The Powers That Be

Harry sat at his desk at home, surrounded by books and old papers. It wasn't something for the Ministry that Harry was working on, this was his own little research project. Harry, like so many wizards, witches and Muggles before him, was looking for the answer to one of the oldest questions. What happens after death? It had been almost a year since Harry was mysteriously saved from Bellatrix Lestrange on that beach. When he told Hermione about what happened, she had tried to be the voice of reason. She tried to tell him that it was most likely a completely different Animagus that had saved him. There were more of them about nowadays. Harry had his own ideas. Bellatrix's scream of terror, the voice, the paw prints in the sand, in Harry's mind the clues all pointed to his godfather, Sirius Black.

On the desk were books from the Ministry regarding the history of the veil and what it actually was, so far Harry was having trouble discerning any meaning from the old writings. There was also every book Harry could find on theories about the afterlife. That was all they were though, theories and possibilities. They didn't help Harry at all. After finishing yet another book without finding anything he threw it across the room in frustration. It was Sirius who had saved him, it had to be.

Ginny had taken Lily to see a musical in town. Lily was at the age where that sort of thing appealed to her. Her little brother, Sirius, was too young for that kind of thing. From Harry's point of view, Ginny hadn't been particularly supportive of Harry's research. She wasn't there during the fight with the three Death Eaters; she had escaped with the children to safety so she couldn't have seen Sirius Black. She was worried about her husband; he wasn't eating properly and rarely sleeping. He had been late for work on more than one occasion. He was obsessed with finding proof that Sirius hadn't died when he fell through that veil or failing that, he had somehow come back to life.

Harry had just started on the next book when he felt a tug on his sleeve. His three year old son, Sirius, was standing by the chair holding a book in his little hands.

"Daddy, it's my bedtime," he said timidly.

"Oh right, night night," said Harry out of routine. He ruffled his son's hair lovingly, again out of routine. It was Ginny who usually put the kids to bed. Harry used to do it almost every night, before the incident on the beach. He was becoming more and more of a stranger to his own children.

"But Daddy, Mummy went to the music,"

"Hmm? Oh yeah. Well ...you can put yourself to bed can't you?" Sirius held up the book. It was his favourite, 'Hubert the Hippogriff'.

"Can you read me a story please daddy?"

"Sirius, Daddy's really busy right now. Couldn't you ..."

"Please Daddy," chimed Sirius, "pleeeaase?"

"SIRIUS, JUST GO TO BED NOW!" yelled Harry. Normally he would never have shouted at Sirius like that but his obsession had brought back the temper he thought he had buried a long time ago. Sirius was stunned by his father's shout. He turned and headed for the stairs, his head hung low. Harry turned back to his desk so he didn't see the tears welling up in his son's eyes.

Harry hadn't fully realised how much he had upset his son, he was too busy. He was studying another book; this one looked as if it would be a little more helpful. Suddenly a gust of wind came in from the open window and blew the book firmly shut. Harry rose from his seat, crossed the room and closed the window. The wind had been unusually strong, especially for the time of year. Harry turned to sit back at his desk to discover someone was already sitting in his chair. Before Harry's very eyes was Sirius Black, his godfather.

Harry fought the urge to rub his eyes in case he really was seeing things. He couldn't believe what he was seeing yet he wanted to. It had to be some kind of stress induced hallucination. He had to be seeing what he wanted to see.

"Hello Harry," said Sirius as clear as a bell. He didn't look the same as he did when he died. He looked younger, happier, like he was in the picture of James' and Lily's wedding.

"Sirius," Harry managed to whisper. His mouth felt dry but it was moistened by the tears flowing down his face. No matter how blurry his vision was, he could still see that Sirius was crying as well. They embraced each other they way a godfather and godson would after what they had been through. Harry knew he would come back, he just knew it. Harry had to sit down on the sofa before he collapsed from the shock.

"Sirius ...where have you been all this time? Last year ... the beach ...and the park before that ..."

"Harry, calm down," said Sirius as he sat down next to him. "I'm going to explain everything if you'll listen." Harry nodded, he had so many questions but he knew it would be best to let Sirius explain. "Let me start by saying I can't stay long,"

"Can't stay long? But why? You only just got here ..."

"I thought you were going to let me explain?" interrupted Sirius, smiling warmly.

"Oh ...yes. Go on," Sirius paused for a moment, trying to think of all that he needed to say. There was much that he couldn't say but most of it Harry didn't need to know, not yet.

