Carry On

By: Teenlaunch

Disclaimer: I would not be writing this if I were JK Rowling. Can we move on?

a/n: Okay, I know that I have a few people already waiting for this, so here's the second installment. I hope it lives up to expectations. I will say that a few people might find it a tad slow at the beginning, but if you love Marauder stories as much as I do, I believe this will satisfy a few of you. Sorry it's so short, but please read and review anyway.

Harry awoke slowly. His entire body was aching and he couldn't remember why. It all came back to him in a rush. He sat up and felt his chest. The strange object that had attached itself to his chest was gone, but he noticed that his arms and legs felt a bit heavier than normal. He reached down to massage his wrists and felt something oddly smooth, too smooth. He looked down at his wrists and ankles saw that the device had separated into four pieces, but they looked different than the original. Instead of a medallion, the part on his left wrist resembled a gaudy watch, with no face or hands inside the small gem-shaped bubble. The other three were simple, skin-tight black bands. They moved as though they were part of his skin, only black and much too smooth. Harry tried to pull one off but failed, not even able to get a fingernail under them.

He sighed in defeat and stood up. He realized with a jolt that this wasn't where he'd fallen. He was now inside and the stones forming the walls around him looked extremely familiar. He ran to the door and flung it open. Harry let out a gasp when he found a wizened face gazing at him. "Ah, finally awake, good! You took a rather nasty fall, young man, right into the lake. At first I thought you were one of my students, but upon closer inspection, I saw I was wrong. So, instead of letting Poppy torment you upon awakening, I brought you to my office, where I believe you were most comfortable for the few hours you were out. Well, as long as you are up, please come join me for tea and we will discuss your incident." The man's blunt statements startled Harry into obeying without complaint.

The man led him into a large circular room, one Harry had visited many times in his nightmares as well as his time during school. He fell into the armchair in front of the desk and gazed around. A pensive sat on a table behind him. A patched hat sat above a cabinet, twitching every now and then. A large red-gold bird was perched above the wizard's head. And a number of silver, whirring and spinning instruments were placed precariously everywhere. But what really set off the room was the wizard himself. His hair and beard were gleaming white and long enough to be tucked into his belt. He wore half-moon spectacles behind which his blue eyes were sparkling with a seemingly hidden knowledge. He was old, but nowhere near as old as Harry remembered him. It was Dumbledore.

Harry felt his hands start to shake. He clasped them together and leaned forward, determined not to look up, at least until asked. He started murmuring under his breath. "P-Professor Dumbledore…it's not possible…I'm dreaming. That's it. I have to be." What other explanation could there be?

"My boy, calm down. You obviously just woke from a nightmare. It seems you know me at least. Good, good. But I am afraid I do not know your name at all. Would you please tell me so we can establish some even ground?"

Harry's brow furrowed. This had never happened before. No matter how many times Harry dreamt about Dumbledore, he always knew his name. There was something very odd going on. He drew out his wand and pointed it at the man's face menacingly. Dumbledore just blinked in reply. "Who are you and why are you impersonating Albus Dumbledore?"

"I have not a clue what you mean, my boy."

Harry began again, keeping his wand in his hand, but lowering it to his knee. "The real Dumbledore knew me for many years, even held me as a baby. He knew everything about me. Why would he ask such a meaningless question? That was a major mistake in your plan." Harry looked up when silence ensued.

Dumbledore was staring at him in a totally different light. "I assure you we have never met. But I have met someone who looks like your double. In fact, he has already visited my office and it is only the second day of term. Could you tell me who you believe that is?"

Harry shook his head, frowning slightly. "No." His eyes fell on a calendar beside the desk. It was turned to September but nothing else was visible.

"His name is James Potter. I would have guessed that to be your name, but you were laying in that back room when James was in here only a few hours ago."

Harry felt his blood run cold. "James? James Potter? But…That can't…He's been…" Harry sprang up and seized the calendar. He turned it over and the large numbers declaring 1977 glared up at him. The calendar slipped from his numb fingers and onto the floor as he slumped into the nearest chair. "Is it really…really the year 1977?"

"Yes. I must say I am surprised by your shock. I did not think you had hit your head that hard."

"I didn't, Sir. That must mean you really are Dumbledore. I-I'm sorry about my reaction. It's a bad habit of mine."

"Quite alright, but I do not believe you have explained yourself."

"I…I don't understand myself. I wasn't born until 1980. How could I be-"

"Ah…that explains it." Dumbledore chuckled, cutting him off with a slight wave of his hand. "I did not expect this for a long while honestly."

