-1Thank you for everyone still reading my work. I am still writing but things… are difficult. I have no beta and I am not looking for one since my last 5 have left me with no notice. I apologize for any spelling or grammatical mistakes. Please do review, it encourages me to write more. Write faster. I hope you enjoy.

Disclaimer: I own nothing… except my horribly perverted mind.

------------------------------------------

Chapter 4

For a moment, the blond stared at the two. He took in the changed demeanors, Lupin more demure and quiet. Black obviously wishing he was in another conversation with another conversationalist.

"Alright," Draco said after a moment. "If you're dead that would explain you, Black. Father did speak of your defeat in the Department of Mysteries." He smirked, knowing full well the man would be furious of the reminder. "However," he interjected before Sirius could make a reply, "that does not explain Lupin or myself."

"Well we are dead," Remus spoke softly as if dreading giving up the information. "I was killed just a few weeks ago, Draco." He sighed and it the masses. "I had heard a rumor that someone, very close to Harry was delving into the Dark Arts, looking for something to destroy Harry. Unfortunately the rumor said to have risen from the packs I used to haunt. I took a chance, desperate to protect Harry from harm. I acted as a messenger for Dumbledore to the werewolves offering protection and help, but something had changed since I last left them. Before I could do anything, they had bound and gagged me handing me over to their leader, Fenrir."

Draco shuddered, remembering the horrible monster that fell out of the cabinet that night. Even though he wasn't transformed, the ferocity that radiated from him was enough to make Draco cower in the shadows. He looked back at Remus, who had become frozen in memories. His face was taught, a pained expression seemed burned into his features.

Sirius took that moment to wrap the smaller man in his arms. "Do you know what he did to him Draco?" Sirius's voice was quiet, but Draco heard him as if he had shouted it in his ear. "He was tortured, beaten, for any information about Dumbledore. About the order. Anyone near Harry that might give him up. When he didn't, they killed him. Slowly, sacrificing him from the inside out." Draco paled and held his hand to his mouth, his eyes glazed back and forth trying to gain weight and stay in focus. Sirius reached across and rested one hand on the boy's shoulder. It steadied him and he looked back, horror and true devastation written on his face.

"It's alright, Draco. We know you didn't do this, but that is how Remus woke up to me, screaming for it to stop. Clutching at his chest and stomach as if to hold himself together."

Draco rushed out of the room and to the WC. Never in all of his tales had he heard of Fenrir doing something so awful. Yet he knew that the werewolf was capable of things even worse.

When he returned, Remus still looked somber but had a light smile playing across his face. Sirius nodded as his return and gestured once more for the offered seat. After he settled again, Sirius looked back between Remus and Draco.
"That's how I knew though, Draco. Knew that this was the real Remus and not some false person living his life. Only Remus would call me Padfoot."

Draco stared at them for a moment then chuckled, "You heard us didn't you."

"Yes, I remember quite well how Harry talked about the ferret incident. It kept him smiling." Sirius laughed openly at Draco's embarrassment.

"That still doesn't explain why I'm here. Or all of us for that fact."

Remus was the one who spoke this time. "Padfoot, Sirius and I, think that someone has pulled our souls back and trapped us here. James and Lily are the real Potters. Sirius and I as well. The Dursleys are not the true Dursley's though. We think that they're somehow trying to capture Harry here, but we still aren't sure if it's true."

Draco paused, thinking over everything. While lost in thought, no one seemed to notice Harry coming down the stairs until he reached the last step.

"Oh no, is Dad making breakfast again?"

Everyone was shocked out of their reserve and laugh heartily at the joke. ( Even if James was a better chef than Lily ) Sirius and Remus motioned to Draco that the would discuss things later. Nodding, Draco took the still giggling Harry into the kitchen.

After a half hour of talking, reminiscing and just plain old good times. Sirius, Lupin and James left for errands and Lily began cleaning up. Sitting alone at the kitchen table Draco looked over at Harry and smiled. Harry had apparently grabbed the journal from upstairs. He took mental note of where he was at and grabbed the journal from a protesting Harry's hands.

"Draco, give it back… Mom.. Draco took my journal!"

Laughing Lily shook her head, "Boys come on I don't want my kitchen destroyed. Besides, didn't you two have plans of meeting up with Ron and Hermione in a bit?"

Harry's smile grew wider and Draco felt something clench in his chest. Grinning like a madman, he led the stunned blond towards the front door. As if on cue, the bell rang and Harry sprinted to open it.

"Ron, Hermione…" he paused and took them in. Ron looked almost the same. He was more built, not quite so lanky and still freckled but far less. He wore a deep maroon blazer with a golden "H" sewn on to the front. Dressed in blue jeans and a polo, he grinned at his friend while he tightened his hold on the girl next to him.

The girl at his side was unlike any Hermione he knew. Her hair and teeth were straightened, more so than they had ever been. She wore not the blue jeans and shirts, but a mini skirt and a low cut top, showing her obvious cleavage. What really concerned Harry, was her carefree and dumbstruck attitude as she smacked on her gum.

"Hey Harry," Smack! Smack! "What's up? We still hanging out today?"

"Yeah mate, I heard that new movie is out. The one with the girls that are actually secret agents. What was it called again 'Mione?"

"Um…" Smack! "Angel… Something Angel, oh that's right Charlie's Angels."

"That's right! I still can't believe the writer is only a few years older than us and he put his own name in the title. Ego much?"

"I know, right? Like that is just so rude. Like there was a lot, a looooot of people that made that movie." Hermione rolled her eyes as she dragged out the word and Harry nearly choked, trying to hold back his laughter.

Taking pity on the boy, Draco slapped is back a few times. Harry nodded at him with an appreciated look and the blonde's heartbeat jumped to twice its normal speed.

"Yeah, sure mate." Harry nodded at the two, still trying to wrap around this image of Hermione, "Let me grab my things and we can head out." Spinning back towards his room, Harry climbed the stairs two at a time. So distracted by the carefree and oblivious personalities both his best friends had, he never realized as he missed a step and landed awkwardly on the stairs. As he fell out of consciousness, he had the vague sense that someone was racing up the stairs to him.

"Harry!"

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sorry for the exceedingly long delays in each of the chapters. Thank you for everyone who subscribed and still follows my stories, you don't know how much it means to me.