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Through the Veil and Back Again	By : SpeedyTomato Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male Views: 77508 -:- Recommendations : 3 -:- Currently Reading : 13
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter (though someone could gift me a few of the men in it and I wouldn't complain) and make no money off of this.

Chapter List
- 1
- 2
- 3
Beta'd by the amazing Tenchi. Love you, woman, you're the best!

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Chapter 2

Sitting at the kitchen table in Grimmauld Place next to Remus, Sirius was trying to keep his cool, drumming his fingers on the old wood. So far, not much was being said about anything, as it was more of a rehash of what had happened at the Department of Mysteries with Albus getting filled in on what was seen from the points of view of those that were there. That he didn't mind, really he didn't, as it was interesting to hear such things. However, the issue was Albus himself. There was something about the old wizard right now that angered the younger man. He didn't know what it was, but it was bad enough that he wanted to just start throwing hexes at him. Of course, he restrained himself but the itch to do so was there. As it was imperative that he keep a hold of himself and not do something like that, he was sipping at his beer, talking quietly to Remus about things to keep his mind off of that.

It wasn't until after everyone was through with that part of things and Albus moved on to the effects of it, that Sirius began to pay attention again. Mostly, it wasn't anything odd. He talked about medical scans on both of them, something that came back normal. However, there was one bit of information that he didn't know, and liked. Because Harry had effectively died going through the veil, the Ministry Trace on him was completely gone. Nor could it be put back on him in any form. That meant that his godson could perform spells out of school and no one could detect it. If he figured it right, that would only aid things somewhere down the line. He didn't say anything about it when Dumbledore came across with that then cautioned everyone not to mention it to Harry, but he did exchange a look with Remus over it, something that said it was a topic they would be discussing later on. Though there was some discussion about that, something along the lines of how it could aid the other side in things, there really wasn't much to hash out about it so the topic ended fairly quickly.

The next thing up had Sirius on full alert for the first time that night; the blood wards around Privet Drive. Straightening up, he focused his full attention on Albus when it came to that, figuring whatever was going to be said was something he wasn't going to like then there would probably be the first of many fights over some of what he would ensure was going to change.

“When Harry went through the veil, as anyone would expect, the wards failed. Luckily, they came back up when he passed back through it. However, they are far weaker than they were before he went through. Though they will still protect him, I'm certain that Tom is already aware that they are greatly weakened from what they were before,” Albus sighed, shaking his head, looking concerned.

“Is there anything that can be done to strengthen them, Albus? Or get them back to where they were before?” Arthur asked, looking concerned. “In their condition, they will still keep He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and his followers out, won't they?”

“They should still work well enough that Tom and those that follow him won't be able to get through,” Albus nodded. “Though I don't think there is any way that they can be brought up to what they were before this, there is a way to strengthen them. Harry is just going to have to spend longer there this summer to do it.” Hearing many protests at that, the old wizard held up his hand, “I know Harry doesn't like it there, but these wards are for his protection.”

“No,” Sirius said, firmly. Though it wasn't loud, everyone at the table heard him and looked his direction, wary. Knowing where this was going and vowing to keep his promise to Lily, Sirius was going to put his foot down. Looking at Remus, he saw the barest of nods there, then told everyone, “That's not going to happen. I get that you want to keep him safe from the other faction in this thing, but those bloody wards don't keep him safe from being mistreated by those creatures you call his family. I can keep him safe right here. We have every protection known to Wizarding kind on this house. He'll be safe. Nor is it any different here than there when it comes to things; the other side knows about both places, I’m sure, and they can't get in to either one, no matter what. No, there is no reason to subject Harry to a long summer in that shitehole when he can stay right here.” Ending with a firm tone, arms folded over his chest, Sirius gazed at Albus and waited for the fight that he knew was coming.

“I agree with Sirius,” Remus added softly, looking around. “If it's as Albus says and the wards aren't as strong, bring him here. These are as strong as you get and we won't have to subject Harry to that place. He'll be safe and protected without the grief he gets there.”

“No, Harry needs to go back to the Dursley's. The protection of those wards are better,” Albus said with a shake of his head. “Though Harry doesn't like it there and they aren't the most loving of...”

