Disclaimer:

I solemnly swear that the literature and works of the Harry Potter Verse belong to JK Rowling, Bloomberg and Warner Bros. The only thing I own are the one-shot ideas that popped into my head and whatever OCs I would create for them. This is a work of pure fiction made solely for fun, constructive reviews will be welcomed, flames will be ignored. Any references to characters in real-life or fiction are purely coincidental. If I could make money out of my ideas, it would be nice...

Mischief Managed Damn It!

Title: Black To The Future (Based on Loki Black by sakurademonalchemist, but more serious)

Posted Date: June 7th 2020

Tags: Time-Travel, Sirius fixing the past, light shout-outs to BTTF, bad puns galore

"Sirius!"

In a way, the wrongly-convicted Sirius Black should have known not to act so carelessly in a fight against his crazy cousin Bellatrix. He was a former kick-ass Auror, trained by Alastor 'Constant Vigilance!' Moody for Merlin's sake! And because of his carelessness and recklessness, he was sent backwards through the Veil in the Department of Mysteries, with the last sight of his godson having a look of despair as Remus stopped the boy from joining him in death. Sirius prayed heavily that Harry would be safe after his death, at least he managed to write his will out to ensure only Harry would get it with some protection in case Dumbledore decided to pull his usual crap and tried to fix Harry with some girl not compatible with him.

Then he got blinded by a flash of light, before he found himself floating about in an empty space that appeared to be made up of drapes and mist, all while being surrounded by the sounds of wind about him that chilled him to the bones. He was no longer feeling much pain but he was honestly getting confused and freaked out by the situation from which he was losing track of time. Was he dead and in the afterlife, or was he actually alive and having a hell of a tripping?

What was he supposed to do given the choices?

[For starters, you could relax a bit.]

Sirius blinked and somehow found himself sitting in a chair that reminded him of the Hogwarts classroom facilities and what felt like solid ground beneath his feet. While the same view was around him, there was a definite sense of walls around him which only got the hair on his neck on end and Padfoot growling lightly in his mind. At least the presence of his animal persona was enough to assure him that he had that one card up his sleeve, if someone tried to sneak up on him Padfoot could warn him. For now though, he had questions in need of answers.

"Who is there?" Sirius looked around wishing he had a wand to at least defend himself.

[Calm yourself, you are in no danger.] The voice that did not give a hint of the gender of the speaker replied, seemingly both around him and inside his head, raising his nervousness quite a bit. [Well, for now at least.]

"Oh right, feeling really safe here. What with you being invisible and sounding all mysterious in wherever this bloody place is!" Sirius sarcastically spoke out with his irritation on the rise. "Why don't you show yourself!"

[As you wish.]

The space before Sirius began to warp unevenly like someone grabbed a sheet of clear plastic and twisted the center with their fingers. It twisted and bended on itself until something gave way and opened up with the sound of wind blowing through a hole, revealing a dark hole in stark contrast to the grey surrounding which made the Grim inside Sirius whimper in fear. Then from the depths of the dark hole, a glowing figure of 'something' walked out without a sound. Sirius would like to comment if not for the fact the Grim inside him was actively howling in pain and fear, and there was something about it that made his mind locked up at the amount of information flowing through just from the sight of 'it'.

It was male and female.

It was young and old.

It was the beginning and the end.

It was the light and dark.

Life Born and Death Incarnate.

Itwasabeingofgreatpoweranddestructionthatshouldnotbeexisting,heneededtogetawayorbegForMerCyOrDieOhMyGODWHAtIshappenineefjefefgfdgbvzgeqgfghwhwghf…

[Oh dear, we can't have you breaking on me just yet.]

Sirius let out a gasp as his mind suddenly went blank and his heart was straining to have oxygen. He took a few deep breaths to get the much needed air into his heart and lungs, his Grim getting frantic with what had happened. He took a moment to look at the side where the being in question was sitting in a similar chair, this time with the glow diminished a little to get some idea of body shape but still having a presence that practically rang every alarm bell in his head to be careful. He was not sure how to describe the being still, the closest he could give it was that the general shape was androgynous considering it was slim enough to mistake it as female at some angles, while there was zero facial features that would allow him to identify the gender or even get a read on it. Combined that with the presence and Sirius was, excuse the pun, in 'Sirius' trouble.

