Dear Remus
Harry felt his breath hitch, the letter falling through his fingers, mind trying to grasp at the implications of the letter. He was surprised for sure, but sadness seemed to overtake everything else, his eyes started to water as he scanned the words again, throat tightening as one thought flooded his head.
He hadn’t known his father at all.
He didn’t know if this would have been a funny dinner table story or a piece of information only shared because Harry might have felt the same way or wether it meant anything at all. He didn’t know R.A.B and he wouldn’t have, but he might have known him as something other than his initials. Harry’s fingers itched for the third letter.
Remus Lupin.
_Dear Remus,
War is so fucked isn’t it? I guess we had the misfortune of experiencing this earlier than most, but if everything goes right then it will have been for a good cause. _
You have been nothing but a good friend to me these past years. I hope you know that. I think you are one of the realest people I have ever met. That first night we met properly? When we got drunk in the prefects bathroom with Barty and Evan? I realised why my brother never stopped talking about you. Then I met James and Peter and I realised that if I was Sirius I would have done the same. You three were worth fighting for as much as my closest friends were, to him and for me. One of my deepest regrets is not realising that sooner. Could you do one more favour for me please? Look after Sirius? I don’t want him to be broken by this, these past few years I have played a small role in his life but Sirius will care nonetheless. And I need you to be there for him, like you were for me. I never told him but watching you two convinced me love was real, it made me sick and embarrassed but I always wished for something that real. _
So look after him, please? I don’t want him to hurt himself over me, he’s done that enough over his childhood, too many scars I am supposed to carry. I also hope you can forgive me for not exposing any of this. For losing your trust, for breaking James’ heart, for getting that mark, but I was never as brave as Sirius was. Maybe now the scales can even out.
I feel awkward writing these words, if I don’t die they will be burnt. I am happy for you, for all of you, for James for Sirius for Lily and for Peter. You of all people deserve happiness and I hope you find it. There are no winners in war, I read that somewhere, only survivors. But I think you can win, if you can go through and still have a beating heart, a heart that loves, then you have won. I don’t have anyone anymore so there is very little consequence but you all fight. You need to fight with every single bone in your body and vein under your skin because God forbid I poured my heart into these letters and let my face die and decay for you to lose.
Also feel free to take my bookshelf and all it’s content when I’m gone, read them and think of me, or don’t.
Thank you and fuck Dumbledore,
Love Reggie.