Disclaimer: Harry Potter is a product of J. K. Rowling, not me. Everything belongs to her.
The song, Those Were The Days, belongs to Mary Hopkin (original), not me.
Best to listen to the song while you read it, it adds to the effect.
So go download it or something... My first idea was to use the Russian version of it, but that seemed to be a bit too difficult to translate and use, so I decided to use the original. It's a happy song, that one, but the Russian version is a very calm and sad song, so imagine it that-a-way.
(a/n: It isn't man in the song, but woman... But who cares?)
Those Were The Days
Once upon a time, there was a tavern
Where we used to raise a glass or two
Remember how we laughed away the hours?
Think of all the great things we would do
Remus raised his glass and spoke loudly. 'To Life, to my Friends and to the Good!'
'Here here!' Sirius said and he joined his good friend, by raising his glass too.
'Yes!' James Potter too raised his glass and as last Peter too.
'Forever!' They all said.
Those were the days, my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live a life we'd choose,
We'd fight and never loose
We were young and sure to have our way
Lalala… Lalalalalalalala… Lalalalalalala…
Sadly, the forever never lasted. A war was going on outside the protecting walls of Hogwarts, and they knew it.
James, Sirius, Remus and even Peter prepared themselves for the fight of their life.
They had made a decision all together. They'd fight and DIE for the good side.
But than it came to Dumbledore's knowledge that the Potters were to be killed in order of Voldemort, the Dark Lord and they had to go in hiding. Slowly, their close friendship bled to dead by mistrust, danger and mortal fear…
Then the busy years went rushing by us
Lost and starry motions on the way
If by chance I see you in the tavern
Smile to one another
And we'd say
After little Harry was born, they all thought this was to bring them back closer together, which happened too.
Lily, the new mother and James' wife, invited them all over to their used-to-be-tavern and the event lasted for three full days. They would all always remember the looks on each other faces when they saw each other again. It had seemed as if no time had passed and no mistrust had been between them, they were just the Marauders again. The good old Marauders who'd never part.
Those were the days, my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we'd choose,
We'd fight and never loose
Those were the days, oh yes, those were the days
Lalala… Lalalalalalalala… Lalalalalalala…
Remus walked slowly further, although the rain was pouring down on him.
The memories of the gone by time kept on returning.
He had just bought a new robe, for he was going back to Hogwarts to teach again.
Dumbledore had asked him only a week ago, for the obvious reason to protect Harry against himself and Voldemort. Harry still hadn't recovered over the fact of Sirius' death and whether or not it was his own fault or not. At first, Remus had thought it to be Harry's fault, but after seeing the boy in such a mess like he was now, he couldn't anymore… They needed each other, he knew. Remus was all Harry now had and Harry had always been the only thing Remus ever had closest to a son. He sighed and looked up, where had his feet brought him too?
Customised I stood before the tavern
Laughing seemed away, how it used to be
In the glass I saw a strange reflection
Was that lonely man really me?
Remus' reflection looked startled back at him. Had he lost that many weight? His scars even seemed deeper than ever carved in his face, his hair had lost all its life force and just hung there wet. His baggy clothes looked even more baggier, but the worst of all were his eyes, he saw… They weren't just empty anymore, there was simply no more feeling in them. No joy, no love, no sadness… They were just hollow…
Those were the days, my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we'd choose,
We'd fight and never loose
Those were the days, oh yes, those were the days
Lalala… Lalalalalalalala… Lalalalalalala…
Remus closed his eyes, wishing all would go away. All those memories, those days that used to fill his heart with joy, but now only filled it with grief and sorrow.
A man could not survive such pains, Remus thought. How he kept going, he didn't knew, but what Remus did know was that he was only showing a mask of himself. He tried to be strong, to overcome, but in reality he always wished, before he went to sleep, that he'd never wake up, but found himself awake and alive every morning. Suicide could've been the option, but Remus couldn't do it to Harry.
If he'd just die in his sleep, it would be sad for the boy, but he would know I wouldn't have intended to.
But if I'd committed suicide, Remus thought yet again, Harry would be angry with me for leaving him and have even more guilt weighing down on his shoulders to carry.
Trough the door there came familiar laughter
I saw your face and heard you call my name
Oh my friend we're older and grew wiser
But in our hearts the dreams are still the same
Remus suddenly found himself on the cold earthy road, sobbing and crying like a little child.
Luckily there was no living soul in the near surroundings, he thought and immediately a small smile came upon his face. 'How ironic am I? I have a breakdown and still I'm scared that anyone would notice…' He whispered to himself. 'But why should anyone think of poor old Remus.. The bloke that lost all his friends to Voldemort, but is too scared to fight for their revenge…' That was what Remus had overheard once.
Many had pity for him, but more were thinking of him being a coward and a selfish person.
At first, he got angry hearing it, but what could one man do to a world being against him?
It was true, all his friends had been taken away from him by Voldemort and he had done nothing to stop him.
All he did was remembering them and losing himself in selfpity.
Those were the days, my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we'd choose,
We'd fight and never loose
Those were the days, oh yes, those were the days
But no more! Remus stood up, whipped his clothes of and Apparated near Sirius fiction-grave, as there had not been found a body, and he kneeled down.
'I'll have you revenged, my friend. I will, even if it's the last thing I do.'
He drew his wand, feeling the anger raise in him and made a Wizard-oath.
Sadly, when he got up, the Traitor was standing behind him.
'Come to see your grave, lil' Remus?'
'You!'
Green fire was shot out of both wands, both lightning's struck their opponent straight in the heart.
Remus eyes never lost their fiery, determined and satisfied look, while Peter's became hollow.
Remus had his revenge for Sirius and James, while Peter had been punished for his actions.
Lalala… Lalalalalalalala… Lalalalalalala…
AN: It's not really the ending I had in mind, but I still kind of like it.. You all? What did you think of it? Liked it, loved it, hated it? Please review, you'd give my heart a new jumpstart!
