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Story Name: The Better Black
Author: tourniquetsmile
Rating: I would have to say g - pg: no gore, no sex, minimal swearing.
Synopsis: Sirius did not die behind the veil, nor did Bellatrix die in the duel with Molly Weasley.
Send replies via: PMing is fine, or you can reply to the comments thread in the main forum.

I have to ask you not to reply to this thread because, hopefully, I can continue adding on until the story is completed to my satisfaction.

I may also edit beginning chapters to help the ending out a little. So, be sure the read the whole thing when there is a new plotline added. Thanks!



Sirius thought he was dreaming.

He walked past an old churchyard, covered in dust and overgrowth. Thinking about Harry, he was silent. The mist filed around him, clearing his head but fogging his mind.

He mused. He mused about Voldemort and The Boy Who Lived. But here, beyond the veil, he could do nothing. He could do nothing because he was dreaming.

What was the veil? Beyond it was where Sirius dreamed for three long years, but, even so, he still had no idea. He was not dead; he still had a heartbeat. He could still think, but he was dreaming.

Sirius could hear what was going on with his loved ones through the veil. Hell, He could almost see! But. Damn. The fog made everything skewed. Because this was a dream.

He seemed to be in two worlds at once. One just less clear. The fog, if only it would go away.

He spied happily as his godson kissed Ginny, but became angry because he could not wake up to listen to Harry’s excitement as he recounted the experience. He was angry he could not send an owl. Would he wake up in time to watch Ginny walk down the isle as he’d once watched Lily?

He had not been there for Harry when he was a boy, and now he could not wake up.

Damn that Pettigrew for taking me away from him, Sirius thought. And damn Bellatrix for doing it, now. But, wasn’t this a dream?

Sirius came to a cobblestone path. He followed it to a bridge, and, in turn, crossed the bridge.

He had dreamed the wedding of Remus and Tonks. Nymphadora looked beautiful. He cursed himself for not waking up to be there, but still felt his heart leap with joy as they said their vows; just as he had shuddered and cried out in sorrow as they fell fighting. But, it was all a dream.

The last marauder walked on, on through the fog.

Sirius thought he was dreaming. He thought he was dreaming of his godson. And a ring. He dreamed Harry needed him. Harry was going to be killed, and needed to know what it felt like to die. Sirius reassured him. Sirius told him that he was proud of him.

But Sirius was not dead. He was dreaming.

He remembered the fall, when he fell through the veil into this void. This void where all he could do was watch, watch through the fog. Even more helpless than in Grimmauld Place, he tried to wake.

Remembering the ring, he arrived at his desired destination. He recognized this place. Yes. It was where he fell. The mist half-cleared around him. Sirius peered through the grey, seeing the department of mysteries; seeing the veil.

Sirius could hear their whispers, the voices. He was unafraid; he knew that their owners were a part of neither world that he was. They could not harm him. After all, it was only a dream.

The ring called to him, reminding him of Bella’s vile act.

Sirius thought he was dreaming.

He would do anything for the ones he loved. Selflessly.

Harry needed him to be there. But why couldn’t he wake? Was this a dream? Sirius began to doubt.

Sirius stared at the veil. He could almost touch it. He felt every particle in his body wanting to do so.

Yearning,

Sirius awoke. Sirius awoke in the sense of realization that it wasn’t a dream. It had never been a dream.

And then…

Reaching out to touch the veil, Sirius wanted to go home; it was time.

Sirius walked down Diagon Alley as a stray. He did not want to reveal himself, yet, because of the emotional reactions it would cause. Honestly, having been gone so long made him hesitant to see anyone, even though that is the one thing that he longed.

He walked by many rows of shops. Passing Eeylop’s, Flourish and Blott’s, and the apothecary, Sirius spied the Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes. For some reason, he did not want to go in there. A great sadness enveloped him when he tried to understand why. Sirius went in anyway.

