Chapter 2
Spring 1978
Seventh year is turning out way better than expected, James thinks as he props his feet on the chair beside him. The early spring sun warms his face through the window, and Mick Jagger’s voice spins on the turntable, telling him a story about how time waits for no one.
He looks around the room and takes it all in. It hasn’t been an easy year—the brewing war, the stress of NEWTs, and his worry for his parents. It’s been anything but simple, but right now, everything is perfect.
James glances at his three best friends—Remus is bent over his books, Peter idly flipping through a magazine, and Sirius, sprawled out on his bed, eyes closed and lost in the music.
A rare wave of calm washes over James, loosening the tightness he hadn’t even realized he was holding in his shoulders. It’s been ages since he’s felt this at ease. All his tenseness slips away, leaving behind only the quiet contentment of this moment.
His thoughts wander to Lily. Maybe he should get her some flowers later—she’d like that. She’s been working so hard lately, and he misses the way her face lights up when she smiles.
His bliss is shattered by a loud CRACK.
James bolts upright and, to his utter shock, the person who has apparated in the middle of their dorm is...
Remus?
James’ gaze snaps to his friend’s bed and his suspicions are confirmed—but he isn’t any less confused.
Remus is already here.
James’s eyes darts between the two versions of his friend. The new one looks rough; his skin looks grey, his hair mussed, and there are dark circles under his eyes. James cant help but think he looks fucking exhausted.
The record makes a scratchy sound as Sirius abruptly stops it. He gets to his feet. “Is this some kind of prank?”
The new Remus blinks in confusion. “Sirius..” he whispers, his voice hoarse. He lifts a trembling hand toward Sirius’s face, but Sirius steps back.
“You… you look—” the man trails off as his voice breaks.
James can feel Sirius stiffen beside him. They exchange a look and move closer together, both trying to make sense of what’s happening.
The new Remus looks around the room, his eyes wide as if drinking in every detail. He clenches his fists, and for a moment, James is sure he’s going to swing at someone. Instead, the man breaks down.
Sinking to his knees, he begins to cry.
James grabs Sirius by the arm and pulls him closer to the others. Peter’s mouth is hanging open, and Remus—the original one—looks like he could throw up any minute now.
“It’s Polyjuice—It has to be. Someone’s taking the piss—it’s actually pretty funny if you think about it.” Sirius says, with an expression that says the opposite.
“Sirius, he apparated into the room. That’s impossible,” James counters.
“And he—well, I —he doesn’t look like he’s joking!” Remus stammers.
James glances back at the new Remus, who’s staring at the floor with tear-streaked cheeks.
Sirius narrows his eyes. “We know some good acting types. Is that you, McKinnon?”
At the name, the man’s head snaps up. More tears spill down his face. “M-Marlene?” he whispers, his voice thick with desperation. “Is she still here?”
“I’m going to be sick,” Original Remus mutters, running a hand over his face.
Sirius jerks over to the New Remus, waving his arms frantically. “No, no—no more tears!”
It doesn’t help. New Remus is still a sobbing mess on the floor.
Sirius sighs deeply, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Moony, get a hold of yourself,” he grumbles, addressing the original Remus.
“ ME? What am I supposed to do?!”
“I don’t bloody know, but I’d think you’d have a better guess than the rest of us, considering that it’s you we’re talking about! ”
Original Remus looks horrified but edges toward his tearful counterpart anyway. “Hi there…” he says awkwardly.
New Remus looks up, equally horrified. “Hi,” he sniffs.
“So, uh… you okay there?” Original Remus offers weakly.
New Remus stares at him like he’s grown a second head.
“Yeah, no, sure…”
They both nod stiffly, the awkward silence stretching.
“So, you’re me? From the future or something?” Original Remus asks, scratching the back of his neck.
New Remus sniffs again, scrubbing at his face. “Maybe? I don’t bloody know what’s happening.”
“Right. Yeah. Me neither.”
More silence.
“So… how old are you? Thirty?”
“ THIRTY?! ” New Remus blurts, sitting up with wide eyes. Original Remus recoils in mortification.
“Do I actually look thirty to you?”
“NO! No, no—just taking the piss!” Original Remus stammers, holding up his hands.
New Remus narrows his eyes, skeptical. “Good. Because I’m twenty-one.”
“TWEN— mmm. ” Original Remus cuts himself off, his lips twitching as if suppressing a horrified exclamation. He clears his throat instead. “Not, uh… not been taking very good care of ourselves, have we?”