[Please, that pun was so bad.]

"Hey, I am not exactly having good material to work with, what with me being dead and dealing with someone I have no idea what!" Sirius paused before adding. "And don't read my mind!"

[Whatever~] The Marauder could tell even with the missing facial features or bland tone that the being was rolling its eyes at him. [Can I please have a proper conversation? The longer you stall, the less of a chance for you to get home to your godson.] That definitely shut Sirius up and got him acting, well, serious for the moment. [Thank you. First off, what do you think I am?]

Sirius raised an eyebrow at that question but complied. "I am guessing some higher power that governs life and death?"

[You and so many others.] The being let out a chuckle that was a mix of contradictions like different people of age and genders laughing at once, giving Sirius another headache trying to decipher the information pouring into his mind. [I am not one who governs life and death, those are done by others. I am merely the spirit that guards the gate you mortals call the Veil of Death. You may call me Vell Custos, or just Vell if you want, based on your language.]

"I see." Sirius gulped lightly to control his accelerated pounding. "So am I dead?"

[Hmm, yes and no.] The being now called Vell hummed. [One might say you are now in Limbo, for better or worse.] Sirius got the impression the being was looking at him directly in the eye, making the feeling very disconcerting to say the least. [The gate is in some manner a tool used to judge those who entered the realm without proper credentials if you would. Each mortal would have their sins weighed, their actions verified, their pasts recounted, and their souls to be measured. By the end of it, the guilty would be sentenced to stay in the realm for all eternity, never living, never dying.] There was a definite hint of smugness as it leaned closer to Sirius. [Considering the noise around us, you can guess how many failed that test.]

Sirius gripped the handles of his chair lightly as he tried to contain his panic from coming out of his mouth, Padfoot going nuts in his head as it was trying to run away and fight at the same time. He was aware that he had made some mistakes in his youth, some more deadly and arguably more sinful than others, but he did try to make up for them as some point, and as it stood, the biggest mistake he had made was regarding Harry. He would really like to get back to him…

[You really want to get back to your godson?] Vell interrupted his thoughts while tilting its head. [You did mess up on his part.]

"I know." Sirius gritted his teeth while trying to contain the sudden flare of rage at those words. "I know I screwed up going after Peter and not taking care of Harry as I should, and I get that I have not been doing a swell job at the moment. Right now I don't even know if I am really alive or dead, and the fact I am being judged for my mistakes is really getting to me."

[Yes, and that is why you are such a curious case.] Vell remarked while tilting the head the other way. [Until now, the people who entered this realm have sins that pretty much sentenced them to their doom. You on the other hand are a scale, balanced on both sides but with just one grain of sand, the scales will be tilted. Whether you are innocent or guilty, the scales are now in your court if you would.] Vell held up both arms to illustrate the situation.

[On the one hand, you genuinely wish to go against the teachings of your old family to the point of running away and renouncing your blood family while embracing another belonging to your sworn brother. You battled against the citizens of your world and even your blood kin to protect the world for your second family. You dared to risk your life escaping Azkaban to save your godson.] Vell motioned with its left to illustrate before raising its right.

[On the other hand, your actions in your youth can be construed as severe bullying to plenty, especially towards the one named Severus Snape.] Vell raised a hand to silence Sirius who opened his mouth to argue. [Do not try to say otherwise, what you and your band of trouble-makers did to him had gone beyond normal pranks, aided by a man who hands out second chances like candy. You are not guiltless in that area, in particular the little stunt involving you, Severus and a certain werewolf.] That got Sirius to look down in shame at the reminder of one of the darker chapters in his life. He only wanted to scare the man, not actually have him become Lupin's chew toy.

