The choices we make

Summary: This was the an alternate plot to Deal with a Devil

(Harry's perspective)

I closed my eyes, letting the motion of the train lull me to sleep. I wish I could change the past. I heard my friends talking about the coming summer, but what was in it for me? Sirius was dead, my friends were injured by my incompetence and I know had to fight a madman who would either kill me or I'll kill him.

I remember when Trelawney made that prediction in my third year,

IT WILL HAPPEN TONIGHT. THE DARK LORD LIES ALONE AND FRIENDLESS, ABANDONED BY HIS FOLLOWERS. HIS SERVANT HAS BEEN CHAINED THESE TWELVE YEARS. TONIGHT, BEFORE MIDNIGHT... THE SERVANT WILL BREAK FREE AND SET OUT TO REJOIN HIS MASTER. THE DARK LORD WILL RISE AGAIN WITH HIS SERVANTS AID, GREATER AND MORE TERRIBLE THAN EVER HE WAS. TONIGHT... BEFORE MIDNIGHT...THE SERVANT...WILL SET OUT...TO REJOIN...HIS MASTER...

I wish it hadn't been Peter, I wish I had the knowledge to stun him. Then I could have been living with Sirius the entire time. Damn the way everything else turned out, I wish I could have been with Sirius.

'Do you really mean that?'

'Who's there?"

'A being who can give you the chance you want, but at a price.'

'What's the price?'

'If you lose to Tom Riddle, I get your soul.'

'This doesn't sound that bad, what's in it for me?'

'Your current knowledge is yours to keep. You may use it as you see fit.'

'What's in it for you if I win?'

'I claim Tom Riddle's soul in the event he dies. Either way, I get a new soul.'

I thought about it, Hermione told me there were a lot of dangers to messing with time. Then I remembered Buckbeak.

'I won't agree if Buckbeak has to die,' I said.

Whoever it was laughed, 'is that your only condition? Fine, I will ensure he escapes before his execution.'

The odds were stacked, but I could do a lot of things with two extra years. All I knew would become moot, but I no longer cared.

'I agree.'

"You should have realized," said Lupin quietly, "if Voldemort didn't kill you we would. Good-bye, Peter."

"No! Stupefy," I yelled. Lupin and Sirius looked at me surprised. I calmly walked over to Peter, I looked at the man who had caused me so much pain.

"My father wouldn't want the two of you to become killers just for this piece of trash. We can take him up to the castle and turn him over to the Dementors."

Lupin nodded. "That's a good idea Harry. We can turn him in to prove Sirius' innocence."

I walked over to Snape and muttered, "Ennervate."

Before he could even move I said, "Professor, look over there," pointing to the unconscious Wormtail, "that is the true criminal. If you wish to take Black in, I must insist that you take him as well."

Snape's eyes narrowed, "why should I listen to you Potter?"

"Because otherwise, you're not going to like things in a few years. Peter betrayed my parents, if you help bring a traitorous death eater to justice, it will most likely improve your standing in both the circles you travel."

Snape seemed intrigued, "all right, I agree. I will ensure that the both of them make it to the castle safe."

I handed Snape back his wand. He nodded and said, "ok Black, pick up that person and let's go."

Lupin started, "I'll just float."

"No you won't Professor," I interjected, "tonight's the full moon, remember. I think it best that you stay here." I walked over to Ron and said, "Ferula," to create bandages to wrap Ron's leg.

We walked down the stairs and through the tunnel. We walked through the tunnel in complete silence. Ron walked between Hermione and me. Once we were away from the Shrieking shack, A cloud moved. The moon came out and we heard a loud howl.

I felt sorry for Remus, but this was the only way I could see to get Sirius free. I noticed that Snape kept throwing me odd looks on the way to the doors, most likely from my statement earlier about the two circles he was in.

Professor Dumbledore met us at the door. "Severus, what is going on?"

Snape explained what he knew, and while Ron was sent to the hospital wing, Hermione and I were taken to Dumbledore's office.

While I had been to Dumbledore's office before, Hermione hadn't. She looked like a kid in a candy store, with fifty pounds to spend.

Dumbledore gestured for us to sit down, "I hear you have been on a interesting trip. Would you please tell me what has happened?"

I let Hermione tell most of it, adding only what I thought needed to be said. Once it was finished he said, "well now, this is a most interesting development indeed. This matter will be taken care of, please return to your common room."

At first I wanted to object, but I didn't want to give away what I knew in front of Dumbledore. Hermione and I left and returned to the common room.

While on the way there Hermione said, "that was a noble thing you did back there."

"No it wasn't," I replied."

She looked shocked, "what do you mean?"

I stopped and looked straight at her, "at best, Peter's locked up in Azkaban for life. At worst, he's kissed. Personally I hope they go for the kiss."

Hermione's face paled as she realized what that implied, I had just sentenced someone to death, and didn't care what happened. "You don't mean that," she said fearfully.

I looked away, I couldn't lie to her, not now or ever. She got in front of my face, "tell me you don't mean that," there were tears forming in her eyes, "you can't mean that."

I took her in my arms and held her tightly, I could tell she was shocked that I had. "I'll tell you this, I would rather he die than allow him to live and be able to bring a greater evil into the world." I felt Hermione nodded in my arms. She pulled away embarrassed.

"You must think I'm horrible right now, my crying and all," she said.

