A/N) A longer chapter! A few things are explained. And Harry makes a small appearance! Enjoy!
From Time to Time
Chapter 3
Within an hour the rest of James' companions had woken and been told what James had. Neither of them believed that they were in the future, though they still had the same questions running through their heads.
"James?" Lily asked.
James looked up.
"If we are really in the future, how can we get back? And what if we find things out we shouldn't?"
"I don't know Lils," James replied, "If I had answers I'd give them to you, but I don't."
"It was the Gem that did this." Remus said.
James nodded. "And Professor Greenhelm. He sent us here."
"Prongs, where is the Gem?" Sirius asked.
James quickly looked around. It was no where to be seen. "I don't know."
"We can't get back then." Lily paled.
"There has to be some way," James said, "We got here, we can get back."
"I hope you're right, Potter." Lily said.
They were led through the castle towards Professor Dumbledore's Office by Professor McGonagall. It was after midnight so there was no chance that a student would be out of bed at this hour. To James the castle looked the same, nothing different. To him no time had passed but as he walked past various teachers he knew he was in the future. The main reason was that from a distant James spotted Severus Snape watching the group pass.
James could hardly believe that Snivellus was at Hogwarts and a teacher! They would have fun.
"Sweet-bottle." Professor McGonagall said. The gargoyle moved revealing stairs. The Professor moved aside and the five students went up the stairs coming to a door. James knocked and then opened it.
Professor Dumbledore sat at his desk watching them as they filed into the Office. Lily closed the door. Five chairs had been provided. They each took a seat, James and Lily side by side.
The headmaster didn't speak but studied there faces. Finally he clasped his arms. "Tell me what you remember."
James related how he and his friends had been invited to Professor Greenhelm's office, where they had been given a Gem, and then the word 'Portus' being used and everyone blacking out and waking up in the hospital wing and being told that they were in the future.
When he'd finished Sirius asked: "So, are we in the future?"
Dumbledore nodded. "You are. The year is 1996."
James and the others exchanged looks. Peter looked worried.
"What's happened since 1977?" James asked.
"I cannot lie to any of you. When and if you can go back to your own time, you may not remember this experience, but if you do, you must follow the future as it has been set because many things will change dramatically if the future that is now is messed with by your own knowledge of what is to come in your lives." Dumbledore explained.
"We'll try and keep the future the same." James said, promising he would do anything in his power to keep it like this.
"Very well. It is a long tale..." Dumbledore explained everything. He told them how James and Lily had been betrayed and murdered (though he didn't say it was Peter) but he did say that Sirius was framed for murder and sent to Azkaban. Dumbledore didn't want James to know that it would be Peter who would grow to be a Death Eater. They learnt everything about Harry and what he had done, though when Dumbledore spoke of Peter's role he avoided saying his name and said 'the traitor'.
When he was finished he looked at the white faces of the friends. They were shocked.
Finally James spoke his voice constricted. "So I'm dead? And Lily too? And Sirius died just a few months ago?"
"I'm afraid so, James. I know it is a shock but that is what has happened."
"Who betrayed James and Lily?" Sirius asked. "I'll kill him when we get back."
Dumbledore said: "I cannot say. You may find out but I do not wish to tell you. If you knew you may very well kill that person now and alter the future entirely. I can't let that happen. I'm sorry."
They fell silent. Lily gripped James' arm and buried her head in his arm.
"Can we meet Harry?" James asked.
"If you want but it'll have to wait till the weekend. It is now Wednesday in our time. I'll tell him on Friday night."
"What do we do then?" James asked.
"Attend lessons?" Sirius suggested.
Dumbledore shook his head. "No. It would be to strange for the school. Students would work it out. You will remain in a secluded area of the Castle. No student will come to you. I will announce that no one should go to the Seventh Floor. You will remain there until we can find a way to take you back to 1977."
"Why the seventh floor?" Lily asked.
"The room of requirement!" James said, "It's the perfect place to hide!"
"The what?" Lily asked.
"Don't worry I'll tell you later," James replied, "It's a brilliant hiding place."
"Which is why you will go there. People will be going to breakfast shortly. It is necessarily to have you out of the way before anyone sees you or questions will be asked."
James nodded.
They filed down the steps and met Professor McGonagall outside of the office. "I trust you know where to go?"
"Yes," said Remus. He was still in shock from what he had heard.
Quickly the five students made their way to the seventh floor. James paced outside the place where the Room of Requirement was thinking: We need a place to hide, over and over again. Then a door appeared.
Lily looked surprised. "How-"
"We'll explain later, Lils," James said, taking her hand and leading her into the room. She gasped. With James' thoughts he had created a perfect homely place to live but with five invisibility cloak laying on a shelf. There were books; comfy chairs; different changes of clothes; and even a set of Wizard Chess.
"This place is amazing!" Lily breathed.
"We found this place in our second year when we wanted to learn to be Animagi." James explained. He had told Lily that they were illegal Animagi a few weeks ago. She also knew Remus was a werewolf but had kept by him.
"So this is where you want practically every night?" she asked.
"Yeah," James said, "Good isn't it?"
"It is." Lily sat herself down on a chair. She pulled a few strands of her red hair out of her eyes. "I can't believe what we heard though."
James looked at her. "Neither can I. I'm dead. I don't exist anymore. It was something I didn't really want to know."
"Me neither," Lily sighed, "but we have a son. And he's alive. He's had a life. We died to save him, James, at least we went down saving someone we loved."
"Your right." James agreed. "I just hope we can forget what we heard when we go back to 1977. I wouldn't want to remember and keep thinking I'm going to die in so many days time."
Lily nodded. "I hope so too."
"Did you guys ever wonder why Wormtail was never mentioned?" Sirius suddenly said.
Peter looked up. "I thought so to."
"I thought he did." James said.
"He didn't," Remus explained, "This is a long shot...and I'm not accusing anyone...but what if Wormtail is the traitor?"
Peter paled at the accusation.
"Impossible!" James laughed, "Wormtail, a traitor? No, I don't think so. Maybe its someone we meet later on in life."
But no one saw Peter's expression. No one saw that he looked frightened. He was afraid of Voldemort and he knew it. He just didn't know what to do when he left Hogwarts. Should he fight for Dumbledore? Or for Voldemort? Thoughts like these raced through his head every day.
"Harry Potter!"
Harry looked up from his tea and glanced at Professor McGonagall walking towards him with a sincere expression on her face.
"What have I done now?" Harry muttered.
"Probably nothing." Ron muttered.
"Mr. Potter. Professor Dumbledore would like a word with you as soon as its possible. Mr Weasley and Miss Granger, I think you should go as well."
"Yes Professor." Hermione answered.
"Eight-o-clock, sharp." McGonagall said. She left walking back to the teacher's table.
"I wonder why he wants to see me," Harry said. "He probably wants to tell me my father is alive or something."
Ron and Hermione exchanged glances. Harry had been in a mood for a while now. They couldn't get him out of it. They hoped that Professor Dumbledore would make him happy.
TBCNext chapter: Harry meets the Marauders...I wonder what's going to happen....Review please!