Hello and sorry for the long wait. School returned with all its chaos.

This was quite a hard chapter to write because I've got the main plot of the story figured out, but just need to fill in the rest. This is part of the rest. I wanted to just get it done and over with because I want to upload the Christmas chapter by Christmas, which isn't that far away when you count it in updating days.

Anyway, thanks for reading, reviewing, following and favourting this story! You flood my inbox with motivation! :)

Lastly, yes, it's Dumbledore :D


DISCLAIMER: Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling whom I would never steal anything from.


Chapter 5

Talks and Tears

The Headmaster of Hogwarts was reading over some paperwork for his school (at the insistence of his deputy - Oh Minerva) and sucking on lemon sherbets when he suddenly felt a prickle of magical energy. He blamed it on his hand, thought no more of it and returned to his paperwork.

However, a few seconds later his good hand dropped the piece of parchment which he was reading due to an unknown force, and he felt his wand vibrate with power.

He knew this feeling. Someone was trying to break the fidelius.

The aged wizard apparated directly into number 12 Grimmauld place to find himself in a most peculiar situation. Over his 115 years he had seen a lot of weird things, but this definitely made the top 20. Although that time with Nicholas was really… Never mind.

The past self of a dead friend, the best friend of the aforementioned dead friend and his past self. Oh and definitely can't forget that dead friend's daughter and their other friend whose neck he was pressing his wand into, if they were who they seemed to be.

Albus Dumbledore was a veteran of several wars, and followed regular protocol regarding these situations. "Before you try again, would anyone present like to explain this most peculiar situation to me?"

"Albus!" "Professor Dumbledore!" Shocked exclamations from members of the order - or imposters – protested his actions. Strange, they should know by now safety comes first. If the man he was holding his wand point to is truly Remus Lupin then no one will be harmed, right?

"Name?" It wasn't a question.

"Remus Lupin."

"What is the purpose of the willow?"

"To protect the other students, from me." Albus let go of him, for he was sure that this man was the one and only Remus Lupin. Only that poor lad would blame himself in such a pitying manner.

"Never forget that it was for your own safety Remus. If you turned a student then I could not have-"

"Could not have been any help against the ministry. I know Albus, you've told me so many times over the years."

"Good. Lemon drop?"

It was infuriating how quickly the old man could change his mood. "No thanks."

"Really? Well, I'll have one. I need some sweetness after all that bitterness, so early in the morning." Popping the candy into his mouth, Albus Dumbledore looked at the other people present in the room. "Good morning Miss Potter, Sirius.

"Good morning Professor." An enthusiastic reply and eager smile from his favourite student.

"Morning." A less enthusiastic reply. Sirius was never a morning person anyway, he learnt it the hard way 20 something years ago when the marauders played that troublesome - but very amusing - prank on the school which made it... Oh Merlin, why so wistful today.

"And it appears that also with us today, are Misters Potter and Black. What a lovely surprise."

"Morning Professor."


It was weird, James thought, to come 20 years into the future, expecting to see himself as a heroic auror and married to Lily with two or three kids. Instead, he got his world turned upside down.

Dead in his prime.

Orphaned daughter

Same Dark Lord terrorizing the wizarding community.

But on the other hand, it was almost comforting to see his eccentric headmaster. His hair was whiter, more wrinkles had made their way to his face, and he was still sucking on those damned lemon drops.

"May I ask how you two came to be here?"

"His fault" James pointed at Padfoot and vice versa.

Dumbledore's twinkling eyes suddenly produced a tear. Wiping it away, he said "It's been many years since I saw that. Strange to say that I find myself missing these fond gestures of friendship." Looking back at the others, he said "Sirius and Remus, if I could have a word with you two" noticing Holly advancing closer "privately." Holly slumped back.

The adults moved to another room and left Holly with the boys. It was awkward silence for a few minutes before "Oh Merlin, my hair." And the girl with Potter hair rushed off to fix it up.

"Prongs, you two have the same hair."

"Speak for yourself fleabag."

Half an hour had gone by, and it seemed the adults were still talking. Holly had gone to the library ages ago, and James decided that he would do the same. Padfoot was having none of it.

"The library? We travel 20 years into the future and you want to go to the library." Crazy.

