Let go of the Past, and Look into the Future

Disclaimer: Kristin is mine. MINE. So is the plot. And some other stuff that I'm too lazy to mention.

By the way, you must read All Those Years to understand this.

Was he in the right place? Remus wondered. Diagon Alley was dark, deserted, and gloomy. No one was here except for Tonks and himself. Since the death of Dumbledore, the country had been in chaos. Men and women alike, panicked because the only one Voldemort feared was dead. The whole country had sunk into a stupor, shocked, horrified, and scared. Remus knew it was going to be bad, but he didn't know it was going to be this bad. Soon, if this war didn't end, everyone would forget the meaning of hope and light, become like the very creatures they fought, and no one would resist. Darkness would rule even more thoroughly than before.

"All right, Remus. That's enough brooding and moping." Tonks shoved Remus.

"Mmm…"

Remus's mouth was pulled into a tight, thin line of worry. His already careworn face had newer lines carved into it. Tonks took a sidelong glance at him and thought that if she didn't know Remus was thirty-six, she'd say he was fifty-nine. They rounded the corner and came face-to-face with Weasley Wizarding Wheezes. It was the only bit of color on the mist shrouded street. The signs blinked and gleamed, but there were no customers to attract. Remus peered into the window and saw that it too was deserted. He pushed open the door and entered.

"Oi! Fred! Customers!"

George hurried out of the back. Remus smiled regretfully.

"I only wish it were so."

"Don't listen to him; he's been all morbid and depressed." Tonks said cheerfully.

"Ah, our favorite professor and Metamorphagus! What can I, we, do for you?"

Remus sighed and scrubbed his face.

"I hate to ask this of you, since you're busy with the shop and all…"

"Nonsense! Do you see customers?"

George waved a hand around the empty shop. Remus cracked a smile.

"Congrats, George, you've managed to do the impossible. You've made Remus smile!" Tonks said dryly.

"Such an honor." George swept a low bow.

Remus cleared his throat.

"Back to business. We, that is, the Order of the Phoenix, need your help. Doubtless, your mother will oppose this but you are fully grown now and can make your own decisions. We need members. Would you, and Fred, like to join the Order of Phoenix?"

"FRED! Get your bloody as-butt over here!"

"Sorry, sorry."

Fred hurried out of the back wearing an apron that was smeared with grease and something Remus could not and did not want to identify.

Fred hurriedly wiped his hands on his apron and said, "What did I miss?"

"An offer from the desperate good guys asking if we want to join them. What do you say, Fred?"

"I don't know, George. Would we like to hear all the big secrets and kick Lord I-forgot-his-stupid-name-because-he-has-too-dam-I-mean-dang-many-names's as-butt?"

George struck a noble pose. "To do more than annoy Lord What's-is-name?"

"To strike courage into our fellow Englishmen?"

They looked at each other in mock consideration.

"Then…yes!"

"We would love to!"

"It's a deal!"

Fred grabbed his hand, while George grabbed Tonks's and they enthusiastically pumped it.

"You know where it is, right?"

"Of course. We did spend an entire bloody summer there."

"And a shrieking, spitting, drooling portrait is hard to forget."

"Right. Be there at 4:30."

"All right, but we might be a little late. Lots to pack y'know?"

"Righto, Fred!"

"See you Lupin!"

"Ta-ta!"

"Take care and don't let the Death Eaters and Voldy-somethings bite!"

They vanished into the back and a few seconds later, Remus and Tonks could hear loud machinery, some booms, crashes, yells ("Watch it, Fred!") and general mayhem. With a slight smile, Remus ducked out of the store. Fred and George were a godsend in these times. They knew how to make people laugh, really laugh, and that was a rare gift.

Lost in his thoughts, Remus and Tonks strolled down the deserted street. He was startled out of them by a poke from Tonks and a whisper.

"Remus!"

"What?"

"Someone else is here!"

"Who?"

"I don't know…"

Remus knew what she was implying. Most of the time, people wandering the streets were Death Eaters. And recently, Fred Shear had been murdered. Perhaps this was his murderer. They exchanged a silent conversation with their eyes and swerved their path after the mystery person who was cloaked in black, unremarkable robes. The person heard their footsteps and glanced back. Remus felt his heart stop. That can't be. A part of him screamed. She's dead! The rest of him, the parts that was selfish and wanted another person to share the pain with screamed Run, run, run. His body decided to obey. Almost without thinking, Remus broke out into a full out sprint. The second the person heard him, she dashed off like a frightened doe. But Remus was on an adrenaline high and caught up easily in an alleyway. Please, please be her. Praying that she wouldn't think to apparate, Remus put on a fresh burst of speed and tackled her. The impact jarred back her hood as she pulled her wand out.

