Hello! I apologise for not being able to update on Monday but I didn't think I would be able to. As I was working yesterday night till late I was unable to update then either but it is finally here... the next chapter... which I actually finished late last night!

Twisting Time

Chapter Fourteen

Saturday 3rd May 1986

Sirius hadn't been expecting to visit Lily and James so soon after leaving their home once Harry had let him go. Even when the boy had woken up he hadn't wanted his godfather to leave him alone. Sirius felt guilty Harry was attached to him in more ways than one and he wished he could explain why this bond existed but he couldn't. He knew it had something to do with his death through the Veil but what was the purpose of them having it?

They sat in the lounge at the Potter's cottage whilst Harry slept upstairs. Remus hadn't told Sirius what he had learned yet as the werewolf had figured it would be beneficial if Lily and James were there at the same time. At least that way he was spared having to repeat his discovery twice. They had waited until evening the following day after Harry had gone to bed. The boy was recovering from his ordeal though it had taken Lily and James a while to settle him down. Consequently Lily was using sensory charms to keep an eye upon her child. They hoped the experience Harry had suffered only the day before wouldn't scar him too much.

Lily and James sat together on the sofa, holding each other's hands, whilst Sirius sat in a chair to the right of them and Remus on the chair opposite the married couple.

James fidgeted. "So… why did you want us to get together so quickly? You mentioned about a discovery Remus had come across?"

Sirius nodded and clasped his hands together. "I told you both about Horcruxes and that we are aware Voldemort created at least one of them?" He needed clarification they remembered – it was important his friends had retained the knowledge.

"You did," Lily confirmed. "But you didn't explain how you found it."

"My brother, Regulus, did. It was the reason he died. Kreacher… our old family house-elf said so," explained Sirius. "He died a hero… trying to destroy a Horcrux. I don't know where he found it but I doubt Voldemort would hide two in the same place otherwise Regulus would have found them both. But the reason Remus and I have called you here today is because we have finally found the information we've been looking for."

"And what's that?" James enquired.

Remus smiled. "It is the knowledge of how to destroy a Horcrux." From a bag at his feet he extracted a thick book bound in black leather that had faded. "We've searched for months for any information on the subject but books on the subject matter are scarce. There are books that do mention them however nothing that explains how they are created or how to destroy them."

Lily nodded. "It is understandable. Horcruxes are banned. They are the most despicable objects ever created. It doesn't surprise me there are not many books which go in to detail about them."

"Which has made it difficult to find a solution to destroying the one I have," said Sirius. "But this book has all the answers."

Remus cleared his throat. "Horcruxes are created by the most evil of magic. The intention to kill and going through with it rips the soul thereby splitting it, allowing one to encase the ripped soul in a container to keep it safe. It makes them immortal unless all Horcruxes are destroyed." Remus flicked a page open of the book. "Destroying them is difficult because the creator will ensure the casings the piece of soul are in are heavily protected but there are only a few ways to destroy them but they are all equally dangerous."

"Things are never simple are they?" intoned James, grimacing.

Remus chuckled. "No. They seized being simple when we realised life isn't like how we perceive it to be as kids." His face sobered. "Simple spells will never destroy Horcruxes. It has to be something so destructive they cannot repair themselves. This limits our options." He ran a hand through his brown-grey hair. "If a Horcrux is stored in a living vessel then the killing curse would be the best option to take. However in other type of objects there are only two ways to destroy them. Fiendfyre and Basilisk venom."

Silence fell between them as they contemplated the information bestowed upon them. Sirius was the first to speak. "Fiendfyre is incredibly difficult to control. I doubt my own ability… Lily?" He knew she was good at charms.

The red-haired beauty shook her head. "No. I would be wary of using it just in case I couldn't control it. I may be good with a lot of charms but dark magic? That isn't my forte."

"Me neither," said James. "I'm not stupid enough to cast it either. It is too dangerous." He ran a hand through his black hair. "I would advise against using that particular method to destroy Horcruxes."

Remus frowned. "There is a charm which does cease the flames but we wouldn't be able to stop the fire. It would have to die out on its own."

"I think Fiendfyre is out of the question," said Sirius. "None of us have the confidence in casting it or controlling it. We cannot use it as a method against Horcruxes."

