Carry On

By: Teenlaunch

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

a/n: I've decided that I will do my best to update this story every two weeks, on Thursday. I know that really isn't what a lot of people would like, but with school starting soon, I will need more time to get it up. Anyway, please read and review.

"Harry? Harry, it's time for breakfast!" A voice broke through the fog in Harry's mind.

"Huh? What?" Harry's brain seemed to be frozen. It didn't want to let him get up. He had been having the most wonderful dream, but Ron's voice calling to him made it all seep away.

"Harry! I know you're awake now get up!" Harry's eyes flew open. That wasn't Ron's voice. Remus Lupin was bending over him, hands still on Harry's shoulders from shaking him. "Come on! You're as bad as James!"

Harry gulped. "Oh, sorry, hold on." He jumped out of bed and hurriedly threw on his robes. "Are we late?"

"No." Remus laughed, "Just a few minutes behind schedule."

Harry rolled his eyes and chuckled quietly as they left for breakfast, jogging down the corridors. "So, I get to see what classes I have today."

"Yeah. I hope you're in some of my classes. I could use a study buddy. That is, if you're the exact opposite of James and Sirius."

"I don't usually study extremely long, but I'll be around to help."

"That's better than James and Sirius. All they do is plan pranks. Don't let them get you in trouble." Remus sighed as he and Harry walked into the Great Hall and he sat down across from James and Sirius.

"Aw, Remus! Trying to ruin the new kid before we can have our fun with him?" James laughed as he pulled Harry into a seat.

"Eat up, Harry. You skipped dinner last night." Sirius shoved a plate toward him. Harry nodded but took only a bit of food. He wasn't very hungry despite skipping dinner and now he remembered why. It was the thought of his father that had upset him so much. He was too nauseous to touch food, let alone eat it but he tried anyway, just to placate Sirius.

"Harry Times?" Harry looked up. A girl with long red hair and green eyes was staring down at him. He nodded, dumbfounded and much queasier than before. "Here is your schedule. Ask Remus to help you find all your classes. I'll see you later."

James whistled as she walked away. "Isn't she a beauty? That's Lily Evans, brilliant girl, just not enough so to realize what she's missing." He quickly ruffled his hair even though Lily was walking away, just as Harry had seen him do in the penseive.

Harry, thinking he should look curious, raised an eyebrow. Remus rolled his eyes. "He's talking about himself. He's been after her since third year."

"Ah, well, she'll come around," Harry laughed quietly, a sad smile tugging on his mouth. "Believe me, the girl who 'hates' you secretly loves you. I've seen it happen."

"You think so?" Sirius asked thoughtfully. "I don't think so."

"I'll take that bet," Harry mumbled, not intending for them to hear.

"Ok," Sirius growled. "I'll bet you three galleons they aren't together by graduation."

"Okay," Remus glanced at him. "I'll bet you five galleons they are."

"Six galleons they aren't!" Peter squeaked.

They were all looking at Harry. He thought for a moment. "Ten galleons they will." They gaped at him.

"Are you serious?" James asked.

"Yep." Harry nodded. "But the bet's off if you do anything you normally wouldn't to get her."

James nodded. "All right. I'm in. That means Sirius and Peter will each be out fifteen galleons!"

"Or the other way around," Sirius grumbled.

Harry shrugged. "So, the bet is on."

Someone chuckled lightly behind Harry, making him tense. "Already mixed up with these ruffians, Mr. Times? You certainly don't waste any time! But perhaps you should reconsider and stay out of it?" Harry turned around and almost yelled in surprise. A wizard stood not a foot behind Harry. The man lifted a hand and ran it absently through his grizzled brown hair. A small smile played on his lips as he watched Harry's reaction. He had a weary and slightly pinched look about him, but he held himself gracefully and a playful air showed in him. His eyes bore the same weary expression as his face. He wore extremely tattered and patched robes that hung from his lean frame and a briefcase with peeling letters which read JR Century was clutched in his hand. "You may be happy to know your things are now in your room. That includes trunk, broomstick, and your own clothes. Perhaps you should try for backup seeker. I think you'd even give Mr. Potter here a run for his money."

Harry grinned. "Professor! What are you doing here? How are you?"

The Professor smiled cheekily back. "I've taken the Defense Against the Dark Arts position. The Headmaster was most pleased to hear it too. As for how I've been…Well, I've been better. Worrying myself to death over someone tends to make me ill." Harry reddened slightly and bit his lip, keeping eye contact with his professor as he went on. "But you've…shed some light on the situation. So, I'll see you in class later." He strode past Harry and out of the hall.

The Marauders watched him go in dazed wonder. "You know him?" Remus asked.

"Yeah. He used to teach at my old school. We got pretty close over the summer. It helps to have a teacher as a friend."