"Stupe-Remus?"

Remus managed a wry smile.

"No. It's Remus. But stupe-Remus has a ring to it."

"Well what was I supposed to do? In a deserted place that gives me the creeps someone starts running after me and tackles me. What would you have done?"

"Disapparated." Remus replied promptly.

"Oh. I knew there was something I forgot…"

"Remus? Where are you-oh. What are you doing lying on top of her?"

"Good question. Remus, get off of me."

"Sorry. Got a little carried away there."

"Understatement of the century." She replied cheerfully.

Remus clambered to his feet and helped her up.

"Introduce me please, Remus." She ordered.

"Right. This is Nymphadora Tonks. Tonks, this is Kristin Yami."

Kristin stuck her hand out. "Nice to meet you Tonks."

Tonks shook it with a grin.

"How did you do it?" Tonks asked.

"Do what?"

"It took me roughly a year to get him to accept me as his girlfriend, but the moment he sees you, he runs after you and tackles you to the ground."

"That's because I'm irresistible."

Kristin struck a haughty pose. Then she and Tonks broke into peals of laughter.

"You're never going to let me live this down are you?" Remus asked dryly.

"Why bother asking? You know me, you know her, surely you know?"

"Just seeing if you have a drop of mercy in you."

"Well I don't."

Remus snorted with laughter.

"Wait. Girlfriend?!" Kristin cried in shock.

"What? You thought a werewolf couldn't attract anyone?" Remus snapped, annoyed by her tone.

"No." She shot back. "I surprised you'd even think that of me. What I meant was that I am surprised that you let her get close to you. You probably put up some pathetic excuses like 'I'm too dangerous! I'm too poor!' And poor dear, since you never attended school during our years, he probably said something along the lines of 'I'm too old! Go get someone rich, boring, and young.'"

Tonks shook her head.

"I had to shake some sense into him." She informed Kristin.

"Tut, tut. Men these days. Either lower than dirt or so noble and 'I must take on the entire world's pain as my own' self-sacrificing. Back in my days (Okay. That made me feel old), we had a nice variety of boys. Arrogant idiots, noble self-sacrificers, timid cuties, bad-yet-good boys, the darling sweet I-have-suffered-so-much-and-yet-came-out-so-strong-and-character-developed-that-you-just-fall-madly-in-love-with-mes, the all around good guys, the 'bad boys', the quiet ones, the mean-but-if-you-break-through-my-shell-I'll-become-sweet-to-you-and-only-you-just-like-those-sappy-romance-stories-and-we'll-have-many-beautiful-children-the-ends, the list goes on and on and on and on and on and on and—"

"We get the point Kristin." Remus raised a hand.

"So, when's the wedding?"

Remus choked. "Wedding?"

"Yes. Surely you were planning to get married? I mean, Lily did drive me crazy with the plans, but I remember the floral arrangements, the dresses, catering…"

Tonks looked as horrified as Remus did. Kristin caught sight of Remus's expression and laughed.

"Saint Remus is afraid of commitment!"

"Err…"

Remus cast desperately for a topic and found one. He seized it eagerly.

"Why aren't you dead, Kristin?"

Remus winced as the words left his mouth. Not the best choice of topics. Tonks cast him a shocked look. Kristin drew herself up, affronted.

"I? Dead? Impossible! I would annoy Death so much that it would throw me back into life just so it could get rid of me."

"That sounds just like you."

Kristin ignored this and gazed around Diagon Alley.

"What's going on? Why is it all deserted? This place is always jam packed."

Remus's eyes widened.

"You don't know?"

"Hello?" Kristin waved her arms around for emphasis. "Been out of touch for seventeen years? Tell, tell, tell."

Remus's mouth formed the words "out of touch for seventeen years" then he gaped at her, mouth working soundlessly.

"One little werewolf fishy, two little werewolf fishy…Do close your mouth Lupin. Not only is it unbecoming, it is also the perfect opportunity for a bug to fly into your mouth." She said primly, sounding much like their Drama teacher.

When he didn't respond, Kristin rambled on.

"I expect Harry'll be seventeen now. Do Lily and James have another child? What about Voldemort? Is he defeated yet? And Sirius, has he commit—no. This is Sirius we're talking about. Alice and Frank, they have children right? What's-is-name-Newton? Nero? Nathan? I know it begins with an n…"

"Kristin." Remus interrupted gently.

She blinked at him. "Yes?"

"This isn't the right place." He said, glancing around nervously, ignoring the part of his mind that whispered coward. He pulled out the slip of paper that he had meant for Fred and George. Remus gave it to Kristin.

