Sirius sat sprawled on a couch in the common room, his Defense against the Dark Arts textbook lying open and forgotten on his chest.
He was thinking about the stars; or perhaps more accurately, he was thinking about sneaking out of the common room to the astronomy tower so that he could climb out onto the roof for a smoke. But the stars would be there too. They were always there for him.
He was just about to get up and see about a cigarette, when Remus, who was lying on the floor by the fire, interrupted his quest.
"I don't fancy dying alone."
Sirius raised an eyebrow, which was utterly useless as Remus couldn't even see him.
"You won't die alone, mate." James said, closing his book and eyeing his best friend. "You're much too handsome for that. And anyways, where is this coming from?"
"Is it that Marlene girl? You know, my offer to smash her face in still stands."
Remus snorted at Sirius' comment. "No no, it's not about- well, maybe it is, sort of. That was never going to work out though. It just got me thinking, I guess. I'd like to find someone eventually."
"You will."
"Yeah, and if you don't, I will."
"You'll what?" Remus and James asked at precisely the same moment.
"Be with you."
Remus sat up and turned so that he was facing Sirius. He raised an eyebrow.
"You know, marriage. That way you won't die alone."
"Oh, you'll marry me, will you?"
"Yeah," Sirius said, warming up to his idea. Fantast or not, he had never been one to leave a plan half-baked. "Say we're both disgusting, decrepit bachelor's in the future. We can get married and then neither of us will have to worry about finding someone anymore."
"And what age, exactly, do you consider to be disgusting and decrepit?"
"Oh, say, thirty-seven."
Remus laughed. "Why thirty-seven?"
"I don't bloody know, do I have to come up with everything?"
Remus laughed again. "How about you two? Going to join in on the fun?"
"No thanks, I'm saving out for Lily." James said.
This was met with a collective sigh from the other three marauders.
"Come on mate, you've got to have a backup plan." Sirius said, chucking a pillow at his best friend's face.
"Don't need one." James said, catching the pillow missile easily and sending it right back into Sirius' stomach.
Sirius rolled his eyes. "How 'bout you, Pete?"
"I'm good." Peter said absently, from where he was practicing a charm.
"You haven't even been listening, have you?" Remus accused.
"Course I have," peter grinned wickedly, "I just don't plan to ever be disgusting and decreaped."
"Decrepit." Remus corrected gently.
"Whatever."
"Alright, Pads. Looks like it's just us."
"Fine by me, Moony." Sirius gave Remus a devilish wink, "Never wanted to share you.
Remus placed a single chrysanthemum by the headstone and crouched down to read the epitaph.
Godfather, Marauder, Friend. Served faithfully in the first and second Wizarding Wars, and gave his life in the line of duty. Sirius Black Nov 3, 1959 - June 18,1996.
It was written in his own messy lettering, scrawled across a rough stone; a stone that marked nothing. Sirius deserved so much more. He deserved a real funeral, a real burial, a real headstone damn it.
He deserved another birthday.
"Thirty-seven," Remus said, his voice small. "I turned thirty-seven today. Of all the ways I thought I might spend today, this is..." He trailed off and took a few deep breaths. "No one remembered, of course. No one is left to remember. This is ridiculous, it's only a birthday and we're in a war.
"But all I can think about, is that day in the common room, fifth year. All four of us. And you promised to marry me if neither of us were taken. I just... I never thought death would be the one to take you from me."
Remus sniffed, a tear threatening to make its way down his face.
"I loved you. I'm not sure I'll ever be able to stop loving you, really. And I would give so much, just to be able to say that to you again." The tear finally fell, and it was followed by another, and another, and another.
Remus sniffed, wiping his face with his jacket sleeve. He stood up again, brushing the dirt from his knees.
"Say hello to James and Lily for me. And tell them not to worry. Harry may not have as many of us watching out for him anymore, but those who are won't let anything happen to him. I promise."
Remus left the grave behind, but he knew he wasn't leaving Sirius alone. The stars were out tonight, and the stars always seemed to bring Sirius comfort.