Beyond the Darkness - Epilogue
by Rainsong
A/N: Well, there's no author's note really. Thanks to Kit Cloudkicker and Vampire Child for reviewing!
~~~~~
It had been a month since Peter Pettigrew's death at the hands of the Death Eaters. Sirius had been awarded a large sum of money for the mistakes of the Ministry regarding his emprisonment, and had been living in the London flat he owned before. He had also become gained full guardianship of his godson, who was now living with him in the summer fulltime, much to the Dursley's delight. Remus had taken a job at Hogwarts involving 'something other than teaching.' Harry had begun his fifth year. The school was granted a surprise vacation due to a problem with the second-floor plumbing, and Harry was staying with Sirius. On this particular day, they joined Remus to visit some old friends.
Sirius watched in awe as they neared the site he had only seen in pictures. The rolling hills, the glowing sunlight, and the tall, sorrowful willow tree marked its location. For the first time, he was going to see where his best friends were laid to rest.
When they had reached the top of the hill, they all stood silently, gazing at the inscription on the stone. Harry kneeled down and brushed his fingers across it, feeling the cool marble and the grooves of the lettering. After a few minutes, he stepped back, taking in what he was seeing. Before they knew it, the sun was beginning to set. Remus cast a meaningful glance at Harry, and they retreated back down the hill, leaving Sirius alone.
Sirius sat down in front of the stone, unsure of what to do or say. There was no one to talk to, after all. Though it had been 14 years, he still had to remind himself that Lily and James were dead. The very thought still caused a particular pain to swell in his heart.
"Its over now. Pettigrew's dead. Not that that solves a bloody thing." Sirius began awkwardly, looking at the tombstone.
"Well, maybe it does. I'm free, if that counts. And I can help Harry. Its no secret that I've been the world's worst godfather up until this point."
Sirius rested a hand on the tombstone, staring at the ground.
"God, you have no idea whats it been like without you two around. Everything hurts. A newspaper, a picture album, a glass of butterbeer. I don't think there's anything that doesn't hold a memory. The hardest is watching Harry grow up. He looks just like you, James. But he has your eyes, Lil. I've never seen a color that brilliant anywhere else."
"Do you remember that time when we found that tunnel underneath Filch's cabin in our sixth year? It was really dark, and I kept saying that I thought I was going to get lost. But you guys stood behind me, and kicked me along, telling me that I wouldn't get lost if I stayed to the path and looked for a light. I think thats what I have to do. Stay to the path, and follow the light. The only difference is, there's no one behind me anymore. It makes it much, much harder." Sirius paused, trying to fight down the urge to cry.
"The worst part is that I know its my fault. I should have stayed Secret-Keeper. I could have saved you, even if the world was lost to Voldemort. I'll always remember that."
"Now I think I need to focus on being a guardian to Harry. You didn't choose me to sit around all day feeling sorry for myself. As much as I hate to admit it, he'd be fine on his own, too. He's extrordinairly brave, and has some great friends at Hogwarts. But things are getting..bad. Voldemort's back, and I don't know how we're going to stop this one. You both died fighting the good fight. You saved the world, really."
Sirius stopped, and stood up.
"I should be going now. I'll come back though." he said.
Sirius turned to face the path. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a gentle gust of wind pushed at his back, as if urging him forward. When he didn't move, he felt the gust pick up, pushing him harder.
Chuckling, he smiled and said softly "Thanks, guys." With that, he started down the path, into the light of the sunset.
~*~The End~*~
A/N: Thanks again to everyone who reviewed, and everyone who will review in the future. I really enjoyed writing this! Can't wait to start on my next fiction!
-Rainsong
by Rainsong
A/N: Well, there's no author's note really. Thanks to Kit Cloudkicker and Vampire Child for reviewing!
~~~~~
It had been a month since Peter Pettigrew's death at the hands of the Death Eaters. Sirius had been awarded a large sum of money for the mistakes of the Ministry regarding his emprisonment, and had been living in the London flat he owned before. He had also become gained full guardianship of his godson, who was now living with him in the summer fulltime, much to the Dursley's delight. Remus had taken a job at Hogwarts involving 'something other than teaching.' Harry had begun his fifth year. The school was granted a surprise vacation due to a problem with the second-floor plumbing, and Harry was staying with Sirius. On this particular day, they joined Remus to visit some old friends.
Sirius watched in awe as they neared the site he had only seen in pictures. The rolling hills, the glowing sunlight, and the tall, sorrowful willow tree marked its location. For the first time, he was going to see where his best friends were laid to rest.
When they had reached the top of the hill, they all stood silently, gazing at the inscription on the stone. Harry kneeled down and brushed his fingers across it, feeling the cool marble and the grooves of the lettering. After a few minutes, he stepped back, taking in what he was seeing. Before they knew it, the sun was beginning to set. Remus cast a meaningful glance at Harry, and they retreated back down the hill, leaving Sirius alone.
Sirius sat down in front of the stone, unsure of what to do or say. There was no one to talk to, after all. Though it had been 14 years, he still had to remind himself that Lily and James were dead. The very thought still caused a particular pain to swell in his heart.
"Its over now. Pettigrew's dead. Not that that solves a bloody thing." Sirius began awkwardly, looking at the tombstone.
"Well, maybe it does. I'm free, if that counts. And I can help Harry. Its no secret that I've been the world's worst godfather up until this point."
Sirius rested a hand on the tombstone, staring at the ground.
"God, you have no idea whats it been like without you two around. Everything hurts. A newspaper, a picture album, a glass of butterbeer. I don't think there's anything that doesn't hold a memory. The hardest is watching Harry grow up. He looks just like you, James. But he has your eyes, Lil. I've never seen a color that brilliant anywhere else."
"Do you remember that time when we found that tunnel underneath Filch's cabin in our sixth year? It was really dark, and I kept saying that I thought I was going to get lost. But you guys stood behind me, and kicked me along, telling me that I wouldn't get lost if I stayed to the path and looked for a light. I think thats what I have to do. Stay to the path, and follow the light. The only difference is, there's no one behind me anymore. It makes it much, much harder." Sirius paused, trying to fight down the urge to cry.
"The worst part is that I know its my fault. I should have stayed Secret-Keeper. I could have saved you, even if the world was lost to Voldemort. I'll always remember that."
"Now I think I need to focus on being a guardian to Harry. You didn't choose me to sit around all day feeling sorry for myself. As much as I hate to admit it, he'd be fine on his own, too. He's extrordinairly brave, and has some great friends at Hogwarts. But things are getting..bad. Voldemort's back, and I don't know how we're going to stop this one. You both died fighting the good fight. You saved the world, really."
Sirius stopped, and stood up.
"I should be going now. I'll come back though." he said.
Sirius turned to face the path. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a gentle gust of wind pushed at his back, as if urging him forward. When he didn't move, he felt the gust pick up, pushing him harder.
Chuckling, he smiled and said softly "Thanks, guys." With that, he started down the path, into the light of the sunset.
~*~The End~*~
A/N: Thanks again to everyone who reviewed, and everyone who will review in the future. I really enjoyed writing this! Can't wait to start on my next fiction!
-Rainsong