"Of course! It always helps if you're the teacher's pet." Sirius grumbled, sharing a look with James.

"That's not always true," Harry said seriously. "It doesn't matter with him. Either you make the grade or you don't."

"Nice to know before you start sucking up to them, eh, Peter?" James asked.

Harry smiled and looked down at his schedule. He groaned. "Man, potions with the Slytherins? I hate potions, and I'm horrible at them!"

"You'll get better," Remus said reassuringly.

"Especially with Remus here, he's a big help," James said, nodding to the young werewolf.

"But I'm not even in the class!" Remus protested.

"Yeah, but you know all the logic and stuff behind it. You just can't brew most the potions," James laughed. Remus grumbled.

Sirius smiled. "Don't worry, Remus. I'm sure if you got poisoned you could just find a bezoar."

"Right, because they're so easy to come by." Remus retorted.

Harry smiled, remembering the last time he'd used a bezoar. "Once you get one you should always keep it on you. You can never know when you'll need it."

Sirius laughed. "Are you that paranoid?"

"No, but my friend should be. He got a sip of poisoned whiskey and almost died. My Professor stood there like an idiot, until I shoved a bezoar down his throat."

"Wow, bet he loved you for that," James chuckled.

"He couldn't complain."

"Come on," Remus urged. "We've got to get to Defense."

"Alright class. I am Professor J.R. Century. I have taught teenagers before, and, believe it or not, I was one once, so don't try to pull the wool over my eyes. Now, I will use a familiar face for any demonstrations, at least until I'm more familiar with you all. So, with the formalities out of the way, Harry, come here and help me."

Harry walked to the front. "Hullo, Remus," Harry whispered. It still felt a little odd to call Lupin by his first name but the man had persisted and would at times not even answer Harry if he called him Professor Lupin. He had claimed it depended on his mood whether he cared or not.

Lupin hushed him. "Don't you dare." Apparently this was one of those times that he cared. Harry just rolled his eyes and stood calmly beside him. Lupin raised his voice as he addressed the class. "Harry and I are going to demonstrate a duel. None of you will be hurt. I want you to watch carefully and hold all questions until the end. We will commentate if we feel necessary." They both moved to the front of the desk and faced off, almost ten feet away from each other. They bowed and settled into comfortable dueling stances, waiting for the impending start.

Harry stared at Lupin. It was the same game every time. They'd stay still as long as possible until an opening came up. Lupin fidgeted and Harry struck. "Impedimenta!" Lupin deflected it and flung a stunner toward Harry. "Protego!" The stunner ricocheted and almost hit Lupin's foot. Harry let a few curses fly over his head as he poured a thin layer of water at Lupin's feet, determined to end the duel quickly and with as little harm to his professor as possible. He sent his own stunner toward Lupin who dodged and sent expelliarmus at him. Harry just had time to freeze the water below Lupin's feet before it hit him.

Harry flew backward, his wand soaring across the room. Just as he hit the wall, he heard Lupin yell as he slipped and fell, his head making a loud cracking noise against the ice. Harry staggered to his feet. He slipped and slid across the ice and made to plop down on Lupin's chest. He missed and fell flat on his back, his legs lying over Lupin's chest. He grabbed Lupin's wand and lifted it above his head. "I win!"

Lupin started laughing and Harry dug his heel into Lupin's side. This only caused Lupin to laugh harder for some reason. Harry scrambled to his feet and slid over to level floor. He waved Lupin's wand to clear the ice and retrieved his own wand. Lupin picked himself off the floor. "Well done, Harry! Oh, I haven't enjoyed myself so much since your third year I'd say." He chuckled to himself, catching his wand as Harry tossed it to him. "Those were the days. Oh well, have a seat, Harry." Lupin looked around at the stunned class. "I see you all expected a different outcome. The truth is that if this had been a real duel, and we had both held nothing back for fear of hurting each other, I probably would have lost in a matter of seconds." Harry snorted at the absurdity of that suggestion. "However, we were much more laid back today, and I know neither of us wanted to spend a week in the hospital wing.

"The first half of this year, in the very least, we will focus on dueling, occasionally throwing in additional lessons when a break is in order. I will often use Harry for these demonstrations because I know his abilities. As you progress, I will use others. Now, this is your first lesson in dueling. Notice that Harry had no hesitation when he attacked me. When you get caught in a duel, the last thing you want to do is hesitate. Why? Because that is when you become vulnerable. Any questions so far?"

Remus raised his hand. "Professor Century, why do you want to teach us about dueling? Shouldn't we be learning about more useful things?"

Lupin leaned back against his desk, arms crossed. "Remus Lupin, I believe." Remus nodded. "For someone with your reputation for brilliance, I would expect a higher understanding from you." James and Sirius snickered. "I don't mean to be harsh by saying that, but you do realize there is a war brewing in our midst, do you not?"