That's where Sirius cut him off. Tone containing an icy bite, the younger man snarled, “Call it what it is, Albus! It's abuse! They are abusive to him! Not feeding him, locking him in a room and only pushing food through a cat flap, bars on the windows, treating him like a stray dog, all because he can do magic... that's abuse, Albus! Any other child in our world would be taken away from that! No, my godson is not going back to something like that anymore!”

Sighing, figuring this argument had been coming, like it had the year before, Albus shook his head, “No, Sirius, he needs to go back and strengthen those wards. He may be safe here, but he's better off there.”

“No!” Sirius snarled, leaning forward, glaring at the old wizard. Keeping his tone level, he told him, slowly, “For the first time I'm evoking my rights as a godfather and stepping in. He. Is. Not. Going. Back! He's dealt with enough in his life, he doesn't need to deal with more abuse. He can stay right here this summer.”

Eyebrows arched, Albus looked at Sirius, stunned, not believing what he was hearing. More than anyone, Sirius knew the cost of this war and that, sometimes, you had to do things you didn’t like to win. However, this was the first time that he had ever argued with him like this. Sure, there had been arguments before, even over this topic, but Sirius had backed down and he had been able to get him to see reason. Now, well, it wasn't going that way. “Now, Sirius, I know that what just happened was something highly emotional in nature and probably brought out some protective instincts when it comes to Harry, but you need to see...”

“I need to see nothing, Albus! I'm not putting him through that anymore!” Sirius snarled. Dark eyes flashing, he spat, “He's staying here. I don't care what you say, he's staying here! If you want to fight me on it, the only way you're going to win is to call the Aurors and turn me in so I end up Kissed! James and Lily, both, made sure I was his godfather, wanting me to take care of him if something happened to them. I'm finally in a position to do that and I fully plan to!”

“Now, Sirius, you know Albus only has what is best for Harry in mind,” Molly soothed, trying to make the sometimes excitable man see reason. She knew what he was like and that he would, eventually, listen to reason. It just sometimes took some work to get him to.

“Bollocks! Is what is best for Harry being abused and mistreated by those beasts when there is a reasonable alternative to it?” Sirius spat, rounding on her. “You and your family know how bad they are to him! You've seen it and heard the others tell you how bad it is. Not only that, you've seen how skinny he is when he finally comes to your place. How is that what's best for Harry when there is another alternative that's just as good, if not better? Explain that to me!”

Stammering, Molly glanced at Arthur, not really knowing what to say, then when her husband seemed as lost as she did on it, looked to Albus.

Snorting, Sirius said, “I didn't think you could.” Looking back at the aged Wizard, he said, “I am deadly serious on this, Albus. I'm not subjecting him to it anymore when there is another way to go about things that's better for Harry.”

“I agree with Sirius,” Remus chimed in softly, looking around. Like most, he was one that usually went along with everything Albus said, not questioning him. However, with what had come to pass, not to mention what he heard from Sirius about the conversation with Lily, something he was now sure was real, he was going to make a stand for what was right. “We all know how bad it is there for Harry. We've seen it and heard plenty. I don't see why he can't stay here. He'll be just as protected by wards and other things. Plus, we're all in and out all the time, what with meetings as well as other things. He's had a hard enough life as it is that, for once, we can give him a summer he will enjoy as much as he can. It won't be the best, what with not being able to go anywhere, but it's better than what he's dealing with now. Let's face it, what's coming isn't going to be nice so why don't we give him something that will make him happy? I can even stay here all the time if that makes you feel better. Between Sirius and me, Harry will be fine. Nothing will happen to him and no one will get to him. He'll be better protected than at Privet Drive.”

Albus was about to say something when Moody gruffed, “Albus, you know I tend to agree with you on most everything, but we've all watched that house. We know how the lad is treated. I say some kind of compromise is in order here. I know Sirius isn't the greatest of parental figures, but he's a damned sight better than the so-called family you keep sending the boy back to. Add Remus in and he's going to be fine. There has to be a way to make both sides of this happy with this rather than just sending him back and causing a fight over it. I don't see where what they are suggesting will harm anything.”

