Years. Way too long for Al's taste. He didn't bother commenting further since he needed time to think on the whole thing anyway. He knew his uncles wouldn't deliberately send him back, but he was afraid of talking about it too much. He didn't want to lose James or Sirius or anyone else he couldn't have back in real time. Better not to confuse the magic by discussing the ideas at length. "I try!" He did too, even if he rarely succeeded. "See? Lo---ow!" He took several deep breaths to collect the "wind" the fall knocked out of him.