Disclaimer: See Prologue

Harry stared down at the next picture of himself sitting on the lap of a much younger Lupin. He smiled and chewed his fingernails. Lupin's arm was wrapped firmly around him and he even managed to smile though the tear tracks on his red raw cheeks were plain to see.

"What happened?"

Lupin sighed. "I chose a time when everyone was round to be an idiot."

February 26th 1981

"What's happened?"

Sirius closed the door behind his friends. "I don't know. He won't talk about it. He just sits there and stares. He was crying all morning and a couple of hours later he started shaking."

Lily thrust her son into his godfather's arms and threw open the living room door. She waited for Lupin's gaze to travel to her but it did not. He continued to stare blankly at the electric heater in the far corner of the room.

"Remus?"

He nodded once but made no other sign.

"Remus, what's the matter?"

He made no answer, no gesture, no acknowledgement that she was even there.

"Remus, please answer me."

Finally, he looked at her, though glared darkly may have been a better description. "What do you want me to say?"

Lily's blood boiled. "Don't speak to me like that! I've done nothing but worry about you. You don't think that I have better things to be doing? I shouldn't be leaving home but when Sirius says that there's something very wrong, I abandon everything, I risk the safety of my son and what the bloody hell for?"

James tugged gently at her elbow and pulled her back.

Lupin remained unfazed. "I didn't ask you to."

Sirius sighed. "Remus, please. Tell us or man it up a bit."

He had not expected Lupin's sudden leap to his feet. "Piss off!" Nor did he expect the strangled sob that followed, at the sound of which, Lily wrapped her arms around him, her anger forgotten.

"It's alright, it's alright."

"It's not alright. How can it be alright?" He removed Lily' s arm from round him and resumed his seat, muttering, "If ever there was a girl I would have married, it would have been her." He smiled grimly through his tears. "She was a bitch,"

James covered his son's ears and smiled down at him. "Just while uncle Moony gets it out of his system, mate."

"A total bitch and I hated her."

Lily rubbed circles round his back. "I don't-"

The door burst open. "Thank Christ, you're alright!"

"Jesus, Pete! You almost gave me a heart attack," cried Sirius, breathing hard. "Next time knock, yeah?"

Peter ignored him and flung his arms around Lupin. "I heard."

Lupin froze and pulled back/ "What do you know? How?"

Peter winced. "I had a run in with Snape." He pulled down one side of his shirt and revealed a cluster of scars reminiscent of Lupin's. "Sectumsempra," he muttered. "He was pretty pissed off." He shook his head. "You didn't kill her, Remus. Mulciber did. They all know it. She turned traitor. She wanted to do it, Remus, believe me."

"How can you know?" Lupin asked quietly. "How can anyone know?"

Sirius frowned. "Good question."

"I was told," Peter answered. "It was one of those sick moments that usually happen in films. You know, where the bad guy tells you everything and then says he's going to kill you. I don't think he counted on Gideon turning the corner." He turned back to Lupin. "She knew herself. Anna never did anything unless she had all sides covered. You know that."

Lupin nodded but his hands still shook. "I never thanked her."

James and Sirius locked eyes.

"What happened, Peter?"

Peter shrugged. "I don't know everything. Anna Mulciber is dead. She was killed last night when Remus went round to his mother's."

Lupin sniffed. "He tried to kill me. James, they know about the Fidelius Charm. He thought I was your Secret Keeper. That's why he went for me. She…she got in the way. He couldn't even touch me afterwards."

"She loved you," Lily murmured.

"And I love her and that's why I couldn't tell you. You'd all laugh at me and think I was an idiot or you'd say things about her that I couldn't take."

Sirius shook his head. "Look, Nancy will-"

"Nancy won't.," said Lupin. "I'm nothing to Nancy."

"That's not true," said James. "She's mad about you."

Lupin shook his head. "I couldn't be with her. I went to see her this morning."

"What did she say?" asked Sirius.

Lupin frowned. "She slapped me," he said. "And then she told me she was too old for me. What is it with women and mixed messages?"

Lily laughed. "I'd say that was pretty clear."

"Well, you would," said James. "You're a woman. Remus, I'm very sorry."

Lupin nodded and blinked back more tears. "I'm such a bloody girl," he muttered.

"Not just for Anna. I didn't mean to offend you. We were just worried out of our brains." James smiled and handed his son over. "Now apologise to Harry for scaring the hell out of him."

Lupin sat the child on his knee and put an arm around him to steady him. "I'm sorry, mate. Don't ever repeat a word of what I said." He smiled grimly and Harry beamed back. "Uncle Moony's being a dolt."

Sirius grinned. "Can you say that for him, Harry? Can you do me proud and call him a dolt?" He stood and reached for Lupin's camera. "Well, it's an important day and we need one happy picture. Smile, Moons!"

CLICK!

"Any chance I can have my son back?"

"None at all, Prongs. We'll deliver him in the morning if you're lucky. He's the only thing Moony's smiled at all day."

Lupin handed him back. "Peter, can I have a word?"