Disclaimer: Harry Potter doesn't belong to me. If it did, why would I be writing this?
Author's Note: This is the "last" part of my Moonlight series. After this two-shot is complete, I plan on posting a much longer, multi-chaptered story. Once I finish that, I will continue with the final segment of this universe I've created. If you're unfamiliar with this series, I would like to emphasize that the relationship between Remus and Lily is strictly platonic, no romance!
In essence, this story is the Remus and Lily saying "good bye" before she goes into hiding. I plan on making this as tear-jerking as possible. We'll see how that works (I'm not sure it will); if it does, consider this your warning to have tissues on hand.
The Last Goodbye
Ragged newspapers littered the rundown apartment; they were the only evidence the weary man could show of his current task. Empty teacups were stacked precariously in the dripping sink. The only light reaching the room came from a crack in the bordered up windows. The apartment and its owner exuded misery.
It was nearly impossible for Remus to find a stable job with a decent salary to maintain his residence. The classified sections of muggle newspapers only offered minimum wage jobs, but they were all that the werewolf could hope for. His job at the bookshop was pleasant, but he knew it wasn't enough. Now, he had to find a second job if he wanted to eat three whole meals a day.
Shivering, Remus drew his tattered robe closer. In his mind, he imagined it was a friend holding him, chasing away his sadness, but that was the only comfort he had. The last full moon had passed without the aid of his friends. Faded and thin, the robe was full of memories as it had been a gift from the other marauders the year before everything started going downhill.
It was late August; his "nephew" Harry was finally a year old. He wished he had seen Harry recently, but the birthday party was the last time he had spent genuine quality time with his friends, his family. The family he had only seen in passing ever since dark werewolves had accosted him in Diagon Alley. James and Sirius misinterpreted the event to mean that Remus was the spy. His reminiscings were soon interrupted by a knock at the door.
Carefully, Remus opened the door, only to be enveloped in a one-armed hug and smothered by a mass of red hair and tears.
"Lily?" he gasped. It had been weeks since he had last seen her. Even then, it was during an Order meeting and James had hurriedly ushered her from the room; Remus had no chance to speak with her.
She drew back and Remus noticed that her other arm supported a small child with dark hair and bright eyes.
"Hello Harry," Remus cooed.
"He's missed you," Lily paused, "I've missed you."
"It's a full time job looking for a second job," Remus half-joked, looking at her, "how are James and Sirius doing?"
A dark look flashed in her eyes, "They are being absolute idiots,"
The anger vanished as she shifted her son and tickled him. Remus noticed that she held Harry like he might slip away any second.
Concerned, he asked, "What's wrong, Lily?"
Their eyes met, "Voldemort's after us," she said bluntly," we're going into hiding tonight."
"I knew you and James were targets, but isn't this sudden?"
Remus knew that Lily might be willing to risk her life and James' if Voldemort was only after them. They'd just send Harry somewhere safe, but if the entire family was going into hiding together…
"Voldemort's after Harry?" Remus asked incredulously, "Why? He's only a baby,"
Why would Voldemort want to kill an infant? True, Harry was the child of two of Voldemort's greatest threats. On their own, Lily and James had faced Voldemort and lived to tell the tale. Remus wasn't sure how many times; he only knew that they had gotten away enough times for Voldemort to consider them threats. But Harry?
"He's a sadist, for one," Lily gave a forced smile that only conveyed pain, "but there are so many other reasons that I wish I could tell you."
"They're probably secret for a good reason," Remus replied. In truth, he was curious, but he felt that the reason would only cause more fear than relief. After all, what logical reason would there be to kill an innocent child?
Harry gurgled, and pulled at Lily's long, red hair. Lily gently freed it from his small hands.
"The only damn reason I can't tell you is because James and Sirius think you're the spy," she huffed.
Remus started. He knew that his friends' trust in him had waned over the past few months, but he hadn't thought their friendship had disintegrated to the point of paranoia.
"What?"
"But I do, Remus," she continued, "If my opinion was the only one that mattered, I would have you as our secret keeper. Unfortunately, being married means compromises," Lily gave him a weak smile.
"Why?" Remus whispered, "How do you know you can trust me?"
"Stop gaping. Doesn't your Uncle Remus look like a fish with his mouth hanging open like that?" Lily murmured in Harry's ear. Harry responded with a giggle and waved his arms, once more trying to grab his mother's hair.
