A/N: My take on the year after Lily and James' death and Sirius going to Azkaban, and how it affected Remus. Just a small little drabble. Also, I wrote most of this during 99 Death Eaters by Draco and the Malfoys. Seriously. Ended it just when it ended. I cried.
Disclaimer: Just the idea belongs to me.
Remus rolled on his side and stared at the clock. Two minutes till nine in the morning. A part of him wanted to roll over and look at the window. Maybe the last year had all been a dream and the familiar flap of wings would come bearing a small treat from Sirius and a letter signed with Lily and James' love. But he knew that he'd just be lying to himself.
Back when the four boys were the Marauder's and James was courting Lily, the boys had all shared a flat. Then James and Lily married and they got their own house. Then there were three. Peter was second to leave. He had found a place to live that was cheaper than the portion of rent he had to pay. It wasn't exactly as nice as the flat, but he could afford it. Then there were two. Sirius was last to leave. He'd met a pretty girl and had moved in with her. Then it was Remus.
When they had all shared the flat, it had begun as a monthly ritual. Every morning, after Sirius, James, and Peter had left for the Order meetings after a full moon (Remus never went after a full moon; preferring to stay home and recooperate), an owl would come at precisely nine in the morning with a Chocolate Frog for Remus.
Before Sirius had left, bags already packed and shrunk for travel, Remus smiled sadly. "No more Chocolate Frogs," he had said. Remus couldn't bring himself to say good-bye. After all, it wasn't really good-bye. See you later, maybe. But that just translated to, 'See you at the next meeting or full moon'. The Marauder's didn't hang out as often as they did. James and Lily were busy with both their newborn, Harry, and the Order, Peter was rarely seen, and Sirius was always busy with the Order.
The next morning, at precisely nine, the flap of wings came. This time, not only accompinied with a Chocolate Frog from Sirius, a letter came. It was Lily's hand writing. She said Sirius had told her to write to Remus every morning and the owl would bring it with the Chocolate Frog from Sirius.
This became the new tradition. The owl would arrive every day at nine with the treat and letter. The pattern was never broken. Until October 31st. When James and Lily Potter were killed, Sirius Black was imprisoned, and Peter Pettigrew was blasted to pieces.
A year had passed. Remus had become very reclusive. He didn't go out anymore, except for shopping and full moons. Albus Dumbledore came and visited, but as he was Headmaster at Hogwarts, the visits were far and few.
Remus looked at the clock again. 9:01. He sighed and sat up.
No more Chocolate Frogs.