The last month before school started passed in a flash. Harry was feeling much better, and even if he sometimes still tired more easily than usually, he was able to lead life normally. They had even been to the quiditch pitch to test their Nimbus 1700. Sirius had stated that if the kids happened to need a quick getaway they needed decent brooms. Remus rolled his eyes at this statement, but let that slip when Tonks reminded him that there was a good chance that they could play. From what she remembered of the Gryffindor team, Charlie Weasley was going to be picked for the team only next year, alongside new beaters, a chaser and a keeper. The 1980-81 school year had been disastrous exactly for that reason. Those positions had been held by seventh years the previous year and they couldn't find decent replacement until a bunch of second years entered the team the following year. James was positively drooling over his son's performance, and they even ventured a friendly game. James, Ron, past Sirius and Remus, that had come to see baby Harry, against Harry, Fred, George and Ginny. Fred and Sirius were in their element as beaters. George played keeper which he wasn't so good at, while Ron, that was the other team's keeper, was excellent. But that balanced at the fact that Ginny was a really good chaser and Remus wasn't. James and Harry played seeker. James wanted to see if Harry was really better than him, like Sirius kept saying. The future Sirius and Remus, Lily holding baby Harry, Tonks, Arthur and Molly, that had constantly been up to the school to see their children, and Hermione just watched. Harry had a hard time getting past his father, James wasn't good at spotting the snitch but he was a really good flyer, and soon reverted to just following his son, in case Harry saw the snitch, and then try to out fly him. Harry was used to this tactic, this was Malfoy's favorite, but unfortunately his dad flew better than Malfoy. The game was fairly balanced in the scores. The others were putting a good fight and every time one scored the other team caught up, so it was up to the seeker to make a difference. A few times he tried losing his father with the Wronski Feint but James was too good for that and caught on way before the collision with the floor. At last, Harry saw the snitch and there was no other way but to out fly his father, they were neck to neck. On the stands Sirius, Remus, Tonks and Hermione were cheering Harry on, Lily was divided, but when she saw, at the last second, her son catching the snitch only an inch ahead of James, and James hand almost closing on Harry's, she was ecstatic. James cursed for missing but couldn't help the proud feeling; his son really was a superb flyer.

The next morning James and Lily were going back home. Dumbledore had put extra protection on their house but hadn't told them of the prophecy yet. Sirius was furious at this, but when Dumbledore asked if his future self had told them right away, he had to answer no and Dumbledore said that he had good reasons for that. Sirius had to accept that but still thought they had to be warned, especially since Peter was still on and about. He was grateful for the fact that Peter had had the decency of not showing his traitor face around because he did not know if he would be able to control himself, he wondered if the little rat was already a spy. The other person he did not know how he would react around was Tess, he knew she had been to the castle to see baby Harry, after all she was his godmother, but he had asked the past Sirius not to tell her anything. He told him that the fewer people that knew the better, but what he was really dreading was to have to explain to Harry what had happened with his godmother. He had only seen her once since Azkaban, on the Order's first meeting, and the talk they had in private after the meeting had not gone well. He blamed her for leaving Harry, for letting Dumbledore take him to the Dursleys while she got married and had her own kids. He didn't much listen to her explanation and wouldn't know how to explain to Harry, he just hoped Remus knew. He was brought up from his musings when a cheery Tonks came in the common room and sat next to him on the couch. She had really outdone herself, since the second day here she had been sporting long black curly hair and beautiful green eyes; she really looked like Harry's older sister. "A knut for your thoughts," she said.

Sirius raised one eyebrow and said "That's all you think their worth?"

"Well, no but that's all I've got in my pockets right now." They both laughed, Sirius liked how his little cousin could always keep the good mood even in the worst of times. She had been the one reassuring Hermione that they would find a way back; the girl was the one having the hardest time. The Weasley kids, in some way had their parents, even if they weren't exactly the way they were used to and Harry had something he never had before, two sets of parents. He liked how Harry got along easily with James and Lily, but couldn't help to feel happy at noticing that Harry usually came to him and Remus for parents stuff. He just hoped James hadn't noticed.