Looking around, Albus thought that over. This was, of course, an argument that they had before on the topic. Molly and Arthur, every year, fought with him about it. In the end, he usually made them see reason and Harry went back to where the wards were the strongest. This time, though, he had to do some fast dancing if he was going to accomplish that. As there was so much at stake with what was to come dealing with things no one at the table knew about, he needed those wards as strong as he could get them. However, Sirius had thrown something out there that was now hard to work with. In evoking his role as a godfather, he had activated the ancient magic associated with it. Nothing he knew could break that and, in the end, it could overrule everything he wanted. The only way around it was the one thing Sirius had mentioned; him being Kissed. That he wasn't going to do for any reason. No, he had to come up with something to get Sirius to back down so he could do some maneuvering.

Eyes lowered, Albus tried to think over what he could do. Really, though, nothing came to mind. Finally, after a few minutes he said, “I think everyone needs to understand that if Harry doesn't go back, those wards will fall completely. While they are mostly there to protect Harry, they are also protecting what is the rest of his remaining family. We all know what will happen to them if those wards go.” Looking up, he glanced around then waiting for the reaction.

“It's going to happen anyway, Albus. When Harry turns seventeen, those wards are going to come down and that danger is going to be there,” Sirius told him, not budging an inch on the topic.

“This is true,” Tonks said, nodding her head, chiming in for the first time. “We're going to have to deal with that end of things sooner or later.”

“I say let the cretins deal with it themselves,” Moody scowled. “They hate everything to do with us and the lad, so why should we worry? Let them deal with the consequences. They want shut of the boy anyway. This would just make them happy.”

“They have never fully been told of those,” Albus said softly, looking around. “They would not be prepared for anything that would be coming their way.”

That caused some uneasy looks around the table and murmuring over it.

“That's not our problem,” Sirius told him, arms folded over his chest. “Petunia knows what the other faction is like since she lost her sister to it. If you didn't fully fill them in on what is going on, that is not our issue, Albus, it's yours and something you should have done long ago! Don't use it as an excuse now.” As far as he was concerned, the faster the Dursley's were out of his godson's life, the better off Harry would be. And he planned to make sure that came to pass, no matter what Albus had to say on the topic.

“I don't think Harry would see it that way, Sirius,” Albus told him softly. “He may not like them or what they are like, but they are his family. I doubt he would like just tossing them to Tom, especially knowing what would happen to them.”

Listening in, Bill Weasley hadn't said anything up to this point. However, he understood both sides of the thing. He was sure that, in the end, Harry would end up with Sirius for the summer, but felt some kind of compromise could be reached to buy them time to deal with the family part of it. During the lull, he asked, “How long does Harry have to be in the house to make sure the wards stay up for another year?”

“To keep them up at the level they are now it would take twenty-four hours,” Albus told him. “To strengthen them to the point that they will be as good as they can get, sometime in August.”

“Which is not happening!” Sirius snapped, irritably.

“How about this then...” Bill started, looking around. “Send Harry there for twenty-four hours with Sirius as Padfoot. That will keep the wards up for another year and give us time to work out something to get them moved, put something else in place or whatever to deal with that issue. Not to mention you telling them the realism of just what is going on and the danger they will be facing once those wards are gone. After that, he comes here. This way, everyone gets what they want.”

“I don't see where that is unreasonable,” Kingsley chimed in, looking around. “Everyone gets what they want that way. In the end, it'll also take the strain off of us keeping an eye on the place. We can use that manpower in better ways, there is no doubt there. Arabella can alert us if something is amiss there but we won't have to station someone around all the time like we've done in the past. Hell, Harry, if he can at all help it, doesn't even stay in that house. He goes out wandering all over. The minute he passes through those wards, he's not safe anyway! That means one of us has to follow to keep an eye on him. Sometimes more than one, depending on where he goes and how crowded it is. With He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named making the big move, it's probably going to make it to where we need more than one of us there. We don't have the bodies for that. Nor can you force Harry to stay inside or in the yard all the time. That would be beyond cruel.”

“I agree,” Moody nodded. “With He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named known to be back now, having shown his face at the Ministry, it's a sure bet that he's going to be up to something else. We can't be stretched as thin as we are now when that happens! This would work well for all of us. Not to mention it would free up plenty of bodies to go do things that are needed, like seeing what we can find out about plans and such. This is a good idea, Albus.”

There were general mutterings of agreement before Sirius nodded then said, “I can work with that. He can take me as Padfoot and no one would think anything was funny. Hell, I’m sure Kingsley and Tonks can get one of those permits that would show me as being a service animal of some kind to use for his protection. Even Fudge has admitted, finally, what's going on and knows Harry is going to need something when it comes to protection. It's something workable for everyone.”

