The Lupin Chronicles
Photo's for Harry
Remus stayed at the cottage. He couldn't sell it, no one wanted to buy the house were a mass murder once lived and he had no other place to go. For works he did what he could. Some of it he was proud of some he'd rather forget about entirely. On full moons he locked himself in the cement basement fearful of letting himself inhabit the forest as they had originally intended for him to.
He hated his basement.
One a spring morning he revived a letter. He couldn't remember the last time he had gotten anything other than bills and the paper. It was a good thing there was an account set up for him to withdraw his tax money from. The date on the letter surprised him, 1992. He was sure it had only been a year since he had last visited Petunia. Apparently he had lost track of time ten years, to be exact, Harry would be in school.
The letter was from Hagrid they had gotten along fine back in school and now Hagrid was looking for photo from Harry's past to give Harry as an early present. Remus had boxes full of photos stored away in his attic, no one had seen the photo's in years. He didn't have a job and he wasn't doing anything today he would spend the day looking through the boxes they couldn't be too painful, right?
Remus brought down several boxes marked as Photos in his scrawl. On top was a colorful scarf he had stolen from Alice. Remus lips quivered Alice had been bossy and kind and bright even if she was a few years older than him. her son Neville was a day older than Harry. Maybe he would like the scarf, Remus remembered Neville having his parents outgoing attitude that resulted in Harry screaming bloody murder when his were toys from him. The first few pictures Remus scooped up mad him laugh. Lily was scowling at a first year James and Sirius. He plucked a few choice ones Harry would probably like from the box of pictures from their school days. There were several photos Remus had no recollection of that featured him and Sirius. He almost stopped right then. But he remembers Harry and he went on. Harry would want to see the photos Petunia had none of her sister. Remus remembered that visit quite clearly.
He comes across a photo that doesn't hurt even just a little to look like. It's of Lily in her sixth year her long hair is caught in the spring breeze and her skirt flutters. She smiles shyly at the pink rose James gave her because he thought she might like it. One hand is tucking a wave of hair behind her ear. Liliy looks very pretty in her uniform the gray skirt and white Oxford with knee highs and black Mary Jane's buckled on her feet in the new soft grass scream out classic Lily. The lake can be seen in the background of the picture. Peter must have taken it, because of how clear it is. Selfishly Remus keeps it to himself Harry wouldn't understand the significance of it. The first time Lily accepted a gift from James without hex's being thrown.
A box labeled 1978 had James and Lily's wedding photos in it. They were nice even if they had him in it. Baby photos of Harry appeared soon after. James tossed Harry in the air and Sirius laughed. A bundle of pictures Lily had taken on her camera lay face down with her script on the back. Family Photos, it said. Remus flipped it over and took Lily's hair tie off. The first one was of Lily and James in their living room eating Chinese, Lily's belly protruding with Harry in it. James arm was wrapped around Lily's shoulder and they looked so young. Were they really that young back then? Remus looked at the mirror on his wall and realized how old he looked for thirty, thirty-one, thirty-two? How old was he? The next James and Lily were at St. Mungo's and Harry was in Lily's arms and James looked every bit the proud father. The photos varied from then on there was at least every week until Remus came across that he really did remember. It felt like just last week when really it happened eleven years ago.
James and Lily had gone out for the day and asked Remus and Sirius to watch five month old Harry. Remus was feeding the baby a bottle. Sirius was in the kitchen making them something non liquid like to eat. Remus was cooing to harry about Christmas which was just around the corner. The Potters Christmas tree was twinkling in the corner with what Remus thought was fairy lights, but you never really knew with James and Sirius.
Remus was so caught up in talking to harry about the adventures they'd have in the snow he doesn't notice Sirius creeping up behind him pressing his chin to Remus shoulder. Somehow in the course of two years Remus had grown taller than Sirius. Growing up Sirius was the tallest until fourth year when Remus finally reached Sirius height then for a few years they were the same height until a few months ago when Remus started growing again.
"You make such a great father," Sirius whispered while his arms raped around Remus waste touching his stomach enough to make Remus blush. Sirius pecked Remus on the cheek and a flash went off. They both looked at the hallway arch to the Potter front hall to spot Lily standing there with her big black camera grinning like an idiot with a photo drying in her fingers. James tried and failed miserable to hide his adoration of his two friends. Remus remembered him once bursting into the dorm one saying he hated them because he didn't know which friend to stand by if either one of them dumped the other. He finally resolved to dunk both their heads in cold water no matter who caused the pain.
Remus set the photo aside that would not be for Harry.