"Like a Gryffindor"

By: stu14688

Summary: HBP spoilers. Remus's POV. Remus has just learnt of Dumbledore's death. This is the thoughts that go through his mind as he tries to process it all. Occurs between the news of DD death and the entrance of Molly and Arthur in the hospital wing.

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. Those rights belong to J. K. Rowling. Please don't sue.

Remus was devastated. The one man who had been willing to give him a chance – who had believed in him – was dead. Why, his mind cried. Why must so many I love and depend on die? He thought back to his school days. They were so carefree and simple. He had done so many fun things. Yes, they were often stupid things, but he had had a blast. For the most part it had all been innocent pranking. He and his friends had rarely done anything to deliberately hurt someone. Occasionally, James or Sirius would get angry and do hurtful things on purpose, and on a rare occasion he joined them. But all-in-all they were just being kids.

Now, though, so much had changed. Remus's friends from his school days were either dead or as good as. James and Lily had been gone for nearly 16 years now, and Sirius had been gone for one year. Peter had turned traitor all those years ago; Remus hoped the rat had prepared his grave because one way or another, Peter wouldn't live through the war. And today – just an hour or so ago – Remus had lost his mentor, the person he looked up to more than any other. Albus Dumbledore had been killed, and Severus Snape had been the one to commit the murder.

Snape – Remus's biggest childhood enemy. If he ever got his hands on Snape, it would be the last thing to ever happen to greasy-haired, double-crossing, bat of a Death Eater. Harry had been right about Snape, that he could not be trusted. Harry had never trusted him as far as he could throw the potion's master, and that is the one thing they should have all done. Harry had made mistakes in the past, and now, when he was right, no one had taken him seriously. They should have. If they had, maybe Dumbledore would still be alive and the school would not be in shock from a Death Eater attack.

If…Maybe…Thinking that way would get them nowhere.

Remus looked up. Harry was standing in front of everyone, and was almost the only one still standing; he looked almost like he was leading them. He was in front of all of them, and everyone was looking to him. Remus wondered if Harry realized that. Harry was asking questions about the attack, specifically Snape's part, and he was getting answers. No one was even refusing to answer or beating about the bush; it was like reflex actions for everyone to answer.

Remus heard himself answer; it was like an out-of-body experience. He could see what was going on in his mind and what he was physically doing. It was strange, but Remus couldn't concentrate on that. He had to gather his senses, come back to Earth. He listened to Harry's voice, hoping to use it as an anchor; it was gentle, yet hard, but Remus knew the hardness was meant only for Snape. He looked at the boy's face. Harry's jaw was set, and a fire burned in his eyes. The fire was both inspiring and scary. It showed shear determination and courage, and Remus knew that Harry was not just looking the part of leader – he was taking it.

Then, it hit Remus, Harry's mentor had just been killed too. Pain. Yes, Remus saw that also. In that moment, Harry became more than a sixteen year old sixth year; he became a man – a man with a mission. His mission was to finish the war. Harry was going to keep fighting, and he was going to lead the rest of them if he had to.

Remus straightened in his chair just a bit. Seeing Harry there, standing before them, asking questions, getting answers, not falling under the grief of recent events, and holding in his anger until he met the one who caused it, gave Remus a surge of hope and inspiration. If Harry could meet tomorrow without flinching, if he could gather the courage to go on, if this boy who had seen so much death and despair could take on more and go after the cause of so much of it, then so could Remus.

It hurt, oh did it hurt, to sit straight and give more to an effort so many had already given up on, but it was not impossible. Remus looked around the room again, everyone seemed to have been struck with the same thought and feeling. They all looked battle-worn and grief-stricken, but they were all holding their heads up. All of them held a fire in their eyes, a fire of hope and determination. Fear – he saw plenty of, but trepidation – none. This group was not going to run and hide; they were going to stand and fight. Voldemort would not take the world without a fight, and Remus knew it was going to be a big, long fight. Remus was ready, though. If he went down, he would go down like a man – like a Gryffindor.