The whole world has changed, but the stars continue to shine. Everything is gone and I'm still here. Well, I'm not here. Not really. My body and mind are here, but my soul has gone. Gone to some other place. Some place where you, James and Lily all lived. Where Harry didn't have to fight Voldemort. Someplace where I'm not what I am. But then I wake up and I'm still standing here. And you're still gone. Your star is shining, but you're gone.

Were you ever mad at James for dragging us into this? Of course you weren't. Wild thestrals couldn't have kept you from a battle. Even if it had nothing to do with you. You always were one to defend the innocent. On my better days, I look up at the sky like this. On my bad ones, I hate James. Worse than that, I'm sure he'd forgive me. If it wasn't for him, we could have lived in relative peace. Somewhere out in the forest where we could run forever. But without James I would have never met you. And without either of you, I'd just be a lonely monster.

I went to your funeral last week. It didn't feel real. Even Severus was there. Yes, I call him Severus, without a hint of sarcasm in my voice. Now that you're gone, that petty rivalry can finally die. We have no time anymore for a school grudge.

I can't stop myself from remembering how similar we were. Both monsters hiding from the world. I, a werewolf, who wanted peace. You, a peacekeeper, who hid from the darkness inside yourself. I saw it after that night at the Whomping Willow. You liked to see other people in pain. I could see the glint of grim satisfaction in your eyes the night that Lily's parents died. Why did you think that I was so quick to believe you killed all those muggles? We both had it inside of us. We were the same.

Do you remember the night we snuck out to the forest? Lily, James, you and I? We laid on the grass, staring at the sky. I didn't like to look up at the sky, but I was mesmerized by Lily's words. She told us that the dead used the stars as windows to look down on the living and guide us. She told us that each of us had our own star and looked out for us. James told her that there was no stag constellation. She told him that his was the Sculptor's Chisel. The sculptor was all the goodness in the world, and the sculpture was the world. She told him that he would do great things for all of us. And now you're all dead. You and I both knew that she only said it to comfort James. His parents had just died, remember? And now it gives me comfort to think the three of you are watching me. And I'm not quite as afraid of the sky as I used to be.

You probably don't remember, but you used to sing a muggle song to girls that giggled and stared at you in the common room. Always, I think it was called. I remember the words. Surprised? You always told me that I was too smart to understand women. I could never pretend that I was a romantic in order to get a girl, I think you said. I'll be there, it started, 'till the stars don't shine. 'Till the heavens burst and the words don't rhyme. I know when I die, you'll be on my mind. And I'll love you, always. Did you think of me when you fell through the veil? Think about what the ones left behind would have to do? If I sound bitter, I suppose it's because I am. I wish I could be reckless like you were. It should be me, beyond the impenetrable void. We both know that.

Our legacy is over. The Marauders are dead. You and James killed in the fight. Peter lost to Voldemort. Was it a surprise? He always did want to be protected by those with strength. He never even had any moral strength of his own. And me? I'm lost in myself. I have nothing. Everyone I cared about is gone. Harry is here, but I have no strength left to give him.

The only comfort I have left is the possibility that you can hear me. So I watch the stars. I know that like them, your light will never really go out.