“That's easy enough to do,” Tonks said, nodding her head, pink bubblegum colored hair bouncing slightly. “No one would think anything of us asking for such a permit. All we would have to say was Hagrid came up with a dog for Harry to use to help keep him safe and guard the house. The permit would be handed over without a second thought. Probably with relief since Harry's protection has already been mentioned and plans are being thought about for what to do when it comes to him.”

“I don't see where this is a bad compromise, Albus,” Arthur chimed in, looking at Molly who, though looking slightly dour at the thought of Harry staying with Sirius, was nodding as well. “Let Harry have one summer where he is happy. What's coming is bound to ensure that there may never be another shot at it, at least while he's still young. He should have one chance to be normal. This can do that.”

Hearing the general agreement with that, Albus lowered his eyes and thought about it. There was so much coming that Harry was going to be needed for, including the ending of Tom, that having Sirius stick to him like some kind of bodyguard wasn't going to assist in anything. He was going to have to get the two apart at some point so that the young man could do what was prophesied of him. Though he wondered if the Horcrux in the scar was gone, something he wasn't sure of at this point, he knew that to end Tom, Harry was going to have to do that. With how Sirius was, he wasn't certain that he could get him to where it came to pass. However, he was also seeing that if he didn't compromise on this issue, there were going to be issues with everyone else. If he disagreed, there were going to be questions raised about why that he didn't want to answer either. No, that wasn't good. Right now, he couldn't start answering any of them without lying. That he wouldn't do.

With a sigh, he finally nodded, then said, “I think this is fair to everyone, yes. The last day of school Sirius can come to Hogwarts to meet Harry. We'll get the permits then he can ride the train home with him so nothing looks strange. The only other thing is I'll try is to use some influence to get someone to take him to Surrey rather than have the Dursley's pick him up, someone from the Ministry with Aurors involved. I'll also make sure to write them a letter explaining what is going on to the Dursley's. They won't like it, but they'll accept it in the end.”

Muttering to where only Remus could hear, Sirius said, “Oh, I don't give a shite if they don't like it! They're going to accept it and keep their big mouths shut on the topic if they know what's good for them! Along with that, they're also going to be hearing from me just how unhappy I am about what they did to Harry!” He was happy that this had been worked out, though. He hadn't wanted to get into a huge confrontation with Albus over it, but would have if it had come to it. Now, it was just going to be planning what to do. He also made a vow to himself that this was the last argument he was going to have with the old man over it. Before the summer was over, he and Remus would be finding a way to get Harry away from Albus, permanently. He didn't even think that Harry would be going back to school in the fall either. Right now, though, since he didn't have a plan for any of that, he was just going to work with this. Once Harry was here, they would step up what they had to do on the other front. It was just a matter of finding a way was all. Hopefully, that other faction Lily talked about would make itself known, then they could go from there.

Unable to help himself, Remus smiled a little, sure that he would want to see the Pensive memories of that discussion.

Not wanting to dwell on that since he had to be back up at the school soon, Albus moved on to the next topic they needed to cover. As it was more about Tom, and what they were going to do, he didn't anticipate any other problems and could easily get it done. He had much to do now since some of his plans had taken a wonky left turn so he had to adjust things. That was going to take time alone to do and plenty of planning. So, he needed to finish and get back to the school to even start that.

Sitting in his bed in the tower, Harry had the curtains around his bed shut, a silencing spell on them and a weak ward to keep all the sound from the room out, making it to where he was relaxed for the first time that day. Still, he felt 'off', like something wasn't right. It was as though his world had shifted in some way and he was just starting to regain his bearings but still wasn't 'normal'. It was more like adjusting to something new rather than going back to the old he was well acquainted with. With what Sirius had told him the night before, he assumed that this had to do with whatever change had been triggered. Though that was a weird conversation, one he wasn't sure he believed at first, he did now. Oh, boy, did he ever! Since it was the only thing that could remotely come close to explaining some of the weird shite!

Sighing, he rubbed his shut eyes. The day had started out like it normally did with him going down to breakfast. That had been normal, at least from what he could tell. With all the people in the Great Hall, nothing had seemed off. It wasn't until he went up to the infirmary that things had started going in the 'off' direction.

