Wow! Thank you so much for the response for the first chapter! I am pleased that people like this so far. A few have commented that they have never read a Sirius back in time fic so I'm glad I'm doing something different. The standard seems to be one of the trio going back in time and changing things so I wanted to try something different.

Twisting Time

Chapter Two

Scrunching his eyes closed Sirius took a deep shuddering breath. He was in shock. He didn't know what was going on or what to think. He had died, hadn't he? He'd been hit in the chest by a curse from Bellatrix Lestrange, fallen back towards the Veil and now… "I'm in 1981…" he said out loud. "How?" Was the Veil not what the Ministry thought it to be? Was it really a portal to the past?

Slowly he reached forward and grasped his wand, looking and inspecting it, having not seen it for years. The wand he had been using since his escape from Hogwarts had been given to him by Albus Dumbledore - after the headmaster had learned of his innocence of course - however now his original wand was just sitting there, waiting for him. He swallowed as the wand reacted to his fingers and he felt warmth spread up his arm. Had the wand recognised that he was different?

He picked up the newspaper again, his eyes running over the date: 24th October 1981. He stopped breathing. James and Lily… they'd still be alive. They wouldn't be dead… They wouldn't have gone into hiding with the Fidelius Charm yet. Pettigrew had become Secret Keeper on the 26th October meaning they were still safe. James and Lily had been in hiding since Harry had been born but it had been in the last week of their lives that the Fidelius charm had been cast...

"There is still a chance to save them…" Sirius muttered aloud, realisation settling in. "If I'm really here…If this is real and my life now then… I have to know." Without even thinking what he was doing, Sirius Apparated.

He arrived in Godric's Hollow, Apparating to just outside the village before breaking into a run towards the cottage where James and Lily lived, his feet pounding against the ground and his heart pumping hard in his chest. During the years he had been a fugitive he had returned to Godric's Hollow to mourn his friend's deaths. He had seen James and Lily's graves and the monument that had been erected in their honour as well as the destroyed cottage. He stopped running and stood staring up at the cottage.

There wasn't any damage to the cottage at all, cementing the fact in his brain that he really must be in 1981: his older consciousness having travelled back into his younger body. The cottage was as he remembered before Voldemort's destruction. As one of the people who had been given access through the security wards that both James and Albus Dumbledore had put up Sirius was able to see the house and enter. The Fidelius charm had only been necessary when Dumbledore had received intelligence that Voldemort had chosen to target Harry and was actively seeking him.

And that was when he saw them through the windows, laughing and joking in the living room. The two people he had missed so much for the past fifteen years…

Standing in front of the window was a messy-haired man wearing glasses, holding a little baby in his hands. A red-haired woman stood next to them, holding a little toy in front of her son's face.

Sirius' breath hitched in his throat.

"James… Lily…"

He leapt over the garden gate, up the path and then bashed the front door wide open, his heart thumping hard in his chest.

James Potter came running out into the hallway, his wand in hand and a curse on his lips but stopped when he saw Sirius' stricken face. "Padfoot?"

Sirius almost collapsed when he saw James. "You're alive…. Oh god… you're alive. Both of you!" He grabbed hold of James, not wanting to let go of him. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything."

"Erm… mate… have you been drinking?" asked James calmly as he tried to prise Sirius away from him. "You only apologise like this when you're drunk."

"What?" Sirius blinked trying to get himself in order. "No…"

"Then why are you blubbing like you haven't seen us in years?" asked James, holding Sirius by the shoulders and pushing him back.

Because for me it is years. Sirius' breath stilled in his throat, fighting back the tears that wanted to fall. The future he had come from hadn't happened yet. James and Lily had not been betrayed. Harry didn't have a scar on his forehead. Sirius hadn't spent years in Azkaban yet and the Marauders hadn't been torn apart by the betrayal of another. He really had come back in time. He'd been given a chance to change it all, prevent that future from ever happening. He licked his lips. He couldn't tell them who he was, where he had come from but he needed to give a reason as to why he nearly had a breakdown. "I… I…" It was a struggle to speak to the man he had unintentionally led to his death. "I… had a nightmare," he improvised quickly, "you and Lily died… And it was my fault… I panicked. Thought it was real."

