry, that's too dangerous, you can't go." Hermione exclaimed nervously.
"She's right Harry, you can't help him there." Ginny agreed.
"Does anybody have faith in me?" Harry asked the group.
"We all have faith in you Harry, but it is too dangerous." Albus answered for the group.
"I think you can do it, I think you should do it. If it's ok for you to risk your life to save complete strangers, or in my case enemies, you should have our blessing to save someone you love." Draco spoke up.
Harry stared at his one time enemy, walked over to him, and embraced him tightly.
"And I would be honored to go with you." Draco added.
"Draco, you're like a brother to me, I would never let you risk your life for just one man, besides, I'm not going." Harry said, causing the room to breathe a sigh of relief. "I love you all, but I would have never given you foreknowledge of something as dangerous as this." Harry said.
"What are you saying Harry? If you're not going, than who is?" Arthur asked.
"He already went." Hermione deduced.
"That again folks is why I consider Hermione the smartest human being on the planet." Harry said smiling at her.
"What happened Harry?" Dumbledore asked calmly.
"I got to fight a bunch of magi, I got to see my worst memory, I got to see Sirius' worst memory and, oh yeah, I brought my godfather home." Harry added coldly.
Sirius walked in on cue, he was wearing the uniform of the Dark Aurors with no rank insignia. All eyes watched as he approached Harry and embraced him as a son. No one could speak; standing before them was the deceased Sirius Black, just as he was when he left.
"Hello all, Harry has tried to get me up to speed on what's been going on. I dare say I am not as needed as I thought I would be." Sirius said smiling.
He walked right up to Snape and extended his hand. "I hope you'll forgive all my sins Severus, a year of torment taught me what I did to you was wrong, and I have always deserved your anger." Sirius said apologetically.
"And I hope you'll forgive me for endangering your godson's life because of an old rivalry that should have died years ago." Snape responded forgoing the handshake, and embracing Sirius instead.
"Well Harry, it seems our number has increased by one very talented wizard." Dumbledore said smiling.
"I agree Albus, but please everybody, try to go easy on him about all that's transpired over the last year and a half, it was hard enough on him to find out I married Ginny, and I have a daughter. So Peggy, Annie, please be subtle when you introduce yourselves," Harry added jokingly.
The entire group sat down to dinner in the dining hall. Harry had Sirius sit on his right, and Ginny on his left. Sitting next to Sirius, Harry strategically placed Annie Weasley so she could tell him about being reunited with her family, and of course, playing the matchmaker again.
"Sirius, did Harry tell you how he found my missing sisters?" Ginny asked, trying to invoke a conversation between Sirius and Annie.
"No, I didn't even know you had sisters." Sirius answered honestly.
"Annie, tell him the story." Ginny told her sister.
They began talking merrily, Harry marveled at how Ginny picked up on what he was doing, and helped it along.
"Are you doing what I was trying to do?" Harry asked his wife.
"I'm not as blind as you think I am." Ginny answered, giving Harry a deep kiss.
"Sirius, did Harry tell you your name was cleared, you're no longer a wanted man." Arthur announced.
"He did what?" Sirius asked.
"He cleared your name when he killed Pettigrew, and brought in his lifeless body, I signed the papers personally." Arthur added.
"I'm a free man?" Sirius asked Harry with a tear in his eye.
"As free as any man," Harry answered.
Sirius stood and hugged his godson again.
"James would be proud." Sirius whispered in Harry's ear.
The makeshift celebration ended shortly before ten, the ones from Hogwarts made their way back, and those that resided in Potter Castle retired to the library.
"So, how long are you all staying?" Sirius asked the remaining guests.
"Indefinitely, they live here Sirius." Harry answered.
"Really, how nice." Sirius said turning to Annie.
Molly ushered the rest off to bed leaving Sirius and Annie alone. Harry found it just as humorous that Molly was thinking along the same lines as he and Ginny. Tomorrow would dawn a better day.