Ron was pretty much alright, sitting up, talking and all that. Hermione was sort of in and out of it though. While sitting there, he began to 'hear' some things. At first, he thought it might be snakes outside since the windows were open as it was a nice day. He had heard that before, of course, so it was nothing odd. It was slightly off that he heard it there but thought nothing of it. Quickly, he figured out that wasn't the case though. As he sat there, the voices, though not growing louder, became clearer. Finally, he was able to identify them as from Hermione and Ginny. That was strange!

Ginny was sitting with him on Ron's bed, talking, but not saying what he was hearing. Hermione was in and out so much that she wasn't talking much at all. What he was hearing were things like 'I'm worried about you, Harry', 'what happened on the other side of the veil', 'it's so strange that you're even here right now', things like that. Nor were they saying anything like that aloud. No one was going to talk about some of that with others around. It was so odd that he was feeling a little freaked out by it. Finally, when he felt he had to get away, he made an excuse then went to go see Hagrid. Things were always soothing down there, something that eased his mind. Besides, talking to the half-giant was something that always made him feel better and forget some of his problems. That he needed right now.

As he walked along the grounds, he encountered a couple more instances of the whole thing. No, not like in the infirmary, but snippets here and there. This time he couldn't chalk it up to snakes. Those he heard outside, as he always did in the spring, and he realized that they sounded different. They had more of a hissing kind of pattern when he heard them than what he was picking up on. Nope, it was people he was hearing, not snakes. Mostly, they were muffled, something he could only pick up one or two words of. That was different when it came to Malfoy, however. He didn't talk to the ferret but passed close by him, saying nothing as always. When he did, he picked up something very clear about some kind of locket and wanting to find it. There was a sneering insult directed at him, but it hadn't been said aloud as Professor Sprout had been almost next to the git. No, it was something he was picking up in another way.

As the day wore on, he noticed it more. He supposed that was because he was paying attention to it by this point, but it didn't mean it didn't happen. After a few hours, he was able to pick up a pattern when it came to it as well. Those he really didn't know well or only had really just seen before, not interacted with, he didn't seem to pick up anything from. The only time that was different was if they touched him. Then he could hear a couple things but not anything clearly. The closer he was to the being, as in knowing them well, the more he would hear. Once, when Dean touched him, he got some images as well. That wasn't the most comfortable of things! No, what he saw wasn’t anything bad, just an image of a football game he had gone to, but it left him with a headache afterward. He didn't like this, not at all! After that, he had avoided most everyone or kept a distance if he did talk to them, trying to use his meager skills at Occlumency to block whatever was going on. It did seem to help some, but didn't stop it. By the time supper rolled around, he was ready to head to the tower then take to his bed for the night just to avoid people. To him, this felt like some kind of intrusion, an invasion of their privacy, not something he wanted to do. Not to mention he was getting seriously weirded out that it was even happening to start with!

In the end, that's pretty much what he did. After visiting the hospital to see Hermione and Ron, he fled to the tower then claimed he tired and hid in his bed with the curtains drawn. With all that had gone on the day before, everyone bought it, saying nothing, but wishing him a good night's sleep. Sitting there, he was trying to calm down and get it under control. As he was the only one up there, no one was even close and the ward kept the noise out, that made it to where it was the first time that day since breakfast that he wasn't bothered by what he was sure were thoughts of others. That made it easier and allowed him to relax.

Now, if that were the only odd thing that had happened that day, it would have been bad enough. However, it wasn't. He was noticing something else on top of it. As the day dragged on, he noticed that he was thinking about Sirius a lot. Now, that would be normal because of what had happened the day before, he knew that. It wasn't the case, though. Those thoughts were going somewhere else, somewhere sexual, rather than just thinking about Sirius in the way he normally did. That frightened him. Nor did he know what to do about it. When he had been outside earlier, sitting down by the lake alone, trying to relax and block out what he was hearing, he had what could only be described as an erotic daydream about his godfather. That didn't aid in the whole staying calm thing for him in any way. In fact, it made the weirdness of the situation even worse. He could remember talking about some kind of bond being formed between the two of them the night before and wondered if that wasn't part of it because he had never had a sexual thought about a man before, let alone anything in that direction about Sirius. Hell, he very rarely had sexual thoughts about girls! Out of the blue like that? He didn't think that was a 'natural' thing at all. Couple it with the other strange stuff? Yeah, his world was being turned upside down and he didn't like it at all.

