Chapter Text
They knew the war was inevitable, hundreds of people before him had lost their lives fighting for what they thought were right and knew there was a possibility he and his friends could lose theirs here too as they made their way through the department of mysteries.
Harry stepped through a door into a large, dark room. Hermione and Ron were to the right and left of him while Luna, Neville, and Ginny were only a few steps behind them. They all stood close, wands at the ready, using the prophecy in Harry’s hands to light the room. In the center stood what looked like crumpled pillars surrounding a large, haunting mirror? Or Portal? Harry couldn’t quite tell. There was an alluring voice echoing through his head though at the sight of it, he wanted to get close and examine it.
He slowly crossed the room, focused on the charming whispers coming from the archway and his friends followed closely.
Ron grabbed onto his shoulder, “Harry, what are we doing?”
“Do you see that?” he asked
Ron focused in on the archway they were approaching and grimaced, gripping Harry's shoulder tighter. Ron opened his mouth to say something but was cut off by an ear piercing snapping sound.
Wands were raised in defence as a sickening black fog started filling up the air. It slithered down closer to the group pushing Harry over as he cradled the prophecy. The smog was thick and weighed his lungs down, making it difficult to see and breathe. More snapping sounds started sounding him as the black cloud cleared away and Harry was slowly able to open his eyes and take in the scene around him.
Around him his friends were being held hostage by death eaters, wands pointed at their throats as warnings.
Harry took in a sharp breath and mind started racing. Harry could see how Hermione and Ron were trying to hide their fear, but even they weren’t sure of their fates. They looked like small prey trapped in the jaws of some enormous predator.
What if I can’t save them, what if they die here because I’m too weak.
Hood breathing picked up, he couldn’t think of a plan to get them out. Even if he managed a spell or two there were enough death eaters that wouldn’t hesitate to take him or his friends out.
A sharp, approaching clicking pulled Harry from his thoughts. He could hear Hermione panicked muffled yells from the side of the room, he looked up when a shadow fell across him, locking eyes with a ruthless looking Lucious Malfoy.
“Potter.” He snarled, his voice was cold and aggressive and Harry could tell he was in danger.
Harry pushed himself up yet Lucious still towered over him. He stood defensively and protectively around the prophecy and made sure to keep an eye on each of his friends.
“Pathetic. You should be glad the Dark Lord forbade us from killing you ourselves, I’d love to see you fall right here.”
“Let go of my friends, it’s me he wants not them.” Harry's voice held the same venom behind it as Lucious’ but didn’t seem to have the same effect.
A cold grin broke across Lucious' face and Harry had to stop himself from shuddering.
“Had us the prophecy boy and then they can go.” He spat.
Harry gripped the prophecy closer to his chest and a panicked whimper came from Ginny as the wand was pressed harder into her neck.
“I do not think you're in much of a place to challenge me. Hand me the prophecy Potter.” His tone was demanding and it was clear he wouldn’t hesitate to attack if Harry refused.
The grip on the prophecy loosened as he looked at it again.
One of his friends started making sounds trying to stop him but he couldn’t, he needed them and couldn’t risk losing any more people here.
Lucious stuck out his hand and Harry slowly reached out to place the prophecy in his hand.
“Smart move boy.”
“Release them now, I gave you the prophecy.”
Lucious eyed him coldly, “but see I’m not sure if I want too, you’re much easier to deal with when you’re alone.”
Lucious pulled out his wand but before a spell could be cast a blinding spell filled the room. It was so bright Harry had to shut his eyes, it reminded him of the summer sun.
He blinked back into focus and sounds of battle started up. Spells and hexes were being launched around the room and Harry looked around, panicked.
Ron and Hermione ran up and hugged him, he let out a breath he didn’t even know he’d been holding.
“Merlin, I'm so glad you are okay!” Harry said.
“That was quite risky Harry.” Hermione scolded but she smiled warmly, “Thank you though.”
“Protego!” Sirius shouted from behind Harry, and he whipped around.
“Sirius, you're here!”
Sirius shot a stunning spell at one of the Death Eaters who shot a curse in their direction.
Sirius turned around and gave a quick smile, “I couldn’t let you do this on your own Harry.”