Before new Remus can retort, another loud CRACK pounds through the room, and James nearly jumps out of his skin as none other than a dripping wet Regulus Black appears.
“What the fuck, Reggie!” Sirius exclaims, his voice loud with shock.
Regulus doesn’t respond. His head jerks sharply, wide eyes darting around the room. He’s mumbling something under his breath, but James can’t make out the words.
Then, Regulus’s gaze locks on James. His breath catches, and he makes the most gut-wrenching sound James has ever heard.
Before James can react, Regulus rushes forward and throws his arms around him in a desperate embrace.
“You’re here,” he whispers, his voice trembling. “You’re here. You’re really here.”
James stands frozen, utterly perplexed. What do you do when your best friend’s Death Eater brother (who hates you, by the way) suddenly clings to you like a lifeline?
James catches Sirius’s eye, but Sirius looks utterly baffled—and fucking furious.
xxx
He wasn’t supposed to be here.
He died in that cave. He died making Voldemort mortal. He died to stop the fucking war.
But now he’s breathing. He’s breathing, and James is in his arms again. They’re in the Gryffindor dorm.
A Gryffindor dorm?
That doesn’t make sense
And why isn’t James hugging him back?
Regulus jolts backward, his arms dropping. James looks stunned—completely shocked, and Regulus’ chest is instantly pooled with dread.
Oh.
I’m still dying.
That has to be it. This is some kind of last-breath hallucination, some twisted trick of his brain, before his heart is clawed from his chest. His mind, desperate for solace, has conjured James, Sirius, even that wretched Pettigrew. Maybe it’s a chance to make amends.
But why the hell are there two Lupins? And why didn’t James hug him back?!
He turns to look at his brother. “Sirius,” he gasps.
“What are you doing?!” Sirius growls, his voice sharp. “Can somebody please explain what the fuck is going on?”
Regulus doesn’t get it. Why would his brain conjure hallucinations of these people if those hallucinations are absolute rubbish?
“Regulus?” One of the Lupins croaks. He looks Ragged. “How are you here?”
Regulus is doing his best to stop the tears and slip his mask back on, but for some reason, it’s not working! Like coming back from the dead has somehow put him in touch with his feelings or some dumb shit like that.
“You—you died!” the ragged Lupin breathes out.
That catches Regulus’s attention. Finally! Yes, he did die, so why the hell is he here? He’s starting to think this isn’t a hallucination. Something might actually be seriously wrong.
Regulus raises his wand and points it at the ragged Lupin. “Do you know why I’m here?” he demands.
“Merlin, Regulus! Put that away!” Sirius barks.
“I don’t even know why I’m here!” Ragged Lupin snaps back.
“OKAY, I’VE HAD ENOUGH!” James suddenly yells, loud and exasperated. “You two need to tell us what’s happening, right now! ” He’s standing there, hand on his hip—it’s adorable. God, Regulus has missed him.
“I. DON’T. FUCKING. KNOW!” Ragged Lupin yells, clearly at the end of his rope. “I was at the flat with you ,” he says, pointing to Sirius, “only the real you—the one who’s actually your age—”
“Pardon? The real me?” Sirius cuts in, baffled.
“Yes, the real you! Not this nonsense fantasy world where we’re still at school. But then the world started twisting, like it was spiraling into a black hole, and I ended up here! And it’s bloody torture! ” Remus finishes, out of breath.
Silence falls. Nobody says a word. Nobody understands what’s happening. The other Lupin looks like his brain is about to melt.
James turns to Regulus. “Okay— you! Why are you here? why are you not in your dorm?”
“And why are you wet?” Sirius adds.
This pisses Regulus off. Nobody ever appreciates anything he does.
“I’m wet because I was drowning, trying to end this fucking war! ” he snaps. “Not that you even care,” he adds with a dramatic flip of his hair.
“BULLSHIT!” Ragged Remus shouts. “You’re a bloody Death Eater, working for Him! ”
“Ehh, I changed sides?” Regulus says, inspecting his nails.
“Chang— you can’t change sides ! It’s a war! That’s not how it works!”
“Okay, but it is, because I did it. So...”
“OKAY!” James interjects, cutting through the argument. “Enough of all this! Everyone, follow me! ” He strides toward the door, herding the group like a man on a mission.
“Where are we going, Prongs?” Peter stammers, finally speaking up.
“We’re going to see the boss!” James declares.