The bustling crowd did not notice the lonely stray, but the lonely stray did notice the crowd. My! Sirius thought. I always knew the twins would have a flair for business. Then, with a pang, he realized why he did not want to initially go in. The twins. Being trapped in the veil, he did not really witness Fred’s death. Sirius looked around frantically, trying to find some sort of shred that his intuition was mistaken. But, there, on the wall confirmed it. There was a small memorial for Fred. A picture of Fred, smiling, was hanging on the wall right above a small plaque that read ‘In dedication to a believer in the best medicine there is - laughter.’

Sirius hung his head, and wandered some more.

Straining his neck to recognize anyone, anyone at all, he heard a familiar voice.

“Wow! That looks a lot like Snuffles, Harry!”

Sirius’s large black ears perked up at the name ‘Snuffles,’ and looked around. Sure enough, a brown-haired girl with a wide grin was pointing at him. Hermione. Sirius was sure that she had said ‘Harry.’ Where was he?

To the left of Hermione, sure enough, was his godson. “I sure do miss him, Hermione.”

Seeing his godson’s face while he said that was too much for Sirius. He wagged his tail and bounded over, resisting the urge to transform in the crowded store.

“Wha…?” Harry said, realizing that the uncanny doppelganger looked a little too uncanny.

Sirius tugged on Harry’s sleeve and led him right out the front door. Behind the shop, out of sight, Sirius metamorphosed.

He grinned as he noticed Harry’s green eyes the size of saucers. Hermione threw her arms around Sirius warmly, as Harry stood there in a stupor.

As Harry and Hermione started to babble, Sirius put his hand up to show that he did not want to answer questions at this particular point in time.






The Weasley family kitchen was busy with excitement as Molly Weasley made Sirius Black some tea.

Sirius finally felt like he was a part of reality for the first time since being trapped behind the veil. He finally felt the grief associated with the deaths of Dumbledore, Lupin, Tonks, Fred, Mad-Eye, and everyone else who had fallen during the time he had been trapped in the veil. He felt no remorse in hearing of Bellatrix’s death, and very little when hearing of Severus’s.

Everyone had listened with surprising quiet when he recounted his story. They never made a sound, conveying their surprise, grief, and wonderment solely in their facial expressions. As Sirius was finishing, those gathered around the table - Molly, Arthur, George, Harry, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Bill, Fleur, and even Hagrid having heard the news despite his home being far away on the Hogwarts grounds - his friends were simply gaping at him, unable to fully acknowledge the fact that this was not a dream.

Sirius smiled and gave a gracious sweep of his hands. “And. Here I am.”

Molly acknowledged the smile, but everyone else stared in stony silence.

“Harry, can I speak to you outside?” Sirius asked, breaking the quiet. Harry nodded, and Sirius led him out to the overgrown Weasley garden.

Harry was too quiet in Sirius’s opinion. Sirius was overjoyed in seeing his godson, but, for some reason, Harry hadn’t conveyed a single emotion since the initial surprise outside the Weasley shop.

“Harry. I know something is bothering you. Tell me,” Sirius said softly, looking at the small overgrowth that was rather pretty by moonlight.

“Sirius… I…,” Harry didn’t seem to know how to finish the sentence. Sirius was patient; he knew how hard this must be for the boy. Wait, Sirius thought. I forgot. He isn’t a boy, anymore. He came of age long before now. He sighed, thinking about it. How much he had missed.

“How come you didn’t return before now?” Harry asked, suddenly breaking Sirius's train of thought.

“Good question. I’m not really sure why. The world I was in was much different than here. It felt like it wasn’t really happening… kind of like… I was dreaming. Because I fell through the veil, I had not really died. So, I guess it was a medium between the worlds of life and death. But I can’t know for sure.”

“This whole thing was my fault.”

“No, Harry. It wasn’t. You must understand that the battle I was participating in was the first time that I actually felt alive for months. You have no idea how Grimmauld Place made me feel,” Sirius recounted. “Cabin fever,” he hastily added.

“Even so, it was thick of me to let Voldemort get to me like that,” Harry said steadily.

“Look. It is pretty thick of you to dwell on it, now. I have never blamed you.”

“Sirius, I missed you a lot,” Harry said, looking down at the ground.

