AN: Yeah, I've finally finished another chapter. I know everyone has been waiting a long time for this, and I know you're all sick of excusses so I'm just not going to give any. All I will say is that this chapter should have been out a couple of months ago and the reason that it wasn't was because me new beta, who knows exactly who she is, decided not to give it back to me. Don't worry though, I throttled her. She goes to my school so I can do that. Anyways, without further a do, enjoy!

– Chapter Twenty –

The Journal

Madam Pomfrey insisted on keeping Harry in the hospital wing for the remainder of the weekend. He didn't complain or argue with this, grateful for the extra time to think about what had happened and who he could trust to help him. He couldn't understand why anyone would want to send him back into his third year though. He had a feeling Voldemort was behind it, but why his third year. Why not send him back to relive his fourth year all over again? That would be so much more like Voldemort. It just didn't make any sense.

He had many visitors, all intent on cheering him up, but it did nothing to help. They thought that he was upset about the Quidditch match when really he wasn't. Who could be upset over a silly match that happened two years ago? Harry knew they were going to win the Quidditch cup so he really didn't give a shit.

He still hadn't told anyone about whatever it was that had happened to him. Not even Ron or Hermione. He wasn't sure if he could trust them. Would they think that he was crazy or would they believe him and try to help? The other problem was that he didn't want to screw up the timeline, even though it would be so easy too. If he wanted to, he could march right into their dormitory, grab Wormtail, force him to be himself, then bring him to Dumbledore so that Sirius could be freed. Then wouldn't have to spend the next two summers at the Dursleys, but he couldn't do that.

Harry would lie on his bed in the hospital wing and try to think of whom he could tell. There was no way that he could figure all this out on his own, regardless of how easy studying and research had become for him. He needed to tell someone, but it had to be someone who knew that they had to act normally, as if Harry's little time traveling trip never happened. Oh, but who?

Sirius was the first name to pop into his head, but there was no way for him to reach him. In this time, Sirius is running from the Ministry and is supposedly after him. Dumbledore was keeping a very close eye on him because of Sirius, so it wasn't like he could just walk into the Forbidden Forest and hunt for him, even though he knew that's where he was. The Marauder's Map would have been so useful right about now. Then he could just send a letter to Sirius.

"Damn it, Sirius," he said to himself late one night. "If only people knew you were innocent."

Harry wasn't at all happy when he returned on Monday to the noise and bustle of the main school, where he had to act as though nothing had happened and pretend that he was still devastated over the match. The worst part of it was enduring Draco Malfoy's taunts about how badly Gryffindor had lost.

"If Snape's teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts again, I'm going to be sick," said Ron, as they headed for Lupin's class after lunch.

"He's not," said Harry, not really paying much attention to Ron's ranting.

"What make's you say that? He could be," Hermione said.

Harry felt like slapping himself on the side of the head. 'I've got to try and be more careful,' he thought. "Well, check for yourself then," he said.

Hermione peered around the classroom door.

"Is Lupin there?" asked Ron anxiously.

"He is!" she said.

Professor Lupin was back. Harry noticed that Lupin looked a lot younger then he did in his time. It was really amazing what two years could do. He didn't look nearly as tried or worn out as his Lupin even though there had been a full moon the other night.

As soon as everyone had taken their seats, they all explode into complains about the way Snape treated them while Lupin was away. Harry just drowned them out. At least he hadn't had to relive that little piece of history. He would have shot himself if he had to sit in that Defence lesson.

Harry looked up in time to see Professor Lupin smile at the look of indignation on almost every face.

"Don't worry. I'll speak to Professor Snape. You don't have to do the essay."

'Too late for Hermione,' Harry thought.

"Oh, no" said Hermione, right on cue. "I've already finished it!"

Everyone had a very enjoyable lesson, except for Harry. He already knew about the Hinkypunk. He knew all the answers to Lupin's questions, but didn't answer knowing that he shouldn't know the answers. He guessed that he was just going to have to look for his own things to study so that he wouldn't fall behind his real year.

When the bell rang, everyone gathered their things and headed for the door, except for Harry. Harry had decided that the best person to tell about his problem was Lupin. He was going to hold him back in a second anyways and it would be the perfect time to tell him, but how?