A smirk pulled at James' lips. "It wasn't real. You really need to lay off on those drinks, mate. Lily, Harry and I are safe here. And we'll be even safer once the Fidelius Charm is cast. No one will be able to find us."

Lily stepped forward and Sirius fought the urge to pull her into a hug and not let her go. Her long red hair spilled around her shoulders and in her arms Harry was reaching out for him.

"Pafoo!" Harry giggled.

"Harry…" Sirius stared at the small boy. He had got used to seeing Harry as a teenager, now for him to still be a baby was odd. He had yet to go through the horrors he would face. I won't let him have that future. Lily deposited Harry in Sirius' arms as was custom whenever he had visited their home. The green-eyed baby giggled as he pulled at Sirius' shirt.

"I swear my son loves you more than me," noted James with a hint of jealousy in his voice.

Sirius couldn't help but grin. He remembered it had been the standing joke between them. Harry had always preferred Sirius over his own father when he had the choice between them. If Sirius was there for Harry's bedtime or feeding time, Sirius would be the one chosen to help. "Sorry, Prongs." The name felt strange on his lips but he forced it down, realising that he couldn't waste this chance. "I can't help it if I'm a better father than you."

James glared but then he shook his head. "Anyway… Did you talk to Wormtail yet?"

"What?" Sirius stammered. Why would he want to say any words to that traitor?

"You did suggest he would be a better Secret Keeper since no one would expect him to be it…" Lily pointed out. "And you act as the decoy."

Anger erupted inside Sirius, an overwhelming hatred for the man that had destroyed everything. "No," he said fiercely. "Don't trust Pettigrew." There was such venom in his voice that James stepped back from him and Lily's mouth gaped open in shock.

"Sirius, are you saying Wormtail is a traitor?" asked Lily.

Damn it. Shouldn't have said that.

"No." I am. "I just don't trust him. He's always disappearing at odd times," explained Sirius, trying to remember what Pettigrew had been like in the lead up to Halloween 1981. "We can't trust anyone. No, I'm not going to ask him to be Secret Keeper."

"I'd rather it was you anyway," said James, placing a hand on Sirius' right shoulder. "You are my brother after all."

Sirius swallowed. "It can't be me either…" It hurt him to say this. He knew he would never betray his friends but the risk was always there that if he was caught Voldemort would find some way to break him and the people he loved would still die. If he really had been given a second chance to make things right then he was going to ensure that no one ever found James, Lily or Harry. Ever. "Dumbledore. Ask Dumbledore. He's offered, hasn't he?"

Lily bit her lip. "He did."

"Then take him up on his offer," urged Sirius. "He's your best choice. Voldemort is scared of him. And if I am caught I can't betray you. I wouldn't betray you even if I was your Secret Keeper but I can't risk Voldemort finding some way to get the location out of me."

"But you can't torture the location out of anyone," Lily pointed out. "It has to be given willingly…"

"And if I break I would," said Sirius stonily. "Whether Voldemort knows that about the charm I don't know… I can't take the risk…" He looked down at Harry who was snuggling into his chest, his little head pressed on his shoulder, slowly falling asleep in his arms. "James… Lily… Please… use Dumbledore."

James swallowed after casting his wife a meaningful glance. "Ok. I trust you. If you say to use Dumbledore then we will."

Sirius breathed out a sigh of relief. "Thank you." He hoisted Harry in his arms and then handed him to James. "Time to go back to daddy, Pronglet!"

Lily chuckled. "Harry's going to grow up thinking his name is Pronglet if you keep calling him that!"

"Pafoo! No!" cried Harry, upset having been pulled away from the comfy space on Sirius' shoulder.

"Would fawn be better?" grinned Sirius. It felt good to joke with his friends. Even after he and Remus had reunited, the laugher and the jokes had been gone between them. They were old and serious, having never been able to restore the old friendship they had once shared. Now he had a chance to restore it.

Lily rolled her eyes and swatted Sirius on his left shoulder. "Stop it."

James hoisted Harry onto the crook of his arm, holding him securely in place with the other hand. "Are you going to tell Dumbledore for us? He would rather we didn't leave the safety of his wards if we don't need to."

