It was another dark evening in the Room of Requirement. The group had reconvened, but the air felt heavier now than it had the night before. The words exchanged earlier between them—the accusations, the pain, the silence—had only magnified the chasm between them. Sirius stood near the far wall, arms crossed, watching with a simmering intensity. Remus, always the empath, seemed on the verge of saying something, but no words came. James, Lily, and Peter had grown quiet, their minds preoccupied with the ongoing tensions .The tension in the room was palpable. The war was growing darker, and whispers of Voldemort’s rise were impossible to ignore.
Severus, who had remained strangely silent during the conversation, finally shifted his gaze towards the group. His usually cold demeanor seemed fractured, something darker behind his eyes. He wasn’t sure where to begin, but he knew one thing: they could not join the Order without knowing the truth. The consequences of their involvement could be deadly, and if they did not listen, they could end up walking the same path he had once walked.
The flickering light of the candles illuminated his pale face, casting long shadows across the room. For a moment, his eyes rested on Lily and James, but his words were meant for all of them.
“I need you all to listen carefully,” Severus began, his voice quieter than usual. There was no arrogance in it now, no superiority—just a man weighed down by the truth, yet determined to prevent his friends from repeating his mistakes.
“I didn’t want to tell you,” Severus began, his voice steady but thick with the weight of what was to come. “I didn’t want to burden any of you with what I know. But I have no choice. If you are going to fight this war, if you are going to join Dumbledore and the Order, you need to understand what I’ve seen—what will happen.”
Lily furrowed her brow, looking confused. “What are you talking about, Severus?”
Severus took a deep breath. This was it. He had to tell them the truth, not just about the present but about his past, about what they didn’t know. “You’re all decided about joining the Order, aren’t you?” he asked bluntly, his eyes sweeping over each of them.
James and Peter exchanged glances, their faces hardening slightly. They had been talking about it, about how important it was to stand up against Voldemort. They had already made their minds up, it seemed.
“Of course we are,” James replied firmly. “It’s the right thing to do. What else would we do? Stand by and let him—”
“No, James. You don’t understand,” Severus cut him off, his voice low but insistent. “Joining the Order is not the same as fighting in school. It’s not like facing off against Slytherins in a duel. It’s life or death.”
Lily frowned, clearly agitated. “We know that, Severus. We’re not children anymore.”
Severus narrowed his eyes, his gaze dark. “And neither was I, the last time I fought in this war.”
Lily, sensing the weight of his words, leaned forward. “Severus, what are you saying? You’re scaring us.”
“I’m not trying to scare you,” he replied quietly, his voice steady. “But there are things you don’t know. Things I’ve seen. And I need you to understand—before you rush into something you can’t undo.”
The room fell silent, save for the crackle of the fire. Severus felt the heaviness in the air, the eyes of his friends on him. He had to tell them about his real past—the one they didn’t know, the life he’d lived before this moment.
James stepped forward, his expression equally perplexed. “Severus, we’ve always fought together. What’s going on?”
Severus’s mouth tightened into a grim line, the tension in his chest almost palpable. His fingers twitched at his sides, as though the words he was about to speak had been clawing at him for months, maybe even years.
“There’s more to the story than just a battle against Voldemort,” Severus began slowly. “I... I died. I didn’t just get knocked out or injured. I died. And I was taken to limbo—a place between life and death.” “I’ve seen the end of this war,” Severus continued, the words coming slowly, deliberately. “I know how it ends—how it ends for all of you. For all of us.”
The silence that followed was thick. Remus’s heartbeat picked up, and Sirius’s gaze sharpened. Severus’s eyes darkened, and for a moment, he seemed to be somewhere far away, lost in a memory that made his heart twist.
The words hung heavy in the air, and it took a moment for anyone to react. Regulus was the first to speak, his voice almost a whisper. “What are you saying, Severus? Are you… are you talking about some vision or—?”
“No.” Severus’s voice grew sharper, desperate. “I’m not talking about some dream or vision. I remember. I’ve lived it.”
The words dropped like stones in the room, and for a moment, no one could speak. Remus, always the thoughtful one, was the first to break the silence, his voice trembling with disbelief. “You—lived it? What does that mean? How can you know all of this?”
Severus turned toward Remus, his eyes dark and filled with grief. “I died, Remus. In another life. But I came back—through the flames. I’m not the same person you’ve known. The magic, the Phoenix… it—it gave me my memories. Everything. Every choice we made. Every mistake.” His voice faltered as he continued, the weight of the words nearly suffocating him. “I remember everything that happened. I was there when Voldemort rose, when he killed you all. I watched you all die.”
Peter’s eyes widened. “What? You... died during the first transformation?”
Severus nodded. “Yes. But I didn’t stay dead. I met three beings: Magic, Fate, and Death. And they gave me a choice.” His eyes flickered briefly to Lily, then to James. “I could either reincarnate and leave everything behind, or... I could merge with my younger self, the boy I was at fifteen.”
There was an audible gasp from Remus. “Merging with yourself? That sounds... impossible.”
Severus glanced around the room, his expression dark. “It wasn’t easy. The merge wasn’t some simple exchange. I retained all the knowledge of my past life—my mistakes, my regrets, my pain. But I also had the chance to change.”
Sirius was the first to speak up. “So you’re telling us that you’ve lived before? That you’ve died before?”
“Yes,” Severus replied curtly. “But it wasn’t just about death. It was about the choices I made. I had the chance to fix what I had done wrong. And believe me when I say... I’ve seen the consequences of my actions. I’ve lived through the destruction that comes from fighting without knowing all the facts.”
Lily’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean by that?”
Severus’s voice dropped, thick with guilt. “I died. I didn’t survive the transformation into my Phoenix animagus form. The magic… it’s volatile, it’s unpredictable. When I died, the flames gave me something—memories, knowledge of a future that was not my own. I don’t know why it happened, but I remember. I remember the choices we made, the path we took, and the destruction that followed.”
Severus sighed, rubbing his temples. This was harder than he expected. “When you join the Order, you’re fighting a battle that you don’t fully understand. There are secrets you’re not aware of—dangerous ones. You need to be prepared to make sacrifices, things you’re not ready for. Things you won’t come back from.”
James crossed his arms. “We’re ready. We will be ready when we leave school.”
“You’re not listening, James,” Severus snapped, his voice sharp. “I wasn’t ready either. But I was forced to make choices, and those choices led me to death. Death that I can’t undo. And I don’t want that for any of you.”
