Author's Note: Thank you so much for reading my story. This was another difficult chapter to write because I changed my mind so much about what to tell Arcturus. I hope I struck the right balance.

I do not own Harry Potter.

Reviews appreciated!

Chapter 9: Seer Sirius

"Well, as everyone thinks I'm a mad mass murderer and the Ministry's put a ten-thousand-Galleon price on my head, I can hardly stroll up the street and start handing out leaflets, can I?"

~Sirus Black~

Sirius had two choices. Well, he had a million really but only two of them mattered at this very moment. He looked over at his grandfather and tried to figure out what he should say. Arcturus was not the most patient listener. He was however shrewd. He wasn't sure if he should let him in on the secret that he was a time traveler, or... maybe he could pass himself off as a seer? The idea of lying to the old man grated, but telling the truth... Risky!

Truth? Lie? He then ran the options through his litmus test. What was best for Harry? Did he trust Arcturus? Did Arcturus need to know? How much influence did the old man have? Would he use the information to hurt him? To hurt Harry? He didn't know what to do.

Part of him really wanted to confide in the old man. He needed Arcturus. Arcturus could both hurt and help him. His grandfather was still looking at him expectantly, watching the internal struggle play out upon Sirius's face. One didn't have to be a mind reader to know that the lad was tormenting himself. It was pure agony watching him.

"Spit it out, boy!" Arcturus barked impatiently.

Sirius gnawed his lip and said, "Okay. Here's the thing. I don't know how much I trust you." Sirius answered honestly.

When Sirius had been summoned after breakfast to his grandfather's study and walked through the door, he wasn't sure what to expect. Questions about his mother? Certainly. Questions about his plans for his brother? Likely. Almost anything but what his grandfather really wanted to know.

"Why did you lie about your mother performing the cruciatus on you?" Arcturus asked.

"We put your mother to the truth serum and she admitted to all kinds of horrible abusive behavior towards you and your brother. But she denied ever using an unforgivable curse on you. She did admit to using the imperious on your father, and poisoning him with a potion to make him more docile and controllable."

This new information shocked the Marauder. "She did what?" Dropping for a moment his mask due to outrage on his father's behalf.

Arcturus studied him a moment and continued as if he had not interrupted. "So you can understand my confusion. Why did you lie Sirius?"

Sirius was experiencing a dilemma and then finally gathered his courage and threw caution to the wind. "I have a memory I'd like to show you, grandfather. Do you have your pensieve?"

Arcturus' brows rose in surprise. "You know what a pensieve is?"

Sirius blinked, "I do read you know." He grinned good-naturedly. "But I don't have a wand so I think you may need to help me retrieve the memory, sir."

Arcturus shook his head a bit but stood and moved to a bookshelf where a beautiful gold leaf pensive held a place of honor being surrounded by delicate crystal bottles filled with ancestral memories if his guess was correct. Sirius squinted to read the earliest labels and gasped when he read, 'Morganna LaFay'. It was a priceless treasure, worth untold galleons.

His grandfather laid his hand upon the intricately carved basin and with a wave of his hand sent it floating to the table where it settled precisely in the center. Sirius remembered that his grandfather was adept at wandless magic. "Come here, Sirius." His grandfather summoned him to his side and then said, "Think of the memory. Bring it to the very front of your mind. Relive it as if you are there." He did as instructed and slowly Arcturus drew the memory from him and dropped it in the basin.

Sirius looked down at the silvery strand of glowing light that floated delicately in the bowl. "I should warn you grandfather, I have obscured parts of this conversation." This statement caused his grandfather to narrow his eyes, "That's impossible. You lad are not a skilled Oculmens" He shook his head, "After you, my lad."

Arcturus gestured for Sirius to proceed him, and he dove into the memory. Arcturus was now standing beside him. They were outside a wooden two-story structure with a wrap-around porch, and a sign swinging in a light breeze. The sign read The Lost Souls Inn... two men were talking quietly as they entered the inn. This time Sirius noticed the raven on the signpost and also remembered his dream when the blackbird had landed on the bar top and spoken to him in his grandfather's voice.

"You're an animagus?" Sirius asked his grandfather and Arcturus simply looked confused and troubled.

"Well yes, if you must know." He whispered, "Our secret?" Sirius nodded.

"Where are we?" he asked looking confused at the setting, but his eyes looked more than a little troubled when he read the name of the Inn. "Funny. I once wrote a short story about an inn at a crossroads called Lost Souls."

Sirius shook his head, "Come on." Leading his grandfather into the inn. They watched as James and Sirius were seated but though Arcturus could see them he could not hear their conversation. "The handsome older one is Sirius Black, and the younger messy haired one is James Potter." He said helpfully. Arcturus watched as the two men carried on what looked like a tense conversation. Then he had a sudden shock when who should suddenly appear out of thin air. but himself. Sirius reached out a hand to steady his grandfather.

