Title: Release

Genre: fanfic (Harry Potter)

Setting: toward the end of OotP

Rating: pretty darn G

Notes: Harry Potter and co. are owned by J.K. Rowling and Warner Brothers and perhaps other people, none of whom is me. I’m just having fun, so please don’t sue me!

When it's over and the no-longer-children have been shipped back to Hogwarts (Harry won't look at him), when the Ministry has finally begun to clean the place up (terrible tragedy, something will be done), when the Order has met and discussed ad nauseum, and he's assured at least five people that this is not their fault (he's always been the voice of reason), Remus Lupin closes the door to the bedroom in which he's been staying at Grimmauld Place, takes a shuddering breath, sinks to the floor, and lets silent tears finish the job of tearing his heart to pieces.