A/n I have several stories all going at once behind the scene (written and in my head), and this one was my favorite idea and I decided that it would be one I post. Once Bones of Death is finished, I'll post a new Sirius/Hermione that involves soul magic. That'll be fun! Until then, enjoy AGE KERFUFFLE. A hilarious serious story about a bored Goddess of Chaos and the Sands of Time. I almost called this the Sands of Time, but my sister suggested Age Kerfuffle, and that was just too perfect! You'll see why.
P.S. Time Turners? What Time Turners? XD
Kerfuffle - a commotion or fuss, especially one caused by conflicting views
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Shrieking Shack, June 1994
If someone had asked Remus how his night was going to go, he would have answered that he was going to take his potion, and sleep in his quarters, trying to be as small and insignificant as possible. That was how he survived in the Wizarding World this long, by trying to be invisible. Which was not an easy task as a werewolf over two meters tall, shaggy robes, and more than a few scars that marred his tanned skin. He was long when he didn't need to be, and had more than a few issues with his back, since he hunched. The large gashes on his face from his youth, did not help at all. At least, he told himself more than once, muggles found him scary enough to leave him be. Wizards and Witches however, assumed he was some kind of smuggler, and not a very good one with his attire.
He had never thought in all the years of the universe that he would be face to face with a man he was friends with in his youth, who didn't in fact betray their shared family. Rather The Rat did the betraying. Remus found himself feeling foolish with the truth presented to him so clearly, he should have known that Sirius would never turn on James for anything. Peter, however, when he thought back always seemed to find his way out of trouble. He would know things others didn't and toward the end of the war, as they started to recognize that they were going to lose, he started disappearing far too often. Remus who was gone often himself, even took notice. Instead, Remus blamed his friend who used to belong to a Dark family. He treated Sirius exactly how he was treated, with distrust for something outside his own power. Remus would have to beg forgiveness, he was certain.
Hermione, Harry, and Ron the trio who always stood at the front of trouble, were living up to their reputation. He felt a deep pain as Hermione used his affliction as a justification to his being on the side of the Prisoner of Azkaban. He had stared at her with something he associated with disappointment. He watched as she backed into herself, having never been at the receiving end of her professor's ire, except maybe Severus Snape. Remus felt the fondest he built over time for the friends of Harry, as they stood beside him, and defended his choices. Hermione and Ron would listen because Harry wanted to. He took Remus back to his own youth with his own friends holding the world for him. Remus wished than, that he had had the strength to grab it.
Snape put them all at a huge disadvantage, springing out of nowhere, stealing their wands and the power in the situation. Hermione standing up and trying to reason with the unreasonable was a sight that brought warmth to his heart. She was nothing if not compassionate, though he knew that compassion would turn into the deepest spirit of revenge if those she loved were wronged.
All of that was at least understandable. Snape, Hermione, Harry, Ron, Sirius, and even himself appearing at the Shack at the same moment right before the full moon. Peter was a stretch since he was supposed to be dead, but Remus could accept all of that, reality was still in place, and he had nothing to overthink. He had his friend back, Harry's friends proved once again to be true ones, and Snape along with Peter stood against them. What was not understandable was what happened next. The room turned a strange glow of blue, and all at once he was short. Not the usually hunch he had become accustom. No this was a height change, physical in nature. He took a few breaths and looked about at the very different members of the space. Hermione and Harry both looked to suddenly be about five years old, Ron had stretched up, his leg surprisingly better from the bite of the Grim, and all the buttons and zippers on his clothes burst open, Snape was nowhere to be seen, just his clothes laying on the ground abandoned, and Sirius, well he just looked surprised. Remus couldn't see Peter slumped over the mattress like he was.
"The FUCK!?" Sirius was the only one to speak, eyes darting between those present with a strange fascination. "I'm Mad. That's gotta be it, MAD, last marble missing between the boards." He started pacing, eyes locked on the stunned Peter with a menacing focus that had Remus attempting to move toward his friend, only to trip, quite ungracefully onto the boarded floor of the Shrieking shack.
"Now... now... I have to explain or the Fates will be buzzing in my ear. They still haven't forgiven me for the whole Troy thing." The last part sounded almost like a whisper in the back of Remus's mind. Everyone certainly heard it as well, if the frantic looks about were any indication. "That's better." Sirius suddenly was perched on the bed, with wide confused eyes. "I'm Eris." The woman was dark of hair, and had blue tinted skin, her eyes were a pitch black, no white, and she seemed to float in the air. Remus wondered if they were in water somehow.
