Pssttt... I've shed a few tears writing this chapter, just thought you ought to know *faints in the Great Hall.* Proceed with caution... don't say I didn't warn you!

***
Sirius watched Remus move away from them, wanting nothing more than to go with him or just bring him back.

Sirius knew that this conversation had stricken a nerve that, for so long, Remus had lived with tranquilizers to just ease the pain that never vanished... instead kept on throbbing and twinging.

"I've ruined it, haven't I?" Harry asked, frowning.

Harry had tried very hard to soothe their pain, but failing his intention, he had only made everything worse... not for the first time, he had wounded those who loved him.

Sirius couldn't deny that Harry's words had been a bit sharp, but he couldn't bring himself to throw the unpleasant truth right at his face.

Sirius was conflicted, unsure of what to say. "Listen, he'll come around, sooner than you think."

As if on cue, the door swung open, to which Harry's eyes lit up. Relief flashed over Sirius, hoping it was Remus. A second it lasted for Sirius' face to be taken over by a let-down frown.

Instead, it was a familiar witch with pink bubbly hair and a lively expression, along with a ginger-haired boy clutching a circular object in his hand.

Glancing sideways, Sirius noticed Harry slumping his shoulders with a sigh, before wearing a masked neutral expression.

"Wotcher, guys," Tonks greeted, walking gracefully making sure she wouldn't trip on anything.

Tonks' gaze wandered around, as though wanting to see someone who apparently wasn't present.

Before they could return the greeting, an urgent voice filled the air. "Here, Harry. You forgot this with me," said Ron, handing him the prophecy.

"Yeah, right," muttered Harry, his fingers hugging the warm ball, the glowing light reflecting on his face.

The re-appearance of the prophecy, adding on top of everything, reminded Sirius that he still had a talk to take care of, with a certain headmaster... the most important mission, it was, for him now.

"Harry... I'll leave you for now," said Sirius, to which Harry was taken aback. "A word with Dumbledore is in order."

"Is it... about what happened?" Harry asked timidly, after the ringing beats of hesitation.

"No, trust me... it's about what's supposed to happen," replied Sirius at once, knowing what he had to do. "Also, I'll try to find Remus," said Sirius quietly, to which Harry nodded.

"Sirius, what happened?" Tonks asked, her voice ringing with mild concern.

Sirius glanced at Harry, offering him the smallest smile, before gesturing for Tonks to follow him out. Walking away, Sirius was thankful to Ron for coming at this time, as to not leave Harry alone.

"Ron, why do you reckon this prophecy is that important?" Harry asked absentmindedly, trying to get his mind out of things, but he wasn't as much successful as he hoped he would be.

No further words were heard by Sirius, as he closed the door after Tonks. As silent as never, Sirius inhaled a deep breath, attempting to keep his grieving thoughts tucked into the back of his mind.

Despite of everything that had the power to break him down, Sirius was immensely grateful for having his innocence at least questioned, after he had begun to believe it was impossible... let alone, he was gifted the golden chance to grant his godson the best family-life he could offer.

Most importantly, Sirius now knew how much Harry meant to him.

"--rius, Sirius!" Tonks had been calling his name a couple of times, but to no answer, she nudged her cousin.

"Merlin... wha--" Sirius blurted out, taken off-guard, before composing himself. "Be a good girl now, and just listen."

Sirius continued in an urgent voice, registering how a few strands of her hair had changed into fiery red. "I've no idea how, but... do me a favor and find Remus."

"Hey, no, wait!" Tonks exclaimed, worry taking over her once light expression. "You're not going anywhere before telling me what happened first."

"Later, Tonks-- later," said Sirius, momentarily shaking his head with closed eyes. "Just find him," he said, desperation swirling in his gaze.

She sighed, relenting, and gave him a swift nod. "I will," she said quietly, to which he hurriedly thanked her and walked to the entrance of Dumbledore's office.

"Lemon drop, or whatever," said Sirius, waving his hand dismissively.

Tonks fixed her gaze on him, as the gargoyle leaped away to reveal a stone doorway. The spiralling staircase came to life, moving upward like an escalator, without a single effort on his behalf.

