Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters.
Dangers in the Past.
James sat looking at him in disbelief. They had already stayed like this for a few minutes and Harry was starting to get a bit impatient. Sure, he could imagine it was really a shock for the other boy to find out that he had, or would have, a son, but stranger things were happening at the moment and he needed to get past that. Finally, James looked up and shook his head.
"This dream is getting weirder and weirder."
Harry gaped at the other boy and then dropped his head against his knees. That was about the last reaction he had expected from his father. Honestly, he had been ready for the boy to be angry, happy or whatever, but James plainly thinking that this was still a dream was a bit too much. He had the urge to shake the other boy around, trying to knock some sense into him, but then realised it wasn't the time to do so. He needed to wake the boy up. Standing up, Harry looked down on James.
"Do you have any more questions?"
James looked at him, expression blank. "Lots, but I don't think I want to hear the answers right now. This is already weird enough."
Harry silently agreed. Why should he waste his time explaining things when James wasn't even going to believe him? Extending his hand to help the other boy up, Harry nodded. "Yes, I think it's better for us to find a way to make you wake up."
James also nodded. "Ok, but how?"
Harry shrugged. "I think it would be a good idea to try and find something out of place."
The other boy snorted. "Everything is out of place, Harry."
The raven-haired boy looked him a bit annoyed. "Do you have a better idea?"
James shook his head and both boys started to walk around the grounds. Harry looked around, searching for a way to get out of there. James, on the other hand, was feeling weird, there was a strange sensation running through his mind, something pulling him in a distinct direction.
"Harry, we have to go to the lake."
The other boy looked at him intently for a moment and then simply nodded.
They both stood, shocked, at the sight of the lake; the water, if that was indeed what now filled the lake, was completely amber instead of the usual dark blue. James bit his lip. "I guess this qualifies as weird, don't you think, Harry."
But the other boy wasn't paying attention to him. Instead, he was looking towards a tree that had been planted near the lake. He was hearing faint screams coming from it, and instinctively he knew it was time to leave James and go help Lily.
"Harry?"
The boy looked back towards his father and smiled gently. "Go ahead, James, I think this will help you wake up. I am needed right now."
James frowned in confusion. "Needed?"
Harry nodded. "Lily is also trapped in a nightmare. I need to help her wake up."
James gasped. "I need to help her, then. I'm going with you."
His supposed son smiled softly at him. "I'm afraid that's impossible, James. You are in your body, trapped in your mind, and she's in hers. If you went into her mind, there's always a possibility that you wouldn't wake up, and that would mean that all our efforts have been for nothing. Please, jump into the lake and wake up."
James didn't seem to agree with him and wanted to argue with the other boy. Harry put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Please, trust me, I know it's hard to ask, but you know I will do anything in my power to help her."
James shook his head furiously. "I can't! Please, Harry, Lily's my life, I have to help her."
Harry looked at him sympathetically. "I know, James, and right now, the best you can do for her is to simply wake up. Imagine what would happen if you helped her and died there. She would wake up to find you dead. Is that what you want?"
The other boy sulked. "No."
"Then, please, get into the lake and let me do what I have to do."
James finally sighed and relented. "Ok, but if something happens to Lily, I will hunt you down, even if you're not more than a ghost."
Harry rolled his eyes. "I'm not a ghost. Anyway, can you tell Ryan something for me?"
James shrugged. "Sure, what is it?"
"Tell him I'm alright, ok? That he doesn't need to worry."
"Harry, you're dead."
The boy looked at his future father, exasperated; it wasn't really James' fault, but sometimes the boy could be a bit dense. "Humor me and tell him."
"I will be locked up in St. Mungos for it, but ok, I'll tell him. Anything else?"
Harry shook his head and turned his attention towards the tree; the screams had become even louder and he was starting to get worried. Turning towards James once more, he motioned toward the lake.
"Come on, James, get going."
The boy looked hesitant again and Harry scowled, his patience was starting to vanish. "James, if you don't jump into that lake right now, I'm going to dump you into it."
James looked at him. "Why don't you go help Lily? I will jump in when you're gone."
Harry narrowed his eyes. "James Potter, you don't honestly expect me to leave you here alone, do you. I know that the moment I leave you will follow me."
