Title: In Twelve Months
Rating: T
Pairing(s)/Character(s): Remus/Rabastan (hints of Wolfstar)
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: Don't own 'em - not making any money off 'em. Dern it.
Word Count: 1,658
Summary: Rabastan and Remus in twelve months.

Notes:

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry: Ancient Studies - Task - Write a story that spans an entire year, with one scene for each month.

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry: Jewel Day Challenge - Aventurine- Bracelet: Write about someone who takes someone/something for granted and his feelings upon realizing it when it's too late.

Can You Make It To The End Challenge: Round 4 - Remus/Rabastan

Colors of the Rainbow Competition: Black - Prompt 1 - Write about the Death Eaters or any member of the faction

100 Word Prompt Collection Challenge: 31. Generation

January

In all of the generations of the Lestrange family tree, not one Lestrange had ever had a relationship with someone that wasn't a Pure-blood. It just wasn't down in Rabastan's family. Although the Lestrange family wasn't as prominent as the Black or Malfoy families, they did take pride in being Pure-blooded.

And yet, Rabastan was about to break tradition. He was staring at a boy that wasn't simply only a Half-blood but also a werewolf. And he was thinking about what Remus' lips would taste like.

As the clock counted down, getting closer and closer to midnight, all Rabastan saw was Remus with his amber eyes and tentative smile.

And at 12 AM on January first, Rabastan leaned forward and claimed Remus' lips in the most perfect kiss.

He wondered if every kiss would be as sweet, but he knew that was wistful thinking.

February

"You forgot about Valentine's Day?" Remus demanded.

Rabastan was being harsh in his head. It wasn't really a demand. It was more like a question, an innocent question that didn't even hold any real anger, only disappointment.

To Rabastan's exhausted ears, it sounded like a shrill demand. "You're not a girl! You don't need candy and flowers!" he sneered contemptuously.

Remus flinched as a hurt look crossed his face. "No I don't, but it would be nice to spend the day with my boyfriend. You've been so busy lately, and I thought we'd have the whole day together."

Rabastan looked away. He had been away a lot lately. He was going to get initiated in the Death Eaters soon, and he had been preparing himself and carrying out orders for the Dark Lord himself. He had a lot of work to do to gain the Dark Lord's favor because everyone know about his relationship with Remus and no one approved it. As long as Remus and his feelings for Remus didn't interfere with his duties, though, no one was going to forbid it.

He couldn't exactly tell Remus what had been keeping him busy lately, though, could he? He could just imagine the werewolf's face. Instead, he glared at the boy. "Well, I'm sorry my world doesn't revolve around you. Grow up and get over it!"

And Remus was left standing alone in the street of Hogsmeade as Rabastan left to find his brother.

March

Remus looked at the birthday presents from his friends and family. There was one missing. He glanced over at the Slytherin table. Rabastan was in deep conversation with his brother.

Rabastan looked at him and gave him a hard look before he looked back at Rodolphus.

Remus tried to ignore the sharp pain in his heart. So Rabastan seemed to have forgotten his birthday. So what? It wasn't that big of a deal.

April

"Moony, what's wrong?" Sirius asked at the sight of his forlorn friend.

"Rabastan's been acting funny," Remus admitted tentatively. He didn't want to hear another one of Sirius' tirades about how Remus shouldn't be dating a slimy snake, but he also needed to confide in someone.

Sirius opened his mouth.

Remus held up a hand. "If you're only going to say I'm wrong to trust or date Rabastan, don't bother. I love him, and unless you're going to say something constructive, don't even open your mouth."

"I'm not going to apologize for wanting to protect you from a broken heart," Sirius argued. "You're way too good for Rabastan, and I just wished you'd see that you're better off without him."

Remus sighed. "Well, people do stupid things when they're in love. I guess you can consider me just another statistic."

May

Remus rested his head on Rabastan's chest. The sound of the beating heart was soothing to the werewolf's frayed nerves. "I wish things could also be this easy."

Rabastan tightened his hold. "Life is never easy."

Remus tilted his head up to look into Rabastan's dark eyes. "I feel like I'm losing you, and I don't know how to stop it. Please, stay with me. Don't leave me." It was a helpless plea for reassurance.

"I love you," Rabastan murmured softly.

It wasn't a promise that Rabastan wouldn't leave him, and Remus knew that. It would have to do, though.

He said the only thing he could say. "I love you, too."

June

Rabastan stared as Black and Potter yelled at his lover. He knew they were once again telling him that he should forget about Rabastan.

