Chapter 14: When Hope Returns
Remus woke up two days later. As he opened his eyes, he noticed that he didn't feel any pain. He looked at his surroundings. He was laying in a bed in a tiny cottage. There was a fire roaring in a fireplace and the cottage felt warm and safe. Remus closed his eyes , but opened them again when he felt another prescience in the room. He felt a sudden pressure on his chest, and tiny fingers poking him. Remus slowly opened his eyes to looked into a pair of bright curious eyes, belonging to a little blond girl. "Hi man." The little girl was smiling. She couldn't have been more than two years old.
"Hello. Who are you? Where are your mommy and daddy," Remus said gently.
"There outside talking. My name is Cory Evenstar," she said proudly.
Remus heard foots steps and saw the door to the room open. In stepped a familiar blond haired man. "Rion?"
"Hello Remus. It's nice to know you remember me. We only met the one time." Rion smiled.
"You and Lilia left a lasting impression. I've also been having a chat with your…daughter?"
Rion looked at Remus with smiling eyes. "Yep. She's been hearing stories about you and has been bugging everyone to wake you up."
Remus remembered the arch and seeing people come out of it. Remus had barely glanced at the people, but got a good idea who had told Cory about him. "Are they here Rion."
"Yes, they're outside. Do you want to see them?"
"Yes."
Remus got out of bed and stood up. Rion picked up Cory and walked outside, then reentered with three others. "Harry. Sirius," Remus said in a whisper. He ran forward and embraced the two men. Lilia walked over and wrapped her arm around Rion's and smiled.
"How? Where have you been?" Remus stepped back and looked at the men. Harry's hair was much longer and unruly than it had been. His lightning bolt scar was still visible. He had grown a lot and was as tall as him, and he had a more muscular body. Sirius was also more built than the last time Remus had seen him. His hair was still long, but was starting to turn gray.
Harry looked at Remus and said. "We've been to hell and back and our story is twelve years long."
Sirius took over. "Their story is twelve years long. Mine is thirteen."
"Sirius, now isn't the time for trivialities." Harry said smiling.
Remus laughed. "However long it is, I have the time to listen." Remus looked at each of the others and his eyes rested on Cory. "I have a feeling it's a fascinating tale."
The six of them sat down and the story began.
Sorry the chapters are so short and that I haven't updated. I promise the next chapter will be longer. But hey, aren't you happy our heroes are back?