Rescued

Emptiness and Loneliness: Remus

Rose cottage seemed empty and cold. I felt empty and worn.

Lily came to sit by me as I lit a fire in the fireplace. The warmth helped a little, but it didn't replace the hole in my heart. Stop, he's having a blast, I scolded myself. Quit being so selfish.

You're not being selfish at all, a familiar voice said. Lily was stretched out on the couch, her head on her paws, staring at me. I'm sure Harry missed you too. But you are perfectly justified to feel lonely; Harry has been with you for a long, long time. But you also need to learn to find the silver lining, to find what's good in all things. Have faith and patience, for you'll be seeing him sooner than you think.

What do you mean? I asked her, but no reply came. Lily had shut her eyes and was basking in the warmth of the flames.

I need hot cocoa, I decided, and went to the kitchen. I found Sirius sitting on the window sill with a cup of tea, gazing thoughtfully out of the window. Now that was a rare sight.

"Padfoot?" I asked tentatively, setting the kettle on.

"I didn't want him to leeeeeave," Sirius wailed, his face scrunched up. "I want him baaaack."

"Shh. You're acting childish. I understand completely--" I began, but Sirius interrupted.

"No. You do not understand. He was my Prongslet, my pup, a piece of my soul!"

"Now you're just being overdramatic," I said, shaking my head. "Harry is probably having a blast, eating pumpkin pasties, licorice wands, talking with Ron, etcetera. It's just you that needs to calm down, realize that he is having fun and will definitely send you a letter after Sorting, and he will be fine. Plus, Lily said we might be seeing him sooner than we think." Sirius just stared at me.

"I am emotionally unstable right now," he whined. I handed him a bar of chocolate in response, and decided I wanted one too so grabbed two.

I honestly don't know what I'd do without chocolate.

I started and finished the Hobbit that night. It was odd. I'd hadn't read a book in such a long time. I hadn't had time to.

It felt really, really good.

Sirius decided to join me on the couch. I sipped my hot chocolate and poked his head. "Get off." He didn't move. "Get off. " I got a snore as an answer. I sighed and pushed him to the other side of the couch. That man could sleep anywhere.