Chapter 6
"Dumbledore, do you really think it wise to have let Harry out of the hospital wing?" Sirius was truly worried about his godson's behavior. It just couldn't be possible for him to have seen James and Lily. And hallucinating wasn't a good thing for Harry to be doing. But that meant, if Harry was hallucinating then Ron had to be, too, because Ron said he saw them as well and he hadn't hit his head.
"Poppy said he was fine. I trust her judgment. Why wouldn't it be wise?"
"He was going on about seeing his Mum and Dad and he said that was the reason he passed out." Sirius wondered if Harry had really seen them. He seriously doubted the boys had. but, if so, how had they gotten there?
"Are you sure he didn't actually see them?" Dumbledore's eyes twinkled.
"But how could he have? They're dead," Sirius quietly.
"Why don't you go have a chat with him and find out? He's in Miss Karnoth's suite of rooms."
"I think I will. Thank you for your time Headmaster." Sirius left and headed off towards the set of rooms Keara had been given this time. She'd already visited twice before this current visit and school had only been in session for three months so far.
~ * ~
"Aw, bloody hell. Guys we're gonna have company in a few minutes." Keara had just glanced away from the game of chess she had been playing with Sirius to look at the Map laying on the floor next to her.
"Named?"
"Sirius Black."
"But I'm already here," Sirius looked confused forgetting that there was an older version of himself at the school as well.
"You didn't die. Only James and Lily did, well, and so did Peter but no one cares about him, the Traitor. The older version of you is heading towards the Suite."
"Well this should be weird," Sirius mumbled.
"Wait. Peter's a traitor?" asked James who was wondering what she meant by that.
"Yeah. Sirius was in Azkaban for twelve years because of him. Obviously that changed Sirius a bit," Keara felt the need to warn them. She had known Sirius for a few years now and the haunted look that she often saw in his eyes still bothered her.
"WHAT!? Why did I go to Azkaban?!"
"Peter framed you for the death of James, Lily, and himself along with twelve Muggles."
"Peter's the reason we died?" James asked in disbelief.
"Yeah, he was. He was your secret keeper instead of Sirius when you went into hiding. You didn't know that Peter was a death eater. Everyone thought Sirius was the secret keeper. He had assumed that Voldemort would go after Sirius and that you'd be safe. In a way he was right. Voldemort would have gone after him, but unfortunately he was close to Peter. Sirius went after Peter after you died. Peter's the one who killed the Muggles not him, but he got blamed for it anyway. Sirius thought he had killed Peter, but he hadn't. When the ministry showed up on the street they took Sirius to Azkaban. Sirius found out that Peter was still alive the summer before Harry's 3rd year and that he would be at Hogwart's and broke out to protect Harry."
"But no one's ever broken out of Azkaban before," James reminded her.
"Sirius was the first and only to have ever done it. Being an animagus can come in handy apparently. It confused the guards enough so that he could escape. Anyway, Sirius had his trial this past summer to prove his innocence. You already knew that you died so I don't see why you shouldn't know the whole truth. Besides. Everything happens for a reason. Maybe in your dimension you aren't supposed to die that way. Maybe you aren't supposed to die at all. I hope not," Keara hugged herself and looked down sadly. This was a subject that deeply bothered her. She put her deepest faith in love and trust and friendship. It was hard for her to talk about a friend betraying someone in the worst way. The way that brought death. Sirius gently pulled her into his arms knowing that she needed comfort. This time it had nothing to do with angering her brother, this was solely to give her what she needed. She lent her head on his shoulder and he rested his cheek against her hair, lost in thought. He really didn't want to go to Azkaban, nor did he want to lose his best friend. Was it possible to avoid it? He hoped so.
Everyone looked up as they heard someone on the outside of the door saying the password that would allow them in.
"Hey, everyone. Harry, Dumbledore said you were in here," Sirius called as he opened the door to the common room of Keara's suite. "I wanted to talk to you about what you sai." Sirius' voice trailed off as he saw exactly who was in the common room. Harry was in there, but it looked as if there were two of him. There was a girl who looked like Lily, and boy who looked like Remus when he was younger playing exploding snap with Devlynn, Zeta, and Diablo, Psi was studying what looked like a dark arts book, Ron was beating poor Hermione at Wizard chess without even trying and Ginny was looking on, and Keara was curled up on a boy's lap. The boy, he was shocked to realize, just happened to look exactly like he had when he was younger. He couldn't help but stare. "Who are all of you?"