"Be there at five. As soon as you memorize it, destroy it. Good-bye."

"But—"

CRACK! Remus disapparated. Tonks raised an eyebrow.

"If he trusts you, so do I."

Tonks nodded briskly in farewell, before disapparating. Kristin sighed and shook her head. She glanced down at the paper in her hand. Number 12 Grimmauld Place.

Remus slumped against the door, breathing hard. Kristin. Kristin was alive. He could not believe it. Next thing you know, he thought sourly, Sirius will come back from the dead. Stop. Remus shook his head. Sirius was dead, all evidence pointed to that. However, Kristin…there were too many loose ends in her story. Only he and Voldemort had fallen for her story that she was dead, even if it was never specifically said. His mind took him back to the night she left.

"Well aren't you a big boy?" Twenty year old Kristin Yami cooed up at a gurgling Harry. "Yes you are. Oh, yes you are."

"I resent you treating my son like a dog." James said loftily.

"Consider it a compliment." Sirius suggested. "After all, I am a dog, and look how I turned out."

"Oh dear." Remus snickered. "Your son is cursed. It's a double insult, James. Both a dog and Sirius?"

Kristin was absorbed in the baby. "Peek-a-boo!" Harry clapped and giggled.

"What was his first word?" Kristin asked.

"Mum." James said sullenly.

"Figures." Kristin laughed.

"Pa-foo! Moo-ee! Da!" Harry commanded.

Lily snorted as she entered the living room from the kitchen to see the three men come forward obediently at his command.

"UP!" Harry cried. Remus reached him first, picked it up, and bounced him. Kristin came over to try and convince Harry to say "Kristin".

"Kristin. Say Kristin."

"K-k-k-k-Pa-foo!"

"No, say 'Kristin'."

"K-k-k-k-Moo-ee!"

"Kristin!"

"K-ki-ki-Moo-ee!"

"Kristin!"

"Moo-ee."

"Congrats, Remus. The kid has a fascination with you." Kristin said grumpily. Then she brightened. "Since Harry loves you so much and all, I bet if you told him to say 'Kristin' he'd listen."

Remus raised an eyebrow.

"You are very inexperienced with kids." He informed her. "Especially little ones. They do whatever they want, not what someone else tells them to do. And I'll prove it."

Remus turned to Harry.

"Say Kristin." He cooed.

"Moo-ee!" Harry clapped his hands together in obvious delight and let out a chirrupy laugh.

The others joined in and an irate Kristin muttered, "Don't see what's so funny."

"Kiss-moo-ee?" Harry wondered. Then his expression cleared and he shouted out at the top of his (very) formidable lungs, "KISS-MOO-EE!"

Kristin exchanged an uncomfortable look with Remus as Sirius and James roared with laughter. When he recovered, Sirius gasped out, "You heard the tyke! Kiss Moony!"

"Err…he didn't mean that." Remus said quickly.

"KISS-MOO-EE!" Harry spoke louder.

"No doubt about it." James grinned.

"I bet that if you kiss Moony, Harry'll say Kristin." Sirius said.

"KISS-MOO-EE!"

"He's getting upset, quick Kristin, kiss Moony!"

Kristin scowled at Sirius and muttered that he belonged at the pound.

"That wasn't too nice." Sirius said cheerfully, and conjured some popcorn to "Watch the show." He muttered to James.

Kristin glared at the smirking Harry.

"Evil child, spawn of the devil! Black and Potter have obviously corrupted your sweet childish innocence. I feel sorry for Lily, surrounded by such boys."

"We are men, not boys!" James protested.

Kristin ignored him as she wheeled back around to face Remus.

"All right Remus. How do you want to do this?"

"Wait. Why are we doing this?" Remus held up his hands.

"Oh? Do you have a problem with kissing me?"

"No, er, of course not, that is, but—"

Sirius snorted into his popcorn as the red-faced stuttering Remus was backed into a corner by a menacing Kristin.

"I am doing this because I am desperate for that wicked, malevolent, sinful, malicious, cruel, mean, nasty, fiendish, terrible, dreadful, awful, atrocious, appalling child to say my name."

Kristin jabbed her finger into his chest. "Good enough reason for you? Or am I that repulsive?"

There was really only one way to answer without getting decapitated.

"Er, it's, ah, er, um, yeah, a good, sure, uhh, reason." Remus stuttered.

"James. Witness a historical moment. Our cool, sure, laidback, calm, logical, smart Moony is as jittery and nervous as a fifteen year old getting his first kiss."

James snorted with amusement. "Lily! You might want to watch this."

"Coming."

