"Back in time?" Sirius asked the blond headed girl in front of him. "You're saying that the key to helping Harry-"
"Yes," Came her dreamy sounding reply, although he kept on talking.
"-is me going back in time-"
"Yes."
"And…seducing…Him."
"Yes."
"….Right." He finished with a sigh and looked back at the circle inscribed on the stone floor to their side. He had been very hesitant when the soon to be 4th year Ravenclaw had sent him a letter with the request to 'help her help Harry help us all.' When he had read the plan involved him going back in time after somehow getting into the Department of Mysteries he had been very doubtful. After he realized the Lovegood name was connected with a line of well-known Seers…well then he was willing to give the girl the benefit of the doubt. "Remus would kill me if he knew about this…"
"This will not work nearly so well if you are dead Mr. Black." Sirius might have blushed at her reply if his mind wasn't so preoccupied, he didn't mean to say that out loud.
"So all I have to do is stand in this circle while you cast the spell, then try and get stunned into that Veil…"
"Yes."
"Merlin I hate rituals…" Flashbacks of his mother trying to make him think 'correctly' through blood magic tried to force their ways into his mind.
"I tried to find a way back that didn't have this step, but I didn't think you would be able to seduce him without your-"
"I understand Miss." He cut in sharply as he stepped into the center of the chalk lines, not wanting to hear what he would have had to sacrifice. "Let's…just get this over with…."
_-_-_-_-_Two Days After The Ministry Raid_-_-_-_
Blinking as he tried to remember where he was Sirius noticed that he felt stronger than he remembered, and shorter. His hair seemed longer too, and Holy Merlin's beard he was a ginger. Resisting the urge to see if the basement matched the attic he looked around. This place looked oddly like the Infirmary at Hogwarts although he had never been to St. Mungos that he could recall so he had no idea if he could have been there.
"Ah hello there dear," A kind voice to his right took him from his thoughts. "Good to see you're awake after these two days! I am Madame Leary, the Nurse here at Hogwarts. Do sit there and be a good boy while I run a few follow up tests on you, won't you?"
Sirius simply nodded as she walked over. So he was in Hogwarts? Oh that's right… Something about a plan to save…someone. He wished he could remember anything but that was part of the plan too; well he was pretty sure it was anyway. He wished he could remember more about himself… but perhaps it was for the best he didn't, maybe it was so terrible he was blocking it out.
"Can you tell me something about yourself? When one of the students found you on the third floor you were already passed out and we've not had a name or anything to call you these past few days…"
"I'm sorry Ma'am but I can't seem to remember much…" He started, trying to collect his thoughts "I…think my name is Sirius…or some star like that, and Hogwarts sounds familiar…and I think I like dogs…"
"Oh you poor thing, no need to be embarrassed. You sound like a proper English lad and I'm sure your family is worried sick. We'll have you home in no time." Somehow he knew they would find his family…did he even have one? Ah well it wasn't important now. "The boy who found you, his name is Tom, he promised he would show you around and his House said that they would house you until we find where you belong."
"House ma'am?" That sounded so familiar but he couldn't remember…
"Yes Dear, that's how the students are sorted here at the school. Normally the Headmaster would be telling you this but was called away, so the head of Slytherin was kind enough to offer to sponcer you."
"I see."
"Oh! Here is your guide now!" She said after seeing the door open. As she walked away from his bed Sirius got a good look at this Tom kid. Somehow this person seemed very important, like Tom was his whole reason for living and the feeling only intensified as he got a good look at the handsome young man. "Mr. Riddle! As you can see our mystery boy has awoken! He says his name is Sirius and I'm sure he is ready to go eat!"
Tom didn't look too excited to be there in Sirius' mind but he really hoped that he was imagining things. All of a sudden this boy's opinion mattered more than anyone else's ever had. Still he walked over to the bed and greeted him.
"Hello, I am Tom Riddle," He seemed to rush over his name a bit, which Sirius noted was rather odd and the way he was very formal four kids their age. "And I am a Fourth Year in Slytherin House. We have time before dinner to stop by the dormitories if you would like to…freshen up first."
"Er…yes thank you Tom, I would like to do that, and see for myself this place where I am supposed to be spending my time."
"Very well, follow me." With that the other boy tuned and started to walk off, not even looking to see if Sirius followed. The red haired boy didn't mind though. Being so far behind Tom meant he got a great view of the other boy's ass.