Along with that end of things was coming something else where it related to Sirius. There was a longing there, something that made him feel twitchy. It wasn't a sexual thing, more like something that was screaming at him to be close to the man. He was protective of Sirius, just like he was of his friends, but it had never been like that before, even with Ron and Hermione. It was like he needed to be close to Sirius in some way, at least that's how it felt. He wasn't sure about any of it beyond that it was really strange! Nor was he sure what to do with it. He knew that Sirius had told him last night to tell him about anything that was odd cropping up, but how did you tell someone about shite like this? That he didn't know! The voices thing was bad enough, making him wonder if his godfather wouldn't think he was going 'round the twist. The rest? He wasn't sure he could tell him though he had promised he would.

Sitting there, he shook his head, wondering when his life had become more complicated than it already was and how much worse it could get. However, he needed to relax. He was so tense his muscles were aching from it by this point. With a sigh, he picked up the mirror, cast an engorgement charm on it, the one Sirius had taught him the night before, then hung it at the foot of his bed, making sure it was big enough that he could easily see it, before lying back to try to relax. He wouldn't call his godfather until after everyone was in bed but he wanted to be ready. Shutting his eyes, he tried to breathe, hoping to relax a while before he talked to Sirius and calm his chaotic thoughts so he didn't sound like he had completely gone off his trolley.

Though he had managed to doze in fits and starts, Harry didn't get much real rest. There seemed to be something bothering him, well, more than what was already. When the ward on his bed alerted him to the fact that others were coming up into the dorm, he was awake for the duration. Sitting there, he cast a spell that let him know when everyone was in the dorm. Knowing the sleep patterns of those there, he waited for the usual amount of time then poked his head out of the curtains. Sure enough, by then everyone was asleep. Pleased, he pulled his head back in, cast a stronger ward and silencing spell around things then settled back at the head of the bed, resting against the pillows. Activating the mirror, he called Sirius' name then waited.

It only took a few moments for his godfather's smiling face to appear. Relieved, feeling a little better than he had, Harry grinned at him then said, “Hey, Sirius!”

“Hey yourself, Harry!” Sirius grinned back, settling on his own bed. Seeing a full view of Harry, he knew his godson had used the engorgement spell and was pleased with that. It would be easier to talk that way. Getting himself comfortable, making sure the mirror was adjusted just right and enlarged to the right size, Sirius told him, grinning bigger, “I've got some news I know you're going to like!”

“Oh? What's that?” Harry inquired, curious.

Quickly, the grin on his face growing bigger, Sirius filled him in on the summer plans. When he finished, he told him, “See? I told you that I wouldn't leave you in that place!”

“This is great! No Dursleys!” Harry grinned back, loving it. “Well, no Dursleys alone anyway! And only twenty-four hours! I can deal with that!”

“I promise, Harry, this is the last time you'll have to stay with them. I'm not letting you go back. I don't give a shite what Albus says! This was a compromise I could work with, but there won't be anymore. Your home is with me and I won't let anyone else interfere with that, not even Albus.” Sirius told him with a nod, expression showing just how firm he was on that stance.

“Hey! You don't hear me complaining! As long as the Dursley's don't get hurt in it, I don't care. This works out well.” Harry shrugged.

“So, I'll be meeting you and riding the train home then we'll go from there. It's all worked out. Nothing to concern yourself with.”

Looking concerned even though he was told not to worry, Harry asked, “Won't there be problems? I mean Lucius Malfoy recognized you as Padfoot before. If he sees you again, won't he raise a stink?”

“He did and it was an issue, I admit it,” Sirius nodded. “This time is different though. Firstly, he's under suspicion of being in the Ministry during that battle on You-Know-Who's side. He's not about to raise a stink about anything when it comes to you because that's hanging over his head. Especially since you've been 'vindicated' over the whole thing. Then Remus came up with something else to protect me. Dumbledore is having the Rune's professor etch some runes in the form of spell on the harness I'll be wearing. That will prevent an animagus reveal spell from working and show I’m a normal dog to anyone that casts it. No, I'll be safe. The only ones that will know otherwise are our lot and the Dursley's will find out when I talk with them. Of course, they aren't going to go running to someone to tell.” After saying that, Sirius gave an evil grin, eyes twinkling.