"So everything ready for later," he asked.

"Oh, yes, they are going to love this."

---

Harry and Ginny were doing the last of their homework on the shadow of a tree by the edge of the lake. Harry suddenly held up his head and said.

"This is pointless work, I mean doing Snape's homework! We don't even know if we'll ever go back! If we get back at the same time we left, we will still have a month to do this, and none of the teachers here expect the new students to hand in homework. What are they playing at?" He finished throwing his arms up.

"Maybe Sirius wants to play the part of a responsible parent, and mom and dad wouldn't have left us leave our homework until this late," Ginny answered frowning.

"Then why, aren't Fred, George and Ron here? I doubt that they finished theirs," came a new voice.

"Hermione, what you're doing here?" Harry asked while she sat by them.

"Remus told me to join you and do my homework, when I said I had already done it the first week of holidays he just stared at me and told me to come help you then. I think they're up to something, I just don't know what," she answered crossing her arms angrily.

" What do you reckon, Ginny?" Harry asked.

She looked pensively at him, and then shutting her book she said, "Well, we won't find out here! Let's go." But when she was about to get up she was stopped by a voice.

"What you kids doing here?" they turned and smiled, right behind them was the enormous form of Hagrid.

"Oh, we are with Professors Lupin and Geller. I'm Hermione, these are Brian and Ginny," Hermione answered quickly before one of the others said something weird. This Hagrid didn't know them yet.

"Oh! Right, yer James cousin aren't yeh. Look just like im, Jus the eyes, different color. Professor Dumbledore told me bout yeh, said yer school been close, well you'll love Hogwarts," Hagrid said beaming.

They smiled back, and Harry said "And who are you, if I may ask?"

"I'm Hagrid the Gamekeeper, been out on a mission, jus got back. Was bout to go see if the Threstals are ready for tomorrow."

"The what?" Ginny and Harry asked

"Oh, you have threstals here?" Hermione asked.

"Yeap, the only domestic heard of Britain, they pull the school coaches."

Harry and Ginny were confused, the coaches pulled themselves, but apparently Hermione knew what they were talking about. She asked if he could show them, he agreed and said that they could go while he fed some of them, but not to be annoyed if they couldn't see them. If possibly, Harry and Ginny were more confused at this. Hagrid led them to a clearing near the edge of the forest, stopping by his cabin to get what looked like a dead cow. At the clearing he made some funny noise and at first nothing happened, and then a winged horse showed up. Harry had shivers coming up his spine. The horse was skeletal and seemed like the cross of a horse and a reptile. "Beautiful, isn't him?" Hagrid said

"But where is him?" Ginny asked looking around. Harry didn't understand, the horse was right there. But Hermione nudge her and pointed to where the threstal was now eating the dead cow. Ginny let out a cry. Hagrid said "Don't worry, it's normal that you can't see him."

"But he is right there, how can't she see him?" Harry pointed at the animal. Hagrid looked at him with a concerned face and answered. "Well, only people that have seen someone die can see them." At this statement understanding downed on Harry and Cedric's dead face came to him, he shivered and Hermione muttered under her breath "Stupid idea, what was I thinking."

Hagrid put a hand on Harry's shoulder and asked "You ok kid?" Harry looked up and said "Fine, just think we should get back, they'll be looking for us soon." And he led the way leaving Hagrid behind. He didn't want to get to that subject now, he hadn't spoken of what happened that night since he had told Dumbledore everything, and he did not want to remember.

They were approaching the castle when an angry Sirius was walking towards them.

"Where have you been, I've been worried sick, looking all over for you, thought you had left the grounds."

"We were with Hagrid," Hermione answered apologetically.

"Well, don't do that any more, I'll have to ground you for that stunt," He said very seriously.

They stared at him disbelieving until Ginny said "First homework then grounding, what's gotten into you?"

