"I did," Nova Potter declared as an unsettled glare rested upon one of the most respected wizards.

"Oh shit," Elyse whispered to Jade.

"It's about the go down," James remarked as all of the Time Travelers took a step back.

"Oi! Bone heads!" Regulus shouted. "Get the munchies! It's about to start!"

Harry noticed the fire churning the eyes of his girlfriend's future self, or as he knew, his future wife. It was dangerous and deadly. Her face was nothing less than a mask for the fury she felt inside.

It was her eyes that gave her fury away.

Harry figured she meant to show her rage. She can school her expressions in a blink of an eye.

"Am I right to assume your future Nova?" Albus inquired.

"You once said that perhaps I could break your nose just as your brother had in hopes of making it straight," Nova said lowly.

"Sounds like something I would say-"

Nova's fist made contact with his nose, successfully causing blood down his face.

"Nova Lily!" Remus reprimanded his daughter that was technically older than him.

Following the trend since she arrived, Nova Potter ignored her father.

"I take it my plan didn't work," Albus said as he pulled himself from the floor.

"Had it not worked, you would be dead," she seethed.

"GO, MUM!" James called.

"DRAG HIS ARSE!" Jade chanted.

"MUM! MUM! MUM!" Ruby and Lily chanted while the others chanted, "AUNT NOVA! AUNT NOVA! AUNT NOVA!"

"At first, I didn't understand why you raised a boy for slaughter," Nova stated. "But then I realized that sometimes you need to sacrifice something for the greater good. Sacrifice one life for the many. If it would have been any other person in the world, I would have helped. Being a Gryffindor means doing what is right. Being a Gryffindor means you make the tough decisions, the ones no one wants to make. Taking the measures to reach that goal. Slytherins aren't far off from that. The major difference being Slytherins will sacrifice the world for the people they love."

"Now the question remains," Nova took a daring step forward. "If it came down to Ariana, are you a Gryffindor or a Slytherin?"

Just as Dumbledore opened his mouth to speak, Nova's fist collided with his jaw.

"That's for sending Harry, Ron, and Hermione on a wild fucking goose chase without more than three clues."

Her palm struck his cheek.

"That's for not sharing the whole plan."

Sirius moved to stop her but Jade stood in front of him.

"Let her be, Pops," Jade whispered. "Besides, it's hilarious."

Nova kicked Dumbledore's knee cap in.

"That's for knowing damn well Da was innocent and not doing a bloody thing."

Water fell over top of Albus Dumbledore, soaking him.

"That's for erasing me from Pa's existence."

She punched Dumbles one more time, breaking his glasses.

"And that was simply because I wanted to."

The people of the past were too shocked to move. This beautiful woman that radiated power, quite literally just beat the living daylights out of Albus Dumbledore. 

And she clearly did not give a single fuck. 

Nova of the past was laughing her ass off at the sight of a Dumbledore trying to regain his balance. She found it so hysterical tears began to run from her eyes. 

"Mini-me," Nova Potter turned to young Nova. Young Nova seemed to be one of the few people she would look at, despite its oddity. "Zip it."

Past Nova mocked saluted the woman with a smirk. 

"Weasleys, Wood, Zabini-Nott, and my heathens," Nova Potter declared, turning back to the group. "I fixed the time turner. We will be leaving in about an hour. Don't fuck anything up. Harold is already going to put me under house arrest for the next fifty years when we get back. I'd rather not lengthen my pension."

"Like you don't sneak out anyway," Jade snorted. 

"Like you didn't steal my bike at the end of summer to ride to Elyse's house," Nova Potter sassed back, successfully silencing her daughter and wiping the smirk off of her face. 

James tried, and failed, to hide his laughter. 

"I wouldn't say anything if I were you, James Sirius," Nova stated. "I still have all of your embarrassing baby photos. Not to mention your, Marco, and Freddie's little day trip to the Caribbean."

"How do you know that?" Freddie exclaimed. "You were fighting with the tangerine in America!"

"I wasn't trained by Mad-Eye Moody for nothing," Nova rolled her eyes. "Besides, I taught you all your little tricks."

"While we're on topic," Elyse interrupted. "We need your help with a prank on Uncle Harold when we get back. We just need you to distract . . .and make sure we got the logistics right."

"Of course they're right!" Roxanne gasped, sounding deeply offended. "Jade and I wrote them!"

Nova pinched the bridge of her nose as the Golden Marauders began to argue. For the first time since she arrived, she finally looked closer to her age, forty-years-old. She didn't have wrinkles or anything that really showed her age (other than the smile lines around her eyes), but there was a certain aura she radiated. It wasn't just power. It was wisdom. 

Wisdom that someone could only gain after facing and overcoming many challenges. Wisdom that can only be gained by someone who lost everything, or close to it. 

