~~~~~~~Misguided Intentions~~~~~~~

Part 2 of the Alternate Ending....

~~~~Chapter Twenty - Alternate Ending Pt. 2: And In The End....~~~~

'You're thinking about the past, aren't you,' Remus said quietly as they walked to Albus's office. He could see the quiet reflections in his friends, and it really hurt him that this was going to be so difficult on them being back here.

Harry and Draco nodded together, both sighing for a moment. 'It feels pretty weird seeing you so much older then us now, Moony. Yesterday we were all joking and having fun with the others...making plans for what we were going to do with our lives...and now...now it's all so different. James and Lily...are gone. You and Sev are finally happy and together. Wormtail and Padfoot are happy...it's...it's all a lot to bear,' Harry said quietly.

'I know it is, Harry, but we'll figure this out somehow. Albus will know what to do. If it's any conciliation it's hard on us too, knowing who you really are now, and who you were then,' Severus said.

They arrived in silence at Albus's office, and not more than a few minutes later they were telling him everything that could think of. What they wanted...and didn't want. What changes they remembered and what was the 'reality' for everyone else now. Albus listened, only stopping them now and again to peer into his pensive, confirming what he remembered, and what his pensive remembered. Some of it was blurred, some of it was clear as day, but he had no doubts that the blurred parts were truth as Harry and Draco said them.

'One thing is for sure, I am not giving up being Harry's husband. Say what you will, but when we got married last night I said it would be forever, and I meant it. The fact is...though I don't know how or why exactly...we do still have our rings. They weren't on our necklaces when we arrived though like they were last night, they were on our fingers...that's got to be a sign somewhere. We are married, and I won't accept anything to the contrary,' Draco said firmly, his eyes practically boring holes into Albus.

Albus thought on that a moment. 'I do not know why you were able to come back through with your wedding rings, Draco, nor why you would be wearing them rather then them being on the chains I gave you. I do remember the ceremony of course as if it was yesterday,' he said then chuckled, 'which it of course it was for the two of you. I do remember however the moment you left in the past, the Mirror of Wrongdoings surprisingly pulled you after you went to sleep last night. I admit that last night in this time I saw you both as you returned and went your separate ways. I thought perhaps you didn't remember what had happened from the expressions on your faces, certainly it was not of two people who had just gotten married,' he said.

'Why did it do it when we slept though? Why don't we have an memories of being 'here' last night yet we both obviously were 'here' doing things?' Harry demanded.

'On that again I'm afraid I don't know. I have a suspicion that the 'past' had not fully caught up yet with the 'present', conflicting your memories. You went about doing what you had originally intended to do before you got pulled in, but as you slept the memories of the 'past' were returned to what you remembered before the mirror pulled you back, erasing anything else. Which could be why you didn't know what was going on when you awoke,' Albus said thoughtfully.

'Well...I guess that makes a bit of sense. Scary as heck though when I woke up, I honestly had forgotten the Slytherin dorms and everyone it. When I didn't see the others and Harry...I nearly lost it, ' Draco said with a sigh.

Harry nodded. 'I know, I thought Ron was Peter...he was always pulling the duvet off us or poking us to wake up remember?' Harry grinned. 'The memories of the past nine months are more fresh then anything else though. This 'future'...'present'...whatever it is...it's all so fuzzy and strange. Could it be maybe it's because we really don't belong 'here' anymore? That we shouldn't have left the past?' he mused.

'It could be, though really I can't say for sure since this has never happened before that I'm aware of. I recall saying something about 'crossroads' when you two got married, perhaps something else triggered your return, something none of us is aware of as of yet, or may never know. However, I do recall now something else about those rings you're wearing. Although they did come from the past, they would not have still been there when you returned unless there was something to come back to...in the future, if you get my meaning,' Albus said his eyes twinkling now.

Harry and Draco looked at each other a bit stunned now as those words sunk in. Searching through both old and new memories, they both hit on the same thing, something in the 'new' present. Harry and Draco chuckled then, now knowing one other thing that had changed from before they had left.

'He's right eh, Harry? If my 'new' memory serves me correctly...you and I played a very good game of 'cat and mouse' in both public and private. We fooled everyone for over a year now,' Draco said softly now and gazed lovingly at his husband.

