A/N: This idea has been sitting on me for a few months, so on Sunday I broke down and started it. It'll probably take precendence now, too, conceited thing.

I may do a non-slashy version eventually, but this one has hints of slash. And character death...

Unbetaed. If someone would be willing to beta this or any other of my stories, PLEASE let me know.

First two lines are straight from OotP. Everything is JKR's, except the future slash and plot idea.

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Only one pair was still battling, apparently unaware of the new arrival. Harry saw Sirius duck Bellatrix's jet of red light; he was laughing at her.

"Come on, you can do better than that!" he yelled, his voice echoing around the cavernous room.

Harry saw Bellatrix point her wand in slow motion, the second jet of red light inch towards Sirius, just about to hit him…

Just then, Lupin dashed across the room and shoved Sirius to the side. The curse hit him, and threw his weak form backwards through the torn veil. A wind seemed to tear through it, and then all was still.

Time regained its normal speed, and with a cry of despair and rage, Sirius launched himself after his friend. Bellatrix made to shoot another curse, but before she could, she was Stunned by the entire Order. Kingsley grabbed the back of Sirius' robes and pulled him away.

Harry's mind was still reeling.

Then the unbearable silence was again broken by a feminine sob; Tonks had burst into tears. "Remus! How could he – why was he so…" She couldn't finish, and buried her face in Dumbledore's shoulder.

"Noble?" finished Dumbledore quietly, in the way Harry knew too well.

I should go get Sirius, he can help her…Harry had started towards his godfather before he realised that something was wrong. Instead of the shaken but determined countenance he had expected, his face was a pitiful display of utter grief.

Well, think – his best friend just died.

Had Lupin died? He didn't know what else could have happened to cause such a reaction.

But it couldn't be…