The Road Not Taken

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. All recognisable characters, content, or locations belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.

Summary: Bereaved. Bereft. Betrayed. In the aftermath of Sirius Black's death, Harry Potter rises to the challenge set for him by fate: to kill the Dark Lord… or to die trying. Post OOTP AU. OOC.

Rating: M for language, violence, character death and adult themes.

Author: tlyxor1.

The Road Not Taken

Prologue

There were moments in his life that Harry Potter would remember forever. Among them, the day Sirius Black had died, and the aftermath - Bellatrix, Voldemort, Dumbledore, the prophecy. He could picture Sirius' face, caught somewhere between surprise, horror, and relief. He could describe the way Voldemort's consciousness had burned itself into his own, or the way the light had glinted off Dumbledore's specs, or the way Trelawney's voice had rasped it's way through the prophecy that, even before his birth, had destroyed his life. The entire day - or was it night? - had been branded into his mind, and inside his own head, there was no escaping that. Harry hadn't even bothered to try.

Instead, he absorbed himself into the memories, reflected over what could have been done differently, what choices would have made for better outcomes, and finally recognised that he wasn't the only individual at fault. Dumbledore, Snape, Voldemort, Bellatrix, and Sirius himself had each played part in the latter's death, and although Harry was by no means blameless himself, he understood the mistakes he'd made, and further determined the steps he would need to take in future to avoid such disasters.

"Mr Potter. You wanted to see me?"

Harry glanced up at the voice, low and rumbling, and managed a tired smile for the man across from him. Dressed in faded jeans, an old band tee, and a leather jacket that matched his boots, Kingsley Shacklebolt was a far cry from the man Harry had first met, but he wore the same easy-going smile, and there was a warmth behind his eyes that belied the strength Harry could see in the rest of him.

"Yes," Harry confirmed. "Did you come alone?"

"I did," Shacklebolt confirmed.

"And would you be willing to swear an oath on that?"

Shacklebolt arched a bemused eyebrow, but he nodded slowly. "Would you like me to?"

Harry contemplated the possibility, but he eventually thought better of it. Instead, he shook his head - no - and instead requested for the auror to raise a privacy spell. The man acquiesced, and waited.

Harry didn't disappoint.

"I'd like to be trained."

"Pardon?"

"I'd like you to train me," Harry reiterated, "The Department of Mysteries was a disaster, and I'd rather avoid another mess like it, if you don't mind. I've asked a couple of others to help me, too, but I'd appreciate your expertise in hand to hand combat, and battle magic."

"You've done your research," Kingsley observed mildly. "Who else have you asked?"

Harry hesitated, and thumbed the hourglass in his pocket. He'd already underwent a exhaustive year of training with Remus and Tonks, and another year with Bill and Fleur. A third year had been spent with Alastor Moody, and a fourth with Poppy Pomfrey.

The last had seen him brought to peak physical condition for his age, and it was fortunate that the nature of time turners didn't age a person, because otherwise, that ought have been difficult to explain.

Hell, it already was.

"Lupin. Bill Weasley, and Fleur. Moody. Tonks. Madam Pomfrey."

"How would you find the time?" Kingsley asked, "You only have two months until term."

"That's where discretion comes in," Harry answered, "The information has a gag on it. You won't be able to tell a soul."

"Alright," Kingsley acknowledged, "Hit me."

"I stole a time turner from the Department of Mysteries." Kingsley gaped, and Harry might have found it comical if the situation weren't as it was. Instead, he waited for the senior auror to collect himself, and asked, "Will you help me?"

Kingsley nodded. "I would be remiss in my duty, otherwise. I'll be happy to help, Harry."

Harry smiled, pleased. "Then let's get started."