A Ripple in Time Keeperoliver Chapter 3/Where do we go from here

Harry and Sirius had gone over their options on what to do. Harry agreed to Sirius' suggestion to go with the last name Black, and be a cousin of his. They also thought it would be a good idea to visit Gringotts, and the Prophet. Gringotts to see if Harry still had access to the vault 687 since he still had the key. They needed to go to the paper to find back issues and catch up on what transpired in the past 25 years.

For the first time they stepped out into the new world that looked to be full of life and happiness. Children played in the park they passed by. Parents watching them having their fun, while chatting with their neighbors.

The scenes never changed as they continued their walk. Harry was beginning to wonder why it was so peaceful. There was no hint of worry in any of the faces he had seen. Even in the faces of the people Sirius told him he knew were magical.

Soon they came to the spot where the Leaky Cauldron was hidden from muggle view. The sign over head indicated how old it was, and the current proprietor. Tom was still the current owner.

As they entered the tavern, no eyes shot uip to see who entered, and Tom just waved his towel in their direction in greeting. They waved back, and continued to the back to where the entrance to Diagon Alley was, and the magical wall. Sirius tapped on it and it opened for them to enter.

What they saw on the other side amazed them. The alley was bustling with activity as people shopped without a care in the world. They saw families talking with each other as they stood off to the side avoiding blocking any shoppers from getting through.

The two continued on through the alley, making their way Gringotts. They both were aware of the new shops that were open. Shops not there when they left for their little trip through time. The biggest surprise was to Sirius. There was a book store called the Lily Pad. It was owned by Lily Lupin and Remus Lupin. This did not register with Harry at first. Then he remembered the name of the person they saved from the werewolf. He looked up to Sirius, and saw a grin on his face. He knew they would be making a stop there on their way out.

They made it to Gringotts and entered the building to see it was very busy. They got in line to wait to be served. It took fifteen minutes before they were able to make it to the counter where the Goblin there asked if he could help them.

Harry took out his key, "Yes sir, I need to get into my vault."

The goblin took the key and asked, "What is your vault number?"

"Number 687."

The goblin looked at his register, and saw it was assigned to someone who only showed a first name. "Strange. What is your name please?"

"Harry."

"And you last name?"

Harry was a little hesitant, "Black, my name is Harry Black."

"Very good Mr. Black." He said while writing it in the log. He then turned to Sirius. "And you sir, do you need anything?"

"Yes, I'm Sirius Black, and I need into my family vault."

The goblin looked up at this. "It seems you have been away for a while Mr. Black. Are you back for good, or just here for a visit?"

This took Sirius back. He didn't know what he and Harry were going to do. "I am not sure right now what my plans are. For the time being, I will just see what is going on."

"Of course, now if I could get a drop of your blood to verify your right to enter the vault."

Sirius did this, and the goblin accepted the results, and asked an aide to escort the two to their vaults. They both sat quietly as the carts took them through the tunnels to their vaults. Harry was the first, and walked with the goblin to his vault, where he handed the key to him. When the goblin opened the vault door, Harry was taken back by what he saw. The room was larger than before the trip, and had ten times the amount of gold in it, along with the silver and bronze. Harry enterd the vault and looked around hoping to find something that could tell him what happened. Unfortunately the vault only contained the coins. Harry filled two bags and left the vault.

They then left for Sirius' vault, and Sirius used his blood once again to gain entry to the vault. He was as amazed as Harry was, as there was much more here then he remembered. He knew he was well off, but this was well beyond that. The vault was twice as large as he remembered, and was full of coins that was stacked to the ceiling. He and Harry walked into the vault and seperated to search for any leads as to what was happening. If either of them saw letters or logs or Diaries, they grabbed them and pocketed them. There were not many. Sirius then also grabbed to bags, and filled them with coins. They then left the vault and traveled back up to the main floor. They thankled ther goblin, and Sirius left him a tip of 5 galleons to which the Goblin bowed his thanks to him.

