Chapter 6- The End of a Beautiful Friendship?

Final chapter...wow! I decided to put this at the top so that once you're finished with the chapter that's it. There's nothing to distract you from what you're feeling.

This is it everybody, the end of a wonderful journey. I hope it was everything you expected, or at least worth the read. I loved hearing from you even if I may not have responded to your reviews.

This is a bittersweet moment for me. I knew logically it had to end and I thought I had mentally prepared myself for it to end but on some small level I don't think I was ready for it to truly be over.

I'm about to start a new story about vampires, but not twilight related. It's a story I'll be adopting from an author that I admire. She isn't able to continue the story and I've yet to decide where it's gonna go but will you come along for the ride with me? I'd love to hear from you.

Again, thank you for reading!

Anyway, enough of my rambling, on with it.

ENJOY! I hope you leave me a review!

HPOV

I remember thinking about asking but I never really made up my mind that I would. And yet, as if without my brain's permission, my mouth begins moving, long before I truly register what it is saying.

"What would you say if I were to tell you that you could come back with me, to my time, just for my wedding of course?" Why the hell did I say that? It's a ludicrous idea! I think...

James Potter's face lights up with the triumphant jubilee of a five year old.

Seeing that expression on his face decides for me that it is indeed a good idea. If I could make his life even marginally less dismal after I've entered it, even if only for a few minutes, I would have done my civic duty as a human being.

"I would say that you'd be making me the happiest man alive. Is that possible? I mean, is it allowed? Can I?" So many questions are spilling from him I don't know how to begin explaining the ramifications, conditions, possibilities.

"I think it wouldn't really be breaking any rules just as long as you don't tell anyone about it. It is possible of course because you'll just go there the way that I got here. Let me think for a bit."

I sit on the nearest available flat service and try to work out the logistics. How will this work?

And then I decide that it will all work itself out.

"Okay. Well I have to get back soon. So we have one of two options. I take you now and you spend the remainder of the night and the entire ceremony with us and we return you without detection. Or, I come back for you before the ceremony and once again return you without detection."

"Won't I be missed if I were to leave with you right now?" The understandable concern is written clearly on his face and unmistakable in his voice. He, at least, is worried about getting in trouble for missing classes when the biggest concern should be that we don't raise any of the Ministry's alarms.

"No. It's too much to go into details at the moment but you'll be returned right here a few moments after we depart for my time."

"Oh. That sounds rather complicated but I'll take your word for it I guess. So, we can go now? But, what will I wear? I can't very well attend your wedding wearing this now can I?"

"I'll have something arranged for you. No worries. Can I ask you something?"

"Sure. Ask away."

"It's a bit late to ask this now but, what made you trust me? I could have been some loon Death Eater out to get you. What made you come with me?"

"Honestly, I don't know. I usually read people well and you seemed so unassuming I didn't believe you wanted to hurt me. Not truly. I guess I would have learnt from that mistake if you turned out to be evil."

We laugh and I pull out the time turner.

"This time turner will transport us through time and space and carry us to your son's house. He won't be there of course. You won't meet him until morning. You will meet my maid of honour- your daughter in law- and a very good friend of ours. This will be a bit uncomfortable but I promise it'll be over before you know it."

I take the chain and place it around both our necks then I turn the device several times. I begin to lose all sense of time and my equilibrium is temporarily offset. Before it becomes truly uncomfortable the feeling subsides.

"Wow. That was…interesting." And then he stands stock still and I wonder what's wrong.

"Hermione! You didn't!" comes Ginny's shocked cry. James and I startle at her sudden outburst. It is then that I notice what it is James is staring at. On the wall directly in front of where we landed is a large wedding portrait of Harry and Ginny. I know what he is seeing when he looks at the picture. He's seeing what he would look like when he's Harry's age.

I ignore everyone else in the room for the moment and address James. "That's your son. Do you see what I mean now, about you two looking alike?"

"It's uncanny…" he responds in a very far away voice. He is yet to look at anyone in the room, too focused on examining every feature of his son's face.

"James, could you excuse us for a moment. Ginny, Luna, can I speak with you both in the kitchen?"

We walk down the flight of stairs and into the warm, inviting kitchen. I direct them towards the oversized wood table in the centre of the room. Ginny sits directly opposite me, being sure to give me a clear view of her disapproving stare. Luna, in her own way, breezes past us and sits on the far end of the table and looks at me expectantly.

