Suddenly, I was aware of people around me. I struggled to open my eyes, but the light above them was pretty blinding. 'Must be in a hospital. Maybe I really have gone insane.' I turned my head and began to blink furiously.

"Professor, I believe she's waking up."

"Remus, you have not been my student for some time. Please call me Albus."

At that voice, my eyes shot open. I found I was staring at Remus, who was sitting next to the bed I was on. He smiled at me and pointed at someone on the other side of my bed. I turned and found myself string at none other than Albus Dumbledore.

"Oh, dear God. You're Albus Dumbledore. I have gone insane."

The older man chuckled. "Well, I do not think you have gone insane. But you do have me at a disadvantage. You clearly know who I am, but I have no idea who you are."

I was too shocked to speak. He was standing right in front of me. A man who I believed to be fictional, yet always looked up to. A man I considered at times a surrogate grandfather. He was real. I then realized I probably looked like an idiot, staring at this man like he was my long lost father or something.

"Sorry, I'm trying to make sense of things. I just don't understand how this is possible. This can't be real. I just—" I shook my head and took a deep breath. Remus chuckled to himself and I shot him a glare. It's rude to laugh at someone you don't even know, fictional or real. I decided to try again.

"Okay. My name is Lauren Hastings. As unbelieveable as it may seem, I am from St. Louis, Missouri." They both looked a little lost. I realized that they probably didn't know too much about Missouri over here. "It's in the States. You know, across the pond or whatever you all say here. Anyway, I was born March 29th, 1986. I'm 21. Last night, I was sitting on my bed finishing a book that you are both in. That's why I'm so shocked right now. You are both fictional characters in the Harry Potter series."

At this, Remus began to laugh. "You mean little Prongslet? No one's written a book about little Harry yet, let alone an entire series. James and Lily would have a field day with that one." Remus kept smiling at me as he said this. He was very good looking, more so than what I had thought after reading about him. Then something he said struck a chord.

"James and Lily are alive?"

Remus suddenly got serious. "Of course they're still alive. Why the hell wouldn't they be? Why? What do you know? Are you working for –"

"Remus, calm yourself. Now Lauren, if you have information about James and Lily, I need to know about it now."

My mind was still reeling. I could do it. I could save James and Lily Potter. I could give Harry the life he deserved, instead of the one he was given. I could make it all better.

"Professor, I told you. I am from what I guess is another dimension. I have read all about you. I know everything about this world, including key facts that could bring down Voldemort. I will tell you everything you possibly need to know, but first I need to know what the date is today." Timing was everything. I had to be on my guard. Their lives were hanging in the balance.

Dumbledore seemed taken aback by me comment. "It is October 30th."

"What year? Is it 1981?"

Remus just looked more infuriated. "Of course it's bloody 1981. Get to the point!"

I tried to remain calm, but Remus' nerves and Dumbledore's intense eye contact were unnerving me quickly. "Okay, I know this is going to be hard for you to understand, but James, Lily and Harry are in danger. Godric's Hollow isn't safe anymore. You have to move them immediately."

"Woah, how the hell—" Thankfully, Dumbledore cut him off before he could yell at me further.

"Remus, please. Control your temper. Lauren, I need to know how you know this information. Are you in league with Voldemort?"

Oh, God. I didn't think about this. They're going to think I'm another Snape. "I told you, I've read all about it. You have to believe me. They're in trouble. We have to do something; otherwise they will be killed tomorrow by Voldemort. He's after them! Please, I don't care if you believe the rest of my story or not. You need to believe this." Tears were forming in my eyes. I couldn't screw this up. They had to believe me, they just had to!

"Alright. Remus, please take Lauren to my office at Hogwarts. I'm going to collect the Potters. I'll be along shortly."

"But sir, I—"

"Remus, do as I ask. We'll have time for questions later. I, for one, believe her. Regardless if you do or not, you must concede that it is better to err on the side of caution, especially now."

"Yes, sir." Remus gave him a stern nod. Then Dumbledore vanished with a quiet pop. I turned to look at Remus. He looked at me with cold uncertainty. "Come on, we have to apparate to Hogsmeade first. Then we can walk up to the castle." He didn't look pleased to be doing this. I didn't really care, though. The Potters were about to be safe.

"Just so you know, I'm not lying. And I'm not magical… at least, I don't think so, so I'll have to side-along apparate."

"You're a muggle?" Remus seemed to get a bit more unnerved. I couldn't blame him. I just warned of his best friend's murder. If I were in his shoes, I'd be just as skeptical. It showed his unending loyalty and concern for his friends. He shook his head, and then offered me his arm. "It's going to feel pretty weird, just so you know."

"Oh, I've read enough about it to have a pretty good idea of what to expect." I took his arm and we vanished.