Remus stared at me, startled and white as a sheet. "James! I-"

"You were spying on us!" I accused harshly, before softening. "How much did you hear?"

"Lily said something about you recovering, and then you were talking about saving someone," Remus said. "And then you said something about Sirius dying- I, er, I dropped my book."

"That's what I heard!" I realized, as Lily walked over curiously. She blinked at Remus, before giving me a questioning look. "Moony here was eavesdropping."

"I couldn't help it," Remus flushed, color slowly returning to his pale face. "Anyway, what were you talking about!? Sirius isn't going to die!"

I lowered my gaze, blinking fast to keep tears from my eyes. Lily grabbed my hand.

"He isn't," Remus faltered. "Right?"

"Not if I can help it," I whispered. "Listen, Moony. We- er… gosh, this is hard. Lily and I, we're actually fifteen-"

"Almost sixteen," Lily corrected. "We're from the future, and we're here to fix it."

"Sirius is-"

"Dead, yes," I said dully, my voice quieting. "Murdered. Right in front of me- why do you think I'm so awkward around him? Do you know how weird it is, talking to your dead best friend when the memory of his murder is fresh in your mind?"

"M-murdered?" Remus squeaked, and all the color he'd been regaining disappeared. "The- the Killing Curse?"

"Probably would have been better if it had been," I said darkly, before catching Remus's horrified look. "Remus, look, I'm not going to go into detail about Sirius's death. Your thirteen, you don't need to hear all that."

"You weren't just going to meet Lily's parents, were you?" Remus asked intelligently. I smiled dryly, and shook my head. "Why were you going?"

"Protecting them from Death Eaters. Fought Bellatrix a bit- I owe her," I growled. "Bloody snake tortured her own cousin."

"T-torture?" Remus yelped, glancing up the stairs towards our dorm. "They tortured him?"

"I told you, you're too young," I said irately. "Besides, I'd rather you not have nightmares."

"Like the Cruciatus?" Remus continued, wide-eyed. I snorted.

"Nah, his parents use that," I replied, before realising my mistake and covering my mouth. Remus's face was completely horrified, and he turned towards the dorms, undoubtedly to go press Sirius for answers to see if this was true. "Wait! Remus, I'm not supposed to know that! Sirius will freak if he knows we know!"

"But... we've got to get him out of there- if they use that curse!" Remus exclaimed. "We can't just leave him there!"

"I know; I'm working on that too," I assured him. "But Sirius doesn't want anyone to know. Thank goodness your mum is so good at spotting when people are hurt, we'd've never known when he ran away."

"My mum?"

"Yeah," I replied. "We've been living with you lot for around a year or so."

"Oh," Remus said. "Well, then... how can I help?"

"Well, you can start by not being angry when I show up at the next full moon," I answered, smirking triumphantly as Remus looked put out. "I'll be fine; I just want to make sure you are."

"James is as much of a 'noble git' as Sirius is," Lily smiled fondly. I stuck my tongue out at her. "And it isn't a bad quality."

"Until someone dies to protect you," I murmured. "Then it's a bloody annoying trait that makes my life miserable. Stupid Sirius. He should have ran for help."

"As if," Lily snorted. "We all know Sirius, he'd never leave a friend in danger."

"Too true," Remus said quietly, his face quite pale, amber eyes glinting in the slight moonlight flickering through the windows. "Poor, poor Sirius..."

"He's still alive," Lily smiled sympathetically. "Both of you, remember that. James, you can't live in the past. Remus, don't dwell on the future. Sirius will be fine."

"I know," I nodded, sighing. "Come on, Moony. We should get some sleep."

"Don't put silencing charms on your bed," Remus ordered. "You'll never get over your nightmares if you don't let anyone in."

"Fine, I'll make it so you can hear me. No need to wake the others," I rolled my eyes. "But, honestly, I have a lot of nightmares. You really aren't going to want to hear me."


