Chapter 1-Changing the Future

"What we need," said Dumbledore slowly, and his light blue eyes moves from Harry to Hermione, "is more time."

"But -" Hermione began. Then her eyes became very round, "OH!"

"Now, pay attention," said Dumbledore, speaking very low, and very clearly, "Sirius is locked in Professor Flitwick's office on the seventh floor. Thirteenth window fro mthe right of the West Tower. If all goes well, you will be able to save more than one innocent life tonight. But remember this, both of you: you must not be seen. Miss Granger, you know the law - you know what is at stake . . . You. Must. Not. Be. Seen."

Harry didn't have a clue what was going on. Dumbledore had turned on his heel and looked back as he reached the door.

"I am going to lock you in. It is -" he consulted his watch, "Five minutes to midnight. Miss Granger, three turns should do it. Good luck."

"Good luck?" Harry repeated as the door closed behind Dumbledore, "Three turns? What's he talking about? What are we supposed to do?"

But Hermione was fumbling with the neck of her robes, pulling from beneath them a very long, very fine gold chain.

"Harry, come here," she said urgently. "Quick!"

Harry moved toward her, completely bewildered. She was holding the chain out, a tiny, sparkling hourglass hanging from it.

"Here-"

She had thrown the chain around his neck, too.

"Ready?" asked Hermione breathlessly.

"What are we doing?" Harry said, completely lost.

Hermione turned the hourglass over once times, then fumbled and dropped it. It tumbled again in the air before hanging, the chain stretched to it's limit.

"Uh oh." Hermione breathed out, reaching and pulling the chain over her head when-

The dark ward dissolved. Harry had the sensation that he was flying very fast, backward. A blur of colors and shapes rushed past him, his ears were pounding, he tried to yell but couldn't hear his own voice-

And then he felt solid ground beneath his feet, and everything came into focus again.

He was standing in the deserted entrance hall, silver light streaming in from the outside.

"What was that?" he wondered aloud. As the young wizard said that, though, he heard a pair of footsteps coming closer. You must not be seen.

Harry ran outside and hid behind a bush, panting lightly. The footsteps grew louder, and, eventually, the tall, thin figure of Professor Severus Snape left Hogwarts castle and walked towards the Whomping Willow.

"Is he going back?" Harry whispered aloud, used to having someone to talk to, "Is he trying to find Pettigrew?"

The young wizard followed Snape at a distance, until the Professor knelt to pick up something made of silvery fabric -the Invisibility Cloak!

"But Snape hid under it . . . how did it get out here again?" Harry wondered allowed as the Professor picked up a long stick and poked the same knot on the Whomping Willow that Crookshanks put a paw on.

Harry waited for what felt like hours, knowing that if he was caught this past curfew, he'd get detention -or worse. Without the Marauder's Map to tell him where Filch and the teachers were, he didn't want to risk sneaking back inside.

"If Snape was following Pettigrew, he wouldn't have went through the tunnel to the Shrieking Shack, and the Invisibility Cloak wouldn't be there." Harry said, thinking through this. His gaze dropped to the device around his neck, "It's an . . . hourglass."

It hit him like a lightning stroke. Harry wasn't a methodical thinker like Hermione. Sometimes, the idea came to him right away, like chasing down a key with wings on a broomstick, stabbing a Basilisk with a sword or grabbing Voldemort. Sometimes, it took a while.

He had gone back in time!

"I can capture Pettigrew." Harry whispered excitedly, "And bring him to Dumbledore!"

Harry walked as stealthily as he could down to where he remembered Pettigrew had ran off too. Then another memory made it's presence known.

Just then, though, a small group of people erupted from the bottom of the Whomping Willow: Sirius Black and Remus Lupin, Severus Snape and Peter Pettigrew, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, and lastly, Harry Potter.

He watched as Lupin turned into a werewolf, his hands itching to do something, anything, but knowing both Sirius and Lupin would live.

Peter Pettigrew, though, started shrinking rapidly, his mousy features being replaced by a ratty face after he cast a spell on Ron and Crookshanks. Lupin's wand went flying as Harry -the other Harry- cast the Disarming Spell on him.

Then Peter turned and raced off -right towards Harry.

The young wizard crouched, hands out. As Peter cleared the bush, he froze for almost three seconds -enough time for Harry to grab him and poke the rat with his wand.

Peter stiffened, then went limp.

Harry smiled in victory. I'm going to live with Sirius! And I'm going to see my father!

