Disclaimer: As much as I would love to own Harry Potter . . . or a certain George Weasley . . . I do not and will never own a thing.

Oh The Things We'll See

It was just supposed to be a trip to the library, but ended up to be so much more. The four Marauders take a ride through the future, each to discover that life after Hogwarts isn't how they imagined it to be, and sometimes, the things that you want and think that you need, really come from the struggles that we survive.

In a matter of seconds, the four Marauders were beamed back to Hogwarts, but instead of taking them back to the library, they were beamed straight into the headmaster's office.

"Oh no," Remus said softly, frozen in his spot. "What could he want with us?"

"Just don't make it look like you have something to hide." Sirius whispered to him.

Just then, Dumbledore appeared at the other side of the room, waving his hand for them to sit. "And what could you possibly have to hide?" he asked, smiling as he took a seat.

Remus shook his head. "Absolutely nothing."

Dumbledore leaned forward on his desk, lacing his hands together as he inspected the four boys. "What a ride you four have had today. What an incredible one, that is."

James, too, leaned forward towards Dumbledore. "How did you know about us going into the future?"

"Well, you see," Dumbledore said, now smiling from ear to ear. "I was the one that placed that book there."

The four boys eyes grew wide in shock.

"You put that book there?" Sirius said, gripping the arms of his chair. "Why'd you do that?"

Dumbledore took a few minutes to reply to Sirius question, but while he was doing this, took a good look at each boy before him. "I could name many ways in which I decided to do something like this," he said softly, his eyes twinkling and a smile on his face, "but I think one will do just well enough. You see," he leaned back into his chair, crossing his hands on his lap. "You all know that I am a very observant person, and lately, with the coming of your age and the pressure that the staff has put on you to decide your career path for after Hogwarts, I have noticed very little care in you four."

Sirius let out a small sigh, crossing his arms over his chest as he sunk down into his chair. "Now wait just a second, Mr. Black." he said, assuring him that he wasn't going to give him a lecture. "I know that after your trip, you must have some interest in the future, or I can only hope that you would. I am just implying that from what I have seen with my own two eyes, you four haven't had the slightest bit interest in what your fate will be after you leave this school. Now, maybe some of you do," he said, smiling at Remus, "and maybe I could be wrong? I just wish that what I did today will possibly alter your attitudes towards such a serious topic."

Remus nodded, leaning his head against his arm that was propped up on the arm of the chair. Sighing, he said, "I never thought I would turn out that way. God, I was so conceited, and-" his hands fell into his lap, and he shook his head. "She was carrying my child and I thought of nothing but my work and myself."

Dumbledore nodded, his smile fading from his face. "She understood that, Remus. Kathryn was such an outstanding woman, with a heart bigger than anyone I have ever met." he said, his voice growing faint. "She understood that your work was important to you, and that was why she never pressured you into putting your effort into the marriage. Of course, you did love her, and you were sure to tell her that every moment you spent with one another. That is why I believe she never left you. Not until she had no other choice."

"What are you talking about, until she had no choice?"

Again, Dumbledore took a few minutes to reply to this, as this was a very delicate topic. "Your wife, Kathryn, passed on while giving birth to your child. A boy, it was. But I'm afraid that he too passed with his mother."

Remus lowered his head, his face scrunched as though he were about to cry.

"Life can be complicated at times. But we must remember that sometimes, things do happen for a reason. It is the principle of life; to live, and to die. Unexpected or not, we never can truly know." Dumbledore said, his powerful words being taken in by everything around him.

"I hope that you also understand that now, after seeing what you have seen, you can at least prevent something from happening in the future." he said, now shifting his attention towards Sirius. "I also understand that you have seen many troubling things this evening, have you not?"

Sirius nodded, remembering back to what he had witnessed.

Dumbedore sat up, folding his hands once more on the desk. "It is true, Sirius, life can be so unfair. But that doesn't mean that you don't have the power to change it. Your love for that beautiful woman will never have to end. Not if you can help prevent it from happening."