It was too dark for anyone in the house to see Harry’s face almost to the point of tears. Giving Harry a tight embrace, Sirius whispered, “I know. Don’t worry about it, anymore. I’m back.”







“So when did you two get together?” Sirius asked Ron and Hermione the next morning, taking a bite of his toast.

“Shortly after Harry and Ginny got together. About a year after you… er…” Ron trailed off.

Sirius nodded. “I see.”

There was silence for a moment as Sirius chewed more toast slightly dog-like, and wolfed down some orange juice. Ron and Hermione grinned.

“You know,” Sirius began, after finishing what was in his mouth. “I could see it a mile away.” Sirius grinned.

“Everyone says that,” Hermione said with a smile, leaving the kitchen with Ron.

I hope their kids have Ron’s ginger hair. But, please, let them have Hermione’s wit and cleverness. Unlike the way he thought of Harry, Sirius did not think of Ron and Hermione as kids anymore. I suppose I better get over that, Sirius thought, shoveling some of Mrs. Weasley’s pancakes into his mouth.

Sirius Black was having a grand old time over at the Weasley's humble abode. They, naturally, were great hosts, but, more importantly, they were great friends. He could not have recovered from being gone for so long if it weren't for them.

Mrs. Weasley poked her head into the twins' old room, where Sirius was currently staying. "Are you sure you don't need more breakfast, Sirius? A week has passed, and you're still so thin!"

"No, Molly. I don't need more breakfast. I ate like a pig. Besides, I don't have the metabolism of a kid, anymore. I'll gain the weight back in due time."

Sirius was still perplexed at what the veil-realm had done to him. In theory, he was between worlds, so what consequence would not eating have done? Yet, despite that theory, he had been famished and thin when returning to the other side.

Sirius was stretched out on one of the beds, soaking up some of the sunlight coming through the window. He figured that he would send an owl to Harry so that they could meet up and do something this afternoon.

He needed to talk to Harry about moving in with him. Surely, it was more appropriate than staying at the Weasleys'. He did not want to overextend his welcome. Besides, Ginny still lived at the Burrow, so he wouldn't be intruding in that regard. Then once he got back on his feet, he would find a place of his own.

Sirius sighed, and sat up. A few moments passed while he was just enjoying the sun. Out of nowhere, a large, tawny owl swooped past the window and knocked on the pane.

Sirius jumped. He saw the owl, but did not understand why it was there. Who would be writing to him? The few people that knew he was alive would not need to send him an owl. He was worried.

He let the owl in, noticing that the note attached to his beak was not addressed to him, but to Harry.








Harry and Sirius pored over the note in the Weasley kitchen. Harry had arrived moments after Sirius urgently sent for him.

Harry,

As I did not know where you currently live, I sent this to the Burrow. I figure that it will get to you as soon as possible, knowing that you spend a lot of time with Ron and the Weasleys.

This is a matter of life and death. Bellatrix Lestrange tried to attack Luna and me last evening. I just got done sorting things out with the Ministry, or I would have written to you sooner. I'm sorry about that.

I was under the impression that she was dead. Didn't Ron's mum kill her, herself? Yet, there she was, in my own home.

I am under the impression that she is going to come after you, and possibly others.

Be careful, Harry.

Neville Longbottom

Sirius looked around wearily. How could Bellatrix have survived?

Molly herself performed that curse, and, under the emotions she was in, she would have performed it effectively. Sirius knew the story. Harry told him that she swore. Sirius, even, had never heard her swear.

Bellatrix.

This means that Harry is in trouble, Sirius thought. What are we to do, but fight her? Sirius knew the answer. Nothing.

After making arrangements for the Weasleys’ safety, Sirius and Harry arrived at Cedar Creek, the home in which Harry lived alone.

Abandoning the matter at hand for his godson’s well-being, Sirius asked, “So… When’s Ginny going to move in?” He was half-playful, half-serious.

“We haven’t made arrangements, yet, and we aren’t married. I didn’t think it was appropriate for her to move in, yet,” Harry replied.

“Your relationship isn’t rocky right now, is it?”

“No, no. It isn’t. We’re right as rain,” Harry assured him.

