Disclaimer: No one in this story belongs to me. I'm making no money off of this.

Warning: Slashy themes still. More pairing hints!

Dedication: To all of you who reviewed. I'm actually really liking this story now. :-)

Author's Note: I am confused by a review I got. Someone mentioned that Peter's being gay explains why he turns...? I'm not entirely sure I understand that. Ah well. Not the most confusing review I've ever gotten, certainly. Anyway...here's chapter three. Guess why Remus is pissed! And...the Peter Pettigrew Slash Archive is up and running. http://www.angelfire.com/wizard/ratstale . If anyone knows of any Peter slash out there, send it our way!

Timeless

Chapter 3

After two hours, Harry still didn't know what to do. //Talk to Dumbledore, I guess. I'll ask someone to take me. That shouldn't be too hard.// He was still floating in the calm waters of shock. His mind was functioning quite rationally, but he was only vaguely aware of anything going on around him. //Back in time. I've gone back in time. I'm going to miss my Potions test! Damn it...Snape's going to kill me!// He was still at the point where the greater consequences of what had happened had yet to sink in. He had gone back in time before, but only a few hours. And he remembered everything Hermione had said...

//I have to be careful. I have to try and not change anything. Well, I'll do what I can...// Somehow he had a feeling it was too late. He sighed, rolling over onto his side. This was going to be hard. How could he not change things? Hadn't he already? He could hear voices, outside the door. Rather loud voices, at that. He opened his eyes halfway, fixing them on the door that was swinging open.

"...I tell him 'that's not a goat, it's my sister!' Get it?" Followed by a loud, booming laugh.

"Not really." A softer, though still amused voice answered. The door opened, and Harry's eyes fell on two boys, around his age. One was much taller and broader, somewhat overshadowing the other. Harry's eyes were drawn to him first. He was...beautiful. Tall and broad shouldered, with flowing black hair and perfectly chiseled features. His skin was tanned, and his T-shirt and jeans showed off a well muscled body that was obviously well cared for.

"What do you mean you don't get it?" He was asking, stepping out of the way to admit the other boy. Harry tore his eyes away from the beautiful boy to look at the other....and his breath caught in his throat.

He was tall as well, though as not as tall as his friend. His hair was black, but shorter and quite tousled. He was pale, with wide blue eyes behind round glasses, and a friendly-if somewhat thin-face.

//Dad...// Harry recognized him immediately. It was his father. But...young. He felt his throat closing, and he had to blink back tears. //I'm seeing my father...// He bit at his lower lip, to keep quiet. They hadn't noticed him yet. His mind skipped, focusing only on his father.

"It was an awful joke." A third dorm member entered, and all Harry could see out of the corner of his eye was tawny blonde hair and a pile of books.

"You people have no sense of humor." The first boy said.

//If that's my dad then that...// Harry took a deep quiet breath, as things began clicking into place.

"Yes we do." James said, tossing something in the direction of his bed. "The one about the witch and the leprechaun...that's a joke. It's funny. What you just told...no."

"You just don't get it." //That *has* to be Sirius.// Harry decided. //Oh god...// He didn't know what to say, what to do. He squeezed his eyes shut, breathing rapid and shallow.

"There was nothing to get." A quiet voice, almost cultured. Harry was tempted to open his eyes, but he couldn't. He had to get a hold of himself.

"Would you guys be quiet?" Well, he at least recognized that voice. Harry gave a small sigh of relief. //Thank god...Peter. He'll take me to Dumbledore. And he'll tell them to leave...me....shit.// The last little gear clicked into place. //Peter.// It couldn't be. There was no way that shy, cute, friendly Peter was Wormtail, the man who had betrayed his parents and led them to their death.

"Oh, of course!" The more cultured voice. "The new transfer."

"Still sleeping, huh?" Sirius, not being quiet at all. That left the unidentified voice to be Professor Lupin.

"Yes!" Peter hissed. "So be quiet."

Harry took a deep breath. //I have to see Dumbledore. And...this is the only way I'll ever get to know my dad. Even...even if it's just like this.// He sat up, slowly.

"I'm awake." He said, yawning.

"How do you feel?" Peter asked, coming over to sit on the edge of Harry's bed. He wanted to edge away, recoil...but he couldn't. //How did *this* become *that*?// He wondered, staring at Peter.