Chuckling over what a talk with his godfather was going to be like when it came to his family, all Harry could do was shake his head. Oh, for all they put him through, he couldn't wait to see that. Especially since they were terrified of Sirius without even have met him!

“No need to worry about anything, Harry. We have it worked out,” Sirius soothed. Settling back, he asked, “So, how was your day? Anything odd happen?”

Sighing, looking down at the mattress, Harry nodded. “Yeah, I've noticed some stuff. Sounds completely nutters, but I swear it's real.”

Sobering up, serious expression sliding over his face, the animagus said, “Tell me about it.”

“Well, there are about three things. All of them completely nutters. The last two, though, I’m not sure about...” Harry trailed off, not able to look his godfather in the eye. Already, just talking to him, something in his pajamas was stirring to life, a fact that horrified and embarrassed him to no end. He wasn't sure he could tell Sirius about that part, even if it was involved.

“Alright, we'll take this as it comes, Harry. Tell me about the first one then we'll move on from there,” Sirius encouraged.

Nodding, Harry then launched in about the 'voices' and the one vision he got, explaining it the best he could to his godfather with all the details he could remember.

Listening in, the older man's brow furrowed. When Harry finally trailed off, he said, “That is damned strange. No, I don't think you're losing it either. Let me snag Remus. I want him to hear this. Between the three of us, we can get it figured out, alright?”

“Alright.” Uncomfortable expression sliding across his face, Harry then said, “I just don't want to explain the other two around him, alright?”

“That's fine. I just want for him to hear this so we can see what we can't sort out from it.” Sirius told him waving a dismissive hand. When he saw his godson nod, he piled off the bed then went to get Remus.

After a few minutes, he returned with the werewolf in tow. Sitting back on the bed with Remus, he had Harry once more tell them about what he had experienced.

Going through the story again, Harry laid it out, answering any questions they had. When he was finished, he asked, “What do you think it is, Professor Lupin?”

“First of all, Harry,” Remus chuckled, “you can call me Remus. I'm not your professor anymore. Since I'll be here all summer, first names are fine. Now, to answer your question, it sounds to me like telepathy. Or a form of it anyway. I really don't know much about those kinds of things, but it sounds like a fit from things I've read about it. I'll look some stuff up to see what I can find though.”

“Telepathy? You mean that Divination crap? It can't be! I've been in that class and show no signs of it. Ron and I just made things up as we went to skive by in the thing. In fact, I'm pretty sure I rather failed my OWL in it,” Harry told him, bewildered, looking from one of them to the other, scratching his head.

“Yes, well, be that as it may; it does sound like it,” Remus chuckled again, grinning. “If this does have to do with what your mum told Sirius, it might just be starting to manifest because it was triggered to emerge by what happened with the veil. Sometimes, even in those with the true gift, something doesn't start to show until the start of adolescence or the end of it. Just because it doesn't before then, doesn't mean they don't have the gift. And, if it's the first time you're noticing, it might just be the start of something. Nor might it be the only thing coming. I'm leaning that way with the vision you talked about. Usually, you get more than one 'gift' when this is one of the things that come. Precognitive is the only one I know of that tends to show alone, as in true seers of the future. However, if you start showing others, it might mean there is more than one. I'll start doing some looking up on it and see what I can find. What I need you to do is keep track of things to see if it continues, grows stronger or becomes clearer. I don't mean write them down, obviously. That might be found by someone. Try to keep an eye on it, though. Let Sirius know each night and he can pass it along. We can keep a record here if we have to until you arrive. Then we can work some more. That alright?”

Relieved that there was at least a name for it and he wasn't completely nutters, Harry nodded. He also made a mental note to look through his Divination books for something. He didn't think anything would be there as it was mostly dealing with predicting the future, but it was worth a shot.

After that, Remus told him goodnight then left. As Sirius had told him the young man wanted to talk to him about some more personal things alone, he thought he would make an exit then and find the library to see what he could discover on the topic.

Settling back on the bed, getting comfortable, Sirius looked at Harry then said, “Alright, let's move on to the other two.”

Uncomfortable expression returning, Harry looked down at the bed, flushing slightly. Then he began to stammer a little, not sure where to start or even if he should.