This is going to be more difficult than I thought…

"Okay, let me hear it Ginny." I know she has a lot to say and I allow her the chance to get it all out before I clarify why I took fate into my own hands when I decided to bring James Potter to my wedding.

"How could you? You know something like this is not allowed. The dare was to simply have dinner with him, not bring him back to a time and place that is not his own! You're altering history. Do you have any idea the repercussions this could have? Especially on Harry? That was very irresponsible of you Hermione! Just because we're friends with the Minister of Magic it doesn't mean we're above the reproach of the law, you know."

"Are you finished?"

"Not nearly. But you can explain yourself."

In the midst of Ginny's rant and my calm acceptance, Luna just sits there with a goofy grin on her face. It irritates me because if it wasn't for her harebrained scheme I wouldn't be getting screamed at by my very angry best friend. Besides I don't see anything amusing about any of what Ginny just said. In fact it just reignites the fears I had had earlier on.

"Look. I don't know what came over me, I just blurted it out. But deep down I know this is the right thing to do. It has to be. Maybe Harry doesn't have to know it's his dad if that's what you're worried about."

"And how do you presume we do that exactly? A polyjuice potion takes more time than we have. Transfiguration? A Disillusionment Charm? A Cloaking Spell?"

"Well I'm guessing it'll have to be Transfiguration. To be an Animagus he has to be pretty good at it so it shouldn't be a problem for him to change up his appearance. We could always confound him later on so that he doesn't remember Harry's name, I've yet to let him know what it is by the way."

I could see the doubt in her face and it made me second-guess the rightness of bringing James here. How do I make her see that this was a good move, that bringing James won't end in terrible consequences for all of us?

"Luna do you think I made a poor decision?"

My friend, bless her heart, looks me directly in the eyes and responds "if it is meant to be, then so it shall be."

What the-

Is she friggin' kidding me?

"Luna! I'm asking you a serious question. I really need your advice right now. Please, just, what do you think?"

"Look. You think it was the right thing to do, yes? Then neither Ginny nor I can tell you otherwise. He wants to be here and you want him here so we'll deal with whatever comes out of it together, as we do with everything else."

Ginny grunts her disapproval but I can see that she is weakening.

"He promises not to tell anyone anything he's learnt tonight or sees tomorrow. He promises to be responsible. As long as we don't go overboard with anything, you know, keep below the radar everything should be fine. I swear." I try to convey as best as possible through my eyes, posture and tone, that I am being sincere and that I really do believe this can work and we have nothing to worry about. Ginny's demeanour continues to warm up and I know that she is seriously considering the idea now.

"Are you sure about this? I mean, you seriously think that this is the right thing to do?" I know she was just being thorough, but, it's only so many times a person could answer the same question over and over again without it getting more than a little irritating.

"Yes Ginny. You weren't there when I was speaking to him. You didn't see the desperation in his eyes, hear the hurt in his voice and see the defeat in his posture as I answered his questions. You don't get how much this would mean to him. I came into his world on a dare and crushed it as a result. I think the least I can do is at least try to give him something positive to take with him for the rest of his life. It'll be my gift to him."

"Fine. Let's go see what he's up to and tell him the rules of this little arrangement."

Luna walks ahead of us and I hang back allowing Ginny her space so she can come to terms with everything that's about to happen.

JPOV

Am I really here? Being given the opportunity to see the future that I will never have? How many people are allowed such a wonderful chance?

But it doesn't come without a bittersweet tinge.

With every positive image my mind conjures up of this experience some deep and dark corner of my brain clouds it with some depressing thought or other.

No! I refuse to allow this amazing moment in my life to be tainted by my silly doubts. This is happening and it's going to be great. I won't let it be anything but!

The three young women had left me all alone with my thoughts while they went to debate on the wisdom of having me here for such a special, life altering occasion. As they walked down the stairs I had begun to feel suffocated by my doubts and so I decided to look around the room so when they walk back in I barely notice, too absorbed in the photos of my son's life.

I still don't know his name and I begin to wonder if I'll ever be allowed to know it. Hermione had been so adamant about not telling me anything, not even the letter it starts with so as not to 'influence my thinking', that I have a feeling that they will find some way to work around it.

"James…I would like you to meet my best female friend and your son's wife Ginny."

