Hello again

So, back again. Hmm … two parts in two days. Nicht schlecht. In this part, there are certain … realisations. All those peeps that reviewed chapter one have been duly thanked at the bottom. Thanks a lot …

Back to the Future (2): Realisations

Hermione rushed into the hospital wing, earning a reproving glare from Madam Pomfrey. She checked the mirror. There she was. Hermione Granger. She was no longer Lily Evans. But she had to be. And Ron needed to be Sirius. They had to keep James fooled at least until Harry woke up.

She approached Harry's bed. Frank Longbottom was still lying there; fast asleep. This was good, Hermione thought. If Harry's Frank, we can let James pretend to be him. She bit her lip, and drew back Harry's curtains. What was he going to say?

Another thought struck Hermione. How on earth had James got into the future? Then she realised that she could answer that question easily. She had experienced time travel before. She got up, and rapped on the door of Madam Pomfrey's office.

    'Madam Pomfrey,' she said breathlessly. 'I was just, er, wondering, whether anything really, really valuable ever got lost in this infirmary.' Madam Pomfrey eyed her beadily.

    'Why?' she said, as if this was a suspicious thing to ask.

    'Oh, just some research for – Muggle Studies,' said Hermione quickly. 'Er – "Are Muggles naturally clumsy, or are they just the same as wizards?" Hermione, impressed with her quick thinking, prayed that Madam Pomfrey had never checked her timetable when she had been in here. The matron seemed satisfied, however.

    'Yes,' she said. 'Once. It was a time-turner that we lost. It was handed back in by, er –' Hermione bit her lip so hard that she was in danger of biting through it.

    'It was handed in by James Potter,' said Madam Pomfrey, sniffing slightly. 'In his final year at Hogwarts.' She blew her nose. 'Anything else I can help you with?'

    'No, thank you,' said Hermione, and she left the office.

 

So that's how he got here, Hermione thought, as she left the hospital wing. What now? She thought about this. Her best method would be to get more of the desire potion. If James was surrounded by Sirius and Lily … She turned a corner, and sped off in the direction of the Potions dungeon.

*

James sighed. There was definitely something wrong with Lily today. He was just wondering whether to go into the common room when he remembered that he'd arranged to meet Remus in the hospital wing. Or at least, Remus would think he was there. He sighed, turned on his heel, and marched back in the direction of the hospital wing.

*

Hermione screeched to a halt outside the Potions lab. Thankfully, it was empty. She entered the classroom quietly, and closed the door. She quickly found what she was looking for – hers and Ron's potions from earlier on. She found Ron's, looked around to check no one was looking, and poured some of the solution into a goblet. She looked around again, and swallowed the potion in one gulp. It felt as though her skin was melting; her hair was changing colour, and she was growing slightly.

Lily Evans shook her head. Now she needed some for Ron. She poured some of her own solution into a small bottle and screwed a cork tightly into it. Then, replacing her used goblet by the sink, she tiptoed to the door, walked through it, and closed it quietly behind her.

*

James reached the hospital wing but saw no sign of Remus. Frank was still lying in one of the beds, sleeping peacefully. James waited for about five minutes. Remus still didn't come. James checked his watch. It was about two minutes until lunchtime. He could still catch Remus at the end of his Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson. Swinging off the bed, he walked slowly to the door and left the hospital wing. He didn't notice Frank's eyes flicker open behind him.

*

Hermione reached the common room, searching feverishly for Ron. She found him having a game of chess with Ginny at the back of the room.

    'Ron,' she said urgently, when she reached him. Ginny stared.

    'Who are you?' she said. Hermione hadn't realised that she still looked like Lily. In fact, when she turned, she noticed that half of the boys in the common room had turned to stare at her.

    'It's me, Hermione,' she whispered in Ginny's ear. Ginny nodded.

    'Not now, Hermione,' said Ron, who had changed back into his original self. 'We're playing.' He turned to her, and grinned. 'You should have heard the screams when I stepped in here as Sirius. Classic.'

    'Ron, this is important,' she said, gritting her teeth. Without waiting for an answer, she pulled Ron out of his chair and led him to the portrait hole, leaving behind a very bemused Ginny.

