Falling –

She was falling. She hadn't let go, but they were both falling. Then the pain struck. And with it, memory. She remembered.

Amelia didn't know why she'd gone there tonight. She hadn't intended to go, but dinner with her family had ended earlier than expected. It had been nothing but an absent thought, she wasn't on duty, no reason to go.

But she had anyway, and just in time to see Dumbledore leave. With that expression painted on his face, nothing good could be happening. He had half the Ministry after him after that incident at the school – what was Fudge thinking with that whole stunt, anyway, turning a deaf ear on the things he didn't want to hear, Dumbledore's Army, indeed – but he paused, just outside the door, as if he knew she was there. He always seemed to know, even when she wore a Disillusionment Charm, as she did now. "Everyone's there," he said, with a particular inflection on the second word. A cold shiver went through her at the implications.

Then he was gone.

Amelia flew. She had no doubt where he meant, where he had gone. She flew as fast as she could, it was quicker than transforming back to human and Apparating would be; it wasn't that far, after all. Owls could be just as fast as they were silent, and she was just going across London.

She ignored the door – it would take too long. She found a crack in a window instead. It wasn't the first time she'd slipped through a tight space as an Animagus owl. She flew down, through the corridors and the twists and the turns. She must have been faster than she'd thought – either that or he had been slower – because Dumbledore hadn't been here long.

And then it didn't matter.

The first flash of red caught her attention, the second her horror. Across the room, he fell, as if in slow motion, surprise replacing the laughter still caught on his face. Amelia saw the path his fall would take and dove, dove down after him, putting everything she had into – just – getting – there – in time –

As he slipped through the Veil, her talons sank into his robes. They might have also sunk into something soft and yielding, but she had other concerns at the moment. Her momentum meant that she too was passing through the Veil.

She was falling – falling –

Amelia tried to Apparate. She'd never tried to Apparate as an Animagus before. Pain seared her skull. There was a reason she hadn't tried. It was difficult to work magic as an Animagus. In all the years she'd been trying, she had been unable to achieve much beyond Disillusionment or Silence, simple enough spells. Nothing nearly so complicated as Apparition.

It hurt, threatened to split her skull with its pounding intensity, but she didn't let go. She wouldn't let go, couldn't, not now –

What was now?

Now –

Now she was standing in a familiar corridor, looking at a familiar scene.

"– LET BLOODTRAITORS AND HALF-BREED CREATURES IN MY HOUSE! FILTH, I TELL YOU! SCUM!" the portrait on the wall wailed shrilly. Tonks was sprawled on the floor of the hallway, face flushed in embarrassment.

Amelia dropped her bag and rushed over to help Sirius close the curtains, silencing his shrieking mother. One of these days they really had to find a way to shut her up for good. All this tip-toeing up and down the hallway was getting tiresome.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Tonks exclaimed getting to her feet. "I keep doing that!"

"It's all right," Amelia told her.

"No, it isn't. I wake her up more often than anyone else. I'm dead clumsy."

"It happens." But Amelia wasn't looking at Tonks, she was looking at Sirius. He looked awful. He looked worse than he had that evening she'd found him on the mountainside outside Hogsmeade. Not worse in the traditional sense, he wasn't as thin, or as ragged. But he had been happier than.

This house was a prison, filled with just as many unpleasant memories as Azkaban. Amelia had gone to see him there, more than once. She recognized that look in his eyes. She had to get him out of the house, at least for a few hours. Good thing she had come prepared.

"Reckon you can hold down the fort while we're out, Tonks?" she asked. It was a good thing Molly wasn't around. Today of all days, Amelia didn't believe Sirius should be left alone with his memories.

"Out?" the younger witch repeated. "Where are you going?"

"Yes, Amelia," Sirius said, suddenly looking interested, "where are we going?"

"I thought he wasn't supposed to leave the house," Tonks said curiously.

Amelia shrugged. "I don't believe in house arrest. And I'd pay money to see Lucius and his buddies where we're going." Sirius grinned, but Tonks looked uncertain. "Really, there won't be anyone around who might suspect it's him, Tonks."

"I suppose," she replied with a shrug. Tonks was more open-minded than some of the other members of the Order where rules were concerned. "Just be careful."

"We will," Amelia answered.

"Where are we going?" Sirius asked again.

"You'll see when we get there," Amelia said with a smile. "Transform. You're going as a dog. And you'll need to wear this." She held up a collar. She had bought it on a whim, the slim possibility it might be useful. Walking down the street, she had seen the shop window and the thought had struck her. Seeing his face light up now at the chance to go outside, she was glad she'd gone inside that store.

Sirius was so anxious to leave that he didn't object to the collar. Amelia put her hand on his shoulder and Apparated the two of them away from the confines of his house. The early spring air retained a bit of the nip of winter, making Amelia grateful for her sweater. Padfoot cocked his head at her when he saw where she had taken him.

"What?" she asked. "There aren't going to be any Death Eaters hanging around a Muggle park. Like I said, I'd pay money to see Lucius come here. Now, the name on your collar is 'Malcolm,' so remember to answer to it." He looked at her askance. "It was my grandfather's name." He flicked an ear.

She brandished the Frisbee she took out of her bag, the simple plastic Muggle type, not the Fanged kind found among young wizards. "Be good or I won't throw this for you." Both of his ears went up at that and he barked happily. Amelia smiled. "That's what I thought."

