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March 10th, 1981.
Remus had turned twenty-one.
He’s been alive for twenty-one consecutive years, and how time has flown.
He’s gone from the little boy in Yorkshire to a grown man with hopes and dreams. Hopes and dreams that felt possible now with his support system behind him, which held his closest friends.
James Potter who had picked him up the many times he fell. Sirius Black who looked at him and saw him not the monster within. Peter Pettigrew who offered chocolate after every transition. Lily Evans who handed him new muggle books every single time he was upset. Mary MacDonald who introduced him to ABBA and dance parties. Marlene McKinnon who taught him how to do eye-liners. Dorcas Meadowes who taught him that sometimes beige sweaters didn’t go well with beige trousers.
They had all grown so dear to him that to spend his birthday without them would’ve been torture.
Marlene came over and pressed an overdramatic kiss to his cheek, “Remmy! You’re finally twenty-one, you big oaf!”
Her blonde hair had been cut into a pixie after a troubling incident with the order that had almost put her in risk with her long blonde waves. The vibrant red lipstick on her lips that was slightly smudged caused Remus to quickly try and wipe it, “Ugh, Marls!”
“You know you love it, Rem,” Dorcas teased, wrapping her arm around Marlene’s, “I mean what would you do without our overbearing love,”
“Probably die,”
They all laughed at his sarcastic tone as James and Sirius bounded within the dining room, pushing each other back and forth with laughter bubbling. Ever since Regulus had passed away a few months before, the two platonic soulmates had been struggling to be normal. Struggling to feel joy. Yet, on such an odd occasion, it was as if nothing had ever happened.
“They look happy, don’t they,” Peter mumbled quietly, a soft smile resting on his lips as he glanced at Remus from the other side of the table, “It’s so odd to hear their laughter lately,”
Remus allowed his eyes to linger between both Sirius’ smile, James’ chest rumbling in laughter, and finally Peter’s crest-fallen expression, “Yeah, weird,”
Lily had come out holding the cake tightly as Mary followed close behind holding Harry as the singing commenced.
“Happy birthday to you,”
Marlene held Dorcas a little tighter and pressed a kiss against her lover’s forehead.
“Happy birthday to you,”
James took Harry from Mary’s arms and kissed his forehead with a bright smile. One he’s forgotten since the war really got worse.
“Happy birthday, dear Remus,”
Lily placed the cake in front of Remus allowing him to really take in the chocolate frosting and the ‘Happy Birthday Moony!’ written in green icing. A color Lily and him loved mutually.
“Happy birthday to you,”
Peter’s eyes grew conflicted and it’s shadowed reactions were enhanced by the light of the flame in front of Remus. It confused the scarred boy as Peter had usually been such an easy book to read, yet lately confused him more than anything.
“Blow out the candles, Moony,”
Sirius whispered gently within Remus’ ear causing a shiver to burn down his spine. How was it that Sirius still knew just how to get him going?
He blew the candles out and it was as if the memory burned away like a photograph. Everyone who had been previously sitting around him wishing him all the joy and even holding some themselves was gone.
All he was surrounded by was empty chairs.
No Marlene and Dorcas beside him. No James, Mary, and baby Harry giggling from behind the other side of the table. No Lily holding the cake with those bright green eyes that vibrated in joy. No Peter and his conflicting looks. No Sirius.
No, they were all gone.
His shoulders shook with his sobs as even the grand chocolate cake that had been there was only a small cupcake with a slowly tilting candle. It was store bought and would never compare to Lily’s homemade cake ever.
He was twenty-two.
He was alone.
“I wish they’d all come back,” He sobbed into the cupcake as he forced it down his throat and into his stomach as if it would ebb away the pain, “Please let them come back,”