Time

Your time is running out. But what is time exactly? Many say time is an illusion, others don't take it very seriously. But their, as your time is running out. What can you do about this? You could try running. You would have many reasons to run from time. Age, upcoming nerve-racking events... but it wouldn't help. Because time is running with you. Time isn't something you can wave away or hide from. It's something you have to stand up and face. The seconds are ticking... have you faced it yet? The clock is running... Have you faced it yet? Because if you haven't, you should soon... for your time is running out.

-Michael Bontatibus

My friend wrote that. He is a Muggle. He has absolutely no clue as to the nature of time or what can happen when it is tampered with.

I do. I was thirteen when I received my first time-turner. I thought as Mikey thought about time: you can't run from it, you can't change it, it is just there. But time is not "just there". Time is a horrid thing. Many Muggles have tried to discern it's secrets. I'm told that even wizards in the Department of Mysteries are trying to determine it's cause and effect.

They never will figure it out. Time has no rules. There are rules to playing with time, of course. Petty rules. "Don't be seen", things like that, to make the humans feel like we are in control. But, hey! If your going to break the oldest, most fundamental rule in the book, who cares about Ministry regulations? Of course, you have to pretend to care, if you side with the Order. Otherwise...

And then, with going back in time, why not do something for yourself, to make your future more easy? Why not make yourself rich or not let your parents die or get revenge on Bellatrix Black? If you do that, your life will be happier, will it not? But you always know in the back of your mind that these things shouldn't be tampered with. I think, and most would agree with me, that these wouldn't do any harm to be changed, but there is always a "what if".

What if things are better now?

What if this was what was intended?

What if I will regret it?

My parents aren't very religious, but they believe that all happens for the best; that there is a hidden meaning or good thing to each bad. They believe that life (and time for that matter) has certain bindings and boundaries, and in these restraints we are destined to stay. And I believed them... until third year.

I am sixteen now. My best friend's godfather just died. And I am in the worst quandary I have been in since I decided to return my time-turner. Or since I saw Neville Longbottom come out of his parent's ward at St. Mungo's. But this time I can do something about it.

I have, locked in the trunk at the foot of my bed, a time-turner from the Department of Mysteries that I found in my pocket at the end of my fifth year. I know how to use it, and no one can stop me. But that one "what if" holds me back.

What if my parents were right?

What if what happened was for the best?

What if we come to regret it?

No! It can't be that this is the wrong thing to do. He didn't deserve to die! Harry didn't deserve to feel this blame. And I don't need to feel that I should have pressed harder... that I should have made more of an effort...to hold him back...

Yes. It is decided. I will go back in time. I will rescue Sirius. And no one will know except me. And if it turns sour... well, I will know. I will know that I have tried. Tried to change the future, the past, the inevitable... and the unchangeable.