"Well, I have to teach you responsibilities. Now back to our quarters." They lead the way furious and did not see the smile playing on Sirius face. When they got at the monks portrait Ginny almost shouted the password and stomped into the common room closely followed by the others, they almost jumped when the others shouted "Surprise!" Sirius followed them in closing the portrait and saying "Happy Birthday!"

"But it is not any of ours Birthday!" Hermione said shocked.

"Always have to be the spoilsport," Fred said "since Harry's party was ruined, during Ginny's we were still dealing with being in the past and yours is in a few weeks we decided to throw a joint party. So again, everybody now."

"Happy Birthday!" came a chorus, the three kids grinned widely. Everybody was there, James and Lily, Molly and Arthur, past and future Remus and Sirius, Tonks, Fred, George and Ron. They had a great time, they talked, they laughed and Harry completely forgot about the Threstals.

---

Sirius watched everybody content, Harry was happy, he still had a long way to go to recover from the events after the third task but he wasn't letting them get the better of him, the nightmares were fewer, he wasn't waking up trembling every night and he was glad to know that he was a part of what made everything better. He was holding a glass of firewhysky from which he had not drank and seizing the fact that no one was looking, he went to his room; he was still worried about James and Lily leaving the castle. He sat there thinking if maybe things could be different this time, but that meant that his Harry would have to stop Voldemort, and he didn't want to put him in danger, even if that was to save James and Lily and give baby Harry a family. He was divided by the wish to help them and the wish to protect the boy that had become his son.

"Padfoot?" came a voice from behind him and he startled and turned seeing James face.

"Yes, Prongs."

James took a seat next to him on the bed and asked; "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," but he knew that was no good, James knew him too well so he sighed and said "Dumbledore is not telling you something."

"I know."

"You know?"

"Yes, I knew he was hiding something since he asked us to have Harry here instead of St. Mugos. And now with the extra protection at Godric's Hollow, I know that's something big, but I trust him. I know he'll keep my family safe and tell me when I need to know."

"When did you become so grown up?"

James laughed "Well, I wouldn't have won Lily if I hadn't matured, now would I?"

Sirius laughed too. He remembered how Lily said out loud she hated that arrogant Potter, everyone knew that was not true, but she only budged when James stopped jinxing people for fun on their seventh year.

---

Hagrid had set one of the school coaches to take the Potters back to Godric's Hollow. They were saying their goodbyes to Harry, Sirius and Remus at the stairs of the castle. Remus noticed how every few minutes Harry would shoot the Threstals a furtive look. He sighed; they would have to explain about that to the boy, after all, like most of the students, Harry must have thought the coaches pulled themselves. He remembered the shock of the first time he saw them, but then, he had been almost twenty and knew perfectly well what threstals were. Harry must be confused. But he wasn't the only one that had noticed that, James also saw where his son was looking and wondered if that was because of that Cedric from the nightmares, but then that must be recent, because Harry's reaction was of someone that was not used to seeing them.

"We'll find a way to see you even with classes, maybe at Hogsmead weekends," Lily said as she hugged Harry.

"I'd like that" he said, he didn't want to be separated from his parents so soon "and I'll write everyday."

"Right, but we won't hold it against you if you don't. From what I remember of fifth year you'll be getting pretty busy soon," James said ruffling his son hair and winking at Sirius and Remus.

They got into the coach and Harry waved until he couldn't see them any more. Sirius put a hand in his shoulder and said "You better join the others and get ready for later, you're supposed to meet the first years to be sorted."

"Do you think we'll be sorted to Gryffindor?" Harry asked somewhat apprehensive.

"Of course, you get yourselves into too much trouble for any of the other houses to want you," Remus said grinning, but a second later the smile faded and he continued "Listen Harry, about those winged horses…"

But Harry cut him "I know about the Threstal, Hagrid explained all about them yesterday, well I better go." And he left abruptly leaving the two friends behind.