"Wait a moment, Harry," Lupin called. "I'd like a word."

Harry doubled back to Lupin's desk and watch as he put the cover back over the Hinkypunk's box.

"I heard about the match," said Lupin, turning back to his desk and gathering up his papers, "and I'm sorry about your broomstick. Is there any way of repairing it?"

"No," said Harry. "The tree smashed it to bits."

Lupin sighed.

"They planted the Whomping Willow the same year I arrived at Hogwarts. People use to play a game, trying to get near enough to touch the trunk. In the end, a boy named Davey Gudgean nearly lost an eye, and we were forbidden to go near it. No broomstick would have a chance."

Harry stood silent for a moment; try to figure out the best way to tell Lupin. It wasn't every day you told someone that you're from the future and now need their help to get back.

"Did you hear about the Dementor, too?" said Harry, waiting for the perfect moment.

Lupin looked up at him quickly.

"Yes, I did. I don't think any of us have seen Professor Dumbledore that angry. They have been growing restless for some time… furious at his refusal to let them inside the grounds… I suppose they were the reason you fell?"

"Yes," said Harry. Now would be a great time to say something about it. "Re…Professor," he corrected, "can I ask you something?"

"Of course, Harry." Lupin said.

Harry sighed. "Moony roamed again Friday night, didn't he?"

Lupin dropped the papers he had be holding and looked up at Harry in shock. If possible, his skin looked even whiter then before. "What do you know about Moony?"

Harry smiled. "A lot more then you think."

Lupin frowned. "But how could you know? No ones called me that name since-"

"My parents were alive," Harry finished.

Lupin slumped down into his chair looking a lot worst then he had when Harry had come into his class. "How could you know that?"

Harry sighed. "Remus, I know this is hard, but you've got to listen. I know all about you being a werewolf and about your nickname because you told me-"

"But I didn't tell you."

"You're right. You didn't. But you will," said Harry and Lupin looked up at him sharply.

"What?"

"I'm from the future, Remus." Okay now it was out. Harry waited to see what Lupin's reaction would be, but the older man just sat quite still.

"Remus?"

"How?" was all Lupin was able to get out.

"I don't know. I was on my way to Gryffindor Tower to get a book and the next thing I knew I was lying in the Hospital wing surrounded by a very muddy Quidditch team." Harry felt very weird. He was afraid Lupin wouldn't believe him and he so needed to be believed. If Lupin didn't help him, then who would?

Lupin rubbed his face in his hands. "This is impossible. I've never heard of anything like this."

"Then you believe me?" said Harry hopefully.

"I believe you, Harry," said Lupin reassuringly. "I just don't understand how this can be possible. Time travel is only possible through time-tuners as far as I know, and in that case there would be two of you."

"That's what I had thought at first," said Harry.

Lupin stood up from his chair and rounded the desk so that he stood directly in front of Harry. "Harry, I need you to tell me everything you remember just before you woke up in the hospital wing. Don't leave anything out."

Harry nodded. "I was on my way up to Gryffindor Tower to get a Duelling book because you and Professor Black said you'd help me out with some techniques. I was about half way there when I felt very cold and it seem like someone was watching me. Then I heard a voice whisper Avucinor Sarco. I fell, feeling very dizzy and sick. Everything after that gets very blurry. My phoenix Flame came and someone else, but I can't remember who. All I do remember is that whoever was saying those words kept repeating them over and over and over again."

Lupin nodded. "It must be some sort of curse then, though I've never heard of Avucinor Sarco before."

Harry sighed. He had been afraid of that. He hadn't heard of it either and he had read almost a hundred books on curses to study for some of his special courses. "What am I going to do?"

Lupin sighed. "I don't know. I'll help you Harry. There's no way that you can stay here. You could have damaged the timeline already just by speaking to me about this."

"I know," said Harry, "but I had to tell someone. Sirius was my first choice, but then he's supposed to be after-" Harry gasped and cut himself off. 'Oh, great, now I've done it. Smart move Harry.'

Lupin just started at him. "Sirius. Sirius Black!"

"Remus, calm down. It's not what you think," said Harry. Great, now he had ruined everything

"Harry! Sirius Black betrayed your parents to Voldemort. Then he killed one of our friends, Peter."

