Diverging Paths
Chapter 25: Diverging Paths
Petunia—no, Veronica—was starting to see the cracks in the timeline. Subtle at first, but undeniable. The world she had once known from books and fanfictions was shifting, and she was at the center of it. She had expected some variations, after all, the butterfly effect was inevitable, but the changes were growing more pronounced with each passing day.
The first, and perhaps most significant, was Eileen Prince. In the original timeline, she had lived a quiet, defeated life in Spinner’s End, resigned to her circumstances. But this time? She was different. After their conversation in the park, something had clicked in Eileen—some spark of self-preservation that had been smothered in another life. She had taken small but decisive steps to reclaim herself, standing up to Tobias in a way she hadn’t before. She wasn’t just enduring anymore; she was fighting.
And Tobias? He was no longer the monster of the past. He was still harsh, still a man shaped by bitterness and regret, but he was trying. He stop drinking. He made an effort to gain his family trust back. He even acknowledged the magic in ways he never had before, making small gestures that hinted at something like remorse. He was determined to make his wife fall in love with him again and have Severus become dependable of him and believe him trustworthy.
That alone was a significant deviation. Severus, as a result, wasn’t as withdrawn. He was still sharp-tongued and intensely focused on magic, but there was a lightness in him that hadn't been there before. He didn’t carry the same haunted look Veronica had expected from the boy who would one day become the infamous Potions Master. He still had his ambitions, his determination, but there was no sense of inevitability in his fall to darkness. He was able to left go of his obsession with Lily and his past with the marauders, allowing him to not only to befriend the marauders but to become one.
Lily, too, was changing. Perhaps it was because Petunia—this new Petunia—was different. She wasn’t bitter or dismissive. She didn’t sneer at Lily’s magic or long for something she could never have. Instead, she encouraged control, discipline, responsibility. And Lily, instead of growing reckless and overly trusting, was learning to wield her power with more caution, more awareness. Their relationship wasn’t strained by jealousy or resentment. It was still complicated—Veronica had to fight against the natural instinct of the old Petunia’s body, the remnants of ingrained emotions—but it was healthier. Stronger.
But it wasn’t just the people around her who had changed. The world itself seemed to ripple with deviations.
The Marauders were forming their bonds earlier than they should have. Sirius, ever outspoken, had started questioning his family sooner, finding the Blacks willing to listen. Remus, usually reserved and cautious, had become slightly more daring, encouraged by a Ravenclaw influence rather than Gryffindor recklessness. James Potter, always confident, was surprisingly more restrained, as though something in the atmosphere of this new timeline had tempered his bravado.
And then there were the whispers. The shifts in the wizarding world that had nothing to do with Veronica’s direct influence. The undercurrents of change within the Ministry, the murmurs of certain Death Eaters-in-the-making hesitating before falling into Voldemort’s grasp. Was it her presence that caused this? Or had she simply been dropped into a reality that was always meant to be different?
Veronica wasn’t sure. But she knew one thing: the timeline was no longer what it was supposed to be. And with every change, every ripple, she grew more uncertain about where it would all lead.
She had come into this world believing she knew the script. Now, she realized, they were writing something entirely new.
And then there was the Black family. The biggest shift of all.
Walburga Black had been removed from the House of Black, sent away to live under the supervision of a house-elf when she refused to accept the family’s new stance on blood purity. With her banishment, the dynamic of the Black family changed dramatically. Sirius was no longer subjected to the Cruciatus Curse, nor was he forced to escape from Grimmauld Place in rebellion. Instead, he was encouraged to form his own opinions, his Ravenclaw cleverness allowing him to present arguments that, if not fully accepted, at least made his family stop and consider his words.
Orion Black, no longer indifferent, took the mantle as heir after separating from Walburga. Though busy, he was now a more present father, supporting his sons in ways he hadn’t before. With Sirius fulfilling his duties as heir in his own unique way, Regulus was free to explore his own interests. Instead of being pressured into his mother’s strict ideals, he fell in love with music and composition. Inspired by Sirius, who was beginning to see art as more than a mere hobby, Regulus embraced his creative side, finding solace in music while still holding pride in his family name.
