Author's note: Please be aware that I own ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, everything, except my character OC(S) I place here, belongs to the wonderful Lady J.K. Rowling. THIS IS A TRIAL RUN! I would very much like to hear your thoughts. I was originally never going to upload this fiction, however, I know it was something I was looking forward to sharing. This is a Sirius Black/OC, maybe Severus Snape/OC, Fanfiction. So, welcome back, readers! I hope you enjoy this one as much as you have the first 2 Harry Potter stories! :) Do enjoy it, this is the Harry Potter Era, so it's going to be a bit. Keep your heads up. Enjoy!

Updated: 12/2021

Chapter 4

Holiday break

As the days turned into weeks and fall turned to Winter, Sage noticed that Hagrid was acting jumpy, and why shouldn't he? According to Minerva, he was previously accused of being the one who opened the chamber in the first place, worst of all his creature was accused of killing a girl approximately 50 years ago when he attended Hogwarts as a student. There were so many things that she was learning about these people, how things used to be run, how beautiful the world had once been. It could have been the coldest day on the snowiest of the year and she was still sitting out in the courtyard enjoying the beauty of Hogwarts. How it used to be, how it should have been, how it should have stayed. Where kids came to learn, to control their magic, to make friends, and have a childhood.

This world was peace.

Her world was dark and terrifying. Looking around every turn just to see if you'd run into a Snatcher, Reaper, or one of Voldemort's Death Eaters were just waiting for you, and the latter were the last you ever wanted to run into. She still had the scar from the Werewolf that had attacked her. However, he had become enraged when his virus did not affect her at all. From her understanding, he'd hunted her down just to attack her again, unfortunately, she had not been alone that time around. She'd been with Mavrix, a sixteen-year-old boy. She had just achieved her Animagus form three weeks prior to the first attack and had not been infected, for that, she was grateful. Unfortunately, Mavrix had not been so lucky. The boy had been nearly torn to shreds, he still lived. Sadly. After the attack, he had begun begging them to kill him. A memory that would leave a scar on her heart. They had no means of getting the ingredients for the Wolfsbane, besides the one they had set aside for Remus when she'd travel back. Worst of all, Mavrix had barely made it through his first transformation. The poor boy hadn't the tolerance for the pain, then again, who did? The memory still made her shiver with dread.

Aside from her brother, that werewolf was the second being that could get such a reaction from her, if she didn't include Snape's cold glare. She remembered begging the New Order Elder's to give Mavrix the only bottle of Wolfsbane they had, but they had quickly shot her down, 'reminding' her that she'd be needing that for when she traveled back in time, that they couldn't 'waist' it. Even against Sage's begging them to give him the potion they had refused and locked her in her room. Telling her it was the only one they had and if they used the last one Teddy Lupin had ever made it would not help her in the past to reshape the future for the better. She remembered them ordering Alphard to put the boy out of his misery that night, and he'd spent the next two weeks curled up in her arms or one of his sister's just to have a peaceful night's sleep from the memory. Sighing with a shiver at the horrible memory her ears caught the soft, crunching sounds of feet and turned to see what was going on. Her face fell farther when her eyes found none other than Severus Snape. Someone she had been avoiding and sparing only short, small talk, situations between them. She'd been civil in their conversations, but his words to her weeks before were still rattling in her mind. "Can I help you, Professor?"

Sighing, Snape looked from her and around them, before looking back to her, "I wanted to apologize," He started, clasping his hands in front of him, his eyes darting to the large fountain she'd previously been sitting on and gestured to it kindly with a raised brow, "Shall we talk?" he asked, waiting for her to retake the seat she had stood from. Taking a breath as he watched her sit, Severus took a seat next to her. "I should have been more careful with my words. It's not that you are a 'nobody' Sage. It is a challenge that you are not from this time. And being so, Dumbledore took the opportunity to give you an identity that would not specifically raise brows. Had he let you keep your maiden name the Ministry may have noticed something strange and they'd have intervened. Potter is not in a healthy environment. However, he is safe there due to his Aunt and Uncle being Muggles." Snape tried explaining.

"I understand why he did its Severus. I read Harry's file. I read James's file. I even found the file on Lily Potter, maiden name Evans. It also had their pictures. And do you know what I noticed, Severus?"