"It's not just a library. It's the Black family library and-"

"Not really, the main library is at the principle house with Grandfather. I mean, it's at Black Hall." Have to remember that all other Blacks are dead now.

"Either way, I want to do some research."

"Research? What the heck is wrong with you Prongs? I didn't know your head was hit so hard when we landed."

"This is not the time for jokes." They're marauders, they're always joking.

"But what about the adventure." Padfoot was moaning now.

"You tell me, how this adventure has been so far." Padfoot blinked at his best friend, why was he speaking in such a cold voice. "Because from my point of view, it's not very fun."

"Prongs…"

"Dead, within a decade. Orphaned child, who was raised by ignorant muggle relatives. Best friends, one locked in prison for 12 years"

"I was cleared." James ignored him.

"Another, a traitor. And Moony, I don't even want to think about it." They already knew the kind of life Moony would be living as soon as they found out about his furry little problem, but they always thought they could support him through the years. James and Padfoot would use their family influences to help him. If that didn't work, give him enough gold to last for at least a lifetime without having to work for a day in his life. It was a good plan.

"Maybe we can change that." A good plan, that's what they needed. They always had great plans.

"How? We can't reveal anything because we swore an oath, remember?"

"We could just use me as secret keeper. Or let Wormtail have a little accident. Or…"

"I could forget all about Evans."

"What?"

"The prophecy is about Holly, and she is the daughter between Lily and me. If I stop chasing after her, maybe…"

"Prongs…" James Potter had been smitten with Lily Evans since day one. He would never admit it, but Padfoot knew there was an attraction between them the moment they entered that train compartment. Whether it was the tricks he played on her in the early years, or his never ending requests for a date from third year, or his improved effort in school work from fifth year, it was there.

"I'm going to the library." Padfoot didn't try to stop him.


As Dumbledore sat down behind a desk that belonged to Orion Black, Sirius Black experienced a feeling of nostalgia.

How many times had he stood there, before that desk, listening to his father's lectures? And how many times has he stood before Dumbledore in his office, trying to cover up another one of his marauder adventures? It was always easier to lie to his father, he's mastered the skill since infanthood. But lying to Dumbledore was much harder. He always felt like those twinkling blue eyes could gaze into his mind and pick out his secrets.

"When you have returned to our world again Sirius please do add your part." Sirius shook himself out of his daydream.

"Sorry what?"

"Remus here tells me that our special guests used a little time travelling spell and so far everything appears to have gone quite well. But apparently you were in the room when they arrived."

"So was Holly." Dumbledore's eyebrows rose slightly, this was definitely an interesting update.

"Then I will speak to her as well, but you first."

"Well uh. First, there was a flash of bright, really bright light, it was blinding. We couldn't really see anything for a while after that. Then we just saw them there, lying on the ground, like they tripped over each other or something, but then they woke up and was just really…"

"Really what Sirius? What were they?"

"Annoyed, and… pleased."

"About what?"

"I don't know. They were probably annoyed about falling over, and pleased about successfully casting the spell?" It seemed reasonable, time travelling magic was some tricky business and Sirius had damn good reason to be pleased if he accomplished that. "After I made sure they were who they claimed to be Holly went to fetch Remus and after a quick discussion everyone went to bed."

Remus decided to take over, he could tell that Sirius was having trouble remembering those events. His memory was healing but alcohol has its ways of delaying the process, he really shouldn't have drank so much. "So this morning we gave them a brief rundown of current events, after they swore a secrecy vow."

"I would assume that's how the Fidelius was triggered."

"The Fidelius was triggered!?" Sirius was still very sensitive about the security of the Fidelius charm.

"Oh of course, that's why I couldn't say it."

"Which is also why I came so quickly. Sorry about earlier Remus."

"All good, we have to be cautious in these times." Remus was always the wise one.

"Now that that's sorted, what plans do you have for them?"

"Plans?"

"Yes of course, you can't just keep them cooped up in this dreary house."

"Why not?" 'You didn't have anything against that last year when I kept begging you to let me out' was left unsaid but understood by everyone.

"Sirius, those boys came 20 years into the future. They came to see and learn, not live under house arrest."

"Well we don't want to keep them here, but we sort of don't have any choice do we. With the death eaters on the loose." and after Holly.

