"Just through here, Professor Dumbledore, you've got to see this." Hermione led him into the Gryffindor Common Room, where Lily and James were waiting patiently.
"It wasn't my fault, Professor, I promise!" said James.
"Actually, it all started with Fred and George," Hermione explained.
"Naturally," said Dumbledore.
"Professor, wha...ah-choo!" Lily sneezed.
"Gesundheit!" said James.
Dumbledore vanished. This time, however, Fred and George appeared in his place.
"Oh, brilliant," said Ron. "Of all the rotten luck!"
"It's nice to see you, too, little brother."
"We thought you'd have been worried sick."
"Or worse, out cold on the floor!"
"Knock it off, you two," Hermione scolded, "we're dealing with a crisis here."
"Crisis? I don't see how that can be, now that we're back."
"Dumbledore's gone," said Hermione.
"You mean, gone vacationing in the Bahamas-"
"No, gone as in disappeared to the past."
"George, I never thought I'd say this..."
"Yes, Fred?"
"We may be in over our heads."
"Harry! Wonderful to see you!" said Dumbledore. "I knew this would all straighten itself out."
"Professor, er..." Harry began.
"Professor Dumbledore! How did you get here already?" wondered Sirius. "Remus just went to go find you."
"Oh dear," said Dumbledore.
"My thoughts exactly," said Harry.
"Sirius! I brought..." Remus trailed off as he saw who else was standing in the room.
"Interesting," said the person behind Remus, stepping forward. It was Dumbledore.
"Two Dumbledores!" said Sirius in disbelief. "That's just what we need."
Remus, meanwhile, was amazed at the similarity between the two professors. "They look the same," he whispered to Sirius. "How are we supposed to tell the difference?"
Sirius shrugged. "I have no idea."
"I always suspected I would age well," the younger Dumbledore said to the older.
"Yes, I know," the older replied. "Incidentally, if you happen to come across a set of red-haired twins by the name of Weasley, make sure you keep your eye on them."
The younger Dumbledore put his index finger to his nose and looked over the rims of his glasses in acknowledgement of this advice.
"If that's not a scary sight, I don't know what is," said Sirius. Harry and Remus agreed.
"Professor Dumbledore, er, sirs," Harry spoke up, "what are we supposed to do now?"
"An excellent question," the older Dumbledore answered. "The solution to this puzzle, I feel, lies with your comrades in our own time."
"So we wait?"
"Yes, Harry, we wait."
Another chapter done! I would once again like to thank everyone who has reviewed. You rock! How is the story so far? Do you like it? What can I change or improve? Please review and let me know! Thanks! -Luna