"Well, I'm Devlynn and you should know that by now. That's Ginny, Hermione, Ron, Diablo and Zeta and you should know them, too. That's Psi, Zeta's little brother. He's a first year now, but I'm sure you've met him since he's been staying here with Zeta when school's been in session for the past few years. That's Harry and if you don't know who he is then we don't know who you are. That's my sister, Keara hitting on Sirius although I wish she wouldn't, and that's James and Lily and Remus. I think you know them all. Or at least should unless you're getting old and forgetful already. Dumbledore hasn't even started to forget yet," Dev grinned at Sirius as if this were a perfectly normal everyday happening.
"I am NOT hitting on Sirius!" snapped Keara just as Sirius snapped, "She is NOT hitting on me!" they both glared at Devlynn as James, Remus, Harry, and Diablo laughed. The adult Sirius just looked lost and confused. He had a feeling that he had missed something going on between those two.
"They've got a point, Dev. Keara was upset. Sirius was just being nice," Remus pointed out reasonably. Of course Dev knew but he was still frustrated that Keara had willingly gone to Sirius instead of coming to him. After all, he had always been the one there for her and she had always gone to him in the past.
"You were too far away," Keara explained as if reading Devlynn's mind.
Sirius closed the door quietly behind him still trying to take it all in. Harry had been telling the truth. How could he not have been? The evidence was sitting right in front of him. Sirius collapsed in the nearest empty chair and stared for a while.
James got up a few minutes later and pulled Sirius out of the chair. "Come on Padfoot. Time to talk. I really don't care whether or not you're ready to so don't bother arguing with me." Lily followed the two into one of the empty rooms. James leaned against a wall and watched Sirius knowing that if given enough time Sirius would break and say what James had a feeling he wanted to tell him. He knew Sirius well enough to know that he had most likely blamed himself.
Sirius couldn't think of anything to say except to ask for forgiveness. He couldn't ask, but he wanted James and Lily's forgiveness for what he'd done so badly. It was his fault that they died, but it had been an accident. He still couldn't tell them what happened though. He couldn't in case it changed the future and made things worse than they already were. But he couldn't hold back saying quietly, "I've missed you." Once that was out he couldn't hold back the rest. His voice came out broken and miserable, "I. I'm sorry. It was."
"Not your fault." Sirius was cut off sharply from finishing his sentence by James. "Keara told us what happened. I. I'm sorry that you went to Azkaban. I'm sorry for what Peter did to you."
"She shouldn't have told you."
"We already knew that we had died. That was one of the first things I found out. Keara figured since we knew that much we might as well know all of it. If she hadn't told us we would have found out some other way. You know that. Lily and I don't blame you. You did what you thought was best. We would have done the same thing in your position. In theory it was a great idea. Unfortunately none of us knew what Peter was. You're still the best friend I've ever had," James hugged Sirius fiercely. "We'll do better the next time around."
"Where we come from it hasn't happened yet," Lily continued the thought James was voicing.
"And it never will," James smiled.
"You can't! It will change everything!"
"That's the point, Padfoot."
"But."
"What could possibly be made worse by us not dying, Sirius?" Lily asked.
"Well. uh."
"Precisely," Lily grinned knowing that she had a point. "Although, Harry may or may not enjoy younger siblings. But I doubt that will be a problem or of great importance."
"Harry wouldn't be famous anymore, but somehow I doubt that he'd mind," James added thoughtfully. "He seems to hate it. Of course I'll make sure he meets the Weasleys and Hermione. I wouldn't take his best friends away. You'll still be the godfather and of course he'll see you and Remus all the time. So that isn't a problem either. Padfoot, this is a good thing."
"Well, I suppose, but what about..."
"And besides Paddy," Lily easily cut him off and pretended that he hadn't been about to say anything. "It wouldn't change this world any. Only the one James and I came from. You could always visit us there if you'd like and see how things turned out," She smiled.
"I think I just might, "Padfoot grinned feeling much better than he had before about the situation, but still worried for the other world whose future would be altered
Sirius left later that evening after catching up on the day's events and spending time with Harry to make sure he was doing all right. Sirius had worried about how Harry was dealing with meeting his parents. Apparently Harry was handling it remarkably well after the first initial shock had warn off. He loved being given the chance to get to know his parents. They had also invited him to visit whenever he wished as long as he let Sirius know that he was going. Lily had shared the spell with all of them along with the invitation to visit whenever they pleased. Sirius headed off to visit with Dumbledore. He had a feeling that Dumbledore already knew what was going on. Sirius had decided to spend a few days at the castle. He was curious to see what kind of trouble The Marauders would get his godson and his friends into. Besides, he wanted to see about maybe getting a job teaching at Hogwart's and that was why he wanted to visit Dumbledore later after dinner. He thought he might enjoy teaching Arithmancy since Professor Vector wanted to retire. The students were finally beginning to get to him.