Sirius winked playfully. “Okay, bud. I got it. Now to Bellatrix. We both know how cunning she is, and we both know how ruthless. We need to do some planning before she comes near us.”

“I was thinking the same thing.”

At that very moment, there was a sharp rap at the door. Wands at the ready, both Sirius and Harry made their way toward it. Harry unlocked it, as there was no peephole, and slowly opened it.

Standing in the bright sunshine was a stunning blonde with a dreamy look upon her face. “Oh. Hello, Harry.”

“Luna? What are you doing here?”

“I came by to talk to you, after, well, what happened to Neville and me. Is that your godfather, Harry?”

Sirius shifted uncomfortably and smiled. It was the first time that someone outside the immediate circle of friends had seen him alive.

“Yes, Luna. It is him,” Harry answered slowly. With a determination, he added, “I’m glad you and Neville are okay. What is it you came to talk to me about, Luna?”

“Well, as you probably know, after I finished school some time ago, I moved in with Neville. We promptly got married,” Luna said dreamily. “The only reason we are alive today is because he, thinking of what you or Mad-Eye would do, placed a Sneakoscope near the door. I suppose we inadvertently owe you our lives. So, I wanted to give you this.”

Luna handed him what looked to be a large, clear top. It had a crack in it, as if it had gotten broken in a tussle and repaired. She assured them that it still worked.

With that, Luna bid adieu.

“Well, I suppose that is a start,” Harry said.

Sirius had felt the lump that had been forming in his throat start to lessen when Bellatrix pulled the covers from over his head. Now, he could feel the adrenaline pumping in his chest, and the lump was gone completely.

Ignoring Bellatrix's stutters about his survival, Sirius smiled a sarcastic smile, already beginning to feel the heat on his cheeks. He knew he had said something witty a moment ago, but he could not remember what. This is because all this happened to him in two split seconds.

With a shake of his black hair, he sidestepped a bright green curse. Sirius was completely calm while this was going on, but he was moving with surprising reflex.

He could not bring himself to use the killing curse against Bellatrix, even if that was what she was resorting to.

Sirius knew that he was probably yelling, but he could not be sure. All he knew was his melancholy. He was at peace; he was mellow. Even if, at any moment, one of the emerald streaks of light would make him vanish from this world altogether.

Sirius sighed and sent a stunning spell sailing over Bellatrix's head.






Harry was on a broom. He found himself flying towards an area of London at an alarming rate, all while worrying about Sirius.

Sirius had told Harry to alert the ministry, and that he would take care of Bellatrix Lestrange. But something was beginning to nag Harry's mind: Bellatrix was the one who had sent Sirius into the veil three years ago. Could she possibly kill him off for good this time?

After coining the infamous telephone booth, and speaking to Kingsley Shacklebolt about the odd situation that was unresolved in his home, Harry Potter and a very large team of aurors were speeding back to Cedar Creek. Apparently the Minister still remembered how deadly Miss Lestrange was. It would not be long before they reached the tussle.






Sirius Black laughed. "Back from the dead? High and Mighty? Look who's talking! Last time I checked, you were dead as well!"

Bellatrix's head rolled to the side, and her eyes closed. Although she was in a fix, this could not possibly be the way it was to end. She blinked and tried to locate her wand in the mess that used to be a bedroom. Once she got her breath, she curled up to Sirius's calf and bit him.

Howling in pain, Sirius grabbed his leg and hopped. He had not expected that. But, he noticed Bellatrix lunging for the wand that lay only a few meters from her position on the floor, and knew that he had to change. Sirius metamorphosed and bounded across the room, surpassing Bellatrix, and knocking the wand from her reach.

Bellatrix smiled at the mutt and aimed a well positioned blow to his abdomen. Ignoring his yelp, she scrambled for the wand. When she reached it, Sirius had already recovered and grabbed her foot, wrenching it sharply.

Bellatrix cried out. Her ankle was probably broken by now, but she didn't care. With one more lunge, the wand was in her hand. She performed the Cruciatus Curse on the dog.

He howled. He twitched. And he could not overcome the pain that was being evoked from Bellatrix's rage.