Sirius didn't hesitate to answer. "'Course. I need to see him anyway." Which was true. The one mistake he had made previously was to never tell Dumbledore who the true Secret Keeper was. It had been Dumbledore's evidence against Sirius which had sealed his fate in the eyes of the Ministry to not grant him a trial. And Dumbledore thought he was the traitor anyway and Sirius needed Dumbledore on his side if he was going to actively prevent James and Lily's deaths and Harry's fate as the Chosen One. He couldn't take back the prophecy but he could nullify it, ensure that Voldemort would never see either Harry Potter or Neville Longbottom as a threat.

"Why do you need to see him for?" asked James.

Sirius almost swore but stopped himself. He and James had always shared everything. But coming back from the dead in a younger body wasn't something he could share with his best friend. James would be liable to think he had been drinking too much and his brain had been frazzled. "I… err… just need to talk to him." He couldn't even think of a good excuse.

"Padfoot… are you okay?" James asked, concern washing over his features. Naturally James Potter would pick up on his lack of openness.

"Yes, I'm fine. Look, Prongs, I can't say why I need to see him. The less you know the better." Which was true. James would be safer if he didn't know where Sirius was from. If anyone found out other than who Sirius was planning to tell the consequences could be severe…

James frowned. "You've never been this secretive before…"

Sirius rubbed a weary hand down his face. "I know. Just… trust me, alright?"

"I won't ever stop trusting you, Padfoot," James replied strongly.

Sirius breathed out in relief. "Thank you." He began to turn away. "I'll see you soon, okay?"

"Be careful," said Lily.

Sirius smiled gently. "I will."

"Pafoo bye!" Harry giggled.

Sirius reached out and ruffled the black hair on the boy's head. "Bye Harry."

Stepping back out of the cottage, Sirius closed the door behind him, walked to the end of the path and back out into the street. He looked over his shoulder and saw Harry waving at him from the living room window, held in his father's arms. He returned the wave, took a deep breath and Apparated.

Apparating to Hogsmeade, Sirius slipped into Hogwarts via the secret passageway from Honeydukes cellar. He tried to ignore the thoughts that were running through his brain, trying to concentrate on what he was doing.

James and Lily are alive.

I'm in the past.

I can change this.

They are alive!

But it was difficult to ignore. He had tried to be normal with James and Lily yet he knew he had failed to do so. James' suspicions had been aroused. He wouldn't be able to keep his secret for long. But right now, no matter how much he had despised Dumbledore for his own instructions to stay within the confines of Grimmauld Place, Sirius knew he had to trust the headmaster this time round. He wouldn't be able to do this without Albus Dumbledore.

And Dumbledore had the uncanny ability to read people.

He would know Sirius wasn't right.

Shifting into Padfoot, Sirius used his paws to clamber up the chute that led up to the statue of the One-Eyed Witch. Going back into human form, Sirius gripped the handles on the sides of the wall, fumbling for his wand before muttering, "Dissendium!" which opened the hump of the statue and allowing him to climb out and into the third floor corridor. Thankfully no one was around to witness his appearance and Sirius quickly made his way towards the Headmasters office which was only a short distance from the chute into Hogsmeade.

Standing in front of the gargoyle that guarded the entrance, Sirius realised he didn't know the password. "Damn." His only option was to attempt to guess it and hope he picked correctly. If he remembered correctly, during his time as a student the password had always been a type of wizarding sweet. Perhaps it still would be?

"I don't have the time to go through a list of-" he started to mutter under his breath.

"Sirius Black?"

Sirius whirled and saw to his surprise the Headmaster standing behind him.

"I am surprised to see you here, Black," said Dumbledore, with a hint of suspicion in his voice.

Sirius frowned. He remembered in the months leading up to James and Lily's deaths Dumbledore had started to call him by the name of 'Black' as well as have a certain tone to his voice, as if to warn Sirius that he suspected his duplicity. In fact the Headmaster had rarely seen him, choosing to avoid him, cement in his belief that Sirius was the traitor to the Order. He felt anger rush through him but Sirius fought to control it.

"I'm here to see you to prove to you I am not your traitor that you seem to believe I am!" he stated, finding it difficult to keep the accusatory tone out of his voice.

"I think this is a discussion better served to continue within the confines of my office," explained Dumbledore quietly.

Sirius folded his arms across his chest, stepping away from the gargoyle. "By all means."

The Headmaster spoke the password – Pixie Puffs – and motioned for Sirius to step onto the slowly revolving staircase as it moved upwards. Dumbledore swiftly followed and Sirius could see the old man was not letting him out of his sight for even a second.

