Remus slowly looked down at the shabbiness of robes and the gold ring on his finger, so often covered up by his robes. The memories swirled inside of his brain, sending him to a time he wished he could forget. The soft curtain of light brown hair, the twinkle in her eyes as she laughed at his confusion, the overwhelming largeness of her pregnant belly, the sarcastic comments that she made when he said something important, the soft curve of her hips as her nightshirt swayed. All of these memories triggered one name: Annabelle. The name sent him back 20 years.
The soft touch of her skin chilled my skin as though she were ice instead of herself. "Are you okay?" Her voice raced through his veins like sugar and vinegar combined. "I'm fine," my voice choked back. "Just a stupid, little bout of flu." I forced my mouth to form into a small smile even I didn't believe. She turned to leave, and I knew that she didn't believe my flu story.

The next moment I was looking at her glance behind herself, smile, and run some more. Her ponytail of light brown hair bounced and bobbed in the sun, causing my heart to bounce and bob with it. Stopping for a moment, she tiled her head back as though to soak up any sunlight she could. Flashing me another glance, she ran again. I remember racing after her, and at the end of race, devouring each other in a kiss.

I remember her, lying in a hospital bed. My hand was resting softly on top of her overwhelming pregnant stomach. Simple jokes escaped from her lips with ease, the lips that had caused me confusion only a while ago. The gift of a child, a girl named Lilia. Annabelle holding her, wearing a smile after threatening to beat me up.

I remember sparks, sparks from wands. I can recall vows, mist, rings, fairies. Ceremonies, love, rings. My hand remembers the motion that I made when I placed the ring on her finger, my fingers remember the sensation that they felt when the wands connected. My heart remembers the joy.


Remus's thoughts were broken by the loud snapping of a butterbeer being opened. He glanced up at Sirius, who guiltly had a butterbeer in hand. He walked over to the table and sat down.

"Whatcha thinking about?" Sirius asked after taking a deep swig of butterbeer. Remus just looked up at him with his saddened eyes. Then came the answer, "Oh."


Jokes slipping out from her lips mark their place in my mind. Confusion, bliss, laughter. Her looking around the room, soaking in the yellow that seemed like it came from the sun. Her turning and smiling.

I remember pears and sugar mushed and joined. The nasty look on her face when she tried it, knowing that she wouldn't try to make pearsauce again. I remember laughter... I remember sewing and remarks and a question...

A twin in my hands, I was once again a father, a father of three. Happiness radiated off of me. The feeling of knowing I belonged.

I remember fire. Orange, red, yellow. I remember pain, death. Watching everything I loved die. Alone.