Their trip to the Prophet had been a waste of time as they only kept copies of the Prophet dating back a year.

They left there and Sirius looked across and saw the Lily Pad. That was their next destination. Sirius was hoping he still had ties with Remus after they saved him from being attacked.

They entered the store to a mad house. People were lining up to a table where a lady was sitting signing books the customers were handing her. Sirius growled, recognizing her. Rita Skeeter, the world's biggest gossip girl.

Sirius wondered what could be so important as to be bringing people out to have her sign these books. He looke around and found what it was It was a book by Rita titled {Diary of our Savior, the Life and Death of James Potter.} A tear fromed in Sirius eye. His friend and brother died saving the wizard world. He grabbed a copy, and made his way to the counter to pay for it.

When he and Harry got to the counter, he took a deep breath. Standing behind the counter were Remus and Lily. He walked up and put the book down to pay for it. The two didn't look up at first, as they continued to help customers. Sirius took the chance and said "Hello Remus, Lily, long time no see."

The two looked up, and Remus about jumped the counter to get to the man that left him those many years ago. "Sirius, you're back. Where the heck have you been these seven years, and who is your young friend? Lily, look who it is."

"Hello Siri. It has been a while. How long are you here for, and where are you staying? You will join us for dinner I hope, at least once before you go off again?"

"What, no hug for an old friend? Of course we will join you for dinner. Just tell me when and where? Oh you don't mind if Harry joins me, do you?"

"And who is Harry, if I might ask?" Lily asked.

"He is my cousin. That is where I have been these last seven years." He lied to his friend. He didn't like lieing to her, but it was for the best.

"Then of course he is welcomed. So how have you been? Oh wait, we will have to catch up later, say tomorrow night. This book signing is just too much for the two of us to handle. Remus I need your help back here. See you two tomorrow night. And Siri, it's good to have you back. Harry it was nice to meet you." and Lily went back to work.

Remus rolled his eyes at his wife, and hugged Sirius. "You better show up tomorrow night, or I will come hunting you down."

"I will, if you tell me where you are staying. It's been too long for me to remember."

Remus stepped back from his friend and looked him in the eye. "You honestly can't remember the Marauder's Nest?"

"You're staying there? I thought that belonged to James?"

"He willed it to Lily and I. We have a lot to catch up on Siri, so you bettger make it. Besides we want you to meet our two children." He then leaned into Sirius and whispered, "Sirius, Your cousin looks to be the spitting image of James, except he has Lily's eyes. It is kind of spooky."

"It took a while for me to get used to as well Mo... Remus." Sirius almost blundered.

Remus then joined Lily behind the counter, and waved to the two departing people.

Harry and Sirius stopped in the Cauldron and ate some lunch. Harry asked the question he didn't know for sure how to answer. "I remember Remus, but, who is Lily?"

"Well, she was a classmate, and our friend. I think we should talk about this when we have more privacy. Let's just say we were a very close knit group of friends."

Harry accepted this, as things were so strange right now. But he did know that he had never seen the wizard world so free and easy. Something has happened to take away all the pain from his world, and was happy to see it. He browsed through the book Sirius had bought, while waiting for his food. Who ever this James Potter was, he was quite the hero. He put the book down, when his food arrived and ate while talking with Sirius.

As they were eating, a man and a girl walked into the Cauldron. He was dressed all in green, with red flowers in his button holes. The girl was about Harry's age with white blond hair, and sparkling blue eyes. This was the first person Harry has met, other than Remus, that looked familiar. Why, he didn't know.

What surprised him was when she ran from the man she was with, and came to his table and said, "Harry it is so good to see you."

"You know me? From Where?"

The girl stopped for a second then smiled, "Of course, you were in my dreams. I never learned you last name though."

Harry smiled up at her, "My name is Harry. Harry Black if you want me to be formal, and if you want to know my last name. And your name is?"

