Well that was a rough chapter.

I hope it came out right…it was hard to do.

But, I mean, it kinda had to be done you know.

I tried to make it as er…flowy as possible?

And can I just say thank you.

Almost 60 reviews in 4 days?

That's incredible.

I am so excited and happy about that.

It really does make me write faster and more.

Because I get excited.

So to thank you…I give you a very long chapter :D

Enjoy.

Well moving on, let's get our little time travelers home.

9 and 10 will be your only updates today.

I will apologize in advance...for the cliffhanger.

I AM NOT JKR...PROMISE.

Chapter 10

Time Goes On

August 8th 1995

It was just after 3 in the afternoon, Harry, Ron, James and the twins were all playing exploding snap in the sitting room. The kids had now been there for nearly a week.

"That is SOOO my point!" James argued, trying to take a card out of Harry's hand.

"No way! Your turn was over. Not my fault you didn't pick it up." Harry said, laughing as he leaned back, trying to get out of James' reach.

Fred leaned over and pulled the card out of Harry's hand and tossed it over to James. "He's younger, play nice." He said with a grin.

James smiled widely and grabbed the card quickly. "My point." He declared, climbing off of his 16 year old father.

Harry narrowed his eyes at the 13 year old. "Cheater." He said teasingly as Ron and George laughed.

"Well, if I'm a cheater, so are you…you taught me to play." James countered, grinning.

"He does cheat." Ron said, laughing. "We let him get away with it, because you know…He's the boy who lived and all." He teased to laughter from the other four.

So far Harry had spent a lot of time with Lily and James specifically. James had started a prank war between himself, Fred, George and Sirius, and somehow, Ron, Harry, Ginny, Albus, Teddy and Remus had all been drug into the crossfire. From, multicolored hair, to changing color skin. The twins had been beds turned into sticky goo, shoes that wouldn't let Sirius stop dancing, hats that ate Ron's hair. Albus had made Harry's glasses make everything look like it was upside down…though, he had no idea how he did it, as he was retaliating from a well placed tickling jinx as he tried to walk down the steps. James had made Remus grow hair all over his face and in turn had woke up sleeping in a kiddie pool of pudding, though, he was rather happy about that. Teddy ended up taking a shower in Syrup and Ginny had somehow managed to come out ALMOST unscathed…though she was still singing every few words that she spoke.

It continued for nearly 48 hours straight until Molly had enough. When Little Lily ended up blue and got angry, accidentally making the kitchen table catch on fire because she didn't like the color blue, she called a stop to the pranking. Now Ginny, Hermione, and Lily were all making cookies in the kitchen. Well, Molly and Hermione were making cookies….Ginny and Lily were having a flour war, and were currently both covered in flour.

The boys had turned to playing gobstones, chess and card games. Trying to be calm to avoid anymore trouble. Albus had declined to join them all afternoon, much to Harry's frustration. Even after the day full of pranks and laughter he had barely spoken to the youngest of the three boys. Not because he was avoiding him, or because he didn't want to. In fact he had spent a good deal of time with both James and Lily. But Albus always seemed to disappear when the opportunity presented itself for him to be alone with Harry. And Harry could tell what the boy was doing. He wasn't fooled.

Al was pretending to be okay, but he was upset. He could tell, because he did the same thing himself, all the time. He just couldn't really do anything as Albus always came up with an excuse to run off. So far, he had helped cook meals, and jumped at the chance to help clean. He found books to read and got into impromptu wrestling matches with James, Sirius, Teddy or Remus. He had tea parties with Lily, was happy to let Kingsley use glamor charms and go with him, a morphed Teddy and Nymphadora into Muggle London to get clothes for all the kids. And when Harry asked him to come play exploding snap earlier, he had promptly begged Sirius to go see and feed Buckbeak. Though that really was something that Albus seemed genuinely excited about, he had begged to do it every day so far.

They could all hear Lily laughing happily while she helped cookies down in the kitchens. Her laughter was now part of the normal atmosphere in the house.