"Well, that's better, then." Sirius said in a clear attempt to flee the subject too.

"No, that's not!" Remus answered dryly, "He needs to talk about what happened. I know you want to avoid the subject, believe me, I would love to pretend that night never happened, but if he bottles everything up he'll just explode."

"I wish we could just obliviate him," Sirius said in a whisper while he ran a hand throw his hair.

"Our bad experiences are as much a part of who we are as our good ones, "Remus answered, "we can't just erase everything bad that happens to him, we have to help him deal with them."

"I don't want to sound like James but, why do you always have to be right" Sirius said raising his arms "ok, I'll talk to him, as soon as we get a chance."

"We'll talk to him together" Remus said putting a hand on Sirius shoulder and Sirius smiled. "Let's go, we have to get ready too, Professor Geller."

"That's going to be weird." Sirius answered and they went inside.

---

They waited for the first years at the front of the oak doors where earlier Harry had said goodbye to his parents. None of the older students had spared them a second look on the way in and now they were alone and the door had closed.

"This feels ridiculous! Why couldn't Dumbledore say he sorted us before the start of term?" Fred asked.

"Didn't you pay attention?" Hermione said exasperated "Sirius said that there had been other transfers before. I bet they had to be sorted this way, and it would look very fishy if they change the rules for us."

"Do you think we'll still be Gryffindors? If I'm sorted into Hupplepuff I think I'll just run up to staff wing, "Ginny said nervously.

"Displaying your typical Gryffindor bravery," Ron mocked.

"Oh, shut up prat," she answered hitting him on the arm.

"Remus said we're too much a bunch of troublemakers for any of the other houses," Harry said smiling at Ginny and she smiled back at him, his stomach did a flip, man she had a beautiful smile. No, what was he thinking, this was Ginny, his best mate's little sister, Ron's baby sister could not have beautiful smiles! He looked around for a change of subject and said "Good, they're coming."

Hagrid was leading the group of first years and right in the front was a very small and nervous Charlie Weasley.

"He looks so little. Never thought I'd say that, "Ron said.

"Good, yer already here" Hagrid said and turned to the first years, "Professor Flitwick will be coming to fetch you in a few moments for the sorting. I have to go, but since this new older students have to be sorted too they'll take care of you." And he beamed at the now terrified time travelers and left. They just stared at the first years until Charlie came forward and asked Ginny.

"What do we have to do? My brother Bill said we have to battle a dragon." he said half terrified half exited.

Ginny smiled at him and said "From what I heard the sorting is not that extreme."

"Oh," he said sounding disappointed, "that's good then, I hope I get into Gryffindor, that's my brothers house."

"I'm sure you will." And she patted his head like he had done to her a million times, and than turned to Harry in an undertone. "I've always wanted to do that." They both had to suppress their laughter.

At this point, the doors opened and Professor Flitwick came, he made the exact same speech as McGonagall always does and led them into the great Hall. There they saw Remus, Tonks and Sirius seated side by side at the staff table. They were used to seeing Remus there but Tonks and Sirius seemed awfully out of place. They all chuckled at the idea of the infamous Sirius Black ending up a teacher after all that he did at school.

After they were all put in a line in front of the staff table for the whole school to be able to see them, Professor Flitwick said. "The new students will be sorted first, come ahead when I call your name. Anthony Weasley" and George stepped forward. Ginny felt a tug in her sleeve and looked down at Charlie that asked in a low voice "Are you the cousins my dad told me about?"

"Now, what gave that away?" she said smiling and he smiled back. A second later they heard the hat shout "Gryffindor" and they applauded together with the Gryffindor table. The same happened to all the Weasleys and Hermione, soon Professor Flitwick was saying "Brian Potter" Harry came forward kind of nervous, what if the hat wanted to put him in Slytherin again? He shot a glance at Remus and Sirius that beamed encouragely. He sat on the stool and as soon as the hat was in his head he heard.

"Ah, another Gryffindor time travel, do you come in packs?"

