Disclaimer: See Prologue

"Harry, that is just too twisted to explain."

Sirius nodded, his eyes glinting with an emotion that Harry did not recognise and nor did he much care for. "Yeah, leave it for later."

'Later' would mean never and too intrigued now, Harry raised his eyebrows. "You think I'm too young to know then, do you?"

Lupin sighed. "Not at all," he replied. "It's not a night that I wish to remember too clearly so goodness knows what Sirius is going through."

Sirius shook his head. "I'm not saying a word. You can do the talking."

Lupin faked surprise. "You mean you're not going to contradict me or accuse me of blatantly lying? Good grief!" He leant forward and rested the back of his hand across his friend's forehead.

Sirius swatted him off. "Christ, Remus, any funnier and I'd have broken a rib," he snapped.

"That was the night before your father's death, Harry."

Harry physically recoiled, dropping the picture and glaring into the fire. He risked a second glance at it, taking in Peter Pettigrew, his smile wary and somewhat forced. Why? Had he planned James' death? Had he known that Sirius would follow him? Had he known that Lupin would torment himself for years?

Of the four young men, only one had known that this would be their last photograph.

October 30th 1981

"You should be at home. What the hell do you think you're playing at?"

Lupin paced, throwing his arms in the air in sheer exasperation. He took a deep breath and ran his fingers through his fringe, pushing it back. He turned to look at James who was watching in vague amusement from the sofa.

"I think, Remus, that I ought to apologise to you. That's what I'm playing at."

Lupin failed to be amused. "What if something happened to Lily or the baby?"

James rolled his eyes. "It won't. I'm sure of it."

"You can't be sure!" Lupin cried, slamming his hands on the table. "He knows far too much, James. What if he knows you're not at home?"

"I know what you're thinking, Remus. It's not often I say this but you're wrong."

The grate glowed green and slowly, Peter Pettigrew scrambled out of it, dusting off his shoulders and knees. He smiled at Lupin and took a seat at the rickety dining table.

"Alright, chaps? Where's Sirius?"

James shrugged. "On his way."

"He's not going to come."

Peter smiled reassuringly. "Of course he will. James has asked him to."

Lupin scoffed. "It may have escaped your notice, Peter, but Sirius Black is not exactly my biggest fan right now."

Pop!

Lupin jumped and spun round. He was now almost nose to nose with Sirius Black. Neither seemed ecstatic to be in the other's presence.

"Any reason we're all here?" asked Sirius, glancing over at Peter who averted his eyes and began to pick at the varnish on the table. He turned to Lupin. "Can I have a word?"

"No but I'll give you two."

James stood. "I don't believe anyone in this room would betray me to Voldemort."

These words took a moment to sink in. Peter smiled in almost relief. The fighting would be over.

Lupin stared at the floor and waited for the accusations to rain down on him.

"Neither do I."

Lupin's eyes shot up and he met Sirius' eyes for the first time in months. "Are you serious?"

Sirius nodded. "Can I have a word?"

Lupin nodded and jerked his head toward the door. He was followed into the front room and with a flick of his wand, the fire blazed. It seemed to be the only light he was willing to provide.

"Remus, I've been such a dick."

Silence.

"If you can forgive me, it'll be a minor miracle."

Lupin slowly nodded. "You're my best mate, aren't you?"

"Well, I was…"

He shrugged. "So I suppose that means that there isn't anything to forgive."

Sirius sighed with relief and managed a smile. "I have my suspicions and I'm keeping my eyes peeled. I might still be wrong but…"

"Can I ask why you've finally seen sense?"

Sirius stared at the floor, and kicked at the carpet, making patterns with his heel. "I know he's safe now, Remus. I know that I'm in control and that I'll know who the rat is. If it's not you then it's not any of us and I was wrong. It's not you, Remus. I don't know what possessed me. I can see a little more clearly now."

Lupin nodded. "That throws my suspicions out of the window then. I thought it was you because you kept blaming me. How childish does that sound?" There was a moment's awkward silence before he spoke again. "What are you doing for Halloween?"

"Nothing since Lily decided she didn't want us round there."

Lupin bit his lip. "Sorry about that."

"What's a black eye between friends? How's the leg?"

Lupin gave him a lopsided smile. "What's a bruised shin between friends? Listen, if you want to come round here…" He trailed off. "My mum's got a few friends round. Bobbing for apples with dentures is the lost sport."

Sirius laughed. "Your mum's not even forty, Remus! Dentures, indeed. Why not? Give me a time and I'll be half an hour late. Shall we go back?"

They found James and Peter laughing in the kitchen. Peter held his hand out and smiled as James tipped a small handful of coins into his outstretched palm.

"Told you," was all Peter would say. His smug smile made James roll his eyes.

"You told him what?" asked Lupin.

"That things would go straight back to how they were. James was betting on at least an hour of awkwardness."

Sirius raised an eyebrow and James shrugged, explaining, "It was the look on Remus' face that swayed me. Moony, you looked capable of murder."

Sirius elbowed Lupin and grinned at him. "Murder? Prongs, he's not capable of stepping on an ant."

Lupin laughed in shock. "And you had the gall to accuse me of being a Death Eater."

Sirius shrugged. "Well we all make mistakes. I bet even Jesus miscounted the disciples once."

James beamed at them and got to his feet. "I'm glad things are back to normal. I have no idea where I'd be without the pair of you." He glanced over to the table and corrected himself. "Well, the three of you. Come on, Pete."

"If this is another of your group hugs, I'll take the photo."

Lupin laughed. "Now there's an idea!"

"What, a group hug? Couldn't agree more, Moony."

Lupin gave James a sarcastic smile. "A photograph."

Within minutes, the camera had been positioned, the lighting brightened and Peter had even been coaxed into the frame.

James wrapped an arm around Peter in a gesture that was almost a headlock.

"Yeah, Pete. Get out of that one."

Peter flashed the camera a strained smile and struggled slightly.

"How many seconds, Moony?"

A corner of Lupin's mouth turned upwards. "How many flashes have you seen?"

"Three, four."

"Six seconds."

Sirius turned to him. "Remus…" He locked eyes with Lupin and no more needed to be said.

"Just don't keep things from me in future."

"Lads, we have two seconds, get in the bloody picture!"

Lupin laughed and dragged Sirius by the collar, wrapping his spare arm around James.

CLICK!

As the flash went off, Sirius tried not to feel guilty about keeping the change of plan from him.