All right, it's been a while and I've given up on promising constancy with my updating. I am still here though. Thanks for all the reviews and comments.

Chapter 13

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The fog was starting to clear from his head. His eyes wouldn't open though. That was the bad part. No matter how hard he willed them to, the lids stayed firmly clamped shut. Blind to the world but not deaf, Jon heard the voices around him. Dumbledore and Madame Pomphrey were there. Speaking in hushed tones about something. Next to him he sensed a warmth and a slight depression on the bed he was lying on. 'Bed. That's it. I must be in the hospital wing.'

Trying once more to open his eyes, Jon was rewarded with a blinding flash. Groaning in annoyance he lifted a hand to rub his abused senses. Next to him the weight shifted and as his vision cleared Remus Lupin came into view. 'Great' Jon thought with a slight roll of his eyes. The smile on the older man's face irritated the young man. Sitting up, his eyes swept the vast room.

Beds all around him were empty. Outside the windows were dark and just beyond the tree tops the moons was rising. 'Almost full. Almost time.' Looking to present company Jon saw not only Professor Dumbledore and Madam Pomphrey, but his older self, a very concerned looking Hermione and a young boy with glasses and black hair. For a moment her thought it was James, but that was foolish wasn't it. The sound of Dumbledore's voice stalled any questions Jon would liked to have asked.

"Ah Mr. Lupin the younger, how are you doing this evening? You gave Poppy quite a fright."

"What happened to me?"Jon asked the ancient man, looking briefly to the medi-witch.

"We were hoping you might tell us that" This time Lupin spoke. "You passed out? Why?"

Fixing himself with a blank look, Jon tried recalling everything. "All I remember is chasing someone and then my stomach hurting." He said finally, as if it would clear everything up.

"That would be me you were chasing." This time the familiar looking boy spoke.

"Who are you?"

"My name is Harry."

"Harry...what?" Harry and the elder Remus exchanged looks. After a slight nod from the older man, he looked back at Jon.

"Potter."

"As is James and Lily?. Oh my God. Are you their son?" The heavy silence was enough to answer Jon. If this boy was his best friend's son then where was James. Why the uncomfortable silence at the mention of Lily and James. A sudden stab of regret passed through him and he looked to his older self. There. The answer was there. In himself he saw the grief of unnumbered deaths. Two of them standing out along with another unaddressed one. Lily and James were dead. And this boy was all that remained of his best friend's love.

Suddenly Jon relived the events. A man named Voldemort, a dark mark. The news after. Oh God. His friends were gone. Unbidden a soft moan escaped the boys lips and he fell back onto the bed. The wieght next to him shifted again and he felt fingers gently touch his hand. Without bringing himself to look he knew it was her. Again and again she plagued him. Another emotion passed between the two Lupin's. This one was jealousy.

"Remus, no doubt connections are easily drawn. As to the fate of Harry's mother and father. They did indeed perish in their battle to fight evil. In their deaths though, that evil was banished and Harry survived. You know a powerful piece of information about your future. And the desire to change it will be strong. I cannot make you not change history. But I must stress to you the damage you may do should you attempt it. Your coming here has already had many repricussions we've yet to see. There cannot be more." Dumbledore's voice was soft but commanding. Tearing himself away from his inner battle, he focused on the old man once more.

Surely they would realize that James and Lily could be alive today. He knew how to save them. He could, would do it. But no, he couldn't. What if in saving them he killed someone else. What if innocent lives were wiped away by his desire to have his best friends back. No, he couldn't do it. Couldn't be selfish.

"Now, as to your present condition. I believe the pain you spoke of was an indicatior."

"Of what?" The elder Lupin asked.

"That young Mr Lupin's time here is drawing to an end. Have you ever traveled by Port Key Mr. Lupin?" Jon looked up at the man for a moment. Confused.

"Yes, I took one to the last Quidditch World Cup with Ja..with my friends."

"Do you recall the sensation? The feeling of being yanked or pulled from one place to another?" At Jon's nod, Dumbledore continued. "Yours may have been a pain more severe but the sensations were alike am I correct?"

"Yes. I supose you are"

"The distance is far greater then any Port Key could take you, therefore the effects may be a bit more severe. I think gradually your present state will deteriorate until one day you return to the time which you came from."

"How long?" The older Lupin asked quietly.

"I cannot say. But judging from present circumstances, I would not doubt the time to be short. Perhaps a week on the other side of the next full moon. That gives him two and a half weeks."

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"Professor Lupin, may I speak to you for a moment?" Hermione caught him as he left the hospital wing. The entire time, they had been fighting the urge to look at one another. Now, with Jon asleep and Harry on his way back the the dormitories, Hermione wanted to catch Remus for a moment.

"Of course Hermione. I'm just on my way to my quarters, walk with me?" With her nod, he started off down the hall. Inwardly he was giving himself a sharp kick for not knowing she was there. Now though there was nothing to do. So on they walked in silence.

"I wanted to ask if you were alright."

"Of course I am Hemrione. Why do you ask that?" Puzzled the Remus looked sideways at the girl.

"It's just, well you seem like you've been preoccupied lately. And that's understandable, current circumstances and all. But when Jon got sick, it looked like you might as well. And it isnt just that either. The two of you seem to mirror each other's emotions. Of course you are the same person, but..do you know what each of you is thinking?"

'Clever witch as usual.' He thought with a sigh. "Yes. But only when experiancing an emotion to the extreme. Like anger or illness."

'Or jealousy or love' Hermione added silently. "I see."

"You know you really are.."

"..the cleverest witch my age. I know Remus." She said with a smile. Happy to see him return it, she walked in silence next to him. Soon the portrait hiding his door came into view. With a relctant sigh, she turned to bid him goodnight. The words never came as the look on Remus's face stopped them. He looked like he was arguing severly with himself. A haze of emotion played across his grey eyes for a moment. In seconds they passed and he focused intently on the woman before him. "Goodnight Remus."

'This is it you fool. Say something. Do it!' "Uh Hermione. Would you like to stay..err tea...err. Would you like to have tea with me tomorrow night? After dinner I mean."

Trying to keep her jaw from dropping, Hermione cleared her throat and managed a nod. "Is 7 o'clock alright?"

"7! That's great..I mean that would be fine."

"Alright. Goodnight Remus. " Hermione said with a nod and a smile. He was behaving oddly but his invitation pushed that from her mind.

"Goodnight Hermione." with that he watched her turn and dissapear around a corner. Leaning against the stone wall he sighed. 'What are you doing Remus?'

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A bit longer then usual. see! I think it is anyway.

Bet you cant wait to see how I can twist tea time right? well it will come soon.