The man was lost, how in the name of Merlin am I supposed to find him? Tonks thought to herself, heaving a sigh.

A soft voice erupting from within ensured her that she'd succeed. As always, Tonks believed in her instincts.

●●●●****************●●●●

Remus had walked out of the hospital wing as calmly as he could master, doing his best to keep his pain at bay... as always, forbidding it from arising to the surface.

Over the years, he had developed tough skin, there's no deny about that. But still, vulnerable holes would re-open and stretch out wider, whenever touched.

Remus didn't even bother to hide the tears welling up in his eyes. He took heavy steps, searching for some -even if minimal- serenity. No matter what he did, there was no where he could curl away from his thoughts.

Grateful that no one stopped him, Remus reached his fingers to hug the circular doorknob of a silent classroom. Finally alone, Remus closed his eyes till the burning sensation of the tears backed away.

His thoughts took him to the time when he was barely surviving. Shattered in broken shreds, destroyed, lost with no one... were just some words that defined him, back then.

****(Flashback, continued)****

It had felt like hours till he found himself face-to-face with Professor Dumbledore. Albus' calm face held novel lines of pain as soon as his eyes fell on Remus' distraught form.

"It can't be... they aren't dead, right?" Remus asked, feeling his heart wrench in his chest, almost snapping the air out of his lungs. He was desperate for the only answer that could make him breathe once again.

"I am sorry, Remus," said Albus, empathy swirling in his gaze.

"NO!" Remus exploded, pain running through his veins. He moved closer, pointing a finger at Dumbledore, speaking in a low pained voice. "Don't. Tell. Me. You're. Sorry."

"Tell me anything else... I am going mental, the madness within finally cracked me up. Tell me, the world is lying!" Remus exclaimed, raw rage filling him up, pacing the authentic office before his body froze.

Nothing could have been powerful enough to silence his explosive fury, other than realizing what his cruel fate had set up for him.

"Please, don't tell me... they're gone --just like that," said Remus, gasping for breath, a frown of pain plastered on his face.

His world spinning, Remus sank to the chair and buried his face in his trembling hands, silently sobbing into them.

Albus reached over to Remus, placing a gentle hand on his shaking shoulder. "Remus, don't rush yourself to heal... take your time in touching the wounds grief left you with," he spoke in a calm voice, to which Remus sobbed even more.

"Grief is the ultimate unrequited love, asking for no return..." Albus said, heaving a sigh, as if knowing what it felt like.

"But, trust me, there's still hope," said Albus, to which Remus shook his head in disbelief. "The boy survived..." Albus said, a tone of light reassurance echoing in his voice.

Remus paused his heart-breaking sobs and looked up from his darkness to the string of hope.

"Harry, he's... safe?" Remus choked in intense desperation, ignoring the tear tracks that broke his face.

He felt his world brighten a bit, just a bit, receiving a nod from Dumbledore. Remus silently promised himself to be strong for Harry... that's what James and Lily would want from him now.

Knowing what laid ahead, Albus felt a pinch in his heart when Remus breathed in relief.

"Then, could you give him to us, please?" Remus asked, letting out a guttural gasp, hope swirling in his gaze.

"Us?" Albus inquired swiftly, narrowing his eyes.

"I am sure Sirius and Peter would be willing, as well, to--" said Remus, eagerness popping out from his watery eyes.

Albus held his hand up for silence, not knowing how to get through this as painless as possible.

"You do know that Sirius was the Potters' secret keeper?" Albus asked bluntly and watched as the message sank in.

Remus frowned, confusion taking over his grief. "Yes, but what..." he fell silent, eyes wide like saucers. Through the suffocating silence, Remus could feel nothing but his cold breaths trembling his lips.

Remus' eyes brimmed with tears once again. "No, No, no, that's just ridiculous. Impossible, No!" He said, shaking his head in horror.

Remus closed his eyes in pain, a tear betraying him.

"James and Lily put their faith in the wrong person, rather like you," said Albus, gently squeezing his shoulder.

"That's simply not true," Remus replied stubbornly, provoking a sigh from Albus who had half-expected such reaction.

