Word count: 500

Written for:

Hogwarts April Event Spring Themed Bingo - 70: (quote) "You can cut all the flowers but you can't keep the spring from coming." - Pablo Neruda

Hogwarts Charms Assignment - Write about someone being propelled by someone or something.

I Know : I Remember : I'm Sorry

"When I look at the gardens and stupid animals running around, I'm not delighted. I'm not comforted. I'm just pissed. You?"

Sirius folded his arms and turned away from the blossoms, face tightened in anger. His clenched fists dangled uselessly at his sides.

Remus sighed. He couldn't think of anything to say, since he too hated the abundance of life that surrounded them. It wasn't fair. The world should appear how it was: empty, cruel. But he had always loved springtime, so it was hard to turn away from the joy of the season.

"I know." He placed a hand on Sirius's back hesitantly. His friend accepted it, but wouldn't look at Remus.

"Winters are fine. Everything is cold and sad and I can be depressed in peace. But this sucks. This really sucks." From the shake in Sirius's voice, Remus knew he was near tears.

"It reminds me of when James used to sit under the tree - by the lake - and we used to study. More like, watch Lily. But I would study sometimes." Remus stumbled over his words, trying to fill the emptiness in the air. It never sounded right with just two. Three was better - they could do without the traitor Pettigrew. But James wasn't there to complete the group.

"I remember."

They stood there, and suddenly Remus couldn't bear it. He kicked at the ivory bark of the birch tree beside them, scraping it with his shoe and hurting his foot. He didn't feel the pain. It was nothing worse than the other pain.

"I'm sorry," he said.

"That won't bring them back," muttered Sirius, wiping his eyes.

"Well at least I'm trying!" Remus yelled, shoving him away. He stomped, but nothing he did hurt the earth. It didn't care what he did, what he felt...

"Remus, Remus, stop," said Sirius, dragging him to a park bench, where they sat. Remus was breathing heavy, and tears filled his eyes. He blinked them away, but a film still blocked his vision. He didn't mind. He didn't want to see.

"I'm sorry, I got you worked up," Sirius said to him. "I hate it. You do too." Remus nodded.

"But I realized..." Sirius started. "No matter what we do..."

"It's going to come," admitted Remus. "Spring. I know. It was stupid to fight a seas-"

"That's not what I was going to say," interrupted Sirius. "I was gonna say - no matter what - they're gone."

"What the f-"

"I'm sorry. But it's the truth. We're acting like if we try hard enough, we can change that, but we can't. They're gone, Remus."

Remus stared at his friend. He had said the unsayable. They were okay as long as they denied what had happened. They could talk about James and the old days all they liked, but Remus couldn't bear hearing the simple fact that the Potters were dead.

"We can cut all the flowers down, but it won't stop spring from coming," Sirius said simply.

Remus breathed. "I know."