"The Goddess of Chaos?" Hermione's high pitch squeak of a voice, cut the woman off. She glared at the little Gryffindor, causing Harry to step in front of her in defense. They look adorable. Remus scoffed at himself; this was not the time to think about children's cuteness.
"Yes." Eris's voice was cold, clearly annoyed. "And discord."
"Doesn't one usually lead to the other?" Hermione's voice piped up again. Remus knew she mumbled when nervous and was afraid of what Eris might do. "So... they are... functionally the same..." Hermione squeak and shrank behind Harry as the Goddess floated over to her and pressed their faces as close together as possible.
"Yes." Her voice was even colder, silencing anything Hermione had to say further. "I am Eris, the Goddess of Chaos." She glared at the young girl once more before looking at the room, humor returning to her face. It reminded Remus of Sirius during fifth year, right as his home life grew to the highest level. He was a menace that year. "I have a bet with Death." She smiled, a twisted emotionless smile. "They think you will complete your Fate," She gazed at Harry, "regardless of tiny little changes to the Sands of Time from your Hourglasses of Life." She floated above them, the sickly smile turning into something demented. "So, I've rearranged a bit." Her laugh was like being dumped into an icy river naked. "Have fun!" With that the room turned back to the normal light of the moon.
A loud groan sounded from the side of the room Peter had been. He was smooshed into the mattress, hair greying, and skin beginning to sag. He aged more than even Ron.
"Bloody Hell." Ron spoke, eyes looking at the aged wizard in open confusion. "We... I... Bloody Hell." Harry joined Ron to look at the wizard who took over Peter's place. Harry had to lift his robes up, leaving his trousers behind to make the journey. They did not fit anymore. Hermione was in a similar position, but instead, shyly walked over to Remus. She twisted her fingers together, hair wilder than ever before. Remus gave her his full attention, feeling weirdly like something demanded it.
"I'm... I'm sorry, Professor Lupin." She curled her fingers around her arms, hugging herself. Remus felt nothing, but sympathy for the girl.
"It's alright, Hermione, you've kept it secret much longer than you had to." He made a face at the high sound of his voice. He sounded like a child himself. Looked down, he took note of the overly large clothes, that were falling off himself. The collar of his undershirt the only thing staying on well enough. "How... how old do I look?" His moss green eyes drifted back up to Hermione, who's own chocolate brown eyes were sparkling with curiosity.
"The same as Harry and I, if I were to have a guess." Hermione, seemingly unable to control herself, launched into a hypothesis for their current development. She believed that Eris, the Goddess of Chaos, took their Life Sand or what she called the Sands of Time in their Life Hourglasses, and shifted them around, altering all their ages. "Besides Mister Black." She added at the end of her long-winded explanation, eyes literally glowing with excitement of learning something new. Remus admired her tenacity while, wondering if and why a Goddess would do such a thing. Divine Beings rarely messed with their lowly lives. "I do wonder if she moved around all our Life Sand or just what we've used." Hermione informed everyone present, ignoring the building tension between Sirius and Peter, how she had read a few books from the restricted section about different theories of time travel. No one had been able to perfect such a thing, but it did lead a particularly unstable wizard to discover his own Life Sand.
"What happened to him?" Remus was surprised that Ron had been listening to Hermione's speech. He never really seemed to grasp everything she would say, and relied on her just doing whatever she was explaining rather than helping her. Remus couldn't begrudge him that, he had a similar problem in school. Though his friends were very intelligent, they just didn't listen.
"He obviously died." Hermione turned her bright chocolate eyes away from Remus and he took in a startled breath, at the annoyance of it. "No one can simply play with their Life Sand." He wanted her attention, oh dear, was the only thought he had before Peter jumped up and shifted into his rat form, which looked as old as he did. The Rat was deeply grey, its skin was sunken and looked unhealthy. Which was strange since his human form had been very round, with the great love the Weasley's gave to all their family members. The Rat seemed to huff for a moment, before the wizard took its place again.
"Can't hold your form, Peter?" Sirius was laughing now, drawing the attention of everyone, but Harry who was glaring at The Rat. Sirius used one of their wands, to cast a binding spell on the Rat, and a variation that would shrink and grow with him, should he attempt to change again. It had been made evident that it was not Sirius Black who betrayed his parents, but rather Peter Pettigrew. "At least the lady's meddling served a bit of good." His voice was scratchy and spent. Remus knew he likely did not speak often, and certainly not with his human voice.
"Does... does this mean you're innocent?" Hermione's thoughtless question had the whole room in a state of pause. He was innocent, and thus he should be allowed to go free. Remus knew first hand that innocence does not always mean, one was allowed to go free. The world was far to cruel for that.
