The words seemed to echo in James head. 20. They had traveled 20 years into the future. His head seemed to be spinning. Part of him wished that this was just some sort of a bad prank. It was impossible, they couldn't be. Why?...how...

Another part of his brain jumped at the chance of seeing his future, this was the ultimate adventure. How had he turned out? Was he an Auror like his father? Or had he taken up quidditch professionally? The questions where running through his mind at such a fast pace he had a hard time comprehending half of them, the possibilities where endless. James found the sudden urge to explore this future overwhelming him as he stepped toward the tattered entrance to the Leaky Cauldron.

At his sudden movement, Lily's head snapped up from the prophet. "No!" she screamed grabbing for his retreating hand.

James stilled as he heard muffled footsteps approaching from the other side of the door. Instantly he went into action, his years of quidditch skills coming into play as he stepped back, grabbed Lily and apparited away all in one movement. Hoping to god that Sirius would follow.

James appeared in a small opening between to shops that looked boarded up as well, he had chosen this space because it would allow him to watch the approaching person without them noticing him. Sirius appeared with a pop behind them and James smiled inwardly, sometimes they were so in tuned that it scared even him. He heard a muffled sound and realized with a start that he still had a hand over Lily's mouth (to keep her from screaming again), and another around her waist. Her eyes where glaring daggers at him and James immediately stepped back and gave her a look of apology. Even though he felt no remorse what so ever.

Lily seemed to be on the verge of saying something before the door opened and the three crouched down to avoid being seen. Her moment gone Lily settled for one last glare before turning to watch the scene before them.

A sickly tiredly looking man in shabby patched up robes stepped out, his light brown hair covered with grey. His head moved from side to side, and his eyes seemed to watch for the slightest movement. James made sure to stay extremely still and felt Sirius stiffen beside him.

Another person then stepped out, this time it was a young women with a pretty , pale heart-shaped face, she had bright lavender hair which she spiked upwards and was wearing a t-shirt of a band that James didn't recognize. He figured that was because it was from the future. The man seemed to visibly relax when the women went to stand beside him, his demeanor turned less stiff. "What is Remus?" she asked.

James heard Lily let out a little squeak before clamping her hand over her mouth, and was thankful they where far enough for them not to hear. He couldn't blame her. This man was Remus? Their Remus? One of his best mates, Remus? the one who he risked being sent to Azkaban for? This was Remus? James had been under the impression that they had traveled twenty years into the future, not thirty by the look of things.

"I don't know," said Remus responded still searching up and down the street." But I heard a scream, it sounded like 'No!'."

James felt a nudge on his side and turned to face Sirius who mouthed 'Moony?' at him. He shrugged in response. This could not be the same boy James had said goodbye on the train to not weeks before. For all he knew it could be some other Remus. It didn't necessarily have to be their's after all, Remus was a common name...right?

As if in response the women said, "Oh Lupin! They wouldn't... not again!"

"I wouldn't put it past them."

James sighed, nope it definitely was their Remus alright. Lupin for sure was not a common name. He felt a shuffling beside his and turned to his right to see Sirius begin to get up. On his other side, Lily, with a burst of speed and strength he didn't know she was capable of, lunged over him to grab onto Sirius's cloak and pull him back down. They all froze and James snapped his attention back to the couple ahead, hoping they hadn't heard their 5 second fray.

Fortunately the women had distracted the older Remus by taking his hand, "Besides," she was saying, " Whoever it was has probably apparited away by now." with that she managed to pull a -rather reluctant- Remus back into the Leaky Cauldron.

'Good to know Remus was the same,' thought James, 'still easily persuaded and reluctant even though he caves in.'

It only took a few seconds for all hell brake loose around James.

"What the bloody hell was that all about!" Sirius whispered furiously, yanking his cloak out of Lily's grip.

" Wasn't is obvious? I was trying to keep you from showing yourself!" Lily returned just as pissed it seemed. " what where you going to do you overgrown prat! Walk up to him and say hello Remus guess what I'm from the 20 years in the past?"

"Yes actually that was exactly what I was going to do! Because so far Remus is the only one we've seen that we could trust to help get-us-back-home!"

"You can't show yourself you eejit! We can't mess with the future, it...it would." she took several deep calming breaths before continuing, " Sirius, is we reveal ourselves the consequences could be dreadful! If we...oh god if we run onto our future selves. I don't know what will happen but I know it's not good!"

Sirius looked as though he would argue again but seemed at lost at what to say, he looked towards James for support. James in truth was happy, the reason? Why Lily Evens was still sprawled across the top of his lap of course! And frankly, he couldn't give a damn what they where arguing about.

Finding no support in his friend, Sirius resigned to defeat and slumped back crossing his arms over his chest. He scowled at Lily for appearance though. "Well then, how do you suppose you'll get us out of this position? Or are you enjoying your current position on top of James much too well to care about that?"

In a flash Lily was back to her sitting position, and even in the dim lighting James could tell that she was blushing furiously. Mentally though he was counting all the ways he could kill Sirius and not get sent to Azkaban for it. His eyes looked with Sirius's triumphant looking ones that clearly said, 'if I'm unhappy, so shall you'.

James mustered up his best death glare that would send most Slytherin's running, nut only served to widen Sirius's smirk. It was times like these where James wondered if his friend was put in the right house. He was never going to mention it though, oh no he learned that lesson the hard way. " Come on," he said standing, "we can't stay here, we have to find a way to get to Hogwarts."

"Hogwarts?" questioned Lily, once again ignoring James outstretched hand to lift herself off the floor.

"To–see–Dumbledore," Sirius replied slowly in a tone that one usually reserved to point out the obvious.

Lily simply scowled in response before walking in a purposeful stride ahead of them. James took a moment to enjoy the view before setting off after her and ignoring Sirius's sly knowing looks.

They walked for sometime before coming across a store that was so bright it hurt their eyes. The shop had hundreds of lights and displaying shown like beacons against the other shops.

"Weasley's Wizard Wheezes." Sirius read out loud since James and Lily still seemed to be awestruck. " Think they have floo network?"

"I dunno...lets find out shall we."