Chapter Four: I Open At The Close

What Unspeakables were left were assigned to figure out just what had occured in the Department of Mysteries, and why Ron Weasley was there. Within two days they had figured out that Ron had probably been trying to throw the diadem into the Veil, but surmised that he had be interrupted by the building collapsing and that was what had caused the damage to the diadem. The mystery wizard was still deep in a coma, and no one had yet come to claim him.

On the third day since the death of Ron, an unfamiliar barn owl had made it's way through the wave of people, and landed in Hermione's lap. She stared at the bird for several long momentd before it stuck it's leg out showing her the letter that was attached. Hermione stared at it some more. She didn't know anyone who would send her a letter that wasn't already within the walls of Hogwarts, or otherwise...gone.

"It's just gonna sit there till you take the letter," said Harry, slightly detached.

"What if it's a trap?" Hermione mused.

"What if it's a letter?" he returned.

"I don't want it. I don't feel like reading."

"It isn't a howler, Hermione. You don't have to read it straight away."

"I don't want it. It's probably fan mail."

"Why would you get fan mail?" Harry asked. "I haven't gotten any at all."

"Because I'm smarter than you and prettier," Hermione said dryly.

"I'll read it then," said Harry reaching for the letter.

Hermione quickly untied the letter, shoved it in her jacket, and shooed the owl away.

"I thought you said you didn't want it," said Harry with a slight smirk.

"It's my letter," said Hermione.

"You gonna read it?" Harry asked.

"No."

"You don't know want to know what it says?"

"Not particularly."

"Curiosity killed the cat."

"Good thing I'm a human."

"Ugh! Hermione! Read the damn letter!"

"It's my letter."

"And letters are meant to me read."

"I have a headache."

"Then I'll read it."

"It might be personal."

"Then you should read it."

"I don't want to."

Harry just huffed and gave up. Ten minutes later Hermione pulled it out.

"It's...it's from Ron," she whispered, which caused Harry to sit straight up.

"What does it say?"

Hermione just shook her head, tears spilling from her eyes.

"Oh, Ron!" she breathed, "you idiot!"

Closing her eyes as she finished the letter, she took a moment to compose herself before handing it over to Harry.

'Hermione,' Ron had scrawled. 'I think I've figured it out. I've been doing a lot of reading this past year, to kind of pass the time ya know, and I think I found something that will help Harry out. I didn't really understand everything, but I think I got the jest of it, so I thought I'd give it a try. I'm sorry I was such a git at Christmas, and I hope you will forgive me. If this doesn't work out as planned, well, I'm sorry for that too. I really hope it does.

I was reading one of those books you insisted on carrying around, and it was some ol' blokes journal or something. Anyway, it was talking about that Veil that Padfoot fell through, and how when you went through it you weren't really dead, you were just in limbo or something. He said his mate had fallen through it, and he was able to get him back out, but he had had to sacrifice a piece of his soul or something. Bloody disgusting if you ask me. Anyway, it got me thinking, a horcrux is a bit of Voldemort's soul, right? And Harry needs Padfoot. He needs family. I figure Snake Faces soul is as good as any to sacrifice, and if it gives Harry a piece of his family back well...

Anyway, I'd better get going before I loose my nerve. Maybe...we can talk and stuff when I get back? About the kiss and everything? Or we don't have to.

Ron

"Hermione," Harry said slowly. "Didn't they find someone else with Ron in that room?"

Hermione went stark white.

"Oh my God!" she exclaimed. "Harry! What if- Do you think?"

"I think, we need to go to the Infirmary."

Thankfully the Floo connection between the Infirmary and the Great Hall was still activated for travel as well. Navagating (Navigating) several flights of stairs was still not possible for Harry in his current condition.

Hermione and Harry both stayed just inside the ward before gathering the courage to proceed further in.

"Yes?" asked the matron looking at them.

"The uh-" started Harry.

"The wizard...from the Ministry...is he still here?" finished Hermione.

"Why do you ask?"

"We think-we think we know him. Er-knew him. Once." said Hermione lamely.

Pomfrey narrowed her eyes as she considered them.

"And who pray tell is he supposed to be?"

"We think...we think it's Padfoot," said Harry softly.

"Padfoot?"

"Sirius...Black." Harry almost whispered before handing the note to Pomfrey.

"Are you sure?"

"No," said Harry shaking his head, "but I need to know."

Pomfrey just nodded her head.

"Last door on the left. Enter quietly."

It took Harry and Hermione ten minutes to enter the room they had been instructed to.

"What if it isn't him?" asked Harry, apprehension in his voice.

"What if it is?"

"What if-what if he doesn't remember me? What if he isn't the same?"

"Harry, it's Sirius. It'll be alright."

Slowly Harry pushed the door open and both friends went inside.

Laying on the bed was a young man, no older looking than twenty-one, with high cheekbones, a graceful jaw, and coal black hair to said jaw, with a slight wave. While he looked painfully familiar to both Harry and Hermione, they sadly deduced that this was not Sirius Black.

"Harry. Are we sure? I mean...no one knows what happens in the Veil. I've no idea what book...I've no idea what he was talking about, and my purse...I lost it at Malfoy Manor. Maybe the Veil de-ages you? Or brings you back to the point your life was interrupted? Maybe whatever determines that decided Sirius was interrupted when he was incarcerated? He would have been about the right age, wouldn't he?"

"I dunno," said Harry shaking his head.

"Maybe we could ask Remus?"

"No. I don't want to get his hopes up."