Harry nodded and looked down at his ring, taking it off to examine it a moment. 'It was beginning of sixth year...after a game of Quidditch in which Gryffindor won as always...yeah, I see it too now. We were still enemies by day, but at night...we were drawn to each other. So that's why they stayed on...and why Fawkes picked you out that day as a member of the Order. You joined beginning of last Summer from what I am seeing in the 'new' memories. Is that right...Albus?' Harry said now. He remember now joining the Order still in fifth year, and Draco's joining after they became lovers. As well as in private, Harry did call his Headmaster 'Albus', as all Order members did.

Albus nodded, his eyes twinkling. 'Exactly as you're recalling them, Harry, yes. Draco joined a few days before school let out last Summer, and I was happy to have him in the Order. He provided valuable information to us about a certain person, more then even Severus could have.'

Harry turned to Draco in astonishment, something finally registering with him. 'You turned in Lucius?' he asked in awe.

Draco laughed and nodded his head. 'It's looking that way eh? From what I remember I was only more than happy to do so, bastard got what he deserved. From my 'new' memories, after Lucius got the kiss, mother moved out of the Manor and lives somewhere in Italy now I think...don't really know nor care,' he said with a shrug.

'She does live in Italy, though you have neither seen nor spoken to her since she left. Now, I also believe I told you I would put an inscription on those rings of yours when you wanted. Would you like me to do that now?' he asked.

Harry and Draco looked at each other, and nodded at the same time. Draco took his ring off and handed it to Harry, who in turned handed them to Albus. 'I know what I want Harry's to say, Albus,' Draco said now with a soft smile at his husband. 'Put on the outside...Flyer Et Dray, Toujours, and I want our wedding date...our real wedding date on the inside...Juin Quinzi, 1978,' Draco said proudly.

Harry watched as Albus tapped his wand to his ring, and in glowing, golden letters those words and the date appeared. Oddly enough, though he didn't really know how, he still remembered how to speak French, or perhaps by now he just had learned it without realising or needing the spell on him any longer. 'Flyer and Dray - Always, June 15th, 1978,' he repeated now under his breath as his ring was handed to him by Albus and he placed it gently back on his ring finger, a soft glow surrounding it. 'I want the same thing, Albus,' he said now and watched again as the words appeared on Draco's ring and was handed back, settling on Draco's ring finger, also glowing as it returned home.

'What do we do now though? I am not repeating my seventh-year, newer magics or not, Albus. That would be just plain torture for both of us I think. Right now the memories of where we came from are still too fresh in both our minds, and I don't know about Harry but...I don't know if...if I can return to the life I had...this life I mean. I know it's the way I am remembering it, with Lucius dead now and all that...but it's still a bit fuzzy and unreal yet to me. I certainly don't feel like a 'Malfoy' anymore, nor would I want to be one I think,' Draco said reflectively and remembered just how awful Lucius had been in the past.

'Well I for one am glad not to be a 'Dursley' anymore, that's for sure. I'm glad to be a Potter again,' Harry chuckled, then an idea hit him. 'Dray...you don't have to be a 'Malfoy' anymore! Unless you have any objections to it...why not be my husband this time?' he said excitedly now.

Draco thought on that a moment then his eyes grew bright and he nodded quickly. 'Draco Lucius Potter...no...not that. No...no middle name even anymore...nothing that connects me to that...er...to Lucius. Just 'Draco Potter'. Yes, I like that!' Draco said happily and held his husbands hand tightly. 'But still, what are we going to do now?' he asked questioningly.

'Hmm on that I am not sure either. Remus? Severus? Any suggestions?' Albus said now turning to the two of them.

They both thought on that for a moment, not sure either what to do. 'Keeping them apart will be difficult, and they'll have to have another 'ceremony' if they want to stay married, which could be a problem if they were still in school,' Remus said with a frown.

'They'll have to also go back to their old dorms,' Severus said wincing almost at that thought.

'I thought we already covered the fact we are not repeating seventh-year again? And I will not...ever...go back to Slytherin House,' Draco said firmly then glanced at Severus with a blushing slightly. 'Err...no offence, Severus but ahh...I just don't really belong there anymore, you know that.'

