"We have just received word from Kingsley. It appears your resurrection caused some backlash in the Department of Mysteries, Black, and the Unspeakables have tracked it back to your magical signature and Hogwarts. Fudge, like the idiot he is, has taken a whole squad of Aurors off chasing Voldemort to track you down. I have been instructed to remove you to a safe place."
Snape did not appear particularly happy about his assignment, but the man was nothing if not efficient. Harry wanted to panic but chose instead to try and be rational about it. Sirius needed to be taken to somewhere the Aurors would not find him and that was all that mattered.
"One more thing," Snape said coldly, "they were instructed to bring a Dementor with them. Fudge has given them orders to bring you back, preferably sans soul."
Harry knew he must have gone completely white, but he was pretty sure nothing could match Sirius' pallor at that moment. Doing his very best not to think about Dementors and soul eating Harry picked up the chess board and put it to one side as Remus began to help Sirius out of the bed. Then Harry began to undress.
"Harry, what are you doing?" Ron asked, sounding very perplexed.
"There's a used hospital bed," Harry said, not pausing in what he was doing, "someone has to be in it when the Aurors arrive. Last time I checked I'm the best excuse we have for Hogwarts to be open to students over the summer holidays."
When he glanced at Snape, Harry thought he might actually have seen respect in the man's eyes at his explanation. His own bed was neatly made thanks to the house elves so that would not be a problem.
"Accio pyjamas," he said, taking his wand out of its hiding place and holding out his hand.
The garment landed in Harry's grip as Remus put himself under Sirius' left arm and pulled them both into a full standing position. From what Harry could see, Sirius could barely hold himself up, and his godfather's legs were shaking from the effort of just standing. It did not look as if it would be a fast getaway.
If Sirius had been well, he could have just changed into Padfoot, but as it was his godfather could not manage a good jelly legs jinx, let alone an Animagus transformation, and Harry knew it.
"Quickly," Snape snapped at them, "they were Appartating to outside the grounds when I was given the message. It seems Fudge does not trust the Auror department to not have leaks."
"We're going as fast as we can," Remus replied in kind, totally out of character for the werewolf.
They tried to walk, but Sirius stumbled, and they almost fell leaving Remus to drag them back to a standing position. Harry would have gone to help them, but he was too busy getting changed.
"Sorry, Padfoot," Remus said apologetically, "but I'm going to have to carry you."
Being a werewolf had a few advantages, and one was that Remus was a lot stronger than he looked. Although the ex-Professor was nowhere near as broad as Sirius, Harry knew that Remus had enough strength to lift the Animagus and Snape as well if he so chose. Sirius did not appear pleased, but he acquiesced, and Remus was about to hoist him into a fireman's lift when Harry felt the familiar cold creeping up his spine.
"They're here," he said, dropping the pyjama top he had been about to pull over the t-shirt he was wearing, and gripping his wand tightly.
In under a second, everyone but Sirius was armed, and they turned to look at the door through the gap in the screens in time to see six Aurors and a Dementor come into the room.
"It's Black," one of the Aurors said as the two groups came face to face.
"Don't come any closer," Harry said firmly, stepping in front of Sirius and raising his wand.
Before the acknowledged return of Voldemort, the Aurors might have laughed at him, but since then attitudes had changed about the Boy Who Lived. Now his version of events after the Triwizard tournament was taken as fact and it was known he had duelled with Voldemort and won. That it had been more by luck than judgement was not common knowledge and the Aurors froze where they were.
"Mr Potter," the man who had to be the head of the Auror group said evenly, "we are here to arrest the convicted murderer Sirius Black, please stand aside."
"My godfather," Harry made sure to stress the word 'godfather', "is innocent. He was convicted without trial or even the chance to testify under Veritaserum. You want him, you go through me."
Panic threatened at the back of his mind, especially when he saw the Dementor swaying in place, but he refused to let this happen. They were not going to take Sirius and that was the end of the matter.
The Dementor moved away from its keepers slightly and Harry heard the screams beginning in his mind. He wanted to close his eyes and fall to his knees trying to block out the sound, or to cast his Patronus and protect them all, but he could do neither without giving the Aurors a shot at Sirius. He prayed Dumbledore would arrive and do something to help them; he did not think his bluff would last for long.