"He needs Sirius too. And he would know for sure. They're best friends. We don't have to tell him who we think it is. Maybe just tell him we thought he looked familiar, and we wondered if Remus had seem him before. I know he hasn't been up here. He's gone to Lindfield in West Sussex to be with Teddy and 'Dromeda. I doubt he even knows...about all that."

"I'd hate to bother him..." Harry trailed off.

"He needs to know," said Hermione.

"I'll send him an owl."

"No you won't. You can't do that to him. We've been to Lindfield, if you remember. I can go down to Hogsmeade. I'll just apparate there. I doubt anyone will think to write a ticket for me not having my liscense (license) just yet. I can kip into the park there. It's only a block or so from Mrs. Tonks house. I can walk the rest of the way and...we'll be here in no time."

"You can't go alone."

"I can't take you."

"It isn't safe."

"It never is," said Hermione sadly, kissing Harry on top of the head and walking away.

Forty-five minutes later Hermione found herself knocking on Mrs. Tonks front door, a complete ball of nerves.

"Hermione!" said Remus as he answered the door. "This is unexpected. What are you doing here? Is everything alright? Harry's okay?"

"Everything's fine,' said Hermione a bit distracted. "I hate to impose," she said seemingly coming back to herself, "but may I come in? I only need a moment of your time."

"Of course," said Remus opening the door a little wider and letting her in.

"I'm surprised you came alone," said Remus.

"Harry still isn't able to travel, and...Ron is...dead," said Hermione bursting into tears. It was the first time she had actually admitted the loss of Ron, and it was a jagged knife to her heart.

"Oh, Hermione," said Remus, pulling her into a hug. "I'm so sorry. So very sorry. If I had known...how is Harry holding up? Someone should have sent word. I would have come straight away. Poor Molly. Ginny and Percy too. Bless her soul."

Hermione sniffed. "Teddy needs you, and we didn't want...but somethings come up, and we need you to come to Hogwarts. When they found Ron, someone else was with him, only no one knows who it is. Harry and I swear we've seen him before, but we can't place a finger on it, and the man isn't exactly conscious so...maybe he belonged to the Order? We thought that maybe...you could..."

"Recognize his scent?" asked Remus slightly amused.

"Yeah," said Hermione lamely.

"Where was Ron found?"

"It's uh...complicated? Perhaps we should discuss that after...you get to Hogwarts..."

"Hermione, what are you not telling me?"

"Ron was in the Department of Mysteries. He sent me a letter, but I left it at Hogwarts, and I promised Harry I wouldn't say a word until you got there."

"Let me just tell Andy that I'm leaving for a bit. Teddy just went down, so...he should be good for a while."

Hermione just nodded and waited for Remus to return.

Two hours after Hermione had left, she returned with Remus at her side. Slowly trekking up to the Hospital Wing Hermione debated with herself on whether or not to go ahead and tell Remus her suspicions. Cowardice for once, won out.

"Harry," said Remus upon seeing his honorary Godson. "I am so very sorry about Ron. I know what you are going through, and if you ever need someone, I'm still here for you Cub. Please don't ever forget that."

Harry just nodded as Remus bent to hug him.

"Hermione tells me you have a mystery wizard in the ward?" Remus asked standing back up.

Harry only nodded as his throat had become suddenly dry.

"Any idea on who he might be?"

Again Harry only nodded.

"Are you going to tell me who you think he is?"

Harry could only shake his head.

"What is going on here?"

"Remus," Hermione began. "Did Padfoot...I mean...Regulas would be what...thirty-six?"

"About that yes, but you know he died."

"Yes. Right. Did Sirius have any children, then?"

Remus gave a sad snort.

"It wouldn't surprise me if he ended up with one or two, but if he did have any, the mothers did not make it known. Why do you ask?"

"Just...don't pass out," said Hermione leading Remus to the appropriate door.

Remus stepped in and his whole world came to a halt. It was suddenly very loud, and very hard to breathe.

Padfoot," he breathed.

Looking at the person before him, he saw Sirius Black at twenty-one. Rising star in the Auror department, fun loving guy, his best friend. This was Sirius Black before the world was ripped to shreds, and lives were destroyed, and lies were sewn.

"Impossible," he said a bit louder.

"We thought it was him as well, but...this...person...can't be much older than us. In his twenties maybe?"

"Sirius fell through the Veil. He is lost to us forever," said Remus.

"Again, we were also under that impression. But Ron...he said he found something. A way to bring Sirius back. The book he found it in is lost, I don't even know which one he was reading, and then...well...I guess we'll never know," said Hermione handing Remus the note.

Remus scanned the note and then read it again.

"This...what he is talking about...it's a very dark bit of magic. Where did he come across this at?"

"I'm not sure. I packed several books for our journey. Most of them came from the Black Library. I can't even recall which ones or what they were. I don't even know why he would attempt it."

Remus just nodded.

"Until this person wakes up, I cannot be sure. It looks like Padfoot, even smells like him, but...there is no telling what happened to him when he was...wherever he was. He may not be the same if he ever wakes."

Harry and Hermione just nodded both lost deep in thought. Slowly everyone dispersed, and Harry found himself alone in the Charms courtyard holding an innocent looking snitch . Waiting was not something he could do. He had to know once and for all if Sirius was really gone, and while he had told everyone he dropped the Resurrection Stone somewhere in the Forbidden Forest, he made no mention that he had painfully crawled back to the spot and retrieved it. Blowing gently on the snitch words faintly began to glow, and Harry Potter started his sole journey to discovery.