What You See Is What You Get...

Sirius was hit. He started to fall, but couldn`t keep himself from it. He knew he wasn't doing so well; he was hurt, in pain, and on the edge of his life. The room around him started to fade away, and he knew where he was being taken. The dias had overtaken him, was pulling him under the black veil.

But what about Harry? No!!! What's happening to Harry?!

He could hear the voices beneath him start to welcome in to the deep pit of oblivion, the world between the wizarding and muggle worlds. Although strangely happy, Sirius didn't want to hear them. They sent chills up his spine, and he had only stopped falling when they came toward him, coming out into the view from when one looked in.

"Welcome, Mr. Black, we've been waiting for you."

"Yes, we've been watching the battle. It's time you joined us."

"Wh- where am I? Who are you?!" he shouted back at them, holding up his wand to them.

"Your wand does not work here. You may put it down Mr. Black."

"Oh, leave the poor man be," said a wizard with long, metallic silver hair. She was wearing a long navy blue robe with white specks of dust shimmering all over. She had a calm, very relaxing voice. "Sirius, my name is Aria Gwendolyn. I'm sure you are very frightened."

"Frightened? There is a more appropriate word, I'm sure, m'lady," someone sneered.

"Silence!" she snapped. Then she turned back to Sirius, using her warm voice again. "I'm sure you have many questions that need answering --"

"Who are you? What am I doing here!?"

"I am here to answer those and other questions for you, Sirius." She put her hand on his back and started to lead him out of the center of the room. "If you will come with me, I will straighten everything out for you." Sirius would've hesitated, but her touch had a calming effect, and he felt strangely safe with this woman. They walked down a wide corridor, and turned into an empty room with a desk, and two chairs on either side. After closing the door behind them, Aria motioned for him to sit down; he did, and she sat opposite of him.

Aria picked up a basket and offered it to Sirius. "Peppermint?"

"No thanks."

"I insist, Sirius." He took a piece, unwrapped it, and took a bite. He felt more easy and relaxed.

"Thank you," he said.

"Now, you asked to know where you are."

"Yes."

"This is a place wizards go when they are on the edge of their lives, but are not yet ready to die. More importantly, wizards who come here have done something extremely great or worthy in their lifetime, and deserve a second chance at life." She picked up a goblet and took a sip from it, then continued.

"You, Sirius, were wrongly sentenced to Azkaban and survived its Hellish darkness. When you escaped, you came to love Harry Potter as your own son. Not many can learn to love someone as a parent does their child. Because of these great things you have accomplished, you deserve a second chance." She took another drink from her goblet.

"There is one disadvantage to all of this though."

"Yes?"

"If you choose to go back to your life, you will not have your powers anymore. You will become a Muggle, and would be allowed no contact with the wizarding world. There are only two ways to get past this."

"And what are those?! Tell me!"

"You must take the life of another, the life of someone that is dear and close to your heart."

Sirius gasped. "And the other?"

"The other one," Aria sighed discouragingly. "The other way may complicate your transfer back to life."

"How?"

"You could end up dead, permanently. You would not come back here to be able to try again. Your body would disappear from the Earth."

"What are the chances of that happening?"

"Very great. In the written historical accounts we have, only about forty-five wizards have succeeded in this task."

"How many have tried?"

Aria hesitated. "Approximately six hundred."

Sirius looked very grim. He pondered to himself about this important decision. After a mere few minutes, he had come to a decision and spoke. "I definitely want to go back, but if I were to take the easy route, the safe route, I would never be able to see anyone that's important to me; Remus, Albus, the Weasleys, and most importantly, Harry. I wouldn't be able to know what happens with the Dark Lord, wouldn't be able to help out in the efforts to defeat him if I did. I couldn't live like that. And I definitely cannot sacrifice someone I love just so I may live. That would be horribly selfish. So I must do the near impossible and face the horrible odds presented in the way that allows me to go back to my real life."

"Are you sure, Sirius? This decision should not be taken lightly, and you should take more time to think about it."

"Yes. I am one hundred percent sure this is my decision. There's nothing more to think about; the choice is clear. If I go back as a Muggle, I am as good as dead."

"Then the decision is final."

"Yes."

"I will tell you then, how the procedure works. There is a potion that will put you in a state of sleep that is only a fraction away from death. This is why it is so dangerous. If it goes too far, works only a little bit better than it is supposed to, it will kill you. While you slumber, your body is transferred to a small cottage in a vastly barren land. When you awaken, you will find a vial and a portkey. The vial contains a potion that takes away the effects of your being here, in between the worlds of life and death. The portkey will take you to the location of your choice, but it must be secluded, and, especially for you, it must only be available to those who know and trust you."

"How long will it be before I can do this?"

"We can have it ready in fifteen minutes. Do you know where you want to be brought back to?"

"Yes, its actually quite simple. I'd like to be taken back to my house."

"Your house? Are you completely sure that it's safe and well secluded?"

"Yes, quite sure."

"Then that is where you will wake up. What is the address of your house?"

"Er -- forgive me, it has been so long since I've said it out loud. Might I have something to write on and with?"

"You cannot say it?"

"No, I've learned not to, and it will be easier and quicker this way."

"Very well," Aria said, conjuring up a piece of parchment and a quill. Sirius wrote down the address:

Number twelve, Grimmauld Place, London

"Very good. Come with me then," she said, standing up and leading Sirius out of the room. "While I have the portkey prepared, you shall lay down and get ready take the potion. It takes about fifteen minutes to have the full effect. When you wake up, take the vial and quickly be on your way. The portkey will be a flowerpot on the floor in the corner of the room. Do you understand all this, Sirius?"

"Yes I do."

"Here is where you will be given the potion. Are you ready?"

"I -- I think so."

"Then I wish you the best of luck and hope that your attempt is not in vain."

"Thank you so much, Aria."

"Do not thank me, Sirius. It is the good deeds and actions in your life that you have to thank." She left the room and a wizard in a long, deep red robe motioned for Sirius to lie down on the bed. He handed Sirius a cup of grey liquid, fogging over the edge.

"You must drink all of this," said the wizard. "Do not worry, Sirius. I have been giving this potion to wizards over the years and I have a sense that you will make it through. There's a certain quality that all of the ones who have made it share. I couldn't tell you exactly what that quality is, but I feel that you have it."

"Thank you, sir."

"Now, drink."

Sirius gulped down the potion, every last drop, and immediately felt the effects of its magic. He instantly hit the bed and fell asleep.

*****

Sirius woke up feeling cold and very tired, but he soon remembered what had happened. He had to get back to Harry! He went over to the table with the vial on it and dumped its contents down his throat. Instantly he felt warmer and very much energized. He found the flowerpot and was immediately transported to his house in London. He found himself in the basement. He rushed up the stairs quickly, ran down the hall, and smashed open the kitchen door.

Everyone who was sitting at the table, Dumbledore, Lupin, Snape, Harry, Hermione, the Weasleys, Luna, Tonks, Moody and the rest of the Order, looked up and gasped at what they saw. Between everyone's shouts of merriment and surprise, Harry stood up and ran over to Sirius and wrapped his arms around him.

"I told you he wasn't dead Lupin! I knew it! I knew he hadn't died!"

"I almost did, Harry. In fact, I might have been. I don't really know."

"What do you mean?"

"Yeah! How did you survive?! What happened to you?!" everyone exclaimed at once. Even Dumbledore was perplexed.

"Sit down everyone, calm down. I will tell you."