Peter spoke quietly, his voice laced with concern. “But we can’t sit by and let Voldemort take over, can we? You don’t expect us to do nothing.”
“I’m not saying you should do nothing,” Severus replied, his voice softening slightly. “But you need to know what you’re walking into. The Order isn’t just about fighting dark wizards—it’s about making impossible decisions, the kind that haunt you long after they’ve been made.”
Lily leaned forward, his face set in determination. “We can handle it. We’ve been through enough to know what it means to fight for what’s right.”
Severus shook his head, frustration evident in his eyes. “That’s what I thought too. I thought I knew what was right. But I didn’t. And I paid for it. You don’t know everything that’s at stake here. Not just your lives, but your souls.”
The room was still now, all of them processing his words. Severus could feel the weight of the truth pressing down on him, but it was necessary. They had to understand.
Lily’s voice broke the silence. “What are you trying to say, Severus?”
“I’m saying that if you join the Order without knowing what’s really at play—without understanding the consequences—you could lose yourselves. I don’t want that for any of you. I don’t want you to make the same mistakes I made. Trust me when I say... you need to know everything before you make that choice.”
James opened his mouth to argue, but paused, looking at Severus—really looking at him for the first time. “You’re not just warning us, are you? You’re telling us not to join.”
Severus’s gaze softened slightly. “I’m telling you to think. Think long and hard. Don’t rush into something you’re not prepared for.”
There was a heavy silence as the friends processed Severus’s words. The tension in the room hadn’t dissipated, but it had shifted—turned into something far more uncertain. They weren’t sure what to believe, but they knew one thing: Severus had seen something they hadn’t, and whatever it was, it had scarred him.
Finally, Lily spoke. “We’ll think about it. But this doesn’t mean we’ll back down from fighting.”
Severus nodded, his expression unreadable. “I’m not asking you to. I’m just asking you to be prepared.”
Sirius, Remus, James, and Lily were all silent now, waiting for Severus to speak. They had seen the solemnity in his eyes, heard the urgency in his tone. They knew this wasn’t just some warning about the dangers of war; this was something deeper.
“I need to tell you all the truth,” Severus began, his voice low and almost reverent. "Not just about the Order, but about the consequences of being involved. I don’t want you to repeat the mistakes I made. You’re all my friends. You deserve to know everything."
Remus nodded quietly, his gaze intense. "We’re listening."
Sirius leaned forward, clearly still skeptical but willing to hear him out. James and Lily exchanged looks, their expressions a mixture of curiosity and concern.
“I’m sure you know that Dumbledore was the one who brought the Order together,” Severus continued, looking each of them in the eye. “But there’s more to it than that. Dumbledore... he has a way of convincing people to join him, doesn’t he?”
James frowned. “What do you mean? He’s been trying to protect us, to do what’s right.”
Severus shook his head, his expression hardening. “That’s the story he tells. But it’s more complicated. Dumbledore... he uses people. He manipulates them into thinking that they’re fighting for a cause, when in reality, they’re being used as pawns in a much bigger game. When I was younger, he convinced me to join the Order. I thought I was doing the right thing, but all I was really doing was being used by him, just like all of you will be.”
Lily’s eyes widened. “Severus, I can’t believe you’re saying that about Dumbledore. He’s the one who’s been helping us all along.”
Severus’s gaze softened slightly. “I don’t doubt that he’s done things that seem right, Lily. But when you’re in the Order, you see things you don’t expect. The things Dumbledore asks of you... they’ll change you. And not for the better. I saw it happen to the people I cared about. You all think you’re going to stop Voldemort and make everything right, but the truth is... you’re more likely to become like the people you’re fighting against. I don’t want that for you.”
Sirius narrowed his eyes. “So you’re telling us Dumbledore’s got some kind of hidden agenda? That we’re just pawns in his little chess game?”
Severus nodded slowly. “I’m saying he’ll ask you to sacrifice more than you think. He’ll ask you to make decisions that will haunt you for the rest of your lives. The cost of this war... it’s not just lives, it’s souls.”
James shifted uncomfortably. “But you didn’t have to stay in the Order. You could’ve walked away.”
Severus’s eyes darkened. “I couldn’t. None of us could. Once you’re in, you’re bound to the cause, whether you want to be or not. It doesn’t give you a choice. You’ll see things, things that will make you question everything you believe in. I don’t want that for any of you. Not if you can avoid it.”
Remus’s voice was soft but steady. “What happened to the others? The ones who joined?”
Severus hesitated for a moment, his gaze dropping to the floor. He knew what he had to say, but it wouldn’t be easy. He wasn’t going to lie—he couldn’t. “I watched it happen. I saw how it ended for them. All of you... you think you’re invincible, that you can handle it. But it doesn’t work like that.”
Lily’s hand tightened around her wand. “Severus, what are you trying to say?”
“I’m saying that I’ve seen how you all die,” Severus said softly, his voice strained. “I’ve seen it in the future, the way it unfolds. And I need you to understand just how dangerous this path is. If you go into this war without knowing what’s really at stake, you’ll end up just like I did—broken and lost.”
Sirius stood up suddenly, his face pale. “What do you mean, you’ve seen how we die? You’re talking in riddles again.”
Severus clenched his jaw. “I died, Sirius. I died, and I was shown what happened in my previous life. I was given a second chance—a chance to merge with my younger self. And in that process, I saw the consequences of everything that was about to happen. I saw how each of you dies, and it’s not the way you think it will be. I saw the war take you all, one by one.”
James stepped forward, his face filled with a mixture of disbelief and anger. “You’re saying we’re going to die? Just like that? You want us to sit back and let the Dark Lord win?”
“No,” Severus said quickly, shaking his head. “I’m not saying that at all. But I’m warning you, James. There’s a cost. The choices you make will affect everything—everything you care about.”
“Tell us,” Remus urged, his voice calm but insistent. “Tell us what happens.”
Severus swallowed, his throat tight. “Regulus,” he began, his voice steady but carrying an undeniable weight, “you were the first to die from our group. Your story is one of the most tragic, you died during the first war against Voldemort and it’s one of the reasons I’m telling you all this—to give you the chance to change it.”
Regulus sat up straighter, his usual arrogance replaced by curiosity. “How did I die, Severus?” he asked, his voice unusually calm but laced with a hint of apprehension.
