A/N: This is from Remus Lupin's P.O.V.

~ One By One They Fell ~

I have been cursed. My whole life I have been cursed. I first found out about my curse when I was young. This curse is not like the other one I have. My lyncathropy curse could be predicted. But with this curse...nothing was ever certain. Sometimes it felt like everything was fine. Life was good. And then I made a friend.

One by one they became my friends, entering my life to change it for the better. Of course, my curse knew how to take care of that. One by one, each of my friends began to fall. The first fell to his death, taking his wife along with him - leaving his son to brave the world alone. The second, I lost to the enemy. He turned his back on those who trusted him, who cared about him like their own brother - because that is what we were: brothers. He threw it all away. And then, the third - and last - friend fell. Not only did he fall to his death, but he also fell from sight. Never again will he be seen, for he will never be found.

Now I am the last one left. I started out alone, and I will end alone. Fate has decided to be cruel to me, cursing me to stay alive and well...only to watch all those that I love fall. I am terrified that I will be the last one standing. What am I?

The witness?

But I know I shall never be lifted of this curse. No, I do not think I even care about my _other_ curse. It just does not matter anymore. I learned to deal with my lyncathropy long ago. However, I do not believe I shall ever grow used to this curse. It haunts me every time I shake a stranger's hand during an introduction.

I always think to myself, 'Will I have to see this one die as well?'

Just as I learned to deal with my lyncathropy curse, I have learned to hide this curse. I hid the pain when Sirius died. The only way I can survive this curse is to pretend I simply am not affected by it. So that is what I did. I didn't even blink; I continued on with the mission Dumbledore had issued: protect Harry. He said nothing about protecting my closest friend. I can only hope Sirius understood. He certainly knew about this curse. He knew about both of my curses. And he knew my method of getting through the curse.

There is one problem though.

Everything I bury inside is slowly tearing me from the inside out. I can almost feel it physically. Sooner or later, every person who died, every traumatic event I witnessed, every child I pulled away from his godfather when he needed him the most...will resurface and eat me alive.

And when that happens, I do not think I will be able to hide from it. The curse will find me.

One by one they fell. One day I will fall as well, and perhaps we shall be reunited once more, in a place where all can be forgiven...only the good times remembered.

I will welcome that day when it comes, but for now I must live on for the ones who still need me. I know there is one boy who needs me right now, but I do not know if he will let me help him.

I am afraid he will turn me away.