"Call that thing off," he said coldly, trying to keep any trace of emotion from his voice, "or I will deal with it myself."
The influence of the foul creature was becoming stronger and this time, behind the screams there was darkness; the slow, creeping darkness come to swallow him whole. They had a standoff, but Harry knew he could not hold out for long and at the first sign of weakness the Aurors would attack. As the darkness and screams seeped through his mind wiping out rational thought, he mentally begged the universe for help.
[I hear you, Harry,] the voice that flowed into his mind caused such relief that he laughed; a small hysterical sound. [Let me help you.]
The Dementor moved towards him, seemingly sensing his distress, and as his mind threatened to cave under the assault, he opened his being and allowed Ignulus in. For a moment he felt the tearing and then he was standing beside himself and his arm came up, shooting fire at the Dementor. The creature exploded as if made of glass, shards of darkness flying everywhere before they dissolved in the light like so much ash.
"You will not touch one of ours," it was Sirius' voice, but Harry knew it was not his godfather who spoke.
Turning, he could see the ghostly form of Sirius standing next to his body.
"What in Merlin's name?" one of the younger Aurors asked the world in general.
As one, six wands pointed at Harry and Sirius, and it appeared Facis did not like that. This time it was Sirius' hand which came up and a sheet of fire erupted from his spread fingers. The Aurors found their wands on the floor before they could do anything about it. Harry would have cheered for joy had he had a mouth to do so.
"We are the only light in our darkness," Facis said, its power ringing in the tone of Sirius' voice. "We seek communication with pure souls. You will not be allowed to harm one of ours."
Ignulus was still incapable of more than simple movements with Harry's body, but it appeared Facis was a great deal more eloquent and in tune with Sirius'.
[We cannot stay long, Harry,] Ignulus told him silently, [Sirius is too weak. What do you wish us to do?]
Harry did not know how to reply. He did not want the Aurors hurt, but he had to get Sirius out of here. As he was trying to decide Dumbledore walked through the door.
"Greetings, Shadow Dwellers," the headmaster said formally, "I thank you for your assistance. I guarantee Sirius Black's safety and would request that you do not harm those who seek to take him."
It was a strange speech, but Harry knew Dumbledore would keep his word.
[Whatever the headmaster asks,] Harry replied silently, sure that Ignulus would pass on the information.
Facis, looking through Sirius' eyes regarded Dumbledore with an even, fire filled glare.
"As you wish, Albus Dumbledore," the Shadow Dweller said in an even tone. "We shall take our leave, but know this, if harm comes to ours, we shall return."
"May your fire shine into the void," the headmaster said and bowed his head.
Sirius' face was a picture of surprise as Facis reacted to this. Harry knew he had missed something, but he was not sure what.
"May your soul rest easy in its shell," the Shadow Dweller replied in a very formal manner.
It seemed that Dumbledore had more information about beyond the Veil than had been known when Harry helped bring Sirius back. Harry knew it should not have surprised him, the headmaster was always well informed, but he could not help it. He made a mental note to find out more himself.
[Goodbye, Harry,] Ignulus said and without any further warning Harry found himself slamming back into his body.
For the second time in under a week he came back to himself trying to stop Sirius from cracking his skull open on the floor.
"Accio wands," he heard Dumbledore say, and by the time he looked up the headmaster was holding all of the Aurors' fallen weapons.
It was almost enough to take his mind off Sirius' only semi-coherent condition, but not quite. He gave his godfather a quick once over with his eyes and then looked back at the intruders.
"Professor Dumbledore," the lead Auror said in a very dangerous tone, "you are obstructing the law."
"Ah, but the law was obstructed once before," Dumbledore replied, nothing about him the doddery old man people so often saw, "and I find myself disinclined to allow it to happen again. Sirius Black is innocent; I have established this to my own satisfaction..."
The Auror went to object.
"... and now," the headmaster continued in a very stern tone, "we shall establish it to your satisfaction as well."