Nova snapped her fingers, and all of the kids' voices were silenced. 

"Also, when you get back," She began. "There's this virus thingy going around. We aren't sure if we're immune or not, but once it hits England, which I have no doubt that it will, we will be quarantined. My guess that it'll hit us some time after the twins' birthday."

Marco snorted. "You'll have a lot of kids at your house if we shut down. You have the best wifi. We'll be there."

"You can't do that-" Nova stopped. "I fell like a hypocrite telling you not to do something when everything went through and out the other when I was a teenager . . .and now."

"Just imagine Dad teaching a bunch of firsties, and James and Jade having a full-on duel in the background over who gets the rest of the Cocoa Puffs." Ruby grinned. 

"The kicker," Lily grinned. "I ate them as I watched them fight."

"Wait!" Elyse shouted. "That means no quidditch!"

"NO!" Jade called in dispair. 

"You can't cancel quidditch!" James objected. 

"Thought that once too," Nova sassed. "Then there was a giant snake . . .and a war . . .and a deadly tournament . . .and a pink toad. . .and pregnancy."

"But I played in a World Cup game!" James reasoned. 

"James," Roxanne pinched the bridge of her nose. "I don't know how many times we have to tell you: BEING IN THE WOMB DOESN'T COUNT!"

Remus was losing his shit as he doubled over in laughter. 

"Karma is a bitch, Lion," Remus grinned wickedly as Nova looked ready to just leave her children there. 

"She's controlling 11 of them," Regulus remarked. "You couldn't control one."

"What in Merlin's name-?" Sirius began. 

"I was three and a half months pregnant when I played, and won, the Quidditch World Cup with the Puddlemere United Team." Nova shrugged. "Took a bludger to the stomach. Good thing I had my magic."

"Isn't that an all-boys team?" Fred asked the older Nova. 

"It was," she smirked. "Until I fucked that up for them."

Dumbledore showed no signs of being attacked by Nova, much to her disappointment. 

"I do believe you need to obliviate us," he stated. 

"No," She began sarcastically. "I was gonna leave you with the knowledge of your deaths."

She spun around to face the past. 

"I'm going to cast a spell that will leave you frozen for a moment, but you won't remember anything about the past 48 hours other than Arthur's attack and you spent your time over your heads in stress. I will also place the memories that were supposed to happen during this small time frame in your minds." she declared. She turned to the time travelers. "Wait in the entryway."

Sirius waited until the kids left to speak up. 

"Lion, can I talk to you?" 

Knowing she had no choice, she followed her father into the side room.

The moment the door closed, Nova was engulfed by Sirius's arms. She was shocked at first, but instantly remembered the feeling of her being in her father's arms. His action alone almost brought tears to her eyes. 

It did, but she didn't let them fall. They pooled in her eyes, making them glossy. 

"I'm so proud of you, Lion," he whispered in her ear. 

She bit the inside of her cheek to stop the sob that desperately wanted to escape her lips. 

"I miss you, Da," she croaked, but her voice was muffled by his chest.

"It's okay," he assured as he stroked her hair. "You grow up and have kids of your own. From what I heard, you changed the world. Just as Remus and I hoped for you."

"Da, I'm sorry-"

"Don't you dare apologize," he whispered, pulling back so he could see her face. 

It was odd to see her older than she had been in 1995 at the age of fifteen, but she was still clearly Nova. Her honey eyes shone with flecks of silver. Her long caramel hair flowing perfected around her face. 

"You can't save everyone, Lion," Sirius whispered, offering her a soft smile. "Everything happens for a reason-"

"Whatever the reason for your death, I didn't like it."

"It made you stronger," he whispered sadly. "Now it's time for you to be strong and brave back in your time."

Nova nodded before schooling her expressions. In almost a blink of an eye, any signs of distress were gone. Raising children, especially Gen Z Marauders, she needed to be strong at every moment . . .or at least that's what she told herself. 

Deliberately avoiding eye contact, Nova waved her hand and whispered the incantation. 

Everyone froze and she left the room. 

In a cloud of golden smoke, Nova Potter and the other Time Travelers had made it hope in time for Christmas Eve dinner. 

***

1995:

"Why are we just standing here?" Ron asked, as everyone recovered from Nova's spell. 

"My nose feels like it was broken," Dumbledore declared. 

"Probably deserved it," Nova Lupin-Black muttered hotly. 

Sirius was uncharacteristically quiet. Gears turned behind his mind. He had flashes of an older Nova. He saw flashes of a Nova Junior and what looked like a glasses-less version of his dead best mate telling him a story. 

The story of his death. 

"Sirius?" Remus asked. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah," Sirius snapped out of it. "I just need to do something."

He dies . . .soon and by the hands of his cousin. His daughter and godson were tricked into believing he was being tortured. 

He didn't want to die, but yet . . .