James blushed, but didn't move from his spot. Finally Harry had enough. He grabbed one of James' wrists tightly and started to drag him to the lake. James made a half-hearted attempt to get loose, but Harry was much stronger than he appeared.
"Go on, in with you, and don't do anything stupid, ok?"
Without waiting for an answer, Harry pushed the other boy into the lake. Immediately, the lake started to change colour and the world around him started to get fuzzy, a sure sign that James had made it and was starting to awaken. Harry quickly ran towards the tree; he knew he had to get out of the dream before James fully woke up. With a mighty jump, he crashed into the tree and everything went black.
Roughly two hours had passed since Harry had vanished. Albus and Severus had not moved from their positions near the two beds, patiently waiting for some sign that the two teens were waking up. The older man was dozing in his seat; it had been a couple of stressful days and his age was catching up with him. Severus was just contemplating if he should move the man to a bed when a small sound attracted his attention. Quickly standing up, he moved closer to James' bed. The boy was stirring slightly, fighting to wake up.
"Albus!"
The headmaster woke up with a start and brushed the sleep out of his eyes. "Yes, Severus, what is it?"
Dumbledore put on his glasses and saw the younger man standing over James' bed. "I think Potter is waking up."
Albus immediately walked to his side, just in time to see the young boy opening his eyes slowly. Smiling softly, the old headmaster took the boy's hand in his. "Severus, please, go get my younger self, Poppy and Remus."
The other man nodded and swiftly left the room.
"Headmaster?"
Dumbledore turned his attention towards the young boy. "Hello, James, you had us very worried."
The boy slowly sat up, helped by the other man. "I had a weird dream. What happened?"
Dumbledore smiled softly. "You and Lily were poisoned. The poison locked you up in your mind and gave you nightmares. I can imagine it was not very pleasant."
James frowned. "I remember a weird man forcing us to drink something. He was strange. He laughed a lot, saying the Boy Who Lived would finally die."
Dumbledore nodded slowly and squeezed his shoulder. "It's ok, James, that man has been dealt with. You don't need to worry about him any more. Do you want to talk about the dreams? I'm guessing they were quite terrifying."
James shuddered slightly. "They were at first, but then they got better."
The old man raised an eyebrow. "It got better? How so, James?"
Before the teen could answer, four people entered the room. Madam Pomfrey immediately went to the bed to check him over while the two other men moved to Dumbledore's side. What really caught James' attention was the other Dumbledore that had come in. The young boy stared in confusion at the two headmasters; he could now see that the one he had been talking to was older than what he was used to be. Seeing his confused expression, Professor Moon chuckled.
"I think young James is confused, Albus."
Dumbledore laughed softly. "That's to be expected. I'm sorry I didn't 'introduce me' at first, James. I am Albus Dumbledore, your headmaster's future self."
James' eyes widened at the news, even as he tried to ignore Madam Pomfrey. "You come from the future?"
The younger headmaster nodded. "Indeed, they do. I think I should introduce to you Professors' Snape and Lupin."
Snape scowled. "Potter."
Remus shook his head, amused at the Potions Master tone of voice. He turned his attention towards his young friend. "Hello, Prongs."
"Moony."
James leaned back against some pillows Madam Pomfrey had put at his back, his mind completely confused.
Poppy had turned her attention towards the men and told them James was perfectly fine, although a bit tired. After that she mover towards Lily to check if there had been any change.
The men looked at her while she worked, a surprised shout made them turn to James again. The boy was sitting up straight. "Wait a second! Do Ryan, Ethan, Ron and Hermione also come from the future?"
Remus looked confused at his friend. "Yes, James, why?"
"Harry was telling the truth!"
Snape immediately sized James by his shoulders and shook him a bit. "What's this about Harry! What do you know about him?"
Remus calmly pushed Severus aside, noticing how uncomfortable James was looking, given his arch-enemy's behaviour. "Please, James, tell us what you mean."
The boy frowned. "He was there, in the dream. He helped me realise that I was having a dream, then he helped me wake up." The boy looked towards his sleeping girlfriend. "Before I jumped into the lake, he told me he had to go help Lily."
The adults looked at each other in confusion. Dumbledore sat down in a chair and calmly asked James to tell them everything that had happened, starting with how they were kidnapped.
To be continued.
A/N: Thanks for all reviews, and specially thanks to my beta reader, Tanya.
