***Canon Divergence Disclaimer: So I know this photo is supposed to have been taken in July of 1981, (and a certain character is supposed to meet their demise two weeks from it getting taken), but I have some issues with that - there are several members of the Order pictured in this photo that we know died during the war, and it seems unlikely to me that they would all just die only in the last 4 or 5 months before Voldemort's downfall. Wouldn't the war be too heated at that point to gather for a photo? Also, if that timeframe is legit, the Potters would've already had Harry and would supposedly be in "hiding" by now, but they're pictured. When I realized my error in date I meant to change it, but encountered the issue of already having killed off some characters pictured...so...sorry for the inaccuracy. Besides, I use this picture-taking scene to set up som ma.

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Ch. 32 - Picture Day

January, 1980

The new year brought significantly less joy and significantly more anxiety than everyone had hoped for. The events of the Christmas party had left the Order of the Phoenix rather on-edge, since the death eaters had never before made so bold an attempt to spy on them - usually they focused their attention on the Ministry, but it seemed they'd caught on to the threat the Order posed. It was indeed a victory that Mulciber had been captured and delivered to Barty Crouch at the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Still, they had only severed one head of the Hydra.

Emmeline spent the holidays with her mother in Florence, and while Remus would've liked to have gone to Italy with her, he visited with his own parents per the request of his perpetually worried mother. Peter went on holiday with his family, though nobody seemed to know where. Since Lily was in no condition to spend time with Fleamont and Euphemia Potter, she had Christmas with Marlene, Sirius, and the rest of the McKinnon family at Marlene's parents' house. James, fearing that this would be his last Christmas with his parents, stayed with them. Everyone had a few days of normalcy.

When the presents had been opened and the new year's champagne had been drunk, the Order was called to a meeting to have their photo taken for archival purposes. Everyone arrived at Hogwarts via the Floo network before most of the students returned from their holiday recess, and Albus led them into a classroom where the desks had been cleared.

"Alright everybody," Minerva McGonagall hollered over the din of conversations. "Let's line you all up. I'm not entirely sure how to work this contraption, but I'll give it my best go." She frowned at the magical camera in front of her. "Let's make a few rows, shall we? Taller wizards and witches in the back. That means you, Rubeus."

"I know," said Hagrid, stomping to the back of the group. "Just be sure to get all of me in the picture."

"I'll try my best," McGonagall replied unconfidently, bending down to look through the lens. "Oh, wait a moment...Mundungus, Mr. Black is not transparent. Kindly move out from behind him. Now we have too many people on the left…" Popping her head back up, she scanned the group. "Ms. Vance, I know you're fond of Mr. Lupin but would you please move over to the right where Dedalus is? You too, Ms. McKinnon."

Just as she'd instructed, Marlene and Emmeline took their places on the left side of the group. Looking back through the lens and deeming this arrangement more suitable, Professor McGonagall raised her wand over the camera.

"Ready? One, two, three!" With a flick of her wand the camera flashed, and a cloud of purple smoke came up from the machine. "Oh dear, is it supposed to do that?"

"Yes it is, thank you ever so much for your assistance Minerva," said Dumbledore.

"You don't think you could discern that I'm pregnant from the photo, do you?" Lily asked, turning to James.

"Love, you aren't even showing yet."

"That was exactly my worry Lily," chuckled Alice, caressing her own bump-less stomach.

"This was a nice idea," Emmeline mused as she re-joined her friends. "It'll be good to have a photo of all of us. You never know what's going to happen."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

Emmeline turned and locked eyes with Marlene, who looked rather less friendly than usual. Her interrogative tone caught Emmeline off-guard.

"...I just mean that we're never guaranteed tomorrow," she clarified, searching Marlene's face for what she'd said to offend her. "We're fighting a war."

"I'm not certain all of us are fighting on the same side," Marlene shot back, her eyes still fixed on Em.

"Marley, what's gotten into you?" asked Sirius, attempting to grab her hand. She swatted it away.

Remus protectively set a hand on Emmeline's shoulder. "Marlene, what are you-"

"If you have something to say, by all means say it," Emmeline interrupted, moving out from under his grasp.

"Mulciber didn't just happen upon our Christmas party. Someone told him where we would be, and that we wouldn't have strict security that night. That's how they knew he could get in."

At this point, other members of the Order overheard this and had discontinued their side conversations.

"McKinnon, I thought we agreed to keep this discussion in private," Alastor hissed.

"What discussion?" Remus asked Alastor pointedly.

"Never you mind, Lupin."

"What exactly are you accusing me of?" Emmeline demanded.

"Somebody in the Order is giving the death eaters information."

Emmeline's face burned with hurt and indignation. "You-...you think it's me?!"

"Marlene, that's nonsense," said James, sticking up for Emmeline. Sirius made another attempt to pull Marlene away from the conflict, but was unsuccessful.

"It might have just been a coincidence," Peter offered sheepishly. His suggestion was quickly drowned out.

"What exactly have I done to give you this rubbish idea?" Emmeline asked, her fists clenched.

"Let's start with the fact that you suddenly decided to come back and join us right when Voldemort's activity began to pick up again."

"Bloody hell Marlene, how long have you been thinking about this?!"

"None of us knew what you were doing in Scotland, if that's where you really were. You just showed up out of nowhere and wanted to be mates again."

"So you think you have this all figured out then, do you? You know for a Ravenclaw, you're not that clever."

"Yeah? Well I'm not so certain about your Gryffindor chivalry either."

"Marley-"

"Don't Lily! Don't pretend that the thought hasn't crossed your mind too!"

Emmeline whipped around to look at everyone. "Who else has been talking about this behind my back?"

"Nobody. Marlene, that's enough."

"Merlin's beard, wake UP Remus! None of this sounds suspicious to you?! She could be using you to betray us all!"

At this point, Sirius had stopped trying to pull Marlene away and was listening to what she was saying. She was right: it was clear that information had been passed along to the death eaters, and, come to think of it, the timing of Emmeline's return in November was indeed suspicious. James and Lily stood quietly, retracing the last few months in their minds. Even Dorcas was eyeing Emmeline doubtfully.

Remus would not stand by and let Emmeline take this abuse any longer. "Come on, we're going home." He gently grabbed her arm, but she jerked away.

"Do you honestly think I would do that to the Order? To you?" She said this a great deal quieter, and looked as though she was about to cry. "Marlene, you're my best friend…"

Marlene's eyes flickered, but she remained unwaveringly silent. Tension continued to build through the long, strained pause. No one moved.

"Emmeline," Remus beckoned again, breaking the silence. He reached for her hand and began leading her out towards the door. With everyone's eyes on her, Emmeline bit down hard on her lip to abate tears, unsure of what she could say to prove her innocence.

Just before they had reached the door, Marlene scoffed. "The pregnancy was a likely story."

In the time it took Remus to charge at Marlene with his wand, Sirius had jumped in front of her and produced his own wand, ready to do whatever he had to to protect her.

But before anybody else had the time to react, a spherical incorporeal patronus burst into the room and flew in between them.

The voice of Bartemius Crouch spoke through the charm: "The death eaters have attacked a train carrying the muggle Prime Minister. Bound for Edinburgh."