A/N) Hello everyone! Whew it is really, really hot here in the UK! Hottest day of the year for us! Still... here is the next chapter... I haven't had much time to proof-read this one before posting so if there are any mistakes I do apologise! I will fix them but I wanted to keep to my update schedule!

Twisting Time

Chapter 24

Saturday 31st August 1991

BLACK TO TEACH MUGGLE STUDIES

It has been announced by Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, that the Wizarding World's hero, Sirius Black, is set to join the teaching profession as the new Muggle Studies Professor. Black will be responsible for educating young witches and wizards on the lives of Muggles and how they survive without magic. Black is highly qualified for the post as he has lived among Muggles for nearly ten years since his defeat of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.

Black was unavailable to comment however James Potter briefly issued a statement: "I am excited Sirius has decided to pass on his knowledge of the Muggle world to younger witches and wizards! Having lived amongst them for ten years will enable him to give first-hand experience of what it is like being a wizard in the Muggle world." Potter is married to Muggle-born witch, Lily Evans. Their eldest son, Harry, is due to begin his first year at Hogwarts tomorrow.

It was only a small mention in the Daily Prophet but still, the announcement he was to become a Professor grated on him. How he longed to be out of the papers but Sirius was smart enough to realise that no matter what he did, he would always be a fixture for the press.

Sunday 1st September 1991

Harry hadn't been able to sleep. He had been far too excited to finally be going to Hogwarts. He was up before everyone else in the house, eagerly sitting in the kitchen at the table, with one of his new books in front of him. Jack, his younger brother, who was only four years old, didn't really understand that Harry would be going away for a while. By the time Jack was old enough to start Hogwarts, Harry would have just finished his final year.

Harry flipped the page over, devouring the words on the page detailing the first year charms he would soon be learning with his brand new wand. Keeping it away from his younger brother had been a problem. Jack was at the stage where he wanted everything and that included other people's wands.

"Hey kiddo. Excited?"

Harry looked up and grinned. "Yeah! I'm finally going to Hogwarts, dad! I'm definitely gonna be a Gryffindor!" If there was one thing he really wanted to do and that was to follow in his parents footsteps. "That's where Neville is going to!"

His father laughed, his hazel eyes twinkling. "Not every child follows the family, Harry. Look at Sirius."

"But Sirius was the only sane one of his family, dad! He couldn't possibly be put in Slytherin!" Harry had been told this many times. He had been raised knowing the differences between good wizards and bad wizards and how some good wizards could originate from bad wizarding families. His father had always used Sirius as his example to illustrate his point.

His father sighed. "I sometimes regret always using your godfather as an example. It is true the Black family are utterly crazy…" He grinned. "I'm amazed Sirius got out of that home with any sanity left!" His father chuckled.

"But I'm like you and mum and Sirius! I'll be in Gryffindor." Harry was certain he would be. Where else would he go?

His dad shook his head, chuckling softly. "You remind me of me when I was your age…"

Harry grinned. "I am your son, dad!"

His father ruffled his hair causing Harry to pull away from him. "You may look like me, son, but you are more like your mother. Just don't take after me too much. I had far too many detentions at Hogwarts and it took years for your mother to like me."

Harry stared at his father. "You don't want me to have fun?"

His father laughed. "Of course I do! Just don't be a bully. Get on with everyone."

"Even Slytherin students?" asked Harry.

"Yes, definitely Slytherin students." His father had told him all about his rivalry with Snape.

"What if they don't want to get on with me?"

"Then either ignore them or only retaliate if they attack first. That was a lesson I should have learned early on. If I had your mother wouldn't have hated me so much," explained his father. "Just make friends and do well."

"I will. Neville and I will sit together on the train. If anyone wants to sit with us they are more than welcome to." Harry was certain he would make other friends though the worry was there that he wouldn't have any other friends beside from Neville. Though he counted the Weasley boys as friends he wasn't as close to them as he was to Neville. He was sure he would be sharing a dormitory with the youngest Weasley boy as they were the same age and would be in the same year.

His father chuckled. "Just don't do what I did."

Harry looked quizzically at his father. "What did you do?"

"Made me hate him, of course," smiled his mother as she walked into the kitchen with Jack following behind her. "Though I'm glad I did give him a chance…"

Redness appeared on his father's cheeks as his mother reached to ruffle his father's hair. "I turned out okay…"

"Not without a lot of help from me, Mr Potter…" his mother grinned, looking up at her husband.

Harry turned his head away, knowing what was coming. He knew he wouldn't miss this.