"Dumbledore would know how to cast and control it," noted Remus. "He's powerful enough to have the expertise. We could –"

Sirius shook his head vehemently. "No. I'm not involving him in this." Perhaps he was being childish but he still held lingering resentment for the Headmaster. Yes, they had worked together when Sirius had first come to the past but he had needed his help. Defeating Voldemort wouldn't have happened without the Headmaster's aid. Yet he hadn't liked his continual insistence Harry still remained prophesised. At least for now the Headmaster was keeping his distance. But Sirius just didn't want to trust him with everything. He felt he should keep some things from him, providing of course his friends knew. Sirius wasn't going to be doing this alone. "I know at some point I will have to but for now I'd rather keep it between us."

The others would respect his opinion on the matter.

Lily frowned. "Which leaves us with Basilisk fangs. Where do you suppose we get some of those? Basilisk's are very rare… in fact one hasn't been seen in Britain for over a hundred years. They are a highly dangerous creature. I'm not sure obtaining fangs would be that easy."

Sirius grinned. "I know where to find one."

James's eyes boggled. "Why do I get the feeling this has something to do with your Harry?" he asked, referring to the child who had grown-up without parents.

"You assume correctly, Prongs," smirked Sirius. He stood from his chair and paced around the room before leaning back against the wall, one leg crossed in front of the other and his arms folded loosely across his chest. "Remember the stories about Slytherin's monster underneath Hogwarts?"

Remus scoffed. "That was just a story used to scare away Muggle-borns."

Sirius laughed. "It may have been but it is real. What is Slytherin famous for, other than his fascination with the dark arts?"

James frowned. "Snakes? He could talk to them?"

"Bingo," said Sirius. "So, the legend says that only one of Slytherin's blood can control the monster within the Chamber of Secrets. We know Voldemort is the last heir of his bloodline. And we know there were rumours of the Chamber being opened around fifty years ago when a certain Tom Riddle attended Hogwarts."

"What you are saying is the monster inside the Chamber of Secrets is a snake?" asked Lily. "Which would fit with it being a monster only Slytherin or one of his blood could control. So he would have to be a Parselmouth?"

Sirius nodded, encouraging Lily to continue with her train of thought.

"You seem adamant you can get your hands on Basilisk fangs quite easily therefore it stands to reason the monster inside the Chamber of Secrets is a Basilisk," finished Lily, her green eyes watching Sirius.

"Correct. The only problem we have is it is still alive. And getting to its location would be difficult because we need someone with the ability to speak Parseltongue. Does Harry speak it?" asked Sirius.

"Why would Harry speak Parseltongue?" asked James, surprised at his friend's question.

Sirius shrugged. "Because he could in my old timeline."

Lily gasped, her face going white and Remus frowned at the information, however James shook his head. "He's been around snakes with us and he has never spoken Parseltongue even when he has tried to speak to one."

"But then why could my Harry?" Sirius felt confused but when he glanced back at Lily's face he realised she had made an educated guess and he was slowly coming to the same conclusion… "He was a Horcrux… My Harry was a Horcrux… That was why he could speak to snakes and your Harry cannot!"

"Voldemort transferred some of his own powers to my son?" screeched Lily dangerously.

Sirius swallowed. "Yes." He decided not to tell them Harry and Voldemort could look into each other's minds. "I guess it makes sense… but if Harry was a Horcrux then at some point he would have had to die to mean the end of Voldemort…" Had Albus Dumbledore in his old timeline known of this? Had he realised Harry only had a limited time on this earth? "I never even thought Harry could be one himself… But it makes so much sense. And it explains why Harry doesn't speak Parseltongue now because it wasn't originally his. Hmm, I need to get into the Chamber of Secrets to kill the Basilisk to get some of its fangs. I was relying on Harry to be able to open the Chamber. You have to speak Parseltongue to get into it."

James bit his lips. "I'm assuming since you know of the existence of the Chamber of Secrets, you know where the entrance is?"

Sirius nodded.

"How do you know?" James queried.

"The Chamber of Secrets was opened again in Harry's second year. He told me about it when we managed to spend time together during the summer before his fifth year," explained Sirius, moving to sit back down again. "The Chamber was opened by Ginny Weasley who was under the control of a sixteen year old Tom Riddle."

"Erm, Padfoot, are you certain that is correct?" asked Remus. "Tom Riddle wouldn't be sixteen during Harry's second year."

Sirius ran a hand down his face. "Lucius Malfoy planted a diary Voldemort kept as a student in her things when the two families met in Diagon Alley before the year started. Ginny found the diary and started writing in it and she was met by an intelligent echo of Vold-" Sirius trailed off, his eyes glowing wide. "OF COURSE!" He stood up quickly, shock written across his face in surprise.