Teddy was sitting on the couch, partially keeping an eye on the snap game, knowing that James' over excitement and competitive streak could make for a dangerous combination with the exploding card game but he was also talking quietly to his mother and father who were each sitting beside him on the couch.

"So most of the time I lived with Harry and Ginny, but on the weekends and every few weeks I would be with Gran." Teddy said with a shrug.

Nymphadora smiled. "Can I ask why James, Al and Lily refer to her as Grandromeda?" she asked, laughing.

Teddy grinned. "That's my fault actually. When I was little they referred to her as Grandma…but Uncle Harry always called her Andromeda…I apparently mixed the two, and called her Grandromeda forever….till I was like 14." He admitted.

Remus and Tonks both laughed. "Are you close with her?" she asked him.

Teddy nodded and smiled. "Yeah…really close, it's easier now that I'm out of school…and…well Vic is still in, so I really have nothing to do. And Aunt Ginny was never successful at getting me to cook well, so I eat at Gran's for dinner at least three days a week, and then about three days a week at Potter Manor, and if I don't go out on Saturday night I eat there then too. I'm sure that will change when Vic is out of school in a few months." He laughed.

"So…are you going to tell us about this fiancée a bit more?" Remus asked with a grin as Tonks nodded, smiling.

"Oooh yes, I want to know all about her." She said enthusiastically.

Teddy smiled widely at the thought of Victoire. "She's….incredible…she's head girl, and she's gorgeous. I mean…gorgeous. Have you met Fleur? The girl Uncle Harry played against in the tri wizard last year? Well she's her mum, and she looks like her a lot…we drove each other nuts when we were little, but were best friends. We got together in my 7th year. But didn't really tell anyone till this year….we weren't sure how they would handle it since we were pretty much raised as cousins." He explained.

"And how did they handle it?" Tonks asked him curiously.

"They were making bets on how long it took us to admit it." Teddy laughed.

Remus smiled widely. "None of them have issues with you having Lycanthropy in your blood?" he asked.

Teddy shrugged and shook his head. "No…they don't. But, I mean, Vic is part Veela, and her dad was attacked by a werewolf and all, so while he doesn't turn he's still got the scars and some er…traits and stuff. Besides, with the new laws, it's really not a big deal even if you are a real werewolf. There are safety laws in place and rights and everything. Really, it's not an issue for anyone." He said offhandedly as he looked back over at James to see how he was doing as the blast of someone's deck exploding sounded.

"Laws?" Remus and Tonks said in unison.

Teddy nodded idly, smiling as he watched James laugh at Harry's singed face. "Yeah, it's the first thing Aunt Hermione gets changed in the ministry, and with Uncle Harry and Minister Kingsley backing her…it goes through pretty easily according to history class." He said looking towards the stairs as he heard footsteps. When Sirius walked into the room Teddy looked thoroughly confused. "Er…you're missing someone aren't you? He asked, having watched Al go up with him hours ago.

Sirius laughed and shook his head. "Nah…he's sitting in Regulus' old room talking to the house elf. How about this whole house looks like garbage and that room is immaculate? Little git has been keeping it clean this whole time while letting everything else go. I had no idea, it's the first I've stepped foot in there since being back. He's kept it in perfect condition." He said, shaking his head, with a bemused expression.

Teddy raised an eyebrow. "The house elf?" he questioned, none of them had seen the elf, infact, Teddy forgot all about a house elf even being here.

Remus nodded. "Kreacher." He said simply. "He's willing to talk to him?" he asked Sirius, surprised.

"Oh, okay." Teddy said simply, looking completely unconcerned.

Sirius nodded his head. "I don't think he had much choice. Al asked me if he could go in his room after we were feeding Buckbeak. Which, turns out to be Regulus' old room….I didn't really have the heart to tell him no, when he looked so sadly up the stairs. So I let him in." he said.

