A/N) Slightly shorter chapter this time but the next one will be longer...

Twisting Time

Chapter Five

His fingers had only just grasped his wand when the door flew open. Sirius' reflexes screamed at him to move. Scrambling away and getting himself into an awkward roll, he came up behind the chair, wand held tightly in his right hand and his eyes narrowing in on the five Death Eaters that crowded through his door.

Before they could even zero their wands in on him, Sirius pointed his wand at the lead Death Eater and sent the reducto curse non-verbally towards his masked intruders. The spell hit the chest of the leading attacker and it sent him flying back. The momentum sent two others behind him back out of the door as well, hitting the wall in the hallway.

With a quick wave of his wand, Sirius hastily reconstructed his wards so they couldn't get back in easily though he knew they would break them down quickly with the right spells. He didn't have the time to intricately design them. He just needed to stop them, giving himself time to escape. His spell work was shoddy, having only been in this situation once recently and that had been when he had died and been sent back.

He had to be careful to avoid the same fate. He doubted he would be given the same chance again.

Sirius swivelled, avoiding a stunning spell, pointing his wand at the Death Eater to the right and sent his own stunner at them. He dived as the spell bounded back at them having impacted against a shield his opponent had erected just in time. He snarled, leapt back and then ducked as the chair he had been hiding behind blasted back towards him. It flew over his head and impacted against the living room wall. He was lucky he had dived low enough for it to swing over his head.

He rolled away as another curse came towards him.

He could try to Apparate out… All his wards had been broken down which meant he just might –

"Anti-Apparation wards, Black! You can't escape us!"

Sirius glared. He had tried but his magic wouldn't respond, informing him the Death Eaters had thought ahead and erected wards to stop people from leaving. There were two options left to him at this point: fight them and bring their wards down or try to jump out of the window and Apparate in mid-air before he hit the ground. The second option was the one Sirius didn't really want to try but the first option was rapidly becoming impossible as the ward he had erected over his front door fell and the other three Death Eaters surged back into his flat.

He did have an idea… but it would put others at risk, especially the Muggles in the flats around, above and below him…

I have to take the risk. Otherwise…

The disarming spell flew past his ear, inches from hitting him. Sirius swallowed, waving his wand back and zeroing in on two of the Death Eaters who seemed to be backing each other up. Sirius glared then snarled a curse, the yellow jet of light hitting both. They slumped. He'd used a curse that would keep them blind for at least ten minutes unless one of their colleagues could perform the counter curse…

Then he swivelled his wand arm and pointed at the fire alarm on his wall, setting it off, which in turn set off the whole building's alarm. It was a linked system. Sirius knew he had a few minutes before he could attempt option B. He had to give the Muggles living here time to get out. He hated having to intentionally destroy a Muggle building, thereby ruining the homes of the people around him but he had no other choice.

It was either do this or be captured and Sirius was not going to let that happen.

"The alarm isn't going to save you!" crowed one of the Death Eaters whom Sirius recognised to be Rabastan Lestrange, the brother-in-law to his crazy cousin.

Due to Voldemort not being defeated by little Harry Potter on Halloween, the attacks on the Longbottom family had not yet occurred. They remained safe. So far his efforts had wrought changes to the timeline ensuring two families remained whole instead of fractured.

"It doesn't need to save me!" he bellowed back.

"What do you hope to achieve?" drawled a very familiar voice. "We have you cornered!"

"You may be right about that Malfoy!" Sirius shouted back. "But I'm a Black! You should expect the unexpected!"

"You are not a Black!" shouted Avery. "You are just a blood-traitor!"

A grim smile crossed Sirius' face. "Maybe to you but not to others." He had decided. He couldn't hesitate or wait any longer. Pointing his wand at the wooden table to the right of where Malfoy stood, Sirius shouted: "Incendio!"

The table blew into flames. Malfoy leapt to the side as the orange flames licked his robes, cursing as the flames quickly spread directing the attention of the Death Eaters.

