A/N: You guys should know that I'm not a very fast writer, and I've only wrote to chapter 6, so updates could be a bit slower from then on. And I've got over 900 hits and 27 alerts, but 9 reviews over 3 chapters?! Come on, reviews make me happy! ) Suzi

Chapter 4

She hadn't bought it. She knew something was going on. She would find out what and find a way to get involved and in danger, as she always did. And he would have only himself to blame.

These were extra worries running through Harry's head, now, on their way back to the Common Room. Of course, now that he had split up with Ginny, she would find a way to get involved and remind him that I he /I split up with I her /I , meaning that he no longer had any business being overprotective. She wouldn't do it deliberately; it was just the way things would go, with Ginny.

"Harry, don't worry about her." Hermione said, "She's coping with the break-up better than you think." Better than you. She hadn't said it out loud, but the meaning was clear – stop obsessing, she doesn't feel the same.

"Sorry, Hermione, but I don't know what you're talking about," He replied. He wasn't going to show a weakness. That was what the break-up had been all about in the first place – Ginny had been an obvious weakness to Voldemort. "And I hope she is dealing with it, because she's just going to have to." It was to keep her safe, so he thought he had a right to be stubborn this time. It didn't help, however, that it was turning into some sort of contest between the two, trying to outwait the other. Of course, Harry didn't I really /I want to win – he wanted Ginny to wait until he'd finished dealing with Voldemort.

And that was the end of that conversation. The same thing had happened every time someone mentioned Harry and Ginny's short but sweet relationship. Harry firmly denied that he wasn't coping or that he felt bad and then quickly changed the subject or stopped talking completely. In this case, it was the latter. There was an awkward silence until they got to the Common Room. Instead of heading straight for 'their' seats, next to the fire, they headed for a secluded corner where they wouldn't be overheard. This was ensured by the complicated 'silence cloak' charm which Hermione cast.

"OK, so Sirius didn't realise what you meant about Pettigrew – but Professor Lupin might be able to figure it out." Hermione started talking as soon as the spell was cast. "Sirius always said he was clever one, the Prefect – although your Dad was Head Boy, and he's had all the risks explained to him, so he'll probably realise that Ron let slip something important. Oh no, oh no, oh no, Ron, what else did we say to them?"

"I dunno, but they know we know about the map, and how to work it… I called them Death Eaters, too… and, obviously, what I said about Pettigrew." Ron said soberly. In just those few details, he had already given away more than he should have – if only they had went to McGonagall instead of storming in. Hopefully, though, it wasn't beyond repair.

"What do you think, Harry?" Hermione asked looking worried. Usually he didn't hesitate to comment – or make a stupid plan to try and save things. Usually it made things worse, but it was worrying that he wasn't I trying /I to help. "You haven't said much." Of course, seeing Sirius and James had to have hit him hard, especially since they were still friendly with Pettigrew.

Harry sighed, blinked twice and appeared to snap out of a deep train of thought. He had to take charge – it was what everyone expected, especially since this was something so close to him. That didn't make it any easier, though – he hadn't quite got used to Sirius not being here any more, and now here was Sirius, back again, with his Dad, who he had never expected to ever see alive. And then there was the whole not-allowed-to-talk-to-them-or-see-them thing. How could McGonagall even try to take back from him the one chance he'd ever have to get to know his Dad, and the last chance he'd ever get to see Sirius? He wasn't stupid – it wasn't as though he was going to go about telling them that Voldemort was back and they were all dead or anything like that – in fact, it might be suspicious if he kept away. And anyway; they were the Marauders. Did McGonagall seriously think she could keep them cooped up in the Hospital Wing until she figured out how to send them back? Time hadn't managed to hold them back, why did she think she could?

"I think that I'm going to get the map," He replied, standing up, "And go talk to them. I don't know what I'm going to say, or anything; just that I want to talk to them. There's no way that they are still in the Hospital Wing, anyway. If I know Sirius, then they've brought the cloak and the map with them."

As soon as McGonagall had dragged Peter back onto his bed – well, watched James and Sirius do it – she left, saying it would be better to let Peter 'recover on his own'. Apparently – and it was news to them – 'magical revival could have bad repercussions on the brain'. Well, maybe that was what had happened to Snivellus to make him so weird – they had stupefied him enough times. Then again, that was only I because /I he was being weird. He had yet to take the hint.

