Disclaimer: See Prologue
A/N: Yet more angst. I just found a worrying photograph... Oh and this links back to chapter 6 which should make Sirius' reaction more understandable when he drags Lupin off before setting him up with a woman older than his mother. Desperate times call for desperate measures...

Harry grinned goofily.

Sirius shook his head sadly. "He was a goner, right from day one. I don't know why I expected anything less. It wasn't too bad anyway. He made me best man on the basis that I throw a better party - although I'm not entirely sure he wasn't trying to bribe me off."

Lupin laughed. "Probably. I certainly wouldn't want you organising my stag night."

"You won't have much choice, mate," said Sirius. "I'll be the only one around when you and Minne finally shack up."

Lupin's laughter died on his lips and his mood did not improve at the sight of the next photograph.

"Is that-?"

He nodded curtly.

"What was she doing in your flat?" asked Harry.

"Good question, Harry. Ask your godfather. It was his latest's fault."

Sirius held his hands up. "It had nothing to do with me. If I'd invited her round, it would be to re-enact the shower scene from Psycho. Her and Electra were big pals, remember?"

1979

It was a good day. He could feel it in his bones. The sun was shining, the tea was brewing and the sweet smell of success after last night's chess match still lingered in the air. Remus Lupin contemplated spending the morning in bed but one glance at the clock told him that he already had. It was two o'clock! He flung off the covers and, still in a ridiculously chipper mood, began to hum - which quickly became outright screaming punk.

He flung open his bedroom door and found Electra sitting on his mother's donated sofa, flicking through a magazine. She pressed her lips tight together but he could see the smile in her eyes. He could only thank God that Sirius hadn't been present.

"Ah, shall we try that again?"

He closed the door behind him and took a deep breath. So she'd heard him singing 'Rip her to shreds' She probably did it all the time. He groaned. Oh well, he couldn't stay in here forever.

Or could he? He could wait until Sirius and Electra disappeared on another shagathon and make tea. Better yet, he could take the kettle into his room. It was his kettle after all. And he could wait until they were completely shagged out before making dinner. Yes, this was all fitting together nicely.

"Remus, are you alright in there?"

No, he was being ridiculous. "I'm dandy," came the strangled reply.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I'll be out now."

The knock at the door told him that Sirius had forgotten his keys yet again and he slid down the door. Any moment now he would be humming Blondie from the other side of the door and making remarks about how uncannily Electra had said he sounded like Debbie Harry.

It had been at least ten minutes and nothing; not a peep. Lupin got to his feet, bolder now. Maybe this was a dream. Maybe it was Groundhog Day and he was just about to relieve walking into the living room for the first time.

"I'm not sure about lilac. It doesn't really match my hair," said Electra. "How about blue?"

"No! You look gorgeous in blue and I can't have you upstaging me."

There was no mistaking that voice; velvety and heavily accented, a little slice of Belfast itself. No, this wasn't Groundhog day, this was still a dream. Lupin opened the door expecting to find pigs flying past the window.

No such luck. Instead, he was faced with the sight of his former lover reading a bridal magazine on his sofa with her best friend who had just caught him singing. Life was truly fan-bloody-tastic.

He wanted to gain the moral high ground. After their last meeting, after her parting shot, he wanted to hit her but he was far too chivalrous. He took a deep breath and managed 'Good afternoon, Anna', but it came it out as, "What the fuck are you doing in my house?" which rather destroyed the cool, calm façade he had been crafting.

"Lilac's good, actually. I can work with lilac," said Electra, hurriedly. "I thought you'd gone back to bed," she told Lupin.

"Electra. this is my home, alright? It's not yours. It's mine. You don't live here."

Anna got to her feet. "Actually, I came to speak to you. Electra just happened to be here and she told me you were in bed so I said I'd wait. I didn't plan to show up and talk bridesmaids dresses in your living room you know."

Electra stood and barely managed a smile. "I'll just…I'm sorry, Remus."

She left, for which Lupin could barely bring himself to forgive her. The awkward silence was awe inspiring. They had never lasted this long before.

"I'm sorry about what I said."

Lupin shrugged. "Forget it. You're not. If that's all you came to say, then…"

She shook her head. "I'm getting married in December."

"What do you want me to say? Shall I grovel on my knees and beg you not to look down on me because I'm a werewolf? Shall I ask you if you can bring yourself to put up with my very existence? Shall I entreat you to allow me to prove I can be responsible and a decent man despite my disease? Is that to your satisfaction?" He couldn't believe he was finally saying this. Their last meeting, last November, had not gone entirely to plan and he had left it emotionally drained and possibly scarred for life but he had never imagined this outburst.

Her eyes glistened. "Will you listen? I just wanted to tell you that I won't bother you anymore. I won't be here. I'll just-"

"Marry a Death Eater and fuck off out of my life? Thanks." He wanted to take a step back and congratulate himself for his sudden spinal growth.

"And before I do that, I want to apologise for what was said." The tears fell and she hurriedly flung them off her cheeks with what could be described as sheer spite.

His will crumbled. Great, he'd made her cry. "Anna, please stop."

"I'm fine."

"It's blatantly obvious that you're not." He took a deep breath. "Six months ago, you were willing to leave him. What's changed?"

She shrugged. "No-one else wants me. I might as well take what I can get."

"You know that's bullshit." The words had been blurted out before he could stop them.

She laughed bitterly. "You're with Gemini."

He raised an eyebrow. "We ended it a long time ago. I thought I had other responsibilities."

"Oh."

"Yeah. Oh." He smiled grimly. "Luckily, I didn't. I'm unfit because I'm a half-breed."

She whimpered. "I didn't mean it, Remus. You know I didn't mean it."

"It sounded like you were pretty damn serious about it if you ask me." His tone did not echo the harshness of his words and seeing her red in the face and weeping openly, her curls sticking to her face, he wrapped her up in his arms and paid no attention to the mascara stain rapidly breeding amongst the stitching of his favourite jumper.

CLICK!

"Evidence. Call me uncouth, please do, but er…what in the name of Merlin's stretch marks is going on here?"

Anna slowly turned to find Sirius glaring at her, camera still in hand.

Lupin snatched the Polaroid. "Anna was just having…"

"The time of her life?"

"A breakdown."

"I wasn't having a breakdown!"

Sirius almost snarled, "I know what you did to him. You might have wormed your way back into his good books but he's got Doormat written all over him. Don't think that-"

"Electra let me in."

Sirius fell silent and returned the camera to its place on the shelf. "Right, I'm sorry, did I miss something? Have I spent the last year asleep?"

Lupin licked his lips and stared at the floor.

"Evidently yes," said Sirius. "You need help, Remus; serious help. I'll see you later."

The door slammed behind him and echoed around the silent flat. Lupin sucked in a breath. "He's right. I need help and you're not helping me, Anna. You need to get out of my life. You live your life and I'll live mine. I can't cope when I'm with you. I need you to understand. I need-"

She pressed her finger to his lips. "Shh, I know."

When he woke up, she was gone.

Oh well, one for the road wouldn't hurt…nor would one for the potholes in the road. Despite his warnings, he knew it wouldn't be the last time. He forgave too easily.