Twisting on the balls of his feet, Sirius ran towards his bedroom door, fleeing through it, hearing the shouts of Malfoy to forget the fire and to get Black, before blasting the glass in the window before launching himself out of it.

He turned in mid-air as he fell, thinking of a random destination as he felt himself slide seamlessly into Apparition. The last thing his eyes saw as he fled was Lucius Malfoy peering down at him from his bedroom window.

And then Sirius was gone.

He landed on his side awkwardly in the middle of a forest. Shifting into Padfoot, he ran for about a mile before turning back to human form and Apparating away again, this time to a graveyard in Wales before shifting again and heading out of the small Muggle village before finally Apparating to Hogsmeade where he slipped into the grounds with ease via the Haunted House.

He met the Headmaster halfway across the grounds.

"How did you know I was-?" began Sirius but the Headmaster cut him off.

"Tracking spell," replied Dumbledore. "Forgive me but I placed you under one to ensure your safety and if anything was to happen to you I'd be able to reach you."

"You could have told me you'd done that," noted Sirius. "I don't like being kept in the dark."

"We all have our secrets, Sirius," said Dumbledore wisely. "And if you were captured we would have a better chance of retrieving you." He stopped beside Sirius. "You need a new hiding place."

Sirius scowled. "They really think I'm the Secret Keeper?"

Dumbledore ushered him back. "They do. It appears the traitor mistakenly believes you to be and passed that information to Voldemort."

"Wormtail…" Sirius grated. "He did know who James wanted to ask to be Secret Keeper… This isn't how I wanted things to go."

"You have saved them, Sirius," Dumbledore pointed out. "They cannot be found."

"I know but I want them to enjoy their lives rather than live in fear," sighed Sirius. "If only we could –" His eyes widened. "The notes! I've been making notes about our plans! They're back at the flat! If they go through my stuff they'll find them…"

A cold wind brushed past them. Sirius shivered. He'd made a huge error.

"Sirius… Nothing is lost."

"But…"

Dumbledore laid a hand on Sirius' shoulder. "Go to my office. I will meet you there."

Sirius looked at him curiously. "You're going to get them?"

"Yes," he replied. "Even if the papers are gone we can still improvise."

Sirius bit his lip. He wasn't sure. He had made extensive notes on his plan to trap Voldemort. One of his notes had mentioned purposefully giving Pettigrew his location to betray him. If they had seen the notes… He rubbed a weary hand down his face.

"Go. I won't be too long."

There wasn't anything he could do but to follow the Headmaster's instructions. He hoped he hadn't screwed up that badly.

A silver phoenix patronus flew into the cottage at Godric's Hollow. James looked up as the silver bird settled on the back of the chair. Dumbledore's voice erupted from the beak. "Sirius was attacked by Death Eaters. He is safely at Hogwarts." The bird vanished.

"James?" Lily called from the other room where she was playing with Harry. "What was that?"

"It was Dumbledore's patronus. He was just telling me Sirius was attacked but he's fine," he replied, picking up the sandwich he had been making and walking into the living room. "I think my heart nearly came out of my chest when he said Sirius' name."

Lily brushed red hair behind her ear as Harry reached to grab hold of the strands. He seemed to like tugging on her hair whenever he could reach it. "He will be fine, James."

James bit his lip, worrying fluttering across his face. "Yeah but him getting attacked means they think he is Secret Keeper. Maybe if it was known he wasn't Secret Keeper then he wouldn't be hunted."

Lily frowned. "I think he still would be. Voldemort might hope capturing Sirius would lure us out. Everyone knows how close you two are. I know you wouldn't go and rescue him because of us but they don't know that. For as long as Voldemort wants to kill Harry, will be as long as Sirius is in danger for." She sighed and picked up Harry's stuffed Padfoot toy.

"Pafoo!" the little boy cried happily. "Woof! Woof!"

James smiled at his son. "I don't know what Padfoot has done to get his admiration so much."

Lily chuckled. "I think he just has a way with kids… And he can become a dog. Harry loves that."

"But I can be a stag!" retorted James.