With a flick of her wrist the plastic disc went soaring as surely as if she had bespelled it. Padfoot went chasing gleefully after it. Amelia couldn't keep the grin off her face. She needed to take him here more often. Being cooped up in that house all the time was enough to give even the healthiest mind cabin fever and Sirius had been through more than most. Today – did he pay attention to the date, trapped up in the unpleasant house? Did he realize what day it was?

She threw the Frisbee a few more times before the great black dog lost interest in it and started chasing squirrels instead. Amelia laughed.

Sometime later a park officer passed by. The Muggle did a double take when he saw the bearlike dog. She pretended not to see him as she tossed the Frisbee yet again. The man watched Padfoot race after it barking, and dutifully return it to her for another throw. After she released the disc, the Muggle approached her.

"That's a, er, big dog you have there, ma'am."

"Malcolm? I got him from a friend a few months ago when he got too big for her new apartment. Sarah had adopted him as a puppy from the pound. Neither one of us has any idea what breed he is."

The Muggle was still goggling at the huge dog as it returned with the Frisbee in its mouth. Padfoot dropped the Frisbee on the ground beside her and stiffed him. "Are you sure you can handle a dog that size?" he asked a bit nervously.

"He's no trouble at all. Malcolm, sit, you're worrying Mr. –"

"Uh, Albert Haldren," the man said.

Padfoot obliged by sitting at her feet. "Malcolm, this is Mr. Haldren," Amelia continued. "Shake."

Padfoot offered the man his paw. Amelia was glad the man was too preoccupied to notice the amusement in the dog's eyes.

"Very nice to meet you, er, Malcolm."

Padfoot barked happily, jumped up to lick Mr. Haldren's face, then ran off, scattering pigeons in his wake.

Amelia tried to stifle a giggle. "I'm sorry, Mr. Haldren. He does that sometimes when he meets someone he likes."

"That's quite all right, ma'am," he said with a smile. "He's quite a friendly dog. Is this your first time here? Or just the first time you've been here while I'm on duty?" He shook his head. "I definitely would remember if I'd seen you and, er, Malcolm, before."

"I've been here before, but not recently, and certainly not with Malcolm. We've been busy the last few weeks, and today I finally had the time to take him to the park. I really should have made the time to come sooner, he is much too energetic to stand being cooped up in the house all day."

Padfoot barked his agreement. Haldren turned to stare at the dog, a little startled.

Amelia laughed. "Oh that dog! He always knows when I'm talking about him," she said in amusement. Padfoot barked again.

Haldren checked his watch. "Oh, well, I suppose I should continue my rounds. It was nice meeting you. I hope to see you around again. Have a good day."

"You, too."

Amelia checked her own watch. She gave a whistle. Padfoot came running back. "It's almost dinnertime," she said. "Time to head back." She watched his tail droop. "Don't worry, we can come back another day."

She led him back behind the bathrooms. "Brace yourself," she told him. "Molly isn't going to like this." Then she gave him a conspiratorial wink. "Too bad."

Padfoot barked in agreement.

Checking to make sure no one was watching, Amelia Apparated back to number twelve, Grimmauld Place. As expected, Molly descended the moment they both entered the kitchen.

"What on earth were you thinking? That was completely irresponsible! I would expect as much from him, but you, Amelia?"

"I thought he needed to get out of this house before he snapped. We went to the park. A Muggle park. If a Death Eater ever stepped foot in that park, I'll eat my cloak," Amelia answered.

"That doesn't change how irresponsible it was! You are hardly an inconspicuous dog, Sirius! What would the Muggles have thought of you?"

"I chased squirrels and Frisbees. The only Muggle who noticed me was more interested in Amelia than he was with me. He was convinced I was nothing more than a big, friendly dog."

"Friendly?" Kingsley asked, raising his eyebrows.

Sirius grinned. "I was on my best behavior."

Amelia laughed. "That's one way of putting it. Really, Molly, Muggles only see what they expect to see. They saw a dog, at the park, with its owner. If the dog was a bit big, well, at least it was well behaved. Nothing unusual it their minds. I did think it through."

Molly wasn't happy, but Amelia convinced her she knew what she was doing in the end. She even got Molly to grudging agree to let them go out again. The chances of anti-Muggle Death Eaters hanging around a Muggle park were remarkably slim, after all. And since it was only the Order and the Death Eaters who knew Sirius was an Animagus, he'd be safe enough there.

"Thanks," Sirius told her afterwards. "I enjoyed that."

"Good, that was the plan. I couldn't stand to see you brooding around the house, especially – " Amelia broke off awkwardly.

"Today?" Sirius finished. "I know it's James' birthday, Amelia, and I can think of no better way to have spent the day. James would have been the first one to spring me from this place."

"Right, then." How did she respond to that? "Same time, next week?"

"Sounds like a plan to me."

It was rare to see Sirius smile these days. He looked happier than Amelia had seen him in a while.

But – no. This was wrong. This wasn't now. This was – a few months ago? The end of March.

This wasn't right. Amelia froze in the hallway. The smile faded from Sirius' face.

"What's going on?" he asked. "I thought – "

He didn't get to finish his thought. The world rippled around them.