"Remus! Sirius didn't do any of that. He was framed. Wormtail was the real traitor. Sirius would never betray my parents or you. He's not after me. He's after Wormtail," said Harry, trying to make Lupin believe him.

"Peter's dead, Harry. Sirius killed him." Lupin leaned heavily against his desk. Harry could tell that this wasn't the kind of thing they should be talking about. It was plain to see that this was a sore subject for him.

"He's not dead. Wormtail betrayed my parents to Voldemort. Voldemort then came to our house where he met his downfall. Wormtail knew that not only would all of Voldemort's supporters be after him, but also Sirius as he was the only other person besides my parents that had known that they switched Secret Keepers. Sirius finally cornered Wormtail in a street full of Muggles. Wormtail, with his wand behind his back, yelled to the whole street how Sirius had betrayed Lily and James and then he blew up the whole street taking twelve Muggles with him. He cut off one of his fingers, turned into a rat and scurried away down the sewers, framing Sirius. Sirius was then taken to Azkaban without a trial. He never had a chance, Remus." Harry explained.

Lupin sat in stunned silence for a moment. Harry wasn't sure how he was taking this. Did he believe him or did he still think Sirius was a traitor who was out to kill Harry.

"They switched?" Lupin said simply.

Harry nodded. "Yes. They didn't tell you because Sirius thought you were the traitor. They didn't tell anyone. It was perfect. The Death Eaters and Voldemort would have believed Sirius to be the Secret Keeper and have gone after him while Wormtail would have been safe. But they didn't think Wormtail could be the traitor for the same reasons you did. He's too weak-minded."

Lupin merrily nodded. "Where's Peter now then?"

Harry sighed. "He's up in the boy's dormitory. Ron keeps him as a pet, but he doesn't know that Scabbers is acutely Wormtail. No one does. They all believe Wormtail to be dead."

Lupin shot his head up. "He's in your dormitory."

"Yes, but leave him be. He's no harm to anyone at the moment. He's the reason why Sirius has been trying to get into Hogwarts. Not to kill me, but to kill Wormtail to protect me," said Harry.

Lupin just shook his head. "I… Sirius… innocent. I never…" he trailed off, not quite knowing what to say.

"He forgives you, Remus. There was no way you could have known. Hell, there's no way I could have known." Harry shook his head and sat down on top of the desk behind him. This conversation was getting a lot more complicated then it was suppose to be.

"How did you find out then?" Lupin asked.

Harry sighed. "I'll tell you cause I know you won't change time. At the end of this year the whole story comes out. Sirius finally gets his hands, or paws acutely on Wormtail. You find out cause you have the Marauder's Map, which you had confiscated from me earlier in the year. We all end up meeting in the Shrieking Shack where you and Sirius explain the whole story."

Lupin nodded. "I still can't believe Sirius is innocent. After all these years."

Harry nodded. "I know. Hell, if Sirius hadn't been thrown in Azkaban, I would have lived with him and I wouldn't have had as bad a life as I've had. Plus, I would have known you my whole life."

Lupin glanced at Harry suspiciously then and Harry couldn't help a smile forming on his face. "Why do I get the feeling that you know more then you're telling me?"

Harry just leaned back against on of the desks and smiled. "Cause I do. Godfathers are hard to come by and it's nice knowing that I have two."

Lupin sighed deeply, running a hand over his face. "Harry, I-"

"Don't worry about it," Harry interrupted. "We've already shorted through all that, or we will I guess is the correct thing to say. Right now though we should focus on trying to get me home. I don't fancy living through this whole year again."

Lupin nodded. "You're right, but Harry, what I don't understand is why you asked me? Why not Dumbledore or Professor McGonagall?"

Harry smiled again. "Because I trust you and I knew you would help me. Ron and Hermione probably wouldn't believe me, thinking I was ill or something, and Dumbledore might believe that I'm an impostor."

Lupin chuckled slightly, going back around his desk to pick up the papers he had dropped earlier. "Well, I'm not sure how much help I can be, but I'll look into it. We don't want to keep your Sirius worrying anymore then he probably already is."

Harry nodded in agreement, grimacing slightly at the thought of Sirius running himself ragged with worry. "I think you're right."