James and Sirius leapt into a huge discussion about Harry. James now knew for certain it was his son – after all, he didn't have any brothers or sisters, so he couldn't be his nephew. The name Potter wasn't the most common in the magical world and they looked too alike not to be related, anyway – how else could they be related?

"The only thing I could see that was different was that scar on his forehead – what's with that? Did you chuck him out a window, or something? It looks old." Sirius commented. "No, wait, there was something else – his eyes. They were bright green. He looked exactly like you apart from that. I'm telling you, it was scary. And they knew who we were, too. I And /I how to work the map. The girl – they didn't mention her name – got all annoyed at us for talking… what was it you said, Moony?" He looked over at Remus, who seemed a little shocked at something. When no answer was forthcoming, he continued. "' I Padfoot, sit down. /I ' That's what he said. And she got all angry and started shouting at us to stop it. But this boy – he was definitely your kid, right? I don't see how he could be anyone else. He was a Potter, too. But then – who was his mum?" Sirius's eyes suddenly had a mischievous glint. "Merlin, this is going to be fun." He took the map out. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." The ink spread out to form a map of the school. His eyes darted to Gryffindor Common Room, but stopped short. "There they are: 'Harry Potter', 'Ron Weasley', Hermione Granger', and a 'Ginny Weasley' walking towards them. "Ron was that redhead, Hermione must have been the girl – who's that Ginny, then? They're on their way to the Common Room." He looked up expectantly at his friends to find that both were too deep in thought to be listening to him.

"Green eyes…" James was muttering. They didn't run in his family, as far as he knew. The childish, hopeful part of him (a rather large part) had thought immediately of a certain redheaded, green-eyed witch, but he had immediately dismissed that thought. Lily Evans hated him, always had and always would. Even now that he was Head Boy (and she was Head Girl) she still tried to avoid him and got angry whenever he made the tiniest little mistake. Well, she hadn't been as bad lately; in fact, he would go so far as to call them friends, but only just.

Remus, however, wasn't saying anything. He just sat, staring at the Hospital doors, a mixed expression on his face. What it was a mix of was anyone's guess; fear was in there, anxiety, shock, some calculation, confusion… all sorts of things. His breathing was deep and steady, but deliberately so, as though he was making a conscious effort to keep it that way.

"Moony?" Sirius said with a confused frown. What was wrong with him? I He /I hadn't heard anything that could've upset him – well, there was the whole 'forward in time by 21 years' thing, but that wasn't it, or he would've been like this earlier. Hadn't he been telling him off not long ago for convincing him to do the time spell?

"It's – yes, that's me. But that – it's him – but it's not. It can't – it doesn't make sense. At all." He murmured the same things over and over again, ignoring all attempts to speak to him, ask him a question or get his attention. It was not until Sirius stood up, went over to him and waved his hand in front of his face, shouting his name.

"Moony? Moony! MOONY!"

Remus jumped, seeming to snap out of a trance. What happened? Why was someone shouting his name? It took him a second to understand.

"Sirius!" His voice seemed nervous, for some reason that Sirius couldn't fathom. "I – didn't you see – me. But it wasn't – he was over there." His eyes returned to the door. "Older, greyer. A I Professor /I here, at Hogwarts!" Excitement joined the nervousness. "But he turned around as soon as he saw me. He looked stressed. I never thought I'd stress myself out." He mused. "I have to talk to him – I mean me – I mean..." He looked back at Sirius, then spotted the map on his bed. "Oh good, you've got it out." He rushed over to it, looking closely. "What am I teaching?" He was speaking to himself, now, Sirius watching uncomprehendingly. "' I Professor Remus Lupin /I '. Third floor, Defence Against the Dark Arts Office. I'm a Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor!" He looked up gleefully. "I'm a werewolf, but Dumbledore still gave me a job! How long have I been teaching, I wonder? What should I say to Dumbledore in my interview? I need to ask. Come on, Sirius, James."

