Chapter 60

It instantly became apparent that Harry was nervous. He stood at the front of the room with the four Marauders, Frank, Alice, Lily, Andromeda, and Pandora all looking at him expectantly. Elaina stood at his side staring at the magical artifact that her boyfriend held in his hands. They had discussed how Harry should go about telling his friends the truth, and the decision to go with a few memories for each person was the only way he could achieve it. He wanted to ensure everyone believed him. He wanted to ensure no one thought he was a nutter.

Facing down this group with the truth on the tip of his tongue made butterflies soar through his stomach as he tried to find the right words, "With the exception of Peter and Pandora you were all in Hogsmeade when Voldemort invaded my mind. You all heard me taunt him with the belief that I am a seer and could see the future."

Nods from the group followed, and Harry swallowed, "In our first duel back at Christmas, Voldemort invaded my mind, and only caught a glimpse of my past. The events he saw confused him and appeared impossible, so he jumped to conclusions. I have selected one memory for each of you that will better explain the truth. A truth that he now knows."

"The fact of the matter is. I am from the future. I was born in the year 1980. I know that is going to be hard to believe, and you will all have a lot of questions, but I am going to explain it to everyone if you will all give me the time to do it." Harry said in a rushed voice.

Most of the room had wide eyes, and nearly as one they all began to argue, but James cut them all off stepping to the front of the group, "It's true. I didn't know until a few days ago, but my family invented the lie to protect him. Honestly after it's all said and done it makes a lot more sense then the lies did. Trust me, it's hard to adjust too, but he can back it up with the memories. Elaina has seen more than I have. She can confirm it."

Elaina nodded in confirmation, and Harry began meeting the eyes of each of his friends he continued, "Regardless of that, when we enter my memory some of you will take a magical vow that you will not speak of what you saw to anyone outside of this room. The bottom line is that the truth may be out there, but my family doesn't believe Voldemort will be in a rush to share it. This information is dangerous and I can't have it repeated. If you wish you can exit the room, do so now."

Peter fidgeted as he looked to see if anyone else would protest, and when they didn't he froze. Harry seemed to be watching the nervous teen, but said nothing directed towards him. Instead he merely nodded, calling the boy out, "Peter you will be first. The memory will require the least explanation, and you will be able to leave when I am done."

The rat animagus did not appear thrilled to be going first, but he nervously stepped forward and Harry tried to offer him an encouraging smile, "I am not going to hurt you Peter. No matter what you see. Elaina will enter the memory with us, and observe the oath. She will then watch silently as she observes what happened."

"Shouldn't we all be able to see each memory?" Sirius asked impatiently.

"I had tried to think of a single memory that would hold the most impact with each of you, but in the end, this is going to be the best way. Sirius…this isn't going to be easy for anyone in this room. I need you to trust me." Harry pleaded.

Frowning at his friend he nodded after a moment of hesitation. Gratefully Harry offered a forced smile and motioned for Peter to join him at the pensieve. In moments the three of them entered the memory and Harry snapped his fingers pausing the scene around him. Peter's eyes widened as he looked around the area trying to familiarize himself, "We are in the Shrieking Shack?"

"Yes." Harry admitted, "Now Peter. Before I show you what I want to show you, I need you to make the oath."

Nervously the boy scratched the back of his head, "Is that really necessary?"

"For you most of all it is." Harry said ominously.

"I've never made a magical vow." Peter squeaked out.

Glancing behind him to see if Elaina had drawn her wand he noted that she had, preparing him to ask his next question, "That's good. Then let's start by rolling up your sleeves."

The boy seemed unaware of the underlying accusation by Harry's prompt, but still didn't move for a moment as if considering his options. Harry could feel Elaina's magic become restless behind him and prepared to give the order to stun the boy, but he was surprised when Peter rolled his sleeves up showing pale unblemished skin. Harry blinked a few times before accepting the truth of the matter, "I'm glad it's not too late."

"Too late for what?" Peter asked in confusion.

Instead of answering the question Harry gestured for his girlfriend to come forward, "Elaina has the words of your oath written. They won't endanger you, and you will be able to share it with the other Marauders if you wish. If you don't, I will have to make sure no one tells you the truth. I am sorry, but it has to be this way."

Peter glanced at the parchment offered to him, and the two made the vow with Elaina's commands. With a snap of Harry's fingers the memory began. The trio watched as Harry confronted Sirius and Peter eyes' widened when an older Remus appeared disarming Harry. Peter's voice was practically a whisper, "What is this?"