"Let's focus on getting back to castle." Remus broke the silence first. "Peter being alive will be a good starting point in his case." Remus eyed the group all ill-fitting their clothes. Sirius's prison robes were dirty and loose. Harry was wearing his robes and t-shirt without trousers or undergarments; both having slipped off. Hermione was much that same, as was Remus. Ron looked as if he tried to fit into his son's clothes after a night of drunken fun. Peter's clothes looked the most decent of the lot. Remus looked around, remembering that there was another person involved in the Shrieking Shack escapade. "Where's Severus?" Everyone looked around hesitantly.
"Hopefully he was turned into one of those mummies or something." Ron's voice was soft, hoping to go unheard. "Right arse he is." Ron continued to mumble, while walking around in his clothes that were many sizes too small. He grew almost as Remus himself was before.
"Found him." Sirius's voice drew them all to the pile of clothes, where Snape had been last seen. Buried under the robes was a deflated fleshy sac, covered in wetness that should have never seen the outside of a human body.
"EW!" Hermione jerked away the moment she saw it, burying her face into Ron's leg. Harry made a face, turning away. Sirius and Ron continued to stare almost transfixed by what used to be Severus Snape. Remus did his best to slyly take Hermione into his arms and move away from it. Remus did not want to know what happened to Severus Snape.
"So..." Ron started, not noticing the uncomfortable atmosphere, "think he was like aged back into the womb?" Sirius nodded head tipped, fascinated. "Gross." Ron covered the little thing back up with the robe, and everyone began making plans. Sirius would turn into his Grim form, while Ron carried The Rat. Remus, Hermione, and Harry would follow with wands up. Remus commented that he was unsure how their magic would respond now that they were so young, but there was little for it.
They decided to leave Snape where he was.
The tunnel out of the Shrieking Shack was cold, dark, and quiet. No one wanted to speak more on what had occur until they were safely in the castle. Crookshanks touched the bump on the Whomping Willow, stopping its attack. Sirius jumped out, with surprising ease as a Grim. Ron struggled a bit until the Grim bit down on The Rats shoulder and hauled him up. Ron help Harry, Hermione, and Remus, while Sirius sat on his hunches guarding a sobbing Peter.
"The... moon..." Remus had stopped just outside the tunnel, awe in his voice followed by panic. He had forgotten about the full moon. His voice started to break as he tossed out warnings and fears, but the longer he stood under the light of the night sky, the more evident that he was not changing shape. "Wha?" He tensed as Hermione, who was closest, placed a soft calming hand on his shoulder.
"It's alright Professor. You aren't changing." Her voice was soothing, and he took a few strong breaths, looking up at the sky again.
"I... I'd forgotten how lovely it is... to not fear it..." he sounded so small, even more so than just his sudden voice change. "How?"
"When were you bitten?" Hermione launched into her questions, forgetting that such things were rude to ask. She had been vibrating with questions about his condition since she learned of it. All the book in the library talked as if they were more creature than man, and she knew that to be untrue, merely by knowing Remus Lupin.
"I was young... just after my fifth Birthday." He answered her, still in shock over seeing the moon. Hermione nodded.
"It's likely that you aged to BEFORE you were bitten. Like Ron aged to when his leg was better." The implications were not lost on Remus. That meant that he was no longer currently a werewolf. He still could become one, again. If he aged passed the date he was bitten? Possibly? There was so much they didn't know of what Eris did to them, or why. Hermione continued talking quietly to the silent boy who was their teacher. Harry kept his eyes on Sirius, a thought entering his head, that he had a family now; a really one. Ron scoffed, wanting to get inside.
Ron grew impatient and had just grabbed The Rat again, when Sirius started to growl, low and menacing. Everyone turned to the noise and caught sight of the cause. Dementors were floating down toward them at a pace that had every single person in a deep panic. Ron grabbed tightly to Peter and cried for everyone to run. The Grim stood fast growling and snarling at the creatures, ignoring the warnings for him to run. Hermione grabbed Harry and was trying to pull him away, while Remus, little not quite five, Remus attempted the Patronus Charm.
Hermione had Harry mostly to the castle when he broke away to return to the fighting, knocking Hermione to the ground. Ron had made it, just before them, The Rat gripped tightly to his side. Remus was huddled under a glowing Grim, black fur covered in a purple blue tint from a power unknown. Hermione, whose mind never seemed to settle, even in a state of absolute panic was always taking in information and pulling it forward.