This fact sobered James and Sirius. James spoke up. "But, Sir, won't the war be over by the time we graduate? The ministry has really made some progress in the fight."

Lupin's expression changed from one of mingled surprise to one of knowing sadness. "I am afraid you are far from the truth, Mr. Potter. This war will likely drag on for years, until your children are of age. After all, Voldemort-" The class gasped collectively, all except Sirius, Remus, James, and Harry. Lupin ignored them. "-has already been terrorizing our world for six years or more. Defense Against the Dark Arts will prepare you for this tragedy. You could be in a duel five minutes from now and you would have no idea what to do. That is what the Death Eaters count on. Most of them are cowards, but there are some of them in his army who don't care who you are. They will rip you to shreds if you let them. But Lord Voldemort, James, will not back down from you. Pain is nothing to him. Understand that." Harry pursed his lips. The bell rang, making a few people jump. "I expect you all to know a bit more about dueling before next class." Harry went to get up. "Harry, if I could have a moment?"

"I'll catch up later." Harry waved Remus out. He turned back to Lupin and smiled. Lupin sank into his chair and put his head in his hands. "I-"

"Not a word out of you!" Lupin parted his fingers so he could glare at Harry while hiding his smile. "You have caused me a lot of trouble and many headaches. Do you know what I thought had happened after you disappeared on my watch? I almost had a heart attack. I was sure you'd been shipped straight to Voldemort. So, naturally, I convinced myself you were fine, retrieved your things, and reported to McGonagall."

"Then what?"

"You mean besides making myself sick with worry?"

Harry turned scarlet. "I mean, did you figure out that the bracelets-"

"It's called a Tempus Inflecto, one of a large number of experimental mechanisms that have somehow found their way to us.. You remember that article about the stolen objects from the Department of Mysteries last week? Well, I've figured out what they do."

"What?" Harry sank onto a desk. "You mean that these things are-"

"Yes. Unfortunately, Arthur couldn't get any more information. It would have made the Ministry suspicious." Lupin looked up at Harry. "We have other problems, Harry, ones that stem from our biggest problem."

"Such as?" Harry rested his hands against his knees.

"The Marauders' Map for one. Harry, if they notice us, we will be found out. I'd be careful around your father and the others. You know what we were like separately, but together, Harry, you could be in over your head. I don't know what you can do, but you have to do it quickly. The next full moon is in two weeks." Lupin turned his back to Harry.

"Professor L-Century, how long do you think we'll be stuck here? And how did you know where I was?"

"It so happened that I remembered a boy named Harry Times in my seventh year. I don't remember much about him, but from the strong resemblance I figured it was you."

"So, it was a hunch?"

"More or less. But Arthur's information helped a great deal with my theory. I hoped I was wrong, of course, but no such luck. Harry, understand this, because it is extremely important. I don't know how much you end up telling, or, for that matter, how much we figure out. Either I forgot or a memory charm was placed on me. You must be careful. Every time you reveal something to me, the past me, I will remember it. But you could change the future, your past. As tempting as that may seem, you have to remember the consequences. First and foremost, you could end up not existing."

"I could?"

"Yes. You have to be careful. There are two theories about time. One, it is linear. Two, it is planar. No one is sure which it is, because there have been instances where things have been changed, but at the same time, there have been times where they have already happened. You understand?"

Harry nodded. "Professor Dumbledore already explained the theories to me, in acute detail. He believes time is linear, to an extent. And I agree. You remember how in third year, I told you I thought I had seen my dad scare off the dementors? It wasn't. It was me. If I hadn't survived, I couldn't have gone back in time. And if I hadn't gone back, I wouldn't have survived to save myself. It's all a big circle."

Lupin sighed. "That's true. But we aren't sure that something big enough wouldn't disrupt the line. So, I still want you to be careful. Alright? And as to how long we could be here…I don't know. I hope not long."

"That's two of us, but knowing my luck, it'll be a year."

"Just go for now, Harry. We'll talk more later. You just need to get the map right now. Hurry or I'll get suspicious."

"You-you or young-you?" Harry asked with a snicker.

"Harry!"

Harry walked out the door and started running toward Gryffindor Tower. Happy thoughts chased around his head. He wasn't alone, at least completely. Now he had to take care of the Marauders' Map. "Can my life get any more difficult?"

"Potter!" Harry froze and almost turned when he remembered that he was now Times, not Potter. "Potter, turn around when I'm talking to you."

Harry closed his eyes and turned around. "Can I help you?"

A young Severus Snape was standing in front of him. He was flanked by two girls, one with blonde hair and the other with black. "I want my Potions book back, Potter."

Harry felt his stomach knot at the thought of Snape's book floating around the school with such important things in it. "I don't know what you're talking about. I am Harry Times. Take your problem up with James."