"The day I think you're horrible is the day before the apocalypse," I replied. I smiled at her, a true smile. She looked me straight in the eye for a long time. I'm not sure how long we stood there, long enough for my legs to cramp for sure.

We started walking again, an unspoken agreement not to talk about anything else for the rest of the night. In the morning, I got up and dressed and went down to wait on Hermione. Once she had come down we went to breakfast.

We arrived just before the owls did, sitting down as they flew overhead. Hedwig came and gave an affectionate hoot, to which I handed her my toast. I was enjoying the idea that I might get to live with Sirius, until someone said, "look at this."

It was a copy of the Daily Prophet, the headline read:

SIRIUS BLACK ANNOUCED INNOCENT OF ALL CHARGES. TRUE MURDERER FOUND BUT ESCAPED. MINISTRY LAUNCHES LARGEST MANHUNT EVER.

The Ministry has released a statement saying Sirius Black has been released after being falsely imprisoned. It seems that the true murderer, Peter Pettigrew, has evaded custody as an illegal Animagus. His other form is that of a rat with a missing toe. Amelia Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, had this to say:

"We will be attempting to hunt down this last Death Eater. We ask that the public to take caution, this death eater has already shown a lack of value of human life. We suspect that he will not be taken without a fight."

Sources with in the ministry have said that Severus Snape, Potions Professor of Hogwarts, was responsible for the capture of both Black and Pettigrew. We are truly grateful for this heroic act.

I couldn't believe I owed Snape, but at least Sirius was free. I turned back to my breakfast, only to be nipped by Hedwig. "What are you," I noticed she had a letter, "sorry about that."

Harry,

I hope you read the morning paper, if not then I wanted to tell you that I'm free. I am glad that you have helped me to become free, and I have an offer to make. If you wish, I would be most pleased if you would consider coming and living with me. I understand if you're happy living at aunt's, but I would like you to at least consider it.

Sirius Black

"What is it Harry?"

Neville had a confused look. When I asked what he was talking about he said, "you look like Christmas has come early."

"I just got some good news from a friend that's all," I replied. I took out a piece of paper and quickly scrawled:

Sirius,

I'd be honored.

Harry

Rolling it up, and gave it to Hedwig, "take this to the person who sent me the last letter." Off she went, with my hope for a better life.

After dinner that day, McGonagall came and said, "Potter, follow me." Saying good-bye to my friends, I followed her to Dumbledore's office. She told me to go up, as Dumbledore wanted to talk to me alone.

I knocked on the door and heard him say enter. I walked over and sat down in one of the chairs before him. "Lemon drop," he asked, but I declined.

"Why did you wish to see me about Headmaster?" I dreaded what he might say.

"Harry, I am sorry, but I must insist that you return to your aunt's home this summer."

I was afraid of this, "No."

He seemed taken aback, "No? Why?"

I felt the anger I had the last time we faced each other burn inside me. "Because I don't belong there, I'm not safe there, and I don't feel welcomed there."

"They are your family."

"By blood alone. I would have been better off an orphan. At least then I would know who truly cared for me."

"You don't mean that Harry."

"The Weasleys care more for me than my aunt. My aunt is only trying to protect her family, otherwise I would have been out a long time ago." My anger flared, I want to be with Sirius, someone who cared, didn't he understand that?

"Harry, there is a reason," he began.

"I know about the blood protection placed at the Dursleys. Though I will admit there is no love lost between us, I would not see them harmed. But I will not subject myself to days of loneliness just to protect them."

Dumbledore looked like I slapped him.

I could feel a fire burning in my veins, "I know about the other secret you have held from me, 'for my innocence'." Dumbledore looked defensive, "I will not be forced away from the ones I love."

"Harry, calm down. I understand how you must feel, but this is for you own good."

I snarled, "no old man, this is for the good that you believe is worth protecting. There is a difference. If you force me to go back, I will find away to leave, by force if necessary." I tried to control my anger, I would not lose complete control in front of him. "If you really want to know the reason why, look into my mind. See what I have seen and tell me that you wouldn't contemplate the same."

I could feel him looking through my mind and I let him. I saw my battle with Tom, the creation of the DA, and the fight at the Ministry. I witnessed Dumbledore telling me the prophecy and the deal I struck.

Once he finished he said, "how could you willingly strike such a deal?"

"Simple, the gain is more than the risk. Now, will you allow me to go with Sirius, or are you going to force me to go around you?"

I could tell Dumbledore was trying to balance the odds out, but he really didn't have a choice. "I agree Harry, but under certain conditions." Which was something I expected. "You are not to tell anyone about the events that could possible happen. Since you have already interfered, you are not to tell anyone about their possible future."

"I only know what happens up to the end of my fifth year, but I won't tell anyone about the events I know of, at least not intentionally."

"If you must tell anyone, make sure that you trust them completely, or else it could be the end of a lot more than you believe."

Once we were done, I asked, "is Professor Lupin going to continue as Defense instructor?"

"No, he has decided to resign. His stated reason is that he feels he is unable to match the requirements, but most likely it is because a student informed his parents of Lupin's condition."

I nodded and left to visit Remus before he left. He told me that he would be seeing me around and gave me the Marauders' map back. I visited with Ron, who was upset that Snape had gotten all the credit, and just listened to him complain.

Soon we were on the train home. We laughed about various things, but my thoughts were on what this might cost me. I would have to be far better than I was, and I would not allow Voldemort to be victorious.