Dangers in the Past.
James sat looking at him in disbelief. They had already stayed like this for a few minutes and Harry was starting to get a bit impatient. Sure, he could imagine it was really a shock for the other boy to find out that he had, or would have, a son, but stranger things were happening at the moment and he needed to get past that. Finally, James looked up and shook his head.
"This dream is getting weirder and weirder."
Harry gaped at the other boy and then dropped his head against his knees. That was about the last reaction he had expected from his father. Honestly, he had been ready for the boy to be angry, happy or whatever, but James plainly thinking that this was still a dream was a bit too much. He had the urge to shake the other boy around, trying to knock some sense into him, but then realised it wasn't the time to do so. He needed to wake the boy up. Standing up, Harry looked down on James.
"Do you have any more questions?"
James looked at him, expression blank. "Lots, but I don't think I want to hear the answers right now. This is already weird enough."
Harry silently agreed. Why should he waste his time explaining things when James wasn't even going to believe him? Extending his hand to help the other boy up, Harry nodded. "Yes, I think it's better for us to find a way to make you wake up."
James also nodded. "Ok, but how?"
Harry shrugged. "I think it would be a good idea to try and find something out of place."
The other boy snorted. "Everything is out of place, Harry."
The raven-haired boy looked him a bit annoyed. "Do you have a better idea?"
James shook his head and both boys started to walk around the grounds. Harry looked around, searching for a way to get out of there. James, on the other hand, was feeling weird, there was a strange sensation running through his mind, something pulling him in a distinct direction.
"Harry, we have to go to the lake."
The other boy looked at him intently for a moment and then simply nodded.
They both stood, shocked, at the sight of the lake; the water, if that was indeed what now filled the lake, was completely amber instead of the usual dark blue. James bit his lip. "I guess this qualifies as weird, don't you think, Harry."
But the other boy wasn't paying attention to him. Instead, he was looking towards a tree that had been planted near the lake. He was hearing faint screams coming from it, and instinctively he knew it was time to leave James and go help Lily.
"Harry?"
The boy looked back towards his father and smiled gently. "Go ahead, James, I think this will help you wake up. I am needed right now."
James frowned in confusion. "Needed?"
Harry nodded. "Lily is also trapped in a nightmare. I need to help her wake up."
James gasped. "I need to help her, then. I'm going with you."
His supposed son smiled softly at him. "I'm afraid that's impossible, James. You are in your body, trapped in your mind, and she's in hers. If you went into her mind, there's always a possibility that you wouldn't wake up, and that would mean that all our efforts have been for nothing. Please, jump into the lake and wake up."
James didn't seem to agree with him and wanted to argue with the other boy. Harry put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Please, trust me, I know it's hard to ask, but you know I will do anything in my power to help her."
James shook his head furiously. "I can't! Please, Harry, Lily's my life, I have to help her."
Harry looked at him sympathetically. "I know, James, and right now, the best you can do for her is to simply wake up. Imagine what would happen if you helped her and died there. She would wake up to find you dead. Is that what you want?"
The other boy sulked. "No."
"Then, please, get into the lake and let me do what I have to do."
James finally sighed and relented. "Ok, but if something happens to Lily, I will hunt you down, even if you're not more than a ghost."
Harry rolled his eyes. "I'm not a ghost. Anyway, can you tell Ryan something for me?"
James shrugged. "Sure, what is it?"
"Tell him I'm alright, ok? That he doesn't need to worry."
"Harry, you're dead."
The boy looked at his future father, exasperated; it wasn't really James' fault, but sometimes the boy could be a bit dense. "Humor me and tell him."
"I will be locked up in St. Mungos for it, but ok, I'll tell him. Anything else?"
Harry shook his head and turned his attention towards the tree; the screams had become even louder and he was starting to get worried. Turning towards James once more, he motioned toward the lake.
"Come on, James, get going."
The boy looked hesitant again and Harry scowled, his patience was starting to vanish. "James, if you don't jump into that lake right now, I'm going to dump you into it."
James looked at him. "Why don't you go help Lily? I will jump in when you're gone."
Harry narrowed his eyes. "James Potter, you don't honestly expect me to leave you here alone, do you. I know that the moment I leave you will follow me."
