Promises for the Past

Chapter 2

Remus stirred in bed and blinked his eyes open. He smiled sleepily and turned to face where Lily had slept by his side. He sat up, fully awake, as he realized that Lily was nowhere to be seen. He jumped out of bed and scanned the room, noticing that her clothes were gone but also that there was a piece of parchment on his desk that hadn't been there the night before. As he picked it up, he realized that it was a note from Lily.

My dear Remus,

I hate to have to leave without saying good-bye, but I didn't want to wake you. Besides, I think that we said our fond farewells last night, don't you agree? Anyway, I'll be back soon. A week will fly by faster now. I'll never forget last night, no matter what happens. There will always be something special between us. I've got to go now. James will be expecting me.

Love,

Lily

Remus sighed. He leaned down to pick his knickers off of the floor and put them on.

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A week later, there was a knock on Remus' door. He smiles to himself, fully expecting it to be Lily. He was right, but his smile faded as the door opened to reveal a somber Lily.

"Hello Remus," Lily said softly.

"Lily, is there something wrong?" Remus asked, a look of worry clouding his handsome face.

"No, not really..... Remus, I don't know how to tell you this without it coming out wrong or hurting your feelings," Lily blurted out.

Remus walked over to her and put his hands on her shoulders. He looked in her eyes and told her firmly, "Lily, whatever it is, I can take it. Now tell me."

"James asked me to marry him and I accepted. I never really realized it until that night on the beach when he proposed, but I love him, Remus. I love him so much. If I had known, then I probably wouldn't have done what I did that night with you. But then I realize that it wouldn't have changed a thing. I wouldn't take back that night for the world," Lily confessed. She sighed and lifted her eyes to meet Remus' startled ones.

"I love you too, Remus, just not the way that I love James. I'm sorry, I have to go now," Lily said sadly. It pained her to look at the hurt expression in his eyes. She bit her lip and turned to go.

"Lily..." Remus whispered sorrowfully.

She shook her head and walked out of the room. As she closed the door, Remus couldn't help but notice the ring glittering on her left hand. James Potter had beaten him. He had always known that James had likes Lily, but he hadn't expected this. God, he loved Lily so much and he didn't know how he was going to live with this. To know that the two were in love and that he could never have Lily was too much for Remus. A silent tear rolled down his cheek. He quickly brushed it away, telling himself that he was not about to start crying. It was not enough though, and he fell on his bed, his body wracked with heart-wrenching sobs.

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Remus attended the wedding as one of James' best men. Afterwards, he cheerfully congratulated the happy couple. Lily gave him a big hug and a kiss on the cheek and pulled away, giving him on long glance before moving on to the next guest. He understood the gesture and nodded slightly. Silently, they had promised each other their undying friendship and a spark of happiness appeared in Remus' eyes.

About two years later, when the news of the Potters' murders reached Remus, he cried once more. This time there were two reasons. Lily was dead and she had died a Potter. He thought back to that one night. The way that her emerald eyes had looked deep into his soul and-

Remus woke up with a start. He had been dreaming of the past again. "Where am I?" he thought to himself. Oh yes, he was on the train to Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He was the new Defense against the Dark Arts teacher. He then realized that the compartment was pitch black and there were voices surrounding him.

"Quiet!" he said to the voices.

He realized that there was a dementor onboard. After he had dealt with it and he could see again, Remus looked around the compartment. There was a girl with bushy, brown hair sitting on the seat next to him and two redheaded kids, a boy and a girl sat across from him. Another child, a timid-looking boy sat curled up in the corner and on lying on the floor was a boy. He had unruly, black hair that looked familiar and when he made eye contact, Remus stifled a gasp.

The boy had emerald eyes, the exact shade as Lily's. Remus' brown eyes flickered over the boy's lightening shaped scar. Remus looked away for a moment and back to the boy. This was Lily's son. Harry Potter, the boy who lived because of his mother's love. Staring at Harry, some of his werewolf instinct took hold of him. He would protect Harry, protect him because he was all that was left of Lily Evans Potter. He had failed to make Lily his so that he could protect her, but he would protect her son. He would do it for Lily.

Tears welled up in Remus' eyes but he blinked them back. And, like that night so long ago, he whispered in his head,

"I love you, Lily Evans."