"James! James, wake up! Merlin, he's out like a light!"

"Where is he anyway? This doesn't look like the dorms."

"Maybe it's his room at home?"

"Maybe… haven't I been to his house before?"

"I dunno. Maybe he changed it up?"

"Nah, he wouldn't."

"Hey! He's waking up!"

I moaned, forcing my eyes open. Someone handed me my glasses, and I shoved them on my face, glad the pounding was gone. I glanced at my visitors. "Hey Moony, Reg."

"Hiya, Jamie!" Regulus said happily. "So… where are you? Looks kinda like the Hospital Wing."

"It is," I replied, raising an eyebrow. "You visited me yesterday- er, I think it was yesterday."

"Look at us closer, James," Remus said. I narrowed my eyes, then widened them.

"Bloody heck!" I exclaimed. "You're older!"

"No duh," Remus replied, rolling his eyes. "Dumbledore made something so we could visit. We're kind of like holograms."

"Holo-what-nows?" I asked, dumbfounded. Remus just chuckled.

"Never mind. So, how's Sirius?"

"About as well off as I am," I scowled. "Bloody noble git. There was an attack on Diagon Alley and he just had to stay and help. He's lucky I stayed behind to save his skin."

"That sounds like Siri," Regulus laughed. "Well, where is he?"

"In the bed next to me," I said, jerking my head towards the curtains. Regulus grinned, and yanked them open. Sirius was still asleep, but Regulus walked slowly up to him, putting a small hand on his brother's face.

"Sirius," he whispered. "My brave, brave brother. I wish I could be like you, brother."

Remus pulled up a chair for Regulus, who sat down by Sirius, wiping his eyes.

"I know how you feel," I told him. "It was so hard to see him again the first time. I just wanted to hug him tight and never let go."

"Don't do that," Remus warned. "You'll wake him."

"I want to talk to him," Regulus sighed. "I wish he'd wake up. He looks so peaceful… just like…"

"Yeah," I smiled weakly. "At least you aren't hysterical."

"Huh?"

"Sirius fell off his broom a few weeks ago," I explained, stifling a laugh. "And Regulus, you were hysterical. You thought he was dead, and you were screaming, and then I fainted again, so apparently you were convinced that you'd killed us both."

"Ah," Regulus said, his face turning red. "Yeah… that sounds like me…"

"It does," Remus exclaimed, not bothering to hide his laughter. "That's brilliant! How long did it take to calm him down?"

"He passed out too," I chuckled. "He woke up after me, so he knew I was alive, and I had to explain to him that, yes, Sirius was perfectly fine."

"Oh, quiet, you lot," Regulus scowled half-heartedly, his face bright red. "I was twelve."

"True," I conceded. "Still funny."

"Ugh… Reggie?" My eyes snapped to Sirius's face. His eyes were fluttering open, and he was staring at Regulus. Who was fourteen. "Merlin, did you take an aging potion?"

"I… er…" Regulus looked caught off guard, staring at his brother like he'd seen a ghost. "Hullo, S-sirius…"

"Are you alright?" Sirius asked. He glanced at Remus and I. "Oh! Moony, you look older too."

"Um…" Remus glanced at me. "James…?"

"Don't ask me, this is your mess to clean up," I replied, holding up my hands. "Yours and Reggie's."

"Oi! Don't put this on me!" Regulus exclaimed. "You fix it, Jamie, you're better at fixing stuff."

"I am, aren't I?" I replied cheekily. "Sirius, take a wild guess."

"A wild guess, hmm?" Sirius grinned. "Let's see… you, James, are mysteriously from the future here to save my life and Regulus and Remus are visiting you from the future."

Remus choked on air, Regulus's eyes widened, and I burst out laughing.

"That is a wild guess!" I exclaimed. "Sirius, where do you come up with these things?"

"I have a wild imagination," Sirius answered happily. "Amazing considering who raised me, I know. I have a couple of other theories too."

"That's great, Padfoot," Remus said in a strange voice. He shook his head. "We… er… tried a prank… and it backfired… so we're older."

"Makes sense," Sirius agreed. "Much more than my theory. Time travel! Imagine. Hey, James, you think you'd ever do that? If it came to that?"