Lupin nodded once again, pulling out a piece of parchment to write a note to Harry's next teacher. "I'll start looking into Avucinor Sarco and maybe it'll turn up something. We may need some help with this, though."

Harry nodded, standing up straight once again and threw the strap of his bag over his shoulder. "I know and that's why I'm going to try and get of hold of the Sirius in this timeline. It's a good bet that he may know something."

Lupin looked up sharply and frowned. "Harry, I'm not sure how comfortable I am of you contacting Sirius. I realize that he's innocent, but he's just spent twelve years in Azkaban and he may not be thinking clearly."

Harry sighed and shook his head. "Sirius will be fine. I know that he's not exactly thinking clearly right now but can you honestly blame him for that. Besides, the reason he broke out of Azkaban was to protect me, I very much doubt that he's going to do me harm now."

Lupin still looked slightly concerned so Harry conceded. "Fine," he said, "if it makes you feel any better, I'll let you know as soon as he's contacted me and you can be there when I meet with him. That way you can keep on eye on him if you wish."

Lupin relaxed slightly and nodded. "Okay, I'll agree to that. However I want you to be careful, Harry. This timeline that you've been thrust back into may not be all that it seems to you."

Harry gazed at Lupin in puzzlement. What could that possibly mean? He shook his head though and just took Lupin's words at face value. "I will," he said.

Lupin nodded and handed Harry his note. "Now you better be off," he said, "You shouldn't keep Snape waiting forever."

Harry sighed and rolled his eyes. "Oh yes, like that would be a great shame."

Lupin chuckled slightly as he snapped the clasps on his suitcase shut.

"Oh well," Harry said, slowly backing out of the classroom, "At least I get the Marauder's Map in a few weeks."

Before Lupin could question him, Harry was gone.

Sirius sat dejectedly on the side of Harry's bed in the boy's dormitory. Sunlight filtered in through the window and made the atmosphere feel hot and muggy even though it was the middle of the winter. Harry's trunk lay open beside him as he slowly thought about the events that had lead to this.

He wished that he'd never asked Harry to go get that book, or at least he wished that either himself or Remus had gone with him. Then they may have been able to prevent what had happened. As it was they were lucky that James had been able to get to Harry when he did. If James had been any later, they might have lost Harry. Madam Pomfrey had only just been able to stabilize him.

Sirius sighed. He'd much rather be with Harry right now in the hospital wing, but Madam Pomfrey had kicked them all out. She wouldn't even let James in. It was a good thing that Ron and Hermione had gone home this Christmas, otherwise they'd have even more problems.

He pushed a few of Harry's textbooks aside and found a photo album. He slowly flipped through it and watched all the moving pictures of James and Lily with Harry and then Ron and Hermione with Harry. He couldn't help but notice how happy they all looked in the pictures and wished that there was a way to get those happy days back, but he knew there wasn't. Not until Voldemort was stopped.

Sirius closed the book and threw it down onto the bed. He felt utterly useless right now. He couldn't help his Godson at all. All they've been able to do was watch how things were progressing in Harry's mind.

He sighed and tried to calm himself down. He couldn't afford to get all worked up at the moment. They still had a war to fight as well as to try and help Harry. He knew there were far too many things at stake for him to lose it now.

He looked back down into the trunk and saw something that made him frown slightly in puzzlement. There was a little marbled colour book with golden letters that spelled out 'Journal', but that's not what caught Sirius's eye. What surprised him was the fact that there were bloodstains on the front.

He frowned slightly as he picked the book up in his hands. The cover was rough, a sure sign that it had been handled many times. The spine was cracked and as he flipped it over he saw that there were more bloodstains on the back. Some of the stains seemed to be much older than others.

Sirius had an uneasy feeling in his stomach. Why would Harry's journal be in such a condition? He knew what had happened at the Dursleys', but he hadn't believe that anything could have been this bad. He also new that anything that had been written in the Journal was none of his business, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something was very wrong with this picture and he knew that the answer lay in this little book.

Slowly, he opened the book a few pages and stared opened-mouthed at what he saw. This was nothing like he had expected to see.

There were pictures, but not just any pictures. There were pictures of dead bodies, green flashes, Death Eaters, Dementors, burning houses, and so many other horrible things.