He raced off, running through the forest as fast as he could. Then he saw it- the same lake. Sirius Black, in dog from, crouching and growling in pain as a seeming wall of Dementors approached.

There was another bush at the edge of the lake, the Harry threw himself behind it before either Sirius or the Dementors could see.

The dog actually shrank into the form of the gaunt wizard just as Harry and Hermione appeared, running towards him. The Dementors swarmed in, and Harry could see himself struggling to create a Patronus.

Harry stared resolutely, trying to ignore his own memories of the horrible feeling of loneliness and willing someone else to appear . . . whoever it was would appear at any moment . . . any second.

Please, Dad!

But Harry could see the Dementors swoop down . . . and realized. It wasn't Dad. I've never seen Dad's whole body. It must've been . . . me!

Harry stood, wand in one hand, Peter Pettigrew in the other. But how could I create a Patronus that powerful? The happiest memory . . . the happiest image.

He focused on the rat he held, the feeling of elation when that rat was being dragged back to Hogwarts. Harry raised his wand, performing the movements with a practiced ease. A few of the Dementors turned to him, now, but even his feelings held them at bay as he finished the spell.

"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" Harry shouted at the top of his lungs. A brilliant being made entirely of light exploded from the tip of his wand. Something with four legs and a huge rack of antlers.

It galloped forward, scattering the Dementors like so many leaves on the wind until there were none left.

Harry ran off, tucking his wand away and clutching Peter with two hand. There were teachers coming, and he didn't want to be caught . . .

The entrance hall was still open, so he ran in, his earlier fears forgotten in the heady excitement and happiness.

Thankfully, there was no one there. He raced up the stairwells and across the corridors until he reached the gargoyle that guarded Dumbledore's office.

"Er . . . Peppermint! Lemon drop! Mars Bars! Chocolate frogs! Licorice! Bernie Bott's Every-Flavored Beans! Honeydukes Chocolate!" Harry frantically guessed. None changed the gargoyle's position, and he swore it was now giving him a reproachful look.

"Nougat! Coconut Ice! Pepper Imps! Toffee!"

Soon, though, the gargoyle did move aside . . . to reveal the aged headmaster himself, wearing a nightcap and a silken robe.

"It is rather late for a visit, Mister Potter, and far after curfew." Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling, "Though I am rather offended by your choice of Pepper Imps . . . What is that you are holding?"

Harry held it out, "It's Peter Pettigrew! He's a rat Animagus and you told Hermione and I to-"

"Perhaps it is better that we converse inside." interrupted the old wizard, ushering Harry through. The gargoyle leaped back as the two of them walked up the stone spiral staircase.

Dumbledore's office itself looked as odd and mystical as ever. The Sorting Hat appeared to be snoring, as did Fawkes the pheonix and quite a few of the portraits.

"Now, Harry, tell me everything that happened." intoned Dumbledore as they both sat.

Pettigrew was surprisingly still as Harry explained everything, words tumbling over each other in his haste. He had just gotten to catching Peter Pettigrew in rat form when he heard the gargoyle leaping aside again.

"It's Snape!" Harry said hurriedly, interrupting his own story.

"Professor Snape." Dumbledore corrected, then pointed to a door, "Go in there until I tell you -you must not be seen!"

Harry nodded, opened the door, and stepped through. The room itself was small, and had a large circle in the center of it, inscribed with magical glyphs and ancient runes.

Outside, he could hear Snape's raised voice telling Dumbledore his side of what happened. Pettigrew squeaked and squealed, but Harry squeezed harder, forcing the rat to calm down again. Peter Pettigrew was, at heart, a coward and a poor fighter. He didn't want to start to transform in clenched hands, knowing that if Harry squeezed too hard, his rat bones would break . . . if not worse.

So the rat stayed silent until Snape left the room again, and Dumbledore opened it.

"Professor Snape's story also seems quite convincing." the aged wizard sighed, "Cornelius Fudge would believe the word of a professor over the word of a thirteen year-old boy. Let us hope you truly hold Peter Pettigrew."

"I do! He turned into a rat and I caught him!" Harry said, "Professor Lupin and Sirius cast a spell on him to force him to turn back!"

Dumbledore held up a forestalling hand, "I am very aware of the spell, and I believe your story. However, I must warn you to not utter any derogatory statements towards Professor Snape when we take Peter Pettigrew to Cornelius. Let me explain the scenario, and only speak when asked a question."