"He would never-- betray, no," whispered Remus, another tear slipping down his wet, scarred cheek.

"I trust you know... what family Sirius comes from," said Albus, eyeing Remus with pity.

"I think I know my friend more than you do... he's nothing like his family," said Remus, exploding in pain and rage quite equally.

"Remus, please listen to me. Yesterday night, after..." Albus started in a composed voice before the words died in his throat.

Remus tried to quieten his heart from hammering widely against his chest, so that he could at least hear what Dumbledore had to say.

"Sirius sent the word to Voldemort, being the reason your friends are now... no more," Albus tried again, fidgeting with his wand.

"That's not Sirius," said Remus decisively, with a tone of finality, glaring at his old headmaster.

"He blew up the street when Peter cornered him... destroying his former friend and, along the way, killing a dozen of innocent muggles," explained Albus calmly, lacing his fingers.

Albus paused, weighing his words. "And he was found, laughing madly, and was sent to Azkaban."

Ringing silence met his words, and Albus could sense Remus' mental wheels doing wild back-flips.

"Pete... died, as well?" Remus asked, dreading the answer. Albus nodded grimly, to which Remus broke down completely.

Remus had lost them all, in a cruel twist of fate, just like that... and he had no other option but to learn to live alone, till his final breath.

"Why, Sirius... why?" Remus choked, wanting to scream till his voice would die out.

For the first time... but not the last... Remus fell victim to his own mental battle that never failed on ripping his soul apart.

Sirius, of all people, was the traitor ratting on them... Remus had never seen this coming, and now it's too late.

But Sirius would never. . .

Remus counter-argued that Sirius was more successful than he thought in keeping dark secrets to hide his true identity behind the mask of mischief and caring loyalty.

But Sirius would never. . .

He was tricked to believe that Sirius shattered the darkness within, at will. The Black heir couldn't escape from who he was born to be, no matter how much he tried to show otherwise.

But Sirius would never. . .

Remus was back-stabbed to death by someone he considered a friend. He couldn't, didn't want to believe any of it... that's not what he knew about the value of friendship.

"I need to talk to him. I am sure Sirius can explain himself..." Remus said in determination, breaking the dead silence.

"There's no trial... the evidence is speaking for itself," said Albus, assured and doubtless.

"You can't be serious!" Remus exclaimed before he bit his lips and backed away in horror, realizing what he had just said out of habit.

Not having anyone left to laugh along with, at this joke that never got old, Remus felt another shred of his heart cracking in painful agony...

"Do you reckon anyone deserves to rot in Azkaban, without a chance to testify and live? Even if... not even..." Remus' voice started out powerful and demanding before breaking, as he felt another pinch to his already crushed heart.

"It's painful to believe... trust me, Remus, I know how you feel," said Albus sincerely.

"You know nothing," said Remus, feeling broken without a single shred left of him.

Remus wished he hadn't lived to tell the tale of the day that would change all the days that follow... spinning his life a million degree to the worse.

***
"Now that I've lost all my friends... Is it too much to ask for the only connection left of them?" Remus' voice trailed off, getting lost in the coiled strings of his dreadful thoughts.

Remus feared and despised the mental image of how he imagined it took place: his Prongslet crying and pleading his dada or muma to come and save him...

He was sure that even now, Harry was still waiting to be reassured, by someone who loved him, that all was well.

"Let me raise him, like my own son... I'll let him know how much his parents loved him," pleaded Remus, more than willing to beg on half a knee.

Harry... he's what's left for me. Pain flickering across his face, Remus felt desperate for the only chance to feel alive once again.

"Remus, you know the law," said Albus, shaking his head sadly, to which Remus hardened his expression.

Just when he thought life couldn't get any worse, came the bitter truth that destroyed him.

"Might have heard of it," said Remus bluntly, tears still dripping down his face. "Fine, I get it."

Remus felt damaged, as the reality dawned on him, ripping apart what remained of his heart.

"Werewolves aren't humans... don't deserve a family, can't have or raise children," said Remus, blinking back the tears to fix his blurry vision.

Remus accepted the apology that was sent to him by Dumbledore's eyes.

