Chapter 5:
Back to the Future
The trio landed onto the floor in Dumbledore's office with a thud. Harry opened his eyes to see Dumbledore and Remus smiling back at him, both looking much older than when he had just seen them moments ago.
"So, I'm sure the three of you had lots of fun with James, Sirius, Remus, and Lily, when they were your age!" Dumbledore said.
"Yes!" The trio said in unison. Then Harry asked, "You both knew all along! But, why didn't you stop us?"
"You know we can't mess with what time has in store for us, if you didn't go, we'd all have false memories," Dumbledore said, with a twinkle in his eyes.
"Could we be excused? I'm really tired!" Ron fake yawned, sensing Harry's discomfort.
"Of course! You've just gone through twenty years! Off with you all! Would you escort them Remus?"
"Of course Professor. Come with me you three," Remus said, ad he lead them off, and up to Gryffendor Tower.
Just as they reached the entrance to the Common Room, Remus asked, "Will you two go ahead? I need to talk to Harry." Ron and Hermione obediently left, and Remus spoke directly to Harry, looking him straight in the eye. "We, as in Lily, James, Sirius, and I, wrote you letters, to give to you when you returned I had possession of them all, as you hinted I was the only one alive." He handed Harry the letters.
"Thanks Rem – I mean Professor," Harry said.
"Oh Harry! Don't call me Professor! Call me Remus! I haven't taught you for three years, and you should have called me Remus for the past three weeks. You are probably used to it by now. Now, go to your dormitory and read those letters. Oh, and there are two from me. I wrote one just after I met you three years ago, as well as twenty. Bye, and if you need anyone to talk to, just owl or floo me from Dumbledore's office. He already knows and doesn't have a problem with it."
Harry ran through the Common Room and up to his dormitory, ignoring all of the 'Hello's and 'Welcome Back's he got. He even ignored Ron and Hermione in his dormitory. He jumped on his bed, pulled the curtains around him and cast a silencing charm around his bed. He opened the first letter and read.
Harry,
I have had the best time with you these past three weeks. I can't wait to meet you when you're a baby and at school. This may seem short, but I'll write you another letter, not to worry.
Bye, (At least for now)
Remus
He read Remus' next letter.
Hello Harry, (Again)
When I first saw you in the train compartment, (I was pretending to sleep), the first words that came into my head were not Lily saying, 'He looks exactly like you James!' When you were born, or you crying to James when you were one, 'I wan' Moony Daddy! Moony!' (James felt quite affronted that his son preferred me over you), but what you said to me so long ago, when you came back in time, when you were saying good-bye. I still here those words everyday, and cherish them with all of my heart.
I want you to know that if you EVER need anything, come to me. I will always be there for James and Lily's son, practically my own. (When you were a baby.)
Don't worry, we'll be with each other soon enough!
Remus
P.S. In case you were wondering, I did come and see you while you were with the Dursleys. They weren't very happy!
Harry grinned at the thought of Remus, a wizard in shabby robes, visiting the neat Dursleys, magic haters. He opened his next letter, and recognized Sirius' writing.
Harry,
I hope you are a true little marauder, Prongs would be proud of his little Prongs Jr. It was a pleasure meeting you, and I can't wait to meet you when you are younger and I'm older (That doesn't make any sense!) I will cherish my time with you forever, and the time in the future as well. You are truly your father's and (sadly) mother's child.
See you!
Padfoot
Harry grinned again. He was Prongs Jr., but he never realized it, or thought about it that way. It sounded so weird, but so neat at the same time. He opened up the next letter. He didn't recognize the writing.
Harry
I had such a fun time with you these last three weeks. When you said, (or yelled) that you were mine and James' son, I almost broke down crying, (Which I did later.), not only because I have to marry James, but to know I'll have a son one day. I have always wanted a son, and now I know what I want him to be like, just like you. (Which is lucky, since you are my son!)
I am so proud to have a son who, although the countless burdens, love and treats others greatly. Even though I have, and only will meet you as a baby and a sixteen year old. I know you will accomplish many great things in the rest of your life, and I am as proud as a mother can get.
I'm sorry my sister and her family treated you with such little care and love. She treated me exactly the same, and will most likely hate my memory in peace as soon as you leave her life. Don't worry, even if you can't treat you blood relatives as family, you still have Ron, Hermione, Remus and all of the other important people in your life to be your real family, and remember, the spirits of James, Sirius, and myself. We all love you and will always be there for you until the end. Alive or dead.
Always know that James and I will be proud of you, our one and only son. We love you so much!
Love from,
Lily (A.K.A. Mom)
P.S. James and I are trying to make it work, seeing you won't be alive if we don't. He is changing, as well as me, so wish us luck! (Even if you already know the outcome!)
Tears welled up in Harry's eyes when he read this. He flipped to the last letter, knowing who it was from.
Harry
You are a remarkable sixteen-year-old, person, friend, and (to my best guess) son. I listened to you tell us about your life and I wanted to cry. (But not in front of Sirius!) Then, when you said I was you father, and married to Lily Evans, my heart leapt. Not only because I get to marry the girl I've had my eyes on since we first met, but I get to become a father. But not just a father, a father to an amazing person. My only dream now is that you defeat Lord Voldemort, and live happily ever after.
I want you to always know that me, Lily, and Sirius will be in you heart, in your spirit, and Remus will always be around to guide you. (He's the best Marauder for the job, so I'm happy it's him!) Love him (If you already don't) and treat him (again, if you already don't) like a parent. I know him, he's the serious Marauder. (But of course, Sirius would say he was, because of the name. It's his favorite joke, but me and Remus just roll our eyes at this.) Anyway, because of his 'little furry problem' I know for a fact he won't have any kids of his own, but will consider mine as his. (He's always stealing from me.)