"You're a Weasley aren't you? I would recognize that red hair anywhere. I remember seeing your dad a lot when he would come into Hogwarts to talk to Dumbledore. My dad always has something good to say about him. Does he still have his passion for all things Muggle? I never met your mom- I'm sorry, I'm rambling aren't I? It's just…this is so exciting. Sorry. I'll shut up now." My face takes on a red tint and I lower my eyes in embarrassment.

"I'm not usually this talkative, I swear. Can I start over?"

When she smiles and nods I let out the sigh of relief that was waiting just below the surface to escape me. "It's nice to meet you Ginny and I'm glad that you and my son make each other happy."

"It's very nice to meet you too James. You know when you first got here I wasn't sure Hermione made the smartest move. But now, I'm glad you're here. Yes, I am a Weasley, through and through. My dad is still ϋber fascinated with Muggle items, lifestyle, and culture. You would love my mom. And you can ramble as much as you want. Your excitement is understandable and actually quite infectious. Thank you for coming!"

She makes very slow, deliberate movements, probably afraid of spooking me, and walks over to where I'm standing and hugs me. My throat becomes tight and the beginnings of unshed tears sting my eyes. I am frozen with my hands at my sides for a split second before I return the hug and a single tear runs down my left cheek.

"Thank you for having me. I know you didn't have to and so it means a lot to me that you want me here."

Hermione clears her throat and urges a fragile looking blonde forward.

"This is Luna. She's a very good friend of ours. She's the reason we met in the first place."

"So you're the one I have to thank for my little back to the future expedition. What made you think to dare her to come to dinner with me? What made you think that I would have gone along with it at all?"

"Well, it's common sense really if you think about it. Hermione can be terribly persuasive when she's ready, which I'm sure you've noticed, so I knew getting you to go along with the whole scheme wouldn't have been impossible for her. I didn't actually know how it would have turned out but I had hoped that it would at least have had some sort of positive outcome. I couldn't have known that she would have somehow convinced you to come along for the ride but I'm glad that she did. We've heard so much about you and now I don't have to rely on second hand accounts anymore, I have you here right in front of me, in the flesh. It's crazy, but I wouldn't have it any other way."

Wow. She talks a lot more than Wormtail does.

I wish my friends could be here for this.

J&H-J&H-J&H-J&H-J&H

Hermione was a vision in white. Her dress was intricate and beyond the level of simple male comprehension but what I do know unequivocally about her dress is that it fit her perfectly and it makes her look like a princess.

Every woman deserves to be a princess on her wedding day and whoever created this dress took that into consideration.

Her hair was tamed and a lot different than it had been last night. The rich brown colour frames her face and emphasizes her bone structure.

This was her moment and she was truly glowing.

I am the only male and non family member allowed into the bridal chambers and I feel extremely privileged as a result. The flurry of motion surrounding the bride is almost dizzying. The two women I met last night are stunning in their silver grey dresses made of a silken material that hugs their every curve, with a sash in an almost oleander shade of pink wrapped around their waists. There are a few faces that I do not know, nor do I care to know, but from the obvious curiosity in their eyes I can tell that they are interested in figuring out who this blond haired behemoth in their presence is.

Hermione, Ginny and Luna had pulled me aside last night, just before we parted ways for bed and told me that it would be too risky if I were to turn up to the wedding as myself. It would stir up way too much commotion and emotion in the guests; besides, Hermione could get into some serious trouble. We discussed how I would alter my appearance and decided that the best option was for me to alter it so drastically so that there can be no inkling that it was really me. They had left me to make the final decisions on my own and as a result sleep was a long time coming for me. I stayed up for hours thinking, imagining, and impatiently waiting for morning.

I heard the girls before I saw them as I walked down the stairs this morning. I followed the symphony of voices as I walked towards where I assumed I would receive breakfast.

It appeared that they were not alone as they all convened for breakfast.

As I saw the house elf it suddenly dawned on me why this house seemed so familiar to me, it was Sirius' family home. What are we doing here? How is it that my son came to own this building? Where's Sirius? Why did it take me so long to figure out where I am?

Kreacher stopped what he was doing and ran to me.

"Master Potter! Master Potter! Kreacher never thought he would see you again. Could you ever forgive Kreacher for what he has done to you? Kreacher is so sorry Master Potter!" He knelt at my feet and looked up at me with pleading eyes. Whatever it is he thought he had done to me he was obviously regretting it now so I decided to let him off the hook.

