Disclaimer: They're not mine, but since Ms. Rowling has said that she approves of fanfic i feel that this was written with her blessings.
Timeline: post-OoP, in the house on Grimmauld
Author's Notes: At the end
The house is empty now, only myself and Lupin remaining. I am about to take my own leave when out of the corner of my eye I see Lupin sway dramatically on his feet. I move to his side and hesitantly slip an arm around his waist. He leans his slight weight against me as I help him to sit on the floor. I remove my arm quickly and scoot a few feet away. "Alright, Lupin?"
He jumps at the sound of my voice and turns blinkingly toward me. "I... yes. No. I will be..." His voice trails off and he drops his head, greying brown hair falling into his face. His back is hunched, shoulders rounded. His entire air is of a man who has lost everything in the world he ever worked for or loved and in this instant I realize just what Sirius Black was to Lupin."Oh gods, Remus." I startle myself. I've not called him by his first name since we were eleven. Before James and Sirius and Peter. "I'm so sorry." Even to my own ears the words sound trite and hollow. Lupin's shoulders heave as though he's just taken a deep breath. "It's no secret that I dislike Black." I plow on, not sure of what's going to come out of my mouth next. I'm quite unused to comforting people. "I never... I never wanted it to end this way. As much as I loathed him I never wished him dead." I take a deep breath. "I know this isn't really helping, isn't making you feel any better. But really, Remus, I am sorry. You didn't deserve this. After everything you've had to endure you deserved some happiness, not more pain and death." I've run out of things to say so I simply sit and watch the werewolf. His shoulders shake and though I can't see his face, it's obvious that he's crying. I am at a complete loss as to what to do. "Lu- ... Remus..." I reach my hand out and it hovers halfway between us for a few moments before coming to rest on his back.
As if the contact was a signal Lupin curls in on himself until his head is literally on the ground. Great sobs wrench out of him, the piteous sound tearing at even my own hardened heart. I move closer and settle myself on the floor at Lupin's side, rubbing his back tentatively. Physical contact is not something I'm used to.
We stay this way for many minutes, Lupin sobbing his heart out while I try my best to comfort him until finally the crying slows, then ceases altogether. Lupin sits up and drags the sleeve of his painfully shabby robes across his gaunt face, wiping away all trace of his tears. My hand drops from the nape of his neck and I meet his eyes for the first time. "Sev-... Sape, thank you." His voice is weak and hoarse. "Really, I-"
"Don't mention it." I cut him off. It may sound like a polite brush-off, but Lupin recognizes it for what it is, a request, an order to never speak of this to anyone. Remus nods. "I should get back to the school." I push myself back up onto my feet and straighted my robes around me, then offer my hand to Lupin. He takes it and I easily pull him to his feet, remembering how thin he was even at Hogwarts.
I let myself out of that miserable house, wondering how Lupin can stand to stay there alone tonight. But then, Remus Lupin is strong, there's never been any doubt of that. It comes as an unwelcome surprise when I realize that I admire him.
Fin---
Author's notes: This is what it is, and that's all that it is. This little ficcie came out when i realized that at the end of the Order of the Phoenix we never see how Lupin deals with Sirius' death. Keeping Snape's identity a sort-of secret was an accident. I was nearly finished writing it when i realized that i'd never established whose perspective it was. It seemed to work out okay, though. And all in all this was just a little exercise in writing something other than LotR for a change, and as such is my first HP fic.