Chapter 1
The Department of Mysteries was a storm of chaos, every corner of the chamber alive with bursts of light and magic. Spells ricocheted off the stone walls, sending sparks and debris flying through the air. Shouts and cries of pain echoed in the vast space, interwoven with the eerie, constant flutter of the Veil, whispering ominously from its archway.
Harry ducked behind a toppled pillar, firing a Stupefy at a Death Eater who had cornered Neville. The red jet of light struck true, and the masked figure crumpled. Harry barely had time to feel relief before another Death Eater charged toward him. He raised his wand again, but a jet of green light cut across his vision, making him stumble backward.
Sirius was there in an instant, his wand slashing through the air, deflecting the Killing Curse and countering with a Blasting Hex that sent their opponent sprawling. Sirius' grin was fierce and wild, a reflection of the unbridled energy with which he fought.
When Harry managed to disarm another Death Eater, Sirius glanced back, catching the movement. His grin widened, and he yelled, "Nice one, James!"
The words hit Harry like a shockwave, stopping him in his tracks. For a heartbeat, Sirius’ expression flickered, his eyes narrowing slightly as if realizing the slip. But there was no time to linger on it. Another jet of green light seared past them, forcing both to dive for cover.
The piercing laugh of Bellatrix Lestrange dragged Harry's attention back to Sirius. The two cousins were locked in a vicious duel, their spells crackling through the air. Bellatrix’s movements were erratic yet deadly, her wild hair flying as she taunted Sirius.
"Come on, cousin," she sneered, her voice a sickly singsong. "You’re making it too easy for me!"
Sirius shot back, firing a series of curses in rapid succession. Bellatrix dodged, her laugh echoing through the chamber as she deflected each spell. Sirius and Bellatrix continued their deadly dance, spell after spell colliding in bursts of light and heat. Harry’s stomach twisted as he saw Sirius’ energy beginning to wane under Bellatrix's relentless assault. She was faster this time, and her wand moved in a sharp, cruel arc. A jet of crackling energy shot toward Sirius, aimed to hurl him backward toward the Veil.
Time seemed to slow. Sirius staggered as the spell hit, his body jerking unnaturally—but instead of being flung into the ominous archway, something shifted. His momentum twisted inexplicably, as though an invisible hand had yanked him forward. He fell onto his hands and knees, hitting the stone floor hard, just inches from the Veil’s edge.
Harry’s heart leapt in his chest, relief flooding through him. Sirius was alive—he hadn’t gone through. He couldn’t make sense of what kept him from falling in but he didn’t care. Sirius was alive. The last remnants of Harry’s family was alive.
Bellatrix let out a shriek of rage, her wand snapping toward Sirius again. Before she could act, Remus Lupin stepped into her path. His voice rang clear over the din as he shouted, "Expelliarmus!" Bellatrix’s wand flew from her hand, spinning in the air before clattering to the ground far out of reach. She screamed in frustration, her hands clawing uselessly at the air.
Sirius groaned as he pushed himself to his knees. For such a nasty fall, he was completely unscathed. Harry rushed to his side, his wand still clutched tightly in his hand.
"Sirius!" Harry panted, his heart racing. "Are you alright?"
"I’m fine," Sirius muttered, though he winced as he stood. His expression shifted as his gaze fell on Harry, lingering for a moment. Harry leaned in for a tight hug, clutching onto his Godfather’s robes. From across the chamber, Snape’s dark eyes flicked to Sirius and then to the Veil. His face betrayed nothing, but Sirius caught a subtle, deliberate motion as Snape tucked his wand into his sleeve. He smiled widely, a knowing look crossing his features. The potions professor, however, did not allow his stoic expression to slip.
Remus approached Sirius, placing a steadying hand on his arm. "The fight’s over," he said softly. "Let’s go."
Severus glanced toward the Veil one last time. It had made no claims that day. By some miracle, they were all alive. They had won.