    'What is it?' said Ron impatiently, after Hermione had dragged him outside of the common room.

    'There's no time to explain. Just drink this.' She held out the bottle to Ron, who looked at it dubiously.

    'Come off it,' he said, laughing. 'You've probably hexed it.'

    'Ron,' said Hermione, in her most dangerous voice. 'Drink the bloody potion!' Ron shrugged.

    'All right, calm down.' He took the bottle, uncorked it, and drank it quickly. Within a few seconds, Sirius Black was standing in front of Hermione.

*

James took a short cut down to Remus' classroom. Checking his watch, he realised that he had only one minute before lunch. Not wanting to be caught by any mad Professors just before lunch, he pulled on his Invisibility Cloak. He walked down the last corridor, and noticed that students were already coming out. That's odd, he thought, I don't recognise many of these people. Must be getting less observant in my old age, he remarked. The flow of students stopped, but Remus still hadn't come out. James was a little perplexed, but then again, Remus was the sort to stay behind and ask the teacher questions. He approached the room, opened the door, and saw Remus. And he screamed.

*

   

    'Hermione, will you please explain why exactly I need to be Sirius?' Ron asked Hermione miserably.

    'No,' she replied. 'There isn't time. We need to find Ja – Harry, quickly.'

    'Why?'

    'Ron, stop moaning and follow me! Now, did Harry tell you where he was going?'

    'Yeah, he said he needed to speak to Remus. What?' he added, seeing the look on Hermione's face.

    'Oh my God,' she said, horrified.

*

Harry opened his eyes. He could have sworn that someone had just left the infirmary, but it was empty. He blinked, and looked into the mirror. Frank Longbottom's perplexed expression looked back at him.

    'Damn,' he said, and sat up properly. He hoped to have changed back by now. He was still wearing his glasses, and they were blurring his vision. He removed them, and looked around. The covers on the bed next to him looked slightly creased. He wondered who might have come in, but then forgot about it. He could still see Madam Pomfrey working in the room next to him. He was just about to get up when Ron came bursting into the room.

    'Hello. Still not changed back?' Harry asked cheerfully.

    'No,' Ron said. 'Hermione practically force-fed me more of the potion. I'll be Sirius Black forever at this rate. I might just go and visit Snape …'

    'Seriously,' Harry said, laughing. 'What are you doing? Where's Hermione?' Ron suddenly looked at Harry as though realising something for the first time. 'What?' Harry asked, staring blankly at the look of utter amazement on Ron's face.

    'You're – you're still Neville's dad,' said Ron weakly.

    'Yeah,' said Harry. 'So?'

    'But – but if you're here – then – then who did I talk to on the stairs?'

*

James stumbled back. This couldn't be right, it couldn't be. He felt as though he'd walked into a nightmare. How could this be? Remus suddenly stuck his head around the door. He heard me scream, James thought. Where the hell am I? Lupin looked around, and his eyes fell on the empty space where James was standing. He reached out and pulled the Cloak off.

    'Harry,' he said, looking relieved. 'You scared the life out of me. James used to do the same. What's the problem?' James stared at Remus. He was old. That was what it was. He was no longer seventeen-year old Remus, with pale blue eyes and brown hair. Now he was Professor Lupin, probably, with the same eyes but greying hair. James couldn't take it in. This couldn't be right. Where was he? He must have gone forward in time, but how? Then he remembered. The watch. He pulled it out from under his robes and stared at it. Lupin gasped.

    'Harry!' he said. 'Where did you get a time-turner?' James mind thought at lightning quick speed. Everyone was calling him 'Harry'. This Harry Potter must be my son, he thought. So they think I'm my son. He must look at lot like me. But his eyes – they must be green. Lily's eyes …

James' mind was spinning with the realisation of everything. He had been brought forward in time, by the time-turner, and everyone had mistaken him for his son, because of his eyes. But then, he thought, why were Lily and Sirius here? They called you Harry, said a distant part of his mind, they weren't the real Lily and Sirius. You're right, James thought, that was why Lily was so upset with me earlier. I kissed her, and she – she thought I was Harry. Talk about mistaken identities. But she asked – she called me James – she asked why my eyes are green. She knows …

    'Harry, are you sure you're all right?' James needed to find things out, and fast.