Severus grinned and nodded in agreement. 'On that I concur, Slytherin is not the place for you anymore. However if you plan on sleeping in Harry's bed in Gryffindor Tower from now on...that could also be a problem. Though if you don't go through with finishing your exams...any clues there on what they can do Albus?' Severus said turning to the Headmaster.

Albus thought on that a moment, then an idea struck him. 'Perhaps there is a way we can do this after all. If you're all willing...and we'd need some 'outside' help as well.'

'Why do I get a bad feeling about this, Albus?' Harry said with a grin.

'Somehow I'm worried myself now,' Draco said with a chuckle. 'Well what is it?'

Turning to Severus and Remus now he said, 'How long do you think it would take the both of you to catch them up in the differences in magic usage?'

'Hmm...good question,' Remus said thoughtfully. 'In Defence Against the Dark Arts really very little, that hasn't changed practically at all. There's a ton of new charms however, and runes, but nothing they shouldn't be able to handle. Transfiguration I would say again very little difference, they know the basics, or enough to pass N.E.W.T.S. on it I'd wager.'

'Potions would need some work though honestly. There's a ton of new advances in the field these days, and I can say for sure they would not pass the N.E.W.T.S. on what they know now,' Severus said firmly.

'Hmm...so potions, runes and charms they would need the most work on. How long do you think it would take though to catch them up?' Albus asked again.

'Well...Sirius was the best at runes, and Peter was the one always good at charms, more then any of us I'd say,' Remus said.

'That's right, he did tie Lily for the grade when we left,' Harry said now.

Remus nodded and chuckled. 'Lily was furious remember? Chased him round the commons for half an hour saying he had to have cheated...poor Peter,' he grinned.

'Yeah, and when she caught him she made him kneel before her and say she was really the best in charms...it was just too funny,' Draco laughed.

'Err...anyway...yeah Peter would be the expert really but I'd say not all that long,' Remus said coughing slightly at seeing the amused look on Albus's face.

'As for potions, I'd say maybe three months at best, less even knowing these two. That's if they keep their hands out of someone else's cauldron,' he said with a wink at them causing both Harry and Draco to giggle.

'Hey, wasn't our fault Lucius was always strutting round pretending to be the 'god of potions'. Was due payback for showing you up all the time, Sev,' Draco laughed.

Severus grinned. 'He certainly was better then me back then. Thanks to Remy though I showed him up, got the highest marks in the class and on the N.E.W.T.S.. Needless to say he was not happy that day.'

'All the better I say,' Remus nodded firmly.

'Had a good 'study' partner,' Severus said smiling lovingly at his husband.

'Well,' Albus cut in now, smiling broadly, 'so we can safely say it would take at least two to three months, minimum?'

Remus and Severus nodded. 'At least that, give or take. But where would they sleep and what after that? What scheme are you hatching, Albus?' Remus said knowingly and giving Albus a strange glance.

Albus chuckled. 'Nothing that major I can assure you, Remus. I am thinking that Harry and Draco will seclude themselves in a place within the castle that they will not be seen for a little while, perhaps the Middle Tower room for now would be good. It is far out of the way and I can cordon off the Middle Tower corridors as 'off-limits' to all for the meantime. You can of course wander after hours, I will let Filch know it is alright. I will send for Peter and Sirius to join you, unknown to you there is another room a few paintings away, behind the sixth painting in the tower, suitable for this purpose. Severus and Remus on their off class time can tutor you there as well,' Albus said.

'Then what? Won't everyone wonder what has happened to us?' Harry asked puzzled.

'Indeed they will. I will tell people that you both have had to leave the school for a time due to a few still unlocated Death Eaters that wish to bring you harm. That your removal from the school was necessary for the moment, but that you are safe and sound, and will be back as soon as possible. In the meantime you will study, then I will personally oversee your exams, which I am afraid you will have to take again,' Albus said.

'Well that's all right...I guess...if we have to...' Draco said with a sigh. 'What about us being married though? I told you I am not going to stay a Malfoy. I want to be Harry's husband in this time too. And what about after we take the N.E.W.T.S.? What then?' he asked.

'I can arrange for your marriage in this time as well. If you will allow me to, I will approach Arthur on this myself. I am more then positive he will understand when I explain the situation to him, and why you are needing the certificate and taking your N.E.W.T.S. earlier then usual,' Albus said.