The others exchanged weary glances at Sirius' sudden jubilant turn.

"The diary Ginny had was a Horcrux! That's why Voldemort was able to possess her, that's why she was able to open the Chamber of Secrets despite not being a Parselmouth herself!"

James, Lily and Remus exchanged glances, looking uneasy at the new information.

"I guess that answers our question whether Voldemort has more than one Horcrux…" noted Remus. "He has at least two."

Sirius started to pace again, his heart pumping fast in his chest as his mind whirled over all the possibilities they had uncovered today. "If he has two he probably has more…" He was beginning to realise he would have to include the Headmaster. If anyone knew Voldemort it would be Albus Dumbledore.

Lily shuddered and James wrapped his arms around her. "I hate to think he could have so many out there. He killed a lot of people. If he has more than two Horcruxes how are we going to find them all?"

Sirius groaned as he realised the implications of what Lily was saying.

James leaned forward. "What I want to know is how Harry survived a Basilisk."

Sirius had known this was coming. "The Harry I knew was a very brave young man who was capable of extraordinary things. The Chamber of Secrets was located in a girl's bathroom, the entrance hidden within the sinks. You need Parseltongue to be able to open it and then to use it later on so getting in is going to be difficult. Since Harry isn't a Parselmouth in this time…"

"There isn't anyone we can ask to aid us," said Remus.

"This may be a silly suggestion but if the entrance of the Chamber of Secrets is in a bathroom then the Chamber would have to be connected by pipes…" James realised.

"Hermione discovered the Basilisk was getting around via the pipe network," confirmed Sirius, watching his best friend carefully.

"Then couldn't we just rip the sink out to get into the pipe that leads to the Chamber?" asked James. "We wouldn't need Parseltongue then."

"What about the bit further along the chamber which needs that ability?" asked Sirius. He had mentioned there were two instances his Harry had needed to use the ability he had got from Voldemort. They may be able to get down into the first part of the Chamber by removing the sink but they couldn't get through all the way to the inner Chamber unless... "It would take some work but maybe…"

"What are you thinking?" asked Remus, his eyes following Sirius as he began pacing again.

"I suppose we could always dig our way through or try to blast the wall down but that might cause the entire cavern to fall down around us and that isn't something I want to happen." Sirius sighed and closed his eyes. "I'm going to have to talk to Dumbledore."

Lily nodded. "I think it is better if you do. You seem to hold some lingering resentment from your old life… It is time for you to let it go and move on."

"Maybe…" Sirius conceded. He knew Dumbledore would need to know at some point but if he wanted to get in to the Chamber of Secrets he had to get the Headmaster's permission.

"But we still have the issue of killing the Basilisk and we all know if you look at it directly it kills you," stated James, folding his arms across his chest, staring at his best friend.

"Last time Harry killed the Basilisk by stabbing it with Gryffindor's sword through the head. He was lucky he succeeded. He nearly died. But Dumbledore's phoenix helped too and blinded the Basilisk so its stare could not kill and Harry wouldn't need to worry about staring into its face," explained Sirius.

Remus cleared his throat. "There is a solution to the Basilisk problem."

Sirius looked at his friend, watching carefully.

"Basilisks can be killed." Remus continued quietly. "The cry of a rooster is fatal to it. Therefore we would need to bring a rooster into the Castle and take it deep down into the Chamber to be able to kill it."

"But we can't force a rooster to cry for us. We would have to be lucky it chose to do it when we want it to," noted James. "Is it important to kill the Basilisk? Can we not get hold of the diary?"

Sirius shook his head. "No. The diary is currently in the possession of Lucius Malfoy however he will have it stored in a secure location so any raids on his property would not be able to locate it. However since Basilisk venom is a way to destroy Horcruxes and probably the safer option of the two known uses we do need to act on this. We would need to take both a rooster and the sword. If things follow the way they originally did, Lucius Malfoy should use the diary in Harry's second year… We can't take possession of the Horcrux until Lucius Malfoy plants it on an unwitting soul."

"But people could die if we wait…" whispered Lily, horrified at the very thought of young children being put in danger.

Sirius shook his head, a slight smile pulling at his lips. "Not if the Basilisk has already been dealt with. Lucius Malfoy would have no way of knowing the monster was destroyed. And I don't think he really knows what the diary does before he planted it in Ginny's things… From what I remember he hoped to discredit Arthur Weasley by having his daughter caught in the possession of a dark object which would lead to her expulsion and Arthur Weasley losing his job. Without the Basilisk no one will die. We would just need to extract the diary from Ginny's belongings."

