Title: Goodnight Daddy

Author: Alexa Ellis

Summary: Short bedtime conversation about some of the facts of life. No, the OTHER facts of life.

Disclaimer: ::sigh:: They're not mine. They're J.K. Rowling's. Isn't life fair?

~~~~~~~

"Daddy, what happens to people when they die?"

"They go away darling."

"You mean like mommy goes away sometimes?"

"No, no that's different. Mommy goes away for a little while."

"Oh."

"Do you understand? Your mother always comes back."

"So… when people die… they don't come back?"

"No, darling. They don't."

"But… but what if you really miss them?"

"Even if you really miss them. They don't come back no matter how much we miss them."

"But what if we really needed them? And we called them back… Just for a little while?"

"They don't come back darling. They… they can't hear you when you call."

"But…"

"What is it?"

"Mommy said the dead watch over us. If they can see us when we're crying, why don't they come back?"

"… Because they're selfish…"

"What?"

"Because they can't come back. They just can't."

"Do you know anyone that died?"

"I… yes, I do."

"Do you wish they could come back?"

"Very much so, darling."

"How did they die?"

"… It's too late for any more questions. Your mother would have my head if she knew I was keeping you up. It's time for you to go to sleep."

Remus Lupin gently kissed his daughter on the head and stood up. There was so much she didn't know. And he'd protect her from all of it. He wouldn't let the world take his little girl, not like it took him. Her little face was far too pretty to be stained with tears.

"Daddy?"

"Yes darling?"

"Would you cry if I died?"

"Every minute until saw you again."

"Oh."

"Goodnight darling."

"Daddy?"

"Yes?"

"I think I'll live forever then."