Disclaimer: All characters belong to the queen J.K. Rowling and this is just a work of fan fiction.
Author notes:
Merry Christmas! Wishing you all a magical and blissful holiday!
Huge thanks to everyone who reviewed, favourite and followed. You guys are awesome! This story is inspired by 'They didn't know we were seeds' by LucyLuna. That story is mind-blowing and you should check it out.
Special virtual cookies and presents to my awesome beta, HogwartsDreamer113!
The Second try.
Chapter Three: Sirius Black.
Cold.
He knew he was dead. Maybe taunting his insane cousin wasn't a good idea after all. He had ducked out of the way of her first spell, but the second hit its mark. It had felt horrible, but then the veil pulled him into its cold embrace; ice cold hands pulled his hands and legs down, into the dark depths of death.
His mind was blank. No panic. No fear. He knew hell. He lived there for twelve years, after all, but was he worthy enough to go to heaven? Would he see James and Lily again?
'Possibly get a whole earful from Lily for taunting Bellatrix. Will they forgive me for making Peter their secret keeper?' Thoughts and regrets entered his head and then vanished again, as if they were lost in the wind as he fell; the hands continued pulling him down the deep, dark, and cold hole.
Then it stopped. He wasn't falling anymore. His fingers ran across something smooth and silky. He opened his eyes slowly. Eyes on the dark ceiling, fingers gently caressing the silky sheets, he lay on the bed, waiting for his head to clear.
Then, a door opened, and he saw a figure slip through.
"Hey Prongs. Are you here to chew me out for falling for Bellatrix's curse?" He called softly.
"Who's Prongs? And did cousin Bella curse you again?" a soft voice asked curiously.
Sirius's eyes widened as his mind recognised the voice. He hadn't heard that voice for years. Heart thumping, he jumped out of bed, startling the young boy. He just stood there with wide eyes filled with an array of emotions. The young boy looked concerned and confused at his reaction.
"Sirius? What's wrong? Why did cousin Bella curse you?" the young boy asked again.
All thoughts fled Sirius's mind. He could not believe what he was seeing. His baby brother was standing before him. Not the older version that he remembered, but young. He looked around nine years old. 'Why does he look so young?' his mind asked, somewhere in his subconscious. He ignored the thought for now.
"Reggie?"
"Sirius? You look like you've seen a ghost. Are you – Oof!"
One moment, Sirius was standing there staring at his brother's face, and the next, his hands were around Reggie's small form, hugging him like he would disappear if he let go. His eyes burned with unshed tears and there was a lump in his throat.
"I am so sorry, Reggie. I am so sorry. I am so glad to see you! And bloody hell, why are you so small?!"
"What in Salazar's name are you talking about Sirius? And watch it! You aren't so big yourself, you know." He pulled out of the embrace and stood, arms crossed and scowling. Sirius turned to the mirror in the room and yelped. He was a kid too! He saw his brother slightly smirking behind him and swallowed the lump in his throat.
"Mother wants to talk to you after breakfast. She said it's about Hogwarts," Regulus announced.
"Mother? Our mother? She is here?" Sirius asked. 'Why was that woman in heaven? Was this NOT heaven? Was this hell? Did I get sent to hell for my mistakes?'
"Well, yes. She lives here? Remember?" Regulus replied with an eyebrow raised.
'Of course she lives in hell. She rules it.' Then, the second part of Regulus's sentence entered his dazed mind. 'Hogwarts?'
"Wait, what do you mean Hogwarts?"
"The Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry? The one you are starting two days from today? Seriously Sirius, what did you do last night? What did Bella curse you with?" Regulus asked, looking both exasperated and concerned.
"Hogwarts? Two days?" He felt so confused. He walked towards his open trunk by the wall with wide eyes and picked up a book. It read 'Standard Book of Spells, Grade One'. He dropped the book with a thud, and stumbled back, as if it burned him and fell on the bed. His brother watched him, looking quite alarmed now. Something was very, very wrong with this picture.
"I am fine, Reggie. I had the craziest dream last night. I just need to clear my head. Go on…" He said shakily.
"Fine, if you are sure…" Regulus trailed off. He stopped at the door, looked at Sirius and left. Sirius took a deep breath, got off the bed and started pacing.
'What the bloody hell is going on? I look like a kid. Reggie is here and he also looks like a kid. I am apparently going to Hogwarts in two days and this isn't heaven. Mother would not be there in my heaven, and I don't think a young Regulus would be in my hell. Older Regulus would be there, to punish me for not saving him. So what is going on?' He kicked the trunk in frustration and groaned as pain shot through his leg. He hopped over to the desk, cursing, but all thoughts of his throbbing foot left him when he saw the calendar on his desk.
"ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?"
He was back in time. He collapsed in the chair. He had died and woken up in his younger body. Laughter burst out of his mouth.
"Sirius, it is almost time for breakfast and Mother wants…" Whatever Regulus was about to say was lost as he stared at a hysterically laughing Sirius.
"Sirius? Are you sure you're alright?" he asked hesitantly.
Sirius stopped laughing and looked at his brother with an amused expression.
"Never been better, Reggie. I'll be down soon."
Soon, Sirius was dressed and sitting down at the table under the fierce gaze of his mother. Kreacher was serving breakfast to his younger brother. Regulus thanked the elf and began to happily eat. Sirius clenched his fists under the table, so he wouldn't attack the elf with his fork. He really hated that elf.
Walburga began in a harsh voice, "Listen to me well boy, for I will not repeat myself. You will not embarrass the family name. You are the heir of the Black line, and you will act like it. If I hear anything that suggests otherwise, you will regret it. Am I understood?"
Sirius smiled. He was bored of the same old threats. Since he was back in time, he would change things. Two could play this game. He smirked to himself while keeping a sweet smile on his face.
"Of course, Mother. I fully intend to uphold the family honour. Though, I cannot foretell where I might end up in Hogwarts, but I hope I will not disappoint you anymore." He smiled at the dumbfounded expression on his mother's face. It was not often he saw that expression on his mother's face. The last time he had seen it was when she encountered the wrath of Euphemia Potter. He finished his breakfast and excused himself from the table flashing a small grin at his brother. He headed upstairs to his room, ignoring the elf heads mounted on plaques to the wall. His trunk was packed and ready. His wand was strapped to his arm in a holster. Thinking hard, he began to pace.
'What should I do now? Play mother's game and pretend to agree with her ways and work behind the scenes? Or should I run away to the Potters' right after first year? No. I can't do that. I can't leave Reggie. That's what I did last time. This is my chance to save him, along with James and Lily. I could play the heir till my father passes away, then I would be Lord Black. I can change things around here. I can make sure Reggie does not fall for my mother's blood supremacy ideas and also stop him from taking Father's place as a Death Eater. I wonder what Mother will do if she learns Voldy is a mere half-blood… I also need to learn Occlumency to protect my mind from Father and his Death Eater "friends". Regulus will not join the Death Munchers. Not if I can help it.'
On the subject of him being back in time, Regulus did not remember his previous life, so was he the only one? Remus was alive when he died; hopefully he stayed that way. The younger Remus was here and so were James, Peter, Lily, and Snape. He sneered. Snape was a git. But he did fight for the light. It took courage and skill to spy on someone like the Dark Lord (not that he would EVER admit it out loud). He had also saved Harry's life more than once.
'Maybe I could try being a little nicer to him. Merlin forbid, us being close friends or anything! Maybe not goading him to find a Werewolf on a full moon, or hexing him just for fun. Yeah. That sounds good.'
He winced as he remembered Harry asking about the time he had seen them hex Snape after their OWLs. They were such prats.
'What to do about Peter? He was a coward, but right now, he's just a kid. We need to make him braver, and not follow us around like we are his heroes. Make him stand up and respect himself.' He flushed. Last time, he used to enjoy being admired by Peter, and he never thought much about him. He would change it all this time. Maybe then, Peter wouldn't betray them to Voldemort.
However, if matters came to the Fidelius Charm, he was not going to make Peter the secret keeper, even if he grew up to be trustworthy in this life. He regretted that decision enough for a lifetime. He also made a mental note to hide Frank and Alice, if the war got worse in the coming years. Maybe he could get Reggie, Moony, Peter, the Potters and the Longbottoms together and hide them in Hogwarts? He snorted. No matter what, he would protect them. Even if that meant he had to stun them and drag them to a safe house and drug them all with a strong sleeping potion. He couldn't bear to lose them all again.
It was late evening in Grimmauld Place and his cousins were visiting, courtesy of one Walburga Black. He kept a cool mask and did everything the heir of the ancient and noble family of Black should do, much to the surprise of his cousins and his parents. His hand itched to curse Bellatrix to oblivion, but he restrained himself. He behaved nothing like the old Sirius Black. The amusement was visible only in his eyes and was briefly shown to his cousin Andromeda before his mask covered it again. She smirked at him as he led her to the door after dinner. He just grinned and bid her goodnight.
In two days, he would meet the four people he considered his family. Imagine the pranks they could do this year without getting caught! They could create the map in the first year too! He would ensure Remus got through his transformation without getting badly hurt and watch James fall for Lily again. Maybe if they didn't bully Snape, she would like him a lot earlier than last time. With a happy sigh, he went to sleep. In two days, he would be back where he belonged.
