Restarting my attempt at this story and I'm much happier with it and plan to pursue and publish more often. This is a story that takes place directly after Order Of The Phoenix. Sirius Black was my favorite character out of the Harry Potter series, and this story explores what may have happened had we dug deeper into what the veil in the Department Of Mysteries was in fuller detail. I remember the first time I read the book I was waiting and waiting as I read for more detail on this, that Sirius's death never felt quite official. Now that I am re reading the books as an adult this brought up an idea for a story diving into the potential of what the veil is and where it takes you. We find Harry getting word from a woman named Embry working in the department of mysteries that the veil isn't all it seems and that saving Sirius may be a possibility after all. Harry, Ron, and Hermione set off on a race against time to discover the truth behind the Veil. Desperate to see his god father again Harry must decide whether he can trust Embry. Especially when a troubled past between her and Sirius comes to light in the events.
Chapter One – Whispers behind the veil
Harry found himself being jolted awake from another night of restless sleep. His limbs were tangled in a mess of sheets and blankets, his clothes soaked in a cold sweat. Slowly as he opened his eyes he saw no light shining in from the window in his room at the burrow. With a sigh of frustration he realized it was long before morning when the rest of the Weasley's, and Hermione who was staying at the burrow as well, would be awake.
He had arrived at the burrow the night previously alongside Dumbledore, and his first day here had brought him great comfort. It was the shortest stay he had ever experienced at the Dursley's and there was never a time where he needed to be with his friend's more than he did now. He suspected that Dumbledore knew this and that's why he had been so lucky, he had hardly forgotten their talk in his office.
He was staying in Fred and George's old room for they now owned a shop in Diagon Alley where they had set up their joke shop. Above the shop was a small flat in which they were staying in. Their old room was littered with reminisce of their presence though. Candy wrappers from ton tongue taffies, pieces of fireworks, and drafted papers on products could be found all throughout the small room. Mrs. Weasley had made such a fuss over this, but Harry had told her he thought it was funny and it didn't bother him in the least.
Harry sat up in his bed and reached for his glasses on the bedside table. Sleep had evaded him once more and he knew better than to think he could fall back into a peaceful slumber at this point. Harry had enjoyed his friends company but he hadn't confined in them of the grief that was still tearing through him from the loss of his god father. The truth was he hadn't experienced a night's sleep in a week now that wasn't riddled in awful dreams. Mostly those of Sirius falling through the veil and Bellatrix's awful laugh ringing in his ears.
He tried to shake these thoughts reaching clumsily for the switch to turn on the small lamp sitting on the bedside table. He heard the click and the room filled with light, he reached down into his already open trunk bellow him and pulled out the leather-bound photo album Hagrid had given him.
Flipping to the page that held his now favorite picture, the one that showed both his parent's and Sirius their best man, beaming back at him on their wedding day. Harry smiled at the cocky grin on Sirius's young and handsome face, longing to have known him before Azkaban left its mark upon him. Perhaps had Sirius survived the night at the department of mysteries he would have. Sirius's name was clear now after all, he could have strolled out in the sunlight whenever he please instead of being confined at Grimmauld place that he hated so.
Harry shut the photo album and put it back into his trunk. He couldn't bear to torcher himself further thinking of Sirius wandering throughout that place alone.
Later that morning Harry was sitting around the table with all the Weasley's including the twins who had stopped by for breakfast with the family. Bill was also present with his now girlfriend Fleur who Harry knew from the Triwizard competition he competed in with her. She had given harry quite the surprise when he had first arrived and she swooped down on him kissing both cheeks and baring the news of her engagement with Bill. Ron seemed pleased as Harry often caught him staring at her stupidly forgetting about whatever he was doing. Harry laughed for even now Ron's fork hovered right below his mouth forgotten as he listened intently to what fleur was talking about. Hermione had clearly noticed as well for she let out a sigh and rolled her eyes turning her attention to Harry.
"So, have you seen the Prophet has flipped on their coverage of you now. Less talk of crazy and more of you being the chosen one." She rolled her eyes again at this and Harry laughed. He felt uncomfortable at this subject deep down though for he had yet to confined in Hermione and Ron about his talk with Dumbledore. That the chosen one rumor really wasn't that farfetched in reality.