Sitting up straighter, Sirius told him, “Calm down, Harry. Nothing you're going to say is going to make me mad or uncomfortable, alright? Just tell me.” Stopping, remembering how some kinds of talks were embarrassing, especially at that age, he added, “How about this; just look down while you say it and not at the mirror. It might be easier that way. Start with the one that makes you least uncomfortable then work from there. I won't say a word until you make it clear you're done. That work for you?”

Nodding, Harry sighed then began to gather his courage. Keeping his eyes locked on the bed, he started out with the bit about the whole need to be close thing. Once he finished describing that the best he could, he moved onto the other. Though he didn't give as many details as he did for the first one, nor did he out and out say anything with the word sex in it, he thought he danced around enough to make it clear what he was talking about. When he finished, pushing through as quickly as he could, he shook his head then muttered, “It's strange! I mean...well...you know...the only girl I’ve really thought about was Cho and I got over that. There's not been anyone since! I don't understand it!” That's where he stopped, hoping Sirius understood he was done.

Looking at the mirror, Sirius processed all he was told the best he could. The first part he already got. He was feeling something similar, though it didn't appear that it was as strong on his end. The second... well, he got it too. He had the first stirrings of something like that on his end as well in the form of a dream the night before. The only difference was that at the end of it Lily's voice told him to let the bond happen. Though he had hoped it was just a dream, something told him it wasn't. Now, well, he was sure that it had to do with the bond and the effect from it Lily had told him about. How the two emphasized they could accept what came of it was part of what hit him over the whole thing. He was sure this was what they meant.

Sighing, he looked down. After thinking it over a minute, he looked back at the mirror then said, gently, “Look at me, Harry.” When the young man lifted his head then gazed at him once more, seeing an uncomfortable expression on his face, he smiled then told him, “Remember me telling you about the bond that would be created? And what your parents said about it?” Seeing Harry nod, he continued, “I think this is part of it. Though much of what your mum said is about as clear as the murk at the bottom of Loch Ness at this point, this part seems to be clicking right now. Especially with how she emphasized the two of them could accept what would come of it. I think this is it because I'm feeling the same kind of things. I don't think they are as strong as on your end, but it's there.”

Relieved, slumping slightly, Harry nodded again, “Alright. It has something to do with the bond, right?”

“Yes and I think this is part of it. Bonds are odd things. There are many of them of all different kinds. As we are both feeling something similar, it's my guess this is the form it's taking. I also think that once we are together again, it'll be stronger and want some kind of completion. Before you ask, though I think I know what it might be, I’m not sure. I'll take Remus' lead in this and do some looking up tomorrow. I'm also going to tell him part of this.” Seeing a panicked expression on Harry's face, he held up his hand then said, “I won't give him details, I promise. However, he's agreed to help and is going to need part of it to do that. Plus, he's going to be around all summer so he's going to see it. He's not going to say a word, Harry, trust me. On top of that, he's the bookworm and better at finding this stuff than I am. No sense in me wandering around blind looking for answers when I can get his help and find them. He's a Marauder for a reason. Secrets are safe with him. Even ones like this.”

Though wary, Harry let out a sigh and nodded. “Alright. Just try to keep the embarrassing bits out.”

“I will, don't worry,” Sirius chuckled. “Anything else you can think of?” He asked, trying to shift the topic.

“No, nothing,” Harry said shaking his head. Giving a snort, he then grinned, “That was more than enough to make me barmy today!”

Laughing, Sirius shook his head. “Well, yeah, I can understand that! Plenty of strangeness there. Now, how are Hermione, Neville and Ron?” He figured that they had dealt with it enough and Harry needed a break so he was going to move on to something more comfortable for him.

Stretching back out on the bed, propping himself up on the pillows, Harry looked at the mirror and told Sirius, “Good. Ron is getting out tomorrow, I think. He's mostly fine by now. The times I was there, he was sitting up, talking fine and devouring every chocolate frog he could get his hands on. That tells me he's doing good. Neville is out already. Hermione is better but not up to snuff yet. They tell me she'll be out in time for the closing feast, but has to stay put. She didn't say much today.” Slowly, he went over everything he heard about the three then told him about Umbridge and her reaction to hoof beats, something that had his godfather roaring with laughter.

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Through the Veil and Back Again