Heyy you there :)
I havent't got a review so far.. I guess the main reason is that the amount of HP FFs is already pretty high ^^ I'd appreciate one though, for I'm certain someone reads this and I can't correct any mistakes if I don't know them.
Don't worry, this FF has already over 10 000 Words!
It's won't just stop after 2 chaps! :)
HF ^.^
They used the short time they had alone to collect their thoughts and quiet a few theories formed in their heads. James went back into his office and caught Sirius staring at the Pictures again. If what that Person in front of him told him was true, then he probably never experienced most of what the pictures showed, poor him. Though James couldn't feel that sorry for Sirius for that meant that his Sirius was still gone.
Sirius snapped out of his staring when James came back and sat down in his chair. He took the coffee James offered him but refused the sugar. "Well, that's one difference between you and this worlds Sirius." When Sirius gave him a confused look he added "the sugar, Sirius always put 3 spoons full of sugar in his coffee."
"Oh, yes I used to do that but after Azkaban the milk in the coffee is enough of a sweetener for me." He took a sip "By the way, what happened to your Sirius?"
At this James became very sad. "We went on a mission two months ago, but we ran into an ambush. He got captured saving our lives and he is still not back... " He sighed "When we didn't hear a word from him for two weeks, a spy told us he was taken by Bellatrix herself to some place and when she returned alone she said he would never come back. After another week he was declared dead and we held a funeral for him."
"Oh… but if the information was wrong then he could still be alive?"
James shook his head "No. The information seems legit and you being here, adds to the lead that he is dead. You see the woman I was talking about before, she went to over a 100 worlds and in each one of them she either was already dead, gone through the veil or never born."
Sirius looked down. He realized it must be nearly as horrible for James to see him as it was for Sirius to see James for they both had their dead best friend sitting in front of them but at the same time they didn't.
"There is one more thing you don't know yet." Said James and Sirius looked up again. "This is not only another world but there also seems to be a rather large time difference between your world and mine."
"What numbers are we talking about?"
"If we estimate time in Harry-years then... well we have the 7th of June and Harry is 10 now so calculate yourself."
Sirius eyes widened at that information. He was 5 Years in the past? That meant that none of the really bad things happened yet! These opportunities... he knew a lot of secret stuff about Voldemort and the Deatheaters that would probably be a huge help for the people here. His thoughts raced through his head till he remembered that they hadn't decided what to do next yet. But the air in the room was kind of heavy so he decided to try lift the spirit a little. "That means I'm finally older then you!"
James blinked perplex "Uh.. yeah."
"Cool." Before the following silence could settle he continued. "So what next? Do you want me to leave through the veil again? Or am I to stay here and if yes, what would you tell the world? Oh, hey! Can I get a new Identity?" he made a face remembering something "But don't actually give me the name we decided on in first year that was just horrible."
James let a little grin slip "Why, I know you want to be called Frank McCrabber!"
"Or right then you have to change your name to Hammond Eggs."
"If I'm Ham and Eggs the you are Hart Failure."
"Then you are Hazel Nutts."
"That's a woman's name Padfoot."
"So what? Then you'll just have to make a sex change first!"
Now they both laughed like in the old times. Sirius last felt so light and happy nearly 14 years ago and the little bickering let James forget for a minute that the man in front of him wasn't exactly the 'Padfoot' he had called him. And because it felt so good to laugh together, James had an idea. "Hey Siri, I haven't played any pranks in a while and I think it's time for one again."
"Ah yes, I haven't played one in ages either and we are two marauders in one place, we ought to be 'up to no good'. What do you suggest?" he asked curiously.
James bit his lip. "But there is a condition. You have to stay in this world in order to play the prank." Yes, he wanted him to stay badly. His pulse quickened while he waited for Sirius to answer.
Sirius who wanted to stay as badly as James wanted him acted to think hard and then he said: "I think that's an acceptable condition."
James let out a breath he didn't knew he was holding. "Well, how about we fool everyone into thinking you are this world's long lost Sirius. You escaped, but not without getting a little obliviated. You came into the ministry because it was the first thing that came into your mind and I checked you up: You are totally confused, look like shit and a little underfed but otherwise you're fine, our one and only Sirius Orion Black."
Sirius nodded slowly "Yes I think we can do that." Then he frowned "Hey! Are you telling me I look like shit and underfed?" he asked in a fuss.
James showed a broad grin "Well you can't deny the truth: You are a ragged, homeless dog!"
"What? I thought your Sirius had a nice job as an Auror? Didn't he own a house or something?" he didn't bother arguing with James about being ragged and a dog – both was very true.
"Well yes, but apparently you, Sirius, can't take care of yourself so you have to live with me and Harry under one roof."
"Really? I'm going to live with you and Harry together?" His played anger was washed away like it never existed. He would live together with the most important people in his live! He didn't care that they were different James and Harry. That fact couldn't be changed anymore. He could hate himself for kind of letting his own Harry down later.
James smirked over Sirius excitement. "Yes, the three of us in one house. You moved in with us shortly after Lily died... It helped me a lot and you too because you were thrown out of your rental apartment the third time." He felt bad talking about the man in front of him as the same person he had as a best friend even though his Sirius died... but it also helped and he thought he deserved that little help. First they still had to clear a few things up. "You memory loss probably covers most of the suspicions that will come up but we should still tell each other a few things about our past."
