Title: epilogue 1
Rating: G
disclaimer The characters do not belong to me. They belong to JKR and the various publishing houses. I use them as I wish.
Summary: Remus sits by the Weasley kitchen fire on Christmas eve, the year Siri went behind the veil.
A/N This is the first of three epilogues.
The fire in the grate shone against him, throwing shadows across the kitchen floor. Remus was alone, sitting in front of the fire, reading his memoirs. It was Christmas Eve or more accurately, very early Christmas morning and everyone else was asleep.
A rare winter thunderstorm was raging outside, each clap causing Remus pain. Tears ran down his cheeks. He tasted the saltiness and ached; ached for Siri. So far he had been quiet, unemotional, withdrawn. But the memory of Siri had become very vivid as he read, almost as if Siri were alive again.
A sudden burst of anger came upon him and he flung the book towards the fire, but missed, causing the book to fall to the ground. He ran forward and grabbed it, holding it tightly.
Taking his seat again, he kissed the book and laid it in his lap. Closing his eyes, he buried his face in his hands.
The thunder in the distance reminded him again of the morning when he and Sirius walked downstairs into the bar to find Mme Rosemerta picking up an open jar of lotion from the floor. Siri's spell no longer in place, the disk had begun playing "Thunder in the morning".
The song fit Siri perfectly. He was Remus' thunderstorm. Through the many years that they were apart, Remus always thought of Siri when he heard thunder. And now thoughts and emotions were brought forcefully back as the song played in his head.
Woke up to the sound of thunder, thunder in the morning.
But I won't worry. I won't wonder whether it was a warning.
Though worldly rain can get you under and throw you ice milk world asunder.
I can't help but like the sound of thunder, thunder in the morning. The sound of thunder…thunder in the morning.
He fought the urge to throw his head back and howl….he was screaming inside…the words still racing, as if Siri was speaking to him…hold on Remus, hold on. His soul reached out to Siri as it sang….
Dark clouds told me you'd been burned.
Let me reassure your soul that someone loves you.
Let me reassure your soul that someone knows.
Thunder in the morning sky reminds me of you.
I don't know the reason why, but it just does. It just does.
Laying his head on the book in his lap, Remus cried. He felt arms surround him and caress the dog star tattoo. A voice whispered in his ear, "Don't cry Remy. I'll take care of you, leave everything to me."
Sirius? He turned to look, but the room was empty. Siri? 'Only imagination' he thought as he shook uncontrollably. But the feeling of being held in Siri's arms remained.
"Goodbye my luv," Sirius and Remus whispered as one. "Goodbye for now."
...Thunder in the morning. Written and Sung by Essra Mohawk...