Through the Veil

As he fell backwards through the veil into the dark, he finally hit a wall. Or what seemed like a wall. It was pearly white. Laying on the ground alone and frustrated Sirius thought to himself, "How did I get to James's house? Or, what looks like his house, because it can't be. It's far too clean. And white."

A long time later, or maybe no time at all, he realized that he had fallen through the death chamber in the Ministry of Magic.

"I am still alive. I'm not dead." Abruptly standing he shouted for Harry. "Can you hear me? I'm here! I'm alive! Are you okay?"

Realizing that Harry could likely not hear him, Sirius observed his surroundings. He stood in a bright mist, though it was not like mist he had ever experienced before. Slowly, the mist revealed that his first conclusion was right. He thought to himself, "This must be James's house. Will I be able to return to Harry?"

The floor he stood upon was neither warm nor cold. Simply there, he stood puzzled by what to do next. James's house was quite empty. He was the only person there except for –"James?"

Out of the mist James appeared before Sirius. "James! My old friend! Where are we? You're not dead?"

James smiled brightly at Sirius. He hadn't seen him in what felt like decades, or minutes. He couldn't be too sure. Time, he had learned, was just not right.

"Sirius." He spread his arms wide to embrace his closest of friends. Teasingly, James responded to Sirius, "You look disheveled. Have you been up to no good since last we spoke?"

Both excited and confused Sirius laughed at James's remark. James looked exactly how he did nearly fifteen years ago. He had the same thin face, same hands, and the same untidy black hair sticking up in the back. Having just been dueling alongside Harry, he had forgotten that his nose was slightly longer than Harry's. But of course, he did recall his hazel eyes.

"Well then, I must be dead," said Sirius.

James laughed quite matter-of-factly, "Well, I am."

"Then I must have died as well."

"Well you can't walk back through that veil now can you? Can you even find it?"

Sirius looked around. The old raggedy couches were still there, sort of. That mirror that hung above the couch was still in place. He even thought he could smell Mrs. Potter's famous Sunday roast baking in the kitchen. But nowhere could he locate how he had arrived. "Where was that old veil anyways," thought Sirius.

"Yes, I suppose there's no going back through a veil that doesn't exist."

"Well, it does exist. It's a one way trip though. No exiting," James responded.

They sat in silence for a moment. Accepting what had happened; Sirius couldn't help but think of Harry. He had only had a few short years with him. He had been his godfather. He spent thirteen years in Azkaban tormented by his ill fate. Nearly driven mad, he had resigned himself to life in Azkaban until he found his proof. Pettigrew was alive and well, living with the Weasley family. Sirius spotted that rat on the front page of the Daily Prophet. His new found purpose motivated him to escape, find Pettigrew, and reunite with Harry. Except things hadn't gone quiet as planned. His innocence was never noted by the Ministry, so for the past two years, Sirius lived in hiding. But most importantly, Harry knew he was innocent. He could be his godfather.

But a poor godfather he was. He couldn't watch Harry play Quidditch. He couldn't bring Harry into his home. He could never be in public with his godson. Oh he tried of course. Living as an Animagus, he would walk around in public as the great black shaggy dog. Always given a stern warning by Dumbledore, Sirius knew he must take great caution when appearing in public. He always felt it was never enough.

Sometime later James spoke up. "So what were you doing?"

"Harry is so much like you, you know. Good. Loyal. Trustful. He's been through so much, yet he continues to love. Voldermort has found a way into Harry's mind, James. He made Harry believe that I was being tortured to death. Harry went to rescue me. But of course, I wasn't there. Snape knew. He alerted the Order. We were just a few minutes behind. I'm sure he'll be fine, James. He's so strong. He's incredible."

"So you were dueling then?"

"I'm so sorry, James. We all went to protect him. You must think I'm an awful godfather."

"Of course not, Sirius! You said it yourself, he's like me. After all, he is my son. What would you expect? I understand. You've done as much as you can. You were a wonderful godfather to Harry."

"James, if you could have seen Harry duel! Or even play Quidditch. I say, he may even rival you as seeker."

After telling James about his son, his passions in school, his friends, how he looks (like you, except his eyes, he has Lily's eyes), he came to the point where he needed to know, what he was doing in James's house.

"So why exactly are we here?"

"Well, I was going to ask you that," said James looking around somewhat confused.

Up until that point Sirius assumed he was in James's house. Yes, it was his house. But why?

"It looks rather like your home, James. As far as I can see, your living room seems to be in place. Mrs. Potter's cooking seems to be filling up the house as normal," Sirius responded.

"Well," thought James, "this is, as they say, your party."

Sirius mused at the idea of a party at James's parent's house. He supposed it made sense. After all, he had left his own home to be with James at one point. James's home was as good a home as he had ever remembered. Nothing compared to it.

"So where do we go from here, James?"

"That's up to you."

"I have a choice?"

"Of course you do. Everyone has a choice." James had always admired his friend. Quick to action, Sirius was always passionate and loyal.

"Well, obviously I'm just going to have to follow my friend," Sirius smirked.

"Then on we go."