The Sun and Her Moon- Remus Lupin

Merlin !

Hours later, when not a single tear was left to cry in Aveline's body, did she finally return to her apartment— praying the others were already asleep.

She creaked through the door like a mouse, grateful to be met by darkness, only for the light to flicker on to reveal James sitting in the living room, an unreadable expression on his face.

"Aveline—" he tried, but the girl put her head down, attempting to walk in her room without speaking to him. "Aveline."

When words didn't work, James got up grabbing the girl by the arm and turning her to face him.

The first thing he noticed was the tear stained cheeks, the blood shot eyes, then the way he body trembled with exhaustion.

It was the same look Remus had hours ago, when he stormed into the apartment in tears. James badgering him till the boy finally revealed in a shaky breath that Aveline had broke up with him.

"You ended things, didn't you?"

Her silence was more than a response to James. Her silence, followed by another round of choking sobs.

Aveline didn't understand how it was possible for someone to cry so many tears.

"Aveline ..." James began, running a hand through his hair in stress. "I don't understand. Remus is devastated. Why? Why did you do this ?"

There was an anger in his voice that shocked Aveline— hit her like a hammer in a chest that already caged a broken heart.

She was expecting warmth or understanding from James, not this bitterness as he looked at her as if she was a stranger.

All she could do was stand there, hand covering her mouth as she cried, unable to explain anything that was on her mind.

"Aveline talk," James demanded, his voice raising in volume, "you can't just break our best friends heart and say nothing."

Aveline tried to search her brain for anything to say. Desperately trying to find any words to redeem herself.

I'm doing this to protect his heart, she thought.

I'm doing this because my death is inevitable and it's better to distance myself now.

I'm doing this for you.

Except, none of those words made it out her throat.

Instead, she let out a shaky breath, looking at James with her red cheeks and eyes.

"I don't know," she mumbled, too ashamed to look James in the eye.

Something ticked in James, his face tightening.

"You don't KNOW ? You broke Remus's heart because you don't KNOW?" James roared, and it was the only time Aveline had ever heard her friend raise his voice like that in her direction.

It made her flinch, holding her face in her hands to avoid his stare.

All the commotion caused baby Harry to stir, and soon he and Lily emerged from the bedroom.

Lily was trying to shush a crying Harry, her eyes adjusting the light as she took in the sight of James and Aveline.

"James? What's going on?"

Aveline didn't even listen as the man rounded on his wife loudly explaining that Aveline had broke Remus's heart.

Every time he said the word it was like a new stab wound punctured Avelin's already bleeding heart. All she could do was hang her head in shame, willing the emotions to fade away.

"James!" Lily reprimanded, still standing gently rocking baby Harry. "There is no need to get this worked up. I understand you care for them both, but frankly it's none of your business. Besides, you love them both, we can't go picking sides, now can we ?"

Lily always seemed to be the voice of reason. As she spoke, James visibly calmed down, taking a breath and crossing his arms in response.

"Come on Ave," Lily said to the blonde girl motioning to the kitchen with a nod of her head, "you can hold Harry for me well I make a pot of tea."

Aveline followed Lily into the kitchen, finding a seat on the little wooden table well Lily placed the baby in her arms.

Little Harry was awake as ever, staring up at her with his wide green eyes as if she as the most interesting thing to ever exist.

"Sorry about James," Lily began as she started rummaging around in the kitchen, "you know how he is— he just cares so much about you both."

Aveline could only sigh in response, her breath still shaky.

She reached a hand out, touching little Harry's hand with her own.

So soft, so delicate, so pure.

It briefly occurred to her that this little baby was the reason she was giving everything up.

But yet the prophecy replayed in her head, and she couldn't connect it to this poor little being just trying to live.

He didn't deserve any of this— he was just a child.

The sound of Lily clinking a mug down infront of her pulled her from her thoughts. The young mother sitting across from Aveline, holding her on steaming mug in her hands.

"What happened?" Lily asked gently, her voice as warm as the tea she drank.

If there was anyone who was made to be a mother it was Lily Potter.

It would be a crime to rob little Harry of growing up with her love. And as these thoughts ran through Aveline's mind, her choice of sacrifice was only cemented— she was making the right choice.

What to say to Lily? She thought, still letting little Harry play with her hands.

"It's dangerous having the world know who I love," Aveline finally settled on the words. Yet hiding much of the truth, she wasn't lying. "I just can't have him attached to me in this war Lily. I'm a Rosier, he's a half blood— the target on his back grows by a tenfold if he's associated with me. I just can't do it. I couldn't live with myself if he was hurt."

and I only have a year left to live and it's better if I distance myself now, she added in her head, yet bit back the words as if they were bullets waiting to unload.

"Oh Aveline," Lily pitied, her eyes filling with sorrow, "So you ended things to protect him?"

Despite not knowing the full story, Lily had hit it right on the nose.

All Aveline could do was nod, for she was certain she would let out another chest shaking sob if she opened her mouth.

"In my opinion," Lily continued, "I think you're making a mistake. Remus is your once in a life time love Aveline. I understand why you did what you did, but Aveline? You shouldn't be afraid to be selfish sometime. Love makes everything that is happening right now — the fighting, the pain, the death— worth it. You can't let this war take the things you love from you."

She reached out giving Aveline's forearm a tight squeeze.

"Looks like Harry is asleep," the red haired witch whispered. She stood up, gently scooping the baby from Aveline's arms. "I'll talk to James, get him to settle down. Just promise me you'll rethink this Aveline. Remus Lupin isn't someone you want to let go."

Lily retreated from the kitchen, leaving Aveline with more thoughts than she was comfortable with.

Ever so quietly, Aveline crept to her bedroom window, tilting it open before lighting a cigarette and letting the nicotine flow into her system.

Merlin did she hate her life.