"What, Sir?" Harry asked, sitting up and staring at the smiling Professor.

"A time traveler, of course. That is the only explanation for your confusion, appearance, and hostile reaction, as well. Taking this into consideration, I now have at least a last name for you. I believe you are, as anyone would guess, related to James Potter. Your father perhaps?"

"Yes, Sir." Harry paused, still confused. "So, time travel really is possible? I mean, I've used a time-turner, but I didn't think it could take you back very far."

"True…Mr…I am sorry, I do not think I caught your full name."

"Harry, Harry James Potter."

"Harry, you are correct in your theory about time-turners. You see, time travel is illegal. Even getting a hold of a time-turner is extremely hard. Any and all other forms of time-travel are illegal. I must say I expected nothing less from James Potter's son."

"I didn't choose to come at all!" Harry jumped out of his seat in indignation. "It was this thing!" Harry tried again to relieve himself of the bracelet but it refused to budge.

"You are suggesting they were the cause of your time traveling?"

"Yes. And I can't remove them."

"Well then, it seems you are stuck here until I find a solution." Dumbledore stood and walked over to Harry. "Will you mind being a student until then?"

"Not at all, Professor."

"Very well, I believe, however, it would be in both our interests to refrain from spilling any more secrets about the future. We do not want to change anything or give the media an unexpected field day." He smiled slightly. "So, you must try not to tell anything to anyone, Harry. However, if something does get out, memory charms can be used."

"What about my name? And my cover story?"

"Let me worry about your name, and the staff. You may make up your own story. Goodness knows you could probably make up some good ones, knowing your father." Dumbledore smiled.

"Uh, yeah."

Harry's mind was in turmoil. He was back at Hogwarts! But who was responsible for bringing him into the past? It just didn't make sense. According to Dumbledore, time travel was illegal because no one knew whether time was linear or planar. Either way, the Headmaster didn't want to take any risks. He had explained that if his guess about the timeline being linear was correct, then certain things had to happen at some point so time did not become trapped in an unending cycle. If a time traveler did not let a certain event transpire, the timeline would become stuck in that time period. It was all rather confusing and Harry didn't like thinking about it. He was tempted to run away and find a way out of it, but if Dumbledore couldn't find a way, how could he? Harry sighed and lay back on the grass. He was in really hot water now.

Dumbledore was taking care of everything for him. He would be in Gryffindor, a seventh year. His classes would be exactly like his sixth year and maybe he'd try out for backup seeker. But he doubted anything could put his mind to rest. "Oy, watch out!"

Harry jumped up at the call, startled rudely out of his musings. A large boarhound was racing toward him, chasing what looked like a niffler or an oddly colored chipmunk. Harry grabbed the hound's collar as it rammed into him. It dragged him to the ground, forgot the niffler, and started licking his face. "Fang," Harry whispered. "Get off."

"Sorry about that." Fang was dragged away from him. "Fang's usually well behaved."

Harry got up. "That's okay." A young Remus Lupin was standing before him. Harry gave him a half smile, too startled to do anything else at that moment. "Um, hi. I'm the new transfer student. Name's Harry Times. And you are?"

"Remus Lupin. I'd shake your hand, but, well…" Remus nodded at the boarhound which, Harry noticed, had to be at least half the boy's weight.

"I'll get him. I think he'll follow me." Harry turned toward Hagrid's hut then mentally berated himself. He wasn't supposed to know anything about Hagrid and he especially wasn't supposed to know where the Game Keeper lived. "Where are we taking him?"

"To Hagrid's. He's the Game Keeper. Huge fellow! Come on, I'll introduce you." Remus released Fang and led him to Hagrid's hut. "Hagrid! Hagrid! You have a guest!"

"Hold on a minute! I got teh get outta this mess." Hagrid's back appeared in the doorway. He was hopping on one foot, fighting off some unknown creature with sharp jabs from his pink umbrella. "Move along. Get off!" He slammed the door and turned around. "Well, wha' do we 'ave here?"

"Hagrid, this is our transfer student, Harry Times." Remus gestured to Harry who was shooing Fang into the house while trying to catch a glimpse of the creatures inside.

"Well, it's good teh meet yeh." Hagrid shook Harry's hand so hard that Harry's shoulder gave a nasty pop. But he smiled and shook Hagrid's hand just as hard, knowing the giant liked anyone with a firm handshake and a smile.

"Glad to meet you, Hagrid. Rubeus Hagrid, if I'm not mistaken."

"Yes! Now, how'd yeh know tha'?" Hagrid asked, amazed that a foreigner knew his name.