"Oh yes, Harry Potter, the great chosen one that will save us all!" Cried out Fred, as he and George Saluted Harry from across the table. Fred looked as if he were going to follow up with this joke but was interrupted by a knock at the door. Mr. Weasley stood up from his chair and walked to the door, peaking out the window before opening the door to reveal Remus Lupin standing there.
"Hello Arthur, I'm sorry to drop in like this but I just got word of something I was hoping to talk to you about" Lupin said while Mr. Weasley gestured for him to come in.
"Hello everyone." Lupin said looking around the table at everyone, but his eyes stopped at Harry and he offered him a smile.
"I didn't expect to see you here, short stay with your Aunt and Uncle this year?" He asked still giving Harry a kind smile.
"Yeah I don't know how I lucked out on that one, but I'm grateful." Harry said returning his smile. Lupin turned his attention back onto Mr. Weasley quickly though, there was an air of urgency and impatience that was starting to catch Harry's attention.
"Well Fleur and I are off for the day, we will catch you later" Bill said standing up and taking Fleur by the hand.
"We're going to take off too, have to open the shop." Fred said enthusiastically.
"We'll see you guys later today, mum is taking you shopping today." George said in a fake whisper to Ginny that they all heard clear is day.
"So much for the surprise!" Mrs. Weasley called after them as they all hurried out the door and loud pops sounded as they apparated off to their destinations.
"The rest of you head upstairs and get ready as you now know we are going to head to Diagon Alley here soon." Mrs. Weasley said to Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny. Lupin seated himself at the table with Mr. Weasley as Harry and the others walked out of the kitchen. Harry noticed Mrs. Weasley made a point to close the door behind them.
"I wonder what's going, I don't think I've ever seen Lupin so restless." Hermione expressed to them and Harry nodded agreeing with her. Ron pressed his ear to the door of the kitchen and frowned.
"Mum's placed a muffling charm, I can't hear a thing." This disappointed Harry but was hardly a surprise for Mrs. Weasley felt they had no business in the order's business until they were older and always kept them out of business if she could.
"Well I nicked a couple of these from George and Fred, figured we might need them again someday." Ginny said with a mischievous grin that reminded Harry very much of the twins she had just spoke of. She then pulled a very familiar object out of her pocket that harry recognized immediately as an extendable ear.
"Brilliant Ginny!" Ron said excitedly clasping her on the shoulder as they placed it at the foot of the door and huddled together to listen. Hermione looked nervous at intruding upon what Mrs. Weasley obviously hoped to keep private but she too huddled in anyways.
"We need to look into this Molly, I don't care how farfetched it may seem. I see no reason for Embry to lie." Lupin said and he sounded quite frustrated.
"What does she have to gain though?" Mrs. Weasley demanded.
"Exactly! She has no reason to help us unless she truly thought there was something more to the veil." Lupin exclaimed and Harry felt his heart nearly stop at this statement, Hermione beside him let out a small gasp.
"I'm going to meet with her and Lupin today at the Three Broomsticks while you take the kids shopping." Mr. Weasley said.
"Thank you, Arthur I can't just leave this untouched." Lupin said his voice full of gratefulness and relief that he had been heard out.
Ginny pulled the extendable ear back to her and gestured for them to follow her back up the stairs. Harry nodded and quickly followed not wishing to be caught eavesdropping upon their conversation. They climbed the stairs quickly and all huddled into Ron's room.
"What the hell was that about?" Ron asked looking as shocked as Harry felt.
"They said something about the Veil, do you think this has to do with Sirius?" Harry asked his mind rushing at trying to figure out what else that could mean before his hopes got set any higher.
"Well, that is the only thing I can think of too." Hermione said finally after a moment of silence her eyes wide.
"The cloak, we've got to see what they talk about in The Leaky Cauldron." Harry said firmly. He had to know more, and he had to know the unfiltered truth that Mr. and Mrs. Weasley might give him to protect his feelings.
"I can distract mum while you guys sneak off. We'll do it when we visit Fred and George's shop it's bound to be utter chaos in there." Ginny said firmly, a look of adventure blazing in her eyes. Harry felt a rush of gratitude and affection towards her. He turned to Ron and Hermione and they simply nodded back, for he knew they cared for Sirius almost as much as he had.