A Year Ago Today

A Year Ago Today

Another year older,

A little bit stronger,

A little bit wiser than

A year ago today.

One could forgive the man before him for the way he looked. His hollow eyes surrounded by black circles protruded off what was a pallid face. The creases in his forehead deepened as though with intent, but merely to attract away from the sunken eyes and vacant face.

'Remus. Time to go.'

He jumped and moved away from he mirror. A woman with dark brown curls and bright blue eyes stood in the doorway, looking upon Remus with a sympathetic expression. She wore no smile on her face either.

'Come on.' She said, reaching out a hand to him.

Looking over my shoulder,

I was so much younger then,

I can't believe what happened

A year ago today.

They walked down the street in silence. That was the way it had been. Ever since that day. It replayed in his mind each moment since that...

'Sirius!' cried the boy near him. Remus watched as Sirius fell, being push by some sort of unknown force that came from the woman's wand. He watched helplessly as Sirius fell, deeper, deeper, and then, he was gone.

Remus' mind went into shock. The seconds seemed to slow before him as if someone was forcing the hand on the clock to stop. He could see Harry moving as if in slow motion. Rational thought took over his numb mind, and he reached for Harry as the boy ran for the veil.

'Harry,' he said, heart in his mouth, choking back the tears, 'He's gone. He's gone...'

'Remus?'

Remus was forced from his memories. 'Remus, are you okay?'

'Fine.' Remus muttered, staring at the ground.

And I just can't forget about it,

Oh, it wouldn't mean a thing.

You went away

A year ago today.

Another year gone by,

All my tears have run dry,

Life seemed so unkind

A year ago today.

He stared up at the canopy of his bed. Staring at nothing. He was past tears. He was past yelling and screaming. He was just there.

He didn't notice the door opening. He didn't realise someone had walked into the room.

'Harry?'

He said nothing. He just lay there. He waited until the door had closed and footsteps faded before sitting up. He reached forward and pulled back the hangings on his four-poster. He rummaged through a draw until he found it, a leather-bound photo album. He flicked the pages until he reached the page he first looked for years ago. No anger filled him this time as he stared into the smiling face, but a hollow pain. The pain that had been eating through him from the inside him, tainting the once lively features, taking the light from the once bright eyes.

And I just can't understand it,

I don't think I ever will.

You went away

A year ago today.

And how many times have I questioned myself?

What more could I do?

He blamed himself. If he hadn't been so stupid as to run right into the trap, he might be here today.

And how many times have I fooled myself

Over you.

He convinced himself that when he wakes up, he would be sitting at the dining table, scolding him for sleeping in.

You gotta pick yourself up,

Take another look,

But life went on...

And dust yourself off

Cause life too good.

And time didn't stop...

I'll say it to myself

And I'll say it again,

Love will never end.

And he would not have wanted it this way...

And though we are so far apart

You're forever in my heart

He got up, and walked out the door, the heavy weight of a year's pain dropping from his chest.

He walked, his mind finally clearing the cloud that had covered it for a year.

Another year older

A little bit stronger

On this anniversary

You're watching over me

They were not together, but together in their pain. They were not by each other's side, but shared in the realisation. They both came to understand, and to move on.

You went away

A year ago today

'Remus, what are you smiling at?'

'Harry! You finally came down!'

You went away

A year ago

Today.