When Lily woke up the next morning, she felt the most rested she had in a long time

It really was surreal, talking to them, hanging out with them, Lily thought as the days went on. No one else at Hogwarts had seen a change in anything, but James, Albus, and Lily could feel a difference. They were getting close to the Marauders and Evans, which all three thought would never be possible. Everything seemed to be working out for everyone, until one night about a fortnight after their secret had been spilled.

"… so then he turns around, and his face is literally green." James said, and the inhabitants of the back Room of Requirement burst out in laughter ad he finished his story about a prank that he and his cousins had played.

"He was livid with them all for months." Albus added.

Then, all of a sudden, the three siblings all felt a similar feeling. The room began spinning for a few moments, then there were spots in their eyes and all three felt like they were going to tip over.

"Are you guys alright? You look kind of sick." Evans asked, her voice filled with concern.

"Yeah," Lily answered, "just a little tired I guess. Time-traveling takes a bit out of you." The room laughed, and went back to telling stories of various pranks and mischief causing until the early hours of the morning, when the all retreated to their respective dorms to sleep.

When Lily woke up the next morning, she felt the most rested she had in a long time. Maybe she had slept later than usual. She didn't think much of it, and threw the curtains surrounding her bed apart and stumbled out. But before she could make it to the bathroom, she tripped over a trunk that was in the middle of the dormitory and fell flat on her face, swearing as she got back to her feet. There was a swish of curtains as another occupant of the dorm woke up and held out a hand for Lily, which she gratefully accepted.

"Dear Merlin Lily, how much did you drink last night?" The girl said, and Lily immediately recognized her. Lena Marone, her dorm mate, from 2022. Lily almost cursed again.

"But, but, how'd this happen?"

"Wow, I didn't actually think you got pissed. But really, do you know what's going on Lily?"

She tried to remember what had happened. The map, a man named Dumbledore, 1977, Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, Prongs… What had happened? The details were slipping away from her, like a fantastic dream, where what happens slowly slips away, and all anyone wants is to fall back to sleep, to try and see it again, just to have the smallest taste of what had really happened. But now all Lily had left was a few blurred images of faces that seemed familiar, and a feeling that she had gone somewhere different, sometime different. But it had just been a dream, now that she thought about it. She hadn't met them, hadn't talked to them, right?

But it had felt so real to her.

"Just tell me, what day is it?"

"Poor thing. It's 2nd of September, like always when we come back. Are you alright? Want to go to the Hospital Wing?"

"No I'm fine." Lily said, hoping it sounded convincing. She wasn't so sure herself. Had she gone crazy or something? She stood up and turned to Lena with a smirk. "Couldn't help myself though. You should have seen the look on your face. I bet you thought I was crazy."

"Little bitch." Lena said before laughing along with Lily, not noticing how her friend was forcing herself to seem carefree.

Was it really September 2nd? It felt like so long ago that she had boarded the Express.

And as Lily went through the day, with lessons, and meals, and friends, she tried as with all her might to figure out the events of her dream. But the images would not move, preferring to stay out of her grasp in the recesses of her mind.

And now it is the time that I must say goodbye to this story and all you fabulous readers and reviewers. You made writing this worthwhile. I know the ending's a bit disappointing and short, but I like it. It was always going to end this way since the very beginning, getting there was what I had to worry about. I hope everyone had enjoyed this story and if you like it, (shameless self-promotion) check out all my other fics!