Remus Lupin sat lost in memories of happier days, physically staring out the window of his English flat, but not really seeing anything that was outside. A void lingered, dangerously playing with his heart. A black, empty space where once love and hope resided was all that remained inside him. The thick rain pounded against the window, blurring the view to outside. It played rhythms like distant tribal drums against the house. In times past, the sound usually calmed Remus. But the rain only dampened his spirits now. It gave him no comfort. He sighed, remembering a friend. Remembering Sirius.

They say that the pain of a great loss eases in time, but as the days ticked by and the months faded into years, Remus found this to be more and more untrue. The more time that flooded the space between Remus and the days when Sirius was alive only seemed to add more pain.

Remus thought of the days when Sirius was here, by his side, laughing and up to his old tricks. Thought of the days in school. Thought of their mischievous foursome; the Marauders. The empty void stabbed at his heart again as he remembered that he was the last. James, Sirius, Peter, all of them gone now. Who did he have left?

Remus felt a comforting hand upon his shoulder and looked up. Harry's green eyes held a worried expression. He didn't need to speak. His face said all the words that were needed and Remus understood. He took comfort in the silence.

Suddenly, under the sadness, under the pressure of the lingering void something sparked. A tiny glimpse of happiness ready to burst out of it's confinements started to grow. A trickle of hope for a brighter future. Voldemort was gone now. Finally defeated. The wizarding world was peaceful once again. And the Boy Who Lived was still here with him. Still his friend. Still by his side as Sirius once was. Filling the void, day by precious day.

The two sat staring out the window and watched as the sun finally began to poke through the lightening clouds. A smile brushed both their lips as they remembered a friend. Remembered Sirius.