Is there something darker than darkness itself? If so, can one escape it? Will we be able to feel the light on our heads and breathe peacefully again? Will we ever return to what we were?

There are things in the dark - moving, living, being. How do you stop them?

And most importantly: how do you stop yourself…

…if you're one of them?

The moon wasn't so scary that night; it wasn't one of those nights. Instead, the pale white light was reflected in the Black Lake's surface, making it look like silver. The cold winter breeze tousled Remus' hair against his eyes, brushing his back. He was completely alone, drowning in a silence that his thoughts insisted to end.

Just a step. Remus took a deep breath and wiped the water off his cheeks. He didn't quite know why though…soon, he'd be surrounded by water. He reached his right foot towards the edge of the platform.

"Off for a swim in the moonlight, Moony?", he heard a familiar voice behind him.

He flinched back and let out out a bitter chuckle before turning to face Sirius' figure.

"I- …erm", Remus started.

Sirius started to laugh lightly at him. The whole situation seemed strange. Remus wasn't the adventurous type…if it had been James standing there, sure…but Remus?

And then it hit him.

His expression went from being amused to looking like he was about to throw up. He was burning up, Sirius could feel the anger building up inside himself. His heart was sinking, his stomach felt tied up in a knot, there was a lump on his throat…fear maybe?

"But…you…you can't swim."

Remus didn't know what to tell him. He just stood there and shrugged at him. Why did he have to be there? Why now?

"Remus, what are you doing? Step away from the edge of the platform… Let's go inside, huh? James was pranking some Slytherins and Peter-", hopefully Moony would do has he said, he was clever enough to do that…the cleverest actually.

"I don't want to go inside, Padfoot", Remus was looking at his feet feeling completely uncomfortable.

He felt choked but he wouldn't cry. He never did. In front of anyone. He wouldn't do it now. Merlin, please let this end… Let it end. Let it end. Please. Sirius started to walk towards him. But Remus was fast. He reached out his right foot, towards the water.

Death would embrace him. It would take him away and lay him down peacefully in a far off field where trouble didn't exist. No furry little problems. Death would take him and welcome him with joy. It would-

"NO!", Sirius cried. He reached for Remus just in time to grab him by his sleeve.

"Let go, Sirius. Please." The tears were already streaming down his face. He was begging.

"I won't!", he hanged on the sleeve. "Give me your hand."

For a second. A split second maybe, he thought about holding out his hand to Sirius. But he didn't do it. Instead, he grabbed the hand that held his sleeve and loosed himself. He was falling. All too fast and too slow at the same time. The last thing he heard was Sirius gasping and shouting out for help.

Remus could feel the water surround him as if they became one. There was only darkness. He couldn't breathe, he was sinking, blending in with the depths of the lake.

It all went dark. Someone had turned off the light.

…