"Luna Lovegood. Don't you think I am crazy walking up to you and knowing your name, and telling you I saw you in my dreams?" She smiled at Harry.

Harry's smile dropped from his face. "Luna, I don't know you, and can hardly form an opinion from just meeting you. But, with coming up and telling me my name before I even told you doesn't tell me your crazy, but, more like a seer. It took a lot of courage to walk up and tell me this, so I would think you are more free spirited than most. And to be smiling all the time tells me you are a caring person. With all this, I would never think you crazy."

Luna's smile brightened even more as he said this, "Thank you Harry for telling me this. Most people think am insane. Some even call me Looney. My friend Ginny is the only one who sees me as anything but crazy. I do hope we meet again." And she shook hands with Harry and turned and went back to the man she walked in with, who Harry had assumed was her father.

Sirius brought his attention back when he asked, "What was that all about, and who was she? She seemed nice, but a little over the top."

Harry looked cross at Sirius and answered back rather harshly, "Sirius, she is not over the top, as you so elequently put it. She is a very nice person that is outspoken is all. I think she just voices her opinion to who ever will listen, not caring what people think about her. I think she is sweet, and wouldn't mind getting to know her, and her friend Ginny, who ever she is. Anyone who sees her as a friend has to be nice also."

Sirus stopped eating to take in Harry's rant. "Sorry pup, I didn't mean it as an insult. I don't always come up with the right words. By over the top, I meant she was very vocal. Not meaning she was crazy."

Harry's smile came across his face again, "Yes she is that, Vocal I mean. She is also very pretty, don't you think?"

Sirius just snickered. "Gettin a little ahead of yourself there Harry. You just met her, and you find yourself falling for her already."

Continuing with the smile, he thought, "I don't know about that, but, it wouldn't be a bad thing would it?"

Now Sirius was laughing, "Harry it would not be a bad thing, but save your thoughts until you get to know her and her friend better, if we are here that long."

Now Harry looked up, "What do you mean if we are here that long?"

"We'll talk later. To much has changed, and I'm not sure I like it."

ARIT-}

Harry had spent the last few hours reading the book Sirius bought starting near the end to get some information that he and Sirius could become familiar with what happened near the end. From what he read, the story went like this.

James Potter met Regulas Black through his brother Sirius. They all became friends with Remus Lupin and Lily Evans. Regulas and Sirius were the outcasts of the Black family and were shunned by the rest. However, he had come into some information from one of there cousins, Bellatrix, that a dark lord was beginning to gain favor with the pure blood families, telling them that they were better than the rest, and filling their head with ideals that they should do away with the muggle born and half bloods, as they could never be as powerful as them.

Regulas also learned that this new dark lord was he himself a half blood, which meant he was one of those he was going after. How know one else knew this was baffling. This was when he became suspicious that this Lord Voldemort was controlling the pure bloods with a form of Imperious that controlled a large number of people. This was given in the form of a mark he left on their arms in the form of a snake. The Dark Mark. Those with the matk became known as Death Eaters. They began a reign of terror, killing magical and muggle people alike. They struck fast, did their damage and left befor any resistance could be brought against them. Not all pure bloods followed him, but those that didn't, were treated as blood traitors, and were killed when found. Among them were Fabian and Gideon Pruitt, David and Samantha Bones, and finally, the ones that brought about the destruction of the dark lord and his Death Eaters, Charlus, and Evangeline Potter.

Upon hearing of his parents deaths, James formed a group of friends and others he called Marauders. They became the most feared enemy of the Death eaters and Lord Voldemort, killing them as they found them. They had learned how to detect the dark mark using a charm tought them by Filius Flitwick, a Professor at Hogwarts Schoolof Witchcraft and Wizardry. James, Regulas,Remus, Sirius and Filius became leaders of the Marauders.

