Chapter 10: Quality Time With Remus

I finally collapsed out of sheer exhaustion. Mum quickly snapped out of whatever it was she was feeling and hugged me tight, tears streaming down her face.

"You stupid boy! What were you thinking? ...could have been killed...completely reckless."

"At the rate you're going, dear, you're going to strangle him," Dad said, coming over to pry Mum off me. It didn't work very well, but it did relieve some of the pressure.

"I'm alright, really," I spoke up, "just tired." Unfortunately, my scar flared in pain at that moment. I flinched a bit before raising my Occlumency shields. It didn't completely dull the pain, but it was enough. My shields aren't nearly as strong as they would seem to other wizards, unfortunately.

"You are not fine, young man," Mum chided.

"I am," I attempted to assure her. To prove my point, I rose to my feet, swaying a bit, but balancing on my own. "That was just my scar."

"Your scar?" Hermione jogged up, concern shining through the grime on her face. Ron was right behind her, equally concerned. It's times like these when I really appreciate those two. I don't know how I could survive without them.

I found myself grinning in spite of everything. "He's just incredibly angry."

"Do you think?" commented Ron. "You only got rid of about a hundred dementors, a good chunk of the Death Eaters, and completely humiliated Vol...You-Know-Who." I sighed. We still had a lot of work to do with Ron. "I don't see how he could be angry."

"It is a phenomenon that I am trying to work out, myself," chuckled Dumbledore. I had sensed him coming because of the ring, but everyone else jumped. His eyes twinkled mischievously. "Although, I am curious, Mr. Potter, as to how you managed to battle with such practiced ease."

Dad ruffled my hair. "So, kiddo, how many times have you fought him before?" He said this in a way that said he didn't expect me to have fought him at all. How I wish it were so. Let's see, how many times has it been? Saving the Stone, down in the Chamber, in the graveyard, at the Ministry, and right before coming here. Better not mention that last one. It wasn't technically finished, either.

"Four."

Dad looked thunderstruck and Mum clutched her chest. I swear even Dumbledore was surprised by my answer, although it might have been disgust or despair.

"What did you expect?" I asked wryly.

Dumbledore recovered first. "I am more surprised at the casual air with which you dispensed the information."

I shrugged. "How can I keep fighting if I keep living in the past?"

Mum looked like she was about to put in her own two-cents, but Ron cut her off. "Don't bother. He's this humble even when we talk to him about it. A bloody martyr, that's what he is."

"Thank you, Ron," I said, rolling my eyes.

"All I want to know is how you are still standing," said Dad.

I paused to think about that. To tell the truth, I was wondering the same thing myself. I told him so right before I passed out.

I woke up in a rather lumpy bed. What's ironic is that it's the most comfortable thing I've slept on recently. Trekking after a dangerous maniac is rough on the lower back, that's for sure.

Rolling over, I saw that I was at the end of a row of cots and on a cot myself. I also saw that Mum had sat beside me all night and was currently dozing. Obviously, I was in some sort of makeshift hospital wing at headquarters.

Currently, the only other occupant was a battered man covered in bite marks and scratches. That's funny. I didn't remember fighting anything besides Death Eaters and dementors. There was a chair beside him as well, although it looked recently vacated.

The man groaned and tried to sit up. When this didn't work out, he compromised and propped himself up on his elbows, facing me.

"Rough night, James?" he asked, chuckling wryly.

Remus. Full moon. Duh. He was working undercover with the werewolves, most likely. That explained how tired his voice had sounded, too.

It was still amusing that he mistook me for Dad, though. That's what it looks like after all. Mum sitting worriedly beside a man with messy, black hair. Anyone could easily mistake me for Dad.

"Yeah, it was a hell of a night, but I'm not James," I replied. The look of embarrassment on Remus' face was priceless! Unfortunately, I woke Mum.

"Oh," she yawned. "You're both awake." But, even her yawns couldn't mask the worry in her voice. I shouldn't have laughed so loud. She needs the sleep.

"I'm find," I said, pushing myself out of bed. She immediately rose to try and help me. "Really, Mum, you don't need to worry about me."

Remus' eyes narrowed in confusion. "Mum?"

"Something happened that sent me and two of my friends back in time seventeen years."

"If you are James and Lily's son," he pondered, "which I'm sure you are, Harry, then I hope you haven't been messing around to land yourself here."

"I was not!"

He chuckled, "I was only joking." Immediately, I calmed down. Seeing Remus laugh always makes me feel better. I wish he would do it more often. It makes him look like the man he is, not what his problem makes him.

Just then, Sirius poked his head in. "I'm gone five minutes to get coffee and that's the time both of you choose to wake up. Come on, everyone's worried about you." He turned and left.

Looking at me curiously, Remus asked, "Just what have you been up to since you got here?"

"He did more damage to Voldemort's following in one hour than the Order's done since day one," said Dad as he came in, a proud grin on his face.

"Oh?"

"He conjured a Patronus - looked exactly like me - that got rid of about a hundred dementors, brought down at least twenty Death Eaters, and fought Voldemort himself to a standstill. Would've gotten him, too, if the bastard hadn't turned tail and Apparated."

"I don't know about that..." I muttered.

"Where, pray tell, did you learn to do that?" Remus asked, a mysterious twinkle in his eye I'd never seen before.

I gave him my own mischievous grin. "Well, you taught me everything I know about Patronuses."

That managed to put a smile on his face again. "I'm sure your father taught you a trick or two, as well."

I bit my lip. He had managed to bring up the subject I least looked forward to explaining. I mean, when he broke down after Dumbledore died... What would happen when he heard...?

Dad placed a hand on my shoulder and looked me in the eye. "Go find your friends. We'll talk with Remus."

He didn't need to tell me twice. There was no way in hell I would stick around for that conversation.