Work Text:
He takes a sharp, rattling breath.
Shadows blur in his vision as they rush past him, muffled explosions and shouts as the battle continues around him.
He only wishes he could have done more to help everyone.
He takes another deep, rattling breath, chest aching with every inhale.
He can't move and he finds the thought doesn't frighten him like he thinks it should.
He's so tired now.
Things get even more blurry and he realizes he's crying when a tear runs down his temple.
He should have done more to protect them.
To protect all of them.
He can't now.
He takes another breath, this one more shallow, he notes.
He thinks about James and Lily, the way the two of them could brighten any day.
Breath.
He thinks about Peter, a friend he thought he could trust with his life, who turned on them all.
How could he have not seen that sooner?
How had none of them seen that?
Breath.
He thinks about Severus, how they treated him in school and how he still managed to be a decent person.
Breath.
He thinks about Harry and how much he was like his parents. He had his mother's heart and his father's adventure.
He thinks about how unfortunate it was that he never got to meet his wonderful parents and he thinks about the hearts he managed to touch in his years here at Hogwarts, despite the darkness constantly looming over him.
Breath.
He thinks about Ron and Hermione, how the two will always have his back. They will love him unconditionally.
He thinks about McGonagall and how she'll likely become the new headmistress, if things go her way, when this war is over.
Breath.
He thinks about his students and all the wonderous things their future will bring for them. He can't help wondering what some of them or going to do.
Is Ron going to follow in his father's footsteps and join the muggle studies sector of the ministry? Will Hermione become a teacher or a ministry official? She has such potential to do good.
Where will Harry go?
Breath. This one is shallow, barely there and he knows his time is nearly here.
He thinks about Sirius and how kind he was. He thinks about how much he loved Harry and how hard he fought to protect everyone. He thinks about their shenanigans in school and how he wished he had said something to him before everything went to shit.
He thinks about Sirius' warm embrace and he can only hope to experience, even just once more, in the afterlife.
Breath.
Too shallow to even be considered a breath.
It's the end now, he knows.
He's not afraid.
He embraces it.
~~~
Remus puts an arm over his eye to block out the sun, a smile on his face as he gazes out over a field of flowers. There are trees and a light breeze and the air is sweet, like a baking pie.
However, he is only focused on one thing.
Standing in the field, with his hand outstretched towards him, is Sirius, a huge grin on his face as if beckoning him to join.
Remus grabs his hand, grinning wider than ever before and lets out a laugh as Sirius pulls him into a hug, the two of them tumbling into the grass.
Happy.