I was in Hogsmeade.

Subconsciously, I knew this was a dream. It had the sort of ominous feel of a nightmare. Nonetheless, it wasn't the same. Admittedly, a nightmare in Hogsmeade was probably a memory about that day. But the Sirius who was beside me had white streaked hair, so it couldn't have been a memory.

"I always love visiting Hogsmeade," Sirius commented happily. I shrugged noncommittally. "Don't pretend, mate, I know you hate it here."

"Er," I said. "Where are the others?"

"You told them to stay back today, remember?" Sirius laughed. "Told me, too, but I refused, obviously."

"Why didn't I stay back, too?" I frowned.

Sirius just laughed again.

It wasn't long until shouting filled the alley. Just like I remembered.

"Let's get out of here," I said anxiously, though knowing this was just a dream.

"Let's help fight," retorted Sirius.

"Padfoot, are you mad?" I exclaimed. "You remember what happened, right?"

"I'm not scared," he said.

"Have some common sense!" I declared, shaking him. "You'll get us both killed!"

"Nah," said Sirius with an eerie smile. "Just me."

"Let's go," I said, wishing I'd wake up from this dream.

"You'll be fine," Sirius said.

"I'll be fine?" I asked. "What about you, mate?"

Sirius smiled again. I scowled, wishing I'd wake up. I didn't like the way this was going.

"Little cousin!" cackled Bellatrix, appearing suddenly in front of us. "I'm back."

"Bella," said Sirius.

"So, shall I kill you or your friend first?" smirked Bellatrix. I made to step forward angrily, but Sirius held up an arm. "Worried, cousin?"

"You won't hurt James," said Sirius coldly. "Do what you want to me. Don't hurt James. He's off limits, got it? What happens to me, happens. But nothing happens to James."

I rolled my eyes. "Stop being a noble git and let me duel that snake."

"You know as well as I do," said Sirius softly. "She's either gonna kill me or she's not. Whatever happens, happens."

"Sirius," I said warningly, though aware it was a dream. "Quit talking crazy and move out of the way."

"I think I better end this," smirked Bellatrix, raising her wand. "Avada Kadavra!"

Sirius didn't even bother to dodge. I opened my mouth to scream, but no scream sounded. I watched, frozen, as Sirius fell backwards. I finally snapped out of it in time to rush forward and catch him. He was still smiling.

"NOOO!"

I shot straight up in bed, breathing hard. It was just a bad dream, just a bad dream. Still, the image wouldn't leave my mind. I hated nightmares. Even when I knew they were nightmares, they still terrified me. Because they could happen. Sirius could easily die again.

Footsteps sounded outside, and my door slammed open. Sirius ran into my room, fully alive.

"Jamie?" he asked, rubbing his eyes. "Were you the one that screamed?"

"Yeah, sorry," I muttered, rubbing the back on my neck as I turned red. "Had a nightmare. Funny thing is, I knew it was a nightmare... still..."

"I know how you feel," said Sirius, chuckling. He sat down next to me on my bed. "I still sometimes have nightmares about my parents torturing me. It's not fun, I know. But it gets better."

"You don't even know what my nightmare was about," I retorted.

Sirius raised an eyebrow. "We were in Hogsmeade and I died."

I gaped at him. "Am I that obvious?"

"Yup," said Sirius, laughing. "Relax; I'm going to at least try to not die... of course, you are not stopping me from helping out if I can."

"Sirius-"

"Nope," he said. "You can't stop me, fire-boy."

"You and your bloody hero complex," I muttered irately. "Fine. I won't. But if it gets too dangerous, we're all out of there."

"Deal," said Sirius, eyes sparkling bright green. "Besides, I know you- you'll end up helping too."

"Okay, you're probably right," I admitted, blushing.

"Now, let's both get back to sleep before Regulus wakes up, 'cause then we'll never get to sleep!" Sirius chuckled. "Sleep well, Prongs. Don't worry- it'll be fine."

I smiled as Sirius left the room, before lying back in my bed.