"I forgive you Kreacher." I looked over his head towards the women and they all looked exceedingly confused, well all except Hermione. She simply looked anxious.

Sitting at the table with the three that I met last night was a woman who I assumed to be Molly Weasley with her shock of red hair and her buxom build. Her eyes shone brightly with unspent tears. There was another woman who vaguely resembled Hermione so I assumed that she was the mother of the bride.

"Good morning, everyone. It seems I overslept. Everyone seems so wide awake. Have you all been up long? I hope I haven't disrupted your schedule." My tone was apologetic and I ran my hand through my hair in my typical nervous habit. This rambling thing is getting a tad bit annoying…

"You haven't. Preparations don't begin for another hour or so. Would you like some breakfast James?" Molly asked. She didn't even give me a chance to respond before she rose from her perch at the table and fixed a plate for me.

I took the empty chair next to Luna. She was finished with her breakfast and chatted animatedly with Ginny.

"Let me introduce you to everyone. The lovely lady getting your breakfast is my mother-in-law to be Molly. Sitting to your right is my mother, Melsa. Everyone, as I'm sure you're all aware by now, this is 'The James Potter'."

As I was mulling over the way Hermione introduced me a full plate was placed in front of me. The fluffy eggs and succulent sausages cleared my mind of everything except how ravenous I was suddenly feeling. The muffins were nice and warm and the butter just melted on it. I pierced my first piece of the sausage with my fork and took in Hermione's mother more intently. Her brown hair was not as thick as her daughters but it was the exact same shade and very wavy. Her eyes were an intense hazel with green flecks that stood out against her pale skin. She was a very tiny woman and looked very elegant in her starched white skirt and forest green silk blouse.

By the time I had fully assessed Melsa I was already halfway through my meal. Everyone was looking at me curiously and I had begun to feel a bit self conscious. Ginny cleared her throat and when all the attention was diverted from me to her I felt a new sense of kinship for the woman who loved my son and made him happy.

"So while James finishes his breakfast I think we should all get started with preparations? It makes no sense just sitting around watching him eat, for one it's extremely rude and secondly it's a waste of precious time. So come on, chop chop."

I wanted to hug her.

The room cleared out and I leisurely enjoyed the rest of my buttered muffins, eggs and sausages.

Ginny came back into the kitchen just as I was replacing my now clean dishes into the dish rack on the counter.

"I thought you'd be done by now. You can go ahead and start your transfiguration now. Have you decided on how you're going to change your look?"

"I still have a few decisions to make but since I can't change my eyesight and it's too late to alter my glasses or get a new pair, these'll have to do. I have always wondered what it'd be like to be a blond so maybe…"

She laughed and led me out of the room.

I walked up the stairs to the room that I slept in last night and got out my wand and began the process that would temporarily change me into someone else. I told myself that it was simply McGonagall testing my Transfiguration skills so that I wouldn't feel the pressure to perform.

First I started with my hair since I was pretty much decided on how that feature would change. I began to picture myself with curly dirty blond hair. I imagined it to be shorter than the way my hair was currently. As the image took shape in my mind I felt the magic move through me as I thought the incantation.

When I opened my eyes gone was the dark wild mane that I was known for. It was strange to see myself with the blond hair but the cause was a worthy one so I accepted the change willingly.

Next I gave my straight, narrow nose an unattractive bump using Snivellus as my muse. For this I kept my eyes opened so I could see my nose lose its structure and become disfigured with the telltale bump of a broken nose that had been poorly re-mended.

My eyes I debated over for thirty minutes. I decided that I would leave that up to the women.

My tall, lithe build needed to be changed. I packed on tonnes of muscle to bulk up. I didn't want anyone to even think it was really me.

I could no longer recognise myself in the mirror. Before me was a completely different person from head to toe. Then I noticed a minor issue. I was too young to possibly be a friend of the bride or the groom so I had to make myself a bit older.

Feeling extremely pleased with myself I went in search of Hermione or even Ginny.

Instead I ran into Molly. The scream that she released was awe inspiring and the speed with which she withdrew her wand was scary at best.

"Wait! It's me! James!"

She paused momentarily.