"Dumbledore, do you really think it wise to have let Harry out of the hospital wing?" Sirius was truly worried about his godson's behavior. It just couldn't be possible for him to have seen James and Lily. And hallucinating wasn't a good thing for Harry to be doing. But that meant, if Harry was hallucinating then Ron had to be, too, because Ron said he saw them as well and he hadn't hit his head.
"Poppy said he was fine. I trust her judgment. Why wouldn't it be wise?"
"He was going on about seeing his Mum and Dad and he said that was the reason he passed out." Sirius wondered if Harry had really seen them. He seriously doubted the boys had. but, if so, how had they gotten there?
"Are you sure he didn't actually see them?" Dumbledore's eyes twinkled.
"But how could he have? They're dead," Sirius quietly.
"Why don't you go have a chat with him and find out? He's in Miss Karnoth's suite of rooms."
"I think I will. Thank you for your time Headmaster." Sirius left and headed off towards the set of rooms Keara had been given this time. She'd already visited twice before this current visit and school had only been in session for three months so far.
~ * ~
"Aw, bloody hell. Guys we're gonna have company in a few minutes." Keara had just glanced away from the game of chess she had been playing with Sirius to look at the Map laying on the floor next to her.
"Named?"
"Sirius Black."
"But I'm already here," Sirius looked confused forgetting that there was an older version of himself at the school as well.
"You didn't die. Only James and Lily did, well, and so did Peter but no one cares about him, the Traitor. The older version of you is heading towards the Suite."
"Well this should be weird," Sirius mumbled.
"Wait. Peter's a traitor?" asked James who was wondering what she meant by that.
"Yeah. Sirius was in Azkaban for twelve years because of him. Obviously that changed Sirius a bit," Keara felt the need to warn them. She had known Sirius for a few years now and the haunted look that she often saw in his eyes still bothered her.
"WHAT!? Why did I go to Azkaban?!"
"Peter framed you for the death of James, Lily, and himself along with twelve Muggles."
"Peter's the reason we died?" James asked in disbelief.
"Yeah, he was. He was your secret keeper instead of Sirius when you went into hiding. You didn't know that Peter was a death eater. Everyone thought Sirius was the secret keeper. He had assumed that Voldemort would go after Sirius and that you'd be safe. In a way he was right. Voldemort would have gone after him, but unfortunately he was close to Peter. Sirius went after Peter after you died. Peter's the one who killed the Muggles not him, but he got blamed for it anyway. Sirius thought he had killed Peter, but he hadn't. When the ministry showed up on the street they took Sirius to Azkaban. Sirius found out that Peter was still alive the summer before Harry's 3rd year and that he would be at Hogwart's and broke out to protect Harry."
"But no one's ever broken out of Azkaban before," James reminded her.
"Sirius was the first and only to have ever done it. Being an animagus can come in handy apparently. It confused the guards enough so that he could escape. Anyway, Sirius had his trial this past summer to prove his innocence. You already knew that you died so I don't see why you shouldn't know the whole truth. Besides. Everything happens for a reason. Maybe in your dimension you aren't supposed to die that way. Maybe you aren't supposed to die at all. I hope not," Keara hugged herself and looked down sadly. This was a subject that deeply bothered her. She put her deepest faith in love and trust and friendship. It was hard for her to talk about a friend betraying someone in the worst way. The way that brought death. Sirius gently pulled her into his arms knowing that she needed comfort. This time it had nothing to do with angering her brother, this was solely to give her what she needed. She lent her head on his shoulder and he rested his cheek against her hair, lost in thought. He really didn't want to go to Azkaban, nor did he want to lose his best friend. Was it possible to avoid it? He hoped so.
Everyone looked up as they heard someone on the outside of the door saying the password that would allow them in.
"Hey, everyone. Harry, Dumbledore said you were in here," Sirius called as he opened the door to the common room of Keara's suite. "I wanted to talk to you about what you sai." Sirius' voice trailed off as he saw exactly who was in the common room. Harry was in there, but it looked as if there were two of him. There was a girl who looked like Lily, and boy who looked like Remus when he was younger playing exploding snap with Devlynn, Zeta, and Diablo, Psi was studying what looked like a dark arts book, Ron was beating poor Hermione at Wizard chess without even trying and Ginny was looking on, and Keara was curled up on a boy's lap. The boy, he was shocked to realize, just happened to look exactly like he had when he was younger. He couldn't help but stare. "Who are all of you?"
