Disclaimer: See Prologue

A/N: My fourth update in half as many days. I think I'm addicted to fanfiction! I wanted to make this one a little lighter so fingers crossed this will turn out happier.

No-one attempted to break the silence. There was nothing to say.

Eventually, Sirius broke the silence. Neither Harry nor Lupin was surprised by this. Silence and Sirius suited one another about as well as pleasantries suited Snape.

"Remus, I can't even begin to-"

Lupin smiled grimly. "Then don't." He knelt beside Harry and the box, flicking through them, knowing them as only a photographer could. He grinned at Harry and handed him a photograph of his father and Sirius, arms round one another and grinning inanely.

Harry frowned in confusion. "When was this taken?"

Sirius rolled his eyes. "Well, see that nutter in his wedding suit? Right, give you three guesses."

1979

"Remus, you've thought of something haven't you?"

Lupin nodded. "Oh yeah, got a great speech written."

Sirius breathed a sigh of relief. "I just couldn't possibly think of what to write. Everyone's expecting it to be brilliant, you know. I'll be straight with you, Moons. I haven't got the faintest clue."

Lupin nodded sympathetically. "Oh, well… It'll work itself out."

This took a moment to sink in. Sirius blinked and shook his head slowly. "No, no, no. You said you had sorted it."

"When did I say that?"

"Not two minutes ago, Remus."

Lupin nodded. "Oh, I see. No, you misunderstood. I've written my speech."

Sirius gawped at him. "You promised last night that you would help me with it."

Lupin grinned. "And I will. Luckily for you, I've got a plan. The thing is, to really work, we can't rehearse it."

"What do you mean we can't rehearse it? It's my best man's speech! It's the pinnacle of my life thus far and you're telling me we can't rehearse it?"

Lupin nodded. "Trust me, it'll be great. I'll tell you what it is after the ceremony when I've worked on it."

Sirius stared after him. "You have got to be yanking my chain!"

"I beg your pardon?"

"You expect me to just hand it all over to you and hope for the best?"

Lupin smirked. "Why not? You used to do it all the time with your Charms essays and they came out with top marks."

"Remus, this is not homework we're talking about. This is my speech and if I cock it up, James will smother me with a napkin!"

"Shh," Lupin hissed. "It's your own bloody fault for expecting it to fall into the palm of your…" His eyes widened and he smiled slowly. He was practically glowing. "Scrap the last one; I've just had my best idea yet."

With that announcement, he almost bounced down the stairs, calling for James and Peter and beckoning for Sirius to follow.

Once they were all assembled in the living room and Lupin's tie had been swapped because Peter had decided to be pedantic on today of all days.

"Pete, we're all wearing the same tie. It doesn't matter."

"Yes it does," squeaked Peter. "I'd sewn my initials on the back so I didn't lose it."

Lupin rolled his eyes and yanked the tie off, reaching for Sirius'. He flattened his hair in the mirror and turned to the other three.

"Right," he said, in the manner of an exasperated mother. "The trifle's in the fridge and mum says to help yourselves. I've hung up your suits and labelled them. I hope there are no other tie mix-ups and here's hoping we get through today with all our limbs intact."

James grinned. "Amen."

Lupin smiled back. "James, please sort your hair out."

And with that he Apparated into the corridor of Lily's childhood home, hoping he wouldn't startle anyone.

"I swear," said James, running a hand through his hair and messing it up further. "That man has replaced my mother."

Peter sighed and reached for his comb. "James, I've got to do it again now."

"Peter, I'm beginning to wonder why you're not running a hair salon somewhere."

"Oh shut up, Sirius."

James dutifully took his seat while Peter parted his hair and muttered, "I can't wait until you go bald, my life will be so much easier."

"Do you want to run through your speech?"

Sirius shook his head and hoped he was convincing. "Nah, it would ruin the surprise."

He met Peter's dubious gaze and silently begged him not to say anything.

"Sirius, you seem to misunderstand me. It's not that I want to spoil the surprise, it's that I'm terrified you're going to ensure the rest of my life is spent in hiding."

Sirius shrugged. "Peter told you it should have been Remus."

Peter yanked out a knot and said, "Yes, but he never listens."

James winced and clutched his head. Peter rapped his knuckles with the comb and continued to rake through his hair.

"Pete, do you have to be so brutal?"

"Did you have to mess your hair up straight after I'd sorted it?"

"I'm off for trifle, anyone else want any?"

James shook his head. "I think I'm going to be sick."

Peter dropped the comb and yanked James round to face him. "Don't tell me you're getting cold feet? Not after I've bought you a bloody toaster!"

Sirius tried not to laugh. "Look, Jamie, it's only a life long commitment that means you'll be emotionally bonded forever."

James glared at him. "I'm not getting cold feet at all. If anything, I'm worried Lily is."

Sirius shook his head. "I wouldn't worry about it. You know what Remus is like; he'll have heated her socks in advance."

Peter picked up the comb. "I hope that's a metaphor."

Sirius winked. "I believe the word is euphemism, Pete."

"Sirius, I swear to God, I'll kill you."

"So that's a no to trifle, is it?"

James glowered.

"Right, that's your hair as close to normal as I can get it," said Peter. "I'll get the trifle."

He nudged Sirius forward and disappeared into the kitchen.

"You know I'm only joking," Sirius assured him. "I wish Remus was here to see this. Let's have a photograph."

James stared at him. "You're scaring me now."

"I've worked out how to put it on a timer."

"How the hell did you close enough to Moony's pride and joy to learn that sort of thing?"

Sirius flashed his eyebrows. "I waited until he was asleep and then I summoned it to me last night. It's not like him to leave it here though. I think he wanted me to take pictures anyway. He said something about it last night."

After mere seconds of fiddling, the camera's timer flashed.

"Aha!" cried Sirius, thoroughly pleased with himself. He stepped back and wrapped his arm around his friend's shoulders. His smile soon became a grimace. "Is it just me or should it have gone off by now?"

Peter ambled in, licking custard off his spoon. "Have you broken Moony's camera?"

Sirius glanced around as though even the walls had ears. "Shh, Peter."

Peter shrugged. "He can't hear me. What's the matter with it?"

"It's not taking the picture, Pete. Oh Merlin, Remus is going to skin me alive!"

Peter took the camera and removed the lens cap. "Right, now try."

CLICK!

James elbowed him. "You absolute dolt."