"Keep watching." Harry said evenly.

The scene evolved from the appearance of Snape, to the shifting of Peter. The boy beside him paled as the truth of his betrayal was laid out for all three to see. By the end of the memory it was clear Peter was going into shock and Harry snapped his fingers pausing the scene again, "This memory Peter. This was what made me an orphan…nearly twenty years in the future."

Peter was trembling as he hunched over into a standing fetal position and buried his face in his hands before sliding them to the back of his hair. Before Harry or Elaina could speak to the boy he began sobbing softly, shaking his head in denial. Harry did not attempt to comfort the boy, but spoke in the same even voice, "Now you understand why I asked to see your arms. I had to know if you had already taken the mark."

Choking out the words Peter rose to his feet pointing his finger in his face, "The memory is fake! It has to be!"

"So you've never met Voldemort? You've never conspired with the Death Eaters? You expect me to believe that cock and bull story you fed them about why you weren't in Hogsmeade?" Harry spat.

Peter recoiled and his eyes were wide like a cornered animal. Harry expected the boy to go for his wand, and it seemed as if he considered it for a brief moment before he remembered who he would be up against. The next thoughts seemed to be to shift into his animagus form, but he wouldn't be able to escape the memory that way. Instead Harry gave him no choice and stepped to be nose to nose with him, "How deep are you in? You haven't taken the mark and that is good. That means I don't have to kill you and make it look like an accident."

Peter seemed to shrivel under the intensity of Harry's threat, and the teen grabbed him by the shirt when no answer came, "How deep are you? Deep enough that they chanced their whole operation by telling you to stay away, obviously."

"Please Harry, I didn't know!" Peter wailed in panic.

"Didn't know that the Death Eaters were going to attack Hogsmeade? You're full of it Peter. Your friends went in there and you would've left them to die." Harry said furiously pushing the boy back.

Peter went for his wand as he stumbled, but Elaina had him disarmed with a flick of her wand. Peter seemed panicked, and Harry wanted nothing more than to thrash the boy, but instead took a calming breath, "You have two options, Peter, and you will decide now."

The boy seemed terrified, but nodded his head frantically in understanding. Harry resisted the urge to throttle the rat, and spoke calmly, "You can walk out of this memory, and end your friendship with the Marauders. Play distant for the rest of the year, and when we graduate you'll go separate ways. Whether that is to the Death Eaters is your business, but I will count you as my enemy if we cross paths again."

Elaina glanced at Harry in surprise at the harshness of his words, but said nothing as Harry kept his eyes on the now petrified boy, "Or you tell me everything. Who you are in league with, what you know, and how I might find a few people I would desperately like to get to. Do that and you will have proved your allegiance will be different this time, and to the rest of the group nothing has to change."

Harry and Elaina both stared at the boy whose eyes went back and forth between the two rapidly as if calculating his chance of escape. At last the boy choked out, "What happens to me in your time?"

"You kill yourself right in front of me. A life debt you owe me took your life. You suffocate yourself with your own hand." Harry said in a casual tone.

Flinching at the casual tone Peter nodded with tears falling down his face, "I look so miserable. Sirius went to prison. Remus looked horrible. James…dead. I don't want that to be my future. I'm just scared, Harry."

"It is because of that fact you are still alive. I know you were just seventeen, Wormtail. In my time you had no one to lean on and Voldemort's victory was probably certain…but that doesn't change the fact that you were a coward and betrayed your friends, my family." Peter twitched at his words, but Harry continued, "Be better this time. Let me help you. We can protect your friends and you."

Harry struggled to do it, but he offered the boy his hand. The memory of him slicing his arm open in the graveyard and resurrecting Voldemort flashing through his mind. He could only hope he wasn't making a mistake when Peter hesitantly took the hand, "Go get some rest. I wouldn't tell the others what you saw here. I don't know if they would ever trust you again. For now your secret is safe with me. If you do change your mind, Peter, make sure you make it obvious. A hint of betrayal from you and I will kill you."

Shivering at the tone of his threat Peter released his hand like it had been burned, and the three departed the pensieve. When they were out the others seemed alarmed at the state of Peter. Even James, who had no idea what his friend endured, moved to question him, but Peter just made excuses and departed the room as fast as possible.

"You did the right thing, Harry." Elaina comforted, "I know it was hard."

"The hardest choices require the strongest wills." Harry returned.

James stormed forward, "What did you say to him? What did he see?"

"His future, but it is his business whether he chooses to share it with you." Harry said calmly.