Teddy smiled a bit sadly. "He's missing home…at home, Regulus' room was magically expanded, and then split into two rooms, one is Al's, one is James'…there is a bathroom between the two that leads to each room. It's the only thing they successfully share…er…semi successfully…most of the time. Your room stays the same." He said to Sirius. "Al has been asking me when we're going home. I think he misses his mum and dad. When he's down, he always goes somewhere that he feels safe…here, that's his room…or er…Regulus' room."

Sirius nodded in understanding. "That's what I figured…he talked about his mum and dad the whole time we were up there. He told me more about them than any of you have said all week. It's why I instantly let him in. Of course when I did Kreacher saw the room open and fought tooth and nail to get in too. Probably to be sure we weren't going to wreck it or something. But the kid saw him and ran up and hugged the elf. Al looked so happy to see him that I told Kreacher to stand in there and talk to him."

"He hugged Kreacher? " Harry asked, looking at Sirius in awe, having over heard all of the conversation. "You're sure he's safe in there alone with him?" he said warily.

Sirius shrugged. "He's under orders not to hurt anyone, I doubt Alb will be hurt by any of the nonsense that wretched elf spews…besides, the elf seemed too stunned to say anything."

Ron and the twins blinked up at Sirius as if he had lost is mind.

"He hugged Kreacher?" Ron said, repeating Harry, not fully believing it.

Teddy and James laughed.

"Course he did. We love Kreacher, Al especially. He likes any magical creature. He loves going to the dragon reserve with Uncle Charlie. He loves hearing about S.P.E.W. He likes going into work with Aunt Hermione to the ministry to see the animals in the pest division of her department. Albie loves anything to do with magical animals or creatures or beings." James said. "But he loves house elves the most…it's quite ridiculous really, it's no wonder he's aunt Hermione's favorite. " he said, shaking his head with a grin while Teddy nodded along in agreement.

0o0o

Albus was sitting on the floor of the room that he knew was his but looked so unlike his own. The old elf stood in front of him surveying the boy with utmost confusion.

"I know you don't know me yet." Albus said, smiling. "But I'm Al….well you call me Sevvy." He told the elf. "Well, master Sevvy…" he said.

Kreacher looked at him. "The boy says he's my master but he's no master of mine. Can't give me orders. I belong to the Black's not children of mudblood's and filth." He said under his breath.

Albus looked at him curiously. "Course I don't give you orders. Dad says you shouldn't order anything around. But I ask you for things, and you help me. And you tell me stories about Regulus when he was little, and about how he learned to be a seeker and how he helped my dad defeat Voldemort….Dad doesn't know that though, he doesn't like us knowing about all that, but you tell me cause I ask. And mudblood isn't a nice word…we're not allowed to say it at home…that might be different here. I'm not a mudblood though…I'm almost a pureblood really. It's pretty close. Not that it matters much." He told the elf.

The elf just looked at him for a few seconds. "This boy is talking to Kreacher like he's his friend, but he's not a friend of mine, he's just a strange apparition from the future yes he is. But he is talking about master Regulus, and Kreacher knows that no one is fond of him. This boy seems to like him." He said.

Albus laughed. "You're weird back in time Kreacher…and how come you're wearing that and are all dirty? We should get you something better to wear, and how come you're not wearing Mister Regulus' locket? You always wear it." He asked.

Kreacher shook his head. "It knows about the necklace, I isn't telling him it's being hidden so that son of my mistress could throw it away. I isn't."

Albus seemed to understand instantly. "Oh…that's right, Dad said that uncle Sirius wasn't nice to you…I'm sorry. I'm sorry you don't like it here. But you will in my time. I promise. Dad doesn't free you because you beg him not to but you like being our elf, and you have almost half the attic as your room. It's really cool, and all of the Black heirlooms you want up there, pictures and all. He even let you keep that noise picture of Mrs. Black. It's quiet now though…you asked dad to take the wizard spell off of it so now It's just a picture." He said.