James blushed, but didn't move from his spot. Finally Harry had enough. He grabbed one of James' wrists tightly and started to drag him to the lake. James made a half-hearted attempt to get loose, but Harry was much stronger than he appeared.
"Go on, in with you, and don't do anything stupid, ok?"
Without waiting for an answer, Harry pushed the other boy into the lake. Immediately, the lake started to change colour and the world around him started to get fuzzy, a sure sign that James had made it and was starting to awaken. Harry quickly ran towards the tree; he knew he had to get out of the dream before James fully woke up. With a mighty jump, he crashed into the tree and everything went black.
Roughly two hours had passed since Harry had vanished. Albus and Severus had not moved from their positions near the two beds, patiently waiting for some sign that the two teens were waking up. The older man was dozing in his seat; it had been a couple of stressful days and his age was catching up with him. Severus was just contemplating if he should move the man to a bed when a small sound attracted his attention. Quickly standing up, he moved closer to James' bed. The boy was stirring slightly, fighting to wake up.
"Albus!"
The headmaster woke up with a start and brushed the sleep out of his eyes. "Yes, Severus, what is it?"
Dumbledore put on his glasses and saw the younger man standing over James' bed. "I think Potter is waking up."
Albus immediately walked to his side, just in time to see the young boy opening his eyes slowly. Smiling softly, the old headmaster took the boy's hand in his. "Severus, please, go get my younger self, Poppy and Remus."
The other man nodded and swiftly left the room.
"Headmaster?"
Dumbledore turned his attention towards the young boy. "Hello, James, you had us very worried."
The boy slowly sat up, helped by the other man. "I had a weird dream. What happened?"
Dumbledore smiled softly. "You and Lily were poisoned. The poison locked you up in your mind and gave you nightmares. I can imagine it was not very pleasant."
James frowned. "I remember a weird man forcing us to drink something. He was strange. He laughed a lot, saying the Boy Who Lived would finally die."
Dumbledore nodded slowly and squeezed his shoulder. "It's ok, James, that man has been dealt with. You don't need to worry about him any more. Do you want to talk about the dreams? I'm guessing they were quite terrifying."
James shuddered slightly. "They were at first, but then they got better."
The old man raised an eyebrow. "It got better? How so, James?"
Before the teen could answer, four people entered the room. Madam Pomfrey immediately went to the bed to check him over while the two other men moved to Dumbledore's side. What really caught James' attention was the other Dumbledore that had come in. The young boy stared in confusion at the two headmasters; he could now see that the one he had been talking to was older than what he was used to be. Seeing his confused expression, Professor Moon chuckled.
"I think young James is confused, Albus."
Dumbledore laughed softly. "That's to be expected. I'm sorry I didn't 'introduce me' at first, James. I am Albus Dumbledore, your headmaster's future self."
James' eyes widened at the news, even as he tried to ignore Madam Pomfrey. "You come from the future?"
The younger headmaster nodded. "Indeed, they do. I think I should introduce to you Professors' Snape and Lupin."
Snape scowled. "Potter."
Remus shook his head, amused at the Potions Master tone of voice. He turned his attention towards his young friend. "Hello, Prongs."
"Moony."
James leaned back against some pillows Madam Pomfrey had put at his back, his mind completely confused.
Poppy had turned her attention towards the men and told them James was perfectly fine, although a bit tired. After that she mover towards Lily to check if there had been any change.
The men looked at her while she worked, a surprised shout made them turn to James again. The boy was sitting up straight. "Wait a second! Do Ryan, Ethan, Ron and Hermione also come from the future?"
Remus looked confused at his friend. "Yes, James, why?"
"Harry was telling the truth!"
Snape immediately sized James by his shoulders and shook him a bit. "What's this about Harry! What do you know about him?"
Remus calmly pushed Severus aside, noticing how uncomfortable James was looking, given his arch-enemy's behaviour. "Please, James, tell us what you mean."
The boy frowned. "He was there, in the dream. He helped me realise that I was having a dream, then he helped me wake up." The boy looked towards his sleeping girlfriend. "Before I jumped into the lake, he told me he had to go help Lily."
The adults looked at each other in confusion. Dumbledore sat down in a chair and calmly asked James to tell them everything that had happened, starting with how they were kidnapped.
To be continued.
A/N: Thanks for all reviews, and specially thanks to my beta reader, Tanya.