[That is the case, and then we have your issues regarding your godson.] Despite the bland tone, there was a certain amount of 'something' that made Sirius want to punch the being, consequences be damned. [Your desire for revenge made your godson suffer in a family that did not want him for fifteen years, alone and crushed, not to mention indirectly contributing to the resurrection of the faker. Your ignorance had dealt your godson a bad hand in dealing with your society that swings between adoration and condemnation. Your instability keeps searching for links to your sworn brother in hopes to continue a tradition that was long gone. And now your recklessness has denied him the happiness of a man who could take him away from the people manipulating him.]

"Enough!" Sirius stood up so fast that the chair went flying, his eyes glaring at the being with a fair amount of rage. "Yes, I messed up with Harry. It is because of me he has to grow up without his parents, he has to be raised with those blasted muggles that hated Lily for her powers! Because of me, he would never know how his father wanted to teach him pranks and flying, or how his mother hoped to teach him charms and potions. Because of me and James, Snivellous hated Harry for the stupid reason that he looks like his dad without looking for the heart that is Lily's! Because of me, Harry had to spare Wormtail that led to Voldemort's resurrection! Because of me, Dumbledore gets to hold that stunt with Lupin and others over my head while he happily chucks Harry back to the Dursleys or whatever fucking situation he has!" Sirius seemed to have lost his steam and momentum as he went on, looking older than his normal age. "And now because of me, Harry is going to have to deal with Voldemort on his own without me. I have failed him so many times!" Sirius collapsed to his knees and sobbed loudly, not caring for the fact that he was essentially letting his heart out in front of a being that could chuck him into an afterlife for all eternity.

All he wanted now was a chance to get back to his godson to save him…

All he desired was to see his godson with a smile without the weight of the world on his shoulders as it threatened to crush him with undue expectations…

All he could think of was how much he just wanted to be with Harry one last time…

[So now you know, and thus I ask thee.] Vell leaned back in the chair and clasped both hands. [If you have a chance to return to Harry, would you take it?] That certainly stopped Sirius in his downward spiral to depression and looked up with red eyes wide with wary hope and desperation.

"Do you mean it? You are not jerking my chain are you?" Sirius asked with his voice wavering. Vell remained silent while watching him before answering.

[Remember what I said earlier? You are a scale, your sins are in balance with your actions. Unlike those who passed through this realm regretting their actions at the last point of life, you regret your actions through your life and attempt to repent for it. You attempt to save your godson against odds that would see greater men perish, and you desire to raise him as part of your family.] Vell paused as it leaned forward. [The way I see it, you can have a second chance to save Harry Potter from his fate.]

[However, you can't return to him at this point in time.]

Sirius felt like he was on his broom that got summoned away from him at the highest point of his climb and sent plummeting to the ground, not knowing if he would survive or not. The being said that he could get back to Harry, at the same time he can't do so. What was this guy talking about?!

[Patience, young Black.] Vell raised its hand to stop any possible questions. [What I will tell you is something a choice few would have to have astronomical luck to hear. As you know, your godson has a prophecy on his head, stating that he and Voldemort are the only ones to eliminate the other. A prophecy that was given by a Seer of a diminished line to a man of mistaken grandeur, to a man who made sure that your godson would dance to his tune.] Sirius growled in time as the Grim inside, his mind conjuring up the image of Dumbledore having strings on Harry.

[Now the issue is this. Fate has already decreed that you entered this realm to your supposed death, thus leading to Harry seeking a way to get stronger and eventually winning the war.] Vell continued without remarking on the man's attitude. [There is also the bit where your leader has made sure his puppet would do as he is told, even in death.]

"What?!" Sirius got back on his feet and paced back and forth in agitation. "How would he do that?"

[I could tell you, or…] Vell held up a hand with a small globe of light in its palm. [I could show you, the future that your godson is fated to.] Without a warning, it flicked the orb at Sirius, its contents splashing over his head. Sirius had no opportunity to say anything as images went through his head of betrayals, death, suffering and madness. It felt like he was going through decades of information in a few seconds before it ended abruptly, prompting him to collapse back to the ground and dump the contents of his stomach on the ground.