    'Professor,' he said, and he could hardly believe it when he'd said it. 'Sna – someone hit me with a bad memory charm. I've forgotten some things about myself.'

    'I'm sure I can fill you in,' said Remus curtly. He couldn't quite place it, but Harry seemed – slightly different. He overlooked this. 'What do you need to know?'

    'I've forgotten,' he said. 'What's my name again?'

    'Harry James Potter.' So I named him after me, did I? James thought, what a caring father.

    'Fine. Who are my, er, best friends?'

    'Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. I believe they were responsible for morphing into certain of your father's friends earlier.' That makes sense, James thought. Heh heh. I kissed my son's best friend.

    'And, er,' he bit his lip. He didn't really want to know the answer to this question. 'What happened to my parents?' Remus gasped.

    'You really, you can't remember?'

    'No,' said James firmly.

    'Well, all right. Your parents, Lily and James, were murdered by Voldemort when you were one –' James shuddered. He'd expected that from the way that everyone had used past tense when talking about him and Lily.

    'What happened next?'

    'Sirius Black, your parent's best friend, was put in Azkaban for their murders.'

    'WHAT?!!' James shrieked. 'Sirius murdered me – my parents?'

    'You remember who Sirius is?' Lupin asked. Of course I do, James thought, but surely, Sirius wouldn't do that. Surely not.

    'Yes,' said James. 'He – he killed them?'

    'No. He wasn't the one responsible. He was framed. By Peter Pettigrew, another of their friends. James almost burst into tears. He couldn't believe it. Peter, one of his best friends, had murdered him and Lily and put Sirius in Azkaban.

    'Where – where's Sirius now?' he asked weakly.

    'Behind you, Harry,' came Sirius' voice. James turned, shaking like a leaf. A grown-up Sirius Black was standing right beside him, an arm on his shoulder. James looked into his face. His eyes – he could see the torment and suffering in those eyes.

    'I got your letter, Remus,' he said. 'Harry, how are you? Got a Quidditch match in two days, haven't you?'

    'What? Oh, yeah,' said James weakly. He couldn't believe it. Neither of them recognised him. That was how similar he looked to Harry. If only my eyes were blue, he thought, then they'd recognise me. Sirius and Remus stood chatting for a minute, when somebody came around the corner. It was Lily.

    'Hi Sirius,' she said. 'Don't faint. It's me – Hermione.' She hadn't seen James, who had subtly put the Cloak back on.

    'Jesus, Hermione,' said Sirius. 'Don't do that.' He looked back at her, and sighed. 'I wish James was here,' he said wistfully.

    'Sirius,' said Remus sharply. 'Don't …' Sirius shook his head.

    'I know, I know. They're dead – they aren't coming back. But I miss them so much.' He wiped away a tear. James, hiding under the Cloak, desperately wanted to jump out and say 'I'm here!' but he knew that wouldn't be very good for Sirius' heart. And he had to talk to Hermione.

    'Hermione,' said Remus. 'Sirius and I are just going up to the staff room. What did you want?'

    'Have you seen Harry?' Remus looked around.

    'He was here a minute ago,' said Remus. 'I suppose he went back to Gryffindor Tower. We'll see you later, Hermione.' He and Sirius nodded to Hermione and then walked off down the corridor together. Hermione turned too, and walked off down the corridor. When he was sure there was no one around, James removed the Cloak, and grabbed her arm.

    'H – James!' she said, surprised. 'Where were you?' James didn't reply; he just steered her into an empty classroom.

    'Firstly,' he said, when she had sat down, 'calling me James is not a good idea. Someone will get suspicious. Call me Harry, OK? Secondly, you're not Lily Evans, and this is not my time. You're Hermione Granger, my son's best friend. Am I correct?'

    'How did –?' Hermione began.

    ' – I work it out?' James asked. 'Simple. When you see that your two best friends are in their late thirties and refer to you as your son, it kind of gives it away.' Hermione just gaped. 'So,' James said. 'You're Harry's best friend, yes?'