"But – but wait! Shouldn't we go talk to Harry first? And Ron and Hermione. They seem to know who we are, so they might know how long you've been teaching. And I saw you looking at Hermione." Sirius smirked.

"What? I wasn't! Not like I that /I !" Remus said, blushing a little. Sirius always read into everything too deeply – he had just been surprised that she knew about Apparating, that was all. "I'm 20 years older than she is! I'm her Professor!" But wasn't he only 17? And she had to be the same, judging by the Head Girl badge on her robes.

" I Right /I , Moony. She's the same age as us. Ever heard of a Holiday Romance? Course, Ron might not be too happy – he seemed pretty mad when I was angry with her for Peter. I think there might be something going on there. Tough luck, mate. Anyway – how about we meet up with Harry, Ron and Hermione first, and find out what's going on in Hogwarts these days? I mean, it's James's son, and he'll probably know what happened to all of us, including you." Sirius pointed out.

"Yeah, I like that idea." James said, surprising the other two – they hadn't thought he was listening. "And, judging by the map, and myself – I I did /I raise him… sort of -" He added, getting up and looking at it upside down from opposite Remus, "He's having similar thoughts."

The small black dot labelled ' I Harry Potter /I ' had just left his two friends, went into the Gryffindor Boys' Dormitory for a few seconds, rejoined his friends and was heading out of the Common Room. James pulled his Invisibility Cloak out of his pocket – how could he not carry it? – and threw it over the three of them.

"Sorry, Wormtail, we'll have to fill you in later." Sirius said, looking back at his friend. "We're going hunting for Prongs Junior." He smirked at his own joke, following his other two friends. They could see, roughly, which way the other trio was going, and tried to meet it halfway. In the end, the walked straight into them in the middle of a secret passageway.

"Ow!" All six of them cried at the same time. Harry and James were leading each group, so they walked into each other, then stepped back, Harry stumbling into Ron and Hermione. James would have fallen back down the stairs had Sirius and Remus not been there to catch him – well, more like break his fall.

"That was stupid." Harry said, pulling his cloak off and wiping the map. James did the same. Everyone's breath caught again as they saw, for the second time, the similarities between the two. Ron and Hermione should have expected it, having been told often that Harry looked so much like his dad, but it was still uncanny. Only the eyes and the scar were different – it was almost scary. Now, however, that each group knew the other wasn't a threat, they just stood and looked at each other.

"Don't try and blame us – you walked into us." James replied, rubbing his head.

"No, he didn't. You walked into each other, too busy looking at the maps." Hermione corrected.

"So. Where do we start with the questions?" Sirius wondered aloud. Despite McGonagall's warnings, it was the obviously the only thing they could do – the temptation was irresistible.

"Who's your Mum?" James asked immediately, looking straight into his eyes – the bright green ones that he couldn't recognise, but were still familiar. It was amazing that he didn't know whom they belonged to, since he had spent many years wishing that they would notice him for the right reasons, and not see him as a bully or big-head. All they had seen so far, however (to his knowledge) was a 'toe rag'. He had slightly redeemed himself, though, when he became Head Boy. He and Lily had duties together, now, so they had focused on having a civil relationship, and it seemed to be working out pretty well. Actually, he had been trying to get her to like him more by taking her own advice – 'grow up and be more responsible'. She hadn't phrased it quite so politely, but that was the gist of it

"He can't tell you that," Hermione replied right away, "Harry, you have to let them get together on their own. Don't encourage him by answering his questions, either. We I can't /I , you said so yourself!" She knew that Harry wanted to tell James everything, even though he knew he shouldn't. If he did, he could change the whole I course of time /I !

"So it's someone I already know?" James assumed. Usually, he wasn't good with piecing details together, but this was the rest of his life they were talking about! He was going to listen to every detail and put it all together as best as he could. "Get together on our own… so we'll get together sometime soon, too, by the sounds of it… she has green eyes… interesting…" As soon as he got back he was making a list of every girl in Hogwarts with green eyes who he hadn't dated. Or maybe he'd just asked again when Hermione was gone. "So you're Hermione, and he's Ron?" He confirmed, just in case. "And you've got a relative called Ginny…" He said the latter to Ron, remembering what Sirius had said about the map. Hey, this piecing together details thing was pretty easy, when it was important stuff, instead of I What types of cauldron fungi are caused by Polyjuice Potion/I . "And what's with the scar?"

