AN: This chapter was a bear! But I honestly love the sentiment. Love More, Live More, Laugh More, but save my son

Chapter 5 - Last Words

"It's cruel that I got to spend so much time with James and Lily, and you so little. But know this; the ones that love us never really leave us. And you can always find them [puts his hand on Harry's heart] in here."

~Sirius Black~

Sirius spent months preparing for his return. He was in no real hurry. He knew that everything that happened since he entered the veil would be erased. He was going for the world's biggest mulligan. Today he was taking a break with James. They were flying on brooms James had invented.

The Phoenix Flame was brilliant. It was an incredibly fast broom that stole his breath away. It practically flew itself. The genius of the Phoenix tail feathers was that if you plucked one you could apparate anywhere desired while in flight in a spectacular flash of fire, even to places that had apparition wards. Of course, once all the Phoenix feathers were used, the broom became just a broom. A very fast, fantastic broom. James told him how he made it, the enchantments that went into it, all of the special treatments he used. He figured that maybe Sirius could interest Harry in this particular memory. Lilly thought it was cheating. Sirius was all for steering Harry into a safe and prosperous career as a broom designer.

In fact, Sirius felt like he was being used as a memory capsule at times. Both Lily and James insisted that they be allowed to give messages from beyond for Harry in case Sirius wouldn't be able to change things. They weren't sure if Harry would ever be ready to see them, but told Sirius he would know if the time was right. If ever.

Even Thea and Charlus Potter demanded to be able to convey their love for their grandson. "Now don't be a doofus and just spring it on him. If I know Harry, he doesn't take surprises very well." Thea told him. Sirius took the extra precaution of asking them to write their messages to Harry. He would only have to look at them and be able to retrieve those notes from a Pensieve. He was worried about how much he would be able to remember once he returned.

Charlus spent an afternoon with James and Sirius sharing his insights into the political world during his lifetime. He identified what bills and charters would have benefitted from stronger political backing. The Anti-Werewolf and anti-Muggle legislation that was currently being pushed by Fudge's faction had been seeded during the first war. Charlus thought that it would be wise to approach him during the war and see where Lord Black could assist him.

After a quick political history lesson on the Potter Alliance members. He spoke at length about the houses of the Light, Neutral Houses, and finally the Traditional faction. The Pure-Blood faction was increasingly Xenophobic and despised the statute of secrecy. They believed Muggles, as lesser creatures, should be subjected to the will of the Wizarding World.

Charlus gave Sirius one last piece of advice after a long day of advice. "Remember that Britains, even Magical Brits are subjects of the Queen. And as such, subject to the laws of Britain." Sirius was left curious but decided it was enough to think about and he filed it away for future rumination.

Every night he recorded his thoughts, impressions, and recollections about his day in the diary Lily gave him. Every morning he would read the diary from beginning to end and add to it throughout the day. Sometimes it would be just an observation, or sometimes it would be summaries of important conversations he had. He found that it helped him organize his thoughts and helped him commit much of what he learned to memory.

Tomorrow was the day. The decision had been made. He was sad and yet filled with a sense of anticipation. Hopeful and nervous all at the same time. So much could go wrong he was more than aware, but he also was a man of action and he knew enough that no matter how much you planned, there were opportunities for things to go awry. Things would go wrong. He would have to adapt. He knew that his opponent was equally qualified to play the game he planned on winning.

He flew around James and then shouted, "Race you back to the house." And just like that, they were neck and neck racing back the way they had come. James went high and Sirous low. In the end, James scraped a win and Sirius felt whole.

Morning found Sirius awake too early. Too much time to think. Too much time to worry. He found himself in the kitchen making breakfast for a change. He was an okay cook, and before too long he had sausages and scrambled eggs toast and jam on the table under a stasis spell. Lily and James arrived in the kitchen just as he was putting the finishing touches on the meal. "Bon appetit." He said with a self-satisfied smile.

Both Lily and James looked at the meal and smiled half-heartedly. They both went and gave Sirius a long hug. "Hey now, hey now." Sirius groused a bit embarrassed.

The rest of the day passed in a blur. He once again made sure that he read through every diary entry, looked at the finished timelines on the walls, and read every note from every loved one. There were mirror calls that needed to be made. Last requests, last goodbyes, last thank yous, last words of advice.

Regulus had been a frequent guest and they schemed like brothers. Discovering past hurts that could have been avoided had Sirius been aware or less of a narcissistic bastard. He was humbled and guilt-ridden after his visits. James usually spent the rest of the day provoking Sirius into a prank war to lighten his mood or insisted they run in the orchard in their animagus forms.

Saying goodbye to Regulus was harder than he thought it would be and he almost postponed his departure to spend a few more days with his brother. And he might have done it too, but Regulus threatened him with dire consequences if he did.

Over the months Sirius prepared to go back, there had been both pleasant and unpleasant surprises. Sirius went on a whirlwind visit to order members and death eater victims, and even a few repentant death eaters. He visited the Pruitts, and the McKennetts, and Katherine Bones, and whole families that had been wiped out in the first war. He visited to learn. To gain knowledge of Voldemort's movements and to flesh out his timeline, and record the conversations in his diary. He felt like an investigator and between him, James, Lily, and Regulus they were able to piece together a fairly accurate timeline of Voldemort's attacks, the reasons behind them, his strategies, and his plans.