Harry was prepared for this and rattled off his excuse. "There's a list of the staff in Dumbledore's office. I just remember seeing your name."

"Tha' so? Well, I've got work teh do. See yeh both later, Harry, Remus!"

The sound of his name from Hagrid made Harry smile. After all, he felt quite alone now and he was, whether he wanted to admit it or not. And here was Remus Lupin, 17, skinny and slightly pale yet healthy and happy, with only a smattering of gray hairs, walking beside him. He was starting to wonder how he was going to get through this without going paranoid.

"Oh, Harry. Have you been to the common room yet? Wait, what house are you in?" They were inside now, heading toward Gryffindor Tower.

"I've been there. And I'm in Gryffindor. Don't worry."

"I knew it!" Remus looked back at him and then stopped in his tracks, staring. "I just noticed. You look exactly like one of my best friends. His name's James Potter."

"Really? He can't look exactly like me." They had reached the Fat Lady.

"Bravery." Harry filed the password away and followed Remus through the portrait hole and into the crowded common room. "No, really. Except for your eyes and that scar, you're identical."

"Remus, James! Over here!" A voice rich with emotion called out to the pair. Harry froze as he recognized who the voice belonged to without even turning to look at him.

Harry looked over towards the fire. Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew were sitting on the flagstone floor, books already strewn in front of them. "Sirius," Harry whispered. He felt his heart contract as his eyes locked on the familiar face. His godfather was almost exactly like he'd imagined him to be at school, with only a few small differences. Sirius's black hair was unmatted, framing his face, and relatively short compared to how he had always seen it. He wore a large grin, and his eyes were very much alive, completely opposite of the Sirius he had known. Laughter bubbled from his voice when he talked.

"Sirius!" Remus laughed. "What are you up to?"

"What ever do you mean, Remus?" Sirius asked, smiling innocently.

Remus rolled his eyes. "Where's James?"

"What are you talking about? James is right beside you. And they say you're the smart one!" Sirius gave a bark-like laugh at his teasing. Just then, James came bounding down the stairs from the dorms and Harry couldn't help but stare at him.

James Potter was indeed handsome and Harry now knew why everyone always commented on his uncanny resemblance to his father. James was a bit taller than Harry and was more confident. Harry was pleased to note that he did not strut, as Snape had always told him, but walked with his head held high, an air of carefree bliss surrounding him. His warm, laughing hazel eyes swept around the room, looking for something, and his face lit up in joy when he spotted his friends.

"Sirius, Remus, Peter!" James walked over to them. "What are you all doing down here? We've got pranks to plan." He caught sight of Sirius and Peter's stunned faces. "What's wrong with you two?"

"Remus! What did you do?" Sirius asked in a shocked tone, quickly comparing James and Harry while his best friend looked on in confusion. "Why'd you made a carbon copy of James over the summer? You can't have missed him that much!"

James looked around at Harry. His eyes widened in astonishment. "Wow. He looks just like me. This is…amazing! How'd you do it, Moony?" James circled Harry, taking in everything about him. "But the eyes are wrong, and I don't have a scar."

Harry, who had never liked the scrutiny he received at home, felt uncomfortable with his father circling him like a hawk and decided to get out of his sight as soon as possible. "That's because I am not you, James. I'm Harry Times, a…a transfer student. I had no idea that I looked so much like you." Harry wished desperately that he didn't have to lie. He was accustomed to doing so, but not to his own father.

"Well, now you do!" James exclaimed, extending his hand for Harry to shake. "James Potter."

Sirius closed his mouth and suddenly popped up from his seat beside Peter. "Sirius Black." Harry took Sirius's hand and had to fight himself to let go but turned to the last Marauder and took his hand.

"Peter Pettigrew."

Harry nodded. "Nice to meet you."

"Well, it looks like we're going to be dorm mates. You snore at all?" Sirius asked.

Remus rolled his eyes. "Padfoot, leave him alone. Even if he does, you won't notice a thing."

"What are you implying?" Sirius asked, his eyes narrowing.

"Oh, nothing," James sighed. "Never mind, Pads, never mind. So, Harry, you feel up to some exploding snap?"

"Er, actually, I…um…It's been a long day. So, if you don't mind, I'm going to bed before I drop. I'll see you all later."

Harry sprinted up the stairs and went to the only bed without a trunk. He sat down, but sprang back up immediately. A pile of new books and a robe sat on his bed. Harry put them on his bedside table and lay down to sleep.

How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?

Psalm 13:2

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