"J-James? What have you done to yourself and why?" She lowered her wand, mercifully but I could see from the tension in her shoulders that she was not completely off her guard. If I gave the wrong response or made her feel even the slightest bit threatened she would definitely hex me.

"I had to transfigure myself. Hermione and Ginny felt it was the best option so as not to cause too much drama at the wedding. So you think it's a convincing look?"

"Thoroughly. But…now that I'm looking at you properly…you didn't change your eyes did you?"

"No. That's actually what I came downstairs to get a vote on. So I should change it then?"

"Definitely. It's too…you. Everyone who's ever known you won't be able to spend more than a minute with you without recognizing those eyes."

"So what colour should I make them?"

"Hmmmm…hazel? Or maybe grey… yes, definitely grey."

Grey…I hadn't considered that as a possible eye colour but, as Molly said it, I just knew that that was the right choice.

I muttered the incantation quickly and the moment my eyes changed colour I heard Molly gasp.

"Merlin's beard! You look so different…there's none of the old you left. Well except for those glasses and your voice. Hmmm…we'll have to figure something out with that. Anyway the girls are all getting dressed to head to the church so I suggest you do the same. Hermione told me that she laid out a suit for you on your bed and to tell you that she hopes that the shoes fit."

To say that the shoes were snug would be to say that pixie's were simply a bit restless.

There was no way I could survive the entire ceremony and reception with these things suffocating my feet. The suit on the other hand was perfect. It was immaculately tailored and the material was of a high quality. The deep blue made it look rich and I felt extremely debonair wearing it. How she found a suit to fit the new me without knowing my proportions was a mystery to me but I decided that with Hermione, less is more.

There was no way to truly make my hair look ready for a wedding so I simply let it be.

I went into the living room to await the women and when Hermione finally came down the stairs we were ready to go. Molly had apparated home for a pair of Arthur's dress shoes for me so I was comfortable again.

As we walked towards the front door she stopped me.

"I can't believe I didn't think of this before. Hold on." And with that she ran back up the stairs to what I assumed was her bedroom.

When she came back she was holding a vial with a clear liquid of some sort.

"This is something I was working on to fix your son's eyesight. The first few batches only lasted for half an hour at a time so I made some tweaks. Hopefully I got it right this time. Just in case keep your glasses on you."

I drank the bitter tasting liquid quickly. Thankfully it was unscented so I only had the taste to battle. Ugh.

The effects were immediate.

For the first time in my life I had perfect vision while in human form.

We apparated to the church and since our arrival we've be sequestered in the bridal room. I of course left the room for a few minutes while the women dressed, during which time I took in the décor of the church. It was a big Roman Catholic Cathedral with ribbons and flowers on nearly every available surface, but not to the point where it became too much though. A few of the guests had arrived, a very few of which I actually knew. There was Kingsley Shacklebolt, who I only knew vaguely through his dealings with my parents. Arthur Weasley was there sitting with Molly and a few redheads. I couldn't see their faces clearly from my position so I wasn't sure who was sitting with them.

Before I could identify any more of the people that I knew Ginny called me back into the room.

"Ladies, could you please clear the room for a just a bit?" calls Hermione. Without hesitation everyone, save Ginny, Luna and I, leave the room.

"Muffliato!" Ginny says to ensure that no one can listen in on our conversation; not even accidently.

"Ok so James, we obviously need to come up with a back story for you. I can't believe we waited so long to settle this! I think you should be a distant cousin of Luna's because of the blond hair. No one's going to question you being here or your connection to Luna as long as she says that you're related. Plus everyone on either side of our family would be able to easily verify whether or not you're a part of mine or Ron's family. What's your name going to be?"

"How about Strickland? I always imagined that I had a cousin named Strickland. Strickland Lovegood. That sounds like a rather smart name, don't you think?"

"I do actually. Strickland. It sounds like a man who should be wearing a suit like this." The group of us break out into laughter.

"Now for your voice. Molly gave me this for you. Chew on a piece of it every hour or as needed. It'll make your voice a little deeper, to go along with that masculine frame of yours."

I take the dried herb and break of a sprig and chew on it. It tastes faintly minty with a slightly earthy undertone.

With my background fully established I leave the bridal room to find a seat. I notice that there's a space next to Molly and I walk over to her. She pats the spot in a silent invitation for me to join her family.

