A Note From Chi: Most of this chapter was written by someone who is quickly turning into a very good friend of mine, KC. You may know him as "The Daily Prophet Reporting". He's written an amazing story, "The Season", which can be found at the Phoenix Song. I encourage all of my loyal fans to check him out, though you may not return to read mine once you get a taste of his.

You can find his comments at the end of this chapter. But I wanted to publicly thank him first for working through what was going to be a difficult chapter for me! Thanks much!

Chapter Fifteen: Potter Family Scrapbook

From the Daily Prophet of 3 October, 2015

Announcement of Death

Remus Lupin, 56. Survivors: Anne Marie Black Lupin, wife. Son, Orion Albus Lupin. Funeral arrangements to be announced 4 October. In lieu of flowers, send a donation to the Werewolf Research Fund.

From the Daily Prophet of 3 October, 2015

Werewolf passes into history

Noted professor, war hero Lupin dies at 56

By KC Allen

The man who spent a lifetime just beyond the curtain in the background of history has passed beyond the veil.

Remus Lupin, a close associate of many prominent witches and wizards and an influential actor in many of the most important events of the last four decades, died Friday of complications from a long struggle with lycanthropy. He was 56 years old.

Though best known for his friendship with three generations of the celebrated Potter family and his role in the struggle against Voldemort, Lupin's impact was far-reaching. He trained a generation of young warlocks and witches as a professor at Hogwarts and was a silent motivation in the drive for the rights of magical creatures.

"I was honoured to be able to call Remus my friend,." Harry Potter said in a statement released by his sometime employer, the Magical Law Enforcement Squad. "He was an amazing man."

And he did it living the double life of a werewolf. A life that denied him employment, trust and companionship for long stretches of his early adulthood and left him questioning his own worth until his last days.

"My father had a hard life," said Lupin's son, Orion. "He accomplished so many things but he never truly appreciated them because he never got past the shame that goes with his disease. Everyone else respected him. The stigma was something he held onto himself."

It was in the darkest of times that Lupin did the most to earn the respect of the rest of the wizarding community. As Voldemort began his second ascension in 1995, Lupin spent over a year helping organize the Order of the Phoenix's resistance from behind the scenes.

"Remus was among the first to answer the call," fellow Order member Arthur Weasley said. "Because he didn't have a lot of things tying him down, he was able to put a lot of effort into the Order. Without the hard work of people like him, Sirius (Black) and, of course, Professor (Albus) Dumbledore, Voldemort would have won in that first year."

But in spite of their struggle, the Dark tide kept rising. When Lupin took over the positions of groundskeeper and Care for Magical Creatures professor at Hogwarts in September 1996, the Dark Lord's march toward domination appeared unstoppable.

It was against that backdrop of terror and death that a desperate search to find a way to destroy the seemingly indestructible was begun. Lupin was instrumental in the process, and four months later as the climactic battle was fought on the streets of Hogsmeade, he cut short his honeymoon to share in the historic confrontation.

The bulk of the credit for the triumph of the Light goes to the legendary Harry Potter and his wife, Ginny Weasley, for casting the spell that vanquished Voldemort, and to Neville Longbottom for giving his life to make it possible. But Lupin and a handful of others risked their lives in the background, holding back the feared Death Eaters until the Dark Lord's fall.

"We all owe Mr. Lupin a debt of gratitude," Minister of Magic Percy Weasley said in a sombre news conference at the Ministry. "When our society was in great peril, he fought bravely and masterfully, and he never claimed credit for his work. His only motivation was victory and peace. His selfless sacrifice -- along with that of a handful of other brave witches and wizards -- is the reason all of us enjoy our freedom today."

Noted barrister Hermione Weasley, recognized as another of the heroes of the conflict for completing the spell that defeated the Dark Lord, Longbottom's Shield, was also quick to share the acclaim she has received with Lupin and others.

"I know I get most of the credit for coming up the spell, but I don't really deserve it," said the sister-in-law to both Potter and the Minister. "Harry's parents (Lily and James Potter) came up with the idea and the entire Hogwarts staff worked to perfect it. I just happened to be the one to come up with the final piece. If it hadn't been for Professor Lupin and the other teachers sharing their insight and providing inspiration, I wouldn't have known where to begin."

Professor Lupin's impact at Hogwarts did not begin or end with the war, however.

After the battle, he continued teaching Care for Magical Creatures for 18 years. By all accounts, he brought great passion to the post and his students thrived on it. He was one of the most beloved members of faculty throughout his tenure.

"Professor Lupin was an outstanding instructor," said the school's Headmistress, Minerva McGonagall. "He had a true gift for his work. That his students held him in such high regard is not surprising considering he had the utmost respect for his students as well."

