Disclaimer: See Prologue

A/N: For some reason, my line breaks were edited out of yesterday's update. This should be a Peter chapter but I really don't want to have to write Peter.
Sorry, Dee, I do seem to have a thing for cliffhangers and leaving them. I don't have many chapters before you all get to see some party snaps anyway.

"Have you got the next picture?" asked Harry, hoping to catch a glimpse of the dancing Lupin was adamant his former professors would not see. Even better, the young Tonks had provided endless laughter last time.

Lupin shook his head. "I have, obviously. I just have absolutely no idea where it is. I don't know why I didn't go through these. It's a pain in the arse looking for pictures when I don't even know whether I kept them." He frowned and directed his next question towards Sirius. "Is it just me or did I have a bit of thing for taking miserable photographs towards the end?"

Sirius shrugged. "I think we were just miserable to be honest. What happened to your photos, Harry?"

"They're upstairs in my r…in um…in-"

"In your room?" Sirius supplied, smiling to himself. "Do me a favour, run and get them, will you? If you don't do it now, we might be subjected to more of Remus' delightful sad memories."

Harry smiled apprehensively. "Yeah, okay."

1979

CLICK!

"Remus, you're a pervert. A genuine pervert."

Lupin grinned. "It's not like I have pictures of you in the throws of passion, you know.."

James rolled his eyes. "You're still a pervert. Do you sneak up on every couple in the park?"

Lupin smirked. "Yeah, but I'm a little more discreet when I'm snapping them." He winked. "Besides, sticks and stones, James. Sticks and stones."

"Don't tempt me, Remus, I swear."

Lily laughed and pushed her fiancé away. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm just enjoying local scenery," said Lupin, smirking in a self-satisfied manner. "It's great here, isn't it? People are so friendly."

James smiled. "That's what we'll miss and…what the hell do you mean local?"

"I've just spent my inheritance on a poky little hellhole round the corner."

Lily gasped. "But that makes us practically neighbours. How lovely. You can visit."

James laughed. "If he comes round any more than he does, he might as well move in. Besides, we won't be here long."

Lupin shrugged. "I thought North London might miss some Marauder influence. Besides, it's almost ridiculously convenient for my new job at St. Braithwaite's and it's got space for Padfoot to leave the bike. It's almost too perfect."

Lily raised her eyebrows. "You're moving in with Paddy?"

James smirked. "Yeah, have you ever seen 'The Odd Couple'?"

Lupin smiled sarcastically. "You're just jealous."

"What can I say? It's always been my dream to play Happy Families as part of an Alternate Lifestyle couple."

Lily frowned. "What is your obsession with homosexuality?"

James was affronted but Lupin burst into peels of laughter. "I don't think that's a good sign, Prongs."

"It's a man thing," James explained. "We like to call each other puffs. It's the done thing."

Lily raised an eyebrow. "None of my other friends do it."

James shrugged. "They're obviously gay then, aren't they? I'm not being funny, love, but your friends included Snape and there's definitely something going on there."

Lily's eyes blazed. "We were having a lovely time. Why do you have to go and spoil it by making remarks like that?"

Lupin bit his lip. He knew he had been intruding as they danced around the park but he had never intended for something like this to happen. "I'm sorry, it's my fault. I'll leave you to it."

James shook his head. "How the hell is it your fault? Christ, I have never met anyone who likes to blame himself more than you do, Moony."

Lily clicked her tongue. "Look, I'm sorry, alright. I'm just touchy about it."

"I know. I'm sorry. I shouldn't be such an idiot."

It all made Lupin feel decidedly uncomfortable, as though he was intruding on a truly private moment. The softness in their eyes as they smiled at one another, nervously trying to judge the other's reaction was not meant to be witnessed. It was for them and them alone. It was almost as though they had forgotten his presence.

CLICK!

"Remus, seriously."

Lupin laughed. "I know but just think, when you pair have sprogs, they'll need something to be embarrassed about - won't they? Anyway, I'd better leave you to it." He whistled at a pitch that made Lily wince and a large, ebony black cat careered towards them. It looked as though it had escaped from the zoo but it stopped at Lupin's legs and wrapped its tail around them in a possessive gesture. "I'm just taking the cat for a walk,," Lupin explained. "We'd better get back.." He waved and ran alongside the cat until he disappeared from view.

Lily turned to James. "What do you suppose is bothering him?"

"Something's bothering him?"

She rolled her eyes and clicked her tongue. "How obtuse can you get?"

"The moon maybe?"

She shook her head. "Not for two weeks. Doesn't matter, come on"

"Well, Lily, what's a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?"

James sighed. "Sirius, a pleasure."

"What's bothering who?" he asked, smiling invitingly. "Oh, are you going for a stroll? Mind if I tag along? Oh look, there's Pete! Hi, Wormy! Over here!"

"The word conspiracy springs to mind," James muttered, draping an arm around Lily's shoulders. "They'll be the death of me."