Disclaimer: See Prologue
A/N: Because I have this written - I have the whole story written - and because I need a life.

It had certainly been an experience; not one that he particularly wanted to relive, but an experience none the less. He had had to resist the urge to sob with Harry and doing so would be social suicide.

He couldn't help but notice that he was the only member of the company with the obvious exception of Harry, who didn't float. He stepped on twigs and they snapped. He stepped on leaves and they crinkled, though not as loudly as they had done in life. Lupin frowned.

"Are there stages of death?" he asked Lily, the only person he was likely to get a sensible answer out of. "How can I walk?"

Lily bit her lip. "It's very complicated, Remus. You were hit by a curse that stops the heart, not a killing curse. Do you understand what that means?"

He sighed. "Well, does it mean that the heart can be restarted? Yes, it must. That's why Sirius was harping on about twenty minutes the whole time. Twenty minutes is the time you have to restart a heart."

Lily nodded, smiling. "So technically, you're not yet dead. There's still hope of your survival but you have only fifteen minutes to decide whether you'd rather stay here with us or return to your former life. They're trying to resuscitate as we speak but ultimately the decision to respond lies with you."

He nodded. "So what do I have to do?"

"Your wife has decided that she must go back and has opted out of what I am about to offer you. I don't know whether that comforts you or not but I suppose I had better give you the facts." Lily pulled him to his feet. "Basically, we can show you a world in which you live. It's not about you, Remus. It's crucial to remember that. It's about a world that still has you. It's about your wife, your son and the world the aftermath of war creates. It's about all kinds of things. I'd like to start, if I may, so I can lay out some ground rules. I dread to think what would happen if I let Sirius waltz away with you." She smiled. "Time is absolutely precious and we cannot waste it so there will be no more time allotted to you or you will die. Secondly, just so you know, the people that you see cannot see or hear you so don't believe James when he tries to worry you. Thirdly, you can make your decision at any time but it is final so I advise you to wait."

Lupin nodded. "So what happens now?" He gasped as Lily took his hand and he was rushed through a myriad of colour and sound. It was very much like Apparation and when they came to a halt he felt decidedly uncomfortable.

The room had been painted a primrose yellow but there had been no other changes. His photographs still littered the walls, his bookcases were just as full and even the duvet looked the same.

"Where are we?" he asked.

"You'll see."

Sleepy Cottage. March 10th 2006, 7:03 a.m.

Lupin groaned, nudged awake by his wife. "What?" he asked, sleepily, his face still mashed into the pillow.

"Happy Birthday!"

She was far too excited for his liking. "I thought we agreed I'd stop celebrating them after thirty-nine."

"You agreed that one alone then, spoilsport." She smirked and kissed his cheek eliciting another moan in protest. He had only just managed to drift off again. "Besides, after all the effort Teds went into to get your present, you might as well enjoy it." She grinned smugly but refused to elaborate.

Now he was awake. He obviously knew his son better than anybody and Teddy Lupin was well and truly the son of a Marauder. James and Sirius would have been extremely proud. Tentatively, Lupin inquired as to when Teddy managed to acquire his present.

Tonks shrugged. "I can't say."

He sighed. "Yes, you can. I dread to think what he's-"

From beneath him came scratches against wood. The stairs creaked as Teddy hurtled down them. Faintly, he heard shushing noises and the silence became deafening.

"Alright, now I'm terribly afraid." He listened for the sounds of his son on the stairs. "Ted?"

"Can I come in?"

"Of course you can."

He pushed the door open and ran to his father, arms outstretched and ready to fling around his shoulders. "Happy Birthday, Dad."

"Thanks, kiddo."

Teddy grinned. "Shall I get Emma and then we can open presents?"

Tonks winked at him and Lupin felt the sinking in his stomach worsen. It now felt like a team of dragons were dancing the Macarena at the pit of it.

"Daddy!"

Like a heat seeking device, his four year old daughter hurled herself at him. It smelt like a bottle of camomile shampoo had exploded beside him. No matter how old she was, he had the distinct feeling that she would smell of Johnson's Baby shampoo. He hugged her closer.

"Wait 'til you see what Teddy got you."

