Hey. Thanks for all your reviews.

I thought I wouldnt waste time putting up the next chapter so here you go. I hope you reward me for writing this so quickly (with reviews!)

Enjoy.

Chapter Four – Our mutual friend Sirius

To his left James was sprawled on the floor and before Remus had time to comprehend that his friend had been stunned, his vision started to fade and he slumped to the ground.

Remus opened an eye groggily. He was in a room he recognised vaguely and there were voices he had heard before.

"You could have told me there were intruders in my broom cupboard Hermione," said a voice sharply, "I knew I heard something."

"I didn't want to alarm you," said another voice, "If they were dangerous they would have done a better job of trying to be inconspicuous and I knew they weren't going to get far with all the wards put on this place."

"Yeah but it's how they got in that's really worrying me."

"Well we're about to find out, they're waking up," said the other voice.

"I swear if they're journalists then I'm allowed to kill them."

Remus was starting to regain his senses. He recognised the room he was in. It was the kitchen at 12 Grimmauld Place. Suddenly, he remembered how he had got there and let out a low growl. He lifted the head up and caught sight of Harry Potter and the Hermione girl staring at him from the opposite side of the table. It was then he became conscious of the fact he couldn't move his arms or legs. They were bounded magically by rope. He looked to his right and was almost startled until he realised it was James who sat in the same situation beside him only with long, brown hair. Their gazes caught each other and without speaking they seemed to say:

How the hell are we going to get out of this nightmare?

After a moment of silent deliberation they decided the best course of action.

"LET US GO!" they yelled simultaneously whilst struggling against the ropes they were bound by.

The black haired baby who sat on Harry's lap promptly began yelling too and for a few moments there was a small riot in the kitchen. "Silencio," said Hermione pointing her wand in turn at both Remus and James after Harry had put the baby in his cot. The two friends' eyes widen in anger as unsuccessfully they tried to speak and they immediately started rocking their chairs even more wildly; So much so that Remus ended up on the floor. "Will you behave?" Hermione hissed helping Harry pick Remus up, "If you so much as make another sound I-I'll do more than stun you!" Remus and James fell silent and as Harry tried to hide his grin, Hermione rounded on him. "What?"

"Nothing," said Harry quickly turning back to his two intruders with a look of full of seriousness, "Who the hell are you two? And what in the name of Merlin are you doing in my house?"

James looked at Remus. The furry one was always given the task of lying or bending the truth for the marauders. It was natural for him; he'd spent almost all his life lying about his condition. So he opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out. Hermione reversed the spell and Remus coughed to make sure he was back to normal whilst shooting a reproachful glare at the girl. His eyes flicked to James as if to say: Roll with me, try not to act surprise at anything I say and watch out for your cues.

James blinked twice which was marauder code for yes and then cocked his head slightly which was informal code for you better make it good Moony or we are as good as dead mate. James smiled suddenly and Remus knew he found the concept of being killed by his own son highly amusing.

"Who are you?" Harry repeated roughly, "What are you doing here?"

Remus took a deep breath, "We're friends of Sirius Black."

All colour left Harry's face and his grip on the table tightened.

"What?"

Remus glanced at Hermione who was staring at him in confusion. Something was not right and if he wasn't careful he would dig himself into a bigger hole. "Someone told us he lived here, but I guess we heard wrong."

"Who told you?" asked Hermione sharply.

"Just informers," said Remus vaguely, "See, we met Sirius a while back and he told us anytime we were in London we could stop by his place."

"You met Sirius?" asked Harry, his voice was raised and there was an edge to it, "When? How? Where?"

Alarms bells were going off in Remus's head and as he turned to James he could see he was thinking the same thing. Remus signalled for his input.

"We're travellers," put in James, "We hop from place to place, we go all over the world. We met Sirius on our travels. He seemed like a good bloke, we're quite close friends actually," he added looking carefully from Harry to Hermione.

"You can't have been that close," snapped Harry.

James frowned; he momentarily forgot he was sitting across from his son as he said angrily, "We are very close."

"Are?" repeated Harry bitterly, "He's been dead for almost three years!"

There was an awful silence in the kitchen. It was then Harry and Hermione realised that these were not malicious intruders or rude journalists. The expressions on these men's faces were of pure grief, horror and shock.

"H-he's dead?" whispered James, "He can't be! He's too young!"

"Was it he-know-must not be named?" asked Remus hoarsely, "Was him that got Sirius?"

Harry shook his head, "Bellatrix Lestrange," he answered painfully.

"Bella?" said James in fury, "He got done in by Bellatrix? I don't believe you!"

"It's the truth," said Harry heatedly, "but she's dead as well."

That was small consolation for two friends. Harry watched them. From the way they were reacting he knew they were telling the truth about being friends with Sirius and so he untied them. "Thanks," muttered Remus rubbing his arms sorely and stretched his legs. He turned to James who looked back at him sadly. He turned back to Harry, "So is the war still going on?" he asked tentatively.

"Where have you been for the last four years?" snapped Hermione, "The war is over. It's been over for six months. Voldemort is dead. It's a new year and a new start." Tears welled up in her eyes suddenly. She had just been starting to forget all that had happened last year.

"I'm sorry, we're travellers," stated Remus, "News travels very slowly."

"Well you know now," said Harry. He sighed and at the same time as James ran his fingers through his hair. They smiled at the occurrence. "So you're Sirius friends eh?" They nodded. "What are your names?" asked Harry in a tone that told them that although they were untied and not in immediate danger; both he and Hermione were still highly cautious and suspicious.