"Well, I'm Devlynn and you should know that by now. That's Ginny, Hermione, Ron, Diablo and Zeta and you should know them, too. That's Psi, Zeta's little brother. He's a first year now, but I'm sure you've met him since he's been staying here with Zeta when school's been in session for the past few years. That's Harry and if you don't know who he is then we don't know who you are. That's my sister, Keara hitting on Sirius although I wish she wouldn't, and that's James and Lily and Remus. I think you know them all. Or at least should unless you're getting old and forgetful already. Dumbledore hasn't even started to forget yet," Dev grinned at Sirius as if this were a perfectly normal everyday happening.
"I am NOT hitting on Sirius!" snapped Keara just as Sirius snapped, "She is NOT hitting on me!" they both glared at Devlynn as James, Remus, Harry, and Diablo laughed. The adult Sirius just looked lost and confused. He had a feeling that he had missed something going on between those two.
"They've got a point, Dev. Keara was upset. Sirius was just being nice," Remus pointed out reasonably. Of course Dev knew but he was still frustrated that Keara had willingly gone to Sirius instead of coming to him. After all, he had always been the one there for her and she had always gone to him in the past.
"You were too far away," Keara explained as if reading Devlynn's mind.
Sirius closed the door quietly behind him still trying to take it all in. Harry had been telling the truth. How could he not have been? The evidence was sitting right in front of him. Sirius collapsed in the nearest empty chair and stared for a while.
James got up a few minutes later and pulled Sirius out of the chair. "Come on Padfoot. Time to talk. I really don't care whether or not you're ready to so don't bother arguing with me." Lily followed the two into one of the empty rooms. James leaned against a wall and watched Sirius knowing that if given enough time Sirius would break and say what James had a feeling he wanted to tell him. He knew Sirius well enough to know that he had most likely blamed himself.
Sirius couldn't think of anything to say except to ask for forgiveness. He couldn't ask, but he wanted James and Lily's forgiveness for what he'd done so badly. It was his fault that they died, but it had been an accident. He still couldn't tell them what happened though. He couldn't in case it changed the future and made things worse than they already were. But he couldn't hold back saying quietly, "I've missed you." Once that was out he couldn't hold back the rest. His voice came out broken and miserable, "I. I'm sorry. It was."
"Not your fault." Sirius was cut off sharply from finishing his sentence by James. "Keara told us what happened. I. I'm sorry that you went to Azkaban. I'm sorry for what Peter did to you."
"She shouldn't have told you."
"We already knew that we had died. That was one of the first things I found out. Keara figured since we knew that much we might as well know all of it. If she hadn't told us we would have found out some other way. You know that. Lily and I don't blame you. You did what you thought was best. We would have done the same thing in your position. In theory it was a great idea. Unfortunately none of us knew what Peter was. You're still the best friend I've ever had," James hugged Sirius fiercely. "We'll do better the next time around."
"Where we come from it hasn't happened yet," Lily continued the thought James was voicing.
"And it never will," James smiled.
"You can't! It will change everything!"
"That's the point, Padfoot."
"But."
"What could possibly be made worse by us not dying, Sirius?" Lily asked.
"Well. uh."
"Precisely," Lily grinned knowing that she had a point. "Although, Harry may or may not enjoy younger siblings. But I doubt that will be a problem or of great importance."
"Harry wouldn't be famous anymore, but somehow I doubt that he'd mind," James added thoughtfully. "He seems to hate it. Of course I'll make sure he meets the Weasleys and Hermione. I wouldn't take his best friends away. You'll still be the godfather and of course he'll see you and Remus all the time. So that isn't a problem either. Padfoot, this is a good thing."
"Well, I suppose, but what about..."
"And besides Paddy," Lily easily cut him off and pretended that he hadn't been about to say anything. "It wouldn't change this world any. Only the one James and I came from. You could always visit us there if you'd like and see how things turned out," She smiled.
"I think I just might, "Padfoot grinned feeling much better than he had before about the situation, but still worried for the other world whose future would be altered
Sirius left later that evening after catching up on the day's events and spending time with Harry to make sure he was doing all right. Sirius had worried about how Harry was dealing with meeting his parents. Apparently Harry was handling it remarkably well after the first initial shock had warn off. He loved being given the chance to get to know his parents. They had also invited him to visit whenever he wished as long as he let Sirius know that he was going. Lily had shared the spell with all of them along with the invitation to visit whenever they pleased. Sirius headed off to visit with Dumbledore. He had a feeling that Dumbledore already knew what was going on. Sirius had decided to spend a few days at the castle. He was curious to see what kind of trouble The Marauders would get his godson and his friends into. Besides, he wanted to see about maybe getting a job teaching at Hogwart's and that was why he wanted to visit Dumbledore later after dinner. He thought he might enjoy teaching Arithmancy since Professor Vector wanted to retire. The students were finally beginning to get to him.