Author's notes: JK Rowling owns it all, not me (boo hoo)

ok if any of you have read my bio page then you know that this is the story that's about lupin and harry. ok that sounds weird, let's get one thing straight: this is NOT slash!!! but the main characters are harry and lupin, so....yeah. anyway, this is just the prologue, and its really dumb. but the plot will pick up very soon afterwards. VERY soon afterwards. oh and by the way, this will be a pretty short fanfic. i doubt it will exceed fifteen chapters or so. and be patient with me, because this is my first fanfic (although i plan to write lots more) and i don't have a beta yet. sorry! anyway, the prologue is kind of dumb but bear with me! it will get lots beter! ok now on with the story...

Prologue

Harry lay on Lupin's hammock, a butterbeer on the wicker table next to him. After all the years, he still loved the stuff.

"Remus..." he began. Remus Lupin was sitting lazily in a rocking chair. It was around 5:00, and Lupin and Harry had just come home from work, with Harry. The two of them had kicked off their brown Oxfords and peeled off their black socks. Finally, they dumped their jackets and white dress shirts on the back of the couch and raced outside. It was a beautiful summer afternoon. Harry, laughing, had claimed the hammock and flopped down before Lupin was able to say anything. Now they were enjoying their cool drinks and the comfortable silence. But something had been eating away at Harry since being out of Hogwarts, and that was: why didn't Lupin have a girl? Or did he? Such a women-pleaser ought to...

"Who do you love?" It sounded childish, and he knew it. But it was a serious question. Plus, Harry knew Lupin would be honest with him. So many days of being a prankster had taught him the virtue of being honest. Lupin sighed. Harry had asked him before, and he never had really wanted to answer. But at those times, Harry had taken back the question, thinking it was inappropriate. Remus could see it wasn't going to happen this time. Harry waited.

"I... um..." he was going to have to avoid the question, lie to Harry, or tell the truth. The truth, which he hadn't ever told Peter. The truth, which was concealed from Sirius until a year after they were reunited. The truth, which he had almost never, ever, told James. Harry waited. The answer, he thought, may not come. The answer may be painful. But he was willing.

"I... er..." He was clearly hoping Harry would take back the question, as he had done countless times before. But not this time. Harry was persistent. If he was a girl, he would like Lupin a lot, he thought. Him being a werewolf would not hold him back. Remus was funny, caring, romantic, daring... all that a girl would want. All that a homosexual would want. But Remus just wasn't. That was all there was to it. He tried again.

"I... loved..."Oh no. Harry was now sure it would be painful. Lupin's face seemed contorted with pangs of... was it hurt? Sadness? Harry felt terrible for asking, but he wanted to know. Lupin spoke very quietly.

"Lily"

"Shit." Harry's mind had wandered through all the women he knew, his mind even crossing McGonagal, Hermione, and Molly Weasley. Hell, he had even entertained the idea that Lupin actually was gay and currently infatuated with Harry himself. That, at least, would explain him being so reluctant to answer the question. But his mother? Lily Evans? He felt terrible. " I'm sorry," he said quietly. Lupin was silent. Then he said brightly, "But I got over her after 5th year." Harry looked at Lupin. His eyes were dancing. "You fucker!" Harry shouted playfully. "You led me on! Bastard!" he said, laughing. He jumped off the hammock, pulled Lupin out of his chair, and pinned him to the ground. Lupin nearly had tears in his eyes from laughter. Harry was over him, pinning him to the ground. A neighbour would have thought it looked odd or un-customary, but Harry and Lupin did this all the time. Harry was able to brace himself for what was coming. Lupin kneed him from behind so that Harry went toppling over Remus. They lay in the grass, laughing. (A/N: this may sound weird, but the way i think of it, it's just like some people play around with their uncles (or dogs!) sometimes. It is NOT supposed to sound wrong!)

They were relaxed roommates together, but outside there was tension. Everyone knew of his presence. Everyone knew what he could do to people's happiness. And it made their lives disintegrate. They did not want to live with fear. No one wanted rivalries. The Malfoys might have been ruthless people who acquired enemies everywhere and seemed to enjoy it, but it was simple. Everyone wanted to be united. There shouldn't have been separation. It should be easier.

But it wasn't.

Harry rarely thought about the past. He would occasionally wonder what certain people were doing every once in a while, but mostly he thought of himself, Lupin, the numerous people he had to destroy, and the countless people he had to save.

Lupin thought about the past very often. He loved reminiscing, however painful it might be, because he marveled over change. It was unfathomable, really, how many people could be doing such different things over the years. It kept him awake at night. He thought about why things happened and why others never did get done. Lily probably loved him at one point, but he never asked her to any balls, or dances, or Hogsmeade visits. He barely talked to her. But he didn't harass her like James. He should have stopped while he was ahead. Remus knew for a fact that in second year, Lily had been infatuated with Sirius for half the time, then moved on to the funny, charming, James Potter. He, at that time, had liked a Ravenclaw, who had mysteriously been seen holding Severus Snape's hand in the corridors. It was part of what had started the enmity between James and Severus, Lupin recalled. James should have given up on Kitty, the Ravenclaw, at that time and knew about Lily. But it was no use. They had gotten together in the end, and Remus was predictably left matchless. But there was always Sirius. Peter was a rat (quite literally– what a coincidence, thought Remus), but Sirius was always there. He had never loved Lily, But he had been through rejection. And he was there to talk to Lupin. Always, even if he was...

Lupin took out the very small silver box, opened it, and said, "I solemnly swear I will talk to a Marauder." There was a tinkle of friendly music, almost like one hears in a shop door on a quiet day near Christmastime in the winter. Then the box said, in a sexy female voice, "The Messengers Moony, Wings, Padfoot, and Prongs bring themselves to life for you."

"Sirius," Lupin said. "Sorry it's been a long time, how are you?"

More author's notes: Wings will be explained in the next chapter, i promise. oh, and i'm sorry if the prologue seemed really short i will try to make the chapters longer. The whole deal about harry asking remus who he loves was kind of irrelevant, but the whole thing will be resolved later. I promise! Oh, and i know long paragraphs get boring, but they're IMPORTANT. so don't neglect them. I like reading and writing dialogue a lot better, but there are some things the author has to explain, not the characters.

Also, this will probably be cleared up later in the story, but this story is set after Hogwarts. Harry is nineteen and working as a part-time Auror at the ministry.

well, please read and review and enjoy the story! I will be updating at least every weekend, hopefully more often that that!

once again, PLEASE REVIEW!!

--RadcliffeRox24