Disclaimer: I could say that all the characters mentioned were mine. But I'd be lying. They all belong to JKRowling.

'All right, everybody out now, the library's closing,' came Madam Pince's voice, echoing through the library.

Harry sighed deeply and stood up. He still hadn't finished that essay on Coughing Concoctions for Snape, or for McGonagall on Long Distance Switching Spells. He could do them over the weekend but there was a Hogsmeade trip tomorrow and a Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Slytherin on Sunday.

Slinging his bag over his shoulder, Harry walked out of the library. As Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team it was his job to find new players and work out the team strategies, but he needed the Hogsmeade trip tomorrow to unwind. He had a sneaking suspicion that Dumbledore had made him Captain to take his mind off ... no, he mustn't think about that.

He was so busy thinking, he wasn't paying much attention to where he was going, and the next time he looked up he was in a corridor he didn't recognise. The only thing he knew for sure was that he was on the fourth floor.

He looked out of the window to try and see the lake to get his bearings. There was no moon, and the grounds were pitch black, but the lake definitely wasn't there.

Harry walked along the corridor, noting the tapestry of a goblin riot on his left. But when he reached the far end, there didn't seem to be any way out. Another dead end.

Sighing with frustration, Harry opened a door on the right, hoping it would lead onto another corridor. He was in luck. It was a very narrow corridor, and there were no lights.

'If only I had the Marauder's Map,' thought Harry.

Well, one thing was for sure; the passage didn't lead out of Hogwarts; Harry knew where all of those were.

'Let's just hope it comes out somewhere I know,' he thought.

He stepped into the passage and closed the door behind him. It was now pitch black.

'Lumos!' Harry muttered.

The light from his wand didn't show him much, just a bit of wall to either side of him. He started walking.

After about two hundred steps, he began to wonder how long this passage was. It hadn't changed at all, and he couldn't even be sure he was moving forwards.

But it was so peaceful in there. He stopped walking and slumped against the wall.

Ever since last June, Harry couldn't make up his mind whether he wanted to have human company or not. All he did know was that he wanted his godfather back. Sirius had fallen through the veil in the department of Mysteries and everyone said he couldn't come back. Even Dumbledore, and Dumbledore knew everything. Although Harry would never tell anyone, he missed Sirius desperately. Remus Lupin just wasn't the same. If only Harry could have just a little more time with Sirius - get to know him better; hell, even talk about his parents more with him.

'Stop it, Harry, just stop it,' he said to himself, as he felt the corners of his eyes pricking. 'This won't help matters.'

Wearily, he stood up straight and started back down the dark passage, but he couldn't stop thinking of Sirius and his parents.

'Ouch!'

He seemed to be at the end of the tunnel. A dark wooden door was positioned across the passageway. Harry twisted the handle and pushed the door open.

'Woah!'

He definitely wasn't expecting this. He had stepped into a bedroom, nothing like any of the dormitories in Hogwarts. In fact, it looked extremely like a Muggle bedroom, and when Harry looked out of the windows he saw that the mountains that usually surrounded Hogwarts had gone. In their place was a view of a large garden surrounded by tall trees.

This garden alerted Harry to the fact that he was still in a wizard's house. At either end were tall posts with hoops on the top, although, Harry noticed, they weren't as tall as real Quidditch goal posts.

Harry turned back to the bedroom. When he looked closer, he could see that this wasn't entirely normal, either. Above the bed was a large, moving poster of the Montrose Magpies, another Quidditch team; an empty cage was on the desk, strewn with what Harry recognised as owl treats, and at the foot of the bed was a trunk identical to Harry's school one.

Intrigued, Harry moved out onto the landing. He couldn't hear anyone in the house, but he moved quietly all the same. He tiptoed to the top of the stairs and peered down into the hall. There wasn't anyone there. Thinking that he wouldn't like to be caught lurking at the top of someone's stairs, Harry climbed down and stood in the hall. The front door was directly in front of him. To his left was an open door, and Harry could see a large living room. The hall stretched round a corner on his right. He followed it round, noting a bathroom, drawing room and study. For some reason, the house felt familiar, as if Harry had been in it before, although that was impossible. The only wizard houses Harry had ever been to were the Burrow and 12 Grimmauld Place. Harry mentally kicked himself; 'Don't think of that!'

At the far end of the hall was one more door. As Harry moved closer to the door, he could hear a low voice and someone sniffing, sounding like they were trying not to cry.

Harry moved closer. He could just hear the person speaking now.

'It'll be all right, love,' it said. 'We knew ... we knew it could have happened ... it's terrible ... but - he fought well -' The voice cracked.

The voice stirred something in Harry's memory ... It seemed to be talking about someone who had died, and recently by the sound of it.

Harry moved so he could see more of the room beyond the door. It was a kitchen. The cooker, sideboards and sink were at one end, and at the other was a large table.

The owner of the voice was sat at the table, with his back to Harry. Next to him sat a woman, huddled against him. She seemed to be the one trying not to cry.

Suddenly, Harry heard the front door slam, and footsteps came hurrying towards the kitchen. Terrified of being caught, Harry backed into the closest door to him - the study. He disappeared inside and shut the door just as the new arrival walked past.

'I came as soon as I could,' said the new person. 'God, I'm so sorry ...'

There was something about that voice too ...

The woman said something Harry couldn't hear.

'Dumbledore told me,' said the new man. 'I - I couldn't believe it.'

'Neither can we,' said the first voice heavily. 'I still expect him to come marching through that door and -' He broke off.

After a slight pause, the new person spoke, seemingly to break the heavy silence.

'Have you got visitors? It's just I thought I saw your study door close as I walked past.'

Harry's heart missed a beat. Three pairs of footsteps were approaching the study door. Desperately, Harry looked for a hiding place.

But before he could move, the door sprung open.

'HARRY!'