Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

For Monique.

To explain: This fic, from the Prologue to Part 4, takes place in five different time periods. It centers around Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs...or, more specifically, their deaths. The parts will be preceded by appropriate parts of songs from the Broadway musical-turned-movie, Rent. THIS ISN'T A CROSSOVER. It's not a songfic, either. The songs are just there because I'm the authoress and I like them XD

If you don't like angst or slash, I suggest you don't read any further. Whole fiction rated T (PG-13) for slash (SiriusRemus), angst, and death. Please review! Next part to be posted soon.

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Part 1: James

I just came to say good-bye, love. Good-bye, love! Came to say good-bye, love…good-bye.

Good-bye, love. Good-bye love! Came to say good-bye, love…good-bye.

Just came to say good-bye, love. Good-bye love! Good-bye, love…good-bye…

&&&&&

"Remus!"

The so-mentioned twenty-four-year-old wizard jumped at the sudden pounding at the door.

"REMUS!"

The young man quickly put down his novel and went to the door as the frantic pounding continued.

"For Merlin's sake, OPEN THE DOOR!"

Recognizing the frenzied voice as that of his lover, Remus unlocked the door and threw it open.

There stood Sirius Black, panting and disheveled. His windblown hair looked as if he had just been out for a speedy fly on his motorcycle, his clothing was dirty and slightly frayed, his eyes were wide and wild, and soot as black as his name littered his handsome features.

"Sirius…what on earth…?"

"Fire…destruction…Lily and James…Harry…Voldemort…" Black said as he gasped for breath.

Lupin's eyes widened with terror. He pulled Sirius inside and slammed the door shut.

"What about them? What about Voldemort?" he asked, his voice heightening with every word. "What about Lily and James? Tell me, Sirius!"

Sirius swallowed hard, as if he were trying to hold down something repulsive. "Something terrible happened tonight," he began slowly, like he was trying to remember a nightmare. "I went to the Potters'…just to see how Harry was, you know…and I found the house in flames. There was…no sign of the Potters. I conjured a spell to protect myself as I ran into the house…to Harry's room first…and there…"

He leaned back against the wall and closed his eyes, trying to expel the horrific images from his mind. "…there were Lily and James…their bodies…they were burning…"

"No…" Remus whispered.

"…Harry was crying in his crib…he already looks so much like his father, except for the eyes…Lily's eyes…but now he had a scar on his forehead, like a bolt of lightning…I grabbed him and got out…but...Lily and James…"

Sirius took a breath and opened his eyes to see Remus' face inches from his own.

"Tell me it's not true," Lupin hissed, his eyes wide. "Please, Sirius…tell me…"

"They were protecting Harry from him," Black murmured, placing his hands on either side of Remus' face. "Somehow he found them…he killed them…"

"You're lying!"

Remus pushed away from Sirius, eyes brimming with tears.

"How could this happen? It's not possible!" he yelled, laughing as if it were a joke. "Lily and James are well-hidden, well-protected!"

"Remus…"

"It's impossible for Voldemort to find them! You're their Secret-Keeper, for Merlin's sake! You'd never let anything…"

He trailed off when he saw the expression on Sirius' face. Black looked as if Remus had just knocked him senseless.

"Sirius?" Lupin breathed, hysteria gone, eyes now trailing over every inch of Black's face. "You're their best friend, Sirius. You're Harry's godfather. You'd never let anything happen to them."

Sirius trapped a sob about to escape his throat. "I…I'm afraid I have, Remus."

Remus looked as if Black had just slapped him in the face. "W-what?"

Sirius once again placed a sensitive hand on either side of Remus' face. He leaned down and kissed Lupin's frozen lips.

"They're dead, Moony, and nothing can change it. Harry's an orphan now, gone to live with his Muggle relatives."

Black strode to the door and thrust it open.

"I'm going to meet Hagrid so he can give me my motorcycle back, and then I'm leaving. I don't know when I'll be returning. I'm to blame for this whole mess, and I swear to you, love, I'll try my best to make it right."

He was gone as quickly as he had come.

Remus collapsed against a wall and sank to the floor. He was just beginning to realize the effect of Sirius' visit.

Lily and James dead…Harry and Sirius gone…who knew where Peter was in all this…and here he was, for the first time since his second year at Hogwarts, completely alone in his misery.

He drew his knees to his chest, buried his face in his hands, a poor substitute for the warm body of another, and sobbed until sleep overtook him.