'Ohh...I forgot Arthur was now the Minister of Magic!' Harry said happily. 'Of course he'll understand! Err...well I hope so anyway...' he said less sure now.

'I'm positive he will, Harry. As for you, Draco, I assume that before you renounce your name you would like at least some sort of trust fund set up for you from the Malfoy estate?' Albus asked.

Draco nodded. 'Of course. The Manor far as I'm concerned can drop to the ground, but I do want my money. It will make things easier for us in the future, even if Harry is pretty rich himself. I still want to know what we're doing after all of this,' he said curiously.

Before Albus could say anything else however Harry jumped back in the conversation. 'I want Ron and Hermione to know the truth too, Albus. They deserve to know...they were...err...are...whatever...my friends. I...I don't know them anymore really...but...I think they'd understand...and maybe even help us. Is that alright with you?' Harry asked hesitantly.

'I think something can be arraigned on that, yes, Harry. Ms. Granger is a very clever person, she probably would make a correlation between you and Draco's disappearance and my cordoning off the Middle Tower. Of course Mr. Weasley would accompany her on such a quest as well,' he said chuckling. 'I will go to them personally, and ask them to join you this evening at the room, with strict orders of course.'

Harry nodded a bit relieved. 'Thanks, Albus. You're right...if I remember Hermione correctly, she would definitely have put two and two together,' he chuckled.

'You'll send for Peter and Sirius too?' Remus asked.

'I dare say those two won't really want to leave the cottage, but I'm sure they'll come,' Severus said with a grin. 'But...will we tell them the truth about Flyer and Dray...who they are...err...were?'

'I think we should, after all they'll want to know what all this is about and everything. Can you imagine what they're going to say though? The Marauders...together again...or most of us!' Harry said, though it was a bit sad remembering James wasn't there any longer.

'Heh, they're in for a surprise that's for sure!' Remus said, and that remind him of something. Flyer...Dray...you may also want to see this...'

'See what, Moony?' Draco asked curiously.

'You have it with you, Sev?' Remus said now turning to his husband.

'Of course, it was my day to carry it if I remember right,' he said grinning and fishing through his robes pulled out a very familiar looking piece of parchment.

'The map! You still have it! I thought we lost it a few weeks ago?' Harry said in surprise.

'We did...well...I mean it was lost back then, but turns out Filch found it and when I happen to be down in his office about one of my more 'adamant' detention students about a year ago...I nicked it back,' Remus grinned. 'After showing it to Severus, Siri and Peter though, we all thought it could use an update.'

'An update? How you update the Marauder's Map? You found new rooms?' Draco asked suspiciously.

Remus shook his head then took the parchment from Severus's hand. 'Nope, something else...something even better,' he grinned. Handing it to Harry now he said, 'Go ahead, Harry...activate it.'

Harry took out his wand from his robe pocket, unrolled the map a bit hesitantly, then tapped his wand to it saying, 'I solemnly swear I am up to no good!' The map then began to show criss-crossed lines going every which way, forming finally the castle and the grounds in all it's glory, as it always had. What caught both Harry and Draco's attention now made them gasp for it wasn't the map itself that had changed, it was what now was written on it .

'Oh, Moony...' Harry breathed, tears in his eyes from pure happiness and even Draco couldn't help but shed a tear in happiness as well. The map now read:

Messrs. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, Prongs, Flyer and Dray
Purveyors of Aids to Magical Mischief-Makers
are proud to present

THE MARAUDER'S MAP


Dedicated to three Marauder's who will always be sorely missed: Prongs, Flyer and Dray

May this Map bring to you,
you're heart's desires to come true.
Remember though who came before,
and those who fell during times of War.

For Prongs, Flyer and Dray did fall,
among those who answered the call.
They fought bravely though they did not mend ,
and they remained Marauder's to the very end.

In their memory we do say,
uphold the Mischief in any way.
Do not fail to joke and prank,
just remember who to thank.

For those ahead who find this Map,
Please don't fail to make your tap.
When your done and all is finished,
remember the words to end your 'Mischief!'

Harry and Draco couldn't fail to shed tears now, and got up hugging both Remus and Severus tightly. 'This is better than anything you could have ever given us guys,' Harry said sniffing back more tears and holding the map close to him.