I love you like you'd never believe. I dream for your well-being, prosperity, and future, hopefully, it will get better.
Love,
Dad or James, whatever you want to call me.
Harry was crying by now. He folded up the letters and hugged them close to his heart. As he let go, a smaller slip of paper fell out of the bundle. Curious, Harry picked it up and read it.
In case of the unfortunate incident of my death, I, Sirius Black, Harry Potter's godfather and legal guardian, give all rightful guardianship of Harry Potter to Remus Lupin.
Harry let out a shriek of delight, rammed his curtains open, ran though his dormitory, through the common room, all of the way to Dumbledore's office, still ignoring everybody. He said the password, 'Pumpkin Pasties' and ran up the spiral staircase and burst through the office door. "Professor," He panted, not noticing the group of people assembled in the office. "Is. Remus. Still. Here?"
"Let me check," Dumbledore said, walking to a cupboard, opening it, looking inside and saying, "Yes. He's just crossing the Entrance Hall."
"Thanks," Harry said, and ran as fast as he could to the Entrance Hall.
Remus was just about to open the large front doors, when someone jumped on his back. Startled, he spun around, wand out, and ready to hex who ever was there. However, it was only Harry, with tears falling down his face, a huge grin on his lips. "What is it Harry?" He asked the boy.
Harry shoved the paper at Remus' chest and gasped, "Read it!"
Obediently, Remus did, tears filling up his eyes, a grin became bigger and more obvious with every word. When finished, he whispered, "Oh my god. Thank-you Sirius!" And gave Harry a fatherly hug.
Ron and Hermione walked around Hogwarts, looking for Harry, with the help of the Marauder's Map. They found him at the far end of the Entrance Hall with Remus, hugging each other with bone-crushing hugs, tears running down each of their faces, right over…grins?
"Oi! Harry!" Ron called, "Can I ask why the two of you are both crying, but grinning?"
Harry, so happy he was unable to speak, just took the note form Remus and handed it to his friends. They quickly read the note, then Hermione exclaimed, "Congratulations! This is so great! We have to go see Dumbledore!"
"Why Hermione?" Ron groaned.
"Because he needs to do all of the legal papers to make it authentic!"
Remus straightened up, wiping the tears off of his face, "Hermione's right. We need Dumbledore to make it legal. Let's go."
The three teenagers and ex-professor burst into Dumbledore's office, for Harry's second time in ten minutes. "Really Dumbledore!" The sly voice of Phineus Nigellus, Sirius' great-grandfather, said, "You really need to teach these students some manners! Barging into your office uninvited, twice for the Potter boy. I would have never allowed it in my day!"
"It's okay Phineus. It's obviously important," Dumbledore said. "Now, will you explain why you all are here."
"Before Harry entered Gryffendor Tower, I gave him letters Lily, James, Sirius and I all wrote, after they left twenty years ago. Harry found this enclosed in Sirius' letter," Remus said, handing Dumbledore the note, who read it and said, "It seems to all be in order…yes, he signed it, he was a very smart boy. Well, just to make it official, Remus Lupin, I hereby announce you to be Harry Potter's legal guardian, his godfather."
Remus turned to Harry, still smiling hugely, his hands on Harry's shoulders and said, "Harry, you can come straight to my apartment at the end of June. You won't have to go back to the Dursleys, ever."
"No!" Harry and Dumbledore said together, at once. Ron, Hermione, and Remus all stared at Harry bewildered. Dumbledore explained, "Harry must go back to the Dursleys every summer, because that's where his mother's blood is. Sixteen years ago, Lily Potter died to save Harry's life. Her sister, Petunia Dursley, and she have the same blood family blood. That is what has protected Harry from Voldemort every summer, and whenever he has been away from qualified wizards. The one thing Voldemort doesn't understand is love. The love of Lily to Harry has connected to Petunia. That is why he must stay at the Dursleys every summer, for at least two weeks, until he becomes of age, and can do magic away from school."
"Okay. I understand, but, could I stay at Arabella's for those two weeks, if she'd allow me? To keep his aunt and uncle in line?" Remus asked hopefully.
"Of course! But, Remus, I believe it's time for you to go home. According to the moon and sky," Dumbledore hinted.
"Yes! I'll be off! Bye you three!" Remus called and he left.
"Professor, I'm going to go to too. I need to ask him something, then I'll be off to bed," Harry asked, and Dumbledore said, "Of course Harry. And you two should probably get some sleep as well! Good-night!"
Harry chased after Remus, he called his name first, not wanting to be at the wrong end of Remus' wand again. "Remus!" He panted, "Could I stay with you after my aunt and uncle's this summer? And at Christmas?"
Remus looked overjoyed, "Of course Harry! And, if you need to contact me at all, just owl or floo me, using Dumbledore's office. Contact me anytime! Okay!"
"Of course! Bye Remus!" Harry said, and after one last hug, he watched his new godfather leave.
Back up in his dormitory, Harry pulled a scarlet and gold box out of the bottom of his trunk. He put the letters in the Time Turner in it.
He started to shuffle through all of the other things in his box. There were different mementos from his life at Hogwarts. These were mostly memories from his adventures, even if they had little significance, they were important to him. Smiling, he put the box back into the bottom of his trunk, put his pyjamas and fell asleep after another exciting adventure.