Curious as to what she was now talking about, Severus softly shook his head. He knew where she was going with this, and he hated that she'd figured it out. "I looked in a mirror for the first time that was longer than two minutes. And that was when I was looking at Lily's school pictures. Her seventh year, it was like I was looking at my reflection, minus our eyes and the depth of the red hair colored difference." She'd said it. She'd finally said what had also been bothering her mind the last few hours. Handing two files over to Severus she watched as he opened them, the two pictures that he studied were so similar, one was just older. The names, however, did grasp the majority of his attention, "Elizabeth April McGonagall and... Lily Evans. How did you get these?" Snape questioned as he stared at Lily's seventh-year photo.

"I asked Albus for them… They both look alike. Light red hair, smooth skin, joyful eyes, the only differences are that Lily had green eyes and Elizabeth had brown eyes and freckles across her nose and cheeks. Their difference to me, Sev? Is that they had friends until they died. They grew up loved and admired. I have nothing. I'm a shadow to these two. They were likely far more mature than me. I know I'm from a hostile environment, however, believe it or not, I'm still very naive, I don't have the backbone I should have had. And everyone I loved and cared about no longer exists. All the belongings that I came with, even the Potion, are gone. Don't ask me where my belongings have gone because I don't know. No one has stolen them. I'd have been able to find them. But I'm curious. When you snapped at me, were you irritated that I was getting annoying? Which I completely understand, and I'm sorry about that. I don't mean to be annoying, or a cry baby." She clarified softly, her eyes studying Severus as he continued to stare at the photo of Lily Evans with the help of what light was left from the setting sun, "Or were you upset that I looked a little too similar to her?" She asked softly, her eyes studying the sadness. And his silence and the deep intake of breath he took as she waited for his answer was all the answer she needed. He wasn't angry, he wasn't hostile, he was sad. "What happened?"

Sighing, Severus closed the files, "She chose him, they had Potter and now they're dead." He explained simply, handing the files back to her gently. He didn't want to look at them any longer, especially not Lily's.

Feeling terrible she was going to ask, but her curiosity was terrible. It was one of her worst weaknesses. "...How?"

"Being from the future Sage, don't you already know that."

Shaking her head gently, Sage instantly regretted asking him, "I'm sorry, but I don't. Our history is slim to none to outside hands, every record of whoever stood against him was destroyed. I'm sorry, please, don't- don't answer, Severus-"

"Voldemort. He stormed their safe house, their secret Keeper turned them over to him and the Dark Lord killed them all. Potter was the only survivor. The Keeper ran, one of James's friends went in search of him and he was killed. A finger was the only thing left of him. The keeper was rendered unconscious and he was captured that way." Severus shortly explained.

Dumbstruck that their keeper had betrayed them Sage couldn't contain her next nagging question, "Who was their keeper?"

Knowing her curiosity was strong, Severus gave her the answers willingly. "... Sirius Black." She was too easy to talk to sometimes... Just like her. But where she and Lily may have looked alike oner another, he knew they were not the same person. He'd loved Lily, and he still did, there would be no one else. Sage had grown up in a hostile environment and she somehow still turned out to be a sweet, soft-hearted, and kind person. She had a backbone buried deep down. It was just going to take some time for her to regain herself after her trip. Not to mention the solid knock she took to her head was going to alter a few things to her personality. She was watching the boy from afar like she was afraid of getting close to him.

"Why did they pick you for this?" Snape suddenly asked. It had been a question that had been bothering him for some time.

Softly chuckling at his question, Sage sighed and looked out across the lands, the sun hitting and lighting the snow around them, "I don't know, maybe because I was just available. I was the only child born that year to the Order. And since before I can remember, he had a strict fertile control. So many children per home and family. The muggles were nearly wiped out to support the growing numbers of witches and wizards, however, having children had become difficult enough for my time. Everyone is just about related. Procreation isn't exactly like how it is here... I had just been born and they were trying to figure out another plan of attack, then Teddy's plan suddenly became a huge topic. The Elders made the choice. My mother didn't want me to have anything to do with it. Truthfully, I know I wasn't strong enough for that world. I'm soft, I trust too easily and those two already are deadly. I do have a backbone, but not a strong enough one. I have a temper and that is all that I have going for me."