Harry nodded.

"Good. Now, set Peter on the floor and stand behind me." ordered Dumbledore. Harry none too gently did what Dumbledore asked.

Immediately, Peter ran for the door. He didn't get very far.

"Ostendo." Dumbledore whispered, and a beam of blue-white light erupted from his wand to strike Pettigrew. The rat squealed as he expanded into a flesh and blood wizard, squealing much like his rat form did. "Stupefy."

Another flash of light, red this time, struck Pettigrew in the chest. The traitor fell back, hitting the ground with a thud. He wasn't moving.

Harry looked at the still body, "Is he . . ."

"Dead? No. Merely unconscious." replied the master wizard. With a flick of his wand, Pettigrew lifted into the air, "Follow me."

They both walked through the mostly-deserted hallways of Hogwarts Castle at night, silver light streaming through the open windows much like it did into the entrance hall.

Dumbledore led Harry to the third floor, specifically to Professor Flitwick's office -or, more correctly, to the classroom that bordered it.

"The Kiss shall be administered immediately, as soon as we bring a Dementor here." Cornelius Fudge said, facing Professors McGonagall, Snape, Flitwick, and Sprout, the four heads of houses.

"We can't bring a Dementor inside the school!" protested Pomona Sprout, "There could be terrible danger!"

"I rather think that we will not be needing a Dementor at all." Dumbledore replied when he entered the room, "Sirius Black, ever the loyal Gryffindor, is completely innocent."

Professor McGonagall gasped, "Is that . . . Peter Pettigrew?"

"Impossible!" Fudge took a step back, "Sirius Black killed Peter Pettigrew! How?"

"News of Peter's death appear to have been greatly exaggerated." Dumbledore answered mildly, "It was recently discovered that Peter Pettigrew was -is, in fact- a rat Animagus. He was the one who killed twelve Muggles and framed Sirius Black. Isn't it curious that a relatively large piece of him, his finger, managed to stay intact while the rest of his body simply vanished? He cut off his own finger and turned into a rat after he blew the street apart, escaping into the sewers."

"No! Sirius sold the Potters out to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. He was the Secret Keeper!" Snape spat, "He's a dirty liar, just like the Potters!"

"I believe that Pettigrew was, in fact, the Secret Keeper. Minerva, you knew both Sirius and Peter. Who would be more likely to go to Voldemort?" Dumbledore asked calmly.

McGonagall thought for only a moment, "Peter."

"There is no need for you to only take my word for it, however. Professor Snape, if you would be so kind as to fetch a dose of Veritaserum?"

Snape glared at Harry for a moment before sweeping his black robe around him and leaving, the door slamming shut.

"Professor Snape tells a very different tale, Headmaster Dumbledore." Fudge said, "And a much more believable one."

"With respect, Minister, I find it very hard to believe that both Remus Lupin and Sirius Black would turn against James. They were inseparable in their youth!" argued Professor McGonagall, "Peter Pettigrew is by far the most likely to turn against them. Sirius Black rejected his upbringing many years ago, and was disowned as a result."

"I have to agree with Professor McGonagall." Flitwick said, "They were troublemakers, but they always stuck together. Only Peter didn't participate enthusiastically in their pranks."

"I believe Sirius' sentence should be waived in light of new evidence." Dumbledore suggested, "Imagine the news! Godfather and Son Reunited! The True Villain Imprisoned!"

"Hmm." Cornelius hummed noncommittally.

"Have I ever led you wrong?" Dumbledore asked, "I remember an incident last year when my innocent Keeper of the Keys and Grounds was wrongly sent to Azkaban. I would rather a similar incident not occur this year."

Cornelius' eyes bugged out a little, "Oh, yes . . ."

"And perhaps an award could be issued, as a sign of the bravery it took for a man to survive Azkaban and chase a known killer. A distinguishment for the Boy-Who-Lived's godfather." prodded the old wizard, seeing Fudge start to cave in.

That was when Snape returned with the bottle of Veritaserum.

Dumbledore gestured, "Let us see what Peter says about the events of that fateful night."

He maneuvered the unconscious wizard to face Snape, who angrily opened his mouth and put three drops of the clear liquid onto Pettigrew's tongue.

"Ennervate." Dumbledore whispered, waking Pettigrew. Then he stepped back and gestured to the still-floating body, "Who wishes to ask the first questions?"

"Did you frame Sirius Black for the deaths of twelve Muggles?" McGonagall asked.