With that James started to talk. They found out that the main difference between the worlds was Sirius. In his world he, Sirius came just a little too late to the Potters house at that horrible Halloween night. In James world however, he found out about Wormtails betrayal earlier and got to the Potters house just in time. He wanted to warn them and was there when Voldemort attacked, so he was able do dodge the killing curse that Voldemort sent at James with a table but they were thrown against the wall and knocked out. When they regained their consciousness, it was already too late: Lily was dead and Harry was sitting in his crib, crying and with a scar on his forehead. There was no trace of Voldemort.
Sirius wanted to hunt down Wormtail, but James held Sirius from doing it right away. They finished their Auror-training a year later and their first mission was to capture their former friend Peter Pettigrew. When they finally did there was no other way than to kill him.
But somehow all the changes also meant that certain people didn't get arrested. Bellatrix Lestrange, Rabastan Lestrange and Antonin Dolohov were never caught and they never stopped doing ruckus. In contrary, they exclaimed that they believed that their dark Lord would come back soon because he was immortal and that they would continue serving him bye doing as much damage as possible or something like that… and with that the fight between Aurors and Deatheaters never really stopped.
Sirius told James that he knew a lot of stuff that would be happening or could have happened that the aurors didn't knew yet. They agreed on not sharing the information though because it could lead to differences in the timeline that cause a disadvantage for the Aurors side. With that agreement Sirius ended up telling James nearly nothing about his world. Also he didn't want James to know anything about how hard his Harry's life was, he would start blaming himself even though he didn't have anything to do with it.
After clearing that all up it was nearly morning so they prepared to leave. James filed a report on how Sirius returned. Then they packed up and went out of the office. Sirius started to become nervous. He would get a new chance and he would be able spend time with James Potter again. He worried if it was selfish to believe he deserved that second chance, if it was unfair for the other Sirius who died and whose life he was about to steal.
He stopped his thoughts when they got out of the elevators on their way to the fireplaces because there was a man walking their way and when he came nearer the man started to run. When he was only a few meters away, Sirius recognized him as Kingsley Shacklebot who then talked with an excited voice "Oh merlin, Sirius is that really you?"
"Yes it's him" Answered James proudly in Sirius place.
"Holy Fuck! Sorry for my language but we thought you were dead! How did you escape? What happened to you?"
Sirius was so startled he couldn't answer. That was a good thing because it verified their lie of him being obliviated, so James answered for him again. "He just arrived like an hour ago, totally ragged and confused. At first he didn't recognize me but then he rememberd my name but told me that the last years are a total blur for him. But he is definitely no imposter I made sure of that already."
"That's so great!" He gave Sirius a small man-hug. "I'm so happy you are back.
Sirius was shocked. He had never seen Kingsley like that, but in a world were he had to put up with two Marauders in his office all the time he probably learned to show a little more emotions… like anger when they did something stupid. "Er, hi." He said lamely.
"You must excuse him." Said James "he seems to be obliviated, I was just about to take him to St. Mungos so they could do an overall check."
"Oh Really? Well I don't want to hold you from doing that. Goodbye James, bye Sirius I wish you all the best."
And after another brief hug, James and Sirius went to the fireplace. "We really should go to St. Mungo's first. They can't detect the obliviation anyways and you do look awful."
Sirius nodded and stepped into a fireplace and then said "St. Mungo's" out loud.
He arrived at the hospital and James followed shortly after him. Soon, a nurse came and asked what they wanted. They were led into a room and Sirius was checked through. The woman had the results on a board and went through the list. "We detected an injury on your head, that you must have got a few days ago – " James looked at Sirius questioning who mouthed 'left drawer open – bumped my head' and James nodded knowingly " – but otherwise there is no other explanation for the memory loss then obliviation."
"Anything else?" Asked James.
"There are signs that indicate he got cruciated a short time ago too and you might be interested in knowing that he shows signs of suffering under the presence of a Dementhor for a long time."
The men tensed, they didn't know the nurse could detect that also. "That would mean Sirius was guarded at the enemies by a Dementhor?"
"Yes, I believe that's the case."
"Ok, that means there are Dementhor's that aren't under the ministries control." He lied and was relieved, though Sirius looked like he wanted to tell him it wasn't a lie at all. "If you would file your Report please? I don't think it will be necessary to keep Sirius in the hospital for observation, will it?"
"No, he is free to go as long you'll make sure that he rests a lot and eats more. We can't say when he'll be able to go to work again. He won't be fit for another week so you'll have to come here for a check. Plus the Chief of the Auror-Department has to decide if he is fit and secure to work again. Since you are the chief, you can do that yourself.."
"Thank you for everything. Okay Sirius, let's go!" he patted him on the head and earned an angry look for that. He smiled and they went to the fireplaces again. Sirius stepped forward with the fleapowder in his hand. "What do I say?"
"Snitch Manor"
Sirius made a face. "Who came up with that name?"
"You!" James grinned. "We made a bet and the winner named it."
"That sounds like us." He smiled, threw the powder and stepped into the fire "Snitch Manor".
Dear Christkind(or whoever reads this): I wish for a comment for christmas :3
