Disclaimer: Again. they belong to J.K. Rowling, for she is a goddess and I am not.

Ha! Another chapter! And it's only been a few hours since I got the last one up, I'm really on a roll today! And it's amazing... I got six reviews in those few hours. Thanks guys. I love hearing from you and getting your imput as to what you think. And now.. chaptah fouwa!

And again, there are still Deathly Hallows spoilers.


The Future of the Past

Chapter Four. Of Cloaks and Friends.

Upon their arrival back at the compartment, Harry, Ron, and Hermione had received quite a few thanks for the food they had brought back to their 'new' friends. By the time they had returned, James and Lily had stopped arguing, though Lily was sitting in one corner, hugging her legs to her chest and looking miffed, and James was in the corner diagonal from her's… as far away from her as possible, looking just as angered. Both remained silent. Sirius was still where he had been, next to James, though the latter of the two boys had moved. And Remus was sitting beside Sirius, handing him a doggy biscuit every now and then even though they were all eating the pastries as well.

Lily had been absolutely delighted with the shoes and they'd found themselves with her feet inside them and being tied up in a matter of seconds after being handed to her. Though, once they were on she'd resumed her quietly pissy position and no one had bothered to try to speak to her or James since, not wanting to set them off. James cooled off after he had eaten though. After they'd all finished eating, the five boys had climbed off their seats and onto the floor. They were currently playing a very exciting game of Strip Exploding Snap… or Snape as the Marauders liked to call it.

All of them were chattering away, laughing and just being merry in general now. The cards had just exploded in Sirius's face and singed the ends of his hair.

"Nice one Padfoot!" Remus laughed, waving his wand at his friend's shocked face and restoring his hair to normal. Once the shock had left him, Sirius joined in on the laughter, taking off his shirt. He'd already lost his tie and tied it around his head, his robes, his shoes, his socks, and his belt. Remus had managed to keep everything but his tie so far. Harry and James were tied with being both without ties and robes. Ron however, was behind them, having lost his robes, his tie, and his shoes.

"You know, I think I could win this if I keep it up long enough… how many explosions is that so far?"

"About six I think. You know Pads, the point of the game is to keep your clothes and NOT make it blow up." James stated prodding his best mate in the cheek with one of the doggy biscuits.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Sirius took the biscuit from him and popped it into his mouth, sucking on it so the part between the nubbley bits of the dog chew and the other nubbley bit stuck out of the corner of his mouth as he looked over his hand of cards. While the trio had been gone, he'd finally managed to properly get the bandaging on his arm, most likely with help from one of his friends by the looks of it.

Five minutes later there was another explosion of the cards and Sirius yelped. "Ha! I guess I get to take off my pants now eh?" He rose from his seat and started undoing the button on them.

"Ah! Don't look Evans!" James rose from where he sat, knocking over the pile of cards in the middle and tripping over Ron. He landed with a thud on the floor, causing everyone except Lily to burst out laughing. She just looked down at him with a frown, hatred in her eyes as she did so. Upon spotting this, Harry stopped laughing and was very glad when a voice came over the train.

"We will be arriving at Hogsmeade station in ten minutes. Please leave your luggage on the train. And those who haven't already, change into your robes and cloaks, you'll be needing them."

"Awww… looks like I don't get to take my pants off after all." Sirius pouted, buttoning and zipping them back up. The boys gathered the discarded clothes from around them and hurried to put them back on. Sirius left his tie tied around his head, as though it were something he did on occasion when he was either bored or just felt like it. Which, when Harry asked about, was the case. Apparently he did it half because he liked it and half because it pissed off McGonagall, something he said, he enjoyed doing a great deal. "How is old Minnie?"

"Um…"

"Oh dear! Don't tell me she died?"

"No, she's still teaching! But it's rather disrespectful of you to call her that." Hermione put her hands on her hips as she rose from her seat. She marched out of the compartment, leaving to get her, Ron, and Harry's cloaks from their trunks.

"Oh but she loves me." Sirius grins, winking at Harry who blinked. He was fairly certain McGonagall wouldn't like being called 'Minnie' especially not by a student. That would just be weird.

"Merlin's pants!" Lily let her legs drop to the floor and she stood up, looking out the window. It was raining bucket now as they neared the station. They all would definitely be fairly wet even with cloaks… Cloaks. Harry blinked again. The Marauders and his mother didn't have cloaks… They'd get soaked to the bone and probably get sick.

"You lot don't have cloaks… Remus, could you duplicate our's? Just until we get up to the castle."

"That's rather advanced magic Harry, I'm afraid we won't learn to duplicate anything until seventh year."

"Bloody hell." Harry sighed, trying to think of what they could do. Maybe Hermione'd be able to duplicate a cloak or two. If not he'd let one of the others have his… maybe they could double up. Three cloaks to six people. That would work. The'd have to go by size… if they put Lily with Ron, and Hermione with Sirius, that would leave James and Remus to share.

