Here's the next chapter. I'm hoping to get more reviews for this fic, but I'll take what I can get. I do have a plan for this fic. It's not going to be very long, but I have several scenes in mind that are going to take place no matter what.
Remus dreams again in this chapter, but I didn't put the dream in italics as I did in the first chapter. I didn't find it necessary.
The fic will definitely have shipping implications in the chapter after this one. If you've read my other stories, you could probably guess the ship.
A/N: There's some swearing in the beginning.
The Dream Guide
That night, Remus fell asleep after a particularly exhausting evening. Sirius had, yet again, raided the liquor cabinet and, well, no matter what age he was, he still was pretty rowdy while he was drunk. Remus had come to the decision that maybe he should place stronger wards on the liquor cabinet in the morning. Hopefully then Sirius wouldn't be tempted to 'drink the night away' as it were.
After breaking all the glasses in the kitchen because he thought it made a nice melody and generally causing a raucous in Remus' small home, he finally decided that he had had enough. It was around the early morning hours that Sirius had turned in for the night. Or passed out on his bed, more like.
Remus was about to leave Sirius' room when Sirius moaned and started to say something, "Fuck damnit. Azkaban was a right bitch. And my head hurts…is that window open, Moony?"
"No, it's not. Just go to sleep, Padfoot. Your head will feel better tomorrow."
"Darn right it will. Ugh, that window is open! Why is it so cold in here?"
"You're not in that cell anymore, Sirius. Go to sleep already, will you?" After dealing with this side of Sirius for the past few hours, even Remus, who prided himself on his patience, was feeling as if his patience was slowly thinning out.
"Harry likes me, doesn't he, Remus?" Sirius asked quietly, strangely subdued.
He sighed, and said, "He's your godson. Of course he loves you. And if not, I'm sure James will set him straight."
Sirius smiled, "Yeah, you're right. Prongs will do that. Thanks Remus."
Soon after Sirius had closed his eyes, Remus had left the room.
Once Remus had fallen asleep, a dream overtook his subconscious. He wasn't too surprised that it felt the same as the dream he had earlier that day.
He nearly stepped back in shock though, when a boy, who he now remembered was named Stephen and who was Harry's younger brother in this strange dream, had addressed him. Remus had thought that no one could possibly see him. He was dreaming, after all. It didn't make much sense. Why was this boy talking to him now? Why hadn't anyone last time not attempted to acknowledge his presence? Why now?
Remus halted his thoughts for a moment to see his surroundings. He was in a bedroom, and Stephen was sitting up in his bed, just looking at him. Interestingly enough, the boy seemed to be expecting him. As if the sudden appearance of a middle-aged man in his bedroom was not all that weird.
"Mr. Lupin? Can I call you Remus? That's what I usually call you, in my reality anyway. Hopefully that'll be alright?" Stephen started talking again after a few moments of awkward silence between the two of them.
Remus found his tongue, and said, "Yes, that's fine. May I ask how you can see me? This is only a dream I'm in, isn't it?"
Stephen sighed, "I suppose this is a shock to you, sorry, I forget sometimes. You're dreaming, yes, and I'm your guide. No one but me, and perhaps Sirius Black on a good day, can see you in this dream. You're not allowed – probably incapable anyway – to affect anything or anyone in this dream you're having. This may be just another dream to you, but to me, this is my reality."
Remus just stared at him during his speech. He was dreaming of another reality? Why would he even be dreaming about an alternate reality where Harry had a real family? He wondered if there was some lesson he was supposed to learn through this dream. But what was it? And wait, did the boy just mention Sirius? What was his role in this reality?
"Sorry, did I hear you mention Sirius? Can you tell me where he is?" Remus asked, curious to get answers from his 'dream guide.'
Stephen took a while to answer, but when he did, he couldn't quite look into Remus' eyes.
"I don't think you want to know where Sirius Black is in my reality, Remus. But (after Remus gave him a "Like hell I don't want to know!" look) in due time, you will be able to see him. We do visit him once a week – we try to, anyway. You could see him and, if you're lucky, talk with him like you're doing here with me."