"... You're avoiding Potter, why?" He stated. Not like it was a big secret though. However, his question did surprise her a little.

It was a good question, and she didn't truly know, however, she had a few assumptions. Looking away from him she shivered a bit, now feeling the cold chill of the winter air. But she knew it wasn't the cold weather, it was his question. "I guess because I'm afraid. I want this to be real, I want this to work. But what if me being here is what causes my time to occur? What if I mess up? And I know I will, I always mess up… Maybe I don't really know, Sev... Just because I'm from the future doesn't mean I'm all-knowing. I'm good at book work and I can fight, I can defend myself, but I think Dumbledore and the New Order overestimated what I could do. However, I hate to say it, even they started to lose faith in me. As I said, I'm a mess up." The words left her like a whisper.

Wanting to laugh at her lack of confidence, Sape looked to her, watching the setting sun's light shine off her dark red hair, her blue eyes brightening as she looked to her hands in her lap. She was lovely, but his heart still beat for Lily, a woman who was dead, but he'd never stop loving her, Lily had been everything to him. She still was, her memory kept him going. The fact Harry was one-half of Lily kept him going. "Sage, you came back to stop his death, if you don't pull at least a bit of yourself back together, into the person you'll need to be, you'll never be able to help him. No one is perfect, not even me, not Dumbledore, and not the Dark Lord. Falling is a part of life, but right now there is a boy out there, on these very grounds who needs you. And if he doesn't even have you, Sage, then who does he have to save him?" Severus softly spoke, offering some advice, some gentle, but good advice.

She was shocked. He'd gone from complete jerk to the wise man you'd want to talk to again. Unfortunately, she had a feeling she wouldn't see this part of him very often. Looking at his offered hand as he stood, she raised a brow of curiosity.

"I see you shivering, and it is snowing out here, I believe a cup of hot chocolate and a warm fireplace in the Great Hall would be a good start." Severus was slightly relieved when she took his offered hand. Helping her up from her seat and waiting as she grabbed the files. They walked into the Great Hall where he left her with some Hot chocolate that had been left there for those who were still at the school for the Holidays.

Sage had sat there for a while in silence until the sound of soft padding feet stopped near her. Drawing her attention to the person the little feet belonged to, she found Harry Potter, staring at her with curiosity and a look of determination. She had avoided him long enough. It was time she really started to do her job. "I know why you're here, Harry… And I think we should finally have that talk. I'm so sorry it took me this long to actually do this. You deserved better from me." She softly spoke. A sad and shameful expression overtook her naturally pale, sweet face.

Stunned at her, Harry continued to watch her closely. He'd just gotten out of detention with Ron and visited Hermione, she was still turning back into her human likeness, he couldn't believe she'd grabbed cat hair instead of the girl's hair she was supposed to have grabbed. He still remembered her reaction as she'd cried; "I took every precaution! Did she know I'd grab cat hair? She had to of known!"

He and Ron had slightly giggled at Hermione's panic, but they couldn't fix this, they were forced to take her to Madam Pomfrey. And only after minutes of that, Professor McGonagall had rushed in with Snape to reclaim the clothes that had suddenly gone missing and they had all three gotten detentions. Hermione was restricted to the Hospital Wing to heal up and he and Ron had been told to polish the Trophies, again. "So, we are related then?" he asked softly.

Taking in a deep breath, her stomach began to knot, Sage let the deep intake of breath out with a nervousness she never thought she'd ever experienced. She hated lying. But Dumbledore said it would help get him in a safer, healthier, environment. "...Yes." And here, her first lie to Harry James Potter began the biggest lie she'd ever live with. "I'm… I'm James's cousin...I never knew him, at all actually." Okay, so maybe it wasn't a bigger lie than she thought, but it was still a lie!

"Why was I given to my Aunt and Uncle? Why couldn't they have given me to you?" Harry asked, his eyes slightly darting to the seat next to her. If she was his family, he not only wanted answers, he wanted to know her. It was an empty ache in him he had the biggest desire to fill. The void of a family that wanted him, that loved him.