Severus exhaled slowly. “In the previous timeline, Regulus, you were not the same person you are now. The Regulus who existed then was a man still torn between the pull of his family’s expectations lead by Walburga and the desire to do what was right. But ultimately, you couldn’t reconcile the two. You never truly believed in Voldemort’s cause, but you were bound by blood, by the Dark Lord’s manipulation. That’s the Regulus who I knew... until you finally made a choice that changed everything.”
"One of the major differences," Severus began, his eyes narrowing slightly as he recalled the past, "is the influence of Walburga Black. In the first timeline, the Black family was ruled with an iron fist by Walburga, and her extreme pure-blood ideology poisoned everything in that household. Regulus’s choices were shackled by her view of blood purity, her obsession with maintaining the Black family's 'honor,' and her insistence on allegiance to the Dark Lord."
Lily, her brow furrowing, looked at Severus. "You’re saying that the Black family was even more rigid in the past?"
Severus nodded grimly. "Yes. Walburga's control over Regulus was suffocating. She had him locked in her narrow vision of what the world should be—a world where pure-bloods were superior, and anything else was to be feared or despised. This constant pressure to conform to her ideals pushed Regulus further into Voldemort’s embrace, and he ultimately joined the Death Eaters, not because he truly believed in Voldemort’s cause, but because of his mother’s relentless expectations."
James clenched his jaw, clearly disturbed by the notion. "So, Regulus was trapped—caught between family loyalty and his own sense of right?"
"Exactly," Severus confirmed. "In the other timeline, Walburga's influence was absolute. She saw anyone who wasn’t a pure-blood as inferior, and that extended to her own children. Regulus was never allowed to express his doubts. He couldn’t have the freedom to choose his path, not under her rule. She kept him in a cage of pure-blood rhetoric, and that kept him isolated."
"In the previous timeline, Sirius made a different choice. He left his family. He escaped their oppressive grip, and in doing so, he severed the ties that bound him to the Black family." Severus's tone was measured, but there was an underlying bitterness as he spoke. "Sirius was a Gryffindor, driven by his idealism. His decision to leave was an act of defiance, a desire to escape the suffocating rhetoric of his family. But in doing so, he abandoned Regulus in the process."
James’s eyes widened. "He left him behind? Alone, with all that pressure from Walburga?"
Severus nodded grimly. "Yes. Sirius left, and while it was an act of courage, it also left Regulus to shoulder the full weight of their mother’s ideology, the expectations of the family, and the legacy of the Blacks. Regulus was left to face everything on his own. No support from Sirius, no outlet for his frustration. Just the pressure of being the younger brother in a household where loyalty to Voldemort and the pure-blood ideology was the only path to acceptance. He didn't have choice but to take Voldemort's mark before he graduated. Regulus Black’s death came not through a dramatic duel or a battle on the frontlines, but through an act of courage and sacrifice that no one would have expected from a member of the Black family.
In the first timeline, Regulus had been conflicted, torn between the life he had been born into and the realization that Voldemort’s ideals and methods were far darker than he had ever imagined. He had joined Voldemort in his youth, believing that by doing so, he could protect his family, maintain the Black legacy, and gain control over his own fate. But over time, he saw the horrors that Voldemort was willing to commit, particularly the treatment of Muggle-borns and the disregard for the lives of anyone who wasn't a pure-blood. Regulus began to understand the true nature of the man he had pledged his loyalty to.
The turning point came when Regulus learned of the Horcruxes—the dark magic Voldemort had used to split his soul. Regulus, ever loyal to his family despite the growing disgust he felt for Voldemort’s methods, realized the depth of the Dark Lord’s power and the danger he posed. It was a truth he could not ignore, and it was that knowledge that led him to a fateful decision.
In a desperate attempt to stop Voldemort, Regulus infiltrated the cave where one of Voldemort’s Horcruxes—the locket—was hidden. To retrieve the Horcrux, Regulus had to retrieve it from the bottom of a basin filled with a potion so deadly that it would kill any who tried to drink it. He commanded Kreacher, his house-elf, to help him, ordering him to retrieve the Horcrux while Regulus drank the potion.
The potion, which poisoned Regulus’s body, was only the beginning of the peril he faced. After drinking the potion, he tried to escape the cave with the locket, but the Inferi—zombie-like creatures animated by dark magic—attacked. Regulus struggled to escape, the potion’s poison weakening him and the Inferi dragging him back into the water."
In those final moments, Regulus did not survive. His body was pulled under the water by the Inferi, and he perished alone, far from the family he had once hoped to protect, far from the brother who had left him behind, and far from any true recognition of his efforts.
Regulus’s death was a quiet one—no heroic speeches, no grand battle, only a last, desperate attempt to correct his mistakes. The act of retrieving the Horcrux and attempting to destroy it marked his final, redemptive act. He did not die as a servant to Voldemort, but as someone who had tried to atone for his past.
When his body was found by Kreacher, the house-elf’s sorrow was genuine, but it was not enough to undo the years of servitude and devotion that Regulus had endured. Regulus Black was gone, and his death went largely unnoticed by the world outside the Black family.
In the original timeline, his death was a tragic, lonely end. But in this new timeline, Regulus's death would not be in vain. His decision to stand up against Voldemort, though it cost him his life, had been the spark of a rebellion that would eventually bring down the Dark Lord. And now, with the knowledge of his sacrifice and the bonds of family and friendship strengthening him, Regulus had a second chance to make sure his legacy was one of redemption, not regret.
With a sharp exhale, Severus spoke, his voice steady but filled with a quiet weight. "Peter, you may not want to hear this, but it’s the truth. In the previous timeline, your death came at the hands of your own betrayal. You died during the second war."
Peter winced, but Severus continued, his tone unwavering. "You see, in that timeline, you made the choice to align yourself with Voldemort when the Dark Lord returned. You sold out your friends, those who had trusted you—the Marauders. The ones who had treated you as an equal despite your fears and insecurities."
Peter’s face flushed, guilt flickering in his eyes, but Severus didn’t let him interrupt. "After betraying them, you hid in plain sight. You became Scabbers, hiding as a rat for years, thinking you could escape the consequences of your actions. You believed that no one would ever suspect you."
Peter opened his mouth as if to speak, but Severus silenced him with a raised hand. "But when the time came, when the final confrontation with Voldemort arrived, the truth came to light. You couldn’t hide anymore. You were found out."