"I just don't understand why she had to kill herself over something as stupid as that?"

Dumbledore nodded, completely understanding Sirius. "Although you saw a great amount in that time, there was much more that you didn't see." he said, taking a breath. "Before you two met, Anna Paterson was one of many patients in one of the largest mental facilities in this country. Anna suffered from a great amount of depression, and was known to be delirious, or to have hallucinations. That would greatly explain why she chose to do what she did after you met her."

The room was silent for quite some time. Both Sirius and Remus had their heads lowered, and James and Peter sat uncomfortably in their chairs, waiting for someone to break the silence.

"Excuse me," Peter said, holding up a hand. "but I have a question about my future."

Dumbledore nodded, and Peter began to speak.

"I was wondering," he said, scooting up in his chair, "why was my life so horrid? What did I do to become so unlucky?"

Dumbledore shook his head. "It is unfortunate for me to say, Peter, that your future is not as . . . cheerful . . . as your friends. You see, after you and your friends graduated from Hogwarts, there was a point where you all began to break apart, spending more time with the new people that you began to meet. As time grew on, there was little communication between the four of you. That is when, to say it in better terms, your life began to go downhill."

Peter nodded, lowering his head and looking down at his shoes.

"As you had witnessed a little earlier, that was too when you were desperate to replace that missing piece of your life where your friends has once filled, and you bought those three parakeets, naming them after your once best friends. After that, I am afraid to say that it only gets darker, leading to the path that no one would choose to take. But you must remember Peter that you do have the choice to change all of this. You can still live the life you always have wanted. It's up to you."

Peter nodded once more, smiling as he looked up at Dumbledore.

"Now," Dumbledore said, tapping his fingers on the desk. "I am more than sure that you all of witnessed and heard more than enough today, and are quite anxious to return to where ever you were last. Let me tell you though, that meddling with the future is not a common thing, and what we have done today is to remain within this office. No one is to know what you four have done today. Is that understood?"

Remus, Sirius, James, and Peter nodded their heads.

"Alright then," Dumbledore said, smiling as he got to his feet, the Marauders doing the same. "with one final word, and then I will let you four go." He walked over to the door, the boys settling in front of him. "Always remember this, carry it on with you where ever you go. Life your life to the fullest. Live to be all that you can be, and never underestimate the power of change, because as you know, it can happen in an instant. So live, love, and never take anything for granted."

It wasn't a second after Dumbledore was finished that the door swung open, revealing the spiral stairs. "Good day to you four." Dumbledore said as he stepped out of the way, allowing the four boys to exit the room.

Once at the bottom and far away from Dumbledore's office, the Marauders took off on a run, back to the library to retreive their book bags and then back to the Gryffindor common room to discuss what they had learned earlier that day. It was true, what they had seen today had indeed altered their views and opinions on the future. For James, he knew that what he had always wanted would some day be his. For Sirius, he finally knew that instead of running out and snogging every girl that he met, hoping that at least one of them would be 'the one', he knew that one day love would find him, and if he could help it, never leave him.

For Remus, he too discovered that there was indeed someone out there that would love him, and accept him for what he truly was. There was a woman, Kathryn Krall, who loved every little bit of him, no matter how nerdy he could be at times. And for Peter, well, he knew that after seeing horrid his future was really like, he now at least had the power to change it, and hopefully for the better.

So here were the four Marauders, smiles on each and every one of their faces as they ran as fast as they could possibly go through the halls, laughing until their lungs hurt. It was their sixth year, they were still friends, and life was perfect. What more could they ask for. For the future, well, bring it on. They were ready. They were more than ready.

The End

Author's Note: It is truly the last chapter. I think that now, this has got to be my most favorite story thus far. I really really loved writing this story, and I just want to thank all of my faithful reviewers for sticking with the story and letting me know what you think. I really really appreciate it! Thanks again!

Jess