A Different Approach

Summary: Through some supposedly impossible chance, Remus Lupin wound up in the past on the night of James and Lily's death. Can he change the outcome to save the future? And what did the mysterious figure mean that others would later join him on his journey? Who?

Character(s): Harry, James, Sirius, Dumbledore, Lily (Briefly), Voldemort (Briefly), Remus, Etc.

Warning(s): Character Death, Spoilers, perhaps crude language.

I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER OR THE MARAUDERS!

Mold. It smelled of mold, along with a somewhat stagnant stench in the air.
Then came the pain.
A headache worse then one he has had ever before erupted in his skull, which felt like it was breaking into two. And the sudden seizing of his muscles, soon feeling like they were being stretched out inside of him.
He faintly heard himself cry out.

And than Remus remembered. He remembered clearly what the strange figure, whose hood covered his face, had told him, "One chance to make things right. But you are not alone, two others shall go back both with memories until the end though their views differ ." And then he seemed to snap out of it, feeling stiff and in pain. He carried with him all his memories of what's to come, and he was right now in the past on the night of James and Lily's death.
Which meant...he really has a second chance? To save James and Lily...To keep Sirius out of jail...get Peter...change it all...everything. But...would it really be as easy as he imagined? No of course not.

And the other two who 'shall go back with memories until the end' that means someone who was still there even after he himself had... died, and until the end? Does that mean they survived until the end of the war? And it's two others? Remus wished he knew who the others where, than maybe just maybe, he'd be able actually set things right.

But first things first. He had to get to James and Lily's safe house.

With a loud CRACK! Remus disapparated into James and Lily's living room just in time to wrap his arms around James from behind as Voldemort began to speak,

"Avad-"

Crack!

Outside in the forest Remus fell to the ground dropping James down beside him, he paid James no heed as he disapparated inside once more and watch in utter horror as Lily's body collapsed lifeless to the floor, with Harry's cries echoing in the room.

"No...NO! I wasn't fast enough!" Remus screamed.

Harry's wails grew louder.

Remus turned abruptly towards Harry staring at the newly formed scar on his forehead as he lifted Harry up into his arms he whispered, "I'm so so sorry, Harry."

Crack!

"Harry!"

Remus could only watch numbly as James ran up to him and swept Harry into his arms.

"Remus! How? Why are you? You just...Where...Where's Lily?" James stared at him wide eyed and pale-shaking ever so slightly.

"I...James...Lily's..." Remus gulped, "Lily's dead James. I-I wasn't fast enough." Remus stared at his friend as he collapsed to his knees a heart-wrenching sob tore through the trees around them.

"No...L-Lily? Not her...oh god why...?" James voice cracked, he had trailed off unable to continue.

"James. James w-we have to go." Remus didn't bother to wait for a confirmation from his friend, he just disapparated James, Harry and himself out of there and into Dumbledore's office.

CRACK!

Dumbledore's head snapped up to stare at them in shock, Remus figured they were certainly a sight to see; himself all gangly looking and a sobbing James Potter kneeling on the floor clutching a wailing Harry to his chest like he was a lifeline.

"Headmaster...could...could you please lend us your office for a few hours? And could you please find Sirius and bring him here?"
Remus knew that Dumbledore would understand not to ask questions just yet and stood there silently as Dumbledore stood up.

"Very well, Mr. Lupin I shall return." Dumbledore smiled although it seemed a bit forced, "Please help yourselves to a lemon drop."

CRACK!

"James. James please!" Remus all but begged dragging a silent but thankfully no longer sobbing James up Into standing position and pushing him into a chair, "James, you have too snap out of it. Harry needs you."

Almost as though Remus's words slapped him in the face, James flinched back and immediately began to work on calming baby Harry down.

CRACK!

Dumbledore appeared before them with a yawning Sirius Black by his side.

Remus felt his insides clench once more at another one of his once dead best friends standing in front of him.

In a matter of seconds any tiredness Sirius showed was gone and replaced with worry as he raced to James side but not without shooting Remus a questioning glance.

"I believe...an explanation is in order..." Dumbledore spoke calmly yet there was a hidden urgency underlying his tone.

Remus was just about to speak before James cut him off,

"Lily's dead."

"W-what?" Sirius gaped at James, his eyes wide and disbelieving.

Dumbledore on the other hand tensed and nodded sadly before speaking up, "M-May I ask how?"

James simply turned to stare at Remus, which in turn brought the others attention to him as well.

Remus sighed and stated bluntly, "Voldemort struck her with the killing curse."

"Mr. Lupin," Dumbledore seemed oddly serious, "If I recall, you were supposed to be out on a secret mission for the order but what I would like to know is what you were doing in Godric's Hollow tonight and how did you find where the Potter's were currently staying?"

Remus's lips thinned out into a tight grimace, unsure how to answer before finally saying, "If you'd like headmaster, I could show you the memory...but only you."

"What!" Sirius yelled, "What the hell is that suppose to mean?! We have a right to know!"

Remus glared at Sirius, not even realizing a bit of his Inner Wolf showed thru as his eyes flashed yellow, "Its not up to you." James and Sirius both stared at Remus, even Dumbledore was admittedly a bit startled at seeing his...other self show with no full moon in at least three and a half more weeks.

Then Sirius realized what Remus said, "How is it not up to us?! We never told you about where they were staying yet you knew! And how'd you know to conveniently show up tonight!"

This time Remus's eyes stayed their bright yellow as he stalked forward towards Sirius, causing him to take a step back, "I know that you both suspected me of being a traitor, I know you switched keepers, I know Peter sold you out to Voldemort, and I know that I amNOTin the mood to deal with your suspensions!"
For the first time he could ever remember, Remus had stunned Sirius into silence.

"You know what," Remus gritted his teeth, "I can't do this. Headmaster if you want to see my memory it'll have to be another day."

Remus turned and gripped the door handle, "By the way, the only reason I fucking came here tonight was to make sure you, Lily and Harry were safe. I'm sorry I wasn't quick enough." As he said all of this, Remus stared right into James eyes.

"Rem-"

Not bothering to listen to anything they would say, Remus walked right out of the office and disapparated away.

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Hey!

I'm sorry for any OCCness but if your were Remus wouldn't you be a bit cranky?
And I know they shouldn't have been able to apparate onto Hogwarts but I changed it to where Remus somehow could along with Dumbledore, Sirius and James.

PLEASE REVIEW!

I'D LOVE TO KNOW WHAT YOU THINK!