Goodbye.

By Becki.

Summary: What happened in part of that half hour Harry was left in Dumbledore's office, when Dumbledore went back down to the Department of Mysteries. Spoilers for OotP.

Comments: SPOILERS. Just something I thought of when I finished the book. There'll be more chapters dealing with the aftermath as I write them. The song is Goodbye, My Friend. Comments would be very welcome!!

Disclaimer: HP characters aren't mine. Alas. If they were Sirius would still be with us...

(Oh we never know where life will take us

I know it's just a ride on the wheel.

And we never know when death will shake us

And we wonder how it will feel.)

Once Dumbledore had overlooked the transfer of the children and Tonks to St. Mungo's and Hogwarts, he turned to Kingsley and Moody who were sitting on nearby tables looking ruffled and tired. Dumbledore glanced around.

"Where's Remus?"

Moody gave Dumbledore a grave look and gestured to the door across the way. Dumbledore nodded in understanding.

"Could you two go with the student's - make sure they get to where they're going safely."

Both Kingsley and Moody nodded and stood. Dumbledore walked past them and towards the door Moody had pointed to. Once he'd walked through Moody and Kingsley gave each other a solemn look and followed the children out.

Dumbledore spotted Remus straight away. He was kneeling in front of the archway through which Sirius had fallen, staring at the black veil billowing gently in the breezeless room. His arms were hanging limply, his hands balanced precariously on his thighs. His wand was laying beside him, forgotten. He didn't even realise there was anyone else in the room either. He just sat there, lips held tightly together, eyes watering, a frown wrinkling his forehead.

Dumbledore moved slowly down the stairs and across the room, where he gently knelt down near Lupin. He didn't make a sound, just moved his gaze gently back and forth between Lupin and the black veil. Whisperings and murmurings were coming from behind the veil, like the sound of whistling wind.

"Harry?"

Lupin finally spoke into the silence, his voice eerily calm.

"He's okay. He's back at Hogwarts."

Lupin nodded slowly, his eyes not diverting from the arch.

"You hear them too..."

It was not a question.

"Of course...Remus - "

" - Why?"

Dumbledore waited for him to continue.

"Why him? Why now? Why not me? Harry - he...he needed him. Needed his Godfather."

He whispered, still calm.

"I don't know, Remus. I don't know. But what I do know, is that that's how Sirius wanted to go. Fighting for what he believed. Fighting for his Godson."

Lupin nodded.

"I know that, I know that but...It's so unfair. We lost twelve years and just when I get him back, and Harry gets the closest thing he has to a parent...he...he..."

Lupin's voice broke. He looked down.

"It's not fair..."

He whispered so silently that Dumbledore almost missed it.

"No, it's not." Dumbledore agreed sadly. Sirius's death had also got to him as well, thinking about the lively trouble-maker he used to be back at school and how much trouble him and James would get into, then to the determined and honourable man he had turned into, even after all those years in prison. "But...he'll never be truly gone. He still lives in you, in Harry, in everyone that knew him. And Sirius wasn't the only closest thing Harry had to a parent. There's you. You loved Harry just as much as Sirius and James and Lily. Just because Sirius was named the Godfather doesn't make him the only one. I'm sure James would agree with me. If he could have had two Godfathers you would have been the other one."

For the first time Remus looked towards Dumbledore who gave him a sad smile. Remus gave him a small smile back and nodded a thanks. He looked back to the arch and prayed silently for Sirius and for Harry's safety. Dumbledore, knowing that he needed a last moment alone stood and moved towards the stairs and half way up them.

"Say hi to James and Lily for me Sirius. Save me a seat."

Remus looked down and for the first time noticed something laying on the floor just this side on the veil. He stood and moved to pick it up. It was a wand, Sirius' wand. Remus smiled, it was a sign. A sign from Sirius to keep on fighting.

Remus moved to stand in front of the arch, and he bowed with his wand, in honour to his dearest friend. Then he turned, and slowly followed Dumbledore up the stairs. At the top he turned and looked at the arch on last time, the whisperings quieter from up here but he knew that Sirius' and James' voices' were among them.

(So goodbye my friend

I know I'll never see you again

But the time together through all the years

Will take away these tears It's OK now... Goodbye my friend.)

TBC.