“This is very heart warming but can we please temper we’re in the middle of a battle zone!” Ginny yelled, shooting a bat bogey hex at another death eater.
Ron and Hermione had each other's backs and started launching hexes and Harry looked around. His eyes spotted bright blond hair moving quickly out of view and Harry felt anger rise up in the throat.
Harry wasted no time in launching after the blond man, he was going to get back at Lucious for hurting his friends, he would regret it.
Most death eaters along the way were occupied so luckily he didn’t have to worry about too many direct attacks but he did have to deflect a few rouge jinxes.
Lucious stepped out of a group of fighting death eaters which shocked Harry as he watched the blind haired man he’d been chasing keep running.
“You’ll regret setting foot in here potter.” Lucious snarled, and pointed at Harry’s chest.
Harry gripped his wand tighter and wasted no time in raising it at Lucious.
Lucious launched a spell but Harry was faster, “Flipendo!”
Lucious fell over like someone had just shoved him and Harry had to hold himself from laughing. Though Lucious didn’t seem to expect it and the prophecy went flying from his hands. Harry lunged forward trying to catch it but it went a bit too far and shattered open on the cold stone floor. A blue whisper escaped from the ball and faded into nothingness and Harry was stunned. They just lost the one reason why they were here, what was he meant to do now?
Harry looked around for Sirius, he would probably know what to do Harry hoped. Harry spotted him next to the weird portal thing fighting off three different death eaters.
Harry ran, panicked, his heart racing and mind running. “Sirius! Sirius, it broke. I'm not sure what to do!”
Sirius looked at Harry, eyes full of worry, “Hey pup take a breath. What happened?”
“The - the prophecy it dropped and shattered and now the plan is ruined and-“
A cold laugh broke through the air and Sirius stepped in front to shield Harry.
“Oh cousin is that you! You look so much better now that you’re out of Azkaban, I almost didn’t recognize you.”
Harry didn’t recognize the women talking but noticed how pale Sirius looked at the sight of her, this isn’t good.
“And is that Potter behind you? Oh I just had a wonderful idea! If you hand him over maybe we can torture him together!”
Her laugh was cold and laced with insanity, Sirius held Harry tighter.
“You won’t touch him Bellatrix.” Sirius growled, his voice firm. Bellatrix gave a playful frown, “well if you won’t give me a turn with the boy I guess I’ll have to just take him from you.”
Time seemed to slow as Harry watched the scene I front of him unfold, Bellatrix smiled wide and lifted her wand up. Sirius pushed Harry out of the way and the world seemed to silence after Bellatrix spoke.
“Avada Kedavra”
A bright green light split the air in half and pierced Sirius in the chest pushing him back. His body got lifted off his feet and set back, sucked into the veil behind him.
Harry could see Bellatrix cackling but couldn’t hear her or any noise from the battle around him. Harry waited what felt like ages for Sirius to walk back through but the portal remained silent and shimmery. Harry’s breathing picked up and an enraged scream filled the air. The yell was filled with all the anger and stress from the year, from the pain of losing a loved one, the pain caused by existing.
Harry grabbed at his hair and pulled, he felt hot tears running down his face.
Bellatrix was enjoying the show as her laughter just kept coming.
She’s going to fucking pay
This women just came and killed his godfather, the one adult who actually loved him and he felt safe around. She needed to feel the exact same as he did.
Harry gripped his wand and pointed it at Bellatrix like a dagger.
“CRUCIO”
The air around them became tense and Harry felt magic being sucked from him and channeled through his wand. Bellatrix quickly changed from laughing to screaming, she tried forming words but couldn’t speak due to the pain she was in. A grin spread on Harry's face, if she wanted to cause him pain she’d have to feel the same pain tenfold, it was only fair.
Harry looked up and spotted his friends who faces looked filled with shock and fear. Harry let the curse fall and he flinched under their gaze, what had he just done.
Bellatrix started laughing quietly again “Looks like the Golden boy isn’t all they say he is”
Remus ran up, completely oblivious to what just happened and grabbed Harry’s arm. “Harry, we have to go now, it’s not safe!”