"That's me?" The old Lord shook his head, "When is this?" Sirius told him the year and his grandfather turned back to pay attention however once again the conversation was frustratingly garbled. He glared at his grandson who at least had the grace to look uncomfortable. "I look younger, but according to you, this is years into the future. And it would be helpful if you would at least let me hear some of the conversations." He groused.

Arcturus surmised that James Potter must be Charlus's son. He would be Sirius's age. Finally, the voices of the three men became audible. He heard himself telling Sirius to take up the Heirship of the Black family and take over the wizarding world. The memory ended soon thereafter and Sirius drew him out of the pensieve and helped him to his chair and even summoned Mimsy and asked her to bring the whiskey. After she left and he'd managed to get a goodly portion of the bottle into his grandfather he took a seat and watched him pensively.

If the news killed the old man then everything would be for naught. He wanted to kick himself. His inner critic began giving him an earful. 'That was a dumb move, Sirius.' It didn't help that it sounded like his 11-year-old self.

He wanted to whine at the voice that his grandfather would never believe in a million years that he was a seer. He was an okay actor but even he would have a hard time pulling off a tall tale involving a vision of his mother using the cruciatus curse on him in the future. No, that would not go over well. His grandfather still hadn't said anything, merely drinking the whiskey with a slightly shaking hand. "Are you okay grandfather? Should I call the healers?"

That seemed to shake his grandfather out of his stupor and he grabbed Sirius by his tie and yanked him out of his seat and across his desk almost strangling him in the process.

"Are you out of your bloody mind?" Arcturus growled into his face. "You do realize that you are breaking about a million laws? And I'm not talking about laws of man, I'm talking about the laws of nature!" He shook Siriusly viciously constricting his tie tightly around his throat, "Terrible things happen to wizards that meddle with time Sirius!"

"Grandfather..." Sirius gasped as his tie felt like a noose constricting around his throat, "You're... strangling...me." he croaked, and only then did the old man release his hold and Sirius breathed fresh air and rubbed at his neck yanking the tie from its death grip around his throat.

"You know...I am beginning to think that my whole family has gone 'round the twist. Your grandson, who happens to be me, died!" He cleared his throat as his voice sounded funny to him... "Died. And came back at your..." He pointed accusingly at his grandfather, "Request!" He didn't sound very impressive, his voice a high-pitched squeak like he'd been sucking on a helium-filled balloon that muggles carried around during carnivals and festivals and birthday parties.

He nodded, "Get back in the game Sirius. Be a king Sirius. Take over the fucking wizarding world Sirius!" He nodded, "So attacking me because I took your advice is rather immature!" He squeaked in frustration.

He crossed his arms and glared at his grandfather who blinked owlishly at him. "But... But I didn't!" The old man paled as the implication became clear. "That was a memory of you in the afterlife?" He barely was able to even say it, much less believe it.

The old man sighed and cradled his head in his hands. "What a mess." He looked at Sirius. "How far back did you go?"

Sirius said, "I was 37 years old in that memory."

"Twenty-six years." Arcturus and Sirius said together. They stared at each other for a long moment.

Sirius's expression darkened and then he looked down at the bottle of whiskey. "I wouldn't condone my eleven-year-old self having a drink, but if I'm going to tell you even a little of my story I will need it."

Arcturus looked surprised and then conflicted and then resigned and he summoned a second glass and poured Sirius the smallest amount possible. Sirius gave him a look that clearly was unimpressed and he poured a bit more. Sirius picked it up and said, "You believe me then?" Worried suddenly that his grandfather was simply biding his time while the padded room was being prepared.

Arcturus said, "I am withholding judgment."

Sirius nodded, "As would I in your position." He frowned and looked down at the amber liquid and took a sip. It burned down his throat and he relished it. His throat still hurt and he rubbed at it a bit absent-mindedly.

"I never really thought I'd be sent back so far into the past. I don't really look forward to going through puberty again, and the stupidity of dating, and pretending I don't know anything."

He looked at his grandfather, "I am at least as accomplished a wizard as you are. I was a hit wizard in the Auror department. James and I both were." He took another sip. "I'm a survivor of one war, and when I left I was fighting in a second. Both were started by Voldemort. And on Halloween night, 1981, Voldemort killed two of my best friends then cast the killing curse on my 14-month-old godson. The curse rebounded. But Voldemort didn't die."

Sirius took another sip of whiskey and sighed, shaking his head, "I was framed for my friend's deaths, tossed into Azkaban with a life sentence without a trial. I escaped after 12 years and was living a life on the run from the ministry, while still trying to protect my godson. I was a miserable excuse for a godfather though. I died fighting Death Eaters in the Department of Mysteries. Bellatrix cast the curse that caused me to fall through a veil. That memory you saw happened the day of my death."

He fell silent then, knowing that he had glossed over a lot of the story.

His grandfather was aware of the holes but decided that there would be time enough to learn the whole story... "Bellatrix Black? Your cousin? Killed you?"

Sirius nodded. "Oh yeah. And she's a wicked powerful witch in the future. She's also completely insane. Or she will be. She becomes completely corrupted by Voldypants." Arcturus choked on his own sip of whiskey.

