This is a completely new chapter (yay!). The first bit is completely made up. The second bit is heavily influenced by the revelations about Remus J Lupin on Pottermore. I don't own it.

A series of events remind Remus of the strengths of friendship…and the weaknesses of it.

It was late April. Harry's Floo-call had made Sirius extremely melancholy, as he wished for the 'old days'. However, he wasn't so wrapped up in himself that he didn't realise when something was wrong – very wrong – with Remus Lupin. Remus had been practising avoidance, slipping into Headquarters only for meetings, rarely staying for meals and keeping himself to himself. He had a clear air of worry and sadness about him. Several people had tried to corner him and ask what was wrong; but Sirius, Tonks, Molly, Kingsley and Minerva had had no success. Sirius had found himself desperately wishing for Dumbledore to return; to attend a meeting in the flesh, instead of simply sending a letter with Fawkes or his Patronus in his stead. Moony would have answered Dumbledore.

Sirius sighed. And to top it all off, Moony had just missed an Order meeting. With no explanation. Well, the meeting was still going, so he hadn't quite missed it; but it was nearly finished. Clearly, something was amiss; but what? Sirius just couldn't work it out. He scowled in thought. Could his mother's death be weighing on him again? Hope Lupin had died in 1980 of a muggle disease called 'Multiple Sclerosis', whatever that meant, but the anniversary wasn't until July. But, what about…

Sirius sat up straighter suddenly, and gasped. How could he not have realised? He bit his lip anxiously. Surely he was wrong, though. Lyall Lupin was a kindly man with a will of steel; strong and healthy, he was middle-aged in terms of wizard lifespans. Surely, nothing could be wrong with him...

A small, pointed cough brought Sirius' attention back to the room he sat in. "Whilst you may feel it necessary to waste time during meetings, Black, the rest of us are aware that there is business to attend to." Snape sneered. "Save your daydreaming for other times…after all, you certainly have more than enough of it on your hands."

Sirius glared. "Oh, and I suppose I'm not allowed to be distracted momentarily worrying about… absent members?" he snapped, "I don't expect you to understand, Snivellus, but worrying about others is something that you do when you have friends." As soon as he said it, he knew it was a mistake. Beside him, Tonks groaned softly.
Snape's lip curled further. "I wouldn't expect you to understand, Black, but some things are more important than worrying over whether or not a certain flea-bitten mutt decides to present himself here or not. But then again, it's hardly my business what sort of company a criminal keeps."

Snape would have said more (and Sirius was about to cut him off) when Tonks interrupted. "That's enough, both of you. We're all a bit ratty this evening and arguments do not help. Sirius, you're not the only one who's worried; there's no need to snap. Professor Snape...as Professor McGonagall was about a second away from calling things to a close, your comments were frankly unnecessary."

As Snape turned his glare on Tonks, Professor McGonagall quickly said, "Ahem, yes. Last call for business? No? Good. The next meeting will be next Thursday, unless something else comes up. You know the roster for various missions. Try to leave in small groups instead of a big crowd, please."

With a huff and a final sneer, Snape left. Tonks went shortly after, but paused at the troll-leg umbrella stand. There was an extra umbrella there that hadn't been there before; one that was old and worn and quite recognisable.

Tonks picked it up carefully, and checked the carved wooden handle to be sure. There, a nametag declared the umbrella to be the property of R.J. Lupin. She straightened, and in a carrying whisper called back downstairs. "Sirius! Come quickly!"
She showed him the umbrella, and then he noticed the trail of damp footprints leading up the stairs. Then they heard the sound of music, played on a gramophone.

…There will be an answer, let it be….

When Remus' birthday had come on the tenth of March, she had conspired with Sirius, Kingsley and Mad-Eye to buy Remus an old-fashioned record player, of the sort that Sirius remembered from visits to the Lupins' house in his teens. They had also bought many records, including several ones of The Beatles, as they were one of Remus' favourite bands.

Where the gramophone was, Remus would surely be.

They followed the sounds (and footprints) quickly, finding him in the drawing room, sitting on the couch. The only light – and warmth – came from a handful of bluebell flames in a glass jar. The gramophone sat next to the couch on a low table. Remus did not appear to have heard them, even with his extraordinary senses; and, they realised, he appeared to be crying, his shoulders shaking silently. He had ears only for the music.

Quickly, Sirius approached. Tonks followed. "Moony?" he asked, while she hovered.
Remus looked up, catching Sirius' gaze. In the flickering light, Tonks saw the tears slipping down his face. "Dad..." he croaked, "Oh, Padfoot, my dad's g-gone."

Sirius took two steps forward and bent down, embracing him. The touch seemed to bring Remus back to himself somewhat, as words began pouring out of him. "Cancer. I didn't know wizards could get that. Stupid me. They found it too late to do much good, except give him a time limit….he'd had it for months and he didn't tell me. I didn't notice! Not until it was nearly too late!" he took a great, gasping breath. "Why Padfoot? Why him?"

Sirius swallowed. "I don't know, Moony. I really don't know."
He looked about ready to cry as well, Tonks noted. She glanced around the room, then walked forward too. "I'm sorry, Remus." she said softly. What else could she say, after all? She felt for him though. If anything were to happen to her dad…
Remus looked up at her with his blue eyes full of sorrow. "Thanks." he whispered, then looked at her for a time.