Stepping past his birth father he addressed his next friend, "Come on Pandora."

Unlike Peter he didn't make Luna's mum make the oath. He trusted the others. He merely wanted to keep Peter on a leash, and had every intention of keeping it that way. Harry would never trust the rat, but maybe one day he could live beside him without wanting to blast him through a wall.

When Pandora entered the memory it was of Luna and Harry's encounter in the Forbidden Forest. With a snap of his fingers Harry froze the memory as he approached his past self, "Pandora I know this is going to be hard to believe, but this is Luna, your-"

"Daughter." She interrupted with a look of awe, "She's beautiful."

"She was." Harry said fondly, "She was one of my best friends. She was there for me in a time when it felt like the entire world was against me. Let's watch this together."

The memory played and they watched as Luna explained thestrals and how she saw them. The look of joy quickly faded from Pandora's face as she watched the girl trying to memorize her features desperately. The memory wasn't very long and when it was over she turned to Harry, "Can I see another?"

"Another time, yes. First I need to show you something else." Harry explained feeling his breath catch. He couldn't imagine showing her the death of her daughter, but the fall of her husband was more important for this case.

While Harry changed the memory Elaina asked Pandora, "You seem to be taking this well?"

"It was obvious there was something special about you, Harry. Xeno and I had theorized you could be from the future, or a seer. When we heard Voldemort had claimed you to be able to see the future we thought that was the obvious answer, but this makes just as much sense." Pandora stated as if she were talking about the weather.

Harry couldn't fight the smile crossing his face. She reasoned it just like Luna would have, maybe minus some made up magical creatures, but she always had a way of thinking outside the box. The next memory was Xeno breaking down after the story of the Deathly Hallows, and summoning the Death Eaters to attack the rook shaped house.

Giving her a moment to process what she had seen, a tear slipped down her face, before Harry spoke, "Pandora, everyone in the room outside this memory except Andromeda is dead in my time. Voldemort wins. I don't know if Xenophilius survived the attack on the Rook, but I never saw him again."

"What happens to Luna?" She asked in fear.

Harry stared at the woman, and wasn't able to say the words as he felt a pain lance through his heart as he shook his head. The woman collapsed into sobs and Harry pulled them out of the memory. When they exited she fell to the floor instantly comforted by Andi and Elaina.

Taking a deep breath he allowed the girls to comfort their friend as he turned to Alice and Frank, "You two can come together. The memories I will show you will be the same."

The two exchanged looks and glanced at the sobbing girl before following Harry into the pensieve. Elaina didn't follow this time as she stayed at Pandora's side, and Harry was okay with that as he promised them they didn't need to make an oath for what they were going to see.

Turning his head at the last moment Harry looked to James, "You can come, Prongs. Just please remain quiet and observe. You have a right to see this."

James looked curious by the invitation, but nodded as he stepped forward to join Harry, Alice, and Frank in the pensieve. The room around them changed in a sea of mist as a hospital room in St. Mungos appeared. A teenager a few years younger than those present was leaning over the bed of a woman holding her hand gently. Frank stepped forward to get a better look at that boy and the woman and immediately flinched back when his mind caught up with what he was seeing. Alice hand shot to her mouth, and they glanced at the other body in the room that was staring blankly into the ceiling. Frank became angry in his confusion, "What the hell is this?"

"This is Christmas 1995. Saint Mungos in the long term spell damage ward. I don't think I have to tell you who any of the people in this room are." Harry said softly.

Alice only had eyes for the boy as she approached the opposite side of the bed to get a good look at him, "He's so handsome. He looks just like us."

Harry smiled at the woman offering a little explanation, "He is just like you, Alice. I didn't know it at the time, but I see so much of him in you two. He was one of my best mates. All his kindness, trust, and faith, comes from you."

Turning to Frank with affection in his heart for the two he said, "His strength however comes from you Frank. There is a reason I befriended you two the way I did. I was anxious to meet my best mate's parents, but more than that…Alice you were my godmother."

Alice looked over joyed by the words, but it died so fast, "Harry…oh my…you…you really are from the future."

It wasn't a question, and Harry didn't try to shame the statement, and instead nodded, "Born to Lily and James Potter in 1980. Neville and I were born one day apart."

Frank's mouth dropped and turned to James in the corner, "How long have you known? Does Lily know?"

James shook his head, "I found out a few days ago. It was not a secret I was going to allow to be kept from Lily."