Draco nodded. 'One thing I don't get...why do you say we 'fell' in war?' he asked puzzled, sniffed back some of his own tears.

'Ah now that was Albus's idea actually,' Remus said with a sad smile. 'After you were gone about two months he concocted a way to 'send' all of us posts from the two of you. When the war with Voldemort broke out, he told everyone that you two had been fighting against Death Eaters in France, but that sadly you both had fallen against them, that way it made it easier to explain why you never came back here. As it happens, if you go to the Père-Lachaise cemetery in Paris, the wizarding section of course off the Avenue de la Chapelle, you will find a gravestone that marks a double grave. The gravestone reads, 'Harry and Draco Malloy. Husbands, Friends and Marauders. Rest in Mischief and Mayhem forever more. Death is now your final prank, enjoy it well friends',' he said quietly.

'It was Remus's idea to put that on the stone when I asked what we should do about 'killing' you both off. It was getting difficult to keep maintaining 'posts', luckily none of the others ever caught on. This way there was a 'finality' to the both of you,' Albus said.

Harry and Draco nodded in full understanding. 'We'll have to go see that one day, should be interesting,' Harry said now with a slight grin. 'As well as...Prongs and Lils graves. Even before we left...I never once had gotten to see where they were buried,' Harry said softly.

'That shouldn't be a problem on either end I'm sure. James and Lily are buried at the Godric's Hollow Cemetery, attached to the ancestral home of the Gryffindor's,' Albus said carefully.

Harry looked up surprised now. 'Gryffindor's? I thought Godric's Hollow was destroyed though?'

'It was, but it is a home of pure magic, Harry. You can destroy it a hundred times, but given enough time, it rebuilds itself. Especially when the magic used to create it was from Godric Gryffindor himself,' Albus said.

'I don't understand...why would James and Lily live in a home that was from Godric Gryffindor?' Harry asked confused.

'Because James...was a Gryffindor, as are you now. You are the last remaining heir of Godric Gryffindor, Harry,' Albus said quietly.

Harry was floored, in all these years he'd never known, never been told. 'Is this some sort of Marauder's joke? I...I really am an...heir?' he asked.

'You certainly are, Flyer, it's not a joke. Didn't you ever wonder how Jamie could do some of the things he did? Or that you can? Or how he got hold of such a rare thing as an invisibility cloak?' Remus grinned.

Harry shook his head. 'No...honestly I never did. I just thought he...we...were really good at using odd magic is all...figured it was just good luck. I really never thought on the cloak either,' he said sheepishly.

Remus and Severus laughed and shook their heads. 'Typical of a Gryffindor not to question good luck...or think it is nothing more than luck at all,' Severus grinned.

'Well this is a kicker isn't it. So what now? Do I have to learn anything new or whatnot as an heir?' Harry asked.

'No, whatever powers you might have been passed along will show themselves to you over time, and then you'll simply know what to do with them at that time. What we do need to do however is get both your things moved to your new 'room', have your talk with Ron and Hermione, and I need to owl Sirius and Peter, and pay a visit to Arthur before the day is through,' Albus said.

'And when we're done with learning...with N.E.W.T.S. and all that? Then what, Albus?' Draco asked suddenly, feeling a bit lost again.

'Then the future...belongs to the both of you. If you want, perhaps you might to stay at the school, become maybe 'aides' to Remus and Severus. I do know Harry would do very well teaching Dark Arts, and Draco does have a knack for potions. Or of course, you could choose to leave before term ends. Do some travelling or whatnot, it's all up to the whatever you decide,' Albus said.

Harry and Draco clasped hands gently, looking at each other, obviously both thinking the same thing. 'I don't think either of us wants to think that far into the...future...yet, Albus. We'll just concentrate on the 'here and now',' Harry said with a chuckle at some internal joke obviously, though Draco grinned at that.

'Yeah...the 'here and now' sounds pretty good to me too love. As long as you're with me...we can handle anything,' Draco said softly.

'This all still feels so strange...we were just here in this office last night, getting married. We had everything planned, we were ready to go out there and fight the world for what we believed in...become professors even. Now that's all gone...and...just when we still had the chance to still change it all. To save James and Lily...to save Sirius from Azkaban...' Harry said sadly now.