"Stags aren't child friendly," replied Lily teasingly. "Besides each time you've transformed, Harry has always wanted Padfoot. Face it, James, your son loves his godfather more!"

James frowned. "I think when this is over I'm going to have to restrict Padfoot's access to our son. I don't want him usurping me as Harry's favourite adult."

"You won't ever be his favourite adult," teased Lily, her green eyes sparkling.

"Hey!"

"A mother always has a special place in a child's heart," she poked her tongue out.

"Fine," huffed James, "I'll be his favourite adult male then!"

Lily laughed. "I think Sirius has already taken that spot."

"Take his side then," replied James, leaning back into the chair.

"You know I'm always on Sirius' side," she continued.

"I'm your husband!"

"That doesn't mean I have to always agree with you," she added pointedly.

James rolled his eyes. "Great. My own wife turns against me in favour of my best friend. First my son then my wife, who's next? Moony?"

Dumbledore arrived in his office thirty minutes after Sirius had made his way there. In his hands were a stack of papers. "They were still there. I do not believe they went through your belongings."

Sirius reached for the papers, eyeing them carefully. "Or they put them back where they found them just in case I came back for them."

"I think they would have taken them with them if they had seen what they truly were," noted Dumbledore as he sat behind his desk.

He looked through the papers making sure every piece he had written was still there. He was relieved to find nothing missing. "All there but we can't rule them out copying them. Where did you find them?"

"Half the flat was burnt to a crisp. You set fire to a Muggle building?" answered Dumbledore, ignoring Sirius' question.

"I had no choice," replied Sirius. "I'm just glad my charms worked to protect these. Imperturbable charm. Where were they?"

"Scattered all over the floor. I assume in the struggle they all scattered?"

"They did."

"I think once you set the fire going they quickly left and have not yet returned. The Muggle fire service was still there when I arrived. Naturally I used a disillusion charm to get past them and to enter your flat. I did have to use a bit of magic to encourage the Muggles to leave so I could get into your ruined flat," explained Dumbledore. "I'm sure the Ministry will be getting involved since magic was detected in the area however there investigation will not reveal who was in the area at the time."

Sirius leaned back in his chair. "What is our plan now? Wherever I hide I'm sure they will find me."

"I know. It is that which worries me. The only alternative I can think of is you remain here for the duration, however if you do not go into hiding and Voldemort learns of your existence here then he will find it suspicious when rumour reaches him of you hiding in Godric's Hollow when it is time for us to lure him in. He will be extra suspicious. Therefore there is only one other option to us," said Dumbledore carefully.

Sirius swallowed. "What?" He had a feeling what his former Headmaster was referring to.

"You go on the run."

"Right. So I just travel to different destinations each day and hope I can stay several steps ahead of them?" asked Sirius. It was a sound idea and probably the only way he would be kept safe.

"That is correct."

"Great. Still… I suppose it would mean I can stay one step ahead… And I could keep on planning what I need to do," Sirius said thoughtfully. "Though one problem. The books you gave me to research old spells are still at my flat."

"Ah, no they are not," smiled Dumbledore, reaching into his robes and extracting a bundle of books that had been shrunk. "Some have been ruined by the fire but most did already have protections upon them. You should still be able to find aspects of them useful."

Sirius gratefully took the shrunk package.

"How much longer do you think you need?"

Sirius bit his lip. "It's just mastering these spells. Every piece of magic that is performed at our chosen location needs to be layered by me. If Voldemort suspects your magical signature he will panic… So…"

"I see what you mean, Sirius, however I do not think we can put off our plan much longer," Dumbledore pointed out. "It won't be long until Voldemort comes after you himself. We have to be ready for him by then."

"I know…" swallowed Sirius. "But I need to learn these spells…"

"You will. I have absolute faith in you," said Dumbledore. "You have a determination within you that will enable your success. You are fighting for Harry. Keep at it and you will be rewarded." He placed his hands on his desk. "Now, you may stay in the Castle tonight but tomorrow you will have to leave. I strongly suggest you camp out and move every day. We must be implanting this plan before the year is out. We will use Patronuses for communication and only when it is absolutely imperative we speak to one another."