"You shouldn't curse around Harry," Remus teasingly scolded her, "you don't want him to add that to his limited vocabulary,"
"When did I curse?" her brows furrowed, "Oh! When I was complaining about James and Sirius. And you're right. Babies can see and hear more than we know. I just hope he'll only remember the good, and not the bad."
"Did something bad happen?"
Lily's arms tightened around Harry protectively, "No, not yet."
"Is something bad going to happen?"
"I don't know."
"Why does it seem like you're saying good bye?"
Remus wrapped his arms around himself, looking at the woman he considered his sister. The vibrant life in her eyes was not as innocent as it once was; instead her eyes showed a woman who had seen life's horrors and refused to give in.
Lily's voice faded, and her eyes shone with tears fighting for release, "I am. I don't think I'll ever see you again…"
"Don't say that, Lily."
"Remus, I can't promise you anything. I will try to survive, but if my life is the necessary sacrifice to save my son, so be it! It is a price I will gladly and willingly pay."
Remus knew he shouldn't have been surprised by her proclamation; he knew Lily was too stubborn to let anything get in her way. He should have known that would transfer into the protective determination of a mother, but the idea of losing one of his best friends scared him.
"Will you look out for Harry if the worst happens? I know that the ministry would never let you adopt him, but if your paths ever cross, will you help him?" Lily asked.
"If that happens, I'll keep an eye on him. But I bet you'll be doing that yourself." She'll also have the gray hairs to prove it. Remus almost chuckled at his mental picture of Lily scolding James for teaching Harry how to fly.
She interrupted his brief daydream, "I will always look after my son, even in death."
"You're not going to die, Lily."
"You don't know that. What will come will come. Nothing we do will change it."
Her hopeless remark was emphasized by the dripping faucet in the kitchen. To Remus, it was as if the sun had jumped past the shutters of his windows, leaving him in darkness. He had already lost James and Sirius' friendship, but they were still alive at least. Since he had first met Lily, she had been a constant companion, always ready with a shoulder to cry on. He couldn't imagine life without her.
Remus couldn't bear looking at her anymore. Even as he turned away, tears found their way out of his eyes as he drew a ragged breath. His eyes scanned everything in the room but her. They glanced over the faded blue sofa and the broken chairs, down to the splintered wood floor and his worn slippers with holes exposing his feet.
With the same regret mirrored in her eyes, Lily reached for Remus' face, forcing him to meet her gaze.
Amber met emerald. Neither looked away.
There were no more words they needed to say. There were no more words they could say. Lily knew she had to go into hiding. She had to protect her son. But now Remus knew she trusted him. He wouldn't feel abandoned. Remus wished there was more he could have done to spend time with her in the past months. He wished they could have done more as friends…
In reality, he knew they had done enough, but he wouldn't accept that they couldn't do more. The bond they shared had grown stronger every year with every shared experience, and every set of tears. So much had come from their friendship. He had found acceptance and advice. She had found a friend whose interests mirrored hers and would not hesitate to tease her without hurting her.
Remus drew her into a final hug as she turned to leave. Harry squealed as he was smushed between the two friends. Tenderly, Remus kissed Lily's forehead, then Harry's.
"Good bye Lily. Bye Harry," he said, releasing them.
Identical pairs of bright green eyes looked back at him.
"Bye Unka Wemus" Harry cooed in his baby-speak.
"Farewell, dearest brother," Lily responded, kissing Remus' cheek before leaving with Harry safely in her arms. She looked over her shoulder as she passed the door's threshold.
Even as the door was closing behind her, Remus felt hope. He would see Lily and Harry again. For once in her life, Lily was wrong. She wouldn't die. She couldn't die. And after the crisis with Voldemort was over, they would meet again, and he would fix his problems with James and Sirius. Things would be as they once were. His family would be restored. He had to believe this.
He locked the battered door and headed towards the kitchen. He poured water into a kettle and set it on the stove to boil. He sat on his faded blue sofa and picked up a recent newspaper, resigning himself to waiting until the Potter's were out of hiding.
Two months later, on November first, he opened the Daily Prophet and read the headline, "You-Know-Who Dead after attack on Godric's Hollow," and then the first sentences of the article, "Harry Potter survives the killing curse. James and Lily Potter were killed in the attack,"
The day after, he would read about Sirius' betrayal that led to Lily and James' deaths, and the murder of Peter Pettigrew.
He was left alone to mourn. The person whom he relied on, who had been his sister was dead. He tried to be happy, knowing that her wish was granted: Harry survived. Still, there was emptiness in his heart where Lily, James, Peter and even Sirius had filled it with joy.