"We have to remember," cautioned Lily, "that Lucius Malfoy may not do this. The timeline has changed, circumstances have altered. What brought him to attempt to incriminate the Weasley family before may not occur now because it isn't the same timeline."

"Personally you have a point," admitted Sirius wearily, "but I do believe he will try. I am intending to be at Hogwarts as a Professor during Harry's time there. Dumbledore is aware of this… I think if I am there, Lucius Malfoy may attempt to get rid of me. My own blood relatives have already tried. Malfoy knows he can get his hands on the Black family fortune if I die before my grandfather does. Arcturus died in nineteen-ninety-one in my original timeline so if he dies at the same point I should get full control of the Black family in nineteen-ninety-one."

"When are we going to go to Hogwarts then?" asked James.

"I need to talk to Dumbledore. I'm not sure he would like it if we turned up without his knowledge," admitted Sirius. "And if we can't kill the Basilisk the last thing I want to do is set it loose on a building full of children. I think he will suggest wait until the summer holidays which are only a few months away. It would be better for us and for the school."

"What about a cure for Petrification if one of us is unfortunate and we indirectly look at the Basilisk?" asked Remus. "We have to prepare for all eventualities."

Lily nodded. "There is a potion called the Mandrake Restorative Charm. It is a very advanced potion however I'm sure either Severus or myself could create it. It wouldn't be ready for a few months but it would be best to have the potion on the go just in case one of us is unlucky enough to be petrified."

"We will just have to be all extra careful not to look into its eyes directly," warned Sirius. "I get the impression this is going to be one very difficult task ahead of us." He didn't say it aloud but he did have a bad feeling about confronting the Basilisk and Sirius couldn't shake it off no matter how much he tried.

Tuesday 6th May 1986

Sirius had come alone to discuss his proposition of entering the Chamber of Secrets with the Headmaster. He felt he had to take the risk and come clean on a few things: perhaps he may be able to exchange information with him. Eventually he knew he would have to work alongside the Headmaster a lot more but it gratified him that presently he knew more about Voldemort's survival then Dumbledore probably suspected himself.

"What brings you here today, Sirius?" Dumbledore questioned him quietly, looking calm and serene behind his desk.

Sirius leaned forward in the chair and sighed. "I need to get into the Chamber of Secrets to retrieve Basilisk fangs to destroy Horcruxes with." There. Let it all out in one breath. He watched with amusement as Dumbledore's face went from calm to shock to horror to calm again. "Surprised you, haven't I?" he grinned, probably enjoying himself far too much. After much thinking Sirius had decided to open up about Horcruxes to Dumbledore. Informing the Headmaster might be beneficial for him. Dumbledore might have more information on them for Sirius to cultivate.

"You have…" chuckled Dumbledore. "I presume you have discovered Voldemort has Horcruxes?"

"You know?" Sirius asked uncertainly.

"Not for sure but it is a theory I have considered when trying to explain Voldemort's continual survival once his body was destroyed. You have, though, just confirmed it. You seem very certain he has them," noted Dumbledore, clasping his hands together in front of him.

Sirius grinned. He liked surprising Dumbledore. "We have deduced he has at least two. I have one of them in my possession already thanks to my brother. He died trying to retrieve it and destroy it. Kreacher gave it to me. Because I cannot destroy it I have had to keep it in a secure location. We have discovered Fiendfyre, or the killing curse, or Basilisk fangs with Basilisk venom can destroy them. Considering I know for a fact there is a Basilisk down in the Chamber of Secrets at this school it seems reasonable to attempt to kill it and take the fangs. None of us feel comfortable using Fiendfyre and Basilisk fangs are probably the better option."

"I would agree with that assessment, Sirius," said Dumbledore. "I can use Fiendfyre myself and control it…"

"Yet if you die before we have got them all then we are stuck."

Dumbledore nodded thoughtfully. "You believe there is the possibility of more than two?"

"I do. I just can't prove how many he may have," Sirius answered. He could see a long and difficult task ahead of him.

Dumbledore surprised him with an answer he was not expecting. "There was a teacher during his time at Hogwarts that Tom Riddle once went to for information. That Professor told me when he resigned he felt somewhat responsible for Tom Riddle's obsession with immortality and power. I believe it may be possible Tom Riddle asked this Professor about Horcruxes… I cannot prove it however, Horace Slughorn could have answers to what you are looking for."