They would think James was Holly in disguise, oh the irony, and Bellatrix wouldn't hesitate for a moment to send Sirius to an early grave, both him and his past self. Time paradox much.

"Even if they don't leave this house, they'll have to spend Christmas with us." Which was the day after tomorrow. "Should we let Molly know?" Smart Remus, very smart, but-

"No." Sirius was quick to shoot down any suggestions of having the Weasley matriarch over for Christmas. She's a good woman and a great mother, no doubt about that. But there was just something about her attitude towards him that he's sure would not be resolved anytime soon, especially not if she finds out about this.

Dumbledore sensed there was a rough patch between Sirius and Mrs Weasley, and decided to change the subject before anger could grow. "Perhaps they could come to Hogwarts, polyjuiced of course."

"Better make sure that polyjuice lasts, Snape will have a stroke if he sees who they are."

"Yes, thank you for reminding me Sirius. I am sure Severus has a stash of unused polyjuice potion stored somewhere. Now if you'll excuse me gentleman, I have some urgent business to return to."

"But the order, what do we tell them? If we tell them at all."

"I shall inform the necessary members. Alastor will only hear it from me. Also, be prepared for a visit from him in the next few days, he'll need to see it to believe it. Other than that, you can simply tell the members whom you choose to trust with such information. But keep an eye on them won't you. They are so very young and energetically foolish at this age." Sirius chose to take that as a compliment.

"We will, thanks for coming Dumbledore," said Remus as he opened the door.

"Bye."

With a smile and a twinkle, the headmaster saw himself out.

"Well that could have been worse." Sirius took the seat which Dumbledore recently vacated and promptly placed his feet on his father's desk. He then looked up to see Remus giving him an intense glare. "What?"

"Don't drink so much." With that, he also left.

"Old man, telling me how to live my life. Merlin's balls, everyone who tells me how to live my life has been in this room..." and Sirius dozed off. The strain on thinking about memories was too exhausting. It wasn't always so bad, but potions can only do so much for the effects of alcohol.


Holly was finally able to return to the book which she had neglected the night before. It was an interesting book and contained centuries of useful information. No wonder Malfoy was so offended… was one of the many thoughts in response to the text.

"What must be done and what must never be done in a proper Wizarding society. Ugh, my mother made me read that." Holly looked up to see the form of the younger Sirius Black. "By the way, have you seen James? He said he would be in the library."

"He was, you just missed him."

"Oh bollocks." Padfoot had hoped to get this over with in a quiet place where it was unlikely for anyone to overhear them.

"Did you two have a fight?" Holly lived with her cousin long enough to know the signs when boys had a disagreement.

"No!" definitely a disagreement.

"He was quite depressed."

"What would you know about how he feels?" He looked at her, and was amazed again at her startling resemblance to her father.

"I'm his daughter." We can see that loud and clear, the only evident trait not Potter about you are those beautiful, dazzling eyes.

"And I'm his best friend, I've known him for way longer." Padfoot suddenly realised his mistake. "I mean, we've been friends for 6 years now, but we've met before at family gatherings as children. And you only met us last night…" It was useless, the call for waterworks had been issued.

"Whether it is one day or one year more than a decade ago, you've always known him longer. Thanks for reinforcing that."

"Holly, I'm sorry. All this isn't exactly easy…" Keeping a lid on his instinct to flirt with pretty girls aka Holly due to the bro-code wasn't exactly a piece of cake either.

"Yeah? Well if it's not easy for you, how do you think I feel? Having my dead father and godfather-"

"Younger version thank you very much, and this James is alive."

"-dropping out of nowhere into my life" in these terrible times where you might be killed because you two are so foolish and only care about those thrilling adventures. Idiots! Holly shook her head and decided there was no point trying to talk sense into him. "You know what, never mind."

"Where are you going?"

"To my room, so I can read in peace."

"Peace is overrated."

Holly chose to ignore that last comment.

Sirius Black the younger slapped himself in the face, hard. His foolishness caused him to destroy what was probably the start of a great friendship, because friends is as far as they can go. How could he say something like that to this girl who lost her parents for the peace of the wizarding world.

Maybe he was the one who hit his head.


Hope you enjoyed this chapter. I will try to update as fast as I can, now that its the holidays I've finally got time.