Seeing his eyes diverting to the empty spot next to her, Sage smiled softly at him and patted the empty spot, a silent invitation. She was shocked at how fast he sat next to her, more so at how close he'd willing sat with his hands clasped together and twiddling with his thumbs as he looked up at her, waiting for her to continue. She was going to have to improvise a little, with little enough detail. She didn't want everything to be a lie to him. "I was too young, eleven years old actually. And my own parents were dead. I had no means to care for you. But they told me you'd be safer with them for a while, that those who may still be looking for you wouldn't have thought twice at looking for you there... I never knew your father or mother, Harry. And I know I'm supposed to be the one to tell you it would be alright, that everything will get better, but I have no idea what I'm doing. But I hope I can try to make this better for you." She said. Her words were soft and filled with hope, hope he'd believe her, hoping that this would work, and hoped that he'd forgive her. But as she thought about what she'd just told him, she realized that less than half of that was even considered a lie. The only lie in her words so far was that she was James's cousin. Everything else was one-hundred percent true. She had no idea what she was doing, and she wanted his future to be better, she wanted him to live.

Harry thought about what she'd said. It hadn't been a lot, but it was enough. Looking into the fireplace as it roared, warming the Great Hall from the cold winter, Harry sighed a bit heavily, looking back up to her, her blue eyes shining with hope and the fire's light dancing off her dark red hair, "But you want to try, right?"

Smiling at him, she nodded, "Yes," She answered.

His stomach did turns and flips of excitement and nervousness, "Can I spend the day with you tomorrow?" he asked. But her smile was all he needed as an answer. He was just a kid after all. Smiling happily, Harry did something he'd been wanting to do for years to someone he called family. Wrapping his arms around her, Harry hugged Sage tightly and held back as much of his happy tears as he could.

A bit stunned, Sage slowly wrapped her own arms around the boy. This was not why she had come back in time, she was supposed to help, yes, but this was not how she imagined she'd be helping. She had planned on sharing Teddy's Journal with his ideas and plans on how to get rid of Voldemort before he could even get a foot out of the grave he was currently heading in, but everything was gone. But this, this moment filled an empty void in Sage's heart she hadn't thought would ever have the chance to heal. Unable to make herself release Harry, she lightly tightened her arms around him and gently placed a kiss atop his head. He had been a boy who may not have truly been alone but felt alone. She had been alone upon leaving her time, letting everything she knew vanish to come back in time to stop something that never should have happened. But instead of her saving Harry in this year of trouble, she had a feeling he may not realize that he had just saved her.

In accepting this lie from her that he didn't know was a lie, Harry had saved what little will and determination Sage had left in herself that she believed in. Because ever since her arrival she had made more mistakes and began to fear being the cause of her own future's ruin she had lived. Yes, she had followed the boy and his friends around to make sure they hadn't gotten into trouble, but she had also failed in that effort because she had no idea they had even gone through with the Polyjuice Potion. Truth be told she'd have done it, but she had assumed that after her little warning to be careful the three of them would have thought a third time about not doing it! She truly was a screw-up… Feeling slightly more like the failure she knew she was, Snape's sudden words from early began to rattle through her mind, they had somewhat comforted her, but not enough to feel entirely better about her stupidity and cowardness. She wouldn't make the same mistake a second time. 'I can do this… No one is perfect, just like Severus said… but I can do this…. I can help fix this...' "Thank you, Harry."

"For what?"

"Giving me a chance." As of tonight, Sage was going to pull back on being her plushy, soft-spoken sweet-natured, board self. She was going to stop running and start swinging back at her worries and fears that she knew were going to continue to plague her. She had to become the nightmare to her nightmares and that of future troubles. She had a goal and she had a mission. And she would see it through to the end.

**Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed it. I know it jumps, probably out of event order, I apologize! Either way, Reviews are welcome, I'd love to hear your opinion. Yes, she seems like a plushie pushover and a scaredy-cat and probably should have gotten over the whole ordeal quite a while ago, trust me she would have had I thought as I typed. But hey, at least she's developing. Again, if it's not as good as my previous Harry Potter Fanfiction I apologize, I did warn you that I may have been out of order myself, but I'm trying to get myself back into the groove. This was not how I imagined the story to go, it was moving slowly, and since Harry's second year is my worst year to read, watch and type I figured to get it out of the way. So yes, Harry's second year is going to start flying by. I did not realize how… Crazy, I was making it that it was just starting to run on in an endless annoyance. So, for that, I once again apologize! Thank you, and have a wonderful night/day!