Sirius started flipping through the book. There were more pictures, but now they were surrounded by poems, unsent letters, journal entries and thoughts. He stopped and read one of the Journal entries.

July 8, 1995

He's started it again. The beatings, the hits that make me feel like I just want to curl up and die. He had come home drunk again, like that was a surprise. He was always drunk these days it seemed. Blamed me for all the trouble he was having with his drilling company. I sometimes wish that I were the source of his problems, so that I'd know that I had actually done something to provoke his rage.

I've gotten use to it all by now though. I can hardly feel the pain when he hits me. I just lie there, hopping that it would soon come to an end. After the beatings, I'll just lie there for a while. As long as I don't make a noise, he won't come back and I'll be able to have a few moments of peace, but I deserve what I'm getting. I deserve every last hit, every last punch. I sometimes think I'm getting off easy, especially after what I've done.

But beating me isn't the only things he does. I hardly ever get fed anymore. My Uncle also makes me do all the housework, as if I hadn't been doing it all before. I could live with all that though. It's what he and the rest of them call me now that I can't deal with. They call me a murderer.

Yes, he knows. Dumbledore must have sent them a letter, telling them all about the Tournament and Cedric…

Now I never hear the end of it. Them calling me a murderer, saying that I killed Cedric, that I'm worthless and that everyone would be so much better off if I were dead, or better yet, that I had never been born. I'm beginning to think that maybe their right. Everyone that I care about has suffered because of me. My Parents are dead because of me, Sirius was sent to Azkaban because of me, Cedric's dead…

Sirius felt like blasting Vernon into another universe. How dare he do that to Harry? Obviously what he had seen over the summer when he had picked Harry up was just the beginning of it. He wondered how long this had been going on? Was it just this summer, or had it been Harry's whole life?

But the worst part of it was that Harry believed him. He believed every single word that that basterd had said to him. God damnit, they shouldn't have left him there. He shouldn't have left him there. He should have tried harder to make sure Harry hadn't gone back to the Durselys, especially after everything that had happened last year.

He flipped a few pages and stopped when two words caught his eye. 'Kill myself'.

July 12, 1995

I tried again today, but couldn't bring myself to do it. I know that everyone would be better off without me and I know that the people I care about would be safe if I weren't around. Something keeps stopping me though and I don't really know how to describe it. I just get this feeling of warmth and comfort when I feel like I should just end everything and I feel that I can no longer do it because of that warm feeling.

Sirius smiled a little at that. He knew that that must have been James's doing. His friend had said that at the beginning of the summer he had felt that something was wrong with Harry and he had been right. It's a good thing that he had been able to get through to his son; otherwise they might have lost Harry. He turned back to the page:

I know that there's something happening whenever I get that feeling. Like a part of me has been missing or buried and it's finally come to the surface. I can't really describe what it feels like or how I feel when I feel it, but it makes me feel as if I should go on, try to fight against what's happening with my Uncle.

Is that selfish? I'm not exactly sure. I'm not sure about a lot of things anymore. Sometimes I'm not sure people even care about me at all. I think that's what the Durselys want though, to forget that there are people out there who care about what happens to me.

I'm starting to forget though and I always have to concentrate hard to remember about the people who care about me. Sirius, Remus, Hermione, Ron, the whole Wesley family. Even Dumbledore cares.

I know that they care about me, especially Sirius. I know that if he could, he'd get me out of this hell, but that can't happen. It's just a dream for me. Sirius is still on the run from the Ministry and I know that he'd come if I asked by I can't do that. Sirius could get caught and I can't let that happen. It's bad enough that I let him come back last year when he had been safe living on some tropical island somewhere.

I've already lost my parents; I'm not going to lose my Godfather as well.

Sirius sighed deeply. This was what Harry had thought? Why couldn't the boy understand that he means the world to him? Sirius would gladly give his life to save Harry's any day. Not because he was the Boy Who Lived, but because he was the closest thing that Sirius had to a son and Sirius was pretty sure that Harry was the closest he'd ever get to having a family.

That wasn't the only thing on his mind though. Harry had come far too close to committing suicide. Sirius was surprised that he would even think about it. 'Those damn Durselys are going to pay for this,' he thought to himself angrily.

Sirius looked back at the book and read some more. Everything he read made him feel even guiltier for leaving Harry with those people. He read one poem Harry had written that made his stomach curl.