[Well that was nasty.] Vell flicked a hand to vanish the mess before looking at Sirius. [What do you think?]

"What do I think? Some people are going to be wishing that Voldemort killed them when I get my hands on those bastards!" Sirius roared in agony and rage as he processed the information in his head. "That son-of-a-bitch played with Harry's life, and those people keep pressuring him to be an Auror and save their asses, marrying that fan-girl!" Sirius shook his head at the idea of Harry marrying Ginny Weasley; he had nothing against the girl, but it was clear that she was only looking at the image of Harry as the Boy-Who-Lived and not his godson, not to mention Harry had stated before he did not look at her in that manner. Seeing that bit of the future where Molly and Albus had conspired to get his fortune made the Grim inside want to hunt them down and rip their throats out with its jaws.

"And then there is the bit of a Delphini Riddle, born between Voldemort and Bellatrix of all people?! The fuck is that about!" Sirius grabbed his head trying to wrap his mind around the idea that Bellatrix managed to father a child for Voldemort and the fact that she would be key to ending Harry's life. "Is she really their daughter?"

[No one knows. Some of us say that she was born around the time of Voldemort's final demise, some believed she was born around the same time as Harry, kept under a time field to keep her young in hopes of challenging him.] Vell remarked. [There are some who also believe that she is more of a homunculus made from material granted by Voldemort and Bellatrix.]

"Great, just great. I really did not need to think of those two doing the horizontal tango. And let's not forget the biggest issue of the bloody mess!"

[Indeed, your godson was manipulated throughout his life and…] Vell started talking only to be interrupted by Sirius who raised an arm in defiance.

"I know that, but one of the things I can never forgive… Is the fact that Prongslet's son is named Albus Severus Potter of all things!" Sirius let out that proclamation, and was now the first person to have the dubious honour of seeing a being of higher power raising a hand and smacking it to its face.

[... Seriously, that's what you focused on from all that?]

"This is a matter of great importance, damn it! There is no bloody way in Merlin's sagging beard that Harry would have a son or any relation named after those bastards! He is definitely under the influence to do such a thing!" Sirius gave a fierce nod at that.

[... I am not going to comment on it.] The being lowered its hand and looked back at Sirius. [As it stands, the future is now in flux. While your 'death' has been ordained in this case, there is some leeway for you to change the future accordingly. You cannot return to the present, but you have a chance to go back to the distant past, around the time of your godson's arrival into your world, to do so.] Vell paused as it looked at him with the hidden presence it had. [The questions you should be asking yourself right now, should I let you do so and do you want to? Think. Very. Carefully.]

At that bit, Sirius held back his tongue to immediately answer and instead considered his options carefully. It was basically making contracts only in this case he was doing it with a being that could smite his behind with the flick of its finger. In a way, a part of him would want to go back to the present time if only so he could deck Bellatrix in the face along with Dumbledore, not to mention get back to his godson to ensure his safety. But then he realized, no matter how much he would want that, there was plenty that could get in the way of his relationship with Harry like Dumbledore and Molly, not to mention the high possibility of him 'having an unfortunate accident'.

But if he went back in time, he could actually derail some of the plans set by that old goat and get himself out of Azkaban among other things.

"Quick question. If I am to go back into the past, will I be as my old self in Azkaban, or am I going to be a separate person all together?" Sirius asked Vell while getting the questions in his head slowly. He did not want to risk this chance to help Harry.

[Because time is very fickle especially with significant events that have past, so the answer would be the latter. I doubt being stuck in Azkaban would help you much, even if you had escaped before.] Sirius nodded in reply.

"Okay, then next question. Are there rules that I must follow? I am not that well-versed on time magic, but what I do know is that I can't afford to change much." Sirius thought back to the Department of Mysteries where the Time-Turners were kept. Crazy people messing with time was a big No-no.