At the start of the year, when Harry mentioned he had seen the Grim and with all the drama around others seeing it, Hermione had done what she does best, she went to the library. The Grim wasn't just thought to be the Bringer of Death, he was also the protector of innocent. There were theories that the creature was the right hand of Death, bound to mark Souls for the Reaper, Dark Souls that were hiding or running from pursuer. Hermione learned, like most creatures of magic the Grim had another purpose. He was also the protector against those Dark Souls. An innocent will never be allowed to come to harm in the presence of a Grim.
Hermione wondered if an Animagus that took on forms of creatures like the Grim, took on some of their powers. She thought it likely as Sirius as a Grim, began to glow brighter by the second, in defense of his friend and Harry. She turned away, as the Grim jumped to attack the Dementor stupid enough to get within biting distance of the creature of myth.
The scream as the Grim ripped into the dark shadow creature, would haunt everyone's dreams for weeks to come, and after that it would be ringing in the back of their mind, never completely gone. The second creature abandoned its fellow and fled back into the sky. Harry reached the scene, as Sirius returned to Remus still curled into a ball, feeling the full effects of the Dementors before they were dealt with. The Animagus licked his friend's cheek slobbering everywhere, until he started laughing weakly, trying to push him away.
"Professor..." Harry was unsure what to do with their exchange. He was saved from further thought as Professor McGonagall as well as Dumbledore and the Minister of Magic charged onto the scene. The Grim growled, pulling Harry behind him toward Remus. Hermione was close behind the adults. Ron had been relieved of The Rat by professor Flitwick.
"What happened?!" Her usual Scottish drawl, was such a relief as Hermione burst into tears, rushing at Harry and Remus, wrapping them both in in her arms. The Minister of Magic was spitting out demands and opinions that went largely ignored. When Professor McGonagall turned a raised eyebrow toward the Grim, Hermione, Harry, and Remus all rushed toward him, hands buried in his fur, daring anyone to remove him.
"I believe this conversation will be best continued in the Hospital wing; it seems our students have... undergone a change of sorts." Dumbledore had the twinkle in his eyes, clearly understanding more than he let on. Slowly the group was moved to the hospital wing, while Flitwick held Peter. McGonagall left to call the Head of the Aurors Madam Bones to the scene. She was newly appointed, but so far had proven to be level headed. Once everyone was settled, Remus and Harry sitting on the floor with a lounging Grim, Hermione standing above them, looking determined, and Ron laying on the bed, with Madam Pomfrey fussing over his incorrectly set leg. "Who would like to begin?" Hermione cut everyone off with a sudden, clear, and well thought out explanation of the event that transpired from the moment Grim took The Rat to the first known death of a Dementor. Hermione launched into a hypothesis she had on the matter, but was silenced by a laughing Remus. The Grim bark in what could only be a laugh as well. Harry flushed as she burned with sudden embarrassment.
"I thank you Miss Granger for such a detailed and well thought out account of events." The headmaster hummed in thought. "Twenty Points to Gryffindor. Yes, that will do." He paused again, taking in the additions to the hospital wing. "I believe it is safe to conclude that this... change of age... is irreversible." Everyone nodded slowly, not certain, but it was a safe assumption. "Well, we will have to endure." He nodded, more to himself then those in the room.
"Headmaster." Madam Pomfrey gathered everyone's attention and politely told the headmaster and Minister for Magic to leave, so she could see to her patients without distraction. There was a bit of arguing, but eventually they left, to return as soon as Madam Bones was able to arrive. "Now, Mister Black, out of that form. There a good boy." She shushed everyone, easing their concerns as the Prisoner of Azkaban revealed himself and greeted her sheepishly. "I knew there wasn't a chance, but no one listens to me. No, throw an innocent man in Azkaban. Inexcusable." She continued to huff and puff, checking him and the others over, before encouraging him to shift again. "Can't have those fools jumping to even graver decisions." She gave them all one last look-over, confirming everything they already knew. Hermione, Harry, and Remus were physically under five years old. Remus had his affliction no longer, and Ron was between thirty-four and thirty-five years of age. She transfigured their clothes to suit their new needs.
She was not going to be allowed to check on Peter, but she had not pushed the issue.
"What's gonna happen now? Do you thing?" Ron spoke first, eyes half closed in exhaustion, or possibly from one of the potions Poppy gave him. She had forced several into each of them. Nutrients mostly, she claimed. Harry shrugged, refusing to relinquish his grip on the last connection he had to a possible family. Remus had moved next to Hermione on a bed, Poppy brought them to their little closed off space. She knew that the five of them would not consent to being separated.