I hoped he was right.

"JAMIE! UP! UP!" I groaned, and pulled my covers over my bed. "JAMES! WAKE UP!"

"Regulus, if you don't shut up, I'm lighting you on fire!" I snapped from under my covers. Big mistake, because, after about ten seconds of quiet, I was soaking wet.

"Haha, now you're soaked!" Regulus declared.

I sat up, glaring evilly, and directing the water back at the floating terror by my bed. He yelped as he was suddenly soaked and I was suddenly dry. I grinned triumphantly.

"Haha, now you're soaked!" I mocked. Regulus scowled and flew out of the room, yelling for Mum. I shrugged, not that worried. Just then, Mum entered the room.

"James Potter, did you soak Regulus again?" Mum asked. I turned red. Okay, so maybe I'd soaked Regulus about ten times already this summer.

"He soaked me first," I said in my defence. Mum sighed, and sat down on my bed. "Okay... am I in trouble? You have that look."

Mum shot me a glare, before softening. "No, you're not in trouble. I actually have a question for you."

"Okay," I said. "Shoot."

"How would you feel if we decided to make Sirius and Regulus a part of the family?" Mum asked.

"Aren't they already?" I asked, frowning.

"I meant, officially," she said. My eyes widened. "If we adopted them."

"Adopt them?" I asked. "Like, they'd be Sirius and Regulus Potter?"

Mum nodded.

"Are you kidding me?" I beamed. "That'd be great! Then we'd really be brothers! This is amazing! For real?"

Mum smiled. "I thought you'd say that, but I had to ask anyway."

"When?" I asked eagerly. "Have you told them?"

"We were going to ask today at breakfast," she chuckled. "Don't tell them- I want it to be a surprise."

I grinned. "Sure thing, Mum!"

Mum nodded, and left the room. I quickly changed into my day clothes (a t-shirt and jeans), before rushing towards the kitchen. Unfortunately, I forgot the stairs, and, moments later, I was lying on my face at the bottom of the stairs. Again.

"Again?" asked Dad, as I looked up.

"Sadly," I said, pulling myself up. "Hey, Dad? I was wondering..."

"Wondering..." repeated Dad.

"Do you think I could be emancipated?" I asked eagerly. "I am technically seventeen, you know."

"I don't know," mused Dad. "Does it matter? The Ministry can't detect your magic here."

"Yes, but it's the principle of it!" I said. "I'd be considered a real adult!"

"C'mon to breakfast, kiddo," he grinned, ruffling my hair. "I know you're gonna want to see Sirius and Regulus's faces at the big announcement."

"I need a camera," I snickered.

We walked to the kitchen, and I calmly took my seat between Regulus and Sirius. Okay. Maybe I wasn't calm. But I was trying to hide it so it'd be a surprise.

Regulus, in his seat, looked slightly put out, as usual, because we had to strap him to his chair and stick it to the ground with a permanent sticking charm. Sirius was already eating his bacon. He glanced at me.

"You're chipper," he noted.

I just grinned, as Mum walked in happily, sitting down next to Dad and folding her hands in front of her.

"Sirius, Regulus, I have a question for the two of you," she began.

"D, all of the above," said Sirius. I rolled my eyes and whacked him in the back of the head. "Ow, Prongs!"

"Listen," I hissed. "This is important!"

"Right," said Sirius, turning red. "Go right ahead, Aunt Carol."

"Well," Mum started. "Jacob and I were talking- and I talked to James to- and we were wondering if you boys would mind if we adopted you?"

Sirius and Regulus's jaws both dropped at this.

"Are you- are you serious?" Sirius stammered. Huh. He must be shocked- he didn't even make the pun. I hoped that was a good thing. "You really would do that? Adopt us?"

"Only if you want us to," assured Dad.

"Are you kidding?" asked Regulus, laughing elatedly. "Of course we do! Then Jamie would really be our brother!"

"I knew you'd agree," I grinned. "This is great!"

"When?" Sirius stammered out.