"Yes," I replied without hesitation. I had done that. "Without a shadow of a doubt."

"That's nice of you," Sirius beamed. "But, you know, it might not work," I winced. "Things could go wrong… hmm, well, I'm sure it'll never come to that! Say, Moony, Reggie, how much homework have we missed?"

Remus froze.

"Er… I…" he glanced at me helplessly.

"I don't think he's asked yet," I said.

"Yeah, right," Sirius scoffed. "He has the classes. Oi, you aren't really from the future, right?"

There was an awkward silence.

"Right?" Sirius repeated, his voice slightly then higher than usual. "Why isn't anyone answering?"

"Well, we'll just be going, then," Remus said, grabbing Regulus arm. "Good luck, James. C'mon, Reg."

"But I want to stay with my brother!" Regulus protested feebly, but Remus dragged him out. Sirius watched them leave, then turned to me.

"You… er… you aren't from the future, right?" Sirius asked. I bit my lip. I didn't want to lie… and I really didn't want to tell the truth. "James?"

"What would you say if I said I was?"

Sirius stared. "Well, I think I'd say you were pulling my leg."

"And if I was being serious?"

"No, you can't be serious, I'm Sirius," Sirius replied, cracking a smile. "Nah, I'd ask you what it's like and why the heck you're back here."

"Ah," I said, shifting awkwardly.

"So…" Sirius looked at me curiously. "Are you?"

I took a deep breath. "Yeah. I am."

"Well," Sirius blinked. "That actually explains some stuff… not much, but some," he paused. "You aren't going to tell me what happened to send you back here, are you?"

"Nope," I replied.

Sirius frowned thoughtfully. "I'm dead, aren't I?"

"What makes you say that?" I asked in a strangled voice.

"Remember?" Sirius asked. "Christmas. I was the one you saw die."

"Sirius, I… yes, you were," I admitted. "But don't ask me how you died! I won't tell you."

"Why not?"

"It isn't… it's not pretty," I flinched. "But don't worry! I'll prevent it, I will fix it. I won't let you die... not this time…"

"James… I told you… it might not be preventable," Sirius said softly. "I'm not afraid of dying."

"We shouldn't be talking about this," I mumbled. "You should be afraid of death, Sirius, you're thirteen, you have your whole life ahead of you."

"How old was I when I died?" Sirius asked. It shook me that he didn't seem scared, or even worried, just childishly curious. "Fifteen, by the looks of Remus's age?"

"Please, can we not talk about it?" I asked. "You shouldn't even know. Why aren't you even worried?"

"I'm not worried," Sirius mused. "Because I know I will live my life to the fullest each and every day. I'm more worried about you. It looks like my death really shook you up, Prongs."

"Of course it did," I snapped, before softening. "You're my brother, Sirius."

"Glad to know you care so much, James," Sirius smiled warmly. "How'd Reggie take it?"

"Not any better than me," I answered. "Sirius! Can we just get off this subject?"

"Sorry," Sirius said. He was silent for a few moments. "Did I really look like that when I died? You're boggart?"

I rolled my eyes. "Sirius- drop it."

"Sorry."

"Jamie! Siri!" I smiled as Mum pushed past the curtains, closely followed by Dad, and proceeded to grab me, then Sirius, in bone-crushing hugs. "Oh, I'm so glad you're alright!"

"Mum, relax!" I laughed. "We're both fine. No one's dead."

"Yet," Sirius added cheekily. I sent him a glare. "Right… note to self, don't bring that up."

Dad raised an eyebrow at the exchange.

"Oh," I said. "He know. Found out earlier."

"Ah," Dad said in understanding. "Yes, best not mention that to James, Sirius. Er… how much do you know?"

"Let's see…" Sirius mused. "James is from the future, I'm dead, I was fifteen when I died, it wasn't pretty, and James was there. Yep. That's about it."

"I'm still not giving details," I declared. "Honestly, why would someone want details about their death?"

"Do you know, Mr. Potter?" Sirius asked eagerly, and I groaned and rolled my eyes as Dad chuckled.

"I know some," Dad admitted. "But I'm going to agree with James; there really is no need for you to know."