'Remember what Aunt Henrietta told us, Harry? Some things were meant to be as they were meant to be. We may not really belong here anymore, but we'll manage to make it work. We're Marauder's right...if we can't then no one can! It's not like we don't have our friends here, we do. Moony, Padfoot, Wormtail, Flyer and Dray will live on again...in us...and maybe someday in our children...' Draco said pulling his husband into his arms and holding him for a moment.

'You'll be surprised at how far in potions we've come mates, I'm this close to figuring out what needs to work for the potion for us to have children. We've had a few err..set backs to date, but I know it won't be much longer,' Severus said with a grin now and glanced at his husband.

'You're kidding...honestly?' Harry said beaming at Severus.

'Am I a Potions Master or not? Of course I will find a way! Don't you remember what we said all those years ago...or rather...last night? I promised I would find the way one day...and I've never given up. I had to take some time away from the research for a while during the war and all...and it's a very complex potion, but I know I will do it,' Severus said firmly.

'Dray? Do you remember what you said last night to me love? That...that if there ever was a way...we could raise a family too? Do you...do you still want to?' he asked his husband hesitantly.

Draco now looked at Harry very lovingly and nodded slowly. 'I think...that sounds like the perfect wedding gift...we could ever give each other my love. To have a child with you someday would be the single most wonderful thing I could ever want in life...because it would be with you...and a part of you...'

Harry sighed in contentment then got up from his chair and pulled Draco out of his, holding him tightly. 'J'taime toujours, Dray Potter. I love you always,' Harry said quietly.

'J'taime toujours, Harry Potter. Forever. Our 'future' begins again...now, Flyer...and I know it will be a good one,' Draco said softly and leaned up to kiss his husband, knowing in his heart he spoke the truth. Whatever would happen next, wherever in this 'present' they would end up...they would be together, and that's all that mattered anymore.

What had started out as hatred and misfortune, trapped in a time they didn't belong, with people they didn't expect, had turned into something wonderful. They may not have been able to change what was to be, they didn't need to though. Fate has a funny way of making things work out though, that much is true.

Harry did renew his friendship with Ron and Hermione, and though it took them time to understand what had happened, they did accept Draco in the end. They saw how much in love Harry was with his husband, and even they found no faults in that, and never would. Harry however would never be as close a friend as they had all once been, but the friendship remained solid in the long run.

Sirius and Peter were told the truth, and were incredibly shocked, but glad to have their 'Marauder' friends back in the living. Whilst Harry, Draco, Sirius and Peter were at the school, several teachers and students found themselves to be mysteriously tormented by various 'pranks'. Though only Albus and Minerva who was also informed of their 'hiding' knew who was really behind it. Remus and Severus only sat there and smiled, secretly of course involved in providing the information on the various student and teachers activities to those hiding in Middle Tower.

Harry and Draco did pass their N.E.W.T.S. with flying colours, and received both their graduation diplomas and their wedding certificate from Arthur Weasley a little over two months after they went into hiding. When they were done they reemerged into the world as 'aides' to Severus and Remus for the rest of the year. However after that they 'disappeared' again in secrecy, only their friends knowing where they were or what they were doing in secret.

They did reappeared for a few days when Ron and Hermione got married a few months after graduation, and they stayed at the Burrow catching up on events to Molly and Arthur's delight. Ron and Hermione went off to Paris for their honeymoon, so Harry and Draco stayed in Ron's old room for a few extra days. Whilst Ron and Hermione were in Paris they sent wizarding photo's back of the tomb of 'Harry and Dray Malloy', and Harry and Draco vowed they really would have to get over there one day and see it for themselves.

Other then that few days they had basically kept to Godric's Hollow, which indeed had rebuilt itself like Albus had said it would. Harry did start coming into his powers as an heir, and as he was told he knew just how to deal with them. They eventually did go to Paris and see their 'grave', amongst also going to several other countries for a little while.

When they returned from their travels they came back to the Hollow for another year, decided to continue their own 'researches' and living in comfort since they both were incredibly rich after Draco inherited all the Malfoy funds. He did give some to his mother though, but he never spoke to her again. With house-elves at their disposal, friends popping in an out, birthdays celebrated happily amongst friends they were very happy.