Harry confirmed the words with a nod, "I have the most to tell her. It is why I am saving her for last. For what it is worth. I am sorry for deceiving you two. Almost as much as Lily and James, you both deserved the truth."

Frank shook his head, "I can't believe it."

Harry stepped towards his friend putting a hand on his shoulder, "Frank…believe it. Where I come from, Voldemort wins. He kills me. Kills all my friends. The future is not a kind place. There is a lot to explain, but I want to give you a little detail, before I show you how proud you should be of your son. What you are seeing here is something my friends and I knew nothing about. Neville had kept this secret from us, his friends. We never knew what happened to his family, but we suspected they died like mine. It was here we found that you had both been tortured into insanity by Bellatrix and the other Lestranges."

It was clear the two had a hundred questions, but Harry shook his head, "Not yet, let's watch this next memory, and we can talk more later."

The memory shifted to the Department of Mysteries and immediately a fight was erupting around them. Frank ducked under a spell that would've gone right through them, and their eyes were going everywhere, until Harry pointed to where he and Neville were standing fighting two Death Eaters together. The two gasped and Harry grinned, "We were fifteen and already a force to be reckoned with."

They watched as Neville disarmed Selewyn and Harry blasted Nott in the chest with a blasting charm and they cheered. The two defended each other like it was second nature, and with a snap of his fingers Harry froze the memory, "Neville was one of the bravest people I ever knew. He grew into his magic in his fifth year after being a trainwreck in his first four. No one respected him until this year, and by the end of our seventh year he was the leader of the school when Voldemort attacked. He fought with me until the final hours of the war, bravely. He never hesitated, and never gave up."

"What happened to him?" Frank asked in awe.

"He was killed, Frank. In the final hours of the war." Harry said quietly.

"I want to see it!" Frank demanded.

Harry frowned, "That isn't a good idea, Frank. Trust me. Neville…he didn't…he didn't go peacefully."

This last bit was choked out and Frank glared at the teen, "We have a right to know."

Harry looked at Alice, "You don't have to watch. Alice, it's horrible. Please don't."

Alice shook her head, "I have to know what my son, our son, endured."

Swallowing hard, Harry turned to his birth father, "James, the reason I invited you into this memory was that Neville was supposed to be your godson. You passed before Frank and Alice did, to my knowledge another was never named. What we are about to watch is horrible, if you want to-"

"Just play the memory, Harry." James interrupted looking upset.

Sighing, Harry waved his hands around and pulled a memory out with his wand, "Brace yourselves."

The scene jumped from one fight to another. This time Harry and Neville stood back to back surrounded by Death Eaters. It quickly became apparent that the duo were prepared to outmatch any who stepped in their path. Harry watched the faces of Frank and Alice for a long moment bracing himself as he saw Rodolphus and Rookwood enter the fight. It wasn't long before Neville was disarmed and was hit with the cruciatas curse. As soon as he began screaming Harry snapped his fingers pausing the memory.

Alice looked horrified while Frank looked angry, "Harry! Continue the memory."

"Frank, please. It's more of the same. We don't win this fight." Harry pleaded.

"Harry!" Frank barked and Harry snapped his finger resuming the memory.

Harry watched as his nightmare occurred around him. The Death Eaters had overwhelmed them and continuosly struck Neville with the torture curse. At some point Alice backed out of the memory sobbing, but Frank was watching with clenched fists, while James looked pale.

Time passed like an eternity until Harry finally turned the tides by striking Rodolphus with the killing curse. The duel with Rookwood was short lived before the retreat was called and Frank watched with tears rolling down his face as Harry held Neville in his final moments. James merely stared in horror with silent tears, his hands in fist.

When it was over Harry put a hand on his friend's shoulder, "Of all the horrible things I experienced in my life, Frank, this was one of the worst. Come on."

Harry pulled them out of the pensieve, and Frank was just shell shocked. The group was frozen as they watched Frank fall to his knees. No sobs, no chokes, just silent tears.

James latched onto Harry as they came out, "No more of that, Harry."

"I am showing everyone the truth. It's not a pleasant thing, James. You want to know why I really pushed everyone so hard? I don't want what you just saw, happen to anyone here." Harry spat angrily.

Stepping past James and trying to move on from the pain he just inflicted on the Longbottoms he looked to Andromeda, "Come on, Andi."

When they entered the pensieve Harry offered the woman a smile, "Some surprises are better left for the future. Andi there is so much I want to tell you, but I need to show you something, before I explain any further."