The room was silent as Severus paused, his eyes narrowing as he fixed Peter with an unreadable gaze. "In the end, when Voldemort was defeated, your life was forfeit. You had failed to secure his favor, and your betrayal of those closest to you couldn’t be forgiven. You were caught, Peter, and you died alone, a coward to the end."
Peter’s breath caught in his throat, his hands trembling as Severus’ words hung heavy in the room. He had never truly faced the full weight of his actions, not like this, and the truth of his betrayal—how it had led to his own tragic end—hit him harder than he’d ever anticipated.
"But," Severus added, his voice a little softer now, "it doesn’t have to be the same this time. You’re here, now, with the chance to make a different choice. You can still redeem yourself, Peter. The past doesn’t have to define you."
Peter looked up slowly, hope flickering in his eyes. "How... how can I change? I—"
"You need to take responsibility," Severus interrupted, his voice firm but not unkind. "Stop hiding in the shadows. Stand with your friends, as you once did. Stop being the rat that runs away when things get tough."
Sirius, his expression grim, added, "We’ve all made mistakes, Peter. We know that. But there’s a difference between accepting your mistakes and running from them."
Peter’s eyes darted around the room, his mind racing. He had been afraid for so long, hiding behind his actions, avoiding the consequences. But now, with Severus’s words resonating in his chest, something inside him shifted. Maybe, just maybe, there was still time for him to step up and face what he had always feared.
Severus stood there, watching him carefully. "If you decide to be better—if you decide to fight alongside us rather than against us—then you have a chance to change. You can choose a different future, Peter. One that isn’t defined by your past mistakes."
Peter nodded slowly, as if he had just begun to comprehend the magnitude of the moment. "I’ll try," he whispered, barely audible, but Severus heard it.
Sirius, always quick to react, gave Peter a stern but genuine look. "You’d better, Wormtail. The consequences of your actions go beyond just your life. They affect all of us."
The room fell into a heavy silence as everyone digested the weight of Severus’s words. The past could never be undone, but the future was still in their hands. And for Peter Pettigrew, this was his second chance—if he was willing to take it.
he room fell into a heavy silence as Severus turned his attention to Remus and Sirius. They sat side by side, the bond between them unspoken but undeniable. Severus knew this would be difficult for them, especially as he began to recount the details of the previous timeline.
His gaze hardened, and with a deep breath, Severus spoke, his voice somber but unwavering. "Sirius, your life was different too" his voice quieter but still filled with the gravity of the tale he was about to recount.
Sirius Black’s life, even before the rise of Voldemort, had been defined by rebellion. Born into the pure-blood Black family, Sirius was raised in a home steeped in the ideals of blood purity and elitism. His parents, Orion and Walburga, had hoped their firstborn would carry the Black family name with pride, upholding its bigoted traditions. But from a young age, Sirius had rejected these values. His rebellious nature was apparent the moment he was sorted into Gryffindor at Hogwarts.
Unlike his younger brother, Regulus, who followed the family's expectations and was sorted into Slytherin, Sirius rejected everything his parents stood for. His closest friends, James Potter, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew, formed the Marauders—four boys united by mischief and a shared desire to push against the limitations of their world. It was during these years that Sirius’s loyalty to his friends, especially James, was solidified. He was known for his carefree attitude, quick wit, and undying loyalty to the people he loved.
Yet, Sirius’s life took a darker turn as Voldemort's influence grew. When the Dark Lord’s first rise to power threatened everything Sirius stood for, he joined the Order of the Phoenix alongside his friends, determined to fight for a world free from Voldemort’s oppressive rule. But it wasn’t long before tragedy struck.
In a cruel twist of fate, Peter Pettigrew—the friend who had always been seen as the weakest—betrayed them all. The Potters, James and Lily, were murdered by Voldemort in 1981, and it was believed that Sirius had betrayed them. The reality, however, was far darker. Peter, in an effort to avoid suspicion, faked his own death, framing Sirius for the murders of both James and Lily, as well as twelve Muggles in a bombing.
The truth of Peter’s betrayal wasn’t known for many years, and Sirius was sent to Azkaban without trial. The isolation, combined with the torment of the Dementors, was almost unbearable. Yet Sirius never gave up hope that he would one day escape and clear his name. During his twelve years in the dark prison, he clung to the belief that Peter was still alive, and that one day, he would have his chance to seek revenge.
It was in 1993 that Sirius finally managed to escape from Azkaban. The circumstances were almost miraculous: driven by the intense need to right the wrongs of his past, he broke free, determined to track down Peter and expose him for the traitor he was. After escaping, Sirius made his way to Hogwarts, where Harry Potter, James’s son, was attending school. At first, Harry and his friends saw him as nothing more than a dangerous fugitive, but as the truth about his past began to unravel, Sirius’s innocence was proven.
However, even though Sirius had finally been exonerated, his life would never return to the way it was. The war against Voldemort had escalated, and Sirius rejoined the Order of the Phoenix, fighting in the Second Wizarding War alongside old friends. It was in the midst of this conflict that he found himself in the Department of Mysteries in 1996, where a group of Death Eaters had seized a prophecy related to Harry’s fate.
In the ensuing battle, Sirius faced off with his cousin, Bellatrix Lestrange, who struck him with a curse that sent him falling through the veil in the Death Chamber, a mysterious and fatal portal. He died instantly, never having the chance to help Harry fulfill the prophecy or see the end of the war he had fought so hard to stop.
Severus watched Sirius carefully as he absorbed the tale, the weight of it all pressing down on him. He could see the flicker of recognition in Sirius's eyes—the hurt, the anger, the regret. Yet, there was also a glimmer of something else—an openness, a chance for change, for a different future.
"Sirius, you fought and you lost," Severus said quietly. "But in this timeline, it can be different. You have the chance to change things, to avoid the same mistakes, to alter your fate."
Sirius didn’t respond immediately. The silence stretched between them, thick with the past and the possibility of a different future. He had always known that his death, in that previous timeline, had been a tragic end to a life filled with both heroic and reckless choices. But now, here he was, hearing it all again—how the world had shifted, how lives had been lost, and how they could all still change.
"Sirius," Severus’s voice was low, "I want you to understand. What you did in the past... your sacrifices, your choices—they weren't in vain. But now, we must move forward. There are still battles to fight, and a future to shape. This time, we will write our own story."