Remus knew he couldn't hesitate, "John Hollow," he said quickly, "and this is…" he turned to James who started to think hurriedly, he said the first things that popped into his head,

"Peter Evans."

Once again Harry looked uncomfortable as he repeated "Peter Evans?" James nodded looking at his son anxiously. Something about his name was obviously distressing him.

"I don't think I came across the Evans or Hollows whilst doing the wizard census on the behalf of the ministry," said Hermione casually but her eyes were dangerously narrowed as if waiting for her prey to slip up.

Shit thought Remus Think fast.

"We're muggle born," said James hastily.

"Yeah," agreed Remus, "Our families won't be on the census."

"How old are you?" asked Hermione, "You don't look much older than me yet you didn't go to Hogwarts and you must have been travelling for at least four years to have met Sirius."

Bitch Remus screamed internally albeit a smart one. He hesitated and James could see Harry becoming more suspicious by the second. They would soon be back in ropes at this rate.

"Yeah we didn't go to Hogwarts," James said firmly.

"We didn't go to Wizard school at all," added Remus finally finding his flow of lies, "Our parents wouldn't allow it. We were home schooled but we got wands and books from Diagon alley. We taught ourselves magic."

Hermione snorted but disguised it as a violent cough.

"We started travelling at sixteen; Sirius was one of the first people we met."

"So you're what…twenty now?" asked Harry. They nodded and waited for more questions. "How did you get here?"

Remus had been anticipating this, "We used a port key."

"How? You have to be authorized," said Hermione immediately.

"Yeah well, we're bad boys," said James with a grin.

"And you ended up in my broom cupboard?" asked Harry in disbelief.

"Well we thought it would be Sirius's broom cupboard," Remus explained, "We didn't know you lot lived here."

"Sirius gave me the house in his will," Harry told them.

"That was cool of him," James said politely. So Sirius and Harry were close. "It must be cool getting to live by yourself so young. Bet your parents were terrified at first though," James added with a smile.

Harry looked at him oddly but did not respond; instead he stood up and stretched, "So what's your plan now? Staying in London or off on another adventure?"

"Actually, while we're in the country we thought might pay Dumbledore a visit," said Remus amiably.

There was another excruciating silence.

"Don't tell me he's dead too," James joked but the look on Harry face confirmed his dread, "Well, that's just brilliant," he said sarcastically but his voice was choked. What kind of future was this?

"I suppose it wasn't by natural causes," Remus said dolefully. Hermione shook her head, "It wasn't you-know-who?"

"Voldemort," corrected Hermione.

"Sorry, it wasn't Voldemort who…you know…killed him."

"Nope," Harry said, "Severus Snape did."

James face turned apoplectic and it took Remus, Harry and Hermione to calm him down.

"SNAPE?" he yelled.

"But how? Snape is no match for Dumbledore!" exclaimed Remus.

"Dumbledore was weak," explained Harry.

"I'LL KILL HIM!" James declared searching for his wand.

"He's already dead," Hermione sighed.

"Bloody hell," muttered Remus. He didn't want to know what had become of him if even Dumbledore had succumbed. Maybe everyone was dead. He saw Harry and Hermione looking upon James and him and remembered his act, "Erm…Snape used to tutor us in the summer for our OWLS and NEWTS. We didn't like him very much. But we loved…we loved Dumbledore…" he trailed off dismally.

"So did I," whispered Harry placing a hand on Remus's shoulder, "Are you ok?" he asked James who was pacing the kitchen, still furious.

"He really really hated Snape," explained Remus.

"He was just misunderstood," Harry said. James looked at him as if he was crazy. Hadn't the older James told Harry how much of scumbag Snape was? "Anyway, any friend of Sirius is a friend of mine so you can stay here as long as you like."

"Really?" said Remus thankfully.

Hermione glanced at Harry in surprise but he gave her a look and she smiled wearily, "I guess you could stay in the two adorning bedrooms."

"I'll show where they are," said Harry but he suddenly realised something, "Don't you have any belongings?"

"We're minimalists," James mumbled, "Material possessions are an ill substitute for spirituality and oneness."

Remus couldn't withhold a snigger but regain his straight face quickly, "Yeah, all we need is the clothes on our backs and each other."

"O-kay…" Harry smiled politely and turned to Hermione, "I'll get these two settled and you can take big Bear back."

Hermione lifted the black haired baby from his cot. James and Remus lingered to watch with soppy smiles plastered on their faces.

"He's lovely," James commented, "Where's the other one?"

"Other one?" repeated Hermione.

"The brown haired one," explained Remus.

Harry raised an eyebrow then laughed, "Oh, no. He's a metamorphagus; he's always changing his appearance. He tends to copy the features of people around him."

"Metamorphagus, wow, really?" exclaimed James. My grandson!

"What are the chances of that?" said Remus handing the baby his cuddly snitch toy, "Here you go champ, aren't you more likely to be a squib?" he added with a chuckle. He looked up at Hermione, "You're so lucky," he said earnestly.

Hermione stared at him horrified, "Oh no, he's not mine! Goodness, I'm only nineteen!" she giggled.

"He's not yours either?" James asked Harry, evidently disappointed.

"No, he's my godson. We're looking after him for the day," Harry explained taking the baby from Hermione and lifting him up with pride, "Say hello big bear."

The baby opened his mouth and said, "Heeeerrrrrroooo,"

"Big bear," said James with a grin, "That's worse than Apollo."

Harry laughed, "Nah, that's just my nickname for him. His name is Teddy... Teddy Remus Lupin."

Nice dramatic end.

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WFG