None of this makes any sense
Lily Evans Potter considered herself to be a fairly rational and intelligent witch. After all, she’d been the top of her year and Head Girl during her time at Hogwarts. Sure she’d completely misread Severus, but it’s hard to believe the worst about someone you’ve known so long…okay, and she’d been wrong about the Marauders too; in particular James. But none of that had prepared her for Remus’s wolf Patronus bounding into the nursery and saying “Uncle Harry, we’ve run into a bit of a problem. James, Al, Lils, Rose, Hugo, and I are alright…but if you could figure out where we are and come get us, that would be appreciated.”
After she made sure her son was still asleep, the 20-year-old witch made her way downstairs. There she discovered that her front door was wide open while her husband and his best friend were watching a brewing argument in between a bunch of kids on the street. As much as that surprised her as that as, she was even more surprised when the hair on the oldest kid changed colors before he turned to a familiar head of messy black hair with his wand raised.
At that point, her war time training kicked in and Lily’s wand snapped forward out it’s holster. Once her wand arm was raised, she silently fired off a stunning hex at the oldest kid, knocking him out before he could harm anyone.
“Nice shot Lils!” Sirius said once he recognized that the shot had come from a friendly source. His wand arm was also extended. “But next time, don’t scare me like that.”
“Seconded.” James said as he also scanned the area for active threats. “Why don’t you kids get off the street and then we can have a nice chat.” The elder James than went over to the unconscious kid, who’s hair had shifted to its natural mousey brown color, to revive him after he had picked up the loose wand. There was no chance he was going to get off a shot. As leaned over the kid to revive him, he couldn’t help but think that this kid’s mousey brown hair looked familiar; in fact, he looked a lot like Mooney.
“Reevnerate!” James gently placed a hand on the kids shoulder, “Easy there kid, my wife stunned you when you threatened that other kid.”
“Well, he certainly deserved it. Throwing a time turner at a tree…I don’t,” Teddy slowly stood up with a keen eye on his godfather’s father. This entire situation was too damn bizarre. He shouldn’t be meeting with dead people. “Where are the other kids?”
“Over there, being herded to the backyard. Lils is probably ma-“ At Teddy’s snort, James paused. “What’s so funny?”
“That red headed girl that is with me is also named Lily. Last time she attempted to make tea she just about burned down the manor.”
“Well, that takes certain…”
“Talent?”
“Yeah, let’s go with that.”
“To be fair, her oldest brother had just turned her skin neon pink, so she was in a right state. It probably had more to do with accidental magic than anything.”
“Still…You know what? Let’s get you to the back yard with the kids. Then we can try to figure out what’s happening here.”
“James is what happened here.” Ted muttered darkly to himself. “He went somewhere he knew he shouldn’t have, got a hold of a time turner and broke it. Pretty simple stuff, yeah?” The emerged in the back yard as Sirius was helping set-up some tables. “Alright kids,” Ted cut in with a edge to his voice. “Where going to have to be very careful about what we say until we can get back home. Do not say anything, about anyone’s fate. Am I understood?”
A chorus of “Yes Teddy!” came up from the scared kids standing around. They all knew who Sirius was and had seen pictures of him around Harry’s house; they also knew that he was dead. The appearance of the original James and Lily Potter had also not gone unnoticed either.
Ted desperately hoped that James Sirius would have the good sense to keep his fat trap shut while he had been out front. But he had his doubts, the kid seemed to inherit his Uncle Ron’s uncanny ability to stick his foot in his mouth. Lily came out with a levitated trey with tea on it. “Alright you lot,” This came from Sirius. “Wanna explain how you ended up in the street?” The cacophony of noise that came up from the younger kids was predictable, but it failed to entertain the adults. “OI! ONE AT A TIME!”
“Let me go, yeah?” Ted said, with an icy glare at James Sirius. “This dolt here broke into his Aunt’s office, which he’s not allowed in, and stole a Time Turner. After leading us on a merry chase, he decided to toss it to that dolt over there.” He said with his finger aimed at Hugo. “Unfortunately he missed, the Turner smashed into a tree, and we found ourselves in the street outside your guys house.”
“Is that really what happened?” Lily Evans Potter arched her eyebrow at the two kids with the same messy black hair as her husband. One of them had her green eyes, Harry’s green eyes, and the other had brown eyes she’d never really seen before.
“Well,” the younger James said. “I’d argue I’m not a dolt.”
“Oh yes you are, Potter.” Rose angrily hissed at her cousin. “You are absolutely a dolt and you knew you shouldn’t go into my mother’s study. If I had my wand….I’d-“
“Do absolutely nothing.” Evans said firmly.
“No, he does deserve to be hexed for this.”
“Al!”
“You really do.”
“Not you too Lily-lu!”
“Oh yes me too.” At this point the argument began between the children again. The original James and Lily Potter looked at Teddy for help but he just shook his head at the older couple. “He deserves this. It’s not often that you see the cousins unite so firmly against his shenanigans. Although, it’s probably a good thing Fred and Louis aren’t here.”
“Why’s that?” Sirius asked.
“This would have been 10 times worse.”
***
December 26th, 2018
Granger-Weasley Residence, Godrics Hallow
“What do you mean my children are missing?” Ginny Molly Potter hissed at her sister-in-law.
“I was making lunch,” Hermione looked at the angry redhead with trepidation, “When I heard some yelling upstairs. The next thing I knew the thundering herd came running past me in the kitchen before I could stop them. Once they were outside I could hardly see anything through the snow storm until there was a bright flash of light.” The older witch took a steadying breath, “Once I got out there, they were gone. All that was left was several foot prints in the snow and a smashed Time Turner.”
“Would you mind explaining to me, clearly, why the hell you had a Time Turner where my James. Sirius. Potter could get a hold of it?”
“It was supposed to be locked away in my study…”
“Supposed to be locked away?”
“I forgot to do the charms.” Hermione whispered as she looked at the floor. “I didn’t secure the door and he was able to get in.” The silence echoed in the kitchen as the Ginny attempted to calm her fury. After all, it’s not like Hermione left the thing out in the living room; but it’s also unlike her to forget things that are that important.
“Hermione, why did you forge the charms?”
“I don’t know,” she whispered softly. “I’ve been forgetful lately. It’s been driving Ron barmy.”
“You should probably see a Healer, after we get the kids back.” Although Ginny had a pretty good idea of why her best friend forgot something that was as important as security charms.
“I’m going to send a message to Harry, he’ll probably be here in a moment. Do you want me to send one to Ron too?” At her sister-in-law’s nod, Ginny sent off two separate Patronus message. With all four of them working together, they should be able to get the kids back.