"Death Eaters!" We were walking down the streets of Hogsmeade when it happened. Dark clouds filled the sky, and suddenly cloaked figures were everywhere, and spells were flying.

"We gotta get back to the castle!" Remus exclaimed urgently, as Peter squeaked in terror. " Look, Honeydukes is right there, we can take the cellar!"

"Right, got it!" I nodded. "Okay, Sirius, let's..."

I trailed off. Sirius was nowhere to be seen. I started looking around. "Where'd he get off to- go without me, I'm going to find Sirius!"

"Alright, but be careful, James!" Lily said fearfully, giving me a kiss on the cheek. Remus nodded determinedly, and the three of them ran off down the street. I headed in the other direction.

"Sirius! Sirius, where are you?" I yelled. "SIRIUS!"

"James!" I turned. Sirius caught my eye; there were Death Eaters quickly coming at him. I recognized one as his cousin.

"Sirius!" I exclaimed in relief, running towards him. He grabbed my arm, and pulled me into and alley. "Sirius, we have to get to Hogwarts."

"James, there are Death Eaters everywhere, we'd never make it," Sirius gave me a nervous look, the slightest bit of fear shining through his mask. "Listen, hopefully they won't find us, this alley is inconspicuous enough."

"And if they do?" I asked apprehensively. I envied Sirius for being so brave. "What if they find us?"

"I'll protect you," Sirius said determinedly. "You'll be fine, Jamie."

"You'll be fine too," I said, but Sirius looked slightly doubtful. I wondered why. "I'll protect you, too."

"Thanks, James," Sirius smiled slightly. "But, really, if it comes down to it... just leave it to me, okay? I can take more curses than you, I think."

I didn't bother asking why.

"Be careful," I whispered, feeling quite helpless, crouched down in the corner of an alley, scared out of my wits (so much more than I'd ever admit aloud). Sirius nodded, and gave me a reassuring brotherly hug.

"I will," Sirius said, but I knew Sirius well enough to know that his idea of careful and my idea of careful were completely different. "I won't let them hurt you."

I wondered vaguely if this was what it was like to have an older brother. I hoped Sirius wouldn't do something stupidly noble, which would be very much like him.

"Hey! I see something in here!" Sirius stepped in front of me, and hissed in my ear, "Try to blend in- back up as far as possible."

Heart beating fast, I backed up into the wall, the rough stone digging into my back through my robes. Sirius stood protectively in front of me, shielding me from view.

I felt like a coward.

The alley was illuminated, and five or six Death Eaters walked into the alley. Including Bellatrix. My blood ran cold, and Sirius let out a low growl reminiscent of his Animagus form.

"Ooh! It's my ickle cousin Siri!" Bellatrix cackled. "Alone, are you? Where are your friends and the mudblood?"

"Not here," Sirius declared defiantly. "And don't call Lily that! She's a better witch then you'll ever be!"

"Sirius," I whispered so quietly even I could hardly hear myself. "Don't fire her up."

"Now, now, Siri, no need to be feisty," Bellatrix cooed, eyes glinting. "You're not alone. You never go anywhere without Potter."

"James isn't here," Sirius lied. "He's safe. At Hogwarts."

"Liar," Bellatrix's eyes gleamed, and she pulled out her wand. Suddenly, Sirius was blasted to the ground, clutching his shoulder and grimacing. I whimpered; Sirius was hurt because of me. "Ah! Little Potter! Hiding behind my cousin... how very non-Gryffindor of you."

"James is one of the bravest people I've ever met!" Sirius declared hotly. "He's no cowardly snake like you!"

Bellatrix's eyes flashed, and suddenly her wand was pointing at me. "Crucio."

Pain. Unimaginable pain. My blood was on fire, my skin being ripped from my body, my every bone shattering. I think I was screaming, and I dimly heard Sirius shouting my name. It was over as quickly as it started, and I was left on the ground, breath coming out in awkward spurts, shaking like mad. Sirius was kneeling beside me.

