Hey everyone, exams are over! Until next week... anyway thanks for all your reviews. It was cool to read you all liked the last chapter. I hope you feel the same about this one.

Enjoy.

Chapter five – In the long run, we're all dead.

His name is Teddy… Teddy Remus Lupin.

The world seemed to stand still. What was a few seconds of silence felt like a million years to Remus and James. The latter observed his friend out of the corner of his eyes. Remus was staring blankly at the baby in Harry's arms. His eyes suddenly flickered from Harry to then back to the baby again as if waiting for a clause in the previous sentence like "his name is Teddy Remus Lupin….not!" but it never came. He regained himself quickly and smiled as wide as humanely possible, "nice name," he managed to choke out.

James stared at him wondering what to do before asking conversationally, "Wasn't Remus Lupin a good friend of Sirius's? I guess that's his son?"

Harry nodded, "Yep, when he's not morphing he's a dead ringer for Remus too, same nose and everything, he has his mother's smile though... but he seems stuck on looking like me now," Harry said. The guilt in his voice was evident. He handed the baby back to Hermione and gestured for the boys to follow him upstairs. With Harry a little way ahead of them, James took the opportunity to give Remus a little squeeze on the shoulder. Remus hardly responded. Too many things were racing through his head.

"That kid, Teddy," asked Remus suddenly, "Who is his mother?" he tried to keep the excitement out of his voice but Harry heard it and eyed him suspiciously once they reach the 1st floor landing. "It's just I don't remember Sirius mentioning that Remus Lupin was married or that he had a kid. It just seems like the thing you'd mention you know."

Harry watched him carefully before answering, "They got married after Sirius died. His mother was Nymphadora Tonks."

Tonks? Tonks…Remus repeated in his head where had he heard Tonks before? Wait what had Harry said? "You said was," Remus stated hurriedly, "What do you mean was? She's still alive isn't she? That baby has a mother right?"

Harry shook his head sadly, his grip on the doorknob tightened, "She died when he was only a couple months old. She was an auror. She died in battle with Remus."

"Remus is dead?" whispered James turning to his friend desperately half-expecting him to disappear before his very eyes, "No…"

"I'm sorry," said Harry turning away from them. This was too much war talk. He could feel his cheeks burning and tears building up. Not today he warned himself as he opened the door to the guest bedroom. "So here's where you'll be staying," he said trying to be cheerful. He gave a small tour. The room was large with an en suite facility and had a door that led to another similar sized room. It seemed like it had been recently redecorated but the splendour and gothic architecture that characterized the Black family was still prominent. Not that Remus or James cared much.

"S-so that little boy has no parents," said James clearly distressed. He ran his fingers through his hand and looked at Remus. Remus hadn't spoken a word since his death had been revealed. He felt numb. Utterly, hopelessly numb. "I can't believe it," James continued.

"Look," began Harry sharply, "no-one wishes more than me that Teddy's parents were alive but that boy is going to want for nothing. I'm going make sure that he has exactly the same things that other kids have. I'm never going to let him feel like he's an orphan, never. He's going to be ok," Harry muttered more for his own assurances than anyone one else's, "Plus, he has a grandmother. All I ever had were the Dursleys and I'm alright…kind of…"

"The Dursleys?" James repeated. He remembered that Lily's sister Petunia was married to someone called Dursley. Deductions were spinning in his head but he tried not to show it.

"Oh those are just my relatives. I had to live with them until I was seventeen," Harry explained.

Dread swept over James, he knew he had to ask and yet he already knew the answer, "A-are your parents dead?"

Harry nodded and James tried not to show any emotion but polite remorse but he felt breathless. Before he could stop himself he asked, "Did they die when you were young?"

"Yeah, I was one year old," Harry said staring at the ground.

Something, somewhere in James's chest seemed to break in two. I'm dead. Merlin, I'm dead. I only had one year with him. One year. The pain of that was too much. Eighteen months from now I'll be dead. Lily will be dead.

"Was it…Voldemort?"

Harry nodded, to say he was uncomfortable answering these personal questions was an understatement. "He came for me and they tried to protect me."

At least it was in battle, as at least he'd fought, thought James but this was little if no comfort to him. He wanted to cry, he wanted to yell but most of all he just wanted to curl up into a ball fortunately Remus took that moment to let everything hit him like a soaring wave, he ran into the toilet and threw up with such gusto it managed to create the tiniest of smiles on James's face.

"Is he ok?" asked Harry in concern as they heard Remus groan and throw up again.

"It's the journey," James said lost in thought, "It's been a big one," he added sincerely, "He'll be fine once he gets it all out."

"Well... I'll be downstairs if you need me," Harry said closing the door as he exited.