"But you were the first, Professor, who didn't treat the eleven year old like a dangerous weapon... and I am forever grateful," said Remus, trying to stop his jaw from trembling.

But now, Dumbledore was just like everyone else, even his own friends, who still couldn't help but have this teensy little bit inside them, seeing him as nothing but a werewolf.

I guess that's how I should see myself again, from now on, Remus thought to himself.

"I am sincerely sorry... it's-- out of my hands," said Albus, truly meaning it, to which Remus composed himself and nodded.

"Professor, just... promise me something," said Remus, his eyes pleading.

"Anything," replied Albus sincerely.

"If at anytime, you get even a single sign that Harry's not happy where he lives or is not treated as he should be... Please, I am begging you, let me know," continued Remus, breathing heavily.

"Alright, Remus," said Albus after the beats of silence, already debating with himself if he could stand by his word.

"Thank you, sir," said Remus, trusting the promise Dumbledore gave him. Without another glance, he walked toward the door.

***
Remus stepped one foot after the other, not knowing his destination. He felt lost in despair, walking across the halls of Hogwarts, the very same place filled with memories at every corner.

Through the echoing silence, Remus could sense four familiar teenagers circling around him in a ghostly mist form, laughing their hearts out as if there was no tomorrow... distracting themselves from the beast of war waiting to strike.

It was as though the war perceived Remus to be the only worthy victim of heartbreak.

Remus tried to accept that not all people in his life were meant to stay... and those he was desperate for having a long life ahead with them, were always the ones chosen to leave early.

Losing loved ones was inevitable at one point, that's the fair price for love and war... but, he had lost absolutely everything, even his own will to carry on with his life.

Remus welcomed the pain that came along with the chocking apparition from Hogsmeade. Below the pure clouds in a deserted backyard, Remus fell to his knees, willing to give in to the burning flames taking over his chest.

It felt like hours till he gathered his strength and walked to his dim-lit house. The street was empty in the shade of darkness, as if indirectly describing the current state of his grim soul.

His legs losing their power, he slowly reached for the front door and walked in to his new life of depression under the silent roof.

Repetitive blows to the head made him lose his emotional balance. He could feel the tears forming in his eyes, waiting for action. His head spinned from the overdose of stinging pain.

Seeing white spots, Remus didn't know how he was successful to reach the couch without falling. His knees buckling, he dropped himself to his seat, gazing around the dead silence.

His sparkling eyes fell on the note from earlier, and his blood boiled in anger at how cruel Snape actually was.

Long Live the Marauders! But, they're no more, lost with the wind... just gone forever.

The crackling fireplace shed some light on his face that had experienced destruction. Remus clenched his fist, wrinkling the paper that indirectly plotted his fate.

Thanks for reminding me of the bitter truth, of being the last Marauder standing. . . the Lone Wolf.

An outburst of painful rage getting the better of him, Remus forcefully threw the paper to the fireplace, at an arm-length. He watched with vague satisfaction the ball of fire melt into flames and curl into ashes.

Remus caught himself hoping that he, as well, could just curl into a ball to catch fire, wanting to hide from facing the bitter truth in which he was forced to accept.

"I can't..." his hoarse voice broke, tears sliding down his cheeks free-falling in a floodgate. Before he even knew it, his body was taken over by racking sobs that shook his entire frame.

Remus couldn't... live alone, once again, after knowing what it felt like to have friends, the best friends he could have ever asked for: the ones who didn't fear or despise him, but instead broke the wizarding law putting themselves in severe danger, just to be with him and protect him from himself when he was at his very worst state.

Remus remembered the countless occasions when James never failed to reassure and comfort him that they would stay close to each other, until the very end. The note of desperation shook Remus from the very core, echoing inside him.

••We won't ever leave you alone, Moony••

Remus felt his heart miss a beat that he thought, even hoped, he had actually stopped breathing once and for all... feeling desperate to get an end to the agony spinning around him.

Moony's heart throbbed in pain, registering that the tone of hope always came in lies...

Feeling hopeless, Remus rested his head on the back of his chair, breathing heavily. He closed his eyes, allowing a silent tear to spill down his chin.

