Author note: The computer crashed, everything erased. My previous version of this story is now lost forever. I am deeply saddened by this. I do, however, have some snippets I sent to my beta a long time ago that I can build upon. I believe that this was meant to happen. I am now feeling like this story should take a different path that has been haunting every since I wrote the first version. Seeing as that I followed the plot bunny's suggestion, death threats more like it, for "Breaking Down Walls"..it seemed like a good thing to do here. Enjoy!

The streets were bustling with shoppers. Birds swooshed overhead. The senses were filled with music, vibrant colors, and delicious aromas. It was this small bit of freedom to explore Diagon Alley that drew Rosemary out for a walk that day.

"Two galleons for the talisman, miss," the elderly woman said as Rose admired an emerald and silver chain hanging on the woman's cart.

Rose looked over at the woman and then her surroundings. No one was near them.

"It's worth more, Madame." Rose winked and began to trudge back through the crowd.

She entered a small shop and perused the shelves of books. Her eyes smiled as she looked over the titles that she once read, remembering the characters that played their scenes in her mind. It was when she turned back to the door that she thought she was still imagining things.

The color briefly flashed before her. It could have been her imagination. It could have been a reflection. But there was something odd about seeing that particular shade of charcoal in such a peculiar position on the sidewalk. As soon as she laid eyes on it, it disappeared in the mass of robes from passersby.

Her curiosity won out, and she followed the perceived direction of the mass. She found herself at the intersection where the Magical Menagerie and Gambol & Japes stood. Between the buildings was a tight alleyway. She peered down the darkness and saw the shadow moved across the small expanse. She quickly reached for her wand and walked towards it.

She arrived at the dead end and turned around swiftly to make sure she wasn't being cornered. Nothing was there. Twenty or more yards ahead of her, witches and wizards of all ages went about their business as if the alley did not exist. No one paid attention to her or the shadow that seemed to loom behind her. It was when the shadow extended over her own on the cobblestones in front her that she felt a sudden dread.

With reflexes that would have made the best of Aurors proud, Rose jerked to the side, spun, and cast a binding spell on her would be attacker. She gasped at the sight before her.

"No, it's not possible," she whispered as she took a step back.

"Nice to see you again, too."

"Who are you?"

The man looked up at her with questioning eyes. "What do you mean 'who am I?' I've only been married to you for the past…what? Twenty years? Please, Rose, undo the spell and let me up."

She shook her head, her wand still trained on him.

"My dear, Rose, please. I'll explain, but not here. We have to go somewhere safe. Please, Rose. It's me. Trust me. It's me, Rose."

She looked at him again. She lowered her wand slowly and looked in his eyes.

"Rose, come on. I can tell."

"Stay out of it, Lupin." Rosemary had her wand trained on the scruffy man across the table. He was bound and gagged. She didn't want to take any chances of him attempting to escape. This was a cruel joke, an extremely sick joke. "How much more time?"

"Four minutes," Remus replied glancing at the pocket timepiece in his hand. "I'm sure it's him if you would just let him talk. Ask him questions. You'll see."

"You of all people should be very weary of someone who was supposed to be dead just pop back up in your life."

Remus sighed as he looked to the man that supposedly looked a lot like the man he used to know. It did seem impossible. However, a part of Remus wanted so desperately to believe.

Just that moment, a very loud gasp echoed through the room. Remus, Rose, and their captive, as much as he could, turned their heads to the doorway to see Harry staring back with large eyes at the man. Ginny was rounding the corner and knocked into Harry who just stood there unable to form words. Ron was behind her and stopped just short of colliding with them. He looked over Harry's shoulder at the scene in front of him.

"BLOODY HELL!"

"Harry, don't be alarmed. Just stay where you are."

"Rose, please."

"Remus, for Merlin's sake, just trust me. Give me what time is left to make sure the Polyjuice wears off and then you'll see! This can't be!" she said as she thrust the tip of her wand in the man's direction.

"Forty-five seconds."

And so, they waited. Harry, Ron, and Ginny made their way to the tablesitting closest to Rose. Her logic seemed to scream safety above emotions. Everyone watched intently as Remus began the countdown.

"Four, three, two, one."

Nothing.

"See! Now, untie him!"

Rose reluctantly magicked away his gag, but kept his body entwined with the binding curse. "Not until he answers some questions."

"With pleasure," the man said.

"Who are you?"

"Well, I think that would be apparent."

"How did…"

"I know what you're going to ask. The problem is I don't quite know myself. One moment, I'm standing there and then next I'm falling. I distinctly remember hearing voices, and I recognized them. No one I knew closely, but rather, acquaintances. That's when I felt a blow to the back of my head and found myself the next morning in a cell."

Everyone at the table narrowed their brows, but it was Harry who spoke. "A cell? What do you mean?"

"It was smaller than Azkaban. There did seem to be more light. That's when I noticed the table in the room beside me. Peter was there. It was a ploy to get you into the hands of Voldemort."

Ron hissed and shrank back. He had gotten better about it, but the name still made him twitch.

"A ploy, you said? Prey tell," Rose said as she lifted an inquisitive brow.

"I heard him talking. Bella was supposed to knock Harry through the veil that day. There were Death Eaters awaiting his arrival. He was to be delivered to Him."

Ginny grasped onto Harry's arm tight. Harry instinctively covered hers with his.

"What is it that you have to say that would make us believe a single word you've said? How do we not know that you haven't somehow extended the life of Polyjuice in some way?"

The man looked at her steadfast. "I am not the potions master as you are, my black Rose."