Andromeda, too, found her path altered. With Walburga gone, her mother, Druella, became more relaxed in her expectations. This shift allowed Andromeda to marry Ted Tonks with her family’s approval, maintaining her relationships rather than being ostracized.
Arcturus Black, seeing early signs of the family madness in Bellatrix, took a different approach with her future. Rather than dictating her path, he called her into his study and, for the first time, asked her what she wanted.
"Bella, you know you are displaying the family madness. I want to hear your opinion before we decide your future. Traditionally, as a female descendant, your role was to marry into an allied family and bear heirs. However, my research has confirmed that inbreeding leads to infertility, squib births, and worsening madness. For you, that may not be the best course. If your dream is to marry and be a mother, I will support you and arrange for a suitable partner, even blood adoption if needed. But if you have other aspirations, I want to hear them."
Bellatrix had been floored. No one had ever asked her what she wanted before. She had expected to be given a role and fulfill it without question. But now, for the first time, she had a choice. She burst into laughter, shaking her head.
"Grandfather, I was ready to obey, but I've never truly desired to be a wife or mother. I have always longed for the freedom the male heirs receive—the chance to explore the world and study magic. When I return, I want the family's support to become an Unspeakable in the Department of Mysteries."
Arcturus had been taken aback, but after a moment of contemplation, he agreed. And so, Bellatrix was sent abroad, traveling the world to study magic. Her fate was no longer tied to Voldemort’s vision of power.
Meanwhile, Narcissa prepared for her wedding to Lucius Malfoy. With the support of her family and her fiancé’s approval, she negotiated a marriage contract that granted her veto power over political and business decisions that might harm the Blacks and Malfoys. Lucius, seeing her keen insight and passion for protecting her lineage, came to value her counsel. What he didn’t know yet was that her wisdom would one day be his salvation.
And then there were the whispers. The shifts in the wizarding world that had nothing to do with Veronica’s direct influence. The undercurrents of change within the Ministry, the murmurs of certain Death Eaters-in-the-making hesitating before falling into Voldemort’s grasp. Was it her presence that caused this? Or had she simply been dropped into a reality that was always meant to be different?
Beyond the Black family, the political landscape had also shifted dramatically. In another timeline, the blood purist movement would have gained traction, and Hogwarts would have become a breeding ground for war. However, in this reality, the influence of the pure-blood ideology was waning. Their violent methods were now met with more disdain than approval.
This shift was largely due to the progress made in magical society regarding creature rights. Over the past few years, initiatives such as the Blood Bank founded by Theodore and Andromeda Black, as well as the potion ingredient farms managed by Eileen Prince Snape, had demonstrated that treating magical creatures with dignity resulted in a 90% decrease in creature-to-wizard violence.
Additionally, the results of the Black family’s research were presented at the 28th Sacred Families' Heads Reunion. While not all families readily accepted the findings, few were willing to be labeled as advocates for a stagnant and outdated system. The conservative faction of wizarding society found itself at odds, no longer able to push their agenda without resistance.
The Wizengamot, too, was now functioning as it was originally intended, with a true balance of power. With the Black family leading the neutral faction and the Shafiq family reclaiming their influence, neither the light nor dark factions held absolute sway. This equilibrium ensured that no single ideology dominated wizarding politics, preventing corruption and fostering a more cooperative government.
Meanwhile, the rise of the new Dark Lord faced significant hurdles. Without widespread support from the dark and neutral factions, blood-purity propaganda was failing to recruit followers. The movement struggled to gain traction as magical society increasingly embraced progress over outdated ideals.
Veronica wasn’t sure. But she knew one thing: the timeline was no longer what it was supposed to be. And with every change, every ripple, she grew more uncertain about where it would all lead.
She had come into this world believing she knew the script. Now, she realized, they were writing something entirely new.
This shift was rapidly reflected at Hogwarts. The Hogwarts of 1975 was united, friendlier, and more accepting of both Muggle influences and wizarding cultural teachings than in the previous timeline. Students were no longer as divided along blood-status lines, and the atmosphere was one of curiosity and collaboration rather than brewing hostility. House rivalries still existed, but they were rooted in competition rather than deep-seated prejudice. Friendships between students of different backgrounds flourished, creating a more inclusive and open-minded generation of young witches and wizards.