Written for the School of Prompts Challenge: K1 Use your word in a drabble/oneshot of at least 100 words. Word: river
Written for the Huge TV Show Quotes Bucket Challenge: "When you care about people, hurt is kind of part of the package." - Beth Greene, The Walking Dead
It was pouring when Remus Lupin heard the knock on his door in the middle of the night in early summer. He got up from the chair he had been reading in and walked over to the front door confused. He didn't know associate with very many people anymore and maybe five of those people at the most know where he lives. He answered the door a bit surprised to find a large, black dog on his doorstep. "How did you knock?" he asked opening the door wider allowing the canine to enter before closing the door behind him. "Don't shake yourself dry! I'll get you a towel," he shouted in vain as the dog shook himself before turning back into a man. "Was that really necessary?"
"Good to see you too, Remus," the man responded smirking while he pushed his wet hair out of his eyes. "So about that towel?" he asked trying to hide how he was shivering.
"Hello, Sirius," Remus rolled his eyes going to get him the towel and throwing it at the animagus' face not pleased that his rug was all wet. "What are you doing here?"
"Dumbledore sent me," Sirius answered drying off his hair and yawning. "Can we talk about it in the morning? I've been traveling all day and I'm exhausted."
The werewolf nodded showing him to his bedroom and pointing out where there was dry clothes. "You can have my bed. I'll sleep on the couch. I'm not quite tired yet."
...
After breakfast the next morning the two men were walking along a river that runs near Remus' home. Sirius was explaining what had happened at the third task and why Dumbledore had sent him. "I'm sorry for what happened thirteen years ago," he apologized at the end of his explanation. "I thought I had lost everything. Lily and James were dead and they took Harry from me. We hadn't been talking since the fight weeks ago and I... I wasn't thinking. I just made everything worse for you. I caused you to actually lose everything. I hurt you so many times. I'm so sorry."
Remus shook his head and grabbed hold of Sirius' hand. "When you care about people, hurt is kind of part of the package," he responded stroking Sirius' cheek with his other hand. "There were times I hurt you too. I was the one who caused our last fight after all. I'll admit I was angry and hurt after what happened. I felt betrayed but I know now what happened and I forgive you."
"But I -" Sirius started to apologize before Remus shook his head and covered Sirius' mouth with his hand.
"Sh, stop apologizing. I've forgiven you. And whatever you're going to say about what happened don't. You're compulsive and don't think things through when you're upset," Remus responded. "It's the past, Sirius, there's nothing we can do to change it now. We can only learn from our mistakes and move on." He reassured Sirius kissing him on the cheek. "Now let's make the most of this moment before the war begins and our lives are crazy once again." He pulled Sirius away from the riverbank and back towards the house.