"Slughorn, huh? He tried to collect me. I didn't let him," grinned Sirius.

"Yes… I remember several times Horace mentioned neither you nor James seemed interested in his little club. He couldn't understand why," chuckled Dumbledore. His face turned sombre. "I would suggest tracking down Slughorn. He has already refused to speak to me on several occasions. But for the Chamber of Secrets… Where is it?"

"The entrance is in a girl's bathroom. The one where Moaning Mytle haunts. It's beneath the sink, leads into a giant pipe down into the Chamber. My Harry discovered it and opened it." He wasn't going to tell Dumbledore about the diary or his guess it was another Horcrux. "It might be useful if we could borrow Gryffindor's Sword. Harry managed to call it to him originally and killed the Basilisk."

Dumbledore looked thoughtful and Sirius felt concern ripple through him as he wondered what his former Headmaster was considering now. "How old was Harry when he achieved this?"

"Twelve," Sirius answered wearily.

"Remarkable."

"Don't get any ideas!" Sirius snapped. "Harry is a normal boy. He is not getting involved this time!"

For once Dumbledore didn't mention about preparing Harry which Sirius was relived about though he still didn't like the sparkle in his former Headmaster's eyes.

Quickly Sirius moved the subject on. "I assume you would not appreciate us taking on a Basilisk whilst children are in the school."

"You have guessed correctly." Dumbledore clasped his hands together. "If you wish to enter the Chamber of Secrets then you may do so once the students have been sent home for the summer holidays. Can you wait a few months?"

Sirius nodded. He had expected this. He was happy to wait. He'd rather the students were not in the school anyway. "I can. I have something else I could be working on in the meantime."

"Oh, and what is that?" asked Dumbledore, one eyebrow rose as he watched the younger man in front of him.

"Do you know where the Gaunts lived? I know Voldemort's mother was from the Gaunt line but they were also very poor by the time she was born. They remained pure… until Voldemort. I'm trying to understand a bit more about Voldemort and being able to look around their ancestral home would be beneficial. I have looked for records but have not been able to find any," explained Sirius, brushing a hand through his hair.

"The Gaunt family have resided near to Little Hangleton for several generations now. The Riddle family owned a large house in the vicinity though it has since passed into new ownership. The Gaunt residence is within the area. I have never visited it myself but Hogwarts records show the Gaunt's location to be there, though it does not give an exact address. What is the reason you require this?"

"Well… it is more to do with Horcruxes. Voldemort obviously values his connection to Salazar Slytherin. The Horcrux I have is a locket which could have once belonged to Slytherin himself… Were there any other heirlooms from Slytherin?" queried Sirius. It was a long-shot but it might help him.

"There was a ring which Salazar Slytherin owned but I do not know what became of it. The Gaunts certainly inherited it but it disappeared when Voldemort's paternal family were mysteriously murdered," answered Dumbledore. "And the Gaunts were incarcerated for it in Azkaban."

"He killed them then," stated Sirius. "If the ring is a Horcrux then it could be hidden there. It would be his link to a Pure-blood family that could have been his if his mother had married and born a child of pure blood instead of Muggle blood. It is worth looking anyway."

"It would be. It might be beneficial if I accompany you…" began Dumbledore but Sirius cut him off sharply.

"No. James, Remus and Lily will be accompanying me." Though he hadn't actually asked them yet, he felt certain they would. "I'm not doing this alone. I appreciate the offer but I do not need you at this time."

Dumbledore almost looked disappointed but managed to conceal it by nodding his head in acceptance of Sirius's decision. "Then, all I can say is I wish you luck in your endeavours. I hope you succeed."

Sirius allowed a small smile to cross his face. He could at least be humble. "Thank you."

To be continued!

Please let me know what you think!

So... Sirius is Horcrux-hunting! And he's found a way to destroy them too... I didn't want to make either Sirius, James, Remus and Lily over-powered by having them to be able to control Fiendfyre... As far as I am aware it is a very difficult spell to control and though they are talented I don't think they would have been good at everything. Plus, needing to get Basilisk fangs are a lot more fun to write about then taking the easy route with FiendFyre.

I have planned out until Chapter 20 so far and there are quite a few exciting chapters coming up which involves what was discussed in this chapter. Providing of course I stick with my plan and though I sometimes do, more often than not I tend to deviate from it!

Since I am working next Tuesday evening as well I won't be able to update until Wednesday again. I hope to get back to updating on Tuesday's pretty soon!

Until then,

the-writer1988