"Bloody heck, mate," I wheezed. "You never said it hurt that bad!"

Sirius didn't smile. Instead, he helped me up, and turned to Bellatrix, his glare colder than ever. "How dare you? You're pathetic; what did he ever do to you?"

"I've just been itching to torture someone all day," Bellatrix smiled widely, and I was disgusted. How could anyone want to torture someone? "Cruc-"

"No!" Sirius exclaimed, cutting Bellatrix off and stepping in front of me. "Don't hurt him. Do whatever you want to me, but leave James alone!"

"Sirius, don't!" I cried desperately as Bellatrix's eyes lit up as if it were Christmas Day.

"Ooh, baby cousin! I might just take you up on that offer!" She beamed. "Restrain the other boy."

The Death Eater nearest me shot a spell at me, and I didn't have time to dodge. My limbs snapped together, and I recognized the hex as Petrificus Totalus.

"No!" I cried helplessly. Sirius gave me a sad look, before glaring defiantly at Bellatrix. "Please! Don't hurt him!"

"Just remember, Siri! Fight back and the other one dies!" Bellatrix cackled. Sirius narrowed his eyes. I mentally begged him to run for help.

"Fine."

"Crucio!"

"NOOOO!"

"James! James, wake up, it's just a nightmare!" I shot up in my bed. Remus was staring nervously at me. The others were still asleep. "Just a nightmare."

"No," I croaked. "A memory."

Remus paled. "You were screaming."

"Was I?" I mused distantly. "Hmm... well, yeah, the Cruciatus make people scream a lot. 'Cept Siirus, of course."

"You- you were tortured too?" Remus frowned. "Oh, gosh, James... no wonder you're so..."

"Messed up?" I suggested. "Nah, it was less the physical torture, more psychological. Be glad you weren't there."

"I am," Moony admitted. "Do you- do you remember that day... often?"

"Most times I see Sirius I remember," I said quietly, running a hand absentmindedly though my hair. "And other reminders. Like the boggart."

If possible, Remus paled even more. "Was he... did he really look like that?"

"More or less," I shrugged dully. "There was a lot of blood... I think I was in shock at that point... we all were... You were the calmest, I think. Pale as a sheet, but you weren't hysterical."

"Poor Sirius," Remus murmured, glancing at Sirius's bed. "Poor you..."

"Me?" I asked in surprise. "No. I'm lucky. I'm alive. Sirius saved my life. That's what's been keeping me going, at least it was back in the future. Sirius died to let me live. I wasn't going to let his sacrifice be in vain."

"I bet he wanted you to really live though," Remus declared. "Not just be alive."

"That's what Lily says," I smiled slightly. "I'm so glad we have this chance. Sirius deserves to live a long and happy life. At the very least, he doesn't deserve to be tortured."

"You'll save him," Remus said confidently. "I know you will."

"Thanks, Moony," I replied, gazing at Sirius's bed. "Sometimes, I wake up and wonder if it was all a dream. At first, my mind wouldn't accept that Sirius was dead. Now, it has, and it won't accept that he's alive. I'm so confused..."

"Even if you couldn't save Sirius, just remember that Sirius wants you to live your life; grow up, have a family, grow old," Remus chuckled. "Although, I can hardly imagine you with grey hair. You can join him when you're old and grey."

"Moony," I laughed lightly. "You really are wise beyond your years."

"Why, thank you," Moony beamed jokingly. "I try."

A/N: Hullo all! So, Remus knows! He's the most mature. He also knows how bad Siri's parents are! Poor Sirius. Big thanks to my reviewers, Theta-McBride, icecatfire, Accalia Silvermoon, Ranma's girl1, potterhead934, and N.E. Person! You guys can all have some of Remus's éclairs from last chapter, if you dare! Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. How long is it gonna take for James to get over this?

I still do not own Harry Potter.