Veiled Hearts
Harry awoke the following morning in the Hospital Wing. Hermione and Ron flanked his bed on either side. Ron was slumped over, still asleep while Hermione sat reading some thick volume from the library. The famous boy wizard rubbed the remaining sleep from his eyes and ran his hand over the night table to his right, fumbling for his glasses. This noise startled Hermione from her reading. She marked her place and turned to face her friend, now sitting up against his pillows.
"How are you feeling?" she asked quietly so as not to disturb Ron.
"Fine. Why am I here?' he inquired, staring pointedly at her.
"Well…Dumbledore thought it best that---," Hermione began.
"Thought it best that what?" Harry interrupted in annoyance.
"That you needed rest. You haven't been yourself since summer Harry," his friend finished, her voice diminishing in volume.
"I told you I'm fine. I lost my godfather for Merlin's sake! What does he expect? Me to go about as if nothing has happened and that everything is all daisies and sunshine, the old fool," Harry snapped.
"Don't you dare insult him like that," Hermione hissed, rising to her feet in anger.
"Don't tell me what to do!" Harry spat back.
"You're unbelievable!" the brunette shouted, her hands balling into white-knuckled fists.
"Me? That's rich! Yeah, that's real rich Hermione," he snarled back, his green eyes flashing in anger.
"Look! This is stupid. Harry admit it, you're seeing things that no one else is. That's not healthy. You can't leave the Hospital Wing until Dumbledore says so," she finished, trying to calm down.
"What's all the yelling for?" Ron asked sleepily.
"Harry's being bullheaded," Hermione answered shortly, picking up her book and storming out of the room.
"What's wrong with her?" Ron asked lazily.
"I don't know," Harry sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"Ron, do you think I'm crazy?" Harry raised suddenly.
"Err…what?" Ron answered, baffled.
"D'you think I'm crazy. Do you really think I'm losing it, seeing things and people that aren't there?" Harry expounded.
"Well. I don't know. I mean, you saw into V-Vol, You-Know-Who's head last year. And we believed you. Why shouldn't we now," Ron replied, his voice faltering on the evil wizard's name.
"But this isn't Voldemort. I…I don't know what she is but I know it's not him," Harry affirmed passionately.
"Well. Maybe you just need to get a bit more rest mate. I'll see you around," Ron mumbled and made a quick exit.
Resigning himself to bed, Harry lay there for what seemed like hours. Madam Pomfrey checked in on him every so often to make sure he was resting comfortably, which he told her he was. Around lunchtime she brought him a tray of food. He picked at it silently, not feeling much like eating. With a sigh, he placed the tray on the table beside him and pushed the covers off. He was still in yesterday's clothing. As quietly as he could, he slipped out of the Hospital Wing. He stealthily made his way to Gryffindor Tower where he whispered the password and snuck up to his dormitory. He showered and changed his clothes. As he sat on his bed, his mind wandered to the previous day. He knew what he'd seen. It was real. There was a sound not far off in the distance.
"Oh bugger!" he muttered under his breath, scrambling out of the room and ducking behind a chair.
Just then Ginny walked into the Common Room, looking annoyed. Harry wanted to ask her what was wrong but that course of action would no doubt land him in trouble for sneaking out on Madam Pomfrey. Praying she was heading to her dormitory, Harry held his breath behind the piece of furniture. At that moment the fates seemed to be on his side because Ginny was indeed going straight to her dorm. Eyeing the portrait hole cautiously, Harry stood up to his full height and slipped from behind the chair. Within a few breath-held moments he was out of the Common Room. The young wizard began to sneak back to the corridor that led to the Hospital Wing when he saw a shadow out of the corner of his eye. He changed course and began to follow in the direction he had seen the shadow go. It seemed to be leading him in circles. He could have sworn he saw that painting at least twice. Finally it stopped and Harry caught up to it. It was however, not a shadow, but a cloaked individual. The boy wizard, suddenly growing nervous, drew his wand.
"Turn around…slowly," he ordered, trying to keep his voice steady.
The figure obliged and turned to reveal the girl with the raven-black hair and the startling blue eyes. The sixteen-year-old breathed a heavy, audible sigh of relief. He had thought it was a Death Eater trying to lure him into at trap. He relaxed a bit more and lowered his wand.
"You know, you have everyone thinking I'm crazy," he said, leaning against the wall opposite her.
"Do you think you're crazy?" she asked coolly, her voice barely above a whisper but somehow Harry heard it loud and clear.
"No. At least…I don't think so," he said indecisively.
"Well that's all that's important," she said authoritatively.
"I guess," Harry muttered with a shrug.
"I want to show you something. It's very important," she stated suddenly and urgently.
"Err…what?" the emerald-eyed teenager questioned warily.
"You will see. Hurry, we haven't much time," she ordered and without waiting for him to comply she took his hand in hers.
