November 21st, 1980, 9:03p.m., their flat in Bristol
Sirius
When Sirius got home from the Order meeting, Remus was sitting on the couch, curled up with a book. For a moment, Sirius just stood there, staring at him as his brain tried to process that something so pure and innocent could exist at that moment. The ground was littered with tissues, Remus's nose was red, he was buried under several blankets, and he had a thermometer sticking out of his mouth. To Sirius in that one moment, there was nothing more beautiful in the world.
Remus looked up, his hands going to close the book. He pulled the thermometer out of his mouth and sat up on the couch. "Sirius," he said cautiously, like he could tell just from the way Sirius was standing that something was wrong. "How was the meeting?"
Sirius shrugged off his jacket and strode forward; he kicked aside tissues and narrowly avoided knocking over a cup of tea to drop onto the couch with his lover. He flopped forward and pushed his arms around Remus's waist, not even caring how ill he was.
His shoulders began to shake and he felt the book drop onto his back as Remus hugged him. The tears came hot and fast as he squeezed his lover's waist, his face buried in his abdomen.
"What happened?"
"Marlene," Sirius gasped. "All her family. They're –…"
Remus's hands worked their way into his hair, slowly massaging his scalp. After a moment, he spoke. "Not…?"
Sirius nodded. He felt Remus lean in and hug him tightly, his body covering Sirius's. He felt Remus begin to cry as well, his warm tears soaking Sirius's shirt.
"Slaughtered in their beds," Sirius choked. "Never had a chance to fight; the whole house was killed in an evening."
Remus pulled back and pressed his lips to Sirius's hair, tears dripping down onto his head. He didn't say anything, and Sirius's sobs doubled.
"I saw her just last week," Sirius said. "The last thing I said to her was that–that her jacket was fucking hideous and she'd better not be buying my Christmas present in the same place. I saw her just… just last week…"
"I know," Remus murmured. "God, Sirius, I know."
"Those were my last words to her," Sirius sobbed. "She flipped me off and left."
"She gave me the flu," Remus said, and his voice broke.
"She's gone."
That made seven of their classmates. Seven of the people they had graduated with were dead. Dorcas Meadows had never made to home from their commitment ceremony in July. Marlene spent months hunting for her killer. The Prewett brothers killed somewhere between their sister's baby shower and their homes. Molly still cried. Edgar Bones had died right in front of Sirius. He couldn't forget the way the light had drained from his eyes. Mary Macdonald had been shot down during a raid. Peter hadn't been the same since. Benjy Fenwick had disappeared a few months ago. His wife was now raising a baby alone. Now, Marlene was gone too.
"It's war," Remus whispered. "The good get taken during war."
Sirius only cried harder.