"Hello there, young man. How do you know Molly?" asks Arthur. For a moment my throat is too dry and too tight to allow a response so I swallow thickly and regurgitate my cover story. He seems to buy it. Thank Merlin!

"I was over at the Potters when Molly got there this morning. She made a superb breakfast for us. She's a wonderful lady."

"She is, isn't she?" He turns towards his wife; the love reflecting in his eyes makes me stupidly jealous and long to see Lily. Not that she would be too happy to see me right now. When I left her in the common room she had been irritated by something I said. I don't even remember what it was now, probably something stupid that I would apologize for the moment I saw her again. It wasn't worth it to have her mad at me all the time, especially now that I see a hint of the future we could create together.

Before long the church is filled and the groom, with his brilliant red hair and long lanky build, stands next to my son. I still haven't learnt his name but I decide that that is no longer an issue. Whether I ever learn his name or not is not significant since I get to see him in the flesh. They both look well groomed and handsome in their suits but the groom- Ron I think I heard Hermione say his name is- looks slightly green.

Poor guy.

He's so nervous, but I guess I could understand that, I mean who wouldn't be? But he's a lucky man because Hermione is an intelligent, caring, beautiful woman who obviously loves him dearly.

The wedding march begins to play and the entire church angles themselves to see the bridal party proceed down the aisle.

The priest gives his sermon but all I could really pay attention to is my son. He is so focused on his wife it is almost nauseating. Or maybe I'm just being jealous again…

Then it was time for the couple to exchange their vows. I don't know what I missed in between the priest speaking and the vow exchange but I do pay attention to this part. Ron's vows are very succinct but touching all the same. He has to stop a few times to clear his throat and put his emotions in check but he pushes through with the help of a comforting hand on his shoulder from his best man, maybe to lend him strength.

"Ron, what a journey we have had. We weren't always on good terms but somehow you managed to make me see the man within the boy who was fiercely protective, dedicated to a fault, unfailingly loyal and truly kind. You opened my eyes to the possibilities and I learned to love you and to forgive your imperfections and accept that I had some of my own. You're intelligent, funny though sometimes unintentionally, and you're always there when I need you most. I'm the luckiest woman alive to have someone like you to love, who loves me too. With this ring, I promise to stand by you, in sickness and health, for richer or for poorer, till death do us part."

"I now pronounce you man and wife" booms the priest.

For a moment I believe the potion is wearing off because my vision becomes blurry, but then I realize that it's simply tears.

The wedding party leaves the beautiful building ahead of all the guests into what I assume to be a high end muggle vehicle judging by the looks it is getting from passersby. It is sleek and black and extremely long and hanging from the back is a cardboard with the words 'Just Married' written on it. Connected to the cardboard sign are strings of old cans…to what end I'm not very sure. Another thing which confuses me is why the guests had been showering Hermione and Ron in uncooked rice grains before they were able to escape into the car. Muggle traditions are odd.

Molly leads me to a deserted alleyway and tells me the address of the reception.

"I'll meet you there, J- I mean Strickland." Her little slip of the tongue could have been problematic had anyone else been around, but luckily for the both of us we're alone.

The squeezing sensation of apparating is jolting as I make the journey to the reception hall. As the sensation ceases and I regain the command of all of my senses I take the time to fully appreciate the location.

I had apparated to another secluded alleyway running alongside the desired address. It is a huge brick building. The front has massive French windows and a very defined front entryway. The railing is covered in silver ribbons and lovely fragrant flowers just as the church was.

The open doors are inviting and the ushers at the door greet me with a warm smile.

There were oleanders, a few orchids and some other flowers that I'm not too familiar with, made into a bouquet as the centrepiece for each table. The room smells amazing and I want to find and commend Hermione on her impeccable taste but she's nowhere to be found. Coming to think of it neither is the groom…

As if by thinking of them they are conjured forth a spotlight shines on the right hand corner of the room and highlights the happy couple. Hermione has changed her clothes into a much less restrictive outfit, but equally as elegant. It's off-white and strapless and flowy. I don't know how else to describe it other than that. I'm a guy, so kill me if I can't go into more detail, I just know that it looks good on her. That's all that's important anyway.

The room bursts into applause and catcalls as the newlyweds kiss.