"When I fell through that veil, I did die, that you came to terms with ...until recently. Now, since that day I've been in ...well I suppose the most appropriate term for it is heaven."

"But you're alive now, aren't you?"

"Yes ...and no. Harry, you have to understand something. The powers that be have a very strict and mysterious way of doing things."

"The powers that be?" enquired Harry, perplexed beyond belief.

"It is how we refer to a higher power in heaven. God you might say. The powers that be are beyond human understanding. When you die, you're given the chance to go back to earth for a short amount of time. You can only do it once so this is the last time I shall be on earth."

"But I've seen you before now ...you saved me at the beach. That was you, wasn't it?"

"Yes it was and in that park two years ago. Harry, when I arrived in heaven I met up with your mum and dad."

"Mum and dad? Are they all right?" Sirius chuckled.

"They're more than all right where they are, Harry. They never used their visits to earth and when I said I wanted to go see you, they offered to let me use theirs as well as mine."

"Didn't they want to ...?"

"They would have loved nothing more than to see you but they decided against it along time ago. It would have been too traumatic for you, how would you feel if your parents that you barely knew suddenly appeared, only to leave again? Not to worry though Harry, you'll see them and me ...when it's your time. Besides, barely a moment of your life has gone by without them watching you from heaven. It's one of the things the dead love to do, watch the living."

"Why did you disappear in the park when I tried to find you? And after you saved me from Bellatrix?" Harry suddenly realised that the idea of letting Sirius explain without being interrupted with questions had gone out the window.

"Like I said Harry, the powers that be are very strict. I was allowed to use your parent's visits on two conditions. I could only use one visit per year and I could not be seen by you on the first two visits. I took a great risk when I stepped in and stopped Bellatrix, but I couldn't let her get you. In a way, I got my revenge and saved you at the same time. Just don't mention the revenge part when you get to heaven some day, they tend to frown upon that kind of thinking."

"Sirius ...I can't see the sense behind those two conditions. In fact, very little of this is making any sense."

"Believe me Harry, there are people who have been in heaven for thousands of years and they don't know any more than I do. I've been allowed more time now because there's something I have to tell you." Sirius put his hand on Harry's shoulder. "Stop looking for me. Those books," he waved dismissively at the desk, "aren't going to help you."

"I miss you," said Harry for want of more to say.

"I've missed you too Harry, but we will be together one day, all of us will be together. Right now you have friends and a family that love you. They need you now Harry. Those of us in heaven don't need to be found, we'll find you when it's time." Harry nodded. He understood now, he understood it all. He began to realise how much he had been ignoring his family. Sirius wasn't finished. "Remember how I said the dead love to watch the living? Well, right now, there is a little boy not too far from here and he needs his father." Harry jumped up.

"Sirius! I yelled at him and all he wanted was a story ...oh I've been such an idiot." Harry looked down to where his godfather had been sitting but he had disappeared just as silently as he had arrived. Harry knew what he had to do. He would get rid of those books in the morning, but now he had a more urgent matter. "Thank you Sirius," he whispered to the silence before climbing up the stairs.

Harry found his son in his bedroom. Little Sirius had unsuccessfully attempted to put his pyjamas on by himself. He was struggling with one of the sleeves and he couldn't get his head through properly. Harry knelt down by him and gave him a helping hand. When Sirius' head popped through, Harry could see the tears staining his angelic face.

"I-I'm s-s-sorry Daddy," sniffed Sirius. He believed he had done something wrong to make his father angry with him; such is the innocence of youth. Harry hugged his son as he fought back his own tears.

"No, you don't need to be sorry for anything, cherub. Daddy's the one who's sorry. I shouldn't have yelled at you like that." Stepping back from his father's hug, Sirius wiped his eyes on his sleeve. Harry put his hands on Sirius' shoulders. "You're a good boy ...and Daddy's just a grumpy old grouch. Isn't he?" Harry started tickling Sirius under his armpits making him laugh. "Isn't he? Ay? What's Daddy?"

"A grumpy old gouch!" Sirius managed to say through his laughter. Harry picked up the giggling child and put him down on the bed. As Harry tucked him in, Sirius picked up the book from his bedside table. "Can I have a story please Daddy?"

"Sure you can." Harry sat on the edge of the bed and opened the book at the first page. "Once upon a time, there was a Hippogriff named Hubert ..."