"We were thinking a week would be enough time to get everything in order," said Mum.

"We should have a party!" Regulus exclaimed. "We could invite everyone! Lily and Severus and Remus and Peter and Evirah and- and- and everyone!"

"Calm down, Reg," I laughed. "We don't want to make too big a deal about it."

"And we've got to be careful," said Sirius. The rest of us stared at him, gaping.

"Who are you and what have you done with Sirius?" I asked incredulously.

"What? I'm not stupid, Voldemort is getting stronger," he said. "We have to be more careful now. He's not stupid enough to go after the Heart again- the wards are back to the strength they once were 'cause of, er, what happened, but that's no reason he won't come after us if we leave the safety of the wards."

"Wow," said Regulus. "You just said something intelligent."

"Shut up," Sirius said, turning red.

"There's a first for everything," I grinned cheekily. Sirius reached over and whacked me on the head. "Anyway, I never thought I'd say this, but Sirius is right. We really do have to watch our backs."

"Don't worry too much, boys," said Dad. "You should enjoy your childhood while you still can."

I snorted. "Dad, our childhoods ended the moment we got involved in this war," I glanced at Regulus, as he happily made a face out of his breakfast. "On second thought, maybe not Regulus's. I don't think he'll ever grow up."

Regulus looked up and grinned. "Darn right I won't."

"I'm all for you being safe," said Mum. "But, really, at least try to act like kids."

"We will," Sirius grinned. "Trust me, I'm not grown up yet."

"Oh, I know," I snickered. "I still can't believe you actually jumped off the Astronomy Tower."

"I honestly thought the parachute would work!" Sirius complained. "Or at least that you two would catch me sooner!"

"It was funny," I said cheekily. "See? Now you won't go jumping off any high places again."

"It's not fair," he whined. "You and Reg can fly! I wanna fly!"

"Tough luck, Siri," Regulus snickered. "Too bad your Anima-"

I slapped a hand over his mouth, glancing at Mum, who didn't know we were Animagi. Dad did, but Mum didn't. She eyed us suspiciously.

"What are you hiding?" she asked.

"Nothing," the three of us chorused (though Reg's voice was muffled by my hand).

"Nothing dangerous," said Dad. "It really isn't our business."

Mum narrowed her eyes but didn't pursue the subject. The three of us sighed in relief.

"Well," said Dad, standing up. "We have to be off to the Ministry to get the adoption papers in order. You boys be good, stay within the wards."

"No problem," I said as Mum and Dad left the room. As soon as they were gone, Sirius grinned maniacally.

"Wanna go hang out in Godric's Hollow?" he asked.

"Sirius!" I spluttered. "Weren't you the one who said we needed to be more careful?"

"Jamie, more careful for us is exploring Godric's Hollow. Usually we go looking for trouble!" Sirius laughed. "Right, Reg?"

"I don't wanna," said Regulus childishly. Sirius's jaw dropped.

"He doesn't want to wear shoes," I explained, walking over and unstrapping Regulus from his chair. He shot up happily.

"Freedom!" he shouted. "At last! I'm free!"

"You're so overdramatic," Sirius rolled his eyes. "Fine. Let's invite Remus and Peter over."

"Let's sleep," I said.

"What!?" asked Sirius and Regulus.

"I'm still tired," I said. "But I can't go to sleep unless you both go to sleep because I can't trust you."

They both turned red and didn't argue.

"Let's compromise," I said. "We can have a chess competition."

"Fine," chorused Sirius and Regulus. I rolled my eyes with a grin. This was going to be a long summer.

Not that I'm complaining.

A/N: Cue dramatic trumpets announcing the fiftieth chapter of Fixing the Future! YAY! At last, I have reached chapter fifty! Huge accomplishment! I hope you liked! Siri and Reggi are getting adopted! :D Big thanks to my wonderful reviewers who've helped me get this far: Lady Loophole, sk8boards4ever, jeremiah123 and all my other readers and reviewers from before!

I still don't own Harry Potter.