Jack waddled up to Harry, planting his small hands on his older brother's legs. His red-black hair wasn't messy like his father's, instead he had inherited his mother's locks and he had a few curls within it. He had also inherited his mother's facial features and he looked more like a male version of his mother. He did, however, have his father's hazel eyes, the only think Harry hadn't inherited from his father.

"They're kissing again," said Jack, pushing his bottom lip up in dismay.

Harry pulled a face.

"Oh, Harry, you won't be pulling a face when you fall in love for the first time," stated his father after he had pulled away from his mother.

"I'm never falling in love," stated Harry. He shuddered. The thought disgusted him. He pulled a face. He slid out of the chair, taking his brother's hand. "Come on, Jack, you can help me pack!"

Lily Potter walked through the busy Muggle train station, holding the hand of Jack whilst Harry pushed his trolley full of his Hogwarts things. She hadn't taken this journey in years. Memories came back to her. She could remember her first time here… She felt happy and sad that her oldest son was leaving her but she knew he would love it. Besides, he would have Sirius there to look out for him.

As Lily directed them towards platforms nine and ten she caught sight of a young girl with bushy brown hair walking just in front of them with her own parents. She could just overhear their conversation.

"Hermione, are you sure this is correct?" the mother was saying.

The girl spoke up. "Mum, the Professor said it would be between platforms nine and ten!"

"But it isn't here…" the mother added. "Are you sure you heard correctly?"

The girl, Hermione, was nodding her head. "Of course!"

Lily smiled. She knew it was difficult for Muggle-borns to join a world they had been ignorant of for their whole life. She had been lucky to have been living near a wizard so had been expecting her letter and Severus had helped her with where to find the platform. She stepped forward and moved around the couple and their daughter. "Are you looking for platform nine and three-quarters?" she asked quietly.

The mother of the girl looked a bit surprised at Lily's appearance. "Yes…" she finally answered.

Lily held out her hand. "I'm Lily Potter. My son, Harry, is about to start his first year at Hogwarts too." She indicated for Harry to come forward.

"Are you a witch?" Hermione asked eagerly looking up at Lily, her eyes shining brightly.

Lily nodded. "I am. But I came from a non-magical family too. I can show you how to get onto the platform if you'd like?"

"Yes, please, that would be really kind of you," said Hermione's father. He held out a hand and shook Lily's hand and then extended it to both Harry and Jack. "I'm Richard Granger. This is my wife Laura and our daughter, Hermione."

"Nice to meet you," smiled Lily. "Just follow me." She turned and led the small group further up the platform before stopping at a pillar that lay directly between platforms nine and ten. "Here we are. Harry, why don't you show Hermione what to do to get onto the platform?"

"Sure, mum," answered Harry. He began to push his trolley forward. He had never done this before but Lily had told Harry exactly how to do it. He had been adamant to go through by himself as well. "Don't think you are going to hit the wall. You won't." Harry began to push the trolley forward towards the barrier, sped up and then –

He was gone, passing through the barrier.

Lily looked back at Hermione and her parents. "That is all you need to do. The wall is a magical barrier. It's only open on the days the train is in use so it is very unlikely for anyone who isn't magical to pass through and get lost. The barrier will be open until midday to allow everyone to leave the platform." She turned back to the barrier. "I had better go and meet my son."

"Thank you for the help," smiled Hermione pleasantly.

"That's okay," replied Lily, before pulling Jack with her and waked swiftly through the barrier, emerging just behind Harry. "Come on, Harry, let's get you a seat. Maybe we can find Neville and his parents?"

"Neville said his dad is bringing him since his mum had to work," said Harry.

They began to walk towards the train. Lily looked over her shoulder and noticed Hermione and her parents had now arrived on the platform. She waved for them to follow her. They found an empty carriage not far from the entrance to the barrier. They still had twenty minutes to go before the train departed. She helped Harry load his trunk onto the train and then gave Hermione a hand as well.

Jack was tugging at her skirt. "Mum, can I go to?"

"No, not yet. You will do soon," promised Lily.

"You'll be back tomorrow won't you, Harry?" asked Jack.

Harry bit his lip. "I'm sorry, Jack, but I won't be back until Christmas."

"But… but… but…." Jack looked like he was about to cry.

Harry pulled his younger brother into a hug. "You can play with all my things if you like! I'm not gonna be there to stop you, am I?" he grinned.

Lily chuckled. She knew Jack would love that.

"Really?" Jack perked up at once.

"Really." Harry kept on smiling, reassuring his brother.

"You'll be back at Christmas?"

"Definitely!" Harry pulled away from his younger brother. "Be good, okay?"

Jack nodded. "I will!"

Harry stood and wrapped his arms around his mother. "Bye mum."

"I'll stay until the train leaves," said Lily.

"I think I'll get settled now… I haven't seen Neville yet."

Neither had Lily but she was sure they would be arriving soon. She watched as Harry boarded the train and sat himself beside the window, looking out at the platform. She felt tightness in her chest. Harry was finally going to Hogwarts… and yet she couldn't help but think the Harry that Sirius had known first, had done this all on his own. It doesn't matter now. It's changed. Harry won't have to do this on his own, ever.

Hermione was just saying her own goodbyes to her parents when Frank and Neville arrived, looking red and puffed out. Clearly they had been running.

"Thought we were going to miss it," breathed Frank, brushing his brown hair out of his eyes. He ran his eyes over the couple Lily was standing with. "Oh, hello, there! I'm Frank Longbottom. This is my son, Neville. I presume your daughter is heading off to Hogwarts for the first time?"

Richard nodded. "She is… Bit of a shock to find out she was a witch though…"

"It does explain everything strange that happened around her though," intoned Laura. "We're really pleased we finally have some answers as to why strange things occurred! No one in either of our families is magical! It was such a surprise for us for Hermione to receive her letter!"

"Oh, so you are Muggle-born then?" asked Frank.

"Muggle-born?" Laura blinked, surprised by the new term.

Lily quickly interjected. "To magical folk, anyone who is not magical, we refer to as Muggles. Since you two are Muggles, your daughter is Muggle-born however it doesn't have any bearing on her status within our world. What did you say your surname was?"

"Granger," answered Richard. "Why?"

Lily frowned, thoughtful. "I work in the industry of Potions within our world and there was a Wizard who was called Hector Dagworth-Granger… He lived about hundred and fifty years ago… It's possible you could be related to him which might explain where the magical blood came from."

Richard frowned. "Hector… Hector… I honestly do not know but my mother has records of our family tree. I suppose we could see if someone with that name was on there." He shrugged. "It doesn't matter to us anyway. We are very proud of Hermione."

The girl beamed and hugged her father.

"Come on, lets say our goodbyes so you can go and sit down," said Laura.

Lily stepped away from the small family and turned to watch Frank load Neville's trunk onto the train. Jack pulled at her hand. "No, Jack. You can't go on board."

"Oh…" the boy pouted.

Neville laughed and knelt down beside the boy. "Aww, don't worry Jacky, you'll be going soon! Before you know it too!"

"I get to play with Harry's toys when he's not there," stated Jack.

Neville shook his head, chuckling. "Nice to see you again, Mrs Potter."

Lily smiled. "Haven't I asked you to call me Lily?"

The boy grinned, hugged his father and ran up the steps to join Harry in his compartment.

Frank let out a long sigh. "Can't believe it is finally time for them to go to Hogwarts… When we learned Neville was a target… we didn't think we would get to this point…"

"Me too," whispered Lily, "but they are going now… We're safe. There is no war and our world is at peace."

Though Lily couldn't help but worry how long that peace would last for. If Voldemort was going to make his move, he would do it this year, but hopefully his sights would not be on her son or Neville. As much as she hated to think Sirius putting himself in danger, she was extremely grateful to him for ensuring the two boys were not of significant interest to the Dark Lord anymore. She just hoped he would survive whatever the future threw at him.

A few minutes later the train began to move. Lifting Jack into her arms, she held him with the one hand whilst waving at Harry, Neville and Hermione, who had joined the two boys in their carriage, as the train chugged out of the station. When the Hogwarts Express had rounded the corner, Lily let out the deep breath she had been holding and relaxed.

Hermione kicked her feet out in front of her, feeling slightly out of place with the two boys she was sitting with. They were friendly enough and had asked about her but were now discussing something called 'Quidditch' which she didn't know anything about. All she could get from them was it was a sport played on broomsticks. It didn't sound very appealing to her at all but it sounded like the black-haired boy, Harry, was hoping to get on the house team in his second year.

She listened to the boys chatter, wondering what to say to them but she felt more content just listening. She wanted to learn more about this new world she had found herself a part of. "Sorry…" she interrupted them, wanting to ask a different question, "it doesn't make any difference, does it?"

Harry looked at her quizzically. "Difference?"

"Not knowing any magic?"

"No. Plenty of people hardly know any magic when they go to Hogwarts, even those of us from Wizarding families," reassured Neville. "I'm not as good at stuff like Harry is though. I know I will struggle to feel like I'm a good wizard."

Harry rolled his eyes. "You'll be a great one, Nev!" Harry looked at her. "Don't worry about it. My mum came from a Muggle family and she's very talented. My dad is a Pure-blood but that didn't make him any better than her."

"Pure-blood?" asked Hermione. She hadn't heard that term before and she had picked up different books to help her understand the magical world before attending Hogwarts.

Harry scratched the back of his head. "Ah, yeah, you wouldn't know, would you?"

Neville chuckled. "Pure-blood is someone from an entire Wizarding family, someone who has no Muggle blood in them. Or any recent Muggle blood in them anyway… My mum and dad have an entire magical background. Think we might have a Squib somewhere but I don't know…"

"Squib?"

"Someone born to magical parents, who is not magical themselves," explained Harry. "They then integrate themselves into the Muggle world. I, on the other hand, am a half-blood because my mum has Muggle blood. My dad comes from a very long line of wizards, dating all the way back to one of the earliest known magical times in history."

Hermione was beginning to understand. "Oh, right. So being from a magical family doesn't make you any different, at all?"

Both boys shook their heads.

"Good…" She had worried about that, so she was pleased to know her own ancestry wouldn't affect how well she did at her new school. She wanted to prove that she had what it took to be a witch. Now she knew what made her different, she was eager to embrace it.

The door suddenly slid open to their compartment. Hermione jumped, her eyes focusing upon three boys who stood in the doorway.

The front-most boy was quite small with pale blond hair and a white face, whilst his companions were more stocky and built more as bodyguards.

"Well, well, what do we have here? A clumsy Longbottom, a dirty Potter and a what?" the blonde boy sniffed in distaste at Hermione's presence.

Harry immediately stood up. "Shove off, Malfoy!"

The blonde boy smirked. "No. You should learn to respect being in the company of your betters, Potter!"

Harry snorted.

Neville remained quiet, sitting on the seat with Hermione.

"Why should I respect you? Everyone knows your father is evil!"

Malfoy threw his head back and laughed. "Evil? He's just doing what he needs to make our society great again! Just you watch, Potter!"

"I'll think I'll like it when my godfather throws your father in prison!" Harry retorted. Hermione could see his green eyes flash.

"You godfather is a blood-traitor! He doesn't deserve to have the name of Black!" spat Malfoy.

Harry folded his arms across his chest. "Gonna say that to him then? You probably know he's at Hogwarts this year."

Malfoy glared at Harry. He didn't reply, pushed himself past his two henchmen, who cracked their knuckles at Harry, before they departed from the carriage leaving Harry alone with Neville and Hermione.

Neville was the first to speak. "Harry! Do you know what you've just done?"

"Yeah." He'd done exactly what his father had done, only instead of a young Snape, it had been a young Malfoy he had antagonised and now had an enemy of. "Malfoy was going to be my enemy anyway."

"What did that boy mean by 'what'?" asked Hermione. She was sure she had been insulted.

Neville grimaced. "There are some wizards who dislike anyone who has Muggle blood in them. They think it is dirty and shouldn't be allowed in our world… But they're wrong," he hastily added, seeing Hermione's concerned look. "You'll find people like Malfoy will insult you but that's his upbringing… There are some Pure-blood families that detest Muggles and anyone of Muggle-born."

"Hermione… How much do you know about the war?" asked Harry quietly.

"War?" she asked. She had read something about a war but not much about it.

"It wasn't that long ago…" said Harry, "it ended when we were a year old… It was a war between wizards and witches about the purity of blood. There was a dark wizard who wanted to rid the world of people like you and people like me because of our Muggle ancestry… He wanted to bring the magical world out of hiding but there are those like my mum and dad and Neville's parents who fought against him. The war ended and the dark wizard was defeated… But there are supporters of his who managed to avoid prison and they are still out there, towing the line but teaching their children prejudice. Malfoy is a product of that."

Hermione chewed her bottom lip. "And blood-traitor?"

"Oh, that's easy!" grinned Harry. "It's a term those who have pure wizarding blood refer to those who are Pure-bloods but do not follow their family belief. My godfather, Sirius Black, was one of those."

Neville picked up the story. "The Black family is one of the darkest families in the wizarding world. It's very powerful but also one of the most evil as they believed in the purity of blood. Until Sirius Black. He was the heir to the family but when he came to Hogwarts he got sorted into Gryffindor instead of Slytherin House. A lot of Pure-blood elitists are sorted into Slytherin but Sirius was the first Black to ever be sorted into a different house. He was known as a blood-traitor after that as he disagreed with the notion of the purity of blood. His whole family was on You-Know-Who's side in the war but he fought on our side."

"You-Know-Who?" Hermione wanted clarification.

"Voldemort," said Harry.

Neville flinched. "Don't say the name!"

Harry grinned sheepishly. "Sorry. You-Know-Who is the name people use to refer to the dark wizard I mentioned earlier. His real name, Voldemort, is never used but I'm not afraid to say it!"

"So, who defeated You-Know-Who?" asked Hermione.

"That's the best part. Sirius did," grinned Harry. "He's my dad's best friend and my godfather!"

Now she remembered. The name 'Sirius Black' was ringing bells in her head. "Oh… I did read something about him but I didn't go too much into detail. So, your godfather defeated You-Know-Who?"

Harry nodded. "He did! He's really famous too. He's teaching at Hogwarts this year!"

"What's he teaching?" asked Hermione eagerly.

"It's one of the electives. We do not study it in the first two years but can pick it up in the third year," explained Neville. "He'll be teaching Muggle Studies. Sirius has lived amongst Muggles for the past ten years."

"Wow."

"Feeling a bit overwhelmed?" asked Harry gently.

Hermione nodded. "A bit. There is so much to learn… to know…"

"You'll be fine," smiled Neville. "If not, both Harry and I will be there to help you."

Smiling gratefully. Hermione added: "Thank you."

Sitting at the Professor's table was very disconcerting for Sirius. He also found it irritating the students kept on staring at him. He was going to have to get used to that. He was sitting next to Professor McGonagall. Though he had visited Hogwarts over the last ten years, he hadn't really run into his old Head of House.

Sirius sighed. At least he would soon be able to go and retire to his quarters. Tomorrow would be an interesting day when he gave his first class.

"It is good to see Harry in Gryffindor," noted McGonagall, leaning closer to him.

"It would have been unlikely of him not to be in that house," smiled Sirius. The look on Harry's face when he had joined Gryffindor had been one of happiness. He had noted, from watching his godson's Sorting that he seemed to have made friends with a young girl who Sirius knew to be Muggle-born. She, too, had been sorted into Gryffindor alongside Neville.

What was interesting to Sirius was Harry's choice of friends. He and Neville had been best friends from a very young age. Though the Weasley family had got on well with the Potters, Ronald Weasley wasn't exactly a best friend of Harry's.

"It was unlikely for you not to be in Slytherin," intoned McGonagall.

"I always embraced being different," grinned Sirius.

"Have you got your lessons planned?"

Sirius nodded. "I have. Made plans for the first term. Going to start small and then make my way up. I've decided to throw in a bit about blood as well…" He knew that would be controversial but it was something he wanted to highlight in his classes.

"Don't let the workload overwhelm you. Keep ahead and you'll be fine. If you need anything, Sirius, just ask," offered Professor McGonagall.

"That is very kind of you," replied Sirius. He sat back in his chair, laying his fork down on the plate. He looked down the Professor's table, his eyes falling upon the man with a purple turban.

When he had met Professor Quirrell that morning for the first staff meeting of the new term, Sirius had nearly flinched at the disguised notion of dark magic echoing off of Quirrell's skin. There was no doubt about it from that one meeting that Voldemort was in the castle, attached to the back of the man's head beneath the turban.

Sirius had been tempted to act but his instincts had told him to wait. Find out and learn what Voldemort was after, especially since Sirius had made sure the Philosopher's Stone was not being kept at the Castle. Sirius still didn't know how much Voldemort knew about him or his origins.

What Voldemort wanted, Sirius didn't know, but he hoped he would be able to stop him in time. Certainly, the next few months would be interesting.

Interesting, indeed…

To be continued...

Please let me know what you think!

So we have finally reached Harry's Hogwarts years! And Voldemort is currently inhabiting Quirrell's body... At the moment Dumbledore, and to an extent, Sirius, is letting this happen.

Harry's choice of friends... well he grew up with Neville so naturally those two will be best friends. I wanted Hermione to join their little group too. Ron will be around but he isn't Harry's best friend. Ron will probably hang out with Dean and Seamus more. I have nothing against Ron, just that with how this story has gone, it seems to me that Neville and Harry would be best friends.

Next chapter... we will continue to follow Harry's first year though there will be some time skips so I can focus on the important aspects of the year. Will be posted next Tuesday!

Until then,

the-writer1988