It lay there, silent and innocent,

Gleaming in the soft moonlight.

The blade that could end my pain.

It could easily slide into the skin of my wrist,

Blood tricking down to pool on the floor.

I deserve it and my pain will finally end.

If I go through with this one single act

Then I will no longer hurt anyone…anymore.

"Oh God, Harry," Sirius said. Harry shouldn't have been able to write stuff like this.

"Sirius?" Sirius turned around to see James standing by the door. He looked tired and worn out, but he had concern in his eyes as he gazed at Sirius' hunched form.

"Padfoot, what's wrong?" he asked, seeing the look on Sirius's face.

Sirius sighed. He wasn't sure if he should tell James about this.

"How's Harry?" He asked, trying to change the subject.

James frowned even more. "He's the same as before. Unresponsive. Dumbledore thinks he might know what's happening, but you didn't answer my question. What's wrong?"

Sirius shook his head and stood. Harry was James's son. He had a right to know what he had found.

He joined James at the door and held out the book, "I think you better take a look at this."

James frowned but took the book, looking down at it in confusion. He opened it and his eyes widened at what he saw. He looked back up at Sirius who just gestured to the book.

"Read it," he said softly.

James turned back to the book and read some of what Harry had written. After a few minutes he turned back to Sirius, looking shocked.

Sirius just nodded, looking sad. "You were right when you said that you knew something was wrong with Harry."

James swallowed hard. "Yes, but I never suspected anything this bad."

"No one did," Sirius answered.

James looked up at Sirius hopefully. "Is there anything we can do about it?"

Sirius sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I don't know. This better not be told to anyone else cause I know Harry wouldn't appreciate that. I only told you because Harry's your son."

James nodded in agreement. He handed the book back to Sirius and sighed.

"You're going to have to deal with this one on your own. Dumbledore thinks that when we get Harry back he won't remember that he saw me and that it'd be best if I just stay away from him for the time being," he replied sadly.

Sirius put a reassuring hand on his friends shoulder. "He might. You never know."

James nodded. "I sure hope so. I'm worried about him, Sirius, and I'm afraid I'm just going to lose him again."

Sirius nodded. "I understand, but try not to worry yourself too much. We're not going to lose Harry, okay?"

Ames smiled. "I really have missed you, Padfoot."

Sirius smirked. "Not nearly as much as I've missed you, Prongs."

They hugged for a moment. Then Sirius pulled away, smiling. "Come on, I'm sure Moony's wondering where we've gotten too." And with that they left the room, leaving Harry's things strewn across his bed.

Two weeks before the end of the term, the sky lightened suddenly to a dazzling, opaline white and the muddy grounds were revealed one morning covered in glittering frost. Inside the castle, there was a buzz of Christmas in the air. Professor Flitwick had already decorated his classroom with shimmering lights that turned out to be real, fluttering fairies. The students were all happily discussing their plans for the holidays. Both Ron and Hermione decided to remain at Hogwarts, though Harry didn't bother thinking about their excuses. He hardly bothered thinking about the Christmas holidays at all, in fact.

So when another Hogsmead trip was announced to be on the very last weekend of the term, he didn't think much of it. They only thing that he was happy about was the fact that the students would mostly be gone over the holidays and he'd be left mostly alone, which gave him time to try and figure out his situation.

"We can do all our Christmas shopping there!" Hermione said excitedly. "Mum and Dad would really love those Tooth-flossing Stringmints from Honeydukes!"

To keep up appearances, Harry still borrowed a copy of Witch Broomstick from Wood saying that he wanted to read up on the different makes, when in reality he didn't care in the slightest. He was getting a Firebolt for Christmas from Sirius so what was the point in researching broomsticks. What was the point in doing anything anymore?

On the Saturday morning of the Hogsmead trip, Harry bid goodbye to Ron and Hermione, who were wrapped in cloaks and scarves, and then turned up the marble staircase alone, heading back towards Gryffindor Tower. Snow had started to fall outside the windows, and the castle was very still and quiet.

"Psst-Harry!"

Harry turned, halfway along the Third-floor corridor and sighed when he saw Fred and George peering out at him from behind the statue of the one-eyed witch. 'I really don't care anymore about this,' Harry thought to himself sadly as he stepped closer to the twins.