He'd see Prongs and Flower again. He'd see Marlene and Dorcas. Mum and Dad (Fleamont and Euphemia). 

But he'd leave Moony, Nova, and Harry behind. 

Then again, Nova lived. She was happy and had kids of her own. 

Sirius knew that if he lived, there was a chance Nova wouldn't have the life she always wanted. 

Being a parent meant sacrificing things . . .sometimes yourself. 

Pulling out a piece of parchment and a quill, Sirius Lupin-Black began to write his goodbye letter to his daughter. A letter she wouldn't find for another year. A letter that would cause her to break down into sobs. A letter that gave her the closure she needed. 

Nova,

I know you're off trying to save me since Voldemort tricked you. I know there is a possibility of my death. That's something I learned during the First War; you never know when you'll meet your demise. Dorcus didn't know. Marlene didn't know. James and Lily didn't know.

In case I don't walk out of the Ministry, I wanted to save goodbye and leave with a parting message.

I know you're probably rolling your eyes and calling me dramatic and, in your words, "a big softy".

I love you, Lion. I always have and I always will. You are my little girl, my little lion. I want you to know I'm proud of you. I've always been proud of you.

I've been proud of you since you named me 'Snuffles' (I know I said I hate the name . . .but I secretly don't). I was proud of you the moment you kicked down that door in the Shrieking Shack as you raised your wand to me. I was proud of you the moment you showed the undying need to protect your friends.

And I was hella proud when you trick the rat.

You're Nova Lily Lupin-Black. You've faced more things than someone your age should have to. You have a pet dragon. You're a star Quidditch player. You're a sass extraordinaire. You don't take shit from anyone. You're a rebel (which as Moony always tells me, "Don't look at me! That's all your genes right there.") You're beautiful. You're stubborn and proud of it. You joined the Order of the Pheonix, an adult group designated to taking down one of the greatest evils to walk the Earth.

You're the one thing I didn't think I could have; a daughter. I wouldn't trade you for the world. I couldn't ask for anyone better to restore honor to the Black family name.

You have faced many challenges. Those challenges make you who you are; a strong and badass young woman with the world at her feet.

When I die and I will die, it might be years from now or within the next few hours, my death officially becomes another challenge you will have to overcome.

And you will overcome it, Lion.

Grief is never easy. I would know. I learned so after Marlene and Dorcus's deaths. I learned so after Lilyflower's. I learned after James's death (which was admittedly the hardest).

Don't let the grief consume you. Don't allow the beast that lays within the shadows to swallow you whole. Now I'm not saying to not grieve . . .grief is a good thing. It's a good thing if you grieve properly. Don't grieve as I do; drowning myself in alcohol, and lashing out.

I know I gave Harry a hard time, but I couldn't have chosen anyone better for my little girl. You both compliment each other as the moon does the stars. He's a good guy and he treats you right, which is all I could've hoped for.

And Harry if you're reading this, which you most likely are, I will kill you if you mistreat my little girl. I don't care if I'm dead. I will haunt your sorry arse.

Nova, you will face many more challenges. That's just life. However, with the war on its way . . .there will be bigger challenges.

Don't give up, Lion. When things get tough, do what you do best; be Nova Lupin-Black. Be the girl that can make grown men quiver before her. Be the girl with the power to change the world. Be the girl with cunning wit, and the ambition to take on Voldemort himself (THAT DOES NOT MEAN GO AND CHALLENGE THE BASTARD TO A DAMN DUEL).

I love you, Nova Lily. Never forget that.

~Dadfoot

P.S. Harry, if you're seeing this . . .take care of my little girl, or I will fly up from the bits of Hell and make you wish Voldemort got to you first.

*no, no one else remembers. Only Sirius because that's just how I wrote it.

Harry and the others were waiting for the Time Travelers to arrive. When golden mist filled the room, their spirits were lifted. The kids greeted their parents enthusiastically, telling them all about the past. 

The Potters were no different. Lily practically launched herself into Harry's arms. Teddy ruffled Jade's hair, leaving her to swatting his hands away before flipping him off. Harry embraced Ruby and James. 

When Harry Potter turned to greet his wife, she wasn't there. Instead, she was walking down the hallway, away from the crowd. Hermione sent Harry a look that clearly said she'll handle everything here for the time being. 

With a thankful nod, Harry rushed after his wife. 

He found her in the drawing-room. A piece of parchment was clutched in her hands as she gazed into the fire from the couch. 

Slowly, he sat next to her. He didn't say anything. He knew she needed a moment. 

It wasn't until her breathing became heavy, did Harry pull her into his side, allowing her to cry on his shoulders. 

In her hand was the "last" letter Sirius Black has ever written. It was the same letter, he was currently writing back in 1995. 

The same letter that brought Nova Potter both joy and sadness.