Remus Lupin | Marauder Memories

The graveyard was almost completely silent that evening. A cold breeze moved through the trees, carrying the faint scent of rain.

Remus Lupin stood alone in front of an old gravestone.

James Potter.

He had been there for several minutes, staring at the name carved into the stone. A cigarette rested between his fingers, smoke curling slowly into the cold air.

Remus:"You'd hate this place, James."

He gave a quiet, humorless laugh.

Remus:"Too quiet."

His gaze lowered.

For a moment, he wasn't looking at a grave anymore. He was back at Hogwarts, years younger, surrounded by three boys who had once felt like brothers.

James, Sirius, Peter... and himself.

He remembered James laughing far too loudly in the corridors. Sirius encouraging every terrible idea. Peter desperately trying to keep up with them.

Remus:"We really thought we'd have forever, didn't we?"

He took another drag from the cigarette.

Remus:"Four idiots against the world."

His expression darkened.

Remus:"Then everything changed."

James was dead. Lily was dead. Peter was supposedly dead.

And Sirius... Sirius was sitting in Azkaban for betraying them.

At least, that's what Remus had believed.

He stared at the grave again, his fingers tightening slightly around the cigarette.

Remus:"I still don't understand how it all fell apart."

The wind picked up, rustling the leaves around him.

Remus remained lost in memories, unaware that someone else had entered the graveyard.

Footsteps quietly approached from behind.

He didn't notice.

Not yet