Prologue

'I don't think we should be doing this Padfoot'

'When did you become the voice of reason Prongs?'

'When you started trying to figure out how to benefit from knowing the future.'

'You know that if you had thought of this, you'd be willing to go for it. And don't admit that you wouldn't. I know you too well.'

'You may be right, but it's also likely that I wouldn't ever think to mess with the future because I'm too smart for that.'

'So now you're saying I'm not smart? I seem to recall that without me, you wouldn't have figured out the animagus transformation.'

'You know I didn't mean that you're not smart. You're at the top of the class with me and Lily, but I don't think this is something we should be doing.'

'Fine, you can stay here, but I'm going with or without you. Nothing you can say or do will stop me from going. I want to know how the future is going to work out for us. I hate not knowing. It's like I feel that something is gonna go wrong, but I can't place it. I just have to know.'

'You've been going on about this feeling since our 2nd year. Would you please drop it? Messing with time is not something to be taken lightly, and I don't think you've thought about this enough.'

'I've been thinking about this for five years now. We're graduating Hogwarts in three months, and I'd like to know what I'm going to be doing in 15 years, so that I can plan adequately now. You've got it all figured out. I don't know what to do. You've got your future set for you, I don't.'

'You can do whatever you want. So long as you apply yourself, you'll do well. And besides, we could always just stay bums living on my money for a few months, travel and have some fun. We can think about the future at another time.'

'No. I'm going. Are you coming?'

'I can't Padfoot. I know I can't stop you, but will you at least let me give you a piece of advice? Please don't mess with the future. Take my invisibility cloak and don't interact with anyone. Just observe. And whatever you do, don't tell anyone about you. Even me. I don't want you to contact me, it'll just be too weird. And when you come back, you can't tell me anything, agreed?'

'Fine. You're being way too paranoid and protective. But that's why I love you so much. You are my brother, along with Moony and Wormtail. Speaking of them, should we tell them?'

'No, Moony would object even more than I am, and Wormtail wouldn't know what to think.'

'Wish me luck.'

'Good luck Padfoot. Be careful. See you in a few seconds or so.'

'See you soon.'