The week dragged by, not at a sluggish pace, but more like the pace of molasses on a hot summer day. Harry had no complaints about his classes, or even the students. Everyone in Gryffindor had accepted them into their house and occasionally talked with them during passing periods. Just like in his time, the Slytherins paid no attention to them, which was a huge relief to Harry. He'd seen Bellatrix and Snape giving him murderous glances, and he had held back the urge to curse them and hex them for all the pain they had caused him. Will cause, Harry had corrected himself. All of that was still yet to come.
No, it wasn't school that made the days seem like weeks. It was the endless waiting for Dumbledore to find a way to send them back. Hermione combed through all the books in the library in vain because no books described what had happened to them. According to wizard theorists and historians, the time turner that brought them to 1997 was impossible. A miracle, some would say. Hermione finally gave up, leaving all their hopes in Dumbledore's hands.
When Harry wasn't thinking about their fate, he was enjoying his time with the Marauders. At first, it was a bit awkward because James always looked at Harry whenever Harry sat down to join them at breakfast or during classes. Sirius and Remus, on the other hand, seemed overjoyed to have him around. Ron and Hermione gave the five some space, but were always within earshot if Harry needed them. Harry, though, hardly needed them because he, as far as he knew, wasn't in any kind of danger. Voldemort's followers hadn't gotten close to Hogwarts yet, and, while they were under the watchful eye of Dumbledore, the younger members-to-be stayed away from Harry. It was Wormtail the three were always watching. Harry knew at some point between his seventh year and 1981, Wormtail would switch sides. But the boy was very shy and skittish around Harry, so he couldn't tell what Wormtail was thinking or doing. Soon, Harry just ignored Wormtail like all the others because Wormtail was more of a follower than a leader. He laughed when everyone else laughed and declined to participate in any pranks James or Sirius suggested. Harry also refused, but his rejection seemed to be more of the reputation kind instead of lack of courage. Hermione would have his head, also, if he helped change the color of the Slytherin's robes or set off dungbombs in the dungeons.
And so Harry, Ron, and Hermione found themselves after dinner climbing the staircase to the stone gargoyle which guarded Dumbledore's office. They had been busy all throughout the first week, and Harry and Ron still had a mountain of homework to complete, but none of that compared to the stress of their meeting. Even Hermione seemed nervous.
Sill making their way to Dumbledore's office, she said, "What if Dumbledore can't find a way to get us back?"
"You mean, what if we're stuck here?" Ron asked nervously.
"We'll have to join the war, I suppose," Harry responded. "Do whatever we can to stop Voldemort. I guess that means hunting horcruxes."
"Well, at least we know where they are," Ron said. "There's the diary, the ring, and the locket. That just leaves four more, if he really did it seven times."
"But then what, if we do manage to stop him? Does that mean our younger selves get to grow up normally? And if so, what happens to us? Do we continue to exist, or do we get erased from time?" Hermione said quickly. "The books were never clear on the outcome. Well, there were some ideas, but they kept bickering so much I didn't know who to listen to."
Harry took Hermione's hand in his and reached for Ron's. "If we are stuck here, I just want to say you've been the best friends I've ever had. It has been a privilege fighting with you."
Hermione sniffed. "Thanks Harry."
Ron was blushing and turning a bright shade of red. "What are friends for?"
The rest of the way was in silence, but they didn't have far to go before they all stood in front of the gargoyle. "Ice Mice," Harry said. It moved aside to reveal the staircase. They climbed it, and found the door ajar. Not knowing what to expect, they entered slowly, but found no threat waiting for them. Dumbledore sat at his desk with a book propped open in front of him.
He didn't look up as they sat themselves down in front of his desk, but he smiled while he said, "Enjoy your first week of term?"
"Yes sir," Harry said.
Dumbledore raised his head to Harry's response and beamed. "That's very good to hear. I've heard good things about you three from your teachers. Professor Flitwick has told me you three knew a lot about advanced Charms. And Professor Quinn has said you've done exceptionally well in his Defense class. Such as the life of a soldier."
Harry didn't know how to respond to Dumbledore's comment, so instead he cleared his voice. "Sir, have you found anything to help us get back?"
And there was when Dumbledore's smile vanished. He turned his whole body so he was facing the three. His eyes scanned each face over the tops of his half-moon spectacles. Harry noticed the twinkle was gone from those blue orbs. Instead, Harry could see pity. "Mr. Potter, I'm afraid my searches have uncovered nothing that can help you back to your own time."
"What are we doing, James," Sirius moaned as he, Sirius, Remus, and Peter snuck out of the portrait hole after dinner.
"Aren't you curious as to why Harry, Ron, or Hermione would need to see the headmaster, especially all three of them at once?" James explained. They were all crouched under James's invisibility cloak. At one point in their lives, they'd all fit underneath it. Now though, they had to crouch so as only their feet protruded from under the cloak. James had waited until it was darker so their feet could be less seen from Filch or any patrolling teacher.
"Their transfer students, James. Of course Dumbledore would want to check in with them," Remus reasoned. Of course he would say that, James thought, seeing as he was the smart one in the group.
"But why now? And why all three of them? I'm telling you, they aren't transfer students!" James hissed furiously.
"Then what do you think they are?" Sirius asked.
"I'm not sure. That's why we've got to follow them."
Sirius just rolled his eyes while Remus looked skeptical. Peter, as always, looked undecided about the whole situation. James always noticed Peter looking doubtful, so the sight of his confused eyes wasn't new.
At the stone gargoyle, James provided the password, since he was Head Boy. It swung aside, letting the four boys creep up the stairs. At the entrance to the office, James opened the door a crack, but not all the way, so they could listen in on the discussion taking place. Sirius was about to protest, but James shot him a glare, silencing him. He pressed his ear to the hole and listened to the voices beyond it.
