Again, big thanks to everyone who reviewed. (Big thanks…..isn't that from The Island of Dr. Moreau? The classic that was butchered? Anyone else agree with me that David Thewlis was the only watchable part of that movie? But that really has nothing to do with this story, does it? So we'll be leaving the parentheses now.) Anyway, yeah, my updates have been a little wonky, but to Sweetsoutherngal, don't worry. I have the whole story already written out in my notebook, so I will finish it. Plus, I really hate when people just leave stories and never finish them. So I don't want to be one of them. Okay, this author note is long enough. On to the story.

Chapter 3 of 4

They went to see Dumbledore right before dinner. He was on his way to the Great Hall when they caught up with him. He took one look at Lupin and pulled them all into an empty classroom.

"How did this happen?" he demanded.

"I messed up a potion."

"The Divinus Mixture?"

"Yes!"

"I warned him." Dumbledore said, "I told Professor Cambridge. 'Don't teach that potion. That's what we have crystal balls for."

"Has this, er, happened before?" Ron asked.

"A few times."

"How do we fix it?" Lupin asked.

"It varies." Dumbledore said, "A Time-Turner would work, but that would leave you in your own time with a Time-Turner. I daresay a few of your fellow classmates may be a bit, shall we say, curious about it."

Lupin smiled, imagining James and Sirius sending themselves back to the time of the dinosaurs.

"However, since this was a potion, perhaps another potion will do the trick." Dumbledore continued. "Maybe the Reflecus Potion, which shows the past. If you do the same thing with that that you did with the Divinus, that will probably work."

"Yeah, what did you do wrong?" Ron asked.

"Name it. I'm a wretched potion-maker."

"Well, we'll just have to find the recipe for that too." Hermione said, "You can tell us step-by-step what you did."

"Alright."

"But for now," said Dumbledore, "I'd suggest you all go down to dinner. I will help you do this later tonight."

They continued on into the Great Hall. Dinner had already begun so the four of them sat down by Ginny and Neville and began eating.

Lupin gazed over at the staff table. Many of the professors were the same ones he'd had. But sitting in the seat normally occupied by Professor Cambridge was none other than a grown-up version of Severus Snape. He was as unpleasant looking as ever and Lupin hoped he would not see him.

A few seats down, Ginny and Neville were discussing their homework loads.

"-O.W.Ls this year so they keep loading it on." Ginny was saying. "Defense Against the Dark Arts is the worst. We have two scrolls on vampires due tomorrow."

"I know." Neville said, "He's inhuman. We've got one on the defeat of Grindelwald. Three scrolls. I wish Lupin had stayed. At least he knew that we had a life outside class."

Lupin froze. The spoonful of peas he'd been about to put on his plate scattered over the table. He nudged Harry, who was sitting next to him.

"I'm a teacher?"

"You were." Harry replied, "Defense Against the Dark Arts in my third year."

"Was I good?"

Harry smiled. "You were the best."

"I'm going to be a teacher." He sounded like he was trying to convince himself. "Wait, why'd I leave?"

"Er…"

"Oh. Another timeline thing?"

"Yeah."

"Alright." He went back to his dinner, shaking his head. "Me, a teacher."

An owl flew into the Great Hall about half an hour later and landed in front of Dumbledore. He took the letter it carried and it flew off. He read the letter and hurried over to the Gryffindor table.

"I'm sorry." He said to Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Lupin. "But I have to leave right now. I won't be back in time to help you. Just do everything you did wrong with the Divinus. If for some reason it fails, go immediately to the hospital wing. Once you are recovered we will try again."

They all exchanged nervous looks. "I have complete confidence in you." Dumbledore said, "Now I really must go."

Later that night they headed down to Moaning Myrtle's toilet to begin the potion. As they set up, Hermione realized they had forgotten the porcupine quills. She and Ron decided to sneak into Hogsmeade to get some from the apothecary. As they stood behind the statue of the one-eyed witch, Harry took out the Marauder's Map to make sure no one was coming.

Lupin went wide-eyed. "Wow! That thing's still around? We're still writing it. Must've been a wrench for James to give you that and his Invisibility Cloak."

"Er, yeah." Harry said. He scanned the map. No one there. "Ron, Hermione, we'll meet you back here an hour. Stay inside the statue until you hear me knock."

They disappeared into the witch's hump. Harry threw the cloak back over himself and Lupin and headed back toward the bathroom.

As they passed a closed door, they heard voices inside.

"You'll go tomorrow then?" McGonagall said.

"I think he ought to wait a few more days. Just until Dumbledore gets back." Was that Mrs. Weasley?

There were a few jumbled voices. Then a familiar sounding voice said hoarsely, "No, I should leave as soon as possible, Molly."

"I agree." McGonagall said, "Good luck."

"Thank you."

The door opened and a small crowd came out, Order members, putting on scarves and gloves as they talked. At the tail end were Mrs. Weasley and present-day Lupin. They walked a few feet behind the rest.

"Do you think there's any chance of them joining us?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

Adult-Lupin sighed. "I doubt it. I've never met any face-to-face, but I've heard stories. Sirius ran into a few while he was on the run."

Harry turned to past-Lupin. He was staring intently at his older self.

"You really miss him, don't you Remus?"

There was a sharp intake of breath beside Harry. He felt the cloak tug as Lupin started following the two adults.

"I have a few things to give to Ginny while I'm here." Mrs. Weasley said, "Good luck, dear."

"Thank you."

The two under the cloak followed adult-Lupin into the Entrance Hall. In the glow of the candles, Harry could see how much more aged and tired his face looked. His hair was almost entirely gray. He covered it with a hat, pulled his cloak a little tighter around himself, and opened the door. Past-Lupin went to follow him but Harry grabbed his arm and pulled him back up to the bathroom.

"That-that was me!" Lupin exclaimed as they threw off the cloak.

Harry nodded. Lupin sank down beside the cauldron. "Why do I look like that? I'll only be thirty-six!"

His eyes widened. "That war. The one they're talking about; it's supposed to be coming. That wizard, Volde-something."

"Voldemort."

"It's still going?"

"It started again. It ended for fifteen years."

"What ended it."

"The timeline." Harry reminded him.

"Damn the timeline!" Lupin pounded his fist into the sink. "Why do I look like that? Where are the others? James, Peter, Sirius? What happened? Why would I miss Sirius? Where's he gone?"

"I can't tell you!" Harry said, "Don't you understand?"

"I understand. I know the impact. But if you don't tell me, I will hex you."

Harry's wand was lying on the floor between them. Lupin picked it up. The rage in his eyes was unlike anything Harry had ever seen in his former teacher.

"All right." He said, "I'll tell you."