"Got them." Hermione smiled, returning with the three cloaks and setting them down on one of the seats. She took her up and looked around. "Oh dear."

"Yeah, we've got a bit of a problem. Could you make cloaks?"

"I'm afraid I haven't really read up on that sort of thing much. We don't learn it until next year."

"Right then." Harry took up the cloaks, taking Hermione's from her. "Ron, you share with Lily. Hermione, Sirius. James and Remus can share."

"And what about you?" Lily stared at him, her eyes curious. She had apparently not expected him to act this way fro some reason.

"I'll go without and be fine."

"No you will not!" Lily's hands found her hips and she glared up at him, eyes blazing. If she'd been alive and not from the past, he felt sure that this was the gaze he'd have cowered under when he was little and had done something wrong. The thought made him smile.

"I'll be fine. The worst that can happen is that I'll need some Pepper-up Potion."

"No. I refuse to let you be without a cloak. You share with Ron. I'll go without."

"You'll do no such thing Evans. You get sick just looking at a storm sometimes. If anyone goes without it'll be one of us guys… Better not Remus though, he already gets sick too often."

"Not me either mate, I'm already cozy." Sirius grinned as they turned to find he was already wearing Hermione's cloak and had buttoned her in beside him. She looked less than thrilled at having him for a cloak buddy. Her messy hair indicated she hadn't gone into the cloak willingly either. Ron's expression stated he wasn't happy about it either as he looked at them.

"How about I take Hermione and Sirius takes Lily?"

"No!" Lily, James, and Sirius shouted at the same time. Sirius wrapped his arms around Hermione firmly.

"I don't wanna trade. This one's warm and cuddly. And Evans bites. I've still got the scar, see?" He held out his right hand, indicating a very small crescent shape on the palm that Harry had remembered seeing one on the old Sirius's hand. Harry thought he'd been joking when he had asked him about it and his only response had been 'Your mother had quite sharp teeth Harry.'

"I didn't bite you that hard!"

"Then how come the scar's still there after five years?"

"Because scars tend to stay."

"Well…Bah!" Sirius replied, having no better answer than that at the moment. Then the train gave a lurch, sending all of them teetering. It knocked Harry, Ron, Lily, and Remus off their feet while James was smart enough to grab the bar of the luggage rack above him while Sirius and Hermione had extra support due to being stuck together at the moment. James's Chaser skills had his hand shooting out to grab Lily's arm before she hit the floor. He tugged her back into a standing position before the train came to a sudden and complete halt, sending her foreword and into his chest. He caught her with a very happy smile on his face.

"I knew you loved me Evans!"

"Don't touch me Potter!" Lily's hand flew out and had hit his cheek before anyone could stop her. She moves away from him quickly, leaving a red handprint on his face. James winced and brought his own hand up to his cheek, covering the spot.

"Damn Evans, that one actually almost hurt."

"Yeah right Prongs, it looks like that one actually did hurt."

"Shut up."

"Guys, we really need to get-" Remus was cut off though, but a rather emotionless sounding voice.

"Dumbledore… Sent me to get you. Before any of you put yourselves at risk by being seen. You weren't thinking of leaving the compartment undisguised, were you Lupin… Black… Potter?" They all turned to look. There he stood, looking very much like an oversized bat as he always did. His hair was as greasy as ever, his nose just as hooked, his dark eyes staring at them in contempt. Everyone froze… except Lily. She let out a squeal and went straight for him. It was the first time Harry had ever seen anyone actually hug Snape.

"Sevvy! Oh Sevvy! I'm sorry I yelled at you and told you off and completely ditched you!" Snape looked down at Lily with an expression of such softness and caring that Harry almost had a heart attack. He knew they'd been best friends, but this was too much for him to take. He couldn't do anything about it though, except stand there and watch as Snape's arms lifted and he hesitantly hugged the red head back loosely. Then his grip tightened and one hand found it's way to the back of her head while his face found itself to her hair.

"Lily…" The embrace didn't break until James cleared his throat and Snape seemed to remember there were others present. He immediately dropped his arms from around the red haired girl and pushed her back. She stared up at him with sparkling eyes.

"Did you really do it Sev? Did you become a Death Eater and betray them to join Dumbledore? Are you really good and not bad?" Snape stared at her.

"Yes…" He seemed rather reluctant to speak to her further… or take his eyes off of her. "Potter! Weasley! Granger! You get up to the school."

"But…" Harry was not about to leave his parents, Remus and Sirius alone… especially with Snape.

"It's Dumbledore's orders. You wouldn't want to go against him, now would you Potter? Leave. I'll take things from here."

"That's right, leave it up to Snivellus." James's tone was scornful, his expression full of pure dislike as he kept his eyes on Snape, as though daring him to respond.

"You shall keep your childish disrespect to yourself Potter."

"Do as he says James. He's here to help us, not fight us." Remus piped up, grabbing a hold of his friend's sleeve to keep him from lunging as he was trying to do. James looked at him and at the others before he gave a very curt nod and remained still. "Go on Harry. We'll be all right."