"Fine." He honestly did.

"Oh good!" Peter said, smiling. "Um...these are my friends." He waved his hand a the three boys who were hovering around Harry's bed. "That's Sirius, James and Remus."

"Hi." Harry said, not being able to tear his eyes off of James. //He does look like me...//

"Hello." James said, waving and giving a nervous smile. "Why's he staring at me?" He whispered to Sirius.

"I dunno." Sirius shrugged. "But Peter as right. He *does* look a lot like you."

"See?" Peter said. He was still sitting on the edge of Harry's bed. //And I have to act normal...// he felt anger rising up in him. He wanted to hit Peter.

"Mmm." Remus said, looking Harry up and down. There was a frostiness there that Harry had trouble associating with the kind hearted Remus Lupin he knew from his time. "What school are you from?"

"Oh..." Harry wracked his brain. //Oh...what's that American school 'Mione was telling me about? Cromwell? I think that was it...// "Cromwell."

"But you're English." Remus continued. There was an almost snide tone to his voice...

"Yes." Harry struggled to think up a convincing story. "My mum's English, but my dad's American." //Why is he asking me all these questions. And why doesn't he seem to like me?//

"American, huh?" Sirius asked. "I hear the girls there are something else..."

"Is that all you think about?" James asked, punching Sirius in the shoulder. "Honestly..."

"They're okay." Harry said, shrugging.

"Do you like girls?" Remus asked, and Harry shrunk back from the icy tone. //What is his problem?//

"Remmie..." Peter hissed.

"What? It was an honest question." Remus turned innocent eyes to Peter. //he hates me! Wow....Professor Lupin was judgmental when he was young!//

"It's not really something you ask right up front though." James pointed out. //Thank you dad!//

"Unless..." Sirius gave Remus a sly smile. "You're interested..."

"Certainly not." Remus snapped. "No offense."

"None taken..." //This is the most bizarre day of my life, it really is.// He took a calming breath. //I'm back in time. Professor Lupin seems to hate me. My *dad* is here. Sirius is some sort of sex god. And Pettigrew...// He shuddered.

"You okay?" Peter asked, anxiously.

"Fine." Harry said, a little more tersely then he'd meant. The way Peter flinched back almost made him feel bad.

"Well?" Remus asked, arms folded.

"Huh?" //he can't still be on that...//

"Just wondering if you were going to answer my question." Remus tossed his head, fixing golden eyes on Harry's.

"Er..." //Why does he care?// Luckily, James came to the rescue.

"Is American really as strange as everybody says?" James was asking. Harry just nodded, trying to think of everything he knew about the country.

"It's different." He said, his mind racing back to books he had read. "They drive on the other side of the road. The muggles, do. And they dress different. And it's bigger."

He noticed that while he was talking, Sirius drew Professor Lupin-//You're going to have to start thinking of him as Remus//- away from them, and said something quietly in his ear. Remus pulled away, shaking his head vigorously. Sirius nodded, a knowing expression on his face. He glanced over in Harry's direction, and shook his head with a smile. There was obviously something going on that Harry wasn't aware of.

"Weird." James said. "You play Quidditch at all? I know it's not too popular in America..."

"Oh, no..." //That'll draw way too much attention.// Much as wanted very much to play a game with his father, he knew he couldn't. But even just this was amazing...

"Too bad. We'll have to teach you."

"Oh, that's okay." Harry sighed. "I'm...I'm scared of heights." He lied.

"Then I guess you'll be hanging out with Remmie and Peter quite a bit, huh?" Sirius said, grinning.

"Guess so." Harry said. //What more could I ask for. Spending time with the man who kills my parents, and someone who hates me.//

"Hear that Remmie?" Sirius slapped Remus' shoulders, and Harry frowned. He wanted to know what was wrong. Especially when he saw Remus' expression. The young werewolf was shooting daggers.

"I have studying to do." Remus said, airily, and grabbed some books before sweeping out of the dorm. Sirius gave a hoarse chuckle.

"Jamie my boy, you up for a game of chess?" Sirius asked.

"Sure." James threw himself down on his bed while Sirius fished a chess set out of his trunk. Harry decided he wanted to know what was wrong with Remus. And, unfortunately, there was only one person to ask.

