The start of November was calm and Ron was appreciative of that. He had taken Harry and Ginny's dating again fairly well and was overall glad for them. Hermione was still miffed at him for deciding to change the past, but as much as she wanted to make him see eye to eye with her, she knew she couldn't. He was seated in the Gryffindor stands of the quidditch pitch watching Ginny and Harry practicing with the rest of the team. Hermione had mentioned that she would come up to sit with him at some point so he wasn't too shocked when he felt her familiar presence at his side. He extended his hand towards her palm up and she didn't hesitate in interlocking their fingers. They sat silently together, watching the figures of the team run drills until Hermione worked up the nerve to say what was on her mind.
"Ron," she said his name softly, like she was almost wary to bring up the subject. He turned to look at her with a tired expression on his face, hoping that she wouldn't try and argue his plans for changing the future once more.
"Hermione, I can't do this again. I'm tired of fighting you on this. You know that I won't change my mind and even if you succeeded in that, you would still have Harry and Ginny to convince. This is right. I know it doesn't seem that way right now, but I swear it is."
Her responding nod was small, "I don't fully agree with you, and you know that. But I don't want to lose you all. The temptation to save as many people as we can is pulling me. I just can't rationalize someone else dying for us to save people in the future, you know? But I decided that I'm with you guys. I'll help. I want to help."
Ron's desolate expression transformed into one of euphoria and he pulled Hermione into him and kissed her. "Thank you, 'Mione. Thank you so much."
Hermione released an unexpected giggle as Ron rubbed their noses together. She still had some guilt deep down in her stomach about betraying her belief in keeping time as close to normal as possible, but she squashed it down.
There was still an hour left to practice so Ron put his arm around his girlfriend and continued to watch the players as Hermione opened up the large book that she had brought to entertain herself with. He wasn't expecting anyone else to be coming up to watch the practice, so he was surprised to see the rest of seventh years marching their way up the long stairs to the top of the stands. Sirius was in the lead with Lily, the two of them further ahead than the rest of the group and whispering to each other about things that they seemed keen on keeping just between them. Ron nudged Hermione to draw her attention to the group and she immediately straightened up upon seeing them.
The group of five reached the top of the stands and called out joyous greetings to Hermione and Ron. They immediately started making their way over to their section of the stands. Sirius settled behind Ron with Peter and Remus took Ron's side. Mary and Marlene took the same position as Sirius and Peter, but instead behind Hermione with Lily on her side.
"Fancy finding the two of you up here!" Marlene sounded genuinely pleased to have found Ron and Hermione, but the time travelers were careful to keep their guard on due to their knowledge of the group's suspicion.
"Yeah," Ron said, "I've always enjoyed watching Harry and Ginny fly. I figured that the weather was just warm enough to come out and observe."
"Gorgeous day, it is," Sirius agreed. He narrowed his eyes at the back of Ron's head and tried to casually slip in. "How is it again that you know Harry and Ginny?"
Hermione tensed under Ron's arm, but smiled up at Sirius, "Our parents are all close friends. Ron and Ginny are siblings though."
"Twins?" Peter asked. His smile was the most disarming and Hermione swallowed hard under his gaze. It was so easy to believe that he was just trying to keep up conversation.
Ron nodded with an affirmative nod, hoping to cut off conversation. "That's pretty cool. Gin's a pretty awesome girl," Mary leaned towards Ron.
"Yep. She's a good sister, if not annoying at times." Ron's arm tightened its hold around Hermione's shoulder and she leaned into him. For once they were grateful that their generation's war had granted them passable poker faces.
"What about you, Hermione? Any siblings?" Remus prompted.
"No. I'm an only child. Harry and Ginny are like siblings to me, though." Her fingers played with the corner of her bookmark.
"Ah yes, siblings do get into quarrels though. Like earlier in the year between you and Lewis. What exactly happened there? It must've been something big, yeah? Seemed to affect Harry and Ron's relationship a bit too." Sirius' tone started to take on a more insistent edge to it and Hermione tried to think up a quick response.
"Oh… nothing really. Just the normal stuff," Hermione tried.
"Normal stuff? Really? It seemed larger than that. You two wouldn't even look at one another…" Marlene dragged out the last word so that a response was deemed necessary.
Ron tried to help Hermione out, "It was an old argument that got brought back up. Personal, you know."
"I have a few of those with my sister. She's a muggle. We don't get on well." Lily commented, testing Hermione's reaction.
"That must be tough on the two of you." Hermione sent an understanding expression to the girl at her side.
Lily's only response was a nod and silence conquered the group for a moment before Remus broke it, "It's a bit funny how we've all failed so miserably in getting to know the two of you. It feels almost as though you're trying so hard to stay secret to us."
The tips of Ron's ears tinted pink, but he tried to play off the poorly covered accusation with a forced laugh. Hermione, with a forced smile of her own responded, "Well we have nothing to hide."