Even Emma was in on the conspiracy? He decided she was his best chance. "What has he got me, Emmy?" But she pressed her finger to her lips and shook her head. Tonks grinned.

He heard the sound of his son bounding up the stairs but it was intensified. Either his hearing had improved dramatically or he was bringing something with him. The door was pushed open and although used to Teddy's little quirks, the sight caused a gasp.

The intruder was approximately three inches off the ground, red and tawny with deep set black eyes. Its droopy face looked up as he stared mournfully at Lupin whose mouth had dropped open.

Teddy closed the door behind him and scooped up the Bloodhound puppy, holding him to his chest. Teddy, like his mother, spoke as would a used-car salesman when in distress. He talked quickly and smiled the entire time, using long words in a reassuring tone even when he knew he was in an immense amount of trouble.

"I know what you're thinking, Dad. He's little now but he's going to get bigger. That doesn't matter. This place is huge and you've kept a Bloodhound here before. I thought we could walk him together so I won't shirk or anything and I got hold of loads of books on training him even though I've already been told he'll be difficult." He finally took a breath and, as though presenting the pièce-de-résistance, added, "And you can name him because he's yours."

Silence. Complete silence. Until… "Where did you get him?"

Teddy bit his lip. "Harry took me to Salcombe because he knew they were selling some there and it's really close to home. He's from Harry too. He told me about your last one and I checked with Mum and she thought it was a good idea so Mum likes him."

Lupin slowly nodded. "He's lovely."

"But…?"

"But nothing. He's lovely. Pass him here." The dog was somewhat perturbed by its removal from Teddy's arms but soon made himself comfortable between Lupin and Tonks, a little wary of Emma's podgy hands, but he at least allowed her to stroke his long ears. "So," said Lupin, "I can name him?"

Teddy nodded, grinning. "So, we can keep him?"

"Of course we can."

"You'd better not name him like Gramma names things."

Lupin raised an eyebrow. "Your grandmother named me!"

Teddy winced and smiled sympathetically. "I know." Tonks raised her eyebrows and Emma gasped.

Luckily, Lupin laughed. "Alright, what should I call him then, if you're the font of all naming knowledge?"

Teddy smiled. "Well, maybe the whole myth thing you have going on could work."

Tonks laughed. "Name him after a book or an author."

"Or chocolate," said Emma.

Lupin frowned. "My cats were named after composers so maybe he could be-"

Tonks gasped. "Yes! Name him after one of the Weird Sisters."

"Darling, you had better be talking about Shakespeare."

Tonks poked her tongue out. "Call him Wagtail after Myron."

Teddy shook his head. "Mum, I'm not shouting for him if you call him Myron Wagtail. People talk."

Lupin laughed. "I'm with Ted on this one. If we name him after a Weird Sister, he'll be named after Mac-" He stopped suddenly and smiled to himself. "Macbeth."

"Dad, really? Macbeth?"

Lupin paid no attention. "Hello, Mackie."

May 2nd 1998, 00:05

Lily clasped his hand and squeezed it. "It's alright, you know. When I had this done to me, I was bawling by now. You have remarkable restraint."

"You saw this before?"

"I was given the chance too, you know, because death was my choice. James didn't. I think he's still a little bit bitter." She laughed but it sounded mechanical and rehearsed. "I knew I couldn't go back. How would I explain my survival? Besides, if I went back then Harry wouldn't be protected and I couldn't live with myself."

Lupin frowned. "So not everyone gets this chance?"

Lily shook her head. "Of course not," she replied. "The world would be overrun with people. Those who are killed by the Killing Curse cannot unless it was a sacrifice for another in which case they are permitted to. It's something about the heart, don't ask. Those killed in an attempt at ill gotten gains won't have the chance and neither will those who die of old age. Is it making sense?"

Lupin nodded and cleared his throat. He bit his lip. "What about Peter?"

Lily raised her eyebrows. "What about Peter?"

"Well, do people like Peter get this?"

She nodded. "But the future often looks bleak. The Peters of the world often don't have people to take them."

"Being an agent of chaos is obviously a very lonely profession."

She laughed. "I think it's a bit soon to ask you about your choice. Come on, I'd better hand you over to James. He's a bit put out that I got to go first. I think he's desperate to play God."