The Marauders: Year Five #Wattys2017

Forever

Forever

Lily Evans caught Sirius Black by the back of the robes. "Sit. Down." Sirius stared dumbfounded at her as she pointed at the Gryffindor table bench. She was flushed with anger, her green eyes flickering anger. She looked at James, "Potter. See the first years back to the common room after dinner," she commanded him. James nodded. "I'll deal with you later," she added, pointing into Sirius's face.

Sirius blinked in surprise.

With that, she turned and ran after Remus, her red hair flying behind her as she went. He'd had a headstart but she caught up with him fairly quickly, on the third floor landing, where he'd paused because his knee was still throbbing and he was leaning against the bannister when she found him. Lily put her palm on his back, "Remus... I'm sorry."

He shook his head.

"Talk to me," she pleaded.

Remus felt as though if he opened his mouth, his heart might fall out and shatter on the floor at their feet... he simply couldn't speak. He stared down at her mary-jane shoes.

"Rey..." she whispered gently, and she put her hand on his cheek and leaned forward so he was looking at her eyes instead of her shoes. "Hey... hey, don't cry, sweetheart... Don't cry." She slipped her thumb across his tears. "My poor Remus."

There was a far-off sound of the dinner ending, she could hear voices echoing up the stairwell. Sure as anything, they would be talking about what had happened, and it would only make it worse. Not to mention that Sirius himself was probably leading the cavalry up the stairs. She looked about, she needed to hide Remus... "Where's that secret passageway from here? It lets out on this floor, doesn't it?" she asked.

Remus nodded.

"Show me."

Remus led the way along the corridor to the tapestry entrance of the trophy room passageway, Lily's hand against his back, supportive, reminding him she was there with every step. They slipped into the dark of the tunnel and the tapestry slid shut behind them. Remus leaned against the wall in the dark, closing his eyes. It was Lily's hand on his that led him through the dark - her wand that illuminated the way up to the little alcove, where the couch was and all the photos and notes covering the walls.

They sat side by side on the couch and she rubbed his back as he sat, bent forward and crying. "Shh," she whispered. "Oh Remus, love, don't you cry..." she reached for him and pulled him to her so that his face leaned against her chest. The softness of her reminded him of his mum and he closed his eyes again as Lily's fingers stroked his cheek while she hugged him with her other arm and rocked slowly back and forth. "There, there."

She'll be a brilliant mum one day, Remus thought fleetingly. It'll be a lucky child who gets to call her his mother.

Lily smoothed his hair.

"Why's it always me that's crying over something he's said or done?" Remus whispered finally.

"Because you aren't a git and you think about how others feel before you say and do things," Lily answered, "You've a very empathetic soul."

Remus muttered, "He should be crying about me once in awhile."

"He has," Lily said, "He does. He's probably crying now, honestly. You know how sometimes Sirius does stuff and he realizes after he's done it he shouldn't have?"

Remus thought of the way he'd told him about telling Evan Rosier - before he'd done the idiot thing of standing on the bench - how he'd started I've done something stupid. He nodded.