Chapter I
The sun filtered through the dusty window, illuminating the Black family tapestry - more specifically the name Regulus Black.
Harry was facing the tapestry at this moment, the letter addressed to Sirius clenched in his hand. He watched the dust swirl in the sunlight. It had been a week since he had been to the Burrow, at Bill and Fleur's wedding, with all his friends (read family). They weren't pleased when he decided to hunt horcruxes alone, but Fred and George had a plan to keep their little brother out of their sight (a plan involving a vampire in pajamas), Hermione had already memorized much of the Weasley family tree, no one would suspect that she was born among non-magicals and Draco was doing a good job of pretending to side with the Death Eaters. Harry managed to convince them that he would be better off alone and knowing that everyone would be fine.
So here he was, at 12 Grimmauld Place, looking at Regulus' name and wondering what it would have been like if his godfather had received that letter, if he had known that his brother had actually died a hero.
-Why didn't you ever give this to Sirius? - There was no harshness in his voice, just curiosity. He took a while to win over Monstro's friendship and didn't want to scare him.
-Master Regulus told Kreacher to give the letter to Master Sirius only when he asked for his brother - The elf didn't need to finish the sentence, And he never asked... Harry remembered the resentment in Sirius's voice when he told the boy about how Regulis died.
Harry woke up that morning and went to do one of his many inspections of the house. He re-entered Regulus' room, where he had spent much of his time since discovering he was R.A.B. Kreacher came to him with the locket hanging from his slender neck and the yellowed envelope wrapped in his fragile fingers.
"Kreacher thought Master Potter would like to see this. Master Reggie wanted it handed over to the blood traitor." Harry had to spend a long time trying to stop the elf from punishing himself for the insult, but when he finally sat up in bed and opened the letter, the contents formed a lump in his throat.
Dear Sirius,
I hope you are well, or as well as can be expected under the circumstances in which we live. I know I can't ask you to forgive me or understand my choice, but I need you to read this letter to the end and trust, not in me, but in your little brother from years ago who you swore to always love and protect.
I heard that Lily and James are expecting a child and that you will be the godfather. I'm relieved to know that you don't hold grudges against your best friend, that you're all still the same family you were when you were at Hogwarts.
That's why I ask you, Sirius. Protect this child! I fear the Dark Lord will try to kill her, and he will have help from someone you and James trust with your lives.
Peter Pettigrew, he's the undercover spy for the Order of the Phoenix!
The Potters' son is a great threat to Voldemort. Dumbledore knows this, but I can't trust him to care about this baby's safety.
I discovered something that could postpone the Dark Lord's plans. I will do my best to stop you, but I need you to believe the words in this letter.
Regulus Arcturus Black.
Back in the present, Harry snapped out of his trance and walked down the stairs towards the kitchen, Kreacher's little footsteps echoing behind him. If that letter had been delivered, his parents would be alive, Sirius wouldn't have been arrested, Remus wouldn't have spent years alone and away from the wizarding world and Regulus wouldn't be remembered as a coward. Harry would have the chance to have a family!
He knew it was risky to go back in time, even more risky to try to change it, but that letter needed to be delivered.
-Kreacher got the time turner, sir.
-Thank you, Kreacher. But we've already talked about calling me sir. No, you don't need to do that! - Harry had to hold the elf's arm hard enough to stop him from hitting his head on the coffee table without hurting him.
He was sitting on the carpet in the library, completely surrounded by Regulus' notes on horcruxes and the countless books on time travel scattered around him.
God, how I wish Hermione were here. He whimpered silently. He could even visualize his friend, with her voluminous dark curls and intelligent expression, sitting in one of the armchairs, strategically making her way through stacks of copies organized in a way that only the girl would understand.
Kreacher had volunteered to go to Knockturn Alley to get a time turner. Harry agreed somewhat hesitantly. He didn't want the elf to go to a that place alone, but they didn't have much time and it would be too risky for Harry to go there, even using the invisibility cloak.
Okay, there was a spell in question that would expand the time turner's limits and allow the boy to go back to December 1979. He couldn't speak or be seen, but he wouldn't need it anyway. At that time Sirius was still living in London, so he would just have to go to Remus' flat, leave a letter and hope that Sirius believed Regulus.
It seemed like a good plan (No, it didn't, but it was the only one)
He hung the time turner around his neck, placed the envelope in the bag he had received from Hagrid, along with the photo of his mother and the Snitch he inherited from Dumbledore, positioned himself in the center of the clock drawn on the floor and said goodbye to Kreacher.
-Master Harry is very good! He will be able to honor Master Regulus' memory! - Tears of emotion filled the elf's eyes as he raised his little hands toward the circle, helping Harry cast the spell.
-We go, Kreacher! Well - He hoped not to lose everything. He defeated Voldemort as quickly as possible, but this was the only chance he had to save his family.
The chain around his neck began to spin like an uncontrolled needle. Harry tried the skin of his throat and for a moment he thought he would be beheaded, but a golden light passed from the circle scratched on the floor, forming a tunnel of energy that pressed all the muscles in his body and rose towards the ceiling.
Harry looked away and noticed that not only the ceiling, but also the floor and walls were gone. And then, the light went out and the boy fell towards the void.