"What are you doing?" He asked, trying his hardest to act curious. He had gotten fairly good at acting over the past few weeks. "How come you're not going to Hogsmead?"

"We've come to give you a bit of festive cheer before we go," Fred said, with a mysterious wink. "Come in here…"

He gestured towards an empty classroom to the left of the one-eyed witch. Harry followed the Twins inside; trying his hardest not to laugh at how ridiculous all of this was to him. He almost wished he could record the whole event and show his Twins.

"Early Christmas present for you, Harry," George said, closing the classroom door behind them.

Fred pulled the Marauder's Map out from his cloak with a flourish and laid it on one of the desks. Harry almost rolled his eyes with how bored he was becoming. If Voldemort had put him here to bore the pants off of him, he had sure done a great job.

"What's that suppose to be?" Harry said, with a little bit more attitude then he'd meant too.

"This, Harry, is the secret to our success," George said, patting the parchment fondly.

"It's a wrench, giving it to you," Fred said, "but we decided last night, your need is greater than ours."

"Anyways, we know it all off by heart," George said. "We bequeath it to you. We don't really need it anymore."

"And what exactly do I need with a bit of old parchment?" Harry said. 'We'll I can actually think of lost of things I can do with the Map, but I wouldn't tell you two that,' Harry thought.

"A bit of old parchment!" Fred said, closing his eyes with a grimace as though Harry had mortally offended him. "Explain, George."

"Well…when we were in our first year, Harry – young, carefree and innocent-"

Harry snorted. Okay yes he had heard this all before, but it was still funny hearing Fred and George call themselves innocent, and he had a lot of blackmail material thanks to Ron and Mrs. Weasley to prove it.

"-well, more innocent then we are now – we got into a spot of trouble with Filch."

'When are you guys not in trouble with Filch,' Harry thought to himself, missing a bit of what Fred and George were saying.

"-Detention-"

"-Disembowelment-"

"-and we couldn't help noticing a drawer in one of his filing cabinets marked confiscated and highly dangerous."

"Don't tell me-" Harry said, starting to grin slightly at their antics.

"Well, what would you've done?" Fred said and Harry just raised an eyebrow at him. "George caused a diversion by dropping another Dungbomb; I whipped the drawer open and grabbed – this."

"It's not as bad as it sounds, you know," George replied. "We don't reckon Filch ever found out how it worked. He probably suspected what it was, though, or he wouldn't have confiscated it."

"And you now how to work it?" Harry answered, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Oh yes," said Fred smirking. "This little beauty's taught us more than all the teachers in this school."

"You're winding me up,' Harry replied, inwardly laughing at how much he was denying what the twins were saying.

"Oh, are we?" George said.

He took out his wand, touched the parchment lightly and said, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."

Harry watch silently and was not surprised when lines spread from George's wand, crossing and touching until words began to form at the top in great, curly green words that proclaimed:

Messrs Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs

Purveyors of Aids to Magical Mischief-Makers

are proud to present

THE MARAUDER'S MAP

The map was exactly how Harry remembered it. Every corridor and secret passage was shown along with everyone that was still in the school. Harry was happy to see that Peter was nowhere to be seen. Ron must have taken him with him.

"Right into Hogsmead," Fred said, tracing one of the secret passageways with his finger. "There are seven in all. Now, Filch knows about these four-" He pointed out, "-but we're sure we're the only ones who know about these. Don't bother with the one behind the mirror on the fourth floor, though. We used it until last winter, but it's caved in – completely blocked. And we don't reckon anyone's ever used this one, because the Whomping Willow's planted right over the entrance."

'And for a very good reason,' Harry thought to himself, nodding his head at what Fred was telling him.

"But this one here. This one leads right into the cellar of Honeydukes. We've used it loads of times. And as you might've noticed, the entrance is right outside this room, through that one-eyed old crone's hump."

"Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs," George sighed, patting the heading of the map. "We own them so much."

"Noble men, working tirelessly to help a new generation of law-breakers," Fred said solemnly.

'Right," George said briskly, "don't forget to wipe it after you've used it-"

"-or anyone can read it," Fred finished, warningly.

"Just tap it again and say Mischief Managed! And it goes blank."