"I don't know. We're too young... or old..." Hermione eyed Ron and Sirius, "to attend Hogwarts." She huffed annoyed with having to wait to continue her education. "I'll probably be sent back home, you too." She tensed. "Harry to his aunt and uncle." She shuttered at the thought. There was a heavy silence that settled into the space, until Hermione spoke again. "Mister Black," The Grim looked at her with the grey eyes of his human form. "Did you by chance, Blood Adopt Harry?" He huffed and shook his head, clearly having not thought about it.
"What'cha getting at 'Mione?" Ron's voice was beginning to slur, the potions taking effect.
"Hermione." She corrected him, as she had been for the whole of their friendship. "I mean if Sirius had Blood Adopted Harry, he would have a greater claim to be his guardian, than say, another blood relative that was more distant." Harry perked up at the idea.
"I'm his Godfather, he'll be able to live with me regardless."
"Oh, correct me if I'm wrong, but Blood matters more than anything else in the Wizarding world." Hermione's face twisted in disgust. "Even more than being decent to our fellow man." Her words were charged with more emotion than she had intended. Ron had fallen asleep, Remus was looking at her with eyes filled with determination, Harry had stood up straighter and moved closer to Sirius, and Hermione sniffled. She was trying to fight the overwhelming emotions that were scratching up her throat.
"I... I'm not sure how." Sirius looked at Harry, his eyes shining with love. Harry didn't know what to do with such a look and looked down ashamed. He tried to quiet the little voice in his mind that sounds like Petunia telling him over and over that he was undeserving. Hermione perked up, loving being taken seriously by an adult.
"It's easy!" She jumped up, leaving Remus alone on the bed, and grabbing Sirius hand. "You just need to cut your finger and draw this rune on Harry forehead with your blood." She used Sirius finger and drew the pattern in the air. Sirius nodded, his hands shaking as he cast a wandless slicing charm on his pointer finger. Hermione huffed and grabbed the bloody finger again, pulling it toward Harry and with a practiced hand did as she had instructed Sirius. "Now, place your hand here and think about how badly you want Harry to be your son." She rested his palm over Harry's heart, "Finally repeat after me." She cleared her throat. "Per meum sanguinem, esse meum sanguinem, per Voluntatem meam partem meam linea." Sirius repeated her clearly and with conviction, like all spells required. Harry whispered along, with just as much conviction.
A bright golden chain pulled out of Harry and split in two, one side staying in Harry while the split end moved into Hermione and Sirius. Hermione was smiling widely, pleased that her suggestion was used, as the Magic worked. Everything seemed to settle and they were beginning to wonder about the chain to Hermione, right before a shock way focusing where Harry and Sirius touched that knocked Hermione down, and forced Remus to close his eyes to the light.
Harry sat still, eyes still on his Godfather who looked surprised and a bit scared. Harry's wild hair had tamed some, laying more in curls then the head of a boy who had made friends with a cow. His eyes were grey, matching Sirius's. He was still physically the same otherwise.
Hermione groaned from the ground, hair covering her face like a mass of wild curls, less frizzy than she usually wore. No one moved or said anything as she sat up, rubbing her face, completely ignorant of the black coloring her hair had taken on. Sirius cursed, drawing her eyes too him. They matched his grey. It was Harry's turn to let out several words that would have had Madam Pomfrey down his throat if she had heard them.
"What?" She tugged her hair forward, and scream. "WHAT DID YOU DO!?" She turned her angry eyes on her best friend. She didn't know what went wrong, but it was most certainly Harry's fault.
"I just... I'm sorry! I was just so thankful and sad that we'd all be a part because of all this." He gestured wildly around him, but stopped talking at the glare Hermione sent him. She stood up on shaking feet and looked to see if Remus and Ron were changed as well. Neither looked any different from before. Remus had gone to sleep from the force of the magic Harry sent out, and Ron hadn't woken up. She noticed a bit of Sirius's blood on her hand and wiped it aggressively on her hospital gown Madam Pomfrey gave her.
"Um, so... does that mean... I adopted you as well?" Sirius's spoke the words and felt his own face pale. This was all going to get very complicated.
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Translation: per meum sanguinem, esse meum sanguinem, per Voluntatem meam partem meam linea – By my blood, be my blood, by my Will share my Line. (I used a translator, so it's likely not the greatest use of Latin! forgive me!)
A/n Woooooo, I absolutely love this idea. I intent to move through the rest of the books, but with the take of the age shifts. I got this idea while watching Sinbad the animated movie. I loved their portray of Eris and wondered what would happen if she was in the World of Harry Potter. Chaos ensures! Please let me know what you think! I wasn't sure about taking on a story as long as I plan this one to be, but oh Merlin and I'm excited! XD