The Bond Unbroken

The Bond Unbroken

Remus saw Harry's pain. He saw it from the moment the boy, or rather, man, walked through the door. He wished he could do something to dull the anguish in Harry's eyes. But that seemed difficult while he was still dealing with his own hurt.

When James and Lily died, Sirius sent to Azkaban, and Peter presumed dead, he had stayed in his apartment for days. He was afraid of the outside world. Even though he knew celebrations of the Dark Lord's fall were ongoing for many days, Remus had nothing to celebrate. In one single night, one solitary, horrid night, everything that Remus had held dear evaporated. What was the point in living anymore? Who would want to go on after such a terrible tragedy? He knew he didn't want to.

But there was one hope that burned inside him, and kept him alive. James and Lily's son. He couldn't leave this world with their son still here. He felt oddly obligated to watch over Harry. Even if the boy himself would never know Remus, he would protect him and make sure he was all right.

He did meet Harry. Remus hadn't expected to be a teacher at Hogwarts, but he accepted the position at Dumbledore's request. When he was there, he befriended Harry. But he kept his distance. He didn't want to tell Harry the whole story of his friendship with James and the other Marauders, especially with the danger of Sirius on the loose. Besides, the whole truth would have been too much for him at the time.

Harry and Remus grew closer even after his time as a professor ended. But he didn't see Harry nearly as much as he hoped to.

Which led all the way up to end of Harry's fifth school year. And where the source of the pain and sorrow came from. Sirius' death had been an unexpected blow to everyone. But Remus knew Harry would be hit hardest, along with himself. Sirius had been the closest thing Harry had known to a father. Remus knew what he had to do. He had to fulfill the promise he made to himself long ago, before he knew the truth about Sirius and Peter--to protect and guide Harry. He had to try to fill in where Sirius had left off.

Remus walked down the staircase inside Grimmauld Place and through the door to the library. He found Harry just where he expected him to be--sitting in the plush velvet armchair gazing into the fire. He cleared his throat.

"Harry, do you mind if I join you?"

Harry looked up, shocked out of his thoughts. "Oh, um. No, I don't mind."

Remus sat in the armchair next to him and gazed into the fire for a moment before he spoke. "Harry, I understand what you're going through."

Harry thought about this for a moment. "I know you do. "

Remus nodded. "I just want to make sure you know that."

"Thanks."

"Harry, I know he was very important to you. He was important to me also. But I know that, to you, he was like the father you never had."

Green eyes looked up and met Remus'. "I...well--you're right."

"I, um, just wanted to tell you that I'm willing to sort of be like Sirius, now that he's gone."

Harry was silent. Remus didn't know what else he could say. "Er, well, I'll just go." He stood up and made his way to the door.

But Harry stopped him. Uncertainly, he wrapped his arms around Remus and held him in an embrace like a son would embrace his father.

Harry spoke after pulling away. "That means a lot to me."

Remus smiled. "That means a lot to me too."

Harry made his way out of the library and Remus followed.

***

The next day Remus apparated out of Grimmauld Place and landed soundly on a muddy spot of grass. He hadn't particularly been up to coming there, but he knew he had to. He had to talk to some people about an important matter.

He strode down the brick walkway until he came to his destination and knelt down. He read the name he had seen numerous times: James Potter. Lily's name adorned the same gravestone. On the polished stone next to the Potter's, there was a name Remus had only seen carved in rock once before.

Sirius Black.

His internal wounds broke raw again when he saw Sirius' gravestone. He swallowed the lump in his throat and began to speak.

"Hi, James. Lily...Sirius. I feel rather foolish talking to a few big stones, but I trust you can hear me, somehow. I just wanted to tell you that Harry's doing better. I...well, I let him know that I'm be there for him and be a sort of father, like you never really got the chance to be, James. And what you were beginning to be to him, Sirius. I just wanted you guys to know I'll watch him and make sure he's all right."

Remus was silent. He didn't really know what he had expected, anyway. He was only talking to gravestones, wasn't he?

A wind ruffled the hair on Remus' head. The breeze grew stronger and picked up speed. Remus looked around and saw that the trees in the park, even the ones closest to him, remained curiously still. He felt the wind circling around him over and over again.

And then, just barely, he could her a whisper. It became slightly louder, and he recognized a voice he hadn't heard for many, many years. James'.

"Thanks, Moony..."

Remus was stunned. "James? Is that you?"

But instead of hearing James respond, he heard a familiar growl-like voice. "You did the right thing, Moony. I'm sorry I can't be there to help you and Harry through everything..."

Remus' voice caught in his throat and he felt tears burning in his eyes. "Sirius, that's okay, it's--it's not your fault. I'll take care of...take care of Harry."

"And we'll take care of you..." James' voice faded away as he spoke.

Remus was at a loss for words. He simply nodded. The wind was slowing down and getting farther away from him. Soon it was gone.

The whole experience seemed surreal. He wasn't even positive it was real, but his heart told him it was. James and Sirius would help him be a father to Harry.

Remus stood up and gazed around the cemetery. Tears fell silently down his face, but a smile formed on his lips.

Somewhere, in a better place, James, Lily, and Sirius smiled to see Remus finally glad. Their vision of him faded away, but they knew that him knowing they were still watching and caring for him gave him hope.

As he walked down the rugged path, Remus also knew that Harry would also be willing to help him deal with the losses he had suffered, as he would do in turn. A bond had been formed between them that could not be broken my magic--because it was in their hearts, not their minds, that the bond had been forged.