Trying to stop his mind from wandering, Remus directed his senses to focus on the consistent clicks of the clock, waiting for his life to just run out of time.

Please, let it all be a dream... was his last thought before drifting to blackness, his final wish that he never gave up on.

Waking up later with a sore neck and a broken heart, Remus felt reality dawn on him that it wasn't a dream, but instead what would turn out to be his lifetime of a nightmare.

From that day forward, Remus mourned his friends alone with zero comfort. No one -except Minnie- even patted his shoulder with genuine care in his friends' funeral, where he went alone as the last survivor of the first Wizarding War.

No one felt his pain. . .

Remus knew that once broken, like now, he would never be mended ever again.

***** The End*****

Remus was quite satisfied with the ringing silence that filled the deserted classroom. Sinking to the chair, he had his face buried in his hands, resting his elbows on the desk. Emotion building up inside him, Remus felt a strangled sob constricting his throat.

He wasn't even aware that he was no longer alone.

"Remus..." Tonks said gently, eyeing him with pain voiced from her eyes, her pink hair adopting a dark shade of brown instead.

At the low sound of her soft voice, Remus looked up from his hands that had been covering his tearful eyes. He greeted Tonks with a tight smile that had nothing to do with happiness.

"What happened?" She asked, moving closer to him, feeling mournful seeing the emotional torture in his eyes.

"It's nothing... I am fine," Remus replied, dropping his gaze to the ground, unable to lie while looking at her in the eye.

Tonks sighed, a frown etched on her face. "I can see that," she spoke in a sarcastic demanour, but the pain was more prominent.

She knelt down to his eye level, placing a gentle hand on his knee that provoked an involuntary flinch from Remus.

"You know you can tell me anything," Tonks said, desperation popping from her eyes, but silence met her words.

Remus really wanted to open up, but his mind held him back, forcing him to remain emotionally mute.

What could he tell her, anyway?

Not that he'd blame her, but she would never understand nor care of how much he missed them, or even how broken he felt when they left.

Remus quickly wiped a stray tear that was left un-noticed until it started tickling his scarred cheek. Noticing that, Tonks sniffed and intentionally dropped her gaze, to avoid any sense of embarrassment that might echo inside him.

She felt wretched, seeing him vulnerable to that extent.

"Tonks, we really should get back," said Remus, trying to ignore the nagging stabs overwhelming his chest.

"Alright," she said softly, heaving a sigh, not having the heart to resume pushing him when he apparently refused. Standing up, she extended her hand for him to take.

Breathing heavily, Remus met her gaze and accepted her hand, getting to his feet. He felt a chill dance up his spine, having her soft hand between his fingers.

Opening the door for her, Remus took the chance to remove his hand from her hold, unaware of the disappointed frown that instantly flickered across her face.

***
Walking along, Remus was thankful that someone came and found him when he was trapped and lost within himself.

Indirectly, Tonks was taking him away from the towering walls of isolation, toward the blossoming eruption of life...

Following someone who already knew the way, Remus was going back to the forgotten address of the land of the living -where Sirius and Harry were waiting for him.

It had been a long time, since Remus had last seen his friends... together and whole.

One day -no matter how long that seemed to be- he would tell those who left him everything that had happened ever since.

But until then, -and as long as there's still air filling up his lungs- there could be a chance of him being mended, after living broken for so long. . .

So that at the very least, he could depart this world in one complete piece.

Hope you enjoyed suffering ^^

I swear to Merlin, Remus is killing me with feels, mostly heart-breaking now.

I'll take Moony's word... and eat my stock of chocolate, hoping to feel better!

Finally, {and not for the last time} some Ronks feels... indirect and subtle for now, as their relationship will develop step by step! I am not the best in romance, but I hope you didn't roll your eyes too much, did you?

And wow, that was a long chapter... and was updated quicker than the usual month. *congrats self*

Since my first Wattpad Anniversary was only a week ago... accept this chapter as a small, hopefully a nice, treat •_•

Stay tuned for the next one... not sure how soon, thou

Vote and comment, lovelies... pretty please.

Also, which is better, in your opinion, Ronks or Wolfstar? And most importantly, WHY?