For over a year they fought against the Death Eaters and Lord Voldemort, until finally on October 31, 1981, a final confrontation between the two sides took place in a cemetary outside of Little Hangleton, in which may lives were lost, to include on the pureblood side, Lord Voldemort, Bellatrix Lestrange, nee Black, Rudolphus LeStrange, Lucius Malfoy, Anthony Parkinson, Severus Snape, and many other Death Eaters died. On the Marauders side, James Potter, Regulas Black, Mad Eye Moody, Frank Longbottom, and again many more died.

These brave people gave their lives so that we could enjoy the freedom we are currently living. We didn't lose Sirius Black to death, but, we lost him to his sorrow, when he up and left England, to seek out any family he had left. He knew of his cousin Andromeda, and Narcissa. Andromeda had married a muggle born wizard named Ted Tonks, and Narcissa lost her husband Lucius in the war, Never having taken the dark mark, her and her son Draco were now living a meaningful life with her sister Andromeda and her husband and daughter Nymphadora.

We owe everything to these people, and it is my hope that this book did justice to their brave act. Blood lines stopped that night, that will never be seen again. The most famous being the Ancient and Noble house of Potter. May they all rest in peace.

Harry sat there and thought about what he read, thinking no wonder everyone wondered what happened to Sirius. He wiped the tears that were falling down his cheeks after finishing the book. This James Potter must have been quite a person. Harry wished he got to know him, as well as Sirius' brother Regulas.

Sirius entered the room Harry had taken, and saw him with the tears streaming down his cheeks. When he asked what the problem was, Harry handed him the book to where he started reading, and Sirius began. Sirius soon joined Harry in the tears as he remembered his friend James, his brother Regulas, who turned out differently, by ended up the same. Rather than say any thing, Sirius stood up, with the book in his hand, and left the room.

The next morning, Sirius got Harry up and told him to get dressed, as they were going to go back and redo everything. Harry asked what he meant, and Sirius pulled out the extender. Harry looked at Sirius and shook his head. "No Sirius. I will not let you. James Potter gave his life so that the rest could live free. Your brother did as well. Would you dishonor them by taking that away. One was your friend, and one was your brother. I know that when we left to save Remus, things were not well in the world. They are now, and that is how I wish it to stay. I want you to take the time turner out of your extender, and give it to me, so that I may return it to it's rightful owner."

"But Harry you don't know who you are, I don't know who you are and neither of us have any idea of what is in store for us."

"Sirius, It doesn't matter whether I know who I am or who my parents were. There is a peace in the world that is right. Let's leave it like that. I can build fresh memories, and you can re-establish those you already have. Remus and Lily are a good start. Then Andromeda and Narcissa. Perhaps I can get to know Draco and Nymphadora."

Sirius chuckled, "I'm sure she hasn't changed, and if she hasn't, then I suggest you never call her Nymphadora. She likes to be called Tonks. As for Draco, I hope you do become friends. Maybe we should look up you new friend Luna and her friend Ginny. We need all the friends we can get. Oh, and here." Sirius said as he pulled the time turner out and handed it to Harry.

Harry smiled up at his godfather, "Thanks. So, what do we do now?"

"Take one day at a time I guess. Fix this place up so that it is livable. Have to set you up for school also. Can't have you lacking in your studies now can we?"

"No, we can't have that. And what about you, you going to look for work?"

"Not right away. We are more than set for life financially, so there is no hurry. I think I want to start looking around to see if I can find any familiar faces. You're right, it does feel nice not having to worry about any Death Eaters hiding in the shadows. Maybe I can find an old girlfriend."

"I hope you do, and maybe you can settle down and have kids of your own."

"Perish the thought. Could you imagine me with kids, Why they would be worse than the Marauders ever thought of being."

"Naa, Sirius, you would make a good father, teaching your kids just enough to keep them children and not too adult."

"Ya think."

"Yes, now if you don't mind, I'm going to bed. I'll see you in the morning Sirius, Oh, and I think we need to go to Hogwarts in the morning to return this trinket, and maybe sign me up for this coming year."

"Sounds like a plan Kiddo. See you in the Morning."