Suddenly, he spoke. "You would have loved him, my dad. He was always so kind… Always wanted to help you, in whatever way he could. He was very clever. He taught me chess and he loved puzzles. He was shy…preferred research and books to people. Except Mum…and me." he appeared lost in memories. "Oh, how he loved her…Mum was a Muggle, and he delighted in showing her 'his' world; just as much as he delighted in learning about hers. Dad never forgave himself for what happened to me. He blamed himself, long after Mum and I forgave him… He was a world-famous expert on Human Spiritous Apparitions; but after I was attacked, he allowed himself to fade into virtual obscurity, to protect me. And he devoted much of his life to trying to find a cure for me. To right the wrong. As well as caring for Mum, when she got sick. It wore him so thin…I moved out after – after the first war ended, so he could live in peace, without being tainted by me. But now I wonder… I wonder… What have I missed?" his voice trailed away.

Tonks had sat down while Remus talked, her legs folded beneath her. Now, she reached out and took Remus' hand, squeezing it gently. Nothing else needed to be said; the important thing, now, was to be there.

#

Two days afterward, they buried Lyall Lupin beside his wife, Hope, in a graveyard near where they had lived. The Lupin family, Tonks learned, had moved around often after Remus was bitten, fearing persecution against their son. However, some years after Remus' acceptance into Hogwarts, with Hope's health beginning to fail, they had bought a house in which to stay permanently.

Now, just over twenty years later, all that was left were memories.

Remus had inherited the house. But somehow, Tonks knew he wouldn't choose to live there. At least, not for a while. Her heart went out to him, as he stood in front of them at the grave. Beside her, Snuffles bumped her leg as they watched. Beside them stood two friends of the family.

Five mourners (plus a few flowers and cards) to farewell the man who had seen and done so much, for Remus and for others.

#

Two weeks later….

The jobs of Order members stretched beyond guarding the Hall of Prophecies. Frequently, they took shifts 'guarding' the houses and properties of known Death Eaters. Tonight, on a balmy night in early May, underneath a new moon, Remus and Tonks were doing just that.

It was nearing midnight; Tonks was beginning to wonder whether it was going to be yet another fruitless watch. Stiffly, she stretched, popping her shoulders. Remus glanced over at her. "You holding up all right?" he asked.
She nodded. "I know I should be glad it's boring, because that means a false alarm, but I'm not." she muttered.
Remus smiled in the darkness. "I feel the same," he admitted, "I mean…." he rolled onto his side. "How much longer can Voldemort really hide? And what will be the consequences?" he shook his head.

"Consequences…." Tonks murmured thoughtfully. "Exactly."
Remus sighed. "I worry about Sirius. If – when – he is exonerated…Freedom will be good for him, but I worry it will hit him hard."
Tonks smiled slightly. "Oh, I don't think you have to worry too much about him." she said lightly, "He'll have us to keep him grounded." she paused. "And he'll have all and sundry flocking to him, with his tragic experience…After all, he's still rather handsome after Azkaban, isn't he?"

A bubble of jealously rose within Remus. Oh, how typical of Sirius… The response burst out of him before he could stop it. "Oh, don't tell me you've fallen for him, too. He always got the women."

Tonks was taken aback, then felt angry herself. Is he really so blind? She thought, amazed. "You'd know perfectly well who I've fallen for if you weren't too busy feeling sorry for yourself to notice." she whispered sharply. Then she blushed red, looking at him steadily.

Remus was stunned. For a moment, he felt elated, happier than he'd ever been before. Dora, his Dora, loved him? Abruptly, the feeling died. She wasn't his, and she never should be. How could he burden such a bright, lively soul with the likes of him? He was too old, too poor, and too dangerous; she too full of light to ever risk him tainting her with his darkness.

Remus swallowed, and forced a puzzled expression onto his face. "You mean Kingsley?" he said, the words tasting like sawdust. He forced a smile onto his face. "Good luck," he added in a would-be pleasant voice. An owl hooted, and he glanced in the direction of the noise, not trusting himself to see her expression. "We'd best stop talking, I think. It wouldn't do for anyone – or anything – to hear us." Then he rolled over and sat up, facing away from her. His heart ached. This is necessary, Lupin, he told himself, she deserves someone young and whole; whatever feelings she has towards me will fade sooner or later. It's just an infatuation. After all, how can someone like – like her really love someone like me?

Meanwhile, Tonks lay on her side, staring at him. She'd seen the look in his eyes when she'd spoken. Elation – followed by despair. Whatever you think, you're wrong. She silently told him. I do love you, truly. And I know, now, you love me. The sooner you shrug off your noble idiocies, the better. She smiled. I won't give up. Someday, you'll see.

So…..There you go!
Lyall died of cancer because my grandfather – Grandpa – did, several years ago. In his case, as with Lyall's, it was caught too late to do anything; although unlike Lyall the whole family knew. It's not canon, but not strictly non-canon either, as Pottermore doesn't say what happened to him in the years after the first war ended.
I chose Hope Lupin to die of MS because of JKR's mother, who died when Jo was about 25 I think, or even before. And the way it was mentioned on the bio in Pottermore – that Hope "had died by [the end of the war]" just caught my imagination somehow. After all, Jo has said Remus was one of her favourite characters….
The second bit is pulled directly from Pottermore – quite a bit of it verbatim. Honestly, Remus!