Disclaimer: See Prologue

A/N: Sorry this took so long but I've had writer's block when it comes to Peter just because after 'Voldy and Crew…' I've hated him. I've also been away but it's here now…

The next picture had been taken in their dormitory. The Marauders had crammed themselves onto one bed, obscenely tidy with a book beside the pillow and a chocolate wrapper barely concealed by it, which Harry assumed from the offered clues, belonged to Lupin.

The fact that they had managed to sit on said bed when all of them with the exception of 'little Peter', were around six feet tall, was deserving of some sort of medal. Lupin alone deserved one for his bravery in allowing them anywhere near his possessions.

"That was New Year's Eve.". Lupin informed Harry. "Well, New Year's Day if you want to be really precise."

"Which you always want." Sirius interrupted, slurring slightly to his own consternation.

Lupin continued as though nothing had happened. "It had just turned midnight."

1977

"Well, that's the end of seventy-six." Sirius informed them.

"Funnily enough, we worked that out for ourselves Pads." laughed James, leaning back onto one of Lupin's pillows. "So, seventy-seven is the year…"

Lupin bit his lip and hoped his friend's body heat would not melt the concealed bar of chocolate he had received for Christmas from Lily (the fact that she had handed him a neatly wrapped parcel on the eve of her departure for the holidays, had shocked James to the point where he couldn't actually speak for ten minutes) and had thus far, managed to keep to himself.

"That Sirius Black gets disowned." laughed Sirius, resting his weight on the wall beside the bed.

"That Remus is cured." said Peter, smiling a little too optimistically.

Lupin shrugged. "That Dumbledore is made Minister for Magic."

"That I bed Evans!" cried James, triumphantly, as though he had already succeeded.

"James, please." Lupin chided, rolling his eyes but smiling nonetheless.

"That really is disgusting." laughed Peter, insincerely.

"Couldn't agree more." agreed Lupin, his semi-stern tone (which would have been a lot sterner without half a bottle of Firewhiskey) indicating that this conversation had ended. "Perhaps your New Year's resolution should be to start treating her and in fact all members of the opposite sex with a decent amount of respect. Maybe it's just me, but if you try that, you might get a little further."

"He might get a little full stop." joked Sirius.

"As opposed to what? Getting a lot?" said Peter, nudging Sirius.

"He's right Sirius." agreed James. "You're a tart."

Sirius smirked. "You're just jealous. All of you. Especially you, Remus."

"Me? Jealous? Okay."

"Remus, you thought Ann Summers was a stationary shop."

"No I didn't!" argued Lupin, a little too quickly and a tone higher in pitch than was usual.

"Remus, if it wasn't for speed bumps and frisking, you would have no sex life at all. Not even one with yourself."

Lupin took a deep breath and eventually replied, "I have as active a sex life as I can cope with."

"What, none at all?" asked James, wondering whether Sirius was exaggerating.

"Except Evans." added Sirius, watching the stony expressions descend upon his friends' faces and laughing with Peter.

"Not none at all. I mean we all have…urges. I just don't grab the first girl I see and shag her senseless in a broom closet somewhere and then avoid her until she moves on."

"That was low Remus."

"Not as low as your morals." but Lupin raised his eyebrows and smiled, the sure hint that he was joking.

"You know me so well."

They all laughed and eventually James asked the question that really should never be asked to a group of semi-drunken people in any situation on New Year's Eve.

"So, what's your New Year's resolutions?"

Lupin smirked. "Get a sex life?"

Sirius laughed. "So you are jealous!"

"What about you Pete?"

Peter sighed. "I think I'm going to get a date this year. I will make it my year to get a girlfriend."

Sirius tried to contain his laughter. "Peter, you've stolen the one James was going to use."

Both and James and Peter failed to be impressed by this remark.

"Actually Sirius, I am going to take our dear friend Moony's advice and try and charm Evans into falling in love with me."

Lupin laughed so hard he almost fell off his bed. James coughed meaningfully and Lupin was moderately silenced to the occasional snigger.

"Yeah, I vow to be more charming. So what about you Padfoot?"

Sirius narrowed his brow in thought. "Hmm, I don't know. I think I'll just try to be more laid back."

"More laid back?" said Lupin, his eyebrows raised so high that they had disappeared into his fringe. "What is that? Dead?"

Sirius's response was to push his friend off the bed where Lupin, who could never hold his alcohol, lay sprawled on the floor, laughing to himself until James pulled him up, dislodging his pillow and revealing a half eaten bar of Honeydukes finest.

"You didn't tell us you had chocolate."

Had Lupin not been exposed to large amounts of alcohol that they would never have managed to get hold of without the aids of James's invisibility cloak and Lupin's own research into the odd looking statue outside the Defence room, he would have thought up something less incriminating and clever to say than biting his lip and telling them that they were welcome to help themselves.

"Gee, thanks Moony."

And within five minutes, all that was left was the bright purple wrapper that found itself trapped in the wool of Lupin's jumper after Sirius had flicked it at him.

"You know what we need?" asked James, knowing they were all too drunk and tired to object. "A picture. Moony, where's your camera?"

Lupin groaned and slurred his response. "I dunno. Probly with Peter."

"For once, no." replied Peter.

"You've always got it. I bet you've nicked it." laughed Sirius.

"I haven't!"

"You have! I can see it on your face. I can read you like a book Peter. I know when you're lying, always have, always will."

"For the last time Sirius, I haven't!"

"Accio camera." cried Lupin, over the mock argument that was fast becoming a heated debate. And Lupin, watching it fly out of his own trunk, forgot to catch it and was struck by it.

CLICK!

Sirius laughed. "That had to have hurt, right Moony?"

No response.

"Moony?"

The motionless body of Remus Lupin lay draped across the bed.

"Merlin! He's dead!"

"No he's not."

"Don't start Peter!"

"Sirius, dead men don't snore."