"Yes."

"Did you kill those Muggles yourself?"

"Yes."

"Did you hide as a rat named Scabbers, in the care of Ronald Weasley?" Dumbledore questioned.

"Yes."

"Were you the Secret Keeper to the Potter's Fidelius Charm?"

"Yes."

"Is Sirius Black innocent of the betraying the Potters and killing the Muggles?"

"Yes."

"Did you betray the Potters to Voldemort?"

"Yes."

Cornelius' face had hardened more at each of the answers, "Vile rat! He will have a life in Azkaban for this!"

"I believe that to be the most suitable punishment." Dumbledore said sadly, "It is a dark day when punishment is dealt to the wrong man."

"It certainly is!" McGonagall hissed, "We should have seen this earlier! Sirius Black betray James Potter? I shouldn't have believed it!"

"No one can fault any of us, save for Sirius himself." Dumbledore comforted McGonagall, "I believed it myself until only an hour ago."

"How did you come upon Peter in the first place?" Cornelius asked, "Severus saw no rat when he brought Sirius and the students back to the castle."

"Peter apparently hid inside Mister Potter's clothes, and was scared unconscious like the rest of them when the Dementors approached..Mister Potter only recently woke from Peter trying to get free, and recognizing the rodent, brought him to me." Dumbledore said with a twinkle in his eyes, "Isn't that correct, Mister Potter?"

"Yes, sir." Harry replied, speaking for the first time.

Severus Snape turned to Dumbledore, incensed at Harry's presence, "He and his two friends attacked me!"

"It was merely a disarming spell, while you were threatening them at wandpoint. He acted in his own believed self-defence." Dumbledore assured the angry professor, "Given the events of this evening, I think it is best to let bygones be bygones."

Snape sneered at Harry, "You won't be so lucky next time, Potter!"

"Now, it has been a late and stressful night for young Harry Potter, and I believe we should let him retire to the Hospital Wing. I will return momentarily.

Dumbledore led Harry through the still-darkened hallways and back to the ward, where he motioned for Harry to remain there.

The old wizard opened the doors and stepped through, the words muffled on the other side. Harry pressed his ear to the door.

"What we need," said Dumbledore slowly. "is more time."

"But -" Hermione began."OH!"

"Now, pay attention," said Dumbledore, speaking very low, and very clearly, "Sirius is locked in Professor Flitwick's office on the seventh floor. Thirteenth window from the right of the West Tower. If all goes well, you will be able to save more than one innocent life tonight. But remember this, both of you: you must not be seen. Miss Granger, you know the law - you know what is at stake . . . You. Must. Not. Be. Seen."

"I am going to lock you in. It is five minutes to midnight. Miss Granger, three turns should do it. Good luck."

With that, Dumbledore turned and left. Outside again, Harry had a question, "What did you mean by 'you will be able to save more than one innocent life tonight?'"

"Hmm. I said those words because that is what you told me I said." Dumbledore smiled, "If I had not said that, things may have easily changed for the worst. I believe I meant Buckbeak, and because he mysteriously disappeared, that may have already happened. But do not say anything about saving Buckbeak. Things must happen the way they already have."

Harry was sure his confusion was written all over his face.

"Do not worry yourself, Mister Potter. The intricacies of time travel are a mystery to many. I don't quite understand them myself, but I believe I meant, or mean, for you to rescue Buckbeak and let Sirius fly away on him." Dumbledore said, "But this is certainly a fine alternative. Be sure to return the Time-Turner to Miss Granger, and Madam Pomfrey will certainly be irate if I kept you from her care much longer. Sleep well. By morning, I hope to have Sirius Black freed."

Harry nodded and stepped into the Hospital Wing, seeing Hermione and gesturing to quickly get in the beds again. They did -just in time. Madam Pomfrey came bustling in, talking to herself, "Do I get to take care of my patients now? Finally!"

She was carrying a veritable tub of chocolate, and placed it near the end of Hermione's bed. Then several large stacks appeared at Harry's, Hermione's, and Ron's bedsides, along with a potion for each of them.

"Eat as much as you can, then take the Sleeping Draught." Madam Pomfrey ordered, "Don't let me see you out of bed until tomorrow!"

Then she left, and Hermione leaned across the divide, "What happened? I thought . . . after I dropped the Time-Turner . . ."

It took most of the chocolate stack to explain everything to Hermione, then start over for Ron as well.

