Pieces Past

The room was filled with silence.

It echoed off the walls, and one could almost touch the stunned feeling that hovered over the group assembled.

Lily trembled. Beside her, James swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing painfully.

"Where- where did you find him?" Gideon Prewett ventured, his throat sounding dry.

"Only found pieces," Moody answered gruffly. "Bits of him, scattered all over a field somewhere outside Ashmill."

From the back, there was a sob.

"Who did it?" Sirius growled. His fingers curled angrily around the arms of his chair, his knuckles white.

"We cannot be sure as to who committed the crime," Dumbledore answered, his face grave. "However, I suspect it was... Fenrir Greyback, among others."

Another loud sob. Lily glanced unconsciously over her shoulder. Emmeline Vance was covering her mouth tightly with both hands. Her eyes were blurred. Remus had a hand on her shoulder, but his lips were tight, his eyes closed.

"There were traces of him, footprints and-"

"It was his sort of style," Moody finished for him, bitterly.

The meeting dispersed shortly after. A few came round to Lily and James' for drinks, as had been previously decided.

As a hollow silence haunted the living room, Lily retreated to the kitchen for tea. James followed, for Firewhiskey.

The door swung closed behind him and Lily turned, mouth open.

"James-"

But James didn't stop. He strode past her, his face stony, and brought his fists down on the countertop, over and over. Lily clutched her hands to her mouth, watching him helplessly. Silent tears carved a path in her cheeks, dripping off her jaw and chin, splattering messily onto her robes.

James sagged against the counter, fists red, breathing heavily. He dipped his head, and he seemed to hang there, arms bent, shoulders limp.

Lily took a tentative step toward him, and he heard her coming. He whirled around to meet her; clutched her to him.

"Why?" James whispered into her hair. "Why did it have to be Benjy?"

He wanted so dearly to be brave and say it was all right. He wanted to take it all in stride, like he felt he was supposed to.

Lily merely shook her head, her face buried in his chest.

She wanted so dearly to be strong and tell him it would be okay. She wanted to stand by him and carry his burdens like she felt she was supposed to.

But neither could tear themselves away from it all.

The door was pushed hesitantly open and Sirius peeked in

"Oh, guys," he murmured, coming toward them. He wrapped his arms around them both, telling them they were stupid for trying to be alone- that they should come out with everyone else. He told them it was okay, that Benjy wouldn't have wanted them to be like this. He told Lily to wash her face; told James to get the Firewhiskey, and they'd all get good and drunk, the way Benjy would've wanted them to.