The elf just looked at him, Albus looked around and got up, he walked over to the linen cupboard and pulled out a dark Slytherin green pillow case, emblazoned with the black crest in the center. Albus smiled and nodded. "Look this will work." He said with a smile as he turned to the elf.

"Now…I'm not good at severing charms…you might have to help me okay, because Jamie just taught me this, and it's a few years ahead of where I am." He said matter of factly as he flattened the pillow case out on the floor and picked up his wand.

"What is the brat doing to my Master Regulus' bed linens? He is destroying it." Kreacher said fearfully.

Albus smiled at the old elf. "No, I'm not, I'm making you something better to wear, that's all dirty, and it doesn't even have your crest on it…this one does." He explained

He took out his wand and as carefully as he could severed out arm holes and a neck hole for the elf, he then severed a bit off the bottom so it was shorter so it would fit the elf. He looked at Kreacher and smiled.

"Can you make the edges all neat so they aren't messy? Like mum does my slacks." Albus said holding his leg out to show his perfectly, magically hemmed trousers.

Kreacher took a moment as if he was fighting an internal battle but did as the boy asked while Albus cut the long strip of fabric he had cut from the bottom into three pieces and braided it tightly into a belt tying off the ends. He looked up at the elf and picked up the once pillow case, now elf outfit. "Here you go, er….go into the closet and change and then I'll fix the belt he said.

"Kreacher is ordered to wear this. Mistress orders it. Kreacher is not disobeying orders."

Albus just looked at him. "I'm not giving you orders…but it would be much nicer to wear something of Regulus' wouldn't it….you love him." He said with a knowing smile. "You tell me all the time you do."

The elf looked extremely perplexed but picked up the dark green pillow case and walked into the large closet.

O0O0O0O0

Albus was sitting on Regulus' bed cross legged playing with a several , and the elf was explaining to him how elf magic was different than wizard's magic. The 11 year old was listening with rapt attention after having explained all about the future.

Sirius had been standing against the door frame listening silently for some time, watching the fascination on the boy's face as the elf talked, before knocking on the wall. Albus and Kreacher both looked up.

Al smiled widely. "Hey Uncle Sirius." He said happily.

Sirius looked between the two taking in the elf's new clothing. "Kreacher…where did you get your new outfit?" he asked, trying to be kind because Albus was in the room, remembering what the boys had said about Albus being so fond of the creatures.

Kreacher looked at the boy and then to Sirius. "Kreacher is not answering the blood traitor, oh no. He is not talking to the shame of the family, stain on the house of Black." He said, shaking his head.

Sirius scowled at the elf. "I didn't want to hear your answer anyways, disgusting, piece of….ungh." he said, not even finishing the complaint.

Albus looked completely confused. "Why don't you like each other?" he asked.

Kreacher nearly growled. "Like the blood traitor, the filth on the family tree? Never, Kreacher will never like him, his mistress is right, she would be so upset to see the filth in her house." He grunted.

Sirius spat at the ground. "Because he's a "Miserable little creaton…I order you to."

"NO!" Albus said, jumping up, a confused and wearing hurt look on his face as he looked at the elf. "You have to be nice to him Uncle Sirius. Dad says that he deserves respect, he is a war hero, and he is a…a…a….er…sentiment being." He said seriously.

Sirius smiled slightly. "A sentient being?" he asked him.

Albus nodded. "Yeah, that. All beings deserve respect, especially Kreacher and I love him, and you have to be nice to him. And not give him orders or be mean. And Kreacher." He turned to the astounded elf. "You have to be respectful too. Mum says that to be respected you have to give respect. And you don't talk to people like that. Those are hurtful words, and dad says that words can hurt people worse than anything can, they can make them good, or make them evil. You can't say hurtful things." He said with wide eyes before looking back at Sirius.

"Dad never told me you were mean to Kreacher…Aunt Hermione told us all that for things to always change for the better, we have to be better than the people we don't like….if you don't like him, you should be better than him…it's the right thing to do." He said certainly.

