I.
"Remus, you know me," Sirius insists when Remus visits him in Azkaban. "You know me! Do you really think I could have done this?"
Remus watches him, bemused, his mind racing. Yes, he knows Sirius better than anyone (or so he'd thought). He remembers how gentle Sirius had always been, the tenderness and kindness in his touches and kisses had been.
But all the signs point to him. He'd been the Secret Keeper. He'd murdered Peter in cold blood. Is it possible that, beneath his old lover's mischief and kindness, there has always been a monster lying dormant within?
"I knew you once upon a time, Sirius," he says dryly. "I don't know what you are now."
With that, Remus climbs to his feet and turns his back on the traitor. Still, in spite of it all, he can't help but think that Sirius should be with him as he leaves.
II.
"He should go with us!" Remus says firmly. "It's his godson! What, do you think he'll just stay behind and polish the silver while Harry is in danger?"
The air fills with murmurs. The others think it's too dangerous. Secretly, Remus agrees. He's come too far to risk losing Sirius now.
Still, Sirius has been trapped inside for too long, slowly fading into a shell of the man he had been. It breaks Remus' heart to imagine Sirius staying behind in a new prison when he ought to be free.
"Very well," Moody growls. "No time to waste arguing."
As they go to leave, Sirius pulls Remus aside, a crooked grin on his lips. "Thanks, Moony."
"You should be there," Remus chuckles, giving him a chaste kiss. "You can thank me by come back to me alive."
The other man's grin broadens. He pushes a hand through Remus' tawny hair, resting his lips on his lined forehead. "Don't I always?" he mutters against the skin.
III.
Remus is silent as the others meet at Number Four. Tonks takes his hand in hers, but he can barely feel her touch.
'Sirius should be here,' he thinks, 'for Harry, for me.'
"Remus?" Tonks whispers, squeezing his hand gently.
"I'm fine, Dora."
"I always get nervous before big jobs, too," she assures him. "You'll be okay."
Remus smiles a shaky smile, kissing her quickly, trying not to think about how it should be Sirius in her place.
IV.
A flash of green, and Remus falls in battle.
There is no pain, only peace. There's a smile on his lips in death because he knows he will finally have his eternity with Sirius.