Sirius could understand why the Headmaster had suspected him as the traitor. Dumbledore had explained it to him when he had come to see Sirius before his execution by Dementor's Kiss was due. It had been Dumbledore who had orchestrated Sirius' rescue from his fate because of what Sirius had said. The Headmaster had been apologetic that he had ever suspected Sirius, stating that it was the Black family's tie to the dark side that had swayed his decision. He had assumed Sirius would have joined them in the gathering darkness that had been rapidly falling on their world.

The stairs stopped revolving and Dumbledore flicked his wand to open the door now facing Sirius. Stepping through the door in to the circular office, Sirius stepped up to the desk and sat down in the chair facing the Headmaster's chair, which Dumbledore stood in front of. Various possessions lay scattered around the office and portraits of previous Headmaster's hung on the walls and a large collection of books in several bookcases were scattered along the office walls.

Sirius sighed and took out his wand before placing it on the desk in front of his old headmaster. "There. Happy? I'm defenceless."

"A Black is never defenceless," noted Dumbledore. "But your courtesy is noted."

It was an oddly formal exchange.

I have to break the ice.

"Pettigrew is a Death Eater." Better out then in.

"How do you know that?" asked Dumbledore, trying not to look surprised by the information.

"Pettigrew has the Dark Mark burned into his left arm. I do not have the Mark," he demonstrated by rolling up his own sleeves and showing the Headmaster both of his bare forearms. "Though I know what you are thinking. One doesn't have to be a Death Eater to be a purveyor of information. But I wouldn't be sitting here without a wand or even telling you about Pettigrew if I were a servant of Voldemort, would I?"

The Headmaster's face seemed to have changed, his expression softening only slightly by Sirius' words. "Perhaps you wouldn't," the old man acquiesced.

Sirius bit his lip. He had to take the risk. "Read my mind. Use Legilimency on me."

"Why should I? There are ways to fool a Legilimens and prevent them reading one's mind," stated Dumbledore. "If I am correct, are not all Pure-blood heirs trained in the art of Occlumency?"

Sirius swallowed. "They are. However I will not hinder you. As a Legilimens yourself you would know when Occlumency is being used to counter your efforts. What I need to show you is better seen than not. We can speak of it after."

Dumbledore hesitated but finally spoke after what Sirius assumed had been an internal struggle. "I suppose if I read your mind it would answer why you look young yet your eyes have a haunted look to them, suggesting you have faced horrors I cannot imagine and you are a lot older then you seem to be?"

Dipping his head in response, Sirius acknowledged Dumbledore's theory. "Perhaps. I have to save James and Lily," he whispered. Grief suddenly washed over him. "I can't fail them again. I can't – I won't – let Harry be the boy of destiny." He let his shields drop, recognising as Dumbledore attempted to get through them.

It was the only way. He had to get Dumbledore on his side.

Upon seeing Sirius Black standing outside his office, Dumbledore had had a sense of foreboding echo over him. Ever since his spies had told him there was a traitor close to the Potters, the Headmaster's suspicions had fallen upon the Black heir. He, after all, had the most to lose if he did not join the dark side. Dumbledore had convinced himself Sirius Black would have seen sense in reuniting with the family he had parted from as a teenager and was the spy passing information to Voldemort about the Potters.

Yet there was something different about the Sirius Black in front of him right now. His eyes were older, as if he had lived through horrors one could scarcely believe. The eyes were full of guilt and remorse and they had lost the youthful glow that been there only a few months ago when he had last seen Sirius Black.

Now the young man he believed to be a traitor had willingly allowed him into his mind. Sure there were ways to prevent a Legilimens from invading but once inside a mind it was impossible to alter what the Legilimens saw. They would only see the truth. He could feel the edges of Black's defences, knowing that they had been pulled down to allow him access to memories.

The first memory that came to mind surprised the Headmaster.

It was of a messy-haired teenage boy, the exact image of James Potter, save for the green eyes. Standing beside this boy was a much older Sirius Black, his hair long and down his back. They seemed to be talking in front of a tapestry in a house, discussing the Black family tree.

Then the memory changed to the Sirius Black Dumbledore knew today, asking Peter Pettigrew to be the Secret Keeper for James and Lily. The smaller man agreed and Dumbledore watched as the next memory showed Lily Potter performing the charm before Pettigrew gave the location to Sirius.