James stood still for a moment allowing the sounds of Remus's stomach being emptied to consume him. He didn't blame his friend for throwing up. He felt like doing something similar. Everything was so screwed up. Yes the war was over. Voldemort was dead. Hurrah. But so was he, so was Sirius and Remus. Lily was dead. His son had been brought up by muggles, muggles who hated Wizards. Everything was so wrong. Much to his annoyance hot anger tears started to build up in his eyes. He brushed them away stubbornly and went into the toilet. Remus sat on the side his arms clutching the toilet for dear life. He looked more haggard and tired than James had ever seen him. His new curly, light brown hair was draped messily around his face and as he caught sight of James and his tear-stained face, his own eyes started to water and he threw up again before swinging his head back and letting out a low moan. "This is so bad James."

"I know."

"We're all dead," Remus said looking up at his friend, "Prongs, my son is downstairs and I'm dead."

"I know. I'm so sorry."

"I didn't even know I could have kids. I feel so happy but I'm so angry as well. I brought a child into this world and then got myself killed. Me, a werewolf. This Nymph lady must have been pretty desperate to marry me and she couldn't have known about my condition, no way. She'd have run a mile if she did and yet I had the audacity to get her pregnant and then die. How could I have been so stupid? Then again maybe a dead werewolf for a father is better than a live one."

"Moony, if you don't shut up I'm going to smack you one," James hissed, "You have as much right to have a child as everyone else ok? Teddy can do a lot worse for a father than Remus Lupin."

"Hey don't snap at me," Remus retorted, "You had a full year with Harry. I died a couple months after Teddy was born. I bet he doesn't even have a picture of us together." Remus's lower lip trembled and James sat down beside him, "It's just...this is so unfair."

"Moony, neither of us got any time with our kids, neither of us got any time with our lives and it's not fair. It's just not fair at all." James whispered softly. "I thought the present was pretty dim but the future is something else. I just want to go back. I want to live my life in happy ignorance."

Remus groaned in agreement and they sat together in comfortable silence for twenty minutes. Their minds were immersed in lonely thoughts which caused more rebellious tears to fall from their weary faces.

"At least now we know why there are such heavy sanctions on time turners," Remus said with half a smile, "Oh and thank you Sirius for such a wonderful birthday present. I have to make sure it's the full moon when I return the favour," he added darkly.

"This is all his fault," snapped James as Remus stood up and flushed the toilet, watching pieces of cake swirl round before disappearing, "I swear when I get my hands on him…"

"If we get our hands on him," Remus corrected washing his face and drying it. James groaned, he'd almost forgotten that their only route out of here had been Dumbledore and he was dead. James left the bathroom and slumped onto the four poster bed. Remus sat beside him.

"We have to think of a way to get out of here," he said.

"Now?" protested James, "Moony, I'm going to die in eighteen months, I'm hardly rushing to get back home."

"What about Lily and the baby...I mean Harry?"

James shifted uncomfortably, "I love Lily but If I'm going to be dead by the time Harry's one, I might as well as spend as much time here getting to know him while I can. Remus, don't you want to get to know Teddy? This is our one chance to be a part of our sons lives. If we find a way to get back we're going to have to have our memory wiped but if we build relationships with our kids in this era, they can't wipe that. That'll be etched in our hearts forever. And our boys will remember us. Don't you want that?"

"Of course but James-"

Remus was interrupted by the sudden flutter of feathers through the open window. The young men looked up startled; a majestic looking owl had flown into their room and dropped a letter and a parcel at their bed. The bird flew out whence it came from and Remus glanced at James in confusion. He stood up and picked up both the letter and the parcel. He handed the latter to James as he read:

Dear John and Peter,

It appears you find yourselves in new pastures. While you're here you might as well follow Peter's advice.

I took the liberty of sending you 1000 galleons. That should be more than enough to see you through your journey.

In the parcel along with the money are the card of potion-maker who will employ you with no questions asked and various other things you might find useful.

Please do not misinterpret the cheerful tone of this letter. It merely masks my displeasure at the situation you find yourselves in. Do not try to reply to this and

above all things be careful, if not for yourselves but for those around you.

Enjoy London.

Forever your friend,

Brian Bumblebee.

Note to recipient: If this letter is not addressed to you, feel free to read or destroy or both. Thank you.

"Brian Bumblebee?" asked James.

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Meanwhile in Godric's Hollow almost nineteen years previously, Sirius Black stood alone in the middle of the Potter's living room staring at the space where his friends had vanished. The time turner was glowing menacing in his hands. It had taken him fifteen minutes but he'd managed to make it to work and now he was ready to get his friends back.

Another dramatic end for you.

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WFG