Dark Veil

    “Harry, Harry can you hear me?”

    Harry heard the voice, but he couldn’t respond. It was like his mouth was made of lead, he tried to open it, but it was too heavy. ‘Okay,’ he thought, ‘let’s try something else.’ He opened his eyes slowly, and then squeezed them shut at the bright light. “Good, you’re awake,” the voice said “Try and drink this now or Madame Pomfrey will have my head.” He, Harry could tell by the voice that it was a he, handed Harry a small glass and helped him drink it. Harry felt warmth spread over his entire body and his head cleared. He opened his eyes and saw Dumbledore looking down on him, the usual twinkle in his eye missing. “Thanks Professor, I feel loads better. What was that?” “Invigorating Potion, correctly made,” the headmaster replied, “Harry what in Merlin’s beard were you doing?” “You know that spell is to powerful for you; you could have died.” he whispers, voice betraying all emotion. “Did you truly want to die Harry, is that it?” “Professor, I don’t want to die, in fact I feel better than I have all year. I feel like I have something to live for!” Harry exclaimed.

    The next morning Harry was allowed to leave the hospital wing, but he was not allowed, however, to go to any of his classes. Harry felt that was fairly stupid, but he wasn’t arguing. As he walked into the Great Hall a hushed silence fell. Gradually, the chatter started up again, but it was quiet and reserved and Harry knew they were talking about him. Ron and Hermione were waiting for him at their table in the usual spot. They looked grave and worried. “Harry, thank God you’re all right. What the fuck were you doing, you could have died!” Hermione cried. “Yeah mate, you had us worried,” Ron added, looking pale. “I can’t tell you guys, I’m sorry, I would if I could, but I can’t. Hermione, you’ll figure it out pretty soon. When you do tell Ron, he won’t catch on so quick. See Ya.” And with that, Harry swept out of the Great Hall, glasses flashing in the sunlight.

    Harry took off at a brisk pace toward the Enchanted Forest, trying to look innocent and blend in with the crowd. He went by Hagrid’s shack and walked into the forest. He walked quickly, hoping to find the thestrals quickly so he wasn’t caught. Last time he had had an advantage as he was covered in blood. This time he was just going to trust his luck. But it seems his luck ran away, cause it was over an hour and he still hadn’t seen one. Oh well, Harry pulled out a razor and cut his fingers. First his left pinky then his right one, then his left thumb then his right one. It didn’t hurt him, not anymore. He had done it countless times throughout his life, but mostly since Sirius died. ‘Don’t think him,’ he told himself ‘thinking about it only brings pain.’ A warm tongue interrupted his thoughts, a thestral had found him. Quickly, before more were drawn to the scent, Harry clambered clumsily up onto his steed. “Ministry of Magic, London,” he told his mount “and quick.”

    Harry remembered that riding a thestral wasn’t fun, but that didn’t prepare him for this horrible journey. As Harry tried to keep down his food, he started thinking back to the talk he had with Remus.

    “I know this is hard for you Harry, it’s hard for all of us, but Sirius wouldn’t want you to spend the rest of you life wallowing in woe. Just for a month or two, so the attention wouldn’t fall away to quick.” he added wryly.

    A quick landing jolted him out his thoughts. He was at the phone booth that led to MoM. He let the thestral go back to Hogwarts; he wouldn’t need him for a while. Harry clambered into the phone booth and dialed the numbers. “Ministry of Magic, who are you and what do you need?” “Harry Potter, bringing back my Godfather.” a badge clambered down and Harry picked it up. Harry Potter Bringing Back the Dead, it read. Harry looked at it, and decided he didn’t need it. Harry walked into the Ministry and walked past the wand-checking guard heading straight to the dark corridor. He remembered it easily after the dreams he had had last summer, he wasn’t plagued by those dreams anymore, but they were etched into his mind. He walked into the circle room and guessed a door. The door he picked led into a room he didn’t recognize, so he walked out. “Flagarate.” The room spun and he picked a new room. This one was the right one, he walked quickly to the veil. “This is it, Sirius, I’ll get you out of there.” After taking a deep breath, trying unsuccessfully to calm his beating heart, he walked into the Veil and pain exploded into his body, his mind was reeling. He cried out, then the blackness came rushing in.