Night-Owl123: Thank you so much! I'm sorry I took so long to update!

Gee-Unit: Oh my Merlin! Really, like Rowling herself? Oh, I feel all giddy now! You've made my day with that review! But I'm sorry that I got you confused... things will be explained, later, I promise!

denaumo: Thank you and here's more!

AshenWolf: Yes, I wanted her to be so crazy hysterical that she would say things that would make you go, "GASP! Did she just say that!?" The adults' reactions aren't really detailed, unfortunately, because you get more on that later when you get a face-to-face confrontation. I feel evil now because the THUMP was not somebody fainting! Muahahaha! You'll get your Harry breakdown soon--as you can probably tell from this chapter, that "WHY ME!?" screeching and yelling is about to come up. A guy can only take so much, you know?

Si-FiAdict246: Gar. I feel horrible. It's taken me SO long to update. I know most of you are like, "That's because you were working on your other story only to have it DELETED!" But no! That's not it! It was this stupid little poem in this chapter that got me all in a fizz, I swear! And I still don't like it--if anybody feels like rewriting it, be my guest! I'm no good at poetry, gar.

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randomperson: You can never tell if "interesting..." is a compliment or a comment telling you that "You are a complete lunatic for writing such a thing but I'll continue to read anyway because it's so weird!" Hehe. Just thought I'd point that out.

Encaitarince: Sigh. Another peson that makes me feel bad for taking so long. I'll try to get the next chapter up sooner, I promise! Thank you so much, by the way!

Lady Phoenix Slytherin: I know it's sad, but it has to be sad or there will be no plot and it'll just be a big soap opera! You are the only person who has read this and gotten their update the same day. You're the lucky one.

Chapter Six: The Beginning Again


In all truth, they had been hoping that the boy—Harry—would be the one to talk, and perhaps prove Sirius's theory wrong or right. When they first put the spell on the door however, the only words they heard was a question asked by the boy if the girl was alright. It turned out to be the girl—Ginny—that gave them the information they needed. Lily and James had gone pale when it was said that Harry was actually their son.

Then Ginny began calling off names of her family. Remus recognized the family instantly and had to swallow from making a comment about it. He searched his brain for something to do about the matter and the only option played in his head over and over again. He didn't particularly like this option, however, because the reactions to his decision could be one of many.

Halfway through Ginny's second speech, Remus realized that James and Lily had slid down the wall into a sitting position, both looking rather pale. He wondered briefly if he should force Sirius to end the spell so that they could calm down, but he couldn't bring himself to. He wanted to hear else Ginny had to say, no matter how wrong it was.

It wasn't until her speech had stopped and had turned to nothing but heart wrenching sobs did he tap Sirius on the shoulder. The Marauders had always been close—and James and Sirius had always been like brothers—but Remus and Sirius had a bond to be able to understand each other without even opening their mouth. It was this close bond between the two of them that used to make sure that their pranks back in school went off without a hitch. It was also this close bond that helped them during duels. It was one of the only advantages they had against the other side.

Sirius nodded back in return and whispered the counter spell. The others were now looking at the two of them as though expecting them to explain everything that they had just heard. Remus nodded his head toward the stairs and turned without waiting to see if they understood his meaning or not. Thoughts were running through his head so quickly that he almost couldn't comprehend them.

He gestured for everybody to sit, but he continued to stand and started to pace the length of the kitchen. He realized, with a small smile, that Sirius was also pacing at the other end of the table. It seemed they were thinking the same thing and he could tell that the others knew it was well. Remus paused slightly and caught Sirius's eye. They stared at each other for a moment before sighing simultaneously.

"Are you going to explain to us what's so bad that has you two nearly freaking out?" asked James, sounding slight annoyed and slightly apprehensive. "Lots of horrible things happened in their reality, but that's not going to happen in ours—is it? That's not the curse, is it?"

"No," sighed Remus, "that's not the curse, but—"

THUMP!

They all jumped and spun around toward the sound. Remus slowly pulled out his wand and he heard James and Sirius following him. He snuck toward the living room, his wand being held tightly to his chest. He took a deep breath by the door before pouncing into the room, wand outstretched.

He was met with a wand in his face, and his face broke into a relieved smile.

He put his wand back into his belt and sighed. "You could have informed us you were coming. You gave us all quite a start."

Behind him, he heard Sirius and James snarl at the same time, "Snape!"

"My apologies," he said, sounding not at all sorry as he put his own wand away. "As there is no means to contact you while you are here other than to Floo from you office, I had no choice but to come unannounced."

Remus held up his hand. "There is no need to explain, Severus. I was merely throwing a comment out there to explain my own actions."