Sirius looked up, his face a mixture of determination and uncertainty. He had lived his life as a rebel, as a protector, and as a man willing to fight for the things he believed in. But now, faced with the chance to rewrite his fate, he felt the weight of that responsibility once more.
"I’m not sure how it will play out, Severus," Sirius said, his voice filled with the echoes of his former self. "But I’m willing to try."
And in that moment, Sirius Black—the man who had lost so much—found a flicker of hope. The future was uncertain, but one thing was clear: this time, he wasn’t going to face it alone.
Seated in the dimly lit room, Remus Lupin listened intently as Severus Snape recounted the painful, often heartbreaking events of the previous timeline. The weight of the conversation pressed heavily on his shoulders, yet Remus remained calm, his face reflecting the weariness of someone who had lived through too much. As Snape continued his tale, Remus couldn't help but wonder what would be different this time around.
With a slow breath, Snape spoke again, his tone measured as he began to recount the events of Remus's past—the trials, the sacrifices, and ultimately, the loss.
Remus John Lupin was born on March 10, 1960, to Lyall and Hope Lupin. From the start, his life was marked by tragedy. When he was just a small child, Remus was bitten by a werewolf during an attack orchestrated by Fenrir Greyback, a notorious Dark wizard and werewolf. This tragic event cursed Remus to live with the stigma of being a werewolf—a condition that would haunt him for the rest of his life.
At Hogwarts, Remus was sorted into Gryffindor, where he became fast friends with James Potter, Sirius Black, and Peter Pettigrew. The Marauders were born out of their shared mischievous spirit, but Remus’s condition remained a closely guarded secret. Only his closest friends knew of his secret transformation each month, and they took it upon themselves to help him through it—becoming Animagi in their fifth year to accompany him during his werewolf transformation and keep him safe.
Remus’s life at Hogwarts was defined by this tight-knit group of friends, and together they fought against the rise of Voldemort’s forces. They were in the thick of it, determined to stop the Dark Lord's rise to power, and they joined the Order of the Phoenix, fighting against the Death Eaters. But just as the Marauders had formed a united front against the darkness, the first war against Voldemort proved to be a brutal trial that would ultimately break them apart.
In 1981, the Potters—James and Lily—were betrayed by someone they trusted. Peter Pettigrew, their supposed friend, had turned on them, and the Potters were murdered. The betrayal shattered Remus, just as it had shattered Sirius, who had been falsely accused of the betrayal. Remus knew that Peter was responsible, but he had no way of proving it. The loss of James and Lily was a devastating blow. Yet, through it all, Remus kept fighting.
After the deaths of James and Lily, Remus continued his work with the Order, though the battle against Voldemort seemed endless. The war dragged on, and the toll it took on everyone—physically, emotionally, and mentally—was immense. Even after Voldemort’s defeat in 1981, when the Potters died, Remus’s life remained in turmoil.
In the years that followed, Remus tried to rebuild his life. He worked as a teacher at Hogwarts, where he found some measure of peace. The years were kind to him in some ways, and though the scars of his past remained, he found solace in his friendships and in the stability of his work. He would even eventually rekindle a relationship with Sirius, though their friendship was complicated by the long years of silence and the loss of so many others.
The end of the First Wizarding War and the subsequent years were difficult for Remus. He had lost so much, and despite his efforts to build a life for himself, the shadow of what had happened hung over him. His condition as a werewolf made it hard for him to truly belong in the wizarding world, and there were times when he was forced to leave his post at Hogwarts, unable to stay due to the fear of what he might do during his transformations.
But in 1995, when Voldemort returned, Remus rejoined the Order of the Phoenix. He couldn’t stand by and let the Dark Lord rise again, especially not after all he had lost. He fought with the same determination he always had, but in the end, it seemed that the light was losing.
In the final battle at the Battle of Hogwarts, Remus fought valiantly, alongside his old friends and the next generation. But even though they had the upper hand, it was still a fight filled with loss. The battle culminated in the deaths of some of the most beloved members of the Order, including Remus himself. In the chaos, he was struck by a curse and died fighting alongside his wife, Nymphadora, and his friends. His death was a somber moment in the war, and it left a gap that would never truly be filled.
As Severus Snape finished recounting Remus’s life in the previous timeline, a heavy silence fell over the room. Remus sat still, his face unreadable as he absorbed the words. The weight of his own history—the loss of his friends, his loneliness, his struggle with his condition—was so much for him to carry. Yet, as Severus spoke, Remus realized something that had eluded him for so many years: this time, there was a chance to change everything.
"You’ve lost so much," Severus said quietly, watching Remus carefully. "But this time, we have the chance to rewrite it. You don’t have to live through the same pain. You don’t have to die the same way."
Remus’s eyes were soft, tired. "It’s hard to imagine things will be different, Severus. But... maybe you're right. Maybe we can change it."
The weight of the past hung between them, but there was also hope. Hope that they could fight differently, that they could take another path, one where the sacrifices wouldn't be so painful, where their friends wouldn't have to die. Remus didn’t know how, but he knew that he would fight with everything he had to ensure that their future was different.
"I’ll fight," Remus said, his voice quiet but firm. "I’ll fight, and I’ll protect them. This time, I won’t let the past repeat itself."
And in that moment, Remus Lupin felt a flicker of hope—a hope that, this time, the future would be shaped by the choices they made, not by the tragedies of the past.
The room fell into a tense silence as the group gathered around Severus, each of them anxious, yet expectant. They had heard the stories of Regulus, Sirius, and Remus. Now it was time for the most painful tale of all—the story of Lily and James Potter. Severus had prepared them for the hard truths, but he knew this one would hit hardest, particularly because of the raw emotions it invoked. Lily and James were more than just friends; they were the heart of the resistance, the parents of Harry, the couple who had made the ultimate sacrifice.
Severus cleared his throat, his voice heavy with the weight of the story he was about to tell.
“In the first timeline,” he began, his gaze sweeping over the group, “Lily and James were at the center of the fight against Voldemort. They were not only powerful wizards but symbols of hope, of love, and of resistance. But like all heroes, their story was tragically cut short.”
He paused, looking at each person before continuing, “James and Lily, along with their friends, were targeted by Voldemort because of the prophecy that foretold the one who would defeat him. The prophecy said that Voldemort could be vanquished by a child born at the end of July—someone with the strength to bring about his end. Voldemort chose to hunt them down, thinking they were the parents of that child, and they knew it was only a matter of time before he would come for them.”