"What did you call him?" He asked with a chuckle.

"Voldypants. Sometimes I call him Moldypants. In the future, after my godson performs some impressive baby magic the wizarding world made his name taboo. Everyone called him `You Know Who'. Or worse 'He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named'." Sirius rolled his eyes, "Dumbledore once told me that fear of the name only increases fear of the thing itself." He nodded, "Besides, he's not even a pureblood."

Arcturus raised his brow, "I have heard of this self Styled Lord Voldemort. He seems to be gaining some traction among some of the younger members of the traditional faction. And a few of the old guard too, it seems." He looked troubled, "And you say he starts a war?"

Sirius nodded, "Two wars." He wasn't sure how much he should trust Arcturus with details and finally said, "Look. I really want your help, but you're going to have to accept that I can only share so much with you. I need a promise grandfather. I need your sworn oath that what I share with you stays with you. And you have to accept that there are things I can't tell you. You're going to have to trust me and I'll trust you with as much as I feel is safe for you to know. I'm going to have trouble enough not messing this up on my own without worrying that you'll try and change the future too. Although I'm hoping that you can help me do just that...just for the better, and we might not agree on what that is exactly, but if you fight me on any of this I'll obliviate you."

This was not an idle threat. Arcturus was very impressed and laughed. "Spoken like a true Black." He held out his wand hand and took hold of Sirius's wrist and said, "Familias Magicus" The family totem, a silver serpent, appeared like a mirage between the pair and coiled itself around their wrists.

"Bear witness. I Lord Arcturus Black swear on my magic that I shall not betray Sirius's secrets or any details of the future unless given leave by Sirius Orion Black to do so. I furthermore swear on my magic that I shall help Sirius Orion Black, Heir to the Ancient and Noble House of Black defeat the one called Voldemort and save the lives of his loved ones and friends. I shall be his confidant and his mentor. From this day forward I proclaim magical guardianship. By Blood, By Oath, By Magic, So Mote it Be."

Arcturus looked at Sirius expectantly and the boy/man nodded, though he had no wand, it didn't stop him from pledging the same. "Bear Witness. I Sirius Orion Black, Heir to the most ancient and noble house of Black, accept Lord Arcturus Black, Head of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Blacks oath and bear witness to said oath. I accept the magical and physical guardianship of Lord Arcturus Black and swear fealty to the House of Black so long as it stands against the rise of Voldemort. I swear on my magic, so long as I shall be heir of this ancient and noble house I shall never allow this house to subject itself to another's rule. I shall uphold the values that bring esteem to our house and to my patron Lord Arcturus Black. I do swear by Blood, By Oath, By Magic, So Mote it Be."

The family totem seemed to accept their oaths, as it faded in a flash of silver light. Arcturus released him and Sirius sighed. And said, "I don't intend to disappoint you with this second chance life grandfather. I'm not going to waste this chance, and I'm going in with my eyes wide open. But it is a true relief to be able to speak to one person like an adult. I mean I can be quite childish but I think this is a bit ridiculous."

His grandfather chuckled, "Yes I can see the dilemma." He sighed, "I almost envy you, Sirius. But I'm scared for you too. You need to be very careful. A lot more careful than you have been anyway. Like telling your grandmother that you were tortured. That was a blunder of epic proportions."

"She did in my time. I'm like a tale of two Sirius's. Speaking of my mother, what will happen now?" Sirius asked.

"She's been admitted into St. Mungo's psychiatric ward. Involuntary admission requires a 90-day assessment period. We will know more then. If they declare her sane she will stand trial at the Wizengamot for the crimes she has committed." Sirius thought about this, shocked by how one decision, running away with Regulus had suddenly changed everything.

Arcturus studied him and asked, "I take it this is a divergent outcome from your previous history?"

Sirius nodded, "Yes. I guess what surprises me the most is how easy it was." Sirius looked pensive, "That changing the smallest most innocuous event can create absolute chaos. That I could literally destroy everything." Sirius frowned. "What if the future I create is worse than the future I lived through? That would be very difficult to achieve, I know...but..." Sirius shuddered. "I wish I wasn't given so much time. Too much I can ruin." He admitted ruefully.

"Or more that you can fix," Arcturus said kindly. Sirius smiled at the older man, warmed by the encouragement, "Well I can't change it, so I have to deal with it." Finding irony in the sentiment.

Arcturus nodded, "For what it's worth my boy, I would have made the same choice you made. To return. But you must use better caution than you have. That mixup about your mother was very unfortunate. I'm not sure how to explain it to Dora, she's a bit put out that you were less than truthful."

Sirius looked chagrined. "You're right of course. I'll try and explain it. I'm going to have to adjust to the fact that just because I remember something, doesn't mean it has happened... yet, or ever will happen."

Sirius suddenly grinned and then broke out into a hearty laugh. "What do you suppose grandmother would think about having a Seer in the family?"