Beyond All – Prologue:

"A path that is broad can still become narrow. The lightest day can lead to the darkest night, though I am not saying that everything ends in sadness! A friendship can pass, but others can be made and old ones rekindled. Just as morning will always bring an end to darkness."

Remus put the end of his feathered quill to his lips. Stroking the silky material against his cheek, as he thought of what else to say. A letter that said goodbye is a terrible thing indeed. Even more so when the people you are saying goodbye to will never read it! His brow furrowed in concentration as he pushed himself into thinking harder. He re-read his work and looked for any clues or mistakes, nothing sprang to mind. He placed his Prussian blue quill into his inkpot, giving up for the evening.

Remus lay back in his wooden seat, allowing the front legs to be slightly lifted from the ground. Brilliant amber eyes dulled to a deep hazel, bags and worry-lines having their minds' set on wearing away at his morose face. He grasped his tawny, tattered cloak closer to his body. Using it as some feeble attempt at comfort. Around him the world was cheerful...the sky full of life, the air breathing new life as Remus clung desperately to the old life. The one with his friends, James and Lily, Peter...and! Could he even bring himself to call that man a friend? He betrayed his most loyal friends...killed one of his best friends and innocent bystanders! How could he call this man a friend? Why did he harbour such emotions still for him? A choked sob escaped his quivering lips as he let himself mentally curl up inside himself to cry.

- - - - - - -

The air was foul, the stench of rancid moulding flesh, bodily waste and the tang of coppery blood. The sensation was not lost upon Sirius, as he tried his best not to breathe through his nose. The place was dank, sucking Sirius into its shadowy depths. This dismal place was not the only thing devouring his spirit! Dementors constantly glided past, and each time they did Sirius felt closer to death. His heart had died with James and Lil', with the thought that not a living person on this Earth had not blamed him for their pre-empted lives.

A faint glimmer of hope remained in him...even though it was not much. Remus was alive. He was safe now; his dear little werewolf was safe from Voldemort.

"Remus." Sirius sighed. He had been doing that a lot! And every time he thought of sweet Lupin was another time that the Dementors would come and seize that happy thought into them. Into their sick and twisted forms, into their disgusting soulless selves! Now was one of those times, as the sick decomposing smell drew closer, nearer to their next meal.