"Car crash." Harry repeated the lie that the Dursleys had told him until the age of 11, leaving out the part about his parents dying, of course. "And how do you know about Ginny?" He added sharply. Of course, as Sirius used to say, ' I The Marauders had their ways/I ', but they had been apart for, at most, 20 minutes, and he already knew who Ron was related to? Hopefully he hadn't dug any deeper than that…

"Car crash? I was in a car? Ha! Since when did I know anything about anything Muggle? Unless your Mum's a muggle… or muggle-born?" He added, frowning. He cocked his head to the side when Harry reacted so sharply. "Oh, touched a nerve there, did I? What, is she a Slytherin, or something?"

"No, she's a Gryffindor, but I just find it strange that you already know my best friend's sister 20 minutes after arriving. Wait, you haven't spoken to her, have you?" That would be disastrous – she might jump to conclusions, the way he had, and straight out hex them. Her bat-bogey hex was still one of the most feared things in Hogwarts. Harry would have to keep her away from the Marauders at all costs – not that he had planned to let her in on things, anyway. This time travel stuff was more dangerous than any of them knew, and in Voldemort's hand, it could be deadly. He'd broken up with her to protect her, so he didn't plan on handing over knowledge like that.

"No, we saw you talking to her on the map. Why's it so important we don't?" He asked.

"Possibly because of the fact that we I don't want to disrupt time any more than we already have I !" Remus answered for him. Something was weird about James – Remus had thought that when he had attempted to 'grow up' this year, and became Head Boy, that it was mostly an act for girls. Evidently, some of it had rubbed off on his genuine personality – or at least he was using some study techniques when he wanted to find something out. Remus had to say that he was pretty proud, if a little annoyed – he'd been helping him with his homework all these years. If only he'd applied himself… but that could wait for later.

"We can't disrupt time – everything's already happened, and we can't change that." James pointed out, I forgetting /I about the part where they would eventually go back and make it so that these things might not happen. Obviously, Remus wasn't falling for it, anyway.

"Come I on /I , James, you know as well as I do that things won't work like that." Remus snapped back irritably, "Just let it be!" Now that he was out, talking to Harry and his friends didn't seem like such a great idea – the adrenaline and confusion from seeing his older self had worn off slightly, and he was beginning to think straighter. "We have to get back, now. I can't believe I ever agreed to go along with this!"

"You did, because you wanted to ask him about yourself. So why can't I ask about him and me, and my life, and if I ever gave him any advice I said I wished I'd followed like always happens in all of your Muggle movies?" James whined. Of course, he wasn't going to listen; he never did listen to teachers, did he? "Anyway, now that we're past I that /I ," He rushed on without a chance for argument, "Why are you so worried about us talking to this Ginny?" He actually reminded him of Remus, the way he reacted when he was nervous. That was exactly the way Remus reacted when a girl was involved… "Hey, wait… I get it now!" He smirked.

"She's my sister – she knows as much as we do, except about you lot, so there's more chance of her letting something important slip." Ron covered, giving Hermione a sideways glance. He had spent a long time dwelling over Harry and Ginny's relationship during the summer – he was still a I tiny /I bit overprotective of his baby sister. He still wasn't happy about it, but he was much better than Michael Corner and Dean Thomas – and it was over now, anyway. But what would he do when Ginny got a new boyfriend? He knew she wasn't over Harry, but apparently she hadn't been in the first place… so, in a strange way, he kind of wanted Harry and Ginny back together. Not to mention to stop Harry moping about… "Don't talk to her – it could mess up everything! And if she thinks you're an impostor – you know, 'cause you look like Harry – you're really going to regret it… no one else in this school can I compare /I to her Bat-Bogey Hex."

"Oh," James frowned; that hadn't been where he thought things were going, but if she was more likely to let something slip, and she didn't know about them, she wouldn't be on her guard… this would be really easy. "Well, in that case, we'd better get back to the Hospital Wing before we discover something we shouldn't by accident." He smiled innocently. "C'mon, Padfoot, Moony, let's go."