Remus stoically took it.

Rabastan knew he should go over and stand at Remus' side, show an united front to the naysayers, but he glanced behind him where Rodolphus and Bellatrix were impatiently waiting.

He had plans with them, plans that Remus wasn't privy to, and they had to come first.

July

During the summertime, everything exploded. There were no more secrets, and Rabastan didn't feel happy or sad about it. He felt indifferent.

One night, Remus and he met in a public place. "You're joining him, aren't you?"

Rabastan thought about lying, but he was sick of the secrets. "Yes."

"How can you join that murderer? He wants to eradicate all Muggle-borns from the Wizarding world. Even Half-bloods like me aren't safe, and yet, you join him?"

"Yes," Rabastan answered.

Remus' eyes watered. No tears actually fell, though. "That's all you have to say? No excuses? No explanations?"

"What's the point?"

Remus looked away for a moment, but when his eyes met Rabastan's again, they were blazing with fiery emotion. "Do I mean anything to you? Anything at all?"

The fact that Remus was asking that made it seem like the whispered words of love that passed between them had never happened. "You know you do."

"Obviously not enough," Remus muttered before he marched away.

Rabastan wondered if that would be the last time he saw Remus without there being curses flying from wands.

August

James and Lily were engaged, and Remus did his best to be happy for them, but it was so hard. They were so happy and in love, even with the war brewing. Why wasn't Remus allowed the same kind of happiness?

A light hand landed on his shoulder.

Remus stiffened. "I don't want to hear it, Sirius."

"I'm not going to say 'I told you so,'" he defended himself. "I just hate seeing you so hurt."

Remus turned sad eyes onto his best friend. "No what really hurts? I think he really does love me. Just not enough to give up on all of the Pure-blood supremacy propaganda."

"He's a fool," Sirius intoned.

"I still love that fool," Remus croaked as actual tears fell for the first time since he walked away from Rabastan.

"I know," Sirius sighed and without asking, he pulled Remus into a fierce hug.

Remus wished it was Rabastan's arms wrapped around him, but he would take whatever comfort he could get from the dog animagus. Even though it might never be enough for him.

September

Rabastan closed his eyes and turned his head as the man screamed. He was a Half-blood, and he was being tortured just because he refused to tell the Dark Lord where his Muggle-born father was.

He swallowed back the vile that he wanted to spew. His mind kept conjuring up images of Remus being tortured for not selling out his own Muggle mother.

It wasn't Remus; it wasn't.

'It might be one day,' his mind whispered.

He didn't even want to think of that possibility. He wasn't sure he would be able to listen to such horrible screams from his ex-lover's mouth.

October

Remus was in the battle. Through the eyes of his skull mask, Rabastan saw him. He ached to go to him but didn't. He couldn't.

His brother appeared at his side and saw what caught Rabastan's attention.

"I'm glad you finally came to your senses and got rid of the Half-blood," Rodolphus sneered.

Rabastan didn't say it was Remus who chose to walk away. What was the point?

November

Remus saw the way Sirius looked at him and for the first time, he understood a little bit of why Sirius had been so against his relationship with Rabastan. It hadn't simply been Rabastan's Slytherin status and the fact he was involved with people of darker leanings.

When Sirius looked at Remus, there was love and lust mixed together in his silver eyes.

Remus felt a bit flushed at being the object of such intense emotions. He was also flattered and a bit aroused by the idea of Sirius Black, a man that could have anyone he wanted, seemed to want Remus.

But still, Remus wasn't ready for a new relationship. Not yet.

Maybe when he was ready to move on from Rabastan and the relationship that had been doomed to fail straight from the beginning, he'd be ready for what Sirius had to offer. And hopefully, Sirius would still be offering it.

December

Rabastan sat alone on a day that should have been celebrated. It was his birthday, but instead of being happy, he was miserable.

He wondered what Remus was doing right then. It was almost a year ago that he and Remus shared their first kiss after months of longing looks. He never thought they'd implode so quickly, and he knew it was his own fault.

At the last battle, he had seen Remus with Black. They seemed closer, and he wondered if they were together now. It would be fast if they were, but Rabastan didn't have any right to be angry if Remus had moved on. He no longer had any claim on his precious werewolf.

He had taken Remus for granted, and because of that, he had broken not only his own heart but also Remus'. He had the best thing in the world and because of his own foolishness, he lost it. He could blame Rodolphus, Bellatrix, Potter, or Black, but truthfully, he had no one to blame but himself.