"Welcome, for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Weasley." I turn in the direction that the voice is coming from to see a chubby man wearing too big clothes and extravagant jewellery standing on a raised platform. In front of him is a black contraption from which very loud music is playing. I don't know what purpose he's serving or how he's getting the music to funnel through the contraption but since everyone else seems quite comfortable with it, then I force myself to do the same.

People walk over to where Hermione and Ron are sitting on a raised platform right next to the music controller person. I decide that I'll wait until everything calms down a bit before I go over. Instead I take in my surroundings further. The centre of the ceiling has a big silver ball reflecting all the light in the room in a beautiful kaleidoscope of colour.

Where am I supposed to sit?

Most of the tables are already filled and I just stand there, a few steps in from the door, looking completely lost.

"Strickland! Over here, Strickland. There's someone I want you to meet" comes Ginny's voice. I turn towards the sound and see her standing next to my son.

I walk over and she meets me halfway, right next to a table clearly demarcated as the Potter table. I feel anxious now that the moment has arrived for me to finally meet him. My stomach flip flops and I wonder if he's going to like me.

"Strickland Lovegood I'd like you to meet my husband Harry. Harry, this is Luna's cousin Strickland. Would it be okay if he sat with us honey?"

"Nice to meet you" we say in unison. Then Harry, my son, doesn't even hesitate before he tells his wife that he'd love to have me.

I sit at the silver grey covered table directly across from Harry. Next to me is a beautiful little girl who I assume is my granddaughter Lily. Her inquisitive little eyes look up at me and it's all I can do not to pick her up and hug her to me. Emotion makes me choke up and I raise my glass of water to my lips to wet my throat and compose myself slightly.

"So how long will you be in town Strickland?" asks Harry.

"Not long. I wasn't even supposed to be here right now. I was just passing through to spend some time with Luna and she told me she'd be here for most of the day and if I wanted to come. So here I am…and Hermione said she didn't mind so…" It may not sound one hundred percent convincing but it'll have to do.

"And now, the happy couple are going to have their first dance."

A beautiful and romantic song begins to play and Ron leads Hermione to the clear circle in the centre of the room. They move slowly in circles to the beat of the song while staring lovingly into each other's eyes. There dance and song is no different to any other couple's but the love that resonates from them is undeniable and uniquely theirs.

Harry takes Ginny's hand and leads her to the dance floor right next to his best friend. Soon more couples join in, including my 'cousin' and a tall, dark haired mystery man. She looks so happy to be in his arms that I wonder how long it will be before it's their turn to walk down the aisle.

When an upbeat song comes on I join in the fun. Before long I'm laughing and enjoying myself. I dance with Hermione and Ginny consecutively when a few slow songs came on. Then the music man was announcing, on a weirdly shaped object that amplified his voice that dinner would be served in the next fifteen minutes.

I walk back to the table where Harry is dotingly tending his daughter. She is giggling frantically at the faces that he's making at her and I find myself chuckling at his antics.

"Are you laughing at me? Is he laughing at daddy Lily?"

"No, I'm not laughing at you. She's very cute."

"Isn't she? I love her so much. We're not telling people just yet but, she's going to be a big sister. I can't wait!"

"You're expecting? Congratulations! Wow, that's big news. I'm so happy for you. You look like a great dad."

"Thank you and thanks for saying that."

"You're welcome."

Our conversation is interrupted once more by the waiters bringing our food. Ginny comes to the table out of breath, red faced and happy. It's good to see and I'll take that with me till the day I die.

I barely register what I eat because I realize that it means that my time here is drawing to an end. And I really don't want it to. I've been having too much fun and learning a lot about my son's life to go back now. I can't. I don't know how to.

After dinner is cleared away the couple cut their cake and walk out of the building.

She's leaving? What about me?

I mean I know I said I don't want to go back but what the hell? She can't just leave me here like this! Never able to be my true self? That's no way to live, no matter what it's worth.

"Alright people, the couple would like to say a big thank you for coming out to share in their special moment but they're about to head out to their honeymoon. So it's time to bounce! It was my pleasure being your DJ tonight and remember whenever you need a DJ, TK is your man. Peace."

It's over? And Hermione's left. What do I do now?

I follow the crowd out of the building and it is then that I catch a glimpse of Moony. But it can't be. I walk as fast as my feet would take me towards Lupin's lookalike but he disappears suddenly. So he's magical too. Did Hermione bring Moony along for the ride too? No, that doesn't make any sense. Why would she? So who was that?