[Good. You are thinking.] Vell nodded as it contemplated his question. [You are correct in assuming you can't change too much of the time-line, which is somewhat ironic because one is effectively changing something each time those silly Time-Turners are used. People believe that meeting yourself is a catastrophe waiting to happen but that is only because some people do not think things through and end up cancelling themselves out. In your case, you are being granted a chance to make things right for yourself and your godson. But be warned, there are events that have been preordained to occur, no matter how much you want to change it. The more you persist to change those events, the more fate and history will push to make it happen. And in some particular cases, the Time Wraiths will come out to find you. You will know when you see them.] It paused before continuing with a notable tone of emphasis. [One of the most important rules that I will emphasize to you right now when dealing with events like these: Where there is death, there will alwaysbe death. Tread lightly if you wish to stay alive or even maintain your existence in the time-line.]

Sirius gulped at that bit, feeling the mounting pressure of the possible task at hand. But he had a chance to make things right. "All right, duly noted. Do not mess up the time-line too much while trying to fix it." He took a few deep breaths to think it out before nodding. "Okay, I will do it."

[You answered the second, but not the first.] Vell tilted its head. [I may have stated that you could have a chance to go back, but you need to convince me why I should let you leave this place.]

"... I do not know whether I am considered worthy. I made more mistakes in my lifetime than I can count, and screwed up so badly in my life that I cannot hope to fix." Sirius gripped his fists tightly as he tried to get his head in gear. "But what I cannot afford to mess up is to leave Harry at the hands of Dumbledore, Snape or anyone else. They keep pushing him to lose more of himself so that they can keep themselves clean of blood, destroying him from the inside. I cannot stand back and watch them do that to him. If I have the chance to save Harry, I will do it. Even if it means I might wipe myself out of existence, I can be happy knowing that I can give Harry a good chance of being alive and happy, and that I would take those bastards to hell with me if necessary! That much I swear as the last heir of the House of Black!"

Vell remained silent in his seat and watching Sirius after he gave his claim, as though judging him of his words. Then suddenly it let out a laugh that was cheerful, exciting, and sinister all at once. [I see, so that is how you feel. I understand.] It then stood abruptly from its seat and loomed over Sirius with a presence that spoke of it passing judgement. [Is that your final answer?] Sirius gave a firm nod with a glare daring the being to renegade on its word. [Very well then, you have passed my test and earned your chance to return.] It leaned back and took a few steps backwards. [I will send you back to the past, and will also leave something for you to know what to do and not.]

"Thank you, Vell Custos." Sirius let out a breath that he was unconsciously holding on. He was going to be able to help Prongslet and kick some butt.

[Right then, with all of that said and done…] Vell paused and for some odd reason, Sirius's Marauder Senses were tingling at this point and he had the impression that Vell was smirking at him. [I hope you enjoy the treat I will be granting you. Safe travels!] Without warning, the ground beneath him vanished and Sirius found himself plummeting down a long tunnel of light while screaming at the suddenness and speed. There was only one thought going through his mind at this point.

'FUCK YOU VELLLLLLL!'

[Rude.]

Then just as sudden as the drop, the stop came abruptly in the form of his face meeting the ground hard, thankfully without splitting his head. Sirius groaned at the pain that was going through his body as he tried to get back on his feet.

"Hey there, you okay?" A hand placed itself on his shoulder and helped Sirius up to his feet. Sirius blinked as he placed a hand to his throbbing head. "That looked like a nasty fall, do you need the healer?"

"No, think I am fine." Sirius shook his head lightly before looking up, pausing to find a familiar face in front of him. "Tom?"

"Oh you know me, little lad? Afraid I do not know you as well." Dear old Tom of the Leaky Cauldron gave a smile that showed missing teeth as he leaned back, making Sirius realize he looked a lot taller than normal. "Sorry about that."

"No, it is fine. Thank you for the help." Sirius blinked again as he realized his voice sounded younger and somewhat high-pitch. Tom nodded and moved away to another customer in the distance, leaving Sirius behind to inspect himself in dawning panic. He had smaller arms and legs, and from what he could feel, he had none of his facial hair or scars he had obtained over the years. There was an old mirror near his spot to which Sirius made his way slowly, only to find a face he did not expect to see for a long time.

His face as it used to be when he was just a kid…

What in Merlin's name is going on here?!