"Sir?" Harry said. "Are you positive you've found nothing?"
Dumbledore sighed and nodded, looking defeated. "I have searched for journals and textbooks, but none of them described to me what you stated. After a careful examination of the device, I have gathered nothing pertaining to getting you back."
"But surely you can tell us something about it? Do you know how it works?" Hermione persisted.
Dumbledore chuckled a bit, but it sounded deflated. "I can only theorize, and theories alone cannot save you. I suggest you get used to living here. I'll keep looking, but the outcome seems set. I am so very sorry," he said, looking at all of them.
In his heart, Harry knew this was going to be the answer all along. No matter how hard they looked, or how hard they hoped, he was going to be stuck out of reach from his time. He thought of everyone he knew: Molly, Arthur, Bill, Charlie, Fred, George, Neville, Luna, and finally, Ginny. Those people who had been his family all his life were now out of reach. Harry knew they were still out there, and they were going to be born in the next few years, but he would miss their constant friendship and belief in him. He knew now, that he would end Voldemort before he had the chance to kill Harry or his parents. He would give his younger self the life he could never have. Maybe his younger self's joy would be enough to satisfy him.
Looking at Dumbledore, Harry smiled. "Thank you for trying, sir. We'll still continue to fight for the Order, if you'll let us."
"I think the Order will have gained three fine new members, or former members, I should say," Dumbledore said. "Just, not quite yet. You still have a year of school left."
Harry, Ron, and Hermione left the office then, dread in their eyes, but hope in their hearts. They journeyed not to the Hospital Wing, but to the seventh floor, unaware they were being followed by four sets of feet. After the first night, Harry had suggested they'd stay in the Room of Requirement, so as not to be overheard by Madame Pomfrey. She'd been confused at first when they said they were sleeping elsewhere, but a little relieved she didn't have to fret over them.
Harry crossed the stretch of corridor three times and the door appeared on the wall. The trio entered into the room while the four boys stood awestruck by the vanishing door.
"What is this place?" Remus whispered.
"Dunno. It isn't on the map," Sirius replied.
"Should we go in?" James asked.
His question hung in the air as they all watched as the door started melting back into the wall like the metal was water. They had to act fast. James darted out from under the invisibility cloak and reached for the door knob. It felt solid in his hands and the door started reforming. The others followed his example and stepped from under the cloak, so Remus held it in his hands.
James closed his eyes as he slowly turned the knob and inched the door open. The iron door made no noise as it opened and let a soft glow fall over them. James was the first to go in, followed closely by Sirius and Remus, and ending with Peter. They let the door close by itself as they took in the scene before them.
They were standing in what looked like a small house. Three beds lined the back wall with three school trunks sitting at the ends. A small table was littered with books and papers, far more than just for homework. There was a little section cleared of all furniture, and instead had markings on the floor James thought resembled a dueling pad. Ron and Harry were sitting on two couches, a chess board between them. Hermione had been sitting at the table. All nine eyes were directed at them.
"Were you following us?" Hermione demanded. She brandished her wand and marched up to them. Harry and Ron were also brandishing theirs, but they remained by the couches.
"So what if we are?" Sirius said. "It's clear now you're not transfer students! What's all this for?"
"How do you know we aren't?" Ron asked.
"Your conversation with Dumbledore didn't sound like advice about classes," James put in.
"Do you know how rude that is? Eavesdropping?" Hermione snapped. "It was none of your business and neither is this. I suggest you leave now."
James pointed to his badge. "I'm Head Boy. You can't order me around. Are you working for Dumbledore?"
Hermione fell silent, so it was Harry who answered. "Yes, we are."
"Are you with the Order?" Remus asked quietly. Out of the three boys who spoke, Remus sounded the least vicious.
Harry shrugged. "Sort of. We aren't full members yet, but we do participate in it."
James nodded, the anger fading from him. "What is this place?"
Harry wondered if it was safe to tell them. What harm could it be, he thought. "It's called the Room of Requirement, also known as the Come-and-go room. It can give you almost anything you need, if you know how to find it."
"So, what are you doing here?" Sirius asked.
"We needed a place to do our Order business privately, so snoops like you wouldn't bother us," Hermione said sharply. Sirius paled and took a step back.
James reached into his pocket and brought out a piece of parchment. He opened it up and said, "I solemnly swear I'm up to no good." Familiar ink spread across the paper, revealing the infamous Marauder's map.
Harry suddenly wondered why James was showing them their secret map. It had been a close guarded secret by the Marauders and was known only to a few people. Did that mean James trusted Harry and his friends with the secrets of the map? "What's that?" he asked quickly so it looked as if he hadn't seen or used that map a countless number of times during his time at Hogwarts.
"It's a map of school," Remus replied. "It shows every room and every student in Hogwarts, but we've never seen this place before."
"That's because it's unmappable, just like-"
"Hogwarts," James finished Hermione's sentence. He looked at the section of the seventh floor corridor where he knew he was standing, but it showed no room. He flicked his wand over the parchment again, and only seven names appeared. He saw James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, but also three names that made him gasp.
Standing in front of him was Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, and Harry Potter.
A/N: Hey everybody! Sorry the chapter went by so fast, I just wanted to get to the cliffhanger soon, but how was it? Honest feedback would be helpful. I have so much planned, it's killing me getting through it! I've decided all the chapters will be around this long so I can update faster and it makes it easier to write. I feel like Steven Moffat from Doctor Who, being so cruel with plot lines. Making people suffer gives you a real rush. Sorry for being creepy. Chapter Nine will be posted within the week... hopefully. I have a bunch of tests this week I'm nervous about. Wish me luck!