"Yes" he thought, "so you already know were to put me."

"Of, course I know, although you would thrive in Slytherin."

"I don't want Slytherin" he cut the hat.

"Well, then," and the Hall heard "Gryffindor"

Harry stood up and walked to the Gryffindor table where Fred and George were doing their "we've got Potter" song. He looked to the staff table and saw his guardians and Tonks applauding with the same enthusiasm. He looked at Dumbledore who looked pleased. Then while the sorting continued he said "So, Daniel was right?"

"Oh yes," George answered, "the hat told me that any other house would kick me off."

Charlie was the last to be sorted and sat next to Bill who was looking at the time travelers interestedly. "They're the cousins dad told us about," Charlie informed his brother knowledgably. Bill nodded and Hermione took that as a cue to introduce them. "Hello, I'm Hermione Granger, this is Brian Potter, and this are your cousins, Ginny, Arthur, Anthony and James," she said pointing at each of them in turn.

Dumledore stood up and as usual the Great Hall silenced at once. "To our knew additions welcome to Hogwarts, to our older students, welcome back. Before we enjoy our excellent feast I have some start of term announcement. Mr. Filch would like to remind us that magic is strictly prohibited on the corridors between classes. The list of forbidden items is fixed on his door for whoever that wishes to consult it. The Forbidden Forest, is as the name states, forbidden." At this our time travelers smirked but no one noticed. "I would also like to welcome three new additions to our staff. Professor Geller will be filling in for Professor McGonagall as the transfiguration master. Professor Lupin will be taking the Potions position as Professor Slughorn has retired and Professor Lupin will be our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher." The three teachers stood while the students applauded. Fred, George, Ginny, Hermione, Ron and Harry were standing up while applauding and the rest of the Gryffindor table did the same as apparently the new students knew the teachers, and Gryffindors have to be united. The three teachers blushed at this, especially Remus, but smiled widely.

"Now, please tuck in," Dumbledore finished beaming.

"Do you know them?" Bill asked "Why are there two Lupins."

"They're married and Amy is my sister, her maiden name is Potter," Harry said.

"Are they good?" a girl that Ginny was sure she had seen once at her house kind of dating Bill asked.

"Well, Daniel is great, best defense against Dark Arts teacher we ever had!" Ron said through a mouth full "The other two we don't know how they are as teachers because this is their first time, so better be kind to them."

At this the table laughed. "But they're great people, and fair, that is more than we have to say about our last Potions Master," Fred said and they all pulled faces at the mention of Snape. At this Ginny turned to Harry and said quietly "Now that I think about this, Amy got his job." Harry looked at her thoughtfully, that was true, they were already changing the future.

---

After the feast the three professors entered their common room and sat in the couches in silence for some minutes until Tonks said out loud.

"Man this feels weird."

"I know," Remus said smiling "I was used to all the noise the kids make. I have half my mind to go up to the Gryffindor tower and bring them back."

"I can't imagine Arthur and Molly going through this every year, " Sirius said surveying the ceiling, then he looked at his friends with a smile and said "Well, I'm going to sleep, leave you two lovebirds alone. I don't like being the third wheel."

"Honestly Sirius! You know perfectly well that this is not a real marriage." Remus said exasperated but got no answer as Sirius left to his room. After a while Tonks looked straight at Remus and said. "I don't understand why you won't tell them, I think they will be ok."

"I already said; I'm too old, too poor, too dangerous. We should have never started. I knew that I wouldn't be able to let you go, and then all this had to happen, and Dumbledore had to give that stupid idea."

"The perfect excuse to see their reaction, and no one cares that you're, too old, too poor, too dangerous."

"They are only ok because they think that this is only an act. Sirius would kill me. You're his baby cousin!"

"I don't think he will. I think you should give him a chance. And the whole world could care and that shouldn't matter. The important part is I don't care if you're, too old, too poor, too dangerous!" she finished exasperated and stormed off.