Dear Remus,
How have you been? I'm still here at Hogwarts, good as ever. Not sure if you remembered, but Harry's started his first year. He looks just like James did when he started, only with Lily's eyes exactly. He's a small, skinny thing. Makes me think those Muggles didn't feed him. He seems to have found a bit of a spot here. He's doing pretty well, giving old Snape enough trouble to make James proud. He's also made Seeker for the Gryffindor Quidditch team, if you can believe it. He really is James's son.
I'd like to make him a photo album before term is up. He says that those Dursley's don't have any pictures of his parents around. If you have any pictures of Lily and James you could send, it'd be much appreciated.
Thanks a bunch,
Hagrid
Remus sat on the floor with a muggle shoe box in his lap and Hagrid's letter off to the side. Hundreds of people waved and smiled at him as he flipped through the stacks of photos.
It was hard to believe that Harry was already at Hogwarts, but of course Remus knew. He knew this day would be coming. Harry alone, abused by the only family he thinks he has. If only Remus had the money. If only he was respected by the wizarding world. If only it wouldn't make Harry an outcast, Remus would happily have raised the boy, the only child of his best friends. They called him Uncle Remus; he should be able to be there for Harry. But what good would come from an uncle with lycanthropy?
Remus pulls out a picture from Lily and James' wedding. The couple grins at each other, arm-in-arm, and they lean in for a light kiss. Sirius throws his head back in silent laughter. Remus isn't in that picture because he was behind the camera, capturing one of the last happy moments they all ever had.
Remus takes the photograph, places it in an envelope, and continues looking through the shoe box.