Picture by the Lake

It was drizzling again when Remus went outside, yet the sun was shining through the clouds, lighting up the grey stones of the Castle. It's good to be back after all these years, he thought as he headed towards the lake. He had always wanted to teach - always been good with children. Returning to Hogwarts was a dream come true, but it was going to be a big challenge, especially with Severus Snape being so hostile. There were things, though, that would make it worthwhile, irrespective of whether he taught well or not. He was getting sentimental, he knew, but he still couldn't wait for Thursday, when he would have his first lesson with the third-year Gryffindors.

Lost in his thoughts, Remus reached the lakeside. It was just as peaceful as he remembered it. When he had been at school he'd always come down there early in the morning or when it was raining to get some time alone. But now it seemed someone else had had that idea: Remus noticed a small figure perched on a rock, hugging its knees. It was a first year, or a second year at most. Next to him lay a little black object - Remus couldn't quite make out what it was at first, but as he got nearer he saw that it was a Muggle camera. A manual reflex one, Remus noted. He was impressed. You don't expect eleven year olds to have anything this advanced, but rather something automatic, or maybe even one of those disposable Muggle things. Maybe it's a family heirloom, he thought wryly.

It was a Gryffindor second year. One of the four Dumbledore had warned him about. As Colin picked up a stone off the ground and made to throw it in the lake, Remus spoke:

"I wouldn't do it if I were you. The Giant Squid doesn't like being disturbed."

The boy jumped up, more scared than startled. "N-no sir. I'll stop immediately, sir."

"Oh, you can sit back down if you like. I didn't mean you had to go. Colin Creevey, isn't it? You did a good job with that pixie today. Congratulations; I was impressed."

"Thanks," the boy mumbled. The expression of fright on his face was replaced with one of dejection. He sat back down, picking up his camera and fiddling with it quietly. He opened and closed the back, and Remus could see that the plastic inside was contorted into a very uncameralike shape.

"What happened to that?" he asked at his most persuasive, crouching down next to Colin. The boy didn't answer.

Finally, he held the object up to Remus. "Look," was all he said.

Remus sat down on the stony beach beside Colin's rock and took the camera. Yes, this was it, the camera that had saved Colin's life the year before.

"Open it."

Remus obeyed. The damage was worse than he thought: the whole inside of the camera had been eaten out and the outer shell had bubbled into the void. The mirror had shattered and small pieces of it were visible embedded in the plastic.

"It was a present from my dad. I was supposed to take loads of pictures, to show him and Dennis when I got back. But then I got Petrified. And my film was melted."

"Ah, you lost all your pictures. But you're alive to tell the tale. And I know nothing's going to make up for those photos, but you can always take new ones. And the ones you had wouldn't have done you any good if you weren't around to look at them."

Colin's voice was a whisper. "Yeah, I know that. But those were all my Quidditch photos. I changed the film just before the practice. And I had a nice one of Ginny and Ruth. They were sitting outside; it was here on the beach actually. Ruth was tickling Ginny and Ginny's hair was loose and it shone in the light. It was late afternoon light and it seemed so warm. And then the match against Slytherin; I'm sure I got some great shots there. But they've all melted. And I missed all the school year. I mean... was unconscious for all of it. Alex was supposed to show me how to develop pictures so that they'd move. But I was unconscious, and when I woke up I had to catch up and there wasn't any time for him to show me. Or for me to take any more. So I only brought back one film, and I had to develop it in Boots. So the people didn't move."

"But you know, Colin, I think that the Muggle world is right when it comes to photos. I used to be an avid photographer; I'd take pictures of my friends and anything that moved all the time. I arranged them in albums and loved the way I could capture an event and see the people acting out what they had been doing when I took it. But then I showed one of the albums to a friend of mine - she was a Muggle but her sister was a witch. When Pet saw all the wizards waving at her, she laughed. She said that she couldn't see the point of my pictures. A photo was supposed to catch a moment in time, and if people were moving about then the purpose wasn't achieved. I just told her that wizard photos captured a longer moment. But then I got a Muggle camera and developed photos the Muggle way, and found out she was right. So... don't throw away your heritage; the wizarding world isn't better than the Muggle one. But this is neither here nor there. Did your father and Dennis - your brother, I suppose - like your pictures?"

Colin grinned. "They loved them. Dad couldn't believe what he saw. And our Dennis, he says he's going to come here when he's eleven. And I think he will - he made a plate float up to him from the dresser the other day. But... I don't want him to come here!" His face fell again.

"Why not?"

"I'm scared something will happen to him and he'll get hurt or something. I don't want him to lose a year out of his life like I did. D'you know how behind I am in everything? I could only catch up on the theory at home - we can't do magic outside Hogwarts. There was no library either, and you need more than just textbooks to catch up. And what if the Basilisk comes out again? I don't want anything to happen to Dennis!"

"The Chamber is closed, and if I know Headmaster Dumbledore it will be kept that way. So I think we'll all be safe. And if Dennis is magical, he'll need to learn to control his powers. If he doesn't, he'll be a danger to himself and to anyone else near him, including your father. As for the year you missed, it can't be helped now. I'm sorry. But if you like, I could help you with your practical work. Although you seemed to do well enough in Defence without my assistance. Or, if you don't want to learn from me, Professors McGonagall and Flitwick would love to help as well, I'm sure. That's what we're here for, after all."

Colin's face lit up. "Really? You'd do that? You'd help me, and so would the other teachers?"

"Of course we would. It's our job."

Remus silently cursed Dumbledore and the rest of the staff. Didn't they realise what these children, all Muggleborns, would be going through? They hadn't arranged any counselling (Muggle concept as it was, someone could have at least exchanged a few words with them to make sure they were all right) or any extra lessons. He didn't really expect McGonagall to - as much as he respected and liked his former Head of House, Remus always thought she had too little sympathy for the weaker ones - but Sprout, with her gaggle of lost little Muggleborns to deal with every year might have. Oh well, if he remembered correctly they were all caring people essentially and would help when asked. Although Snape...

"But you know Colin, when you do want some extra help, come to me first and I'll arrange it. What do you think?"

"Okay, Professor, that's what I'll do. Could I have my camera back now?"

Remus handed the thing back, and stood up. "Now, why don't we go back to the castle, it's getting cold out here."

They started up the hill. Colin cradled his bit of plastic in his arms, but when he next opened his mouth, Remus knew his very impromptu and very unprofessional counselling session had been at least partially successful.

"Professor, could you tell me where I could get a new camera? And did you really like taking pictures? Were you good? Did they print them in the Daily Prophet maybe? Would they take pictures from a student?"