Disclaimer: The world of Harry Potter, its characters and settings are the copyrighted works of J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros., her publishing companies and affiliates. No profit was made from the writing of this story nor was any malice intended in any way, shape, or form to the author or the actors/actresses who so brilliantly have brought them to life. This author is not responsible for underage readers. Please observe the ratings, warnings, and age of legal consent for your country.

And now on with the story...here's One Wish: The Beginning, with a completely brand new chapter:

Chapter Title: The Fortune Teller
Rating: PG
Summary: "The future isn't what it used to be." — Paul Valery, French philosopher and essayist
Beta: No Beta, but if you want to volunteer, I'd be very grateful!

One Wish: The Fortune Teller

July 29, 1980

Muggle London, 45 Minutes Before Midnight

*THUD*

"Whoops! Terribly sorry about that ma'am!" Drunkenly, the man stumbled to his feet and gently patted the lamppost in apology. Swaying from side to side, he made his way down the street, giggling to himself every time he crashed into something. "Oopsie! Sorry Ma'am. Oopsie! Soooorry Sir. Haha. Why's there so many people in the street?" Frowning, he stopped in the middle of the road and turned to a rain-soaked, half-crushed, cardboard box, "You should go to bed box! It's way past your bedtime! It's way past my bedtime too. But...but...I haveta, I haveta do something. It's important!" With that exclamation, the dark-haired man flopped to the ground, hands on his knees, and began a one-sided conversation with the box. "Actually box. Do you wanna know a secret? Huh? Huh? Do you wanna!" Leaning forward as if to better hear the box's response, "But you can't tell anyone, okay? Okay. So. The secret. It's a secret! It's about a girl. She's a baby. So it's a secret about a baby. A girl baby. A girl baby secret. But it's not a baby-sized secret. It's a full-sized secret. About a baby. A baby girl! Do you get it Sir? No? Alright. I'll explain. See, there's this baby. A girl baby. My goddaughter! Her name's Rose. Well. It's gonna be Rose. When she's born! Cause she hasn't been borned yet. Are you sad box? I'm sad too!" He nodded at the box, then suddenly got up. "Actually box. I dunno if you're trustworthy. How do I know you won't just tell other people the secret? Well? Yeah. That's what I thought. Goodbye untrustable box!" The handsome drunk struggled to his feet and stomped away down the street. Abruptly, he came to a stop as a feminine arm, covered in golden bangles, snaked around his waist.

Purring seductively, the dark-eyed Romani plastered herself against the drunk, an odd hiss in her voice, "You can tell me your ssssecret Mr. Black. I promisssse. I won't tell anyone..."

"Really? Okay. Well, no, wait, how do I know you won't tell nobody?"
"Aww, Mr. Black. Don't you trusssst me?"
"I dunno. Do I?"
"Of coursssse you do. We're friendssss, aren't we Mr. Black?"

"Um. I dunno. Wait! You know my name?"
"Yessss, we're friendssss! I told you! Sssso tell me the ssssecret..." When Sirius continued to look hesitant, the Romani cajoled, "I'll tell you a ssssecret too, we'll trade. How issss that?

"Um, okay! So, I have a goddaughter, well. Not yet. But she's gonna be my goddaughter! But," Sirius paused and looked around. "Is it safe here?" Sighing, the woman rolled her eyes and led Sirius to a dark alley off of the main road. Once inside the alley, she led him into a dark tent that was invisible from the main road. Inside the tent, bright lights and multicolored silks filled the room, the scent of incense hung heavy, causing Sirius to complain, "Aaahchoo! It smells funny."

Rolling her eyes, the woman muttered, "You smell funny. I haven't complained."

"What?"
"Nothing. You were ssssaying?"
"I was? Oh yeah. So, my goddaughter. Apparently she's supposed to be born at the end of July. And uh...there's this prophecy and basically... She's in danger. Cause. Cause Moldevort...ummm, no that's not it. Voldevort? Moldemort? Voldemrot? Roldevort? Ummm...something vort?"

"VOLDEMORT!"

"Yeah! That's what I said, Voldemrot." A firm nod to himself, then, "So. Yeah, that guy. He's gonna wanna hurt my goddaughter."
"And getting drunk solves the problem how? Some chosen hero you are!" Clearly upset, the woman's seductive accent was a thing of the past. Her finger wagged as she berated the drunk Black heir, "Clearly you have no sense of discretion! I cannot believe a Champion would be so irresponsible as to get drunk and tell any random stranger the prophecy! If the gods wanted Riddle to hear the entire prophecy they would have sent it to him, instead of directly to Dumbledore!"

"Wait, why're you yellin'? You're not a stranger! You know my name! Remember?" Completely forgetting to question how the woman could be so unusually well-informed, he nodded to himself and continued, "Um. Maybe your memory went bad. You should get it checked! And what's your secret? I told you mine so you gotta tell me yours! Oh and, and whatsa Champion? And who's Riddle?"

Gaping, the Romani stayed silent for a moment, before she sighed and pushed Sirius into a chair. "Alright then, FRIEND. How's about I read your fortune and tell you a secret about your future." Scoffing, she grumbled, "Not that it matters. Since you won't remember most of this in the morning anyway. Honestly, what were the gods thinking." Rolling her eyes, she mocked, "'Help the Champion, Rukmini. He's a good man, Rukmini!' More like, make sure the Champion doesn't drunkenly spill the beans to every Death Eater from here to France, Rukmini! Good man, my foot. Raving, irresponsible drunk is more accurate."

Sirius simply beamed and held out his hand. Rolling her eyes, semi-amused, she grasped his hand and gently ran one finger down his life-line. "Hrm...well, well, well. You said you're going to be a godfather...to a little...hrm, girrrl? Hah, you may want to reconsider. Her father really may want to reconsider." Snickering, she continued, "Bit of an awkward transition, from godfather to, well. I don't want to tell you everything and spoil all the fun. So, let me just say this. There will come a day, when you will have to make a very important choice. Between what you know is morally correct. And the love you've always sought. If you choose altruism, it will be at the cost of both your family by blood and by heart. If you choose your desires, the one you love best will support you over all others. Of course, there is a cost to picking your own desires. The light-side will suffer greatly, perhaps even - tragically, if you choose to be selfish. But only ONE will die if you decide to pick what is morally just. That one, however, she may well be priceless...at least for you. Choose wisely, dear Champion."

Startled, Sirius looked across the table at the mysterious Romani. The drunken haze beginning to subside, he asked, "What? Who's the one..." Trailing off, Sirius blinked in surprise and glanced around the tent. The Romani was gone and the tent completely empty, except for the single wooden chair he was sitting upon. Suddenly, one of the symbols on his Order bracelet glowed. He glanced down to see both the etched Lily and Stag glowing pink. Shakily, he staggered to his feet, and with one final glance around, vanished with a crack.

A/N: So, here's the new beginning...Please review and let me know what you think!

Edited for typos: 08/05/2011