“James and Lily went into hiding, using the Fidelius Charm to keep their location secret. Peter Pettigrew, one of their closest friends, became their Secret Keeper, the one tasked with keeping their whereabouts safe from Voldemort. But, as you all know, this trust was misplaced.”
Severus took a deep breath, steadying himself before continuing. “Peter Pettigrew, the one who was supposed to protect them, betrayed them. He told Voldemort their location. And on the night of Halloween, 1981, Voldemort arrived at their home in Godric’s Hollow.”
The room was deathly still as Severus spoke. His voice dropped lower, almost imperceptible. “James died first. He tried to protect Lily, to buy her time to escape. But Voldemort was too powerful. He cast the killing curse, and James—he didn’t have a chance. He died trying to protect his family.”
Severus's gaze softened for a brief moment as he turned to face Lily, knowing the pain she would feel hearing this, even though it wasn’t her death. He didn’t have to look at the others to know the impact it was having on them. James had been a hero, a protector. The loss of him had reverberated across the wizarding world.
“Lily, despite everything, still tried to protect Harry,” Severus continued. “When Voldemort turned his wand on her, she didn’t fight. She knew she couldn’t protect herself. But she pleaded for Harry’s life, hoping that Voldemort would spare him. She begged him to leave her son alone.”
He let out a quiet sigh. “But the most powerful thing Lily did that night was what no one expected. She gave up her life for her son, willingly, without hesitation. The love she had for Harry was more powerful than any curse Voldemort could cast. When he cast the killing curse on her, the magic she had woven around Harry—the sacrificial magic of a mother’s love—protected him.”
Severus swallowed hard, his throat tight as he moved forward with the rest of the story. “Voldemort’s curse rebounded, and instead of killing Harry, it destroyed Voldemort. For a time, the dark wizard was no more. But it came at the cost of James and Lily’s lives. They died, leaving Harry an orphan, but they left behind a legacy of love and sacrifice.”
The silence in the room stretched on, heavy with the weight of the loss. James and Lily had been so much more than their deaths—they had been the best of the best. Their deaths had been a catalyst for so many things, including the eventual rise of Harry as the hero he would become.
Severus turned toward the others, his eyes briefly meeting each of theirs. “Their deaths, especially Lily’s sacrificial love, marked the turning point in the First War. The prophecy was fulfilled, but not in the way Voldemort expected. The child who survived was the one who would ultimately defeat him.”
He stopped for a moment, his expression clouding with a mixture of regret and sorrow. “In the end, Lily and James didn’t just die—they were the reason Voldemort was defeated. But their death was also the beginning of so much pain. And it wasn’t just their deaths. It was the trust they put in others. The belief they had in the goodness of people, which allowed their deaths to happen in the first place.”
There was a heavy pause in the room. Severus’ words hung in the air like a bitter taste, as if the grief that had once clung to the world could still be felt.
“Peter’s betrayal broke everything,” Severus finally said, his voice tinged with bitterness. “But even with that betrayal, it wasn’t the end. Their deaths became a symbol. A rallying cry for those who fought against Voldemort, and a turning point for Harry.”
He looked down, his face a mixture of guilt and sorrow. “You may never fully understand what it was like. You might never fully comprehend how painful their loss was, but know this—their deaths were not in vain. And neither were their lives.”
Severus paused. “James, Lily, and their sacrifice shaped the future. The world they left behind was the world that would one day see Voldemort’s defeat. And though their deaths were tragic, they were part of the larger story—the one that continues now.”
The room was silent for a long while, each person processing what Severus had just shared. Lily and James were not just names in history, not just symbols—they were real people, with real love, real dreams. They had given everything for the world to survive, for the hope of a better future.
Severus glanced over at Lily and James. Their faces were unreadable, but he could see the storm of emotions in their eyes. They had heard the story of their own deaths—tragic, painful, and inevitable in the first timeline. But in this new timeline, they had a chance to change it. To fight, not just for the future, but for each other. And that was something worth fighting for.
The air in the room felt thick with anticipation as Severus prepared to tell the final part of the story. Harry Potter’s story—the child who had survived Voldemort's curse, the boy who had grown to become the one who would ultimately defeat the Dark Lord. It was a tale known by all, yet hearing it from a different perspective, with the knowledge they now carried, felt heavier than before.
Severus cleared his throat, his voice low but resolute as he began.
“In the timeline before this one, Harry James Potter was born to Lily and James Potter on July 31st, 1980,” he began, his eyes flicking briefly to the others in the room. “From the moment he was born, he was marked by prophecy. The prophecy that foretold the rise of a child who would have the power to defeat Voldemort.”
He paused, letting the weight of the words settle in the room.
“Harry’s life was marked by tragedy. The night he was born, Voldemort sought to end him, believing he was the one who could destroy him. It was a fateful night in Godric’s Hollow, when Voldemort, in his quest to kill Harry, murdered his parents in cold blood.”
Severus’s gaze shifted briefly to Lily. He knew the pain these words caused her. Even though they weren’t her death in this timeline, the loss of James and their shared connection to Harry made the story all the more heartbreaking. He continued, fighting the tightness in his chest.
“But the curse that Voldemort cast on Harry, the killing curse, didn’t work as intended. It rebounded, destroying Voldemort instead, in what was one of the greatest acts of protection a mother could give her child. Lily’s love, her sacrifice, created a barrier around Harry that Voldemort could not breach.”
Severus’s voice dropped, soft but deliberate. “Harry survived. The boy who lived. And so, the Wizarding World entered an era of peace, with Voldemort vanquished, at least for the time being.”
The room was silent, and Severus’s words hung in the air, heavy with their implications. Harry’s survival was the turning point, but it had not been the end of the story. The war, the sacrifices, the pain—everything had continued, even after Voldemort’s first fall.
“In the first timeline,” Severus continued, “Harry was left in the care of his aunt and uncle, the Dursleys. They treated him poorly, neglecting and abusing him, keeping him in the dark about his true heritage. He was raised in ignorance, unaware of the world he belonged to.”
There was a sharp intake of breath from Sirius, who had been silent until now. His eyes narrowed, a mix of anger and regret flashing across his face. Harry had suffered in the first timeline, and they all knew it was a result of betrayal, misunderstandings, and misplaced trust.
