Disclaimer: I own none of the characters or places in this story they all belong to J K Rowling

A/N: Set during and after Order of the Phoenix and Half Blood Prince. Most people thought Sirius Black died that day in the ministry of magic, but the whole story was not told. Sirius Black lived and this is his tale. Sort of a prelude to my Harry Potter stories, picking up where J K Rowling left it and telling how Voldemort was defeated and the series ends. Written from Sirius' point of view.

06 – May – Northern Canada/Hogwarts

I read the letter twice and grimaced. It didn't look good, Voldemort was defiantly up to something, but all of the Order's sources had dried up, McGonagal wanted me to come back for a few weeks, she had a feeling that something was going to happen soon, but she didn't know what. Well who was I to refuse to help? She had written down the time that no one would be watching the fire in her office and I would be able to get into the castle without anyone knowing. It looked like I had no excuse for not going.

I had barely had any letters this year, without Fawkes it was difficult to get letters across the Atlantic without anyone noticing. In fact I had only had one letter at Christmas, and it was brief, just telling me that Remus and Tonks were engaged but their wedding was on hold for the minute, Harry had destroyed all but one Horcrux, the snake if Dumbledore had been correct. Which he was more than likely had been. Also that Hogwarts had reopened for the students who wished to come back, which sounded like quite a lot. And that they had found Willow. That had made my heart jump. I missed home more than ever when I read that, she would think I was dead. But now wasn't the time to think of her.

I stood up and headed in to the lodge. I had been sat outside eating breakfast with my friend and his wife. They looked up as I stood but said nothing seeing the severe expression on my face. I grabbed a load of polyjuice potion and my cloak; I had only two minutes before the appropriate time. I went over to the fire place grabbing a handful of floo powder. In seconds I was spinning into appearance in the fireplace of the head teacher's office. No one was there.

"Hello? Anyone?" I called, "Dead man walking here!" I grimaced at my own humour putting the polyjuice potion on the desk, something wasn't right, McGonagal was supposed to be here. Just then there was a huge bang and the room started to shake and slide. I transformed and grabbed my wand in my mouth and ran for the door. I barely made it when half the room split off and collapsed. I made one glance backwards and ran on.

I heard sounds of fighting as I rounded a bend; I transformed quickly and ran in on Remus and Tonks fighting off a group of goblins and Death Eaters. I stunned a Death Eater creeping up on Remus from behind he looked up and nearly got cursed by another Death Eater. He stared to fight again deciding that he would wait to start questioning me. We quickly dealt with the rest of our opponents and before either of them could speak I silenced them.

"No questions now, all you need to know is I'm on your side and here to help, now lets go," I said and they nodded fighting back their questions, "Congratulations on the engagement by the way," I grinned, I couldn't help it, they both paused then shrugged, obviously not many people knew outside the Order.

"They just appeared out of no where, most of the order was up here anyway, we were doing patrols when they attacked us," Remus explained as we jogged down the corridor.

"The students?" I asked, though I knew the answer, there was only one place where they'd be at this time in the morning.

"All in the Great Hall, that's where Voldemort will be," Remus replied, Tonks gave a sharp intake of breath but didn't falter, she was obviously getting used to his name being said around her.

"Ok, when we get there you'll have to get the students out, I have a long overdue date with Peter Pettigrew," I said as we turned the corner to face the doors into the great hall. They were hanging off their hinges and beyond them people were fighting. Death Eaters, Dementors, Giants and Goblins were attacking the Order and Ministry, some of the students were fighting but others were crowded into one corner. Remus and Tonks ran off towards them fighting through the combatants. I scanned the fighting and spotted my target, trying to escape.

"Oi Pettigrew! I want a word with you!" I shouted and he turned looking surprised, "There's no Harry to save you this time!" I shouted and we began to fight. He had improved slightly since they had last duelled in school, unfortunately not enough to best me; I stunned him, tied him up and stashed him in a broom cupboard, locking it so he couldn't get away, I'd be damned if I was going back into hiding after this.

Unfortunately it didn't look as if that was going to be a problem; the Death Eaters were getting the upper hand, despite the Order not having to worry about the students. Just then one of the walls collapsed and another group of giants appeared with the centaurs, led by Grawp. Unfortunately, whilst it distracted the giants it didn't help very much, in fact it seemed to get worse as the giants didn't really look where they were putting their feet.

I dispatched my latest adversary and spotted Belatrix, time to give her the shock of her life. I ran up and fired a spell past her ear making her turn. Her eyes widened in shock, but she didn't have time to wonder if I was just her imagination because I fired several more spells at her.

"You may have beaten me one Bel, but then it wasn't really me, you have no chance," I taunted, dodging her curses. I cast several spells in quick succession and she tried to dodge them all but a stunning spell hit her as she turned away from me. I moved on.

I had been fighting for ten minutes when I found myself back to back with Remus and Moody; it seemed as if we were the last ones standing. Dementors headed towards us, like I was going to fall victim to them. I pictured being cleared and being able to walk down the street in the sunlight and sent a dog shaped patronus at them; Moody and Remus were doing the same. We were so busy with them we didn't notice all the Death Eaters scream out in pain clutching their left arm. However we did hear the unholy scream and wave of green gas that swept through the hall. It flew up formed a Dark Mark then evaporated. A figure staggered out from a pile of rubble, I recognised Harry before the others I ran to him. He looked up at me his eyes widened then he fainted.