Questions flooded, ran, rushed through Remus' head, several coming at once. After a few seconds of eternity, he attempted to vocalize.
"What….How…When…Who are they?" he stuttered.
"I walked in and found them sitting here, exactly as they are, not more than ten minutes ago. I know no more than you do," said the former Tonks. Were it not such an unusual time, Remus would have stopped to appreciate how this woman could answer his questions before he could ask.
Lowering her voice a notch, she leaned toward him. "Do we have any Veritaserum left? And what are we going to tell Harry?"
The seriousness in her voice could have frightened Remus. "I'll…talk to them first. Alone, if you don't mind…I can't afford for you to be hurt," he answered.
"Honestly Remus, you and your over-protectiveness, it's about to kill me!"
Then seeing the mixed emotions on his face, she softened. "Alright, I'll be in the kitchen. Harry and Ginny will be over in a half an hour". With that, Nymphadora Lupin left Remus to talk to several long-dead friends.
Awkward. That was the only word Remus could think of to describe the situation, as he turned to The Potters and Sirius and took a seat across from them.
James spoke first. "Mooney, friend, not that it's not lovely to see you and all, but…what's going on?" Perhaps Remus was exaggerating, but Lily looked slightly annoyed, as always, that James was so forthcoming.
"James…I…" suddenly, Remus was overcome by the situation and found it difficult to continue. "To be quite honest, I haven't the faintest idea. Are you aware that you and Lily died nearly twenty years ago?"
"Well, I guess so but what are we doing…" James trailed off.
"Yes, we're aware," interrupted Lily, her face a pale white.
"I suppose Sirius and I should tell you the rest of what occurred that night, that Halloween," Remus said, wanting to get it over with.
For the first time all night, Sirius looked directly at Remus and nodded. "Yes, go ahead," he beckoned, his voice hoarse.
"After you were both killed by Voldemort, presumably by the Killing Curse, he proceeded to attack Harry. However, for reasons largely unknown, the curse rebounded and killed Voldemort. It was explained to me that the reason Harry survived was his mother's love protected him. Harry Potter became The Boy Who Lived, famous throughout the wizarding world," said Remus.
"Remus, you sound as though you've repeated this many times," Lily interrupted. Silent tears had been streaming down her face for minutes but she squared her shoulders and attempted to stay strong.
"Actually, I have. I currently teach Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts, and it's part of the curriculum. Part of my life, actually. Besides, those of us who know the true story enjoy setting others straight," he replied, looking to Sirius.
"You're a professor?" James asked, smiling for the first time all night.
"Oh, it gets worse. This isn't the first time he's been one either!" exclaimed Sirius.
Remus nodded and allowed himself a small smile, especially since Lily looked so pleased. However, the incredulity of the situation did not escape him for long, and he resumed his tale after a brief pause.
"Er, anyways…Sirius, as I'm told," (here was a brief nod to Sirius, who seemed to agree, if not somewhat uncomfortably) "had decided to check up because he had an uneasy feeling about that night. You can imagine what he found. He begged to take Harry, but Rubeus Hagrid was already at Godric's Hollow, with orders from Dumbledore to take Harry himself. Sirius went after Peter, who, in a moment of rare inspiration, made it look as if Sirius had betrayed you to Voldemort. Peter escaped and Sirius spent the following thirteen years in a cell in Azkaban," Remus took a breath planning how to best continue. How would you explain twenty years of life to two people who are suddenly quite alive?
"Azkaban?" Lily gasped. "But, I…oh Sirius! After every good thing you'd done for us, to be repaid that way! I can't even imagine…"
Sirius gave a half smile. "Oh Lily, it all worked out in the end. There's quite a bit more that old Remmy here isn't telling. Perhaps we should wait until dinner, I'm starving!" he pronounced the last word with extra enthusiasm, hoping to draw attention away from the awkwardness of the reunion. Though his intentions were understood and Lily managed a wan smile, it definitely did not work.
"So," James' voice was soft, "Harry lived? Really? Is he…alive now?"
At this, Remus smiled.
"Actually, he and his girlfriend are due to arrive for dinner in," he checked his watch, "five minutes."