Harry stared at his assuring gaze and nodded. He'd have to trust that Dumbledore really had sent Snape for them and that it was not some trick. That the great bat of a man was really on their side. Dumbledore believed it, and therefore he supposed he should too.

"C'mon." Harry led Ron, and Hermione (who'd escaped a reluctant to let go Sirius and taken her cloak with her) out of the compartment and along with the large crowd of other students on their way to getting off the train.

"Harry!"

"What?" He turned around to look at them, only to find Ron taking Hermione's cloak and holding it out to him. "I.."

"Take it Harry. Mine's bigger, she can share with me."

"But Ron…"

"Take it Harry."

"Hermione…" Harry was left to let Ron force the cloak into his hands and watch her slip into Ron's. The red head was looking so pleased with himself as he buttoned up his cloak that Harry couldn't help but put Hermione's cloak on and not argue over it. He figured it was better than having them fighting anyways. He hoped they'd make it up to the castle and not argue on the way there.

Following the long throng of pressing students, the three made their way off the train. Water hit them and they brought their collars up. Hermione's head disappeared beneath Ron's cloak as he did so, and it looked rather laughable. But Harry didn't laugh. He couldn't help but feel as if he had abandoned his mother and father and Sirius and Remus by leaving them on the train with Snape for now. There was nothing to be done though except trust that he would get them safely up to the castle and not go all Death Eater on them and kill them. Sensing his feelings, Hermione spoke up.

"Harry, can you still remember Sirius and Remus The old ones?"

"Yes."

"Then he hasn't killed them. And you're still here, so your dad hasn't provoked him into killing him yet. They really don't like each other do they?"

"No, they don't." (A/N: And at this point in time I shall take a quick break to roast marshmallows.)

"Well, I suppose we shouldn't have expected any different."

"Nope."

"It's strange though isn't it? Snape and your mum?"

"I'd rather not talk about it if it's alright with you Hermione."

"Oh. Right. Sorry Harry." They stopped talking as they climbed up into an empty carriage. Soon after joined by a very wet looking Ginny, Neville and Luna who had spotted them from nearby.

"Hello." Luna smiled and took out her Quibbler now that they were all safe in the dry, slightly musty and smelling of hay carriage. "You three disappeared quite a long time ago. Did something come up?" It was then that Harry realized Luna must have been left all by her lonesome in the compartment once Ron and Hermione had gone off.

"Yeah. Sorry about that Luna, we didn't mean to leave you alone…"

"It's quite alright… I'm used to it."

"No, it's not." Hermione frowned. She was sitting on Ron's lap, having no alternative until the cloak could come off without fear of freezing; it was that cold with this rain. "Friends don't do that to each other Luna. I'm terribly sorry we did."

"Friends?"

"Yes Luna, we're friends, all of us here. We thought you'd have figured that bit out by now."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Oh wonderful! I can't wait to write to Daddy! He'll be positively thrilled! He just wanted me to manage to make one or two and I've got five."

"You do that." Harry smiled, glad to see Luna wasn't mad, in fact, she seemed more ecstatic now than he'd ever seen her before. It was surprising she hadn't managed to make friends before them, but then again, there are just some things you become friends over… like slipping into High Inquisitor offices and breaking into some of the most forbidden zones of the Ministry or… Harry looked over at Hermione nestled up snugly in Ron's cloak while the boy kept his arms wrapped around her to keep her on his lap while the carriage was jostled about… taking down a mountain troll. Thinking about it he rather hoped something big would happen to bring his parents together. Though becoming friends with Luna hadn't been all that hard… she really was a very nice and fun to be around, if a bit odd…getting Ron and Hermione to be friends they way they were currently had been a different matter entirely. Ron had seemed to really hate Hermione for quite a while before they'd defeated that troll, and even after that it'd been quite a ways uphill, and the hill had divets in it from all the fighting that had ensued since. But looking at them now, Harry had a bit more hope for James and Lily than just the fact that he knew they were going to get together because he was still alive and well. His parents were still at the bottom of a hill… and from his point of view… there was also a rock called Snape between them.

The carriage continued to carry them up towards the castle and Harry sighed, leaning back into the seat. From what had happened so far, this was going to be one interesting year. And they hadn't even reached the school yet.


Yay! Another chapter up! I know I said there'd be Hogwarts in this one. But I changed my mind as to where Snape was going to come in, so it got a bit mussed. I promise the beloved castle will come into play in the next chapter. I dunno when I'll get it up. I'm hoping tommorow. Definitally not tonight... I don't think at least. But I'll try and get a companion piece to this one up tonight. A short one about how Lily bit Sirius, it's in the process right now, so be on the lookout for that. Well... you know what'd I like... for you to push the little button down there. You don't ahve too, but I really wish you would... it helps me write faster knowing people want more I guess, at least that's how this chapter worked.

See ya laters,

S.Q.O.