Disclaimer: The characters mentioned in the story that shall follow are not mine, unfortunately.

Warning: OotP spoilers and slight slash. If that is not your cup of tea, do not flame this story for you have been warned.

Notes: This is my first Remus/Sirius fanfic, so constructive criticism is welcome.

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The Ghost of a Dream Once Real

by: Kristi Light

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Sitting on the bed alone at night was a habit for Remus now. He had done it for thirteen years, before these last two. Why, now, was he dragged back into the past? No, this isn't the past, this is worse. In the yesteryears he had this inkling of hope, some glimmer of faith that his only one would return to him someday. Now, there is nothing. He is surrounded by darkness, down being the only way to escape from all the pain.

Lying on the bed, black velvet comforters covering him completely, he is all alone. No, he shouldn't even think that. He had Harry and Molly and Arthur and… no, they couldn't understand what he is going through. Sure, Harry had lost his parents and Molly had lost her brothers, but none of them had lost what Remus had. Three best friends and now a lover, the pain is now too great.

Burying his head into the pillow beside him, he can almost find his loved one's scent. It's there, somewhere lurking, taunting him. Reminding him constantly of what he can never have again. Silent tears dampen the pillow as he buries himself deeper into the folds.

Creaking slowly open, a shimmer of light intrudes on his darkness from the newly opened door. A soft voice interrupts his silence, "Poor dear…" The wooden door then slowly closes, shutting him into total oblivion once more. Slowly he cries himself to sleep, the pain from the real world then enters his subconscious mind.

Walking along a path surrounded on either side by white lilies. He looks closer into the woods just beyond the meadow and spies what he believes might be deer of some sort. He looks into the night sky and the one star he loves most is twinkling brighter than normal. He spies a figure lurking on the gravel lined path just ahead of him, who could it possibly be? He looks closer at the figure and knew suddenly who it was that was lurking in the corners of his dream-land.

Cascading down tanned shoulders was the silky black hair of a loved one; this is the epitome of beautiful. Gray-blue eyes', forever twinkling in the starlight, always laughing at some untold joke, this is the epitome of beautiful. At least it is to Remus Lupin. But, as they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Speaking clearly, the sandy-blond haired man gazes upward into the twinkling eyes of the taller one before him, "Why did you have to go? I still need you here with me."

Smiling down at the face of his lover, the gray-eyed figure places a gentle, ghostly, loving hand on the werewolf's face. "My love, My Moony don't worry. I'll always be right here, whenever you need me."

Placing a hardly real kiss on his lover's cheek, the caring figure slowly fades into the darkness of the night. Stretching out a shaky hand to his lovers retreating form, Remus Lupin slowly sinks into the ground.

Waking up suddenly, the werewolf's outstretched hand makes its way towards a tearstained face and hastily wipes away the remaining tears. He glances around, amber eyes spotting his lover's face in every corner, always watching over him. He slowly drifts back to sleep, comforted by the ever looming face of Sirius Black.