“Harry’s first real glimpse into the magical world came when he turned eleven, when he received his letter to Hogwarts. It was then that he learned he was a wizard, and not just any wizard, but the one who had survived Voldemort’s curse,” Severus explained. “At Hogwarts, Harry made friends—Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger—and encountered dangers that no child should ever have to face.”
Severus’s voice grew more serious. “The Philosopher’s Stone, the Chamber of Secrets, the Triwizard Tournament—each year, Harry was thrust into situations where his life was in danger. Voldemort, though weakened, was not gone, and Harry had become the focal point of his obsession. He wanted Harry dead. But Harry, despite everything, had something Voldemort could never understand. Courage, loyalty, love.”
Sirius clenched his jaw, looking toward Remus. Both of them knew what Harry had gone through—the struggles, the loss. The pressure placed on him was immense, and in the first timeline, it had nearly been too much to bear.
Severus paused, allowing his words to settle before continuing. “Over the years, Harry became not only a symbol but a weapon in the war against Voldemort. But Harry wasn’t just fighting for the world; he was fighting for those he loved. His friends, his mentors, and, in the end, his family. He came to understand that his survival wasn’t just a fluke—it was a purpose. A purpose to stop Voldemort once and for all.”
The room was heavy with the truth. Severus could feel the weight of their attention, each person quietly processing the story they all knew but hearing it again, from another perspective. Harry’s life had been marked by both tragedy and hope.
“Then came the final battle,” Severus continued, his voice steady but laced with the sadness of knowing what would come next. “In the Battle of Hogwarts, Harry faced Voldemort once more, but this time, he was not the scared child who had survived by luck. He was a young man who had learned the true cost of war. He had watched his friends die—Fred Weasley, Remus Lupin, and Nymphadora Tonks among the fallen—and he had accepted the truth about himself.”
Severus’s voice softened slightly. “In the end, Harry knew what he had to do. He willingly walked into the Forbidden Forest, knowing that the curse Voldemort had cast on him as a baby would have to be broken. He had to die, in order to make sure that Voldemort was finally defeated. But as he faced his death, he was given a choice. To return. To finish the fight. And Harry chose to return.”
Severus’s tone grew grimmer. “In the final moments, Harry faced Voldemort and defeated him, once and for all. With his death, Voldemort was gone. Harry, against all odds, had fulfilled the prophecy, not by killing Voldemort, but by choosing to live, by choosing to fight for others.”
The room was still. Even the air seemed to have frozen. Harry’s journey had been long and painful, but it had led to his ultimate victory. His survival had been the catalyst, but his choices had shaped the outcome. He had chosen love, and in doing so, he had saved the world.
Severus looked at the group, the sorrow of the past still lingering in his heart. “But the question now is, how will this timeline differ? What will you do with the knowledge you have? Harry’s fate in the first timeline was written in blood, but you can change the path ahead.”
He turned toward Lily and James. “You can protect him better this time. You can make different choices. He doesn’t have to grow up alone. He doesn’t have to bear the weight of the world on his shoulders.”
The room remained silent as Severus’s words hung in the air. The past was written, but the future was still uncertain. They had all been given a second chance, a chance to rewrite their stories—and Harry’s story—before it was too late.
Severus paused, his words heavy as he addressed the final part of the narrative that had shaped the fates of everyone in the room. The tragedy of their past had many layers, but none as complex or as manipulative as Albus Dumbledore’s role in it all.
"Dumbledore," Severus began, his voice low but filled with a quiet bitterness, "was not the wise, all-knowing leader he presented himself to be. In truth, he played a significant part in the tragic fates of all of us—Lily, James, Remus, Sirius, Harry... everyone."
Sirius, who had been listening intently, frowned, his brow furrowing in confusion. "What do you mean? Dumbledore was the one who led the fight against Voldemort—he was the one who set the Order up in the first place. He kept us all alive in the war."
Severus’s gaze met Sirius’s, his eyes hard, the weight of his knowledge sinking into the room. "Yes, he did. But that’s not the whole truth. The problem with Dumbledore was never his desire for victory—it was the methods he used to get there, the pieces he sacrificed, and the control he needed to maintain over the outcome. Dumbledore manipulated all of us in ways you couldn’t see. Most of you, especially James, Sirius, and Lily, trusted him blindly."
James leaned forward, his expression serious. "Manipulated? How? He was always looking out for the greater good. He wouldn't—"
"You’re right about one thing," Severus interrupted, his tone cutting through the air. "Dumbledore was always working toward the 'greater good,' but his interpretation of that was dangerous. He saw the lives of individuals as mere tools to achieve his vision. Lily, James, Harry—they were all part of his grand design."
Severus shook his head. "It wasn’t about defeating Voldemort for Dumbledore—it was about winning the war on his terms. He orchestrated the entire conflict, guiding it like a chess game. He set up the pieces, knowing full well the sacrifices that would need to be made, and he had no hesitation about throwing lives away if it suited his purposes."
The room went still, as if the air itself had thickened with Severus’s words. Lily’s eyes widened, her expression shifting from confusion to realization. "But how? How could he sacrifice people like that?"
Severus’s jaw tightened as he began to reveal the truth. "It started with the prophecy. Dumbledore knew of the prophecy about Harry being the one to destroy Voldemort. He knew that Voldemort would target Harry and his family. But instead of warning them immediately, instead of doing everything in his power to keep them safe, he manipulated the situation. He believed that Harry had to survive the first time in order to fulfill his role in the second war. And so, he arranged everything in such a way that you, Lily and James, would eventually have to die."
Lily’s hand flew to her mouth, horrified. "What are you saying? Dumbledore—he knew we would die? That Harry would have to be left alone?"
"Yes," Severus replied bluntly. "He allowed Voldemort to target you. He set it up so that you would be betrayed by someone in your inner circle—Peter Pettigrew. And he did all of this knowing that Harry would survive, because he needed Harry to be the key to Voldemort’s ultimate defeat."
Sirius’s face was contorted with disbelief. "No. He didn’t—he couldn’t have known."
Severus’s gaze hardened. "He knew. And what’s worse, Dumbledore played a part in Peter’s betrayal. He let the information about your family’s secret, about your lives being in danger, fall into the wrong hands because he wanted to ensure the survival of the prophecy. It was never about saving you, Sirius, or keeping James and Lily safe—it was about keeping Harry alive, the 'chosen one.'"