Sirius and Peter returned to their seaside cottage after tutoring them at Hogwarts, though they often would come to Godric's Hollow and talk about the 'old days', which to Harry and Draco really were the 'old days'...the Marauder days. They never really did settle into the 'new' life that well, and in a way sometimes regretted having come back, though they were happy in their 'new' life over all. It was sad for them to see their friends getting older whilst they were still so young, and they missed those who were gone, but it all worked in the end.

Three years after leaving Hogwarts four announcements appeared in the Daily Prophet within a few weeks of each other:

~~June 25th~~

Arthur Weasley, Minister of Magic and his wife Molly Weasley are pleased to announce the birth of their granddaughter Arianna Lillian Weasley. The proud parents, Ron Weasley, Head of the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office, and Hermione Weasley, Head of the Improper Use of Magic Office, and their child are doing well. Mother and daughter should be released from St. Mungo's Maternity ward within a few days. The child's godparents are Neville and Ginny Longbottom.

~~July 1st~~

Messrs. Harry and Draco Potter are pleased to announce the birth of their son Jayme Brandon Potter. They had their son at their home at Godric's Hollow, Madam Poppy Pomfrey as their mediwitch. They announced that the child's godparents are Remus and Severus Lupin-Snape. Draco Potter is doing well after the birth of their child, although tired. Harry Potter told us that for the moment that only personal friends and family are allowed at the Hollow, but posts of well wishes and congratulations will not be turned away. Mr. H. Potter wishes his husband to rest and regain his strength, and for them both to have some private time alone with their new son needless to say.

~~July 20th~~

Hogwarts teachers Remus J. Lupin-Snape, Professor of Defence Against the Dark Arts, and Professor Severus S. Lupin-Snape, are pleased to announce the birth of their son Romulus James Lupin-Snape. The child was born at Hogwarts under the care of Madam Poppy Pomfrey, mediwitch of the school. The child will be happily raised by all staff and Harry and Draco Potter have been named the child's godparents. Remus Lupin-Snape is currently under care of Madam Pomfrey in the Hogwart's Infirmary and will not be release for at least a week, nor is not allowed visitors as of yet do to severe weakness after having his child. We at the Prophet of course wish for his speedy recovery.

~~July 31st~~

Albus Dumbledore today announced that two positions that were going to be vacant this school term have been filled. The Muggle Studies and Flying Instructor positions were going to be available if you recall at the end of the last term. When asked who would take over those positions Headmaster Dumbledore only gave his well patented smile and twinkle in his eyes and said, 'I believe I have found two people who I am sure will do the jobs well. I am quite looking forwards to seeing them at the school at the end of August, and I can honestly say it will be a very interesting year I think.' I guess we'll just have to wait and see who it is he's talking about!



Minerva McGonagall put down the July 31st copy of the Daily Prophet, that being today's paper, a soft smile on her face. Sipping her pumpkin juice she looked round the Great Hall a moment, sighing in the silence that still echoed round. Most teachers went home for the holidays, usually it was only herself, Albus, Hagrid and Filch during the Summers. At the moment though only Minerva and Albus were at breakfast, and it seemed almost too empty.

'So you convinced them after all hmm?' she said now rolling back up the paper that she had been reading.

'I think it will be good for them to be back amongst others, Minerva. They've been hiding away too long now, it's time they moved on,' Albus said with a nod.

'And of the child? Will they bring him as well I assume?' she asked curiously.

Albus chuckled. 'They wouldn't have it any other way. I will arrange it so that one of the four of them will have a free period to watch over the boys during the school hours.'

Minerva smiled and nodded her head. 'I'll volunteer my services to such a worthy cause as well. It will certainly be an interesting year with all four of them back in the same halls, don't you think, Albus?' she said with a far off look in her eyes.

'Indeed it shall Minerva, indeed it shall. I wonder...' he said with a twinkle in his eyes.

'Wonder what?' she asked curiously.

'I only wonder now...who will be the first victim,' he laughed and stood up from the table.

'Knowing the four of them...I can only pray we make it through the first day...let alone the whole year. It will be good to see it all again though, I was beginning to actually miss it if you want the truth,' she chuckled.

'A new generation will come again after them I'm sure...all in good time my good woman, all in good time...' he said knowingly.