    'Er, one of them,' said Hermione weakly.

    'The cleverer of the two, I'd say,' said James, grinning. Hermione flushed. 'So, what can you tell me about Harry?'

    'Er, well, why don't you ask him yourself?'

    'Good idea,' said James. 'My, you are clever. Lily was clever.' He wiped a tear from his eye.'

    'James – I'm sorry.' She still couldn't quite believe that she was calming down Harry's dead father who was grieving Harry's dead mother. 'Come on, shall we go and see Harry?'

    'I'm going up there,' said James. 'You get Sirius and Remus.'

    'I'm sure they're gonna love this …' She walked to the door.

    'Oh, Hermione?' said James.

    'Yeah?'

    'Do you know how to reverse Isis solution. Lily's eyes are annoying me now.'

    'Sure,' said Hermione. She stepped back, and gazed into James' eyes. She felt her knees go weak. These were the same eyes Harry had – this practically was Harry. But it wasn't, she reminded herself. It was James.

    'There you go,' she said, pulling back and looking at James' blue eyes. He pulled a quill out of his pocket and transfigured it into a small mirror. Hermione stared.

    'What?' said James, checking his eyes in the mirror.

    'Oh – it's just that – I've never seen anyone transfigure something that easily. Well, except for the teachers.'

    'It's my forte,' said James. 'Why? Do you like Transfiguration?' Hermione nodded.  'All right. Come on, we'd better be going. See you in the hospital wing.' Hermione nodded again, and the two teenagers left the room.

*

   

    'Malfoy was laughing when Neville's potion knocked you out. What a git,' Ron said to Harry, chewing on a chocolate éclair.

    'I don't really care what he thinks,' Harry replied. 'Hey, by the way … do you know if Neville drank my potion earlier? It could have been him you saw.'

    'Dunno. Snape made Hermione and me drink our potions. Then, when he saw who we became, told us to bring you up here. You should have seen how pale he went.' Harry laughed.

    'Probably would have committed suicide if my dad had appeared.'

    'Most definitely,' said a soft voice from the door.

*

Hermione knocked impatiently on the staff door. The fact that James was alive; and the same age as her, Harry and Ron, hadn't really got through to her yet. He was so similar to Harry in appearance – and yet such a different person. He was far cleverer than Harry, as was most likely, but Hermione couldn't place quite what it was that made him different. Or what had made her go weak at the knees when he had kissed her in the hospital wing.

    'Miss Granger? Can I help you?' It was tiny Professor Flitwick. He had opened the door and was smiling pleasantly at Hermione.

    'Er, yes, please, Professor. Is Professor Lupin there?' Flitwick put his head back into the staff room.

    'No, Miss Granger. He went to see Professor Dumbledore, as I recall.'

    'Thank you, Professor,' said Hermione, and she sped off towards Dumbledore's office.

She skidded to a halt beside the ugly stone gargoyle and quickly muttered the password. She had been in here not long ago, when her parents had been found dead. She wiped away a tear, and started to climb the spiralling, moving staircase. She reached the top, and knocked softly on the large oak door.

Sirius answered the door. Behind him were Remus and Dumbledore, who were beaming at her.

    'Hermione,' said Sirius. 'What can we do for you?'

    'Er, someone wanted to see you, Sirius. And you, Remus. He's in the hospital wing.'

    'Who is it?' asked Remus curiously. Hermione thought. Saying "it's your best friend who's been dead for sixteen years in teenage form" might not go down too well, so she just said. 'You'd better come and see for yourselves.' Remus glanced at Sirius, who nodded.

    'All right, Hermione, we'll come. You'll have to forgive us, Albus.'

    'Not to worry,' said Dumbledore, from behind his desk. 'I'm sure you're in safe hands.' He ushered them out of the office.

    'Hermione,' said Sirius impatiently, as they approached the hospital wing. 'Who is it?'

    'You'll see. You wouldn't believe me if I told you.'

*

Harry gasped, and heard Ron do the same. He stared for a few seconds at the person who had just entered the hospital wing. Then he relaxed.

