Stepping through Time chapter 2:
(A/N I will be calling the future Snape, Severus and the past Snape, Snape. Older Remus will be called Remus, younger him Moony, and older Sirius will be Sirius and younger him Padfoot, But characters may call them differently eg. If James is talking to older Sirius he might say Padfoot. sorry if you get confused!)
Gasps escaped from practically every mouth in the hall, along with slack jaws.
Severus looked good, better than his past self. Where his past self looked lanky, unhygienic, had crooked hooked nose, and was quite skinny, Severus had filled out quite nicely, growing into his lanky body, his face had filled out as well and so his nose wasn't as prominent, his hair was still greasy but nowhere near what it used to be. Overall he was fairly good looking, while by no means a model, he no longer looked like a social outcast.
Remus was looking tired and not exactly well off. His hair had a few grey hairs in it and his robes were not the finest. Scars were scattered across his neck and arms, making many wonder what had happened to him, he looked quite similar to Moony, but had outgrown the awkwardness of adolescence. He looked content though, he did not seem miserable or unhappy, but neither did he look particularly happy or in high spirits.
People could only gape at the last member of the unlikely trio, as Sirius was nowhere near the happy, go lucky, teenager Padfoot was. Though his robes were new, his shoulder length hair clean and combed into a ponytail at the nape of his neck, his cheeks were sunken and he looked gaunt and haggard. Sirius was skinnier than what was healthy, and most of all the glint of mischievous that made many cringe was gone. Many, like Dumbledore, wondered what could possibly have happened to make it disappear.
Dumbledore cleared his throat to gain the school's attention back to him, once all eyes swiveled to face him he spoke. "I think it would be best if one of you introduce the others to them now, if you don't mind?"
"Not at all, not at all," Remus smiled, "now we couldn't have any of you see their real identities since in your time the are either very young or haven't been born yet, so it would be easier to meddle with the timeline while our younger selves," here he turned and smiled at the mauraders, who not knowing how to react, just waved hesitantly, "are protected by the Hogwarts wards."
Then Severus took over as Sirius stepped back through the multi-coloured portal, "So we will not be using their real names and they will be in their animagus forms, so no one can tell who they are, and before you ask they have a spell on them so they can talk in English."
Sirius came back through the portal and nodded to Severus, who nodded back. "So I would like to introduce to you, Harry, Ginny, Hermione, Ron, Luna, Neville, Fred, George and Draco."
The students drew back in their seats as the menagerie of animals came through. At the front was a large panther with a reddish tawny lioness at its' side. A Jack Russell Terrier trotted at their heels with three owls (tawny, snowy and barn) flying overhead. A massive boar and a silver fox were next with twin raccoons behind them.
The two big cats at the head of the group sat down between Sirius and Severus, while the others scattered around the adults. There was an awkward silence before "Good evening."
Half the student body jumped at the panthers voice, and a few even screamed, to which he just looked exasperated. "Headmaster, could you show us to where our rooms are? I feel we are distressing your students." He said clearly unimpressed.
Dumbledore smiled, "Of course, right away, Students! While I show our guests to their rooms please have a pleasant dinner." With that he clapped his hands and the tables groaned as they were laden with food. With that he lead the strangers from the future out the door leaving the students to gossip.
The Marauders were shocked into silence for a few moments.
"Bloody Hell"
"Padfoot! Watch your language." Moony said as he smacked him upside the head.
"But I just saw my future self walk out the door! And yours too!"
Moony chewed on his lip. "I know"
"You guys look different." Peter commented.
"No duh Wormtail, but why? And why on Earth were you being nice to Snape of all people!" Prongs exclaimed. "I wonder what happens in the future, like why me and Wormtail weren't with you." He looked thoughtful for a second before breaking out in a grin which he shot at Padfoot. "I think I know who to ask though."
Padfoot broke out in an identical smile. Moony just shook his head, "It would be interesting though."
"Who are we asking?"
"How about we wait a little while though, they obviously just got here, let them settle in, plus we have no idea where the others fit in." Remus reasoned.
"Aww, but come on Moony! Aren't you desperate to hear about the future?" Prongs whined,
"But how do we even know they would be willing to talk to us?"
"Because they're us! You know how I can't refuse myself anything." Padfoot grinned and struck a pose.
Remus just rolled his eyes, "I don't know about you but to me we seemed really different, we were being civil with Snape of all people!"
Prongs and Padfoot hesitated, while Wormtail just looked around confused. Prongs bit his lip, "I suppose we could wait until after our first lesson at least."
"Then its settled, we'll wait at least one lesson before we go up to ourselves." Moony stated with a nod, while Padfoot suppressed a snigger.