***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. When Mad-Eye shows Harry the photo, he tells him about several of the people's pictured deaths, but he also says that Caradoc Dearborn disappeared "six months" after it was taken…I'm not that good at math, but the war was definitely already over 6 months after July 1981. I don't know how well thought out this timeline was, and the author had had problems with math and dates before. Wouldn't the war be too heated at that point in 1981 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. Who was babysitting? Bathilda Bagshot? Idk, the precise canon timeline with this photo didn't really make any sense to me. (I also accidentally picked off some characters too early who were meant to be in this photo. Whoops.) Besides, I use this picture-taking scene to set up som a.

From the playlist:

Hazy Shade of Winter - Simon and Garfunkel

Backstabber - Kesha

Ch. 31 - The Picture

January 7th, 1980

The new year brought significantly less joy and significantly more anxiety than everyone hoped for. The events of the Christmas party had left the Order of the Phoenix on-edge, since the Death Eaters had never made such a bold attempt to spy on them before. Usually, they focused their efforts on the Ministry. The fact that Mulciber had been captured and delivered to Barty Crouch at the Department of Magical Law Enforcement was a victory, but 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 to his mum's, too. Since Lily was in no condition to spend time with her in-laws, she had Christmas with Marlene at the McKinnons' house. Fearing that this could be their last Christmas with his parents, James and Sirius stayed with Fleamont and Euphemia. Everyone had a few days of moderate-to-severe normalcy.

After the presents had been opened and the champagne had been drunk, the Order was called in to have their photo taken for archival purposes. Everyone arrived at the Hog's Head Inn in Hogsmeade where Aberforth led them into a large, upper room.

"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 towards the back. That means you, Rubeus."

"I know," said Hagrid, stomping behind the first row. "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 viewfinder. "Oh, wait a moment...Dedalus, 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, go stand by him, if you would. Ah- Mr. Pettigrew? You're going to have to inch in a bit closer, otherwise we'll only see half of you."

Just as they'd been instructed, Emmeline took her place next to Remus and Peter moved in closer to James. 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 though," chuckled Alice, caressing her own bump-less stomach.

"This was a nice idea," Emmeline mused. "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 fired back.

"What's gotten into you?" asked Sirius, attempting to grab her hand. She swatted him away.

Remus protectively set his 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.

"I don't think Mulciber just happened upon our Christmas party, and I don't think it's a coincidence that he came when our security was low."

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 grumbled.

"What discussion?" Remus asked Alastor pointedly.

"Never you mind, Lupin."

"What are you accusing me of?" Emmeline questioned.

"Somebody let our location slip. That's how Mulciber knew where to find us."

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

"Marlene, that's rubbish," James objected, sticking up for Emmeline.

Sirius made another unsuccessful attempt to pull Marlene away.

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

"What exactly have I done to warrant this?" Emmeline demanded.

"Let's start with the fact that you suddenly decided to come back right when the Death Eaters' activity began to pick up again-"

"Merlin Morgana and Mungo, how long have you been-"

"-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."

"Now you've just lost the plot. 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, her eyes landing on Alastor. "Who else has been talking about this behind my back?"

"Marlene, that's enough-"

"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, whether intentionally or by accident. And, come to think of it, the timing of Emmeline's return before the wedding was suspicious. James and Lily stood quietly, retracing the last few months in their minds. Even Dorcas was eyeing Emmeline doubtfully.

"…Come on, we're going home." Remus gently grabbed Emmeline's arm, but she jerked away.

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

Marlene's eyes flickered, but she didn't waver. Tension continued to build through the long, strained pause.

"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 tongue to abate tears, unsure if there was anything that she could say to prove her innocence.

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

"-Emmeline- no-!"

Remus tried to grab her, but it was too late. In the time it took Emmeline to draw her wand, Sirius had jumped in front of Marlene.

"Say that again, see what happens-!"

"-Guys, stop-"

"-Lily, don't-"

"-I said-"

"-McKinnon, hold your tongue-!"

"-Back up, Emmeline-"

"-Vance, drop the wand-"

"-Move, Sirius-"

"-Get a hold of your girl, Remus-!"

"She has a right to be angry! Emmeline, please-"

But before any hexes were cast, a spherical incorporeal Patronus burst into the room and flew in between them.