"Uh...Peter?" Harry asked, keeping his voice quiet.

"Yes?" Peter ran a hand through his light brown hair, smiling nervously at Harry.

"I don't think your friend Remus likes me very much..."

"Oh.. Uh...." Peter bit his lower lip, hands clenched tightly. //Why does he have to be cute? He shouldn't be like this. He should be twitchy, and ugly, and really fat.//

"Did I do something to make him mad?" Harry asked. //Why would he be so mean to me, without even knowing me? He shouldn't be like that, especially since he' a....Oh! Maybe he doesn't want someone else in the dorm, because of his secret!//

"Er...no." Peter was flushing and sputtering, as though he was embarrassed. "Uh...just ignore Remus, okay?"

"Okay..." Harry nodded. //I don't know *what's* going on. But I need to see Dumbledore...later.// He had the feeling as soon as he went to that office, he'd be sent back to his own time. And he'd never see his father again. He let his eyes wander over to where Sirius and James were playing chess. //Dad...//

"I'm really sorry." Peter said, raking his hair back again. "About Remus. If he gives you any more trouble, tell me. I'll talk to him."

"Do you know why he's being this way?" Harry asked. He really wanted to know.

"Maybe. I don't know." Peter shrugged, looking away.

"Why did he want to know if I like girls so badly? Is he...I mean, does he have anything against..." Harry waved his hand vaguely.

"What? Oh, is he...a bigot? No!" Peter shook his head, laughing a little and flushing some more. "No. No. Uh...it doesn't matter."

"I mean, I do like girls." Harry said, hurriedly.

"Oh." Peter nodded. //Is he...disappointed? Oh no...he likes me. Like that.// ~And you liked him, earlier...~ a nasty little voice popped up.

"But..." //Harry, shut up!// He yelled at himself. What was he doing? What did it matter? This was the *last* person he wanted to be having this conversation with.

"But?" Peter looked up, bright eyed. //He's really sort of sad.// Harry decided. He had a hard time connecting these people with the ones in his time. They were nothing alike. The Remus Lupin he knew was kind and tender, and didn't have a harsh word for anyone. And the Sirius he knew was drawn and reserved, overly cautious. And Pettigrew...

"I mean, a lot of people like girls." Harry said. "And...you don't *have* to like girls." He was babbling now. //You really ought to just shut up. You're hysteric. You've gone hysteric because of the situation, that's all.//

"Oh." Peter nodded. Harry swallowed hard. Morbid curiosity was taking over now. And his father wasn't doing anything all too interesting. Harry's eyes kept flicking over there. He still couldn't quite believe it.

"Do...you like girls?" Harry asked. There was an awkward tension in the room now. Harry knew this conversation pretty well. He'd had it with Ron, a few weeks ago. There had been a lot of flushing and mumbling, staring down at their hands, and all sorts of hurried assurances. Then there had been a rather awkward and fumbling kiss. And they'd never really talked about it since.

"No." Peter admitted. //So he does like me. I don't think things can get any stranger. This has to be some sort of dream...// Nothing was making that much sense. Maybe Remus was worried about *that*. Harry knew that Fred and George complained when Lee had his girlfriend in the dorm....

"That's okay." Harry said. But Peter still looked rather scared. "If it makes you feel any better, I like both."

"Really?"

"Yeah." //Potter, you're an idiot.// He didn't know why he was having this conversation with Peter. //Remember who he is! What he does!// But Harry still couldn't do it. He had *seen* Wormtail. And he bore little resemblance to the kind eyed young boy whom Harry had found quite attractive. They were, in the majority of Harry's mind, two different people. //This is too much like when you talked to Ron...// Including that heavy tension. Peter was staring at his hands. Harry desperately sought for something to say, something to break the strange moment he had found himself in...

"Ha!"

The exclamation startled Harry and Peter. They jumped, and let out chuckling sighs when they saw James doing some sort of victory dance.

"Checkmate, Padfoot!" James was saying. "That's....ten for me, two for you. Hey Harry, you play chess?"

"A little bit." He wasn't that good.

"You want to play a game?" James asked, setting the board back up. Harry couldn't suppress the stupid grin that spread over his features.

"Yeah...I would."

~~~