Harry Potter and the Veil

Chapter V

A long silence had overcome the group as they tried to grasp what they had just been told. Percy and Mr. Weasley squirmed uncomfortably in their seats. Kingley Shacklebolt, on the other hand, sat completely at ease, despite the four pairs of bright young eyes that were staring him down.

"How is that possible though?" Ginny blurted out. "Harry saw Sirius get hit by Bellatix's curse." Ginny threw Harry a sympathetic look before continuing, "She used the Killing Curse and Harry's the only known person to have survived it."

Ginny grasped Harry's hand as the Minister of Magic calmly responded, "Well you see we've gone over our Surveillance Orbs and we think that at the exact moment that Sirius fell into the veil, he was not yet completely dead."

Seeing the confusion in his eyes, he cleared his throat before continuing, "Upon some extensive research, the ministry's magical research department has actually concluded that the Avada Kedavra doesn't actually cause instant death. Even though it does still kill, it takes a little more than a few seconds to completely end one's life. Depending on the strength behind the spell, it may take longer for the victim to actually die. For example, Voldemort's Curse would cause death in about five seconds, while Lucius Malfoy's might take about ten to fifteen seconds."

"I don't understand." Harry's words was almost inaudible, but were easily heard in the new silence.

"Depending on the inherent power a wi..."

"-NO!" Harry interrupted. "How long? How long have you known and been keeping this from me?" Harry was almost yelling now.

Kingsley looking taken aback but quickly composed himself. He looked down, and said, "Our suspicions started a little over a year ago."

That did it. Harry's eyes filled with loathing for the man in front of him. He reached for his wand.

Ron caught him and held him to the bed, snatching the wand out of his grasp.

Harry fought against Ron, bellowing at Kingsley, "You Son of a-"

"Harry, calm down," Ginny pleaded.

"He's the minister of Magic! Harry, he's the Minister," Hermione added, "You can't talk to him like that!"

"Shut up!" Harry turned to Ginny and Hermione; both their eyes began to tear up. Ashamed of himself, he laid back down and said softly but with a quiet fury, "I think it's time for you to leave, Minister."

Although he felt like strangling someone, Harry noticed something in the Minister's face as he got up to leave. "Wait," Harry called out.

The minister turned to Harry once more looking debased. Harry had never seen this man looking so ashamed and distraught. "Yes, Mr. Potter?"

"Where's the veil now?" As soon as he had asked, Kingsley's face grew darker and worn. It was then that Harry and the rest of them noticed deep, dark circles under his eyes.

Ginny and Hermione had stopped crying by then. Kingsley swallowed, staring at his feet. "Gone," He said. "About a week ago it just… vanished. We think that a rogue faction of Death Eaters must've somehow stolen it."

He then looked up at Harry and said, "I have the a third of the Auror office looking for evidence of any kind and almost half of my Trackers are hunting down information on the streets."

"I want to help," Harry declared. "If it means finding Sirius then I've got to."

A week later Ginny watch silently as Harry packed his old rucksack, wishing that he wouldn't go. She thought that with Voldemort gone, that she and Harry could finally be together. She hated they year that they were separated, and she wasn't willing to go through that again.

She got up and walked to Harry. "No," she said.

Harry didn't stop packing. "We've been over this, Ginny. You know how I feel about this. You know I have to go."

"I can't lose you again Harry," she sniffled.

As Harry turned around to hold her, she ran into his arms, clutching him around the waist.

"Gin…" Harry almost whispered her name as he tilted her chin up. He looked into her tear-filled eyes, wiping away a stray drop with his thumb. He caressed her cheek and bent in to kiss her.

Snap! Harry and Ginny both flinched at the sound. Someone was here and the moment was ruined.

Slowly, they both looked up to see Ron, standing there with his own rucksack at his feet.

Harry was about to greet him when Ginny ran from his arms to her brother. Smack! Smack! Smack!

"Ouch! Ginny, what the bloody 'ell is your problem?" Ron yelled as Ginny manage to land a good punch right on his nose.

"Ron -smack- you –smack- are a –smack- GIT!" Thankfully, Ginny had stopped attacking him, but stood there still half flustered and angry. Harry laughed. Like mother like daughter.

There was another loud snap and everyone turned to see Hermione, with a furious look on her face. As soon as she found him, she practically ran to Ron.

"Ron -smack- you –smack- are a –smack- GIT!"

Harry started laughing, but when Ginny and Hermione both shot him a set of deadly glances, he shut up right quick.

Hermione turned back to Ron, who flinched expecting another bombardment. "You prat! How can you expect me to stay home while you go running off after Death Eaters?"

As Hermione pulled back her fist to hit him again, he caught her by the wrist and pulled her close to him. He whispered something into her ear and her face became even redder than before. Instead of hitting him, though, she threw her arms around his neck, whispering, "Oh, Ron!"

While their friends were preoccupied, Ginny led Harry to the kitchen. She grabbed his face and pressed her lips desperately to his. They hadn't kissed like this since the war. It was full of sadness and hope, all mixed together as if they were the same emotion.

Harry returned the embrace with one hand running through her strawberry scented hair and the other wrapping around her waist, pulling her up to her tiptoes and deeper into the kiss.

After long, they slowly pulled away from each other, panting lightly. They both wished that they could stay together like that, but knew that there were things that needed to be done.

Harry looked into her light brown eyes and she looked into his green. "Ginny I…"

She put a finger to his lips and said, "Just hurry back, okay? And watch out for my brother, he's a bit of a git."