    'Oh, it's you, Neville,' he said, relief and pain crossing his face at the same time. 'You shouldn't do that.'

    'I suppose you think I'm Frank's son?' said James simply. He glanced at Ron, who was still in Sirius' form. 'Hmm … you look different, Ron. New haircut?' Ron gaped at the stranger.

    'Who are you?' said Harry shakily.

    'What, Harry, did we teach you no manners? Oh wait, we didn't. We're dead, aren't we?' Harry stared. Who the hell was this person? Then an idea popped into his head.

    'Really funny, Malfoy,' he said spitefully, staring at his father. 'Really funny.'

    'Malfoy?' said James in amazement. 'My God, you can hit the soft spots.' He grinned. 'It's good to see you, Harry.'

    'Who the hell are you?!' said Harry angrily. He was shaken.

    'What? Can't you see the resemblance between us? Surely Sirius left you one photo? I'm your dad, Harry.'

    'You're not,' said Harry furiously. 'Firstly, my dad's dead, and secondly, you're only my age. WHO ARE YOU?!' he suddenly leapt out of bed and jumped at the impostor. However, the impostor waved his hand, and Harry soared back to the bed. Ron was still gaping at the two of them, open-mouthed. Harry glared at his father.

    'Useful trick, that,' said James, sitting down on the bed next to Harry's. 'It helps when you're the Heir of Gryffindor. You are, you know.' James stared at Harry for a minute with his bright blue eyes. 'I realise that my present self is dead and gone, but I'm not my present self. I'm from the past.' He pulled something from around his neck. 'A time turner,' he said, simply. 'Not something to be played around with. But I was stupid. I put a revolving charm on it, and so here I am.' He looked into Harry's eyes for a minute. Frank's eyes…

    'You're not,' said Harry, his voice full of hate.

    'Not what?' said James.

    'My dad,' Harry replied. 'YOU'RE NOT MY DAD!!'

    'Easy,' said James. 'No need to raise the roof. All right, if I'm not your dad, who am I?'

    'I don't know,' said Harry resentfully. Ron coughed.

    'Ask Hermione,' he said, grinning. 'She'll tell you who I am.'

    'What?' said Harry.

    'Oh, Hermione's not stupid. She's quite the opposite, in fact. Didn't take her long to realise. But – see – I thought she was Lily. Just like I thought you were Sirius, Ron. I don't think she appreciated my, er, treatment, so to speak.'

    'What the hell so you mean?' said Ron suddenly.

    'Ah, you can speak, Ron. Well, when I arrived, Hermione was there to give me a welcoming kiss.' Ron lunged at James. 

    'All right!' said James dangerously, throwing Ron back onto the bed with another wave of his hand. 'Stop this! We're fighting like little children. Harry, I'm your dad, whether you believe me or not. Ron, you like Hermione.' Ron flushed. 'Fair enough. I only kissed her because I thought she was Lily. Stop this nonsense! It's ridiculous.' Harry looked just about to reply, when the infirmary door opened, and Hermione, Sirius and Remus stepped in.

Another excellent place to end, methinks. Don't even bother complaining that everyone found everything out too quickly – I mean, it doesn't take long to realise you're twenty odd years into the future. *Cackles* Here's my little thanks section:

Sapphire Flame (Why didn't you just tell me you liked it? You're sitting right next to me), Herald Talia (Yes, I am strange *cackles*), HGW (I'm glad you're glad. Or that you're glad I'm glad you're glad. Or that I'm glad you're glad I'm glad you're glad. It's simple, really), Kelly (Not bad punctuality, eh?), Mladybug3 (Ah, one of my loyal reviewers of Werewolf. Next part shouldn't be too long), Starlight (Do what you like, Kim. You're far too kind…), gumdrop (Yes, I am having fun writing it. Maybe that's why I've done two chapters in two days. And the title – that came to me before the actual fic. It's an interesting story, actually. It all took place in a History lesson. Maybe I'll tell you about it one day), beth (Glad to hear it. Or maybe you're glad I'm glad? – Don't even get me started), Moony Lupin (Hmmm. Now), Cali (You do? How convenient …)

Thanks, kids.

Ciao