Second Year - Last Christmas
Remus Lupin
“You can’t leave!” Remus yells at his aunt. “I have too!” His aunt argues back, “I need to start my own life” , “and what about hers!” Remus feels his eyes sting with tears, “you can’t leave her here alone!”
“I’ll be fine Remus “ his mother cuts in, tears rolling down her face, her head covered with a knitted hat, and she has a sweater with a hole in her right sleeve, and light blue pajama pants
. “So what ! you get married and you just leave us?” remus testifies. “He’s a good guy! He bought me a house “ his aunt cries.
“We’ll let’s throw a party Marilla got herself a house “ Remus cheers sarcasm lacing his voice, “Remus” his mom grits weakly. “Apologize to your aunt,” he points.
“No” remus responds, he can feel his anger bubbling over. “Whatever, go run off with your husband” Remus sighs , making his way to his room slamming the door.
He leaves for school, and his aunt finds some prick and gets married , and leaves his mother to fend for herself.
Remus sits on the edge of his bed, bringing his hands up to his head, dragging his nails over his skin. He still feels sore from the full moon the other day, and can’t deal with this pain anymore.
He hears a familiar knock on his door, “remus” he hears a soft whisper, as the door opens.
“Hey” his mother says weakly, shutting the door behind her, and walking over to Remus.She brings a hand to Remus’s head, her fingers going through Remus’s hair.
“Remus-” his mother repeats, bending down so her eyes level with Remus’s, she kneels on the ground, and Remus can see the sickness in her eyes. “I want you to understand this” she pauses, her hands going to Remus’s knees,
“She has to go” she says softly, but loud enough for it to echo in Remus’s head.
“No” Remus drops his hands to his side, shaking his head , “she doesn’t”
“She’s taken care of me long enough “ Hope's voice cracks, and it sounds like nails on a chalkboard, the way the words hurt Remus’s head.
“Then I’ll stay” Remus whispers, his hands moving to his mothers, “I’ll stay” he repeats.
“You can’t “ his mothers lips curl into a frown. “You have to go to school, even when I’m not here” his mom puts her hands over Remus’s , rubbing her thumb across his scarred hands.
“Don’t say that” Remus cuts in.
“Remus-“ she persists, “no” remus closes his eyes.
“I’ve had a lot of time to think about this,” she says weakly.
“No” Remus shakes his head again, pulling his hands away. A moment of silence passes between the two. Before his mother opens her mouth to speak again.
“It’s like the tide going out, it goes out slowly, but it can’t be stopped.” His mothers whispers, her eyes glossing over with tears , and her cheeks becoming a deeper shade of red,.
“I’ll stop it '' Remus swallows, a shaky breath escapes from his mouth .
“Okay? I’ll stop it”
His mother gives him a sorrowful smile, tears making their way from her eyes.
Remus’s mother stands up bringing him into a hug, remus buries his face into her jumper, wrapping his arms around her torso, a muffled sob echos through his ears, and he’s not sure if it’s his own cries or his mothers.
A few days later his aunt had left, after Remus had apologized. It’s now Christmas and Remus is sitting in his living room, his mother still asleep. And his house feels colder than ever before, the Christmas lights are off, no presents , no tree, and no one around him.
Remus brings his knees to his face, resting his head on them.
He closes his eyes and thinks of last Christmas, his mother wasn’t as sick, his aunt was here, and he got to see his friends.
He hears a slight knock at the living room window, and flickers his gaze to it, an owl pecking , has a letter grasped in between its beak . The owl seems familiar but he can make out who it is. Remus opens the window and the owl drops the letter.
The owl doesn’t leave right away, but its eyes seem to look right through Remus’s soul. It blinks slowly, as Remus grabs the letter, the owl flies away.
The letter is sealed shut with a black wax, remus shuts the window, and walks back over to his couch. He rips the seal open to see his name written out.
Sirius’s handwriting. Remus scans his eyes over the letter reading.
Hiya Remus,
Merry Christmas , so I’m writing this from home, but James invited me to his house for dinner tomorrow night, and I was wondering if you were coming as well?
You obviously don’t have to, but I may or may not have gotten you a present . James said he was trying to send you a letter but his owl kept coming back with it.
You can bring your mother too, and your aunt!
If not then Merry Christmas and I’ll see you on the train!
Sincerely - Sirius Black
Remus holds the letter in his hands, not looking away from it.
He can’t go to James’s, his mother can barely walk, never mind go somewhere else.
Remus folds up the letter and puts it aside.
Remus decides to get up , and grab the present he got for his mom from his room.
He walks over to her room, and takes a deep breath before he enters.
“Remus?” She whispers tiredly , remus sees her bald head and it makes his heart twinge.
“I’m right here mum” Remus whispers back rubbing his mothers hand.
“Merry Christmas my sweet boy” she smiles lightly . “Merry Christmas “ remus smiles back. “I got you a present “ his mother clicks her tongue “ you didn’t have to get me anything, I didn’t-“ she sits up. Remus knows what she’s going to say, and he doesn’t care that he doesn’t have a present “I know “ he whispers, he lifts up the present, that’s wrapped in pieces of paper, it’s the best Remus could do .
The presents the ‘help’ vinyl , by the Beatles.
His mother carefully takes off the paper, revealing the record. A smile instantly spreads across her face.
“Oh Remus you didn’t have to get me anything “ a tear comes down her cheek, Remus wipes her tear from her face, “I wanted to , and I know how much your like the Beatles “ he responds softly .
“I didn’t get you anything, “ his mother confesses . “It’s okay, being here is enough “ Remus gives his mom an affirming smile.
His mother gives him a weak smile, “well put it on” she suggests with the vinyl. “Right” Remus stands up putting on the record player. The song ‘help!’ Starts playing, and Remus looks back to his mother who’s already looking at him
“Thank you Remus,” his mother smiles, closing her eyes gently, remus lays next to his mother and snuggles his face into her chest, “merry Christmas mum” he whispers, his mother wraps her arms around him, “merry Christmas “
Remus knows this could possibly be their last Christmas, but he decides not to dwell on it and just hold his mother.