Snape nodded. "Here is the Fever-Reducing Salve you requested, Headmaster. It should be consumed within the hour or it will become useless." He looked past Remus and into the kitchen where the door was still standing open. His eyes narrowed. "May I inquire as to who the potion is for?"

James growled. "No you may not—"

"Of course," interrupted Remus as he turned around, giving James a warning look as he walked back into the kitchen with the three men following. "I think we could use your help actually." Remus looked at Sirius as he said this.

Very slowly, Sirius nodded. "I agree," he spat. He then turned to James as if to explain his statement. "We really could use his… expertise."

James's eyes narrowed, but he slowly nodded and lowered himself into a chair beside Lily. Remus sighed and began to pace once more, a habit he had first picked up from Sirius. Very suddenly, he stopped and turned to Snape with sharp eyes.

"Do you know what a Desidero Sphaera is?"

"Of course," said Snape, as though the question was an insult to his intelligence. "But they are said to be extinct."

"They are," Remus agreed, "in our reality, at least."

Snape's eyes widened as the full meaning of the other man's sentence hit him.

"We had two visitors earlier today," he continued. "Two very peculiar visitors who had no idea where they were or how they got here. One of them—the girl—was unconscious with a very high temperature. That is why I asked for the Salve. The other—the boy—was awake and looked remarkably a lot like James but quickly passed out as well. When they finally woke up earlier today, we put a Magnification Charm on their door and listened in on their conversation to gain more information. We now have names to go with faces. The girl is Ginny Weasley and the boy is Harry Potter."

Snape went rigid and shook his head. "Impossible," he spat. "Both of those children are dead and have been for over sixteen years."

"In our reality, yes, but not in their reality. Remember the Desidero Spheara? We are almost positive that they used it to come to our reality, though unintentionally."

The black-haired man's eyes narrowed. "If that is true, Headmaster, you do know the consequences will be dire."

Remus sighed and ran a hand through his greying hair. "I know which is why we need your help. Is there anyway that you could create the potion?"

"I could, but whether or not it'd work is the question."

"Of course it's the question," snapped Sirius, "but what are we supposed to do? Just sit back and do absolutely nothing?"

"That wasn't what I was suggesting," snarled Snape. "I was simply stating a fact. If you can not handle it, Black, perhaps you do not need my help after all."

"Backing out already, Snape. I knew it was going to be a challenge to brew, but I didn't even think that you would back out on it. It appears I was wrong."

Snape's eyes narrowed. "I should curse you right now—"

"I'd like to see you try—"

"Gentlemen! We have more pressing matters at the moment." Remus looked between the two men with a stern expression on his face. "Can we place aside an old school grudge for a moment so we can sort this out?"

Sirius and Snape glared at each other furiously for a moment before nodding stiffly. Remus sighed in relief before trying to think of what to say next. He looked up and down the table at the occupants in the room. Another sigh, this one of despair, threatened to escape his lips but he swallowed it down.

"You never did tell us what the curse is," said Lily slowly.

"Perhaps if you heard it yourself it would make more sense," suggested Remus.

He nodded toward Sirius who hesitated before reaching into his pockets and retrieving a crumpled piece of parchment. The parchment looked like it torn from a book in a great hurry. Sirius smoothed the parchment out on his knee before taking a deep breath. Then, with a voice that immediately told them that this was not good news, he read:

"Heed this warning with great fear
For those who desire to be not here
Switched to another reality oh-so quick
But the time to end has already begun to tick.
Although this may seem a gift at first
Know that things can only get worst
After a week of fun and play
All around you will start to decay.
Start with the caster the second week
All their senses will begin to leak
From their sense of touch to their sense of sight
They will go mad by the next fortnight.
The third week will be for those directly related
Either the parents or those they created
They will meet the same end as the caster
Every sense will be lead to disaster.
The forth week will bring those close to them
Into the same ring also to condemn
The lunacy will continue to spread
Until the caster is finally dead.
The fifth week brings in something new
The meaning of pain is your first clue
The torture will begin from the inside out
Everyone will suffer, have no doubt.
There is always a way to bypass a curse
Thus the meaning of this very verse
A drop of Mooncalf on top of a cocoon,
A pint of a creature out on the full moon.
Three leaves of ivy and two stems of rose
Fifteen hairs off an animal that can detect any foes
Simmer and set for three days in whole
Give it an hour before switching it to a bowl.
An eyelash of the caster and teardrop from its love
The bones of the wizard who watches from above
Stir it thrice and it should turn green
Thus your fate waits to be seen.
There are only two outcomes of this potion
And it all depends on the caster's emotion
Whether to condemn all those to death
Or to insure for at least 'nother breath."