The Truth About Remus
Epilogue
Remus sat on the cold, concrete bench in the cemetery, staring down into an open, black leather ring box at his wedding band. Several hundred blood red rose petals lined the ground around him and the grave of his late wife a few feet in front of him. He was still in complete shock about what happened a few days ago – he could only make out certain details about the funeral that ended a few moments earlier…all he was able to do was replay the entire incident that led to this in his mind…
I was lunging for Snape…how could I have hit Ani? I would have never hurt her…
He slammed the ring box shut and shoved it angrily in his pocket. He stood up and walked over to Anistasia's headstone. It read this:
Anistasia Marie Willow LupinDecember 3, 1960 – March 13, 1977
"I did not believe because I couldn't see,
"Though you came to me in the night.
"When the dawn seemed forever lost,
"You showed me your love in the light of the stars."
~RJL~
Remus ran his fingers over the deep, fresh engraving and kissed the headstone lightly.
"You are my only one true love, Anistasia," he whispered, "I love you, and only you."
After a moment of silence, he stood up and walked to the black limousine to join his family and friends. As he sat in the tough leather seat, Lily hugged him and Sirius placed a hand on his knee.
"We'll get through this, buddy," James assured him, "All of us – together, as the Marauders should."
"You have our support, Remus," Crystal said.
"Thank you, guys," Remus said with an appreciative smile.
The limo stopped in front of Anistasia and Remus' homes and the group piled out. They walked into Ani's house. Mr. Willow and some guests were talking and when Remus approached, Joseph embraced him in a hug.
"You are brave, my son," he told him, "How is it that you can fight your tears so well?"
"I'm sorry," Remus told him for the thousandth time.
"You suffered just as much a loss as I did – as several of us did," Joseph informed Remus, and the said with sorrow in his voice, "That wasn't you that night, Remus. You can't feel responsible. Well, um," dad looked at me with an uneasiness, "Ani's room is still in tact. I wouldn't feel right looking around up there – just…you may have whatever you want, whenever you are ready to go up there."
Remus nodded, looked to his friends, and then walked upstairs alone. Anistasia's door was closed…his mind flashbacked to Christmas morning…how he had turned the knob slowly and quietly so he could walk in to see her sleeping peacefully as the morning sun reflected off of the snow covered windowsill and onto her bright face.
He walked into the room and looked at the shelves of unicorn figurines, the stacks of CDs, the Tornados posters on the walls, and her stereo. Remus turned it on and quiet music filled the room. He was immediately engulfed by it as he looked around the room some more.
To see you when I wake up
Is a gift I didn't think could be real…
These words echoed in Remus' mind and he was taken back to when the first time he had woken up to see Anistasia beside him – the morning after she had guaranteed him a normal life. The room was dark, but he could still make out her slim figure, lying peacefully on her back…her chest moved up and down slowly as she breathed. He kissed her eyelids and she opened them slowly and smiled at him…through him.
To know that you feel the same as I doIs a three fold, utopian dream…
These lyrics brought back the memory of Christmas…the bright light of the morning sun reflected off of the joyous look on her face when Remus had asked her to marry him. As she agreed, he could just imagine their wedding night…the perfect night that was once a fairy tale, but became a reality for both of them.
You do something to me that I cant explainSo would I be out of line if I said,
I miss you?
Remus found Ani's journal on her desk – he remembered that she was worried out of her mind that she had lost it. He lay down on her bed with it in his hands and opened it to her first entry dated nearly two years earlier. A picture of the Marauders was pasted on it, the happy group, with Remus and Ani in the front, waved to him.
I see your picture I smell your skin on the empty pillow next to mine You have already been gone ten days, but already I'm wasting away…As Remus was reading through the journal, an owl tapped on the window above his head. He let it in and noticed that it was carrying a document bearing the Hogwarts seal. Remus opened it immediately and read its contents.
Mr. Lupin,
I am very sorry for your loss. I am mourning as much as one can. Mrs. Lupin was an honorable and talented young woman. Every professor and person that she touched is in deep sorrow on this day. Her absence will weigh heavily in our hearts.
Now that I have spoken my peace, it is my duty to inform you that Madam Pomfrey discovered something in the blood tests that came back from St. Mungo's last evening. It seems that Anistasia was two months pregnant when she passed on – whether she knew it or not cannot be determined. It is required by law that I tell you this since you were her spouse, but whether both of your parents find out is completely up to you, seeing as how she was still a minor and I cannot tell her guardians such things without her consent.
Hard times lay ahead my son, but take them on with an open heart.
Regards,
Headmaster Albus DumbledoreRemus lay back on the bed in shock.
I know I'll see you again,
Whether far or soon…"Pregnant," he asked himself, "We were going to have a child…like she always dreamed. I was going to live out my promise…dammit, why did this have to happen?"
I just need you to know that I care…
Remus picked the lamp up off of the bedside table and chucked it across the room. It shattered on the opposite wall with a satisfying crash. He stared blankly at the shards on the floor, and then did the only that he could – he cried.
…and I miss you…
"If there is only one thing that I have found out from this experience," Remus said as he finished telling the news of Ani's pregnancy to his mum, dad, father-in-law and friends, "It is that love is the strongest force on this earth. It brings people together, tears people apart, but for Ani and I, it was our Holy Grail…our saving grace."