Sirius, his expression not even slightly amused remarked, "I think you do." The level way in which he spoke prompted both Ron and Hermione to turn in their seats. "Why don't we have a chat? I feel like there's so much to talk about."
"Be careful now, Sirius. Someone might think that you're making an accusation," Hermione stood from her seat, Ron following immediately after her.
"Be reasonable, there are five of us and two of you." Marlene spoke. She sounded almost regretful, but she didn't waver.
"So this is really how you want to go about this?" Ron deadpanned. One of his hands reached for Hermione's and the other the concealed handle of his wand.
The group of five all rose, "I see what you're reaching for. Is it really necessary to grab for your wand, Ron?" Mary's voice was quiet, but strong and Ron raised his hand into the air, palm open.
Hermione kept her lips pursed tightly and glared at the air behind the group.
"We really aren't bad people, please don't think that." Lily frowned as she spoke. "Times are dark, you have to understand."
"We understand perfectly well, Lily." Ron spoke.
"Let's not stall any longer. We have a conversation to be had." Sirius stepped down from his spot in the stands to be next to Ron.
"We aren't going to collect your wands," Peter said, "because as secretive as you're being, we would like to believe that you aren't actually bad people either."
For the first time since the accusations began, Hermione spoke. "That's unwise. If you're going to do this, you might as well go all in. It's dark times, as you said." Hermione drew her wand from her cloak and handed it off to Remus.
Ron's jaw slackened at Hermione's decision, but he followed suit and gave his to Lily.
"Let's go," Marlene spoke and led the group from the stands.
As Harry made his figure eights above the quidditch pitch in search of the snitch, his eyes were drawn to the small huddle of people in the quidditch stands. He lowered himself in the sky a bit to try and see who was down there. He couldn't have mistook the bright red dot for Lily Evans, and he felt his stomach drop when he realized that the entire group was made up of the Gryffindor seventh years. His blood started to rush when he saw Hermione drawing her wand only to hand it off to Remus. He started his descent to the grass of the pitch, and ignored his captain's yells.
"Oi! Synk! What the hell do you think you're doing? Practice isn't over yet!" James landed about twenty feet from Harry, causing the time traveler to turn around and alter his path to lead to his captain.
"What the hell do I think I'm doing? What about your friends? Where are they bringing Ron and Hermione?"
Ginny, noticing the confrontation on the pitch flew down next to Harry. "Harry? What's going on?"
Harry turned to Ginny, "His friends just led Hermione and Ron off. Wandless!" His attention turned back to James, "What the hell do you think you're playing at? Where are they taking them!"
"Look, Harry, I have no idea what you're talking about…" started James.
"The hell you don't!" Harry's anger only rose the longer he spoke to James.
"Harry calm down. I think he's telling the truth." Ginny put her hand on Harry's arm and tried to settle him.
"How are you so calm, Ginny? They just took your brother! How do expect me to calm down?" Harry rounded back on James who looked truly confused, "Where's your map? Give it to me. Now."
James' confused look morphed into one of anger and accusation, "How do you know about that?"
Harry ran his hand through his hair, letting out a frustrated grunt, and turned on his heel. Ginny followed after Harry, ignoring the rest of the team that was landing on the pitch and asking what was going on.
James started jogging after Harry and Ginny, "Who are you?"
"Fuck you!" Harry screamed over his shoulder and continued his rush up to the castle to find his friends.
James caught up to Harry and Ginny. James grabbed onto Harry's shoulder and forcefully spun him around. "Tell me how you know about the map. What else do you know?" You couldn't mistake the slight hint of panic under James' anger, and Ginny wondered whether if he was concerned for his friends and their secrets.
Harry pulled his shoulder out of James' grasp and went nose to nose with him. "Forget what I know. You're going to help me find my friends."
"I don't know what you're talking about." James growled. Harry let out a short disbelieving laugh and shoved his father.
"Sure you fucking don't. I'm not an idiot. You know where they would've taken them. And don't you dare fucking deny it."
Ginny stepped between the two boys, placing her hands on Harry's chest, "Harry calm down. This isn't the way to go about this."
"Does it look like I care, Ginny? I'm not letting anything happen to my friends. You shouldn't either."
"I doubt they'll hurt them, Harry. They're on the good side," Ginny pleaded.
James grew impatient with the two people in front of him, "You two need to tell me what's going on? Who the fuck are you?"
Ginny turned to speak to James before Harry could, "We'll explain later. I promise. First, where would your friends have taken our friends? A private location, probably." Harry was glaring at the ground and James looked like he was trying to decide if he should beat Harry to a pulp or help Ginny.
It took time, but James eventually ground out, "Sirius has somewhat of an affinity for this abandoned classroom on the third floor. But I am coming with you."
"Alright," Ginny nodded.
