Photographs
Remus had persuaded Harry reasonably quickly to come in and sit down at his desk. He put the kettle on, for something to do, and sat down opposite him. Harry opened the book he'd been carrying and laid it flat on the table. It was a photograph album, and Remus was instantly transfixed by the photograph on the left hand page. It was one he'd taken, of Lily, glowing in her white dress, a circle of wildflowers on her head, and James beaming at the camera. Harry, however, was pointing to one on the opposite page.
'This,' he said, jabbing his finger at the photo, 'is you.'
It wasn't a question. Remus turned his attention to the other picture. It was him, of course. It was mostly just the back of him, but his head was turned slightly and the smile on his face was real. He was dancing with Lily, her hands clasped tightly in his own.
'And that,' Harry continued, moving his finger across the photo, 'is Sirius Black.'
Beside Remus, was James, back towards the camera, also dancing and opposite him clear as anything, smiling up at the Remus in the photograph was Sirius. Peter had probably taken this one, Remus thought suddenly. There they all were, almost.
'Well?' said Harry, looking up at Remus, eyebrows raised. 'You said you were friends at Hogwarts! You didn't say you were at the wedding, dancing with my mum, smiling at a murderer.'
Ok, Remus thought, ok so he's recognised us in the picture, that's all. He paused and looked at Harry, who was now staring back at the photograph.
'I'm so sorry Harry.' he said, 'I really am, I should have told you straight away. I will tell you now, whatever you want to know, and if you'd like, I could show you some more pictures.'
*
Remus had forgotten there were so many, piles and piles of them now littered his desk, little Muggle Polaroids mixed with magical film photos, their subjects moving repetitively within.
'When is this one from?' Harry asked, holding up a photograph taken on a beach, the sea stretching out into the distance.
'That's a beach in Wales, we went one summer, maybe after sixth year.'
Remus looked at the photograph. It was mostly of Lily, sitting on a rock, smiling and waving back at him. He could see the tip of someone else's sandal at the edge of the frame, probably Marlene's.
'And this one?' Harry held out another. It was of James.
'That's your dad in your grandparents garden. I think maybe it was a birthday or something? Look there's a cake on the bench.'
'Did you know my grandparents?' Harry asked.
'Well, yes.' said Remus, 'yes, we used to go quite often. They were really quite remarkable. Your grandfather was very wise and your grandmother even wiser. Took us all in at one time or another.'
He sifted through the photos for a few moments.
'Look, here they are.'
He handed Harry the photograph he had found. It was of James, sitting at the table in the Potters' kitchen, intensely studying a chess game. An older man who looked very like him was leaning back on the chair beside him, arms crossed and a smug look on his face. Behind him, stood a woman, dark hair threaded with a generous amount of grey, her hands resting on the back of his chair.
'Fleamont and Euphemia Potter.' Remus said. 'And your dad, obviously.'
Harry looked down at the picture, but didn't say anything. Remus thought maybe he needed a minute, and got up to refill the kettle.
'You can have that one if you'd like.' He said.
Harry did not reply, but he slipped the photo into the back of his own album before continuing through the piles, he pulled out another and laid it between them on the desk.
It had been taken in the common room which was decorated for Christmas. Gold and red streamers were just visible behind the sofa on which they were crowded and remnants of crackers littered the rug in front of them. The photo was still, and they were all in it, Remus could remember Lily standing in front of them, arranging them and then setting off the timer and flinging herself onto the sofa.
'Were these all your friends?' Harry asked.
'Yes,' said Remus slowly, eyes fixed on the picture, 'Yes, pretty much.'
He glanced at Harry who was looking at him expectantly.
'Who are they?'
'Well, erm,' Remus paused and cleared his throat, it's ok, it's ok he thought himself, 'Well, there's your dad and your mum,' he pointed to where Lily had leapt back onto the sofa, mostly obscuring James who was laughing, face poking through her hair. 'This is Mary,' his finger moved down to where Mary was sitting cross-legged on the floor, a paper crown perched on her head, 'and sitting here next to her is Marlene.' He paused, finger just below the grinning face of a blonde witch, her arm slung around her friend's shoulders.
'And this is you,' Harry prompted, pointing to where Remus sat, also smiling, a bottle of butter beer in the hand he was resting on the arm of the sofa.
'Yes, yes that's me.' He really did remember this picture - it was the evening before they'd gone home for Christmas. He'd been due to go back to Wales briefly and then to the Potters to join the others. There was going to be a party and the girls were coming. They were all so excited. Sirius was squashed between him and James but turned towards Remus, his arms wrapped around his torso. They'd been so happy.
Remus inhaled, aware how long it was taking him, 'And that's Sirius,' he said pointing only briefly, 'and that is Peter.' His finger moved once more, to Peter, sitting on the floor beside Marlene, leaning back against Remus' legs.
'Pettigrew.' Harry breathed.
Remus looked up at him in surprise. 'How did you know that?'
Harry hesitated, ‘I overheard it,’ he said sheepishly, not quite meeting Remus’ eye. Remus was thinking about probing further when Harry spoke again.
‘You all look so happy,’ he said.
‘We were,’ said Remus, looking back at the picture. ‘We really were.’
‘What happened?’
‘Oh Harry,’ Remus sighed. ‘I honestly don’t know.’