Sirius visited with some famous wizards too. He learned the identities of most of Riddle's other Horcruxes by visiting Hogwarts founders and a few Black ancestors. He spent time with the Peverell brothers to learn as much as he could about the Hallows and where they might be. Those conversations led him to Dumbledore's mother, sister, and father. He was shocked to learn that Dumbledore had known and loved Grindelwald.

He uncovered the tragedy that led to Ariana Dumbledore's death. How they loved their brother, son. How Dumbledore had learned secrecy at his mother's knee. It was eye-opening and gave a more three-dimensional image of the man Sirius respected and was also disappointed in. That he possessed the Elder wand came as a shock as well.

Dumbledore espoused the 'The greater good' doctrine. Sacrificing Harry as a martyr for that cause was a disgusting bit of gamesmanship. Sirius was going to change that or he was going to give Harry the power he needed to defeat Tom Riddle in a fight. Either way... Harry didn't need to be killed, the Horcrux did. And Sirius was going to find a way to save Harry.

While preparing for his trip back he'd spoken to several amazing curse breakers and renowned healers, even a few historians, and put the question to them. Was there a way to save Harry yet destroy the Horcrux? Some asked for time to study the question, some felt there should be a way, using a combination of muggle technology and magic. Kill the patient, separate the Horcrux, bring the patient back to life. Another theory suggested that elf magic could separate the Horcrux from the living vessel. Another curse breaker suggested that the Goblins be consulted, which led them to Goblin Town. Goblins did have secret rites that might do the job. Another aged wizard from India suggested that they consult indigent tribal magics, or familial magic, or old Wiccan traditions. There were many avenues of pursuit for answers and Sirius felt more and more confident that the feat could be done.

Sirius's time with Salazar was quite memorable. For all he acted like Sirius was being an imposition on his eternity of time, he gave Sirius a lot to think about. He explained about the chamber of secrets, explained the basilisk's nature, and then went at length teaching Sirius about Parslemagic and how Harry should be open to learning more about it. "Downright useful. And..." He contemplated continuing but plowed on. "Harry should also be allowed to have a snake familiar. But I realize that would upset people so he should keep it private." He nodded. "Harry should not be made to feel ostracized because of a power he shares with a few dark wizards. He needs every weapon at his disposal." Sirius actually felt the same.

Now, he was ready. Ready to embark on another great adventure. They had decided to have a picnic and watch the sunset on the hill overlooking the apple orchard. They found a patch of grass beneath an apple tree, the remains of their dinner laid out before them. They were drinking Elf-made wine, and Sirius was watching the last rays of the sun warm the hills and trees around them. Lily looked ill and she kept giving him sidelong glances and James looked surly. "It's not fair, damnit!" James pounded on the ground for emphasis. "It's not bloody fair."

Sirius wasn't sure what wasn't fair but figured it all wasn't fair. He grinned. "You're right. You should be the one to get to go back and fix your mistakes. It's kind of lame that I have to fix your mistakes and mine too." He decided playing the victim would be the only way to turn this around.

James looked chagrined and shrugged. "I... I'm just gonna miss you Padfoot." He whined a bit and Sirius nodded.

"I'll miss you too, Prongs." They had tried to figure out a way to communicate if he couldn't save them but they hadn't discovered a way unless it was to use the resurrection stone. Sirius didn't think it was a good idea, based on the fact that the brother with the stone killed himself in the end. In the end, Sirius swore he'd get Lily and James to make portraits so at least they could leave something of themselves behind for Harry.

"It's time," Sirius said, deciding he needed to end this quickly or it might be hours before he'd find his courage again. Lily nodded with tears in her eyes and from her pocket, she removed a vial filled with an acid green liquid. Sirius couldn't say he liked the color much. "It's painless. It's quick." She said and handed it to him hesitantly. "Can you promise me something though?" She asked softly. "Promise me to live Sirius. Live more, and laugh more, love more. Then save my son." She was crying now. Sirius smiled at his friend. The woman that James had loved from the moment he'd seen her. He wiped her tears with his thumb gently and pulled her into a hug.

"Promise Lily Flower." Gently he took the vial and taking a deep breath uncorked it and tipped the contents into his wine goblet. He held the goblet aloft. "My dearest, dearest friends. I love you. I love you with all my soul. I swear to you that I will do everything in my power to save your son, my godson. That I will see you again and someday we can watch the sunrise on a new day together. And we will be forever young and forever free." He tipped the drink to his lips and swallowed the bitter wine quickly before he could change his mind.

Slowly he leaned over to his left and kissed Lily gently on the cheek. Then leaned over to his right and kissed James on the lips. He barked a laugh at James's disgusted expression and then he fell over to his back and was looking up at the darkening sky.

The last thing he heard before death claimed him. "Ewww Lils. He gave me tongue!"

Then Lily gasped. "Sirius?" The soft feel of her fingers at his neck where his pulse would be. He smiled, and then he was once again floating in a bubble of nothing.