The one where James messed up

Echoes of the past

IN THE FUTURE (2024)

*conversing with the people in 1995*

The afternoon light spilled into the old drawing room of Grimmauld Place, casting long shadows on the ancient tapestries. The house, once the stronghold of the Black family, was now filled with laughter and quiet murmurs of both past and future generations. However, today the atmosphere was more reflective than it had been in days, as they gathered to share stories of the past—specifically, the Battle of Hogwarts.

In the center of the room, Harry, Ginny, Ron, Hermione, and the next generation sat in a semi-circle, listening intently to the tales they had all heard in bits and pieces over the years. For the first time, they would hear the whole story from the ones who had lived it.

"It all happened so fast," Harry began, his voice low but steady. His green eyes flickered with the memories of that fateful day. "The castle was in chaos. Death Eaters everywhere. It was hard to know where the fighting ended and where it began."

Ginny squeezed his hand, her own face darkening with the weight of those memories. "We were all so young. It's hard to believe how much we all went through at that age."

Molly Weasley, who had been bustling around the kitchen moments before, now sat still, her face pinched with the pain of remembrance. "I'll never forget losing Fred," she whispered, her voice trembling as her eyes welled with tears. "One minute he was laughing... and the next—" She cut off, unable to continue.

The room fell silent, the only sound the quiet crackle of the fire. It was a solemn reminder of the cost of the victory they had won. The future generation sat in respectful silence, their eyes wide as they listened to the stories that had shaped their families, their very existence.

Rose shifted uncomfortably, glancing at her father. "Dad, you never really told me much about your role in the battle."

Ron scratched the back of his neck, clearly uncomfortable with the attention. "Well, I was with Hermione, of course. We were trying to destroy one of You-Know-Who's Horcruxes in the Chamber of Secrets." His voice turned grave. "It was risky. We weren't even sure we'd survive."

Hermione smiled softly at Ron, as if to say she was glad they had. She cleared her throat, her voice steady as she picked up the thread. "We were terrified, but we knew we had to keep going. Harry had given us this mission, and it was our responsibility to see it through." Her eyes drifted to her daughter, Rose, and she added, "It wasn't just bravery, it was desperation. We had to finish it, for everyone we had already lost."

A heavy silence hung in the air again. The younger generation, including James, Albus, Lily, and their cousins, absorbed every word. They had grown up hearing about the battle, but hearing their parents and aunts and uncles speak about it firsthand gave the stories a new weight.

James, who had always imagined the battle as an epic adventure, now saw the grief and pain etched in their faces. "It must've been horrible," he said quietly. "To lose so many..."

Harry nodded, his expression grave. "It was. But we didn't have time to mourn during the battle. There was only survival. We were fighting for the future—for all of you."

Albus, who had always felt a deep connection to the past through his namesakes, looked over at his father. "Do you ever think about what it could've been like if things had gone differently?"

Harry's face hardened slightly, and he looked down at the floor. "Every day. But I'm grateful for the life we have now."

Ginny broke the silence, her voice firm yet tender. "We can't change what happened, but we can honor those who fought by living the lives they never got to." She glanced at her children. "That's what Fred, Remus, Tonks, and so many others died for. They didn't die for a broken world—they died for a better one."

Molly sniffled and wiped her eyes, regaining her composure. "That's right, Ginny. We've got to remember them with love, not just sorrow."

"Fred would've hated being mourned too much," George added quietly from the corner of the room. He hadn't said much throughout the conversation, but now he looked up, a ghost of a smile on his lips. "He'd want us to keep laughing, even after everything."

The conversation continued, with each member of the family sharing stories of the battle, of those they had lost, and of those who had fought alongside them. Hermione recounted the bravery of Neville Longbottom, who had stood up to Voldemort himself, and Ron shared how Luna Lovegood had kept spirits high, even in the darkest moments. They talked about Snape, and how his true loyalty had shocked them all, and about the sacrifices made by so many.

Just as the group fell into a reflective quiet, the house suddenly shook. There was a loud crash from upstairs, followed by hurried footsteps.

"What on earth?" Ron shot up from his seat, instinctively reaching for his wand.

*Call gets disconnected*

IN 1995

Before anyone could react, the door to the living room burst open, and in stumbled a familiar face—disheveled, breathless, and utterly bewildered. It was Teddy Lupin, accompanied by a woman with blonde hair and a soft but determined expression: Victoire Weasley-Lupin.

"Teddy?" Harry exclaimed, jumping to his feet. "What are you—?"

Teddy held up a hand, clearly out of breath and looking worse for wear. His hair, normally a bright, confident shade of turquoise, was now a deep, anxious blue. "You... won't believe this," he panted, leaning heavily on the doorframe. "We—we time-traveled. Just like you."

Victoire, equally shaken but trying to remain calm, nodded. "We tried to reach you in the future, but something went wrong... and now we're here."

Molly hurried over to them, fussing over Teddy's disheveled appearance. "You poor things, you look like you've been through the wringer! Sit down, both of you."

Teddy gave a weak smile, still catching his breath. "It wasn't exactly a smooth landing."

As they made their way to the couch, Harry couldn't help but notice the anxious look on Teddy's face. There was something more to this visit—something heavier than just time travel. He could feel it in the air.

"Why did you come back?" Harry asked carefully, his brow furrowed. "What's going on?"

Teddy exchanged a nervous glance with Victoire before speaking. "There's something... something you need to know. About my parents."

The room went still. Everyone knew of Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks—the brave, selfless couple who had fought in the Battle of Hogwarts and died not long after. But what could Teddy mean? What more was there to learn?

"What about your parents?" Ginny asked gently, her eyes soft with concern.

Teddy hesitated, his eyes flickering between Harry and the others. "I've been... digging into their past. And I found something. Something none of us knew."

The room hung on his words, tension thick in the air. Even the fire seemed to crackle more loudly, as if anticipating what was to come.

"What did you find?" Hermione asked quietly.

Teddy looked down at his hands, his face conflicted. "I think... I think they had a secret. A secret they took to the grave."

Before he could say more, the room began to tremble again, and an eerie light filled the room. The fire flickered wildly as the magic in the air shifted. Everyone jumped to their feet, wands drawn.

The sensation was unsettling, as though the very fabric of time itself was shifting once again.

Teddy and Victoire exchanged a panicked glance. "We didn't come alone," Teddy whispered, his voice barely audible above the crackling magic.

And with that, the light swirled faster, engulfing the room in its glow, leaving everyone on edge, unsure of what—or who—was about to emerge next.