The next thing Harry knew he was standing in the Department of Mysteries, more specifically the room with the veil. He was rooted to the spot. It was as if he had traveled back in time. He was watching the events of the past June all over again. He saw Neville tripping up the stairs, breaking the prophecy. But more importantly, he saw Bellatrix LeStrange aiming the curse at his godfather that would ultimately land him through the veil and into the waiting arms of death. His gaze followed the slow motion as Sirius's body was hit with the spell. The older wizard's eyes widened in surprise and his body arched and flew through the air in a frame-by-frame like motion until he disappeared. Suddenly a voice broke Harry's focus.
"How do you feel?" it asked, sounding oddly familiar.
There was that question again. Once more, Harry had to take time and really contemplate an answer. He'd witnessed the death of his only father figure and as before he felt cut off.
"Nothing," he answered shortly, a sudden chill enveloping him.
The girl said nothing but gently took him by the arm. In mere seconds they were back in the hallway. Harry looked only slightly startled this time. He had been expecting something like this to occur.
"Let me guess it was just a memory?" he asked, already knowing the answer.
"Yes," she said coolly, looking down the corridor for a brief moment before stepping towards the famous wizard.
Wordlessly she took his wrist and pulled him into a nearby alcove before disappearing once more. This time when they appeared in the room with the veil, it was empty. The only noise was coming from behind the veil, the strange other worldly whispers. From behind the strange shifting curtain, a shimmering figure emerged. It came into focus as it drew closer to the duo. Harry's mouth dropped open as he realized it was Sirius.
"S-Sirius?" he questioned in shock.
"Hello Harry," Sirius replied sounding a little sad.
"I…I saw my parents yesterday," Harry exclaimed happily.
"I know. James told me. Said it was real hard to see you go," Sirius continued walking right up to his godson and giving him a hug.
Harry beamed with excitement as he felt his Godfather's embrace. He wasn't dreaming. He couldn't be. Sirius was here and that was all that mattered.
"Are you a spirit too?" Harry asked as they backed away to look at each other.
"I suppose so yeah," Sirius replied with a shrug.
"That veil thing just sorta keeps you here. That's why you hear all the voices. We're all just hanging around. It isn't so bad really. It's sort of like your own personal heaven," he mused, a somewhat wistful smile on his lips.
"You're handling this a lot better than I am," Harry said.
"Yeah? Well I guess you have more to be upset about. Not much I can do on my end being dead and all. Who would have thought I'd be this…comfortable with having kicked the bucket," the scruffy looking man said with a chuckle.
"You've been handling it very well though Harry despite all you've had to deal with. Your Mum and Dad are very proud. I am too. They've always been proud of you, you know," Sirius added, eyeing the veil oddly.
"I know," Harry remarked softly, noticing where Sirius's gaze now rested.
"Do you have to go back?" the boy queried sadly.
"I'm afraid so Harry," his Godfather replied, giving him one final hug.
Harry nodded and returned the embrace full force. He pulled away teary-eyed and walked Sirius back to the edge of the veil.
"So this is really goodbye," Harry breathed, dabbing at the edges of his eyes.
"How about, until next time," Sirius suggested, also trying to hide his own tears.
"Ok. Until next time," Harry whispered as he stepped away and watched Sirius disappear behind the veil once more.
Harry slowly turned around and came face-to-face with the girl. He jumped slightly but caught himself. He stared motionlessly and silently into her deep blue eyes. He opened his mouth to speak but couldn't find the words to express how he felt. It was as if his emotions were going nuts, flickering on and off. Without a word exchanged between the two, Harry felt the portkey sensation and knew they would return to Hogwarts. He opened his eyes to find himself standing outside the door to the Hospital Wing. Ever since Sirius had vanished behind the veil, he'd been trying to gather words together to make a coherent thought. Finally he managed to say something.
"Why now? Why couldn't I have met them before?" he questioned, turning around expecting to see the girl only to find she was gone.
"Harry, who are you talking to?" came the gentle voice of Hermione as she appeared from around the corner.
"I…she was just here. I was just with Sirius. He's doing well," Harry said.
Hermione's shoulders dropped as she let out a sigh. She took Harry by the forearm and steered him back into the Infirmary and back to his bed. She pulled the chair she had vacated very close to the bed and leaned forward.
"Look Harry. Sirius is dead. You need to accept that," she said quietly.
"I know he's dead Hermione," Harry hissed back.
"But I know what I saw. He hugged me and I felt it. We talked. Why doesn't anyone believe me? That girl…she just shows up and she takes me there," he said, babbling.
"Harry no one has seen this girl," Hermione protested firmly.
"I don't know why I'm the only one who can see her!" Harry railed in frustration.
Hermione shook her head and got up and walked off in search of Madam Pomfrey. The two witches emerged shortly afterwards, Madam Pomfrey carrying a phial. She handed it to Harry with instructions to drink it. It was a sleeping draught. Grudgingly, Harry took the potion and downed it. Almost immediately he began to feel very sleepy. He was conscious long enough to remove his glasses and place them on the table.
"I hope this helps. He's really got me worried," Hermione whispered as Madam Pomfrey led her to the door.
"Don't worry Miss Granger. He'll be fine," Poppy said as the young girl solemnly exited the room.