The three of them started their run up to the school. Ginny and Harry didn't waste time in pretending that they were unaware of the secret passages or layout of the school and took them with the practice that they had cultured over time. They reached the classroom that James mentioned in minutes and Harry immediately tried the doorknob. Finding it locked, Harry swore and scrambled to get his wand out of his practice gear. Ginny was also trying to pull her wand out, but James instead pounded his fist on the door and yelled, "Padfoot open up! It's Prongs!"
The door opened soon after and Harry and Ginny rushed into the room. Hermione and Ron were sitting in old desk chairs against the one wall and the rest of the seventh years, sans Remus who opened the door, were standing in front of them.
"What the hell is going on here?" James looked to Remus who sighed deeply and was cut off from responding by Harry.
"What the hell do you think you're doing? What's your fucking problem?" Harry strode into the room towards the seventh years that he thought he had befriended. Ginny calmly walked up to Ron and Hermione to check that they were alright.
Sirius wasn't one to quiet his anger so he pushed out of the group to meet Harry. "Why don't you answer something for me? Why have you been lying to us and who are you? I don't tend to treat death eaters kindly, mind you."
"Back off, Sirius. This doesn't concern you." Harry glared at him.
"I would tell you to back off too, Harry, if I was sure that that was even your name."
Lily, with a frown on her face, approached the two. "I know that you're angry, Harry, but can't you understand why we are doing this? There's a war on, and it's been fairly obvious that all of you are hiding something."
"I want my answers, now. I took you here." James locked eyes with Ginny and she sighed.
"Look, James, it's really complicated," Ginny sighed.
"No. I don't care. We made a deal. How did you know about the map? Who are you?"
Ginny looked to Hermione for guidance, and she jerked her head for Ginny and Harry to come closer. Harry grudgingly stepped away from Sirius to decide on how much to tell with his friends.
"Hold on! You don't get to decide what to tell us. You need to tell us everything." James crossed his arms as if to show how solid he was on his decision.
Remus walked forward to stand next to James, "I have something I want answered too. On your first night, you had a nightmare. I heard my name and at first I thought I imagined it, but I'm starting to think that I was wrong to give you the benefit of the doubt."
Harry visibly paled at that and the rest of the seventh years reset their glares and wands on the group. Marlene asked for the group, "Who are you people? What are you hiding?"
The four time travelers stood together and Ron spoke, "Marlene calm down."
"Don't tell her to do anything," Sirius spit out.
"Lily. You're the best at charms," James whispered so only she could hear, "see if that's what they actually look like." Her responding nod was surreptitious and she slowly pointed her wand at Ginny, who stood nearest to her.
The spell was unexpected from most of everyone, but the gasp was sounded as one as everyone stared in shock at Ginny's changing features. The red was brought back into her hair and her freckles once more covered her skin. Ginny and Harry were immediately disarmed and the time travelers stood helplessly in front of the group.
Mary's soft voice was the only sound in the room, "Lily, do the rest."
"No. Please." Ginny stepped in front of Harry. "You can do everyone but him. I'll tell you whatever you want to know. You can't do anything to Harry."
Ron and Hermione stood on either side of Ginny, and Ron spoke for the both of them, "Us too. And we are sorry that we lied, but we hope that you can understand." Lily cast the spell on Hermione and Ron as well, but hesitated on casting it on Harry.
"What we understand," Sirius yelled, "is that you all have been playing us for damn fools!"
"Sirius we never meant it like that. We swear." Ginny frowned at him, and he returned her look with one of disgust.
"Is Ginny even your real name?" Lily looked the most hurt out of all of the girls. Ginny stepped forward.
"My name is Ginny Weasley. And I am so sorry, Lily. We came here by accident. In our time, and I say time because we traveled into the past, the second wizarding war has just ended. The final battle was fought at Hogwarts and we were doing repairs on the castle, but Ron's spell went wrong and something strange happened. We ended up here. Dumbledore told us that for our safety that we should change our appearances and last names, Harry especially. I told you my name, and Ron is my brother, but he isn't my twin. He's a year older than me. And Hermione's last name is Granger. She's a muggleborn, but times are dark here. We wanted to keep her safe. I can't tell you who Harry is, and I'm sorry about that. It would be too much."
"That only answered a few of our questions. Not nearly all of them," James glared at Ginny.
"What do you want to know?" Ginny asked warily.
"Why can't we know who Harry is?" Mary asked.
Ginny opened her mouth to explain, but Harry stepped forward. "Ginny it's okay. It's easier this way."
"Are you sure, Harry?" Ron made eye contact with his friend and seeing that he was sure, he didn't protest.
Harry turned towards Lily and nodded at her wand. She cast the spell on him and he closed his eyes. The reaction of the students was one of shock and disbelief. The marauders were looking between James and Harry and the disbelief only grew when Harry's eyes opened and a brilliant green shone.
"My name is Harry James Potter, and I'm your son." Harry said to James and Lily.
A/N: I am so sorry that it's been so long since I've updated. I wrote this today so please excuse any errors - I just wanted to get this to you as soon as possible. I hope you like it. Review and let me know! Thanks for reading :)