Title:
Gravity
Fandom:
Harry Potter
Characters:
Remus Lupin
Word Count:
506
Rating:
PG
Summary:
The world was whistling past his ears as gravity took a hold of him
and brought him down, down, down.
Author's Notes:
Rated for mentioning of possible suicide. I'm leaving the ending
wide open for interpretation and continuation for everyone else. I'm
not going to continue this. I'm leaving it as is. Yes, I know Remus
would never do this, but a plot bunny is a plot bunny and
He was at his end. He was drained, finished, and obsolete. He couldn't do anything more; he couldn't produce anything; he was merely a figure that made three plus one.
He was the plus one.
It was a beautiful night. The sky was glittered nicely with dazzling light shows and fireflies. The lake reflected the light, magnifying the beauty two-fold.
Ironic that there was no moon to be found.
Remus inhaled the cool air gratefully, hungrily, greedily. He needed this; he needed release.
It had been far too long since he got something he needed. It was always about them.
'Remus, let me copy your essay.'
'Remus, lend me yours notes.'
'Remus, can you distract Filch while I do this?'
'Remus, what's the spell that turns potatoes into soap?'
'Remus.'
'Remus.'
'Remus!'
"REMUS."
He jerked out of his stupor and whipped his head around, but nobody was there. He let out a breath he didn't know that he'd been holding, relaxing.
He didn't need anybody coming up to ask him why he was on the Astronomy Tower at 5:30 in the morning, though he already had a legitimate reason stored away. He just didn't want company.
Like James, Peter, or Sirius.
They would only ruin everything. It's what they always did. James would try to make it better, far flashier, and bolder than necessary. Peter would mix up a spell or break something, even spill something if potions were involved. Sirius would try to advertise it, stick it on a postcard and mail it to every kid in the school (even Filch just to piss the man off).
Remus didn't need it. He didn't need flashy. He didn't need mistakes, and he sure as hell didn't need the whole school involved. He only needed the sky, the tower, the lake, and the stars.
He only had one shot, leaving no room for error. If he messed this up, nobody would leave him alone. He'd be stuck with a comrade for life. He needed solace, he needed freedom, he needed release.
Carefully, he placed one foot on the stone wall and pushed himself up so he was kneeling on the wall, overlooking the glittered lake below. There were few ripples, and the air was calm.
Hesitantly, he rose with quivering arms so he was standing up, mere inched leaving him between life and death. He head his arms out to balance himself.
Oh so slowly, he turned so his back was to the lake. He stared at the heavens, twinkling oh so merrily back at him.
He smiled.
Then tipped back, feeling his feet leave the wall. The sky grew farther, and the lake grew closer. The world was whistling past his ears as gravity took a hold of him and brought him down--down--down.
The stars gave him release as his world was enveloped by something cold and dark.
On the other side of the lake, the first tinges of red appeared as the sun started to rise in the dawning of a new day.