"Exactly!" Mum said, giving Sirius a disapproving look. "There's absolutely no need. James, why did you tell him? Now he'll be scared."

"I'm not scared, honestly, Mrs. Potter," Sirius assured her. She eyed him suspiciously. "Really, I'm not. Death… it isn't all that scary. Before I came to Hogwarts, I would sometimes wish that Death would come and take me away. But I told myself that was stupid, that Regulus needed me. Then I went to Hogwarts, and met James, and Remus, and Peter… they and Regulus were all that kept me going at Grimmauld Place. They kept me fighting."

"I never knew," I whispered, as Mum and Dad looked at Sirius sympathetically. "It was that bad? So bad you wanted… you wanted to die?"

"Sometimes," Sirius admitted. "But every time I thought that, I'd automatically think about you and Regulus and Remus and Peter."

"You never…" I bit my lip. "You never thought about… killing yourself?"

"Nah," Sirius said. "Well… I don't think so."

"That's good," I said in relief. "But you're out of there. Can't you be scared of dying now?"

"Why?" Sirius asked. "If I die, I die. It's not like I'm going to try to get myself killed, but if it happens, oh well," he paused, then donned a devious grin. "I just hope I go out dramatically. Something really cool."

"Knowing you, you'll get yourself killed by a curtain," I teased. "Nah, you're gonna die when you're old and grey and have tons of great-grandchildren."

"Grandkids? Me?" Sirius laughed. "Yeah, right, you'll be the one with grandkids, Prongs."

"Ooh, grandchildren!" Mum swooned. "Oh, Jamie, that's a wonderful idea- not yet, of course, but when you're older. Just think! Little boys that look like you with Lily's eyes and little girls that look like Lily with your eyes!"

"Woah, woah, woah!" I said. "Slow down! I think one kid will be plenty."

"You're just scared of diaper duty," Sirius grinned cheekily. I paled. "Yep, knowing Lily she'll stick you with that!"

I shuddered.

"Don't laugh," I exclaimed, as Mum, Dad, and Sirius burst out laughing. "That's scary! The smell! Why can't babies clean up their own mess?"

"Because, James, they're babies," Mum said slowly, as if that explained everything. I stuck my tongue out at her. "James! Be respectful."

"Yes Mum," I replied, winking at Sirius. "Hey! Can we play Quidditch?"

"Absolutely not, young man!" Mum cried. "You're hurt! And if I hear about another escape attempt…"

"That was all Sirius!" I declared.

"Yes, thanks for ratting me out, Prongs," Sirius scowled jokingly. "I'd like to get out of here. Can't we stay in our dorms?"

"You two are so immature," Dad chuckled. "Although, I must agree. If you're anything like me, you've been here so many times that you'd rather never come again."

"Exactly!" I said. "And, believe it or not, I miss class!"

Sirius gawked at me. "Who are you and what have you done with James Potter?"

"Shut it, Padfoot," I retorted. "For all you know, by the time I was fifteen, I love school."

"You?" Sirius gasped dramatically. "Love school? I don't believe it."

"Well, believe it," I replied. "At least I've had visitors."

"I've been unconscious!"

"Yeah, but they came to see me."

"They did not!"

"Did too."

"No! They didn't! They wanted to see me."

"Boys," Mum said. "Stop arguing!"

"Sorry, Mum," I declared, at the same time Sirius replied, "Sorry, Mrs. Potter."

"Hmm, that's better," Mum smiled. "Now, you two, I did bring homework."

Sirius and I exchanged glances and groaned. It seemed that we couldn't escape homework even when injured. Maybe Moony would let us copy…

"That's great," I sighed. "Just great."

A/N: Okay, so this chapter might be kinda confusing. So… Dumbledore invented something that would send them back in time briefly, but they aren't actually there… kinda like a hologram, except they can touch things. And Sirius knows! Poor Siri… and poor Jamie, Sirius will never stop bugging him. XD Big thanks to N.E. Person, Lovewriting12, potterhead934, and jeremiah123 for your reviews! Free virtual cookie dough! Hope you all liked. Over 75 reviews! :D

I still don't own Harry Potter.