The teen nodded and Harry showed her the memory of Hermione and Harry in the graveyard in Godric's Hollow on Christmas Eve. As the memory rolled on Andi whispered, "Lord Black lied to us. You weren't on the family tree at all."

"My godfather in this world protected me. As he would have for any son of Charlus and Dorea Potter." Harry said with a slight smile.

"You're from the future." She stated dumbly as she stared at the tombstone of James and Lily Potter with a heaviness in her chest.

"Yes." Harry said simply, "There is so much more I want to show you, but I don't know your past well enough and I don't want to endanger the future you are supposed to have. I will tell you that you end up bringing to life a very good friend of mine, and I don't wish to do anything or show you anything that can change that."

Harry went on to tell her what life was like in his time, and about some of the memories he had shown the others thus far. By the end she was frustrated, but understanding that Harry could not show her more, because even the age of the girl could be enough to indicate what happened, and he would not risk Tonks like that.

When they exited the memory Sirius, Remus, and Lily looked relieved that he had not brought back another crier. Harry however called Sirius and Remus forward next with a sad smile, "We can do yours together. Come on."

The two Marauders looked nervous and Harry clapped them on the shoulder gently as the two entered the pensieve together. The first memory was a no brainer to Harry. They were in the high towers of Hogwarts, and young Harry was being taught the patronus by his defense Professor. Remus was amazed at what he was seeing and he smiled widely through emotional eyes, "I become a Hogwarts Professor?"

With sadness tinting his voice Harry was honest, "For a short time. You were the best defense professor we had."

Sirius clapped his friend on the back in congratulations with a genuine smile on his face, clearly happy for the werewolf. Harry took a long sigh before turning to face the two, "This next memory is going to be hard to understand. Sirius, you went to prison for a crime you didn't commit. You were my godfather. As you both have probably already figured out, James is my real father and was murdered when I was a baby. I promise I am going to explain, just give me some time."

Both just stared at him with horrified expressions so he continued, "Sirius you were the first person to ever escape Azkaban, and you were on the run for nearly an entire year, before you see what happens next. Long story short, and leaving out a lot of details, Remus didn't take his potion, and things went terribly wrong."

The memory changed and Remus watched in horror as Harry tried to defend Sirius and fight his changed form. They watched all the way until Harry conjured the patronus across the lake, and the two Marauders watched with pride as Prongs knocked away all the dementors. Even in death the Marauders would ride together.

Sirius was choked up by the end, but not yet in tears, while Remus just looked horribly embarrassed by the problems he had caused, "This was not your fault Remus. There were a lot of things I can't show you yet that led us to being in that situation. The point is that Sirius remained on the run, and you left Hogwarts at the end of the year to help Sirius. This next memory though…it's going to be hard to watch."

The memory began exactly where he wanted it. Sirius and Harry dueling side by side and winning, "Nice one James!"

The two watched with glee as Sirius pounced on Lucius Malfoy knocking him backwards, but the smiles turned to horror when suddenly Bellatrix hit Sirius dead in the chest with the killing curse sending him through the veil.

Remus put both hands on his head yelling out in despair. Sirius for his part just watched in shock as his body disappeared. Harry snapped his fingers, freezing the memory and sighing, "This was one of the worst nights of my life. To me Sirius was the only family I had left. Remus after this you were all I had left of my parents.

Remus watched when the memory resumed as his future self held Harry back temporarily in the memory, and the teenager sighed, "You were the last Marauder, Remus."

Remus recoiled, looking at Harry in shock. Peter and Remus may have died within a day or two of each other, but regardless it was true. Remus was the last of the four to pass, and the burden of that seemed to take hold of the teen as Harry pulled them from the memory. Remus had tears in his eyes knowing the fate of his friends, while Sirius was just in shock.

The next memory that Harry started was a brief one. It was during the cease fire as Harry entered the Great Hall and saw that the room was lined with dead bodies, and the injured were being treated on the sides. The memory paused on Harry looking over the body of the last Marauder and Harry spoke softly, "This was the final night of fighting. The woman next to you was your wife, Remus. You had a little boy together. Teddy. I wish I could tell you more, but this was the end for all of us."

Harry swiped his wand in a gentle horizontal pattern ending the memory as both Marauders seemed frozen in horror.

(A/N) There is a lot more to go, so I had to split it in two chapters, see you all next week. Join me on Discord and read through Chapter 80 for free. Just find "The Hunters Lounge" or add me on Discord OrionB15. You can also read through the end of the story for just 1$ on Pat(reon).

Cheers everyone, and Merry Christmas.