Remus suddenly realized something. Didn't Stephen mention that he knew a Remus Lupin in his reality? He just had to ask what the Remus in Stephen's reality was like.
"You said that there's a Remus Lupin in your reality, too?"
The boy smiled, "Oh yeah. Remus and my dad are still as good friends as ever. Remus visits sometimes over the summer and the holidays. He always has the most interesting stories to tell. He's a spy, you know." He added the last part with a smirk, as if expecting Remus to gasp in astonishment.
Somehow, Remus was able to hold back his reaction, and said, "I'm a what! How in the world did that happen?"
Stephen grinned mischievously, "I don't have to tell you that. And trust me, there are other things you'll find out in this dream of yours that will make it worth your while."
Remus opened his mouth to respond, but just then, the door to the bedroom flung open, and two people walked in. One reluctantly, the other with a resolute and determined look on her face as she pulled the other person along.
Those twins…Liz and Vera, was it? Remus thought. He did seem to remember them quite well from his dream earlier that morning. Surely it wasn't this common to have a recurring dream like this where the dream is so clear that it seems nearly unfathomable that it could be a dream in the first place?
The twin who looked like she was on a mission, was the first to speak. Stephen was restraining himself from laughing out loud at the frustrated look on his sister's Liz's face.
"Elizabeth," She, Remus presumed was the twin named Vera, began, "wanted to apologize for knocking you off your broom. And for generally being a pain toward you. Liz, go ahead." And she pushed her twin sister toward Stephen's bed.
Stephen looked expectantly at his sister.
"I so did not agree to apologize for the 'generally being a pain toward you' part, EM-I-LY!" She accused.
Vera glared, "You know I hate it when people call me by that name! Just get over it, and apologize to Stephen already! For the first part, at least. Or else I'll get Harry to yell at you."
Liz stuck her tongue out at her, "A bit funny, don't ya think? How Harry plays the father, you play the mother, and Stephen and I play the bratty children ("You're the only brat in this family!" Stephen cut in, clearly annoyed) in this sad little game of House."
Vera seemed about to burst in sheer frustration, "Will you just apologize, Liz?"
"Alright, since you demanded so nicely," She turned toward her younger brother, and said, "I'm sorry for knocking you off your broom. I'm grateful that you made it out alive."
"This time," He said, "I'll believe your sincerity."
"OKAY. That's good enough for me!" Vera said loudly before her sister could say something sarcastic and regret her words later.
As the twins made their way to leave Stephen's room, the boy whispered urgently to Remus to follow his sisters.
"They're going downstairs. My parents – James and Lily – you should know them I expect? – and my brother are in the kitchen downstairs. If you listen in on the conversation, you may find out some information that may interest you. The dream will direct you when it's time. I'll see you again when necessary."
Remus nodded, and followed the girls out of the room giving a small wave to Stephen as he left.
Stephen looked around his empty room in silent contemplation. Suddenly, he focused his attention onto a figure standing near his desk.
There was a person in his room.
"You don't belong here."
"Who are you? And why can you see me?"
Stephen cocked his head to one side, deep in thought, "You look like someone I know. I'm pretty sure. I wasn't told you would be here. Have you been in this dream before?"
"No, I don't think so. Seriously, who are you?"
"Let's just say if you weren't an orphan, I would be your little brother. I'm not bratty though. Remember that."
He just stared at Stephen in reply.
"Oh, and let's see," Stephen continued. Inside, he was very much enjoying this part of freaking people out just to see their incredulous reactions, "You're dating a girl, but you haven't told mum and dad yet."
"And how old am I here? Wherever this is?"
"Oh that. Well, in this reality, you're pretty much the same age you are now. It's just a different or – alternate…whatever you want to call it- reality."
After a few minutes of pregnant silence, Stephen spoke again, "You're welcome to look around, if you like. You may learn something. Or not. It all depends on you really."
"Alright. I'll do that."
And he left the room.
Stephen hummed a tune to himself for lack of anything better to do.