Sirius narrowed his eyes. "You have a tracking charm on me at all times. You know where I will be."

"Nevertheless we still need to remain in contact in some way. If I am seen leaving Hogwarts I can be traced by Death Eaters. I am not infallible," the older man pointed out sagely.

Sirius smirked, crossing his arms over his chest. "Could have fooled me."

Sirius successfully went into hiding the next day, travelling day to day to a new destination before erecting a tent and placing protective spells around him. During the day he continued to research and practice the spells he needed to use against Voldemort. The problem was he didn't know if they were working that well because he had no one to test the spells with. He did know he felt more powerful when he felt his magic vibrating through him and he had some semblance of control.

He couldn't be sure if he was doing it correctly but the only way he could test his theory was to face Voldemort.

As the days grew colder and darker quicker, Sirius continued his isolation. He kept reminding himself this was for Harry and for James and Lily, both of whom had lived longer lives then the timeline Sirius had originally come from.

As it neared the end of November, Sirius felt more confident in his abilities and decided he couldn't keep hiding. Sending off his Patronus with a message to Dumbledore, he waited for the Phoenix to arrive with his next orders.

Sunday 6th December 1981

Peter trembled in his Lord's presence.

"What do you mean you don't know where he is?"

"My Lord… Si…irus has gone into hiding… I don't know where! You know I'd tell you if I knew!" he stammered.

"Worthless!" raged Voldemort, anger stirring in his eyes as Peter flinched back. "You are supposed to be in on the secrets, Pettigrew! How am I supposed to kill Potter if I cannot reach Black?"

"Sirius has always been good at hiding…" shuddered Peter, eyeing the wand pointing at his face.

"You have one more chance to find out his location before I make it my business to find him myself. Mark my words Pettigrew, if you fail me once again I will kill you."

"Yes…. Yes… Master…" Pettigrew cowed before his Lord. He stumbled away from him.

"Good," the evil eyes glinted as Peter Pettigrew rushed away.

"It seems we are just in time," said Dumbledore, once more facing Sirius behind his desk. "My spy informs me Voldemort has given Peter Pettigrew an ultimatum. To find out where you are or he will kill him… If Pettigrew fails Voldemort will hunt you himself."

"Good timing," mused Sirius, stroking his chin. He didn't feel ready but time rapidly was running out. He'd spent longer in hiding then he had wished to but he'd had no choice.

"What do you suggest?" enquired Dumbledore.

"Since Voldemort is desperate to find me, then the best option is to make Pettigrew my Secret Keeper. That way Voldemort will come after me on his own and not with anyone else. Unless Peter tells them as well but I get the feeling Voldemort will come himself… He did when he killed James and Lily originally. He'd be confident he could capture me himself," said Sirius. "Therefore I have to talk to Peter without trying to kill him… Something I'm not looking forward to."

"Well… You could have me perform the charm that makes Pettigrew your Secret Keeper. That way I am also in on the secret of your location. You will need me there when Voldemort faces you even if we do successfully capture him… or stall him," explained Dumbledore. "Do you feel you can point your wand at him and use the killing curse?"

"Yes," replied Sirius darkly. He had to. It may hurt his soul but he was ready and willing to do so to protect those he loved. "It has to be me…" He'd been sent back for a reason. If it wasn't to stop Voldemort and save his friends then why had he been?

"Very well," Dumbledore inclined his head in a gesture of respect. "Shall we begin constructing our final plan?"

To be continued...

Please let me know what you think! Thank you for the comments!

I thought this was a good place to stop as it means the next chapter is going to focus heavily on Sirius' plan and may have the confrontation as part of it.

I do love writing James and Lily's banter.

The spells Sirius is learning are old ones so I figured he would need time to master them. Which is why he hasn't gone straight into executing his plan quickly and has waited over a month since being in 1981 to follow it through.

The next chapter will be posted next week...

Until then,

the-writer1988