"So, young Harry," Fred said, in an uncanny impersonation of Percy, "mind you behave yourself."

"See you in Honeydukes," George said, winking.

They left the room, both smirking in a satisfied sort of way.

Harry waited until he couldn't hear them anymore before flopping down into a near-by chair with a big sigh. He was getting fairly tired of all this. He just wanted to go home.

"Argh!" he smacked his head against the desk. He still had to go to Hogsmead as well so that he could hear the conversation about Sirius being his Godfather.

"Screw it," Harry said angrily, raising his head and pulling the map closer to himself. He knew that whatever was happing around him couldn't be what it seemed to be, which his third year was playing out. He knew that it couldn't be as he knew he'd let things slip over the pass few weeks and had done things slightly differently, and yet time hadn't changed and neither had his memories of the events.

He looked down at the map and watched for a moment as Dumbledore continued to pace in his office and Mrs. Norris was sniffing something around on the fourth floor. Then the little dot labelled Remus Lupin caught his attention. It was sitting in his office behind his desk. Maybe he should go have a chat with Lupin. At least that way he wouldn't have to put on a face and he could just be himself without having to act.

Quite suddenly, as though following orders, he rolled up the map, stuffing it inside his robes, and hurried to the door of the classroom. He opened it a couple of inches. There was no one outside.

He slowly slipped through the door and then stared down the hallway towards Lupin's office. It didn't take him long to get there as he was already on the third floor.

He stood in front of the oak door and knocked. He heard some coughing before a weak voice answered, "Come in."

Harry slowly opened the door to see Lupin behind a pile of what looked like Fifth-year essays. He looked pale and tired but he smiled at Harry softly.

Harry sighed. "Full moon soon?"

Lupin nodded at Harry. "Unfortunately," he coughed again as Harry shut the door. Lupin frowned. "How come you're not in Hogsmead with everyone else?"

Harry flopped down into a chair in front of the desk. "I didn't have a permission form. Plus I need a break. I'm tired of acting like there's nothing wrong. Besides, I'm not even sure if this really is my third year. I've changed some things by accident, but it hasn't seemed to affect the timeline."

Lupin nodded, taking a sip of his tea. "It would seem unlikely that you actually traveled back in time, however I can't really answer that question for you. If this isn't your third year then I'm nothing more then a figment in your mind."

Harry leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees and frowning slightly. "But if you're just in my mind, why are you helping me. Are you something my mind's created to help me or are you Voldemort's doing.'

Again, Lupin just shrugged. "I can't answer that, Harry. You'll either have to trust what I'm saying or ignore it. It's you're choice. The same goes for Sirius when you get a hold of him."

Harry nodded, thinking hard. Maybe this world he now found himself in was his mind trying to protect itself against Voldemort. It would make sense. His Third Year was the best year of his life that he could remember and he felt comfortable here. Plus Voldemort could affect some of the people he knew to try and stop Harry from getting away, but people like Lupin and hopefully Sirius were manifestations of his mind trying to guide him along and out of this place.

"Have you found anything on the curse?" Harry asked after a moment, looked back up at Lupin again.

Lupin nodded. "I wasn't able to find any record of it anywhere so far, though I'm still looking. I've tried translating it, as most of our spells and curses have a basis in Latin."

Harry waited a moment, but Lupin didn't continue. "And? Did you find anything?"

Lupin put his head in his hands and rubbed his eyes slowly for a moment. "I've been able to come up with a rough translation for it, though it doesn't give me much to go on. Sarco literally means sleep and Avucinor roughly means dreamer's, however it's not a direct translation so it could be wrong."

Harry frowned softly. "The Dreamer's Sleep?"

"Exactly," Lupin said, looking up. "Not much to go by."

Harry sighed deeply. "Figures."

Lupin took another sip of his tea. "There's a few volumes by your feet there that may help us if you want to start looking through them. I've got to get the rest of these essay's done and then I'll help."

Harry nodded, reaching down to pick up one of the heavy books. "Sounds like a plan." And so for the rest of the day, they worked.

AN: All I can say now is for you to review. I'm not going to say that I'll get the next chapter out soon cause I honestly fon't know. I have a lot on my plate right now. I'll try though, that's all I can promise. REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW!