In the two decades since Hermione had used a Time Turner to be able to add extra lessons to her timetable, the Department of Mysteries had developed an "enhanced" version that, for reasons that should seem obvious, were known by few and able to be utilized by even fewer.
Harry Potter, also known as The Boy Who Lived, the Chosen One, and later, The Defeater of You Know Who, was among the few. It didn't hurt, he reckoned, that he was also head Auror.
This enhanced Time Turner could allow the user to go back in time up to three decades. It would allow the person to interact with others, provided that they kept the secret. Thankfully, there was a fail safe option which would reset the entire endeavor to how everything was before--in the event of disastrous occurrences, or things not playing out as the user had intended.
It was little wonder that this enhanced Time Turner was unknown to most of the wizarding world. To be sure, even an academic overachiever like Hermione would never hope to get her hands on it, for the sake of academic achievement in her third year.
Harry ran his fingers over the item once more. Yes, he was really going to do this. He hadn't ever expected to be able to save his godfather, had come to terms with the fact that his only connection to his parents had died. He had grieved his loss, and tried to move on. First, towards the task of defeating Voldemort. Then, simply, moving on with his life. With the momentous task of living. Truth be told, he had always expected to die in battle, probably before he came of age. Now more than twice that, having seen his youngest son off to Hogwarts with Ginny a mere fortnight ago, Harry was very much alive, and happy.
But the chance at getting Sirius back...and perhaps others living as a result...he had to take it.
Worst case scenario, everything would be as it was before.
Ginny watched him, untroubled, but intently.
"You're having second thoughts," she observed, placing her hands over his.
Harry laughed. "Second, third, and then some."
"Harry." She ran a hand through his hair. "They wouldn't have given it to you if they didn't think the benefits outweighed the potential risk."
"Oh, I reckon I'm more nervous about seeing Snape again," Harry joked. "Mind, I'm older than he was, back then. He'll go bonkers when I call him by his first name. Might pass out then and there."
Ginny's eyes twinkled. "You'll have to show me afterwards. He wasn't quite the prat to me as he was to you, but he was definitely the worst teacher I ever had."
"Worse than Umbridge or Lockhart? Or the Carrow brothers?" Harry asked.
Her brow furrowed. "Lockhart was mostly all bluster. Umbridge wasn't so bad as long as you didn't act out." Harry snorted. "The Carrow brothers...yes, I reckon they were worse than Snape."
Harry drew in a breath. "Who knows. We might be able to prevent that."
"First things first," Ginny cautioned. "Keep Sirius alive."
Harry nodded. Yes, that was the plan. In order to do so, he needed to make Snape--or Severus--redo the way he had taught Harry Occlumency in his fifth year.
Perhaps, dueling with Voldemort again might have been easier.
He wound the spinner connected to the hourglass, and darkness filled the room.
Author's note: This idea came to me last night. How can Harry save Sirius? Obviously, a regular Time Turner wouldn't work, but an enhanced one, developed a couple of decades into the future? He has to have a shot!
I don't expect this fic to be SUPER long, but it will encompass at least a few chapters. Canon relationships will follow, as always, so if that's not what you prefer reading, here's your warning.
Next up: 37 year old Harry confronts 35 year old Severus.