More memories swirled by: he saw the remains of James and Lily's house, their bodies on the floor and a tiny baby with a scar on his forehead in the arms of Hagrid; witnessed Sirius' attempts to find Pettigrew only to be outsmarted and sent to Azkaban without a trial. He saw the long years Sirius had spent in prison before his escape where he attempted to hunt down Pettigrew, only to encounter a teenaged Harry Potter before needed rescuing himself from Dementors.

Dumbledore paused in rifling through Sirius' memories. This was impossible. Sirius Black – this version of him – seemed to have come back in time. It was the only explanation as to why the man seemed different. Of course he knew now that his suspicions of Black proved to be unfounded and he was wrong to suspect him as a traitor.

The memories washed by him until he saw an older Sirius fall through the Veil in the Department of Mysteries before he abruptly woke up back in his flat in this time. But something had caught his eye as he had seen Sirius fall through the Veil. Upon closer inspection Dumbledore found a blocked memory that Sirius would not remember himself and could not access, however an accomplished Legilimens could. As he broke through the barriers protecting this memory Dumbledore found himself floating in darkness, watching as a dead Sirius Black fell between the land of the living and the land of the dead. Then two shapes appeared next to the dead man: James and Lily Potter. Three words echoed around the falling body. Make it right.

And Dumbledore knew why Sirius Black had been sent back in time.

Carefully he rebuilt the barriers protecting this memory. There was a reason it was separated from the rest of the memories Dumbledore had seen and he wondered if the young man was aware of the memories existence. For now he would keep that particular memory quiet unless Sirius brought it up himself. It was likely unimportant, just the catalyst which had enabled Sirius' older consciousness to transport back in time to his younger body.

Dumbledore released Sirius' mind and sat back in his chair, waiting as the younger man recovered from the intrusion into his mind.

Finally, Sirius blinked and opened his eyes. "Have fun in my head?" he cracked, trying to joke.

"You were employing Occlumency against me, weren't you?" clarified Dumbledore.

Sirius shrugged. "I didn't want to relieve the memories you were going to see. I used a form of Occlumency to protect myself. I didn't see what you saw but I assume it is sufficient for you to start trusting me?"

Dumbledore smiled sadly. Oh it was more than enough. It saddened him that one of his former pupils had led such a horrible life. "It is. I am truly sorry for doubting you."

"I can't change that you did suspect me but at least…" Sirius swallowed, "I can stop the future I come from occurring."

"You can. I know why you came to me. You want my help. And I will gladly give it to you," smiled Dumbledore.

"Just like that?" Sirius raised one eyebrow in surprise.

The Headmaster's eyes twinkled as he put his hands together. "Yes. But I do have some questions about what I have deduced from you mind. Events you need to fill in for me. Only when I have the full facts can we form a plan and work together to ensure everything is made right."

Sirius grinned. "Where do you want to start?"

To be continued...

Please let me know what you think!

I think it would be natural for Sirius to go and check on James and Lily and his reaction upon seeing them I think is in character for him. He would break down, babble a bit before composing himself and trying to fit in. Also, Harry loves his 'Pafoo'.

Sirius and Dumbledore... well that was a difficult scene to write. At this point in the original timeline Dumbledore suspected Sirius as the traitor to the Potters so I think it is reasonable he would be cold towards him and distrustful and try to keep his distance. However delving into Sirius' mind has given Dumbledore the information he needs to no longer suspect Sirius and start working with him. I knew it was important for Dumbledore to either see Sirius' memories or to look into his mind. I think looking into his mind is the easier option in this case. Also, Sirius was blocking himself from seeing his own memories - he didn't wish to relieve them, whilst giving Dumbledore access to his mind. However Dumbledore doesn't have the full details of everything - the conversation begun in this chapter will continue in Chapter Three.

And the memory Dumbledore encountered of Sirius falling in darkness which is from the Prologue is something Sirius does not remember. He is not aware of being in darkness or seeing the spirits of James and Lily. This may or may not be important. Sirius knows he died but the last thing he directly remembers before waking up in the past is falling through the Veil during the battle at the Department of Mysteries.

The next chapter will be posted next week...

Until then,

the-writer1988