"I wouldn't be doing what I do if it wasn't for Professor Lupin," added Laura Madley, 32, who works at the Magical Menagerie on Diagon Alley. "His lessons were always exciting, but more importantly, I learned to have respect for all the unique creatures of the magical world. You couldn't help it if you studied under him. That's the kind of teacher he was."

Lupin's first teaching experience at Hogwarts came before the war as Defence Against the Dark Arts professor during the 1993-94 school year. As in subsequent terms, his congenial style won him the admiration of most of the school, among them Harry Potter and his classmates.

"He was one of the finest teachers we ever had," said Hermione Weasley, who was then a third-year Gryffindor and one of Potter's closest friends. "We learned almost as much Defence in our one year with him than we did in our first, second, fourth and fifth years combined."

However, Lupin's lycanthropy became public knowledge near the end of the summer term and he resigned rather than face the scrutiny of distrusting parents.

That fate mirrored much of Lupin's life up until that point. Despite becoming a werewolf at an early age, he was admitted to Hogwarts in 1969 in an avant-garde decision by Headmaster Dumbledore. Lupin was an excellent student in spite of his forced monthly absences and developed a close relationship with a trio of fellow Gryffindors, Sirius Black, Peter Pettigrew and James Potter. It was there he also met and fell in love with Black's sister, Anna, with whom he would later become engaged.

But those relatively happy years were tempered by the first war against Voldemort, and when the fighting ended, Lupin's life collapsed around him.

On the infamous Halloween night of 1980, the Dark Lord killed James and Lily Potter and was himself defeated by the then 15-month-old Boy Who Lived. Sirius Black, believed to have been the Potters' Secret Keeper, was blamed and sent to Azkaban without trial after a bloody incident in which a dozen Muggles -- and supposedly Pettigrew -- were killed. Lupin soon broke off his engagement with Anna Black and spent most of the next 12 years wandering in depression and poverty, rarely able to find work because of his condition.

"Those years were really hard him," Orion Lupin said. "He rarely spoke about them but I know he felt totally worthless and alone for a long time."

It was only after he returned to Hogwarts that Lupin's world Transfigured itself into a reasonable approximation of its old shape. Sirius Black escaped from prison and was exonerated after Pettigrew, the Potters' actual betrayer, was captured and imprisoned. Then, at the same time Lupin took the position as Care for Magical Creatures professor, Anna Black became the school's Divination instructor. Their romance quickly rekindled and they were married in December of 1996. Orion, their only child, was born a little more than a year later.

Crippled by the progressive effects of his disease, Lupin retired from Hogwarts in June and spent his last months with his wife.

"(Lupin's) early death is a tragedy," said Harry Potter, whose family has remained close with the Lupins ever since the historic events of 1996. "But I am truly glad he was able to find happiness in his final years. No one deserved that more than Remus."

Yet even death seems unlikely to stop Remus Lupin's achievements. What might be his most lasting contribution to society is still being felt in the movement for the rights of magical creatures.

It was a cause he supported but for which he never actively campaigned. Instead, it was the expertise he showed in the classroom that helped inspire the movement's leaders.

"I saw the way fear and prejudice forced Remus -- one of the kindest and most capable wizards I've ever known -- to the very fringe of society," Hermione Weasley said. "It just wasn't right. Lycanthropy is a terrible disease. But it's completely controllable and it only changes the person one out of every 28 days. Something really needed to be done to ensure werewolves were treated fairly."

Weasley joined with Potter and a number of other influential and progressive witches and wizards to do just that. In 2004, the Werewolf Equality Act became law.

The law did not rid the magical community of all distrust. There was a small group of conservatives who weren't speaking positively of Lupin on Friday.

Still, the Act -- and the ongoing effort to extend rights to other intelligent magical creatures such as centaurs and house elves -- stands out as a legacy for a man who accomplished so much while himself facing the scrutiny that comes with the label "magical creature."

"From the very first time he walked into this school, Professor Lupin had to break down barriers," McGonagall said. "Today, most of those barriers are gone. Wherever he is now, I'm sure knowing that makes him proud." ------------------------------------------------------------------------- KC Allen is the Daily Prophet's national columnist. Owl him at thedpreporting@yahoo.com

From The Daily Prophet 4 October, 2015

Funeral Announcements Remus Lupin- 10:15 a.m. 6 October, 2015 at the Holy St. Jude's Cathedral, Thumblewump.

Guest author's note: My sincerest thanks to Chi for allowing me to dabble in her universe. It's been an honour and a challenge. I just hope I've done her excellent work justice. Oh, and I'm the one who's to blame for the slow- coming updates. I took forever writing this.

In regards for my "amazing story," as wonderful a writer and beta as Chi is, she gives me far too much credit. You're much better off staying here!

-KC