Remus shook his head, his voice quiet, but filled with disbelief. "But Dumbledore was our leader, the one we trusted. How could he—?"
"Because he saw the bigger picture," Severus snapped. "Dumbledore’s greater good was the war’s victory, not the people involved in it. He cared about the outcome, the grand plan, far more than the individuals who would suffer or die along the way. He manipulated the Order, using us as pawns, just as he used Harry."
Lily’s eyes were wide with sorrow as she grasped the weight of Severus’s words. "But we trusted him. We believed in him."
"That’s exactly what he wanted," Severus said softly, almost with a trace of pity. "He manipulated you, Lily. You were the heart of the Order. He made sure that you believed in him, so that when the time came, you’d trust him with your lives—and your death."
James clenched his fists, his face red with anger. "Why would he do that? Why let our deaths happen if it meant protecting Harry?"
"Because Dumbledore needed Harry to be the symbol. He needed Harry to survive, to become the one who could destroy Voldemort. He could not afford to lose him." Severus’s voice trembled with a mix of anger and regret. "You were never more than pieces in Dumbledore’s chess game. All of you."
Sirius was quiet for a long moment, the sting of Severus’s words sinking in. "So Harry wasn’t the only one who was a pawn in all this. We all were. All of us."
Severus nodded grimly. "Yes. Dumbledore made sure you all would play your parts in his plan, whether you wanted to or not."
There was a long silence in the room as the weight of Severus’s revelations hung in the air. For years, they had trusted Dumbledore—their leader, their mentor, the guiding light of the fight against Voldemort. But now, they were faced with the harsh reality of his manipulations, and the tragedy that had unfolded because of them.
"And now," Severus said quietly, his voice softening, "you have a chance to change things. To not allow yourselves to be pawns in his game. This time, you can do better. This time, you can protect Harry, and you can protect each other. You’re not alone. You have a second chance."
The room was still, the echoes of Severus’s words settling deep within them all.
Severus’s voice softened as he leaned forward, his intense gaze sweeping over each of them, the weight of his words lingering in the air. "Now that you know the truth, you have to decide for yourselves, not just as soldiers in this war, but as individuals with the power to shape your own futures."
He paused, letting the silence stretch, giving them a moment to process everything he had just revealed.
"I’ve shown you the path Dumbledore has set for us, the sacrifices he was willing to make, the lives he was willing to lose, all for his greater good," Severus continued, his voice low and calm, but with an undercurrent of urgency. "But you must ask yourselves, is that the future you want to walk? Do you want to continue down this road, trusting Dumbledore, when you now know the cost of such trust?"
James, his jaw still clenched in anger, broke the silence first. "You’re saying we have a choice. A real choice. That’s what you’re offering us."
Severus nodded. "Yes. You’re not bound to the path Dumbledore has set for you, not anymore. With the knowledge I’ve given you, you can change the way things unfold. You can refuse to let him use you, refuse to play into his hands. But it’s up to you to decide."
Lily’s expression was a mixture of concern and curiosity. "You said there’s more we need to know, but it’s not your secret to tell." She glanced at Severus, as if trying to understand the depth of the mystery still hanging over them. "What do you mean? Who else is involved?"
Severus hesitated for a moment, weighing his words carefully. He had already given them a lot to process, but this... this was something entirely different. "There is someone else, someone who has been working in the shadows. They are working to defeat Voldemort in their own way, without Dumbledore’s involvement. This person has their own plans, and they’ve been keeping a low profile for a reason. They understand what Dumbledore is doing, and they have no intention of playing along."
Sirius, always quick to speak his mind, leaned forward, his eyes narrowed. "And you’re just going to leave us hanging? You can’t drop a bombshell like that and expect us to just sit here, Severus."
Severus gave him a hard look. "I’m not saying anything more because I’m not the one who should reveal this secret. It’s not my place. But I promise you, this person has the ability to help us. They have information, resources, and a plan that could change everything. But you have to decide if you’re willing to trust them."
"Who is it?" Remus asked, his voice quiet but filled with interest. He had already felt the weight of Severus’s words, but now it seemed there was a deeper mystery to unravel. "Why can’t we know?"
Severus’s eyes flickered with a mixture of caution and respect. "Because some secrets are not mine to share. But I will tell you this: this person is not someone you would expect. They have been working in the shadows for a long time, and they know things that Dumbledore doesn’t. They understand how to destroy Voldemort—not through the usual means, but in a way that could ensure his true defeat."
Sirius leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful, as the implications of Severus’s words began to sink in. "So we have a choice. We can either join Dumbledore’s Order, play our parts in his game, or we can trust this mystery person and their plan."
Severus nodded. "Exactly. You have the chance to take control of your future, to make decisions based on what you know, not just what you’re told. You don’t have to follow the path that’s been laid out for you. But I warn you, it won’t be easy. Whatever decision you make, it will change everything."
Lily looked around the room, her eyes moving from Severus to James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter. The weight of the choice was heavy in her heart, and for the first time, she truly understood what Severus meant. They weren’t just fighting a war—they were deciding their own futures, their own fates. And with that decision came a responsibility that none of them had ever fully grasped until now.
"Severus," she said softly, "we’ll think about it. You’ve given us a lot to process."
Severus nodded. "I know. And I’m not asking you to make a decision now. But just know that the power to change everything is in your hands. Don’t let Dumbledore make the choices for you, not anymore."
James stood up, running a hand through his hair. "We need time to think, to talk about this. But... I’ll be damned if I let Dumbledore control me like that. I want to make my own choices, for all of us."
Sirius, his arms crossed over his chest, nodded slowly. "We’ll need to know more, Severus. But if what you’re saying is true—if there’s another way to end this war without Dumbledore’s methods—I’m willing to listen. I’ve always hated the way he kept us in the dark."
Remus, his expression thoughtful, turned to Severus. "If there’s a way to truly defeat Voldemort, without the manipulation, without the casualties, then we need to find out more. We can’t let ourselves be pawns in someone else’s game any longer."
Severus gave a small nod, his expression softening ever so slightly. "I will leave that decision to you. Just remember—whatever path you choose, it will change everything. The future is not set in stone."
And with that, Severus stood up and turned towards the door. "I trust you will make the right choice. Just be careful. There is much more at stake than you know."
As Severus left, the room fell into an uneasy silence. Each of them was left to grapple with the weight of the decision ahead—one that would not only affect their own futures, but the future of the wizarding world.