Harry nodded numbly, eyes still on Bellitrix’s body shaking on the floor.
He felt a sharp tug in his gut and that pulled him back to the current moment as he and Remus appeared out of the department of mysteries and appeared right outside Dumbledore's office.
—————-
Harry sat with his head in his hands, his eyes squeezed shut as the memory of Sirius being pushed into the veil kept repeating in his mind.
Remus sat next to him with Ron and Hermione across from him.
The air was tense, there was so much unspoken between them but no one was sure how to start.
The door opened and Draco Malfoy walked out of Dumbledore's office. He looked paler than normal and his hair was very scattered and messy. Harry glared at him as Draco frantically looked around the room and raced out.
“Mr.Potter?” Dumbledore called from within the office and Harry stood up shakily and walked in. The door closed with a soft click and Dumbledore smiled at him warmly. Harry felt something in his gut twist, “Lemon drop?” He offered the bowl to Harry and he shook his head, taking a seat in front of his desk.
Dumbledore gave him a tight smile and folded his hands, “What you and your friends did today Mr.Potter was quite risky. I hope you understand that.” Harry nodded and kept his eyes down, afraid to meet his gaze.
“I will admit I was proud of you for being able to keep the prophecy out of Voldemort's hands. If he had gotten ahold of it I fear our time for preparations would have been cut.”
“What about Sirius?” Harry asked, barely above a whisper.
“What about him?” Dumbledore asked.
Harry looked up and locked eyes with Dumbledore, “that portal thing! He got pushed in and just vanished! We have to get him back!”
“Ah yes, the veil is quite a mystery. Though I’m afraid there’s no getting him back.”
Dumbledore's tone was flat and matter-a-factly. Harry felt anger start to boil inside him, “Though I’m sure he would want us to keep fighting, he knew what he was risking getting the order together to protect you and your friends.”
Harry shot up and slammed his hands against the desk. He would tolerate lots of things but disrespecting the dead was not one of them. “Surely there’s something?! Sirius just fucking died in front of me and your telling me to just move on like nothing happened?”
“Mr.Potter, language please.” Dumbledore's tone sounded tired and bored. And it all clicked into place, Dumbledore didn’t care about Sirius, about Harry, about anyone in the order. They were all merrily pawns in this game of chess, losing a few pieces was all a part of the plan.
Harry’s scar burned, both out of pain and anger.
Harry slid his hands across the desk, smacking all the objects off the desk and onto the ground. He heard a few things shatter but it didn’t seem to phase Dumbledore at all.
“The one adult who actually loved me, who actually cared for me just died. And you care more about your plans than the lives of the people fighting your war? No I’m fucking done, find some other chosen one I will not fight under you or for you any more! I’ve been used and manipulated since I was eleven, ELEVEN? I’ve been raised to be a soldier since the day you left me on the Dursley’s doorstep and I won’t stand for it any longer!”
The room seemed to heat up the angrier Harry got as the words left his mouth. When he finished he heard the cracking sound of glass, he always had an issue of doing accidental magic when losing his temper.
Dumbledore looked at him and frowned, looking more disappointed than sad. Harry stormed out of the room ignoring his friends still waiting outside the office.
Harry practically bolted up to the Gryffindor tower and started throwing his stuff into his trunk. He wasn’t going to stay any longer if that man was going to just keep using him, he’d take fate into his own hands.
Harry snatched his trunk up and walked to the grounds at the front school, his thoughts spiraled and the air became tight and disappeared for a second before returning.
Harry toppled over and groaned, but when he looked up he saw the towering height of Grimmauld place.
Harry gasped realizing he must have accidentally apperated himself, it must have taken him here due his thoughts focusing on Sirius.
Harry walked slowly up the steps of Grimmauld place and opened the door.
The building had always felt cold and unwelcoming to him but it felt different this time. When he opened the door the candles lit and the home seemed full of life, yet Harry felt empty. He knew Sirius was never coming back, he’d never get to see his godfather again, he’d never get the chance to live with him, he’d never have someone he could trust like that again.
Tears pricked the corners of his eyes and a sob escaped him, he collapsed in the doorway, allowing himself to feel and grieve for once.