I was about to apparate back to Ginny and Harry's place but then I realized that that wouldn't be wise. How would we explain my presence to Harry?

Just as I was about to start panicking I see Hermione beckoning me to the deserted alleyway. I walk over and notice that she's holding a bundle in her hand.

On closer inspection I realize that it's my clothes.

"You can change back now James. Your appearance, not your clothes. Did you have a good time?"

"Yes I had a wonderful time. Hey Hermione…can I ask you a question?"

"Sure, no problem. But we don't have much time. Ron thinks I'm taking a shower."

"I saw someone this afternoon. He looks just like my friend Remus Lupin. I couldn't get close enough to look at him properly but what I saw looked enough like Moony to be more than just a coincidence. And I know he's magical because he looked like he vanished into thin air which was obviously him apparating."

"Oh. I can't believe I didn't think about that. The person you saw, his name is Theodore Lupin. He's Remus' son. He lives with his grandmother. She's a lovely old lady."

"So Moony lived long enough to have a son too. Well that's good. I didn't see him though so I'm assuming he's dead as well, especially since the boy's living with his grandma. Is it a quick death? I hope it was quick. Moony went through more than enough in his life; the least he deserves is a quick death. What's he like? Teddy, I mean." My curiosity is peaked once more. I know she has to go but I can't just go without learning as much as I can.

"He's a great kid. Harry's like a father to him. Remus wasn't alive for long after he was born. Neither was Tonks, his mother. I guess that's why Harry took to him so much. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to remind you of that."

As I absorb that bit of information I change my appearance back to normal. It felt strange to have such a small frame again after spending so many hours being a virtual muscle man. Strange, but good.

"You can keep the suit. It'll contour to your body no matter what so you don't have to worry about it not fitting." I hadn't paid any attention to the fit of the suit but when she mentioned it I realized that even with my smaller frame the suit still fit as though it was tailored just for me.

"Thank you."

"Your welcome. It's the least I can do for all that you've done for us."

"It's a whole new world you live in. It's nothing like my time. I'm glad."

"Trust me, so are we. So, are you ready to go home?"

"Not really, but it's time. Take me home Hermione."

She pulls out the miniature hourglass that's connected to the overly long chain. I walk closer to her and she loops the chain over my head.

Time and space carries me away and my mind becomes hyper aware that this is the last time that I'll ever see Hermione again. This time I give my emotions free reign.

The moment my feet touches solid ground I step out from under the 'time turner' as Hermione calls it and double over at the waist. My chest is too tight, my lungs too small, and the air too thin. I gasp for air until I feel small warm arms rubbing soothing circles on my back.

She directs me to a lonely boulder near to where we had departed from and I sit and place my head between my knees. When I raise my head my eye glimpses my watch and my mind loses its tenuous grip on reality as I note the time. How is it possible that I spent an entire night and day in Hermione's time and yet, here in my time, not even a minute has passed? The full weight of the day finally hits me and I slump, rather unceremoniously, against my new friend.

I force myself to think of something else before my brain explodes from trying to figure the logistics out.

"So how does it feel to be married?" I ask in a weak voice.

Hermione offers me a brilliant smile and says "magnificent. I couldn't be happier. I'm glad you could be there. Maybe someday I'll tell Ron and Harry all about this."

"I'd like that. But…leave out this little detail, yeah?"

"What detail?"

"Exactly."

"Hey, did you know you're going to be an aunt?"

"Oh, I forgot all about that. I can't wait."

"Neither can Harry."

She frowns suddenly and I wonder what's wrong.

"Now you know his name."

"Yeah. And I like it. Can I tell you something? That's the name I always planned to name my first born son."

"Really?"

"Yup."

"So I went through all of this tip toeing around his name for nothing?"

"No not really. How was I supposed to know Lily actually goes along with it? For all I know she could have named him Franklin, you know?"

"Give the girl some credit!"

"I will."

She stands from her stooping position and I realize that she's getting ready to go. My heart rate picks up once more and I bite my tongue to stop myself from protesting like a whiny little girl.

"You're leaving now aren't you? I wish I could have stayed with Harry and you all forever but I understand why that can't be. Be happy."

"Hey, cheer up. You never know when I'll get dared to go to dinner with you again. Who knows I might even drop in just to say hi or to take another field trip."

;^) THE END :^(