Chapter Twenty-Four
"Photography"

Page One

The Gryffindor common room was indeed an odd sight late Christmas night. The old grandfather clock near the portrait hole was quickly approaching the announcement of midnight before Remus, Sirius, Harry, Ron, and Hermione could finish explaining all the details of that fateful night last year at Hogwarts when the true story of the Potter's death was revealed.

Just as Lupin placed the finishing touches on the story, the clock rang out twelve times, proudly proclaiming it to be no longer Christmas. Sophie let out a deep yawn. She seemed to be more like herself than the others, although considerably sleepier. Harry didn't think Lupin's trick, whatever it was, had gotten through to her all the way. She had certainly taken Lupin three times longer than the others to even get the slightest of the desired effects. But, it all worked out in the end. Everyone was calm and collected as they were being convinced of Sirius' innocence.

Lupin wrapped up his story as quickly as he could, realizing how late it had gotten.

"I believe that it's time for everyone to get some sleep," he said kindly. "I'll take Harry and Ron up to bed. Good night, everyone."

Immediately, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Ginny, and Sophie fell asleep in their armchairs. Lupin smiled and whispered to Sirius, "Do you think you can handle fixing Ron's bed?"

Sirius nodded and Lupin continued, "Good. I think I'd better take these girls up to their beds so they don't wake up stiff in the morning."

"I can help," offered Hermione. "I'm sure I could carry Sophie."

"Alright," said Lupin. He bent down and picked Ginny up into his arms, careful not to let her head loll about. He and Hermione walked quietly up the stairs to the girl's dormitory.

"Go on," whispered Sirius. "We need to get up there, we have things to talk about."

A few moments later, they were inside their dormitory, Ron's bed had been mended with one wave of Sirius' wand, and Harry and Ron were both in their pajamas. Lupin entered the room not two minutes later, and the room seemed to get considerably more serious in ambience.

"Harry," said Lupin, walking over to the bed beside Harry's. "We didn't just come to say Merry Christmas and be on our way." His face was grave, as was Sirius as he looked down at Harry from the end of his bed.

"We might as well get to the point, Remus," croaked Sirius. "Where are the pictures, Harry?"

Harry's eyes grew wider as he remembered the envelope of pictures that had arrived, and the note he had sent to Sirius and Remus. The evening's events had clouded his short-term memory, albeit only for a short while.

"Is that why some of my things were on the floor?" he asked quietly.

"Yes, Harry," replied Lupin. "We were looking for them, and we didn't want to alarm the Weasleys. We knew Snape had invited them to dinner, and we figured they were probably right downstairs. We were as quiet as mice, that is, until Ron came up."

Ron turned slightly red at this. Lupin noticed and quickly added, "Mind, I'd be frightened too if I walked into a dark room and saw two men rifling through my things." He smiled at Ron in an effort to make him feel a little more at ease.

"We need to leave soon," said Sirius quickly. "It's getting late and we need to go before Fudge's guards make their one o'clock round."

"Yes, yes," said Lupin, getting a little impatient. It was obvious he was thoroughly tired. "Do you still have the photos?"

"Yes," said Harry, getting up and walking to his trunk. He opened the lid and reached his hand towards the lid's fabric lining. There was a thin tear along the seam of the lower left side, which he reached his hand through and he extracted the large envelope that held the pictures. He closed the lid of his trunk, then handed the envelope to Lupin.

Lupin sat there, considering the envelope for a minute, but before he opened it, he handed it to Sirius. Sirius looked at it skeptically, then looked up at Lupin. "No address," he uttered. "Most odd."

Lupin nodded, then took the envelope back from Sirius. He opened the top flap, then poured the pictures out onto Harry's bed. The backsides of the pictures were all that was visible at first. Lupin reached for one and turned it over. Immediately his breathing quickened, and his eyes shown with alarm.

"What is it?" growled Black.

"Me," replied Lupin no louder than a whisper. "That picture is of me."

He quickly began turning the pictures over, one by one. With each image that met his eyes, his breathing became shorter and more stilted. Sirius stood at the end of Harry's bed, looking down at them, speechless, shaking his head.

"You saw these in your dream?" whispered Lupin as he continued to look at the pictures.

"Yeah," said Harry, not quite understanding why this was agitating Lupin so much.

After each picture had been turned over and they lay face up all over Harry's bed, Lupin turned to Harry and pleaded, "You need to take these to Snape, first thing tomorrow morning."

"I can't do that," said Harry, uncertain of what was holding him back.

"We have to leave," interrupted Sirius.

"I know," sighed Lupin, standing up. "Harry, you have to go to Snape about this, you have to."

Sirius and Remus walked to the window where two broomsticks were propped up against the wall. They mounted the brooms, but before they left, Lupin turned around and repeated, "Please, Harry, go to Snape. Merry Christmas, and watch yourselves. Promise me that."

They sped out the window and disappeared into the night sky.

Around two AM, gray clouds surrounded the turrets and towers of Hogwarts, bathing the castle and grounds in thick torrents of rain. This strange display of weather continued on through the morning, and at nine AM, the lightning started. The bright clashes of static electricity woke Harry up with a start as the blinding light filled their dormitory.

Harry looked over at Ron, expecting to see him asleep. Some days it seemed Ron could sleep through anything. Although on this particular morning, there he lay, wide awake.

"Did the lightning wake you up, too?" asked Harry through a deep yawn.

"No," replied Ron slowly. "I didn't sleep at all."

"Why not?"

"I don't know," Ron turned over onto his side to look at Harry. His face was pale and he looked deep in thought. "Something just doesn't feel right, that's all… and I'm really hungry."

Harry rolled his eyes and laughed at Ron.

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