Minerva laughed and she too stood up to leave, putting the paper under her arm. 'I hope we live to see it, Albus, for when I stop missing them all...I know I shall truly have grown old.'

Albus chuckled and nodded in agreement. 'Come then, we have to get ready for the new school term. They will all be arriving in a few weeks, and we've nothing yet to show for our idleness this Summer. Care to join me first in a morning stroll, Minerva ? I think we have time for that,' he said smiling.

'By all means, Albus, I think that is wonderful way to start the day off. We won't have many more of these 'quiet' days...I know that now. I don't need to be Sybil to predict the upcoming future, Albus...I already know it will be just as it always should be...noisy, irritating...and a lot of fun,' she said chuckling.

'Of course...but it's all with only the very best of intentions, Minerva, and I wouldn't want it any other way,' Albus agreed, and together they went off for a morning stroll by the lake, discussing the upcoming year...and how they would protect themselves from what was sure to be the wildest year in a long time.

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The cemetery by the way is real, and it is in Paris. The street I named is real as well. People like Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde and many other famous people are buried there. It's a huge cemetery, and it took me hours upon hours browsing graves that dated back centuries before I was through walking it. Though some might not consider a graveyard a 'tourist' attraction, I highly recommend if you find the time if you do go there to check it out, it's well worth seeing!

I know you're asking me about the photo, originally people were not happy with the one I described...therefore in this case I will leave it up to you the reader to decide what the photo should be of. Use your imaginations I say...come up with any scenario you'd like. I however would have made it look as such...

It was a typical moving wizards photo, where once it had shown only Lily and James Potter waving at the camera with their one year old son, now many people were in the photo. Where originally it had been taken in front of the outside stairs at Hogwarts, now it was at Godric's Hollow, in a large backyard. In this photo, taken before James and Lily had gone into hiding, almost everyone Harry and Draco knew was there. What had changed in this the very 'last' photo was that Severus not in it like he had been on the train. This time he was notedly absent, since in this photo's history Remus and Severus were still 'hiding' their marriage in secrecy, therefore Severus was unable to be friends with the Potters or the others.

Sirius and Peter, happiness on their faces as they had just gotten married, were trying to keep hold of their black and white spotted puppy dog, Inkspot. Lily was holding Harry and making faces at her husband for prancing round the backyard as Prongs instead of James. Remus was there of course too, laughing and trying to dodge out of the way of Prongs, then taking Harry out of Lily's arms and swinging him in the air. The camera was being 'filmed' by everyone, therefore everyone had a chance to be in it.

Everyone in the photo on that day hadn't a care it seemed, they were too busy being 'Marauder's' and having fun. They didn't know in a few months Peter would betray his friends out of fear. That James and Lily and the house in the background, a stately Manor house, would be killed and destroyed. That the young toddler waving and smiling in the photo would become an orphan. At that moment, frozen in time, friends were friends. There was no betrayals, no fears, no evil, no war.

The photo on the train however had been different, though not too much different. It was the same scene, the backyard at the Hollow. In the photo on the train however Severus had been present in the backyard, his wedding ring shining on his finger, and he was smiling lovingly at his husband. He had been dressed in a short sleeve shirt, the Dark Mark clearly on his left forearm. Apparently from the photo Remus and Severus had come clean to everyone what had really happened at school, and they had accepted him as a friend from that moment on.

Harry and Dray Malloy had also been in that photo on the train, married as well, and each holding a child in each of their arms, laughing, smiling and happy. Harry was holding their son and Draco was holding what appeared to obviously be Remus and Severus's son. In that 'history' the potion that would give them the ability to have children had been made much sooner, thanks to the combined efforts of Harry, Dray, Severus and Remus, and the fact they were not having to hide themselves. It was that photo that Harry had shown the others on the train, and it's what made him convinced that Severus had to join the Death Eaters.

However when the future changed again, and Harry and Draco left the 'past', the photo erased them, the children of theirs and Severus from it. Severus and Remus never told anyone of their wedding in the 'changed' history, and could only meet in the secrecy they did. The photo that stayed after Harry and Draco returned is the one first shown...without them and without Severus. It was only of a group of not quiet grown up yet adults being friends and having fun...never knowing what the future really held...

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September 02, 2002 10:29 PM ©Piriotessa/Piri Lupin-Snape