Together, Lily, James, Sirius, Peter, and Harry watched as Remus took deep breaths to calm himself down, nearly hyperventilated, and then choked as Kristin slapped him across the face to snap him out of his hysteria.

"Remus! Calm down!" She ordered.

"I've never seen him this nervous." Sirius remarked. "Maybe he luuurrrvvvssss you Kristin."

"And maybe I'll kiiiiiiiiick you where it hurts."

"Ma!" A frustrated Harry snapped. "When Kiss-tin a Moo-ee kiss-ee?"

"I don't know Harry." Lily remarked absently. "Wait, what! Did he just say Kristin?!"

"Yes! He did!" Kristin said excitedly.

"That's the most I've ever heard him say!" James said , even more excited. "Say, Lily. What if kissing makes you smarter?"

"That'll explain why you got smarter." Lily said dryly. "Merlin knows you've done it enough."

"You can calm down now, Remus." Kristin said calmly, patting Remus on the back. "Harry's said my name."

"Good." Remus rasped out. He plonked himself exhaustedly down on the couch.

"Let's test it out!" James grabbed a protesting Lily and bent her back dramatically. A full out snogfest ensued.

"See the technique?" Sirius said boredly. "He's positioned himself so that Lily cannot do anything but kiss him back and melt in his arms. You should pay attention, Remus. You never know when this might come in handy."

"Ah, yes." Remus said sarcastically. "If a Death Eater comes, I'll render her helpless by snogging her."

Peter let out a laugh.

"Or him." He pointed out.

Remus shuddered. Harry wrinkled his nose in disgust.

"Eww…" he said pointing at his mum and dad snogging.

Kristin, Sirius, Remus, and Peter broke out into peals of laughter. When they recovered, they found an entangled Lily and James staring at them oddly.

"Harry said eww and pointed to you." Peter managed to gasp out.

James wheeled on an innocently smiling Harry.

"It's because of us snogging that you're here, son!" He bellowed.

"Isn't it a bit early to be teaching him about the birdies and the beesies?" Kristin wondered.

Harry looked up at James and artfully let his lips quiver and his eyes well up.

"Now don't cry…" James said helplessly.

He turned to Lily for help.

"You made him cry, you make him stop." Lily said firmly.

With a sigh, James plucked Harry up and rocked him, James's back to the rest. Harry poked his face over James's shoulder and smiled a truly evil smile. Remus had to laugh. James wheeled around.

"What are you laughing at?" He demanded, eyes narrowed.

"Nothing." Remus smirked.

"So who's his godmother?" Kristin asked, reaching over and tickling Harry.

"You are." The four marauders and Lily said in unison.

Kristin's delighted smile nearly blinded them.

"Did you hear that? Did you?" Kristin cooed at Harry. "Kristin is your godmother!"

"Have mercy." Sirius muttered.

"What was that?" Kristin snapped.

"Nothing." Sirius smiled innocently, but wasn't able to pull it off as flawlessly as Harry could.

"Somehow, I don't believe you." Kristin marched over scowling.

"Err…"

Sirius looked around for something to hide behind but found nothing. As a last resort, Sirius turned into a dog. Kristin's scowl twitched.

"Doggy!" Harry cried happily, reaching for Sirius.

Sirius woofed and reared back onto his hind legs.

Down, boy!" Kristin ordered.

Immediately Sirius went back to all fours. Then he appeared to think about what he had just done.

"Dog instincts just a little too strong for you to overcome?" Kristin taunted. "Or is it that Lily has you well trained?"

Sirius managed to give Kristin a nasty look. James put Harry down and he half-toddled and half-crawled to Sirius. Sirius sat patiently as Harry leaned on him for support as he pulled his fur.

"Doggy." Harry giggled.

"It must be wonderful to have Sirius." Kristin commented as she watched Sirius rolling on the floor with Harry. "Harry can play with him and you don't have to worry about Sirius being to rough."

"Yeah, Sirius is a godsend. When he isn't eating me out of the house. When he isn't drunk. When he isn't shedding. When he isn't scratching on the door. When he—"

Sirius interrupted her with a bark.

"Oh you know it's true so don't lie to me."

Sirius whined, laid down, and covered his eyes with his paws.

"Don't try that with me!"

"Aww…isn't he cute." Kristin cooed.

"Don't fall for it Kristin! Last time it happened, he took Harry to a tattoo parlor and nearly gave him a tattoo before I caught him."

"You never told me about that!" James exclaimed.

"That's because Fido here," Lily gestured at a whimpering Sirius who wagged his tail. "did his little 'I'm a pathetic cute adorable doggy' pose and I conveniently forgot until now."

