Engraving in the stone
To say that being back at Hogwarts after so many years is hard is an understatement. When Remus accepted the job, he didn’t think about how the memories would haunt him, how every corner would be a reminder of how alone he is. No, he thought that Hogwarts was the only place he felt happiness. Fortunately, the students kept him busy for his mind to drown in melancholy. But tomorrow is Christmas and that means the castle is almost empty.
Remus wonders around and it feels like he can see a glimpse of his past life behind every corner. For a moment he allows himself to live in denial. He pushes all the sad memories away. All the war and betrail, death and heartbreak.
Instead, he focuses on laughter that echoed in the halls. James had such a bright smile. It brightens the room instantly. In retrospect Remus has to admit that James was the happiest in their 6th year. Remus never understood why James fell in love with Regulus out of all people. But he didn’t need to understand. All it took was to remember the way James’ eyes sparkled so full of life. How he talked to Remus about his boyfriend, because he just had to share it with someone.
He saw them only a handful of times together. They had to keep their relationship a secret. But the times he witnessed them he can swear it was love. James always loved with his whole heart. Remus never had a doubt. It was Regulus who surprised him. He watched James like he was the eighth wonder of the world. He touched him in such a delicate way like James was the world's most valuable treasure.
Remus sits at the hidden enclave way at the abandoned part of the castle. He traces the old stones that have been here for centuries and will stand here way after all of them are dead. Unchanging constant. Walls of this castle witnessed children grow up, and lovers fall in love in the most surprising way, they laugh and kiss, cry and argue. It remembers them breaking up and trying to move on. Most of the people are gone now. Their footsteps will never echo in these halls.
Remus traces the scratched R + J into the stone wall in the enclave. It was their hiding spot. They spend hours here just being in love and young. Remus wishes to go back in time and stop them from leaving. Not to rush through it. To tell them to stay here even five minutes more, because you never know when you will run out of time. And they did, way too soon. He can’t. They are both gone, destroyed in the war they had to fight.
He used to be angry and how it all played out. That Regulus stayed with his family being on the opposite side of the war. But they were children back then. He is not anymore. He understands now that stories are never this simple.
He looks back at the engraving. He throws a preservation spell on it. At least this way, the memory of love that never could survive in the cruel world will live on.