Eventually, though, the tide of words crashed to a halt. They all took the Sleeping Draught together, and slipped into the world of dreamless sleep.

Harry awoke the next morning when Madam Pomfrey opened the door to admit one Albus Dumbledore, with a newspaper rolled under one arm.

Well, perhaps morning wasn't the best way to describe it. It was, in fact, almost noon.

"I believe this will be of interest to you." Dumbledore said, holding out the newspaper.

On the front page was a photo of Sirius Black being taken to St. Mungo's, smiling and waving to a flock of reporters with flashing cameras.

Who Ratted the Potters Out? A Sirius Mistake!

The world was shocked today when the truth behind a years-old investigation was revealed! Sirius Black, scion of the Ancient and Most Noble House of Black, confined to Azkaban for years, was falsely imprisoned! Evidence has come forward that Peter Pettigrew, soon-to-be former Order of Merlin, First Class holder, was made Secret Keeper by the Potters, but was secretly colluding with the Dark Lord, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named!

Pettigrew is believed to have framed the loyal Sirius Black and killed twelve Muggles in his escape, and had been hiding until today, where he finally faces justice.

"Sirius is innocent of any crime." says Professor Albus Dumbledore, Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, "I look forward to seeing him reunited with his godson, Harry Potter."

But how will the Boy-Who-Lived react to the man long-believed to have betrayed his parents? Will Sirius claim custody over Harry? More on page 7!

"Will I really be able to live with Sirius?" Harry asked after he read the front-page article.

At the question, Dumbledore looked uncomfortable, "That is something very complicated. Sirius' trial is later today, but I am confident he will be judged innocent, and recommended for an Order of Merlin, First Class. But the issue of where you shall live in the future is a more complicated one."

Albus sat next to Harry's bed and leaned forward, his eyes not holding their customary twinkle.

"Your mother, Lily Potter, sacrificed herself for you. Sacrifice has long been a way to perform great feats of magic, particularly of the Dark variety. But a sacrifice made out of love can create the strongest magic of all, and that is what happened. Because of her, the killing curse rebounded off of you and struck Voldemort. In addition, powerful wards had the ability to be establised.

"While you can still call home the place where your mother's blood dwells, there you cannot be touched or harmed by Voldemort. He shed her blood, but it lives on in you and her blood became your refuge. You need return there only once a year, but as long as you can still call it home, whilst you are there he cannot hurt you. Your aunt knows this. I explained what I had done in the letter I left, with you, on her doorstep. She knows that allowing you houseroom may well have kept you alive for the past twelve years."

Harry nodded, "So I'm safe in Aunt Petunia's house? I hate it there, Professor!"

"I know. At the time, though, giving you to Aunt Petunia was the perfect solution. I did not know if Voldemort had truly died or simply had gone into hiding for a while. Should the second had been true, he would have attempted to find you and kill you. Whilst you are in your aunt's house, however, you would be protected." Dumbledore said, "At the same time, very few people knew your Aunt Petunia even existed, much less her location. The only ones who knew I had placed you there were myself, Hagrid, and Professor McGonagall. It was where you were safest, far away from the turmoil of the wizarding world."

"You did it to protect me? All this time . . . I was protected from Voldemort?" Harry asked, stunned by the revelation.

"I do believe, though, that times have changed. Discovering that one of your most trusted friend's pet was an agent of Voldemort made me realize that you, even within the walls of this castle, are still quite vulnerable to direct attack." the old wizard sighed, "As much as I would love to let you continue your childhood as you know it now, that must change."

"To what?"

"I would like you to live with your godfather, Sirius Black, behind the strongest wards I can muster and give your consent to be tutored on magic." Dumbledore's eyes turned sad, "You could have died numerous times in the past years, and I would like you to learn how to protect yourself. It is your decision to make, however."

The aged headmaster was about to leave when he turned to face Harry again, "Young Mister Potter, when I left you in the care of your Aunt and Uncle, I believed in such a thing as the greater good, and that people occasionally had to be sacrificed to reach it. Now, though, I realized I should have been attempting to save every single person I could . . . no matter the cost. If I had, perhaps Sirius Black would have been freed long ago."

The closing door sounded lonely when Dumbledore left, but despite the elder wizard's morose words, Harry felt nothing but elation. He was going to live with his godfather!

Author's Note: So, how'd I do? The news article didn't work well on Fanfiction's word editor.

Feedback is much appreciated!