Gurgling, Harry climbed onto Sirius's back, causing him to yelp with each handful that was pulled, but he still stood still. James was glaring at Sirius.

"How could you be so irresponsible, immature, unthinking," Lily smirked as Sirius cowered. "to go without me!"

Lily's mouth dropped open. Sirius bounded to his feet, careful not to spill the burden on his back, and did a little prance. Kristin snorted.

"You thought he was going to be on your side?"

Lily heaved an I-hoped-for-it-so-damned-hard-and-now-I-know-there-is-now-no-chance-in-hell-so-whatever-I-give-up-and-this-is-a-very-long-name-for-a-sigh sigh. Kristin snorted again.

"Doesn't she have to sign some form about being a godmother?" Remus said after a minute.

Lily slapped her forehead.

"So that's what I forgot! Accio document!"

A very official looking document fluttered down from upstairs and landed neatly in Lily's hand. "Here you go." Kristin looked down and read.

I, Kristin Yami, am willing to take Harry Potter under my wing, in the event that Lily Potter and James Potter are unable to take care of the above. I am also willing to assume a role of parentage with Sirius Black. If I sign this form, I will become Harry Potter's godmother.

"Oh. Lily, there's a problem. I can't 'take Harry Potter under my wing in the event that Lily and James Potter are unable to take care of the above.' I guess that means I can't be his godmother." Kristin said sadly.

"Why not?" Lily demanded.

"Dumbledore's informed me that Voldemort is after us next."

Kristin smiled sheepishly. "I guess putting up posters and handing out flyers that said in big, bold letters, 'Voldemort: An Idiot Who Contradicts Himself' isn't a way to get onto his favorites list."

"Wait, what?!" They all demanded.

"Dumbledore recommended to stop producing them, so not many people saw them."

Kristin reached into her robes and pulled out a flyer that indeed read, "Voldemort: An Idiot Who Contradicts Himself". Remus's eyes scanned the flyer.

Voldemort is an extremist who claims that he wants to rid the earth of muggleborn filth. BUT IS IT TRUE? Research shows that many that die are purebloods that resist Voldemort. The rest are, indeed, muggleborn, and were killed by torture. Also, Voldemort claims that purebloods are the only ones worthy of anything. Yet Voldemort himself is a halfblood. Half of his blood is a muggle with no magic, the other half an inbred, insane, beggared line from Slytherin. By his own laws, Voldemort should be serving the countless purebloods that support him, not the other way around. So his motives are something more sinister. STOP SUPPORTING VOLDEMORT BECAUSE HE ISN'T DOING WHAT HE CLAIMS HE IS.

—Kristin Yami

"No wonder he wants to kill you." Sirius commented, Harry still on his back.

"But it's a hundred percent true." Kristin said grimly.

"Well, I don't care." Lily declared. "You are still his godmother, whether you have to go under cover or not. So sign."

"But—"

"Sign."

"If I do, and anything happens to you, you know you're turning him over to the tender loving care of Sirius Black." Kristin warned.

"As I'm well aware."

Lily shoved a quill and ink into Kristin's hands. Kristin signed with a flourish.

"I have to go." Kristin said reluctantly. "It was a risk coming here in the first place."

"Good bye Kristin."

Lily and Kristin hugged each other. Kristin smiled at James and told him to take care of Harry. She waved at Peter and Sirius kissed her on the cheek. Remus could tell Kristin was seriously considering hurting Sirius but refrained because Harry said, "Up, kiss-tin." Kristin picked him up, spun him around, and said bye. Then Kristin came over and hugged Remus tightly and told him to watch over everyone, seeing as she wouldn't be here to do it herself and there was no one else she'd trust more. Kristin turned and headed toward the door.

"Wait!" Peter cried. "Where are you going?"

"Dumbledore said not to tell anyone." Kristin said apologetically.

"Goodbye everyone." Kristin disapparated.

"Goodbye Kristin." Remus whispered.

MMMMMMMMMKKKKKKKKKKKKKKPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

You might think this is long but the rough draft had it going to about 13 ½ more pages paper wise (It would have been longer computer wise) and I think 12 pages on the computer is enough. Besides, I hate typing for such a long time. Please review, otherwise I feel unappreciated. When I feel unappreciated, I don't feel like typing-writing. Oh and yes I know that in Chapter nine of All Those Years, Kristin is attacked. You will see what happened. Eventually.

nsisdazl

Next Chapter (If I'm patient enough to type this much): Remus tells Kristin all that's happened, Harry finds out Kristin is godmother, and a flashback to show how Lily, Kristin, Evelaire, Agatha, and Christi found out about the werewolf.