Kreacher looked silently at the little boy who had been so kind to him, it was a kindness no one had shown him in many many years. He bowed slightly. "Master Albus." He murmured before disapperating.

Sirius looked at the elf in stunned disbelief before looking at his godson's youngest son and he breathed in deeply. "Come downstairs, there are some peanut butter cookies ready, and I'm told by Ginny that they're just for you." He said, holding his hand out.

Albus nodded, smiling widely and adjusted the lime green cotton shirt he was wearing.

"I like the color." Sirius said with a grin.

Albus smiled as they started descending down the stairs. "Me too, it makes me happy." He said.

Sirius smiled and brushed off the back of the new shirt. "Well, green isn't my favorite color, but that color of it certainly is fun. And it makes your eyes look crazy." He said, laughing.

Albus grinned up at him. "Mum puts me in green all the time cause of my eyes." he said before looking very solemn. "She says they remind her of Daddy." he said before going quiet.

"What's up little mister man?" Sirius asked curiously. "You can tell me you know."

Albus thought for a minute as they descended the steps. He almost told him about wanting to go home. About wanting to even go back to school. About how he missed his mum and dad… but he chickened out, remembering all the times James declared that Gryffindor's were brave and bold. And if he was brave he shouldn't be sad and missing home afterall. So instead he said something else that was on his mind. "You should be nice to your house elves." He told him softly.

Sirius sighed and looked into his stunning green eyes, knowing that he wasn't saying what was really on his mind. "You remind me of Hermione….and James….he was always telling me to be nice to that…that…to Kreacher." He said amending what he was going to say. "I'll consider it, okay?" he said.

Albus smiled, obviously taking that as a compliment and nodded as they made their way down the hall to the kitchen. "Okay." He said happily.

0o0o0o

April 9th 2018

0o0o0o

Harry was sitting on the couch in the game room, his head in his hands. Several unspeakables had come by and cleaned up the sands of time shortly after he arrived home the morning of the 4th.

Now, days later, he couldn't help but sit here, in the last place he knew that his children were. He sighed deeply. He and Ginny weren't arguing, but she had become nearly reclusive, she was losing hope of getting the kids back, and if he was honest with himself, so was he. He didn't look up when he heard the footsteps. He sat there completely motionless…not really wanting to talk to anyone.

"They're doing everything that they can…you know that don't you. Everyone is out….The entire ministry is working on this."

Harry nodded and looked up. "I know…I know they are. But really, what can they do? Without knowing where they are, or when they are…there's nothing we can do about it." He said, his voice defeated.

A deep sigh met his ears. "As soon as we find them…we'll get them home…we just need to find them."

Harry closed his eyes again. "I know…I know…it's set up, there's a way, it's already been cleared by the ministry, I just need the date….as soon as I have it, I'll get there. I just need the date…I have to find them. Gin is right, they call me the effing hero of the wizarding world and I can't save my own kids." He exclaimed.

"Harry….you can't beat yourself up about this, you have to know that there isn't anything you can do…they'll find a way to reach out. They are smart kids. And Teddy is brilliant, he's so much like Remus it's scary."

Harry sighed and nodded rubbing his temples before looking up. "I know…I know….it's just…how could I let this happen?" he asked, desperation plain in his voice.

He sat down on the couch next to him and squeezed his shoulder. "You're so much like James sometimes…you try and carry all of the blame for everything on your shoulders…those kids are little firecrackers Harry. This, was not your fault. Hell, not even Remus could blame you. Those kids are cunning, the whole lot of them should be in Slytherin…well, no…they're far too impulsive and stupidly courageous for that…they definitely have more Gryffindor in them. This isn't your fault, and they will be fine. "

Harry breathed deeply and leaned his head back against the black leather sofa. He closed his overly tired eyes and nodded.

"You don't believe me."

Harry looked over and smiled slightly. "No…I don't….but thanks for trying Sirius." He sighed.