Harry turned back around. "Don't turn your back on me, Potter!"

"He's just an ickle scaredy!" One of the girls cackled.

"Stop, Bella. Don't provoke him."

"Why not? He can't do any damage, Cissy." She cackled.

"Did you say Bella? As in Bellatrix? You two are Bellatrix and Narcissa Black?" Harry turned back around, unable to conceal the grimace on his face, and laughed. "Where is your lovely sister, Andromeda Black, or is it Tonks now? And what about her beautiful baby girl? She dropped out of school didn't she? But somehow she still has a better job than her own mother, or so I've heard."

Bellatrix lunged at him, but Narcissa caught her and held her back. Snape whipped out his wand. "I don't know how you found out about that, but you'll regret saying it." Snape shot a curse toward Harry. Harry threw up a shield.

"Expelliarmus!" Snape was caught off guard. He flew backward and landed hard on the floor. His wand clattered off the ceiling and into Harry's waiting hand.

"Mr. Times!" Harry cringed. He knew that voice. It was McGonagall. "No magic in the corridors! That's detention for a week. Be in my room by eight. I'll have something for you to do."

"Yes, Professor," Harry groaned.

"Good. I'll see you tonight then. Miss Black, Bellatrix, please take Mr. Snape to the hospital wing." She sighed and walked away, closely followed by a tottering Snape and fuming Bellatrix.

After they had gone, Narcissa turned to Harry. "How do you know that, about my sister? We have told no one but Severus." Her tone was sharp and to the point.

"I have ways. So, where's Lucius? I thought you two were in the same year."

Narcissa's eyes widened. "Lucius Malfoy is three years older than me. You know a lot for a transfer student. Usually, Gryffindors don't bother with such information."

"I'm not your usual Gryffindor. I hope we can learn to be friends…now…and in the future."

"Why would I want to be friends with a Gryffindor?"

Harry walked up to her. He pressed Snape's wand into her hand. "Because, there's a little Slytherin in all of us." He walked past her and disappeared into a shortcut hidden by a tapestry.

"Harry?" Sirius's voice carried up the stairs. "You up there?"

Harry bit back a surge of panic. He had been searching through Peter's things for the map. He hastily stuffed everything back inside the trunk and flung himself onto his bed. It was only his fourth day at Hogwarts, but his detentions were almost over. The Marauders had been curious at first about where he was going every night but he blew it off as meetings with Dumbledore.

His time was slowly running out until the next full moon. What could Sirius want that had interrupted his search? Suddenly the door was flung open and all the Marauders paraded inside. They were closely followed by Lupin. Harry frowned. This couldn't be good.

"Professor Century here wanted to talk to you. Don't mind if we stay, do you?" James asked as he and the others got comfortable, obviously not intending to leave even if Harry objected.

Harry shrugged. Lupin was looking down at him with something akin to amusement. "How on earth did you manage to get detention your first day here?"

"Detention! You told us you were having meetings with Dumbledore!" Sirius barked.

Harry ignored him. "I got into a spat with some certain Slytherins."

"Who?" James asked, propping himself up on his elbows.

"Severus Snape and…Bellatrix Black."

Lupin's eyes flashed. "Ah, well, I guess I'll let it slide. What I really wanted to know is whether you have you been working on finding that layout I asked you for?"

"Layout? Oh, that!" Harry berated himself for the small slip-up. "No luck yet, Sir. And I still need the charm to fix it."

Lupin sighed. "Tell me when you find it. Alright?" He turned and walked from the room.

"Nosy git," Sirius grumbled. The others laughed. Harry smiled slightly and relaxed onto his bed.

"What sort of layout does he need?" Remus asked.

"He wants one of Hogwarts and the grounds. It's for a project later this year." Harry fought back a triumphant grin as Peter fell into the trap.

"We can help. We have the Ma-" Peter was knocked backward by three pillows, each thrown by his fellow Marauders.

"What Peter means is we can help make one," James explained hurriedly.

"Yeah," Sirius agreed, sharing a look with James. "We know this place really well."

"Thanks for the offer, but Professor Century wants a specific one. It's really a fantastic accomplishment he says. It has extremely complex magic that allows hundreds of people to be tracked at the same time. Useful, isn't it?"

"Y-yeah," Sirius stuttered, his eyes darting to James's trunk. "Amazing!"

"Yes, well. I don't know about you, but I'm tired. G'night." Harry drew his curtains closed and smiled. That conversation had gone quite well. At least now he knew the map was in James's trunk. Sirius really needed to work on being discreet, because he wasn't all that good.

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: if one falls down, his friend can help him up, but pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Okay, Tempus Inflecto is Latin, obviously and means time change/sway. However, remember that the object is experimental, which means the name may be a little far off from what they really want it to do. (I hope that makes sense…)