HELLO lovelies!
This chapter is far longer than anticipated, truly. I thought it would only be half as long at most. It currently stands as the longest chapter in Part II, but we shall see. Either way, I am proud of this chapter, and it pulls at my heartstrings. I hope you enjoy it!
Please leave a review and let me know what you think x
My tumblr: indiebluecrown. tumblr. com
Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling, and only the story line and any OC's belong to me.
For AEdmo13, because I know they have been highly anticipating this chapter x
"Breathe darling.
This is just a chapter.
It's not your whole story."
- S.C. Lourie
Friday, April 10th, 1981
Little Venice, London, UK
Clifton Nurseries
A woman with shoulder-length, straight, white hair reminiscent of snow moved down the main outdoor aisle of the vast plant nursery. The area was bright, airy and open to the elements. Several white columns lined the area and supported the angled members that formed a series of side-by-side glass, gable roofs.
The blooming fauna and shrubs around the woman brought her comfort as she heaved a cumbersomely large clay pot down the aisle. It was currently empty. Several plants that needed to be potted awaited her in the short courtyard between the outdoor and indoor sections of the nursery.
"Rowan!" A voice called from in front of her, and she grunted loudly as she halted and hefted the pot upwards and tried to get a better handle on it.
A strikingly tall, handsome man with dark skin and whiskey-coloured, kind eyes approached. His eyes widened as he noted the pot in her hands. He hurried over and helped her carry it the remainder of the way towards her destination. She wiped her brow with the back of her gloved hand, and peered up at her companion.
Rowan admired his neat, fine locs that he pulled back into a short ponytail—out of his face—during work. He was wearing a short-sleeved, baby blue t-shirt and when he crossed his arms over his chest, she couldn't help but notice the way his lovely biceps bulged. The man was attractive, intelligent and downright charming.
"Miles!" Rowan greeted as she removed her gardening gloves and tucked them into the front pocket of her black apron. Rowan's hair was pulled back in a tight braid, but some of the shorter hairs had escaped and framed her face. When she wasn't working, she normally wore it down and covered her left eye.
"A few of us were going to head to the pub after work, and I was wondering if you wanted to come?" Miles smiled, his teeth bright and white and dazzling.
"That sounds nice, Miles, count me in," Rowan nodded, smiling softly. Miles's smile widened. A few customers were perusing the interior gardens and had spilled outside.
Rowan, her pots and plants were to the left-side of the area out of the way, and she smiled pleasantly at the older couple and young woman as they walked by. Miles dipped his head politely, and raised a hand in greeting.
Miles turned back to Rowan. "Do you need any help?"
"I should have a handle on things, thank you though," Rowan replied primly.
Miles nodded, and shot another smile her way before he left her alone. Rowan heaved out a deep sigh. Miles was a delightful man, but she was engaged.
Even if my fiancé doesn't remember I exist, Rowan thought, full of melancholy.
Five months into her solitude, Riley decided that she needed to find something constructive to occupy herself. She had been puttering restlessly around the house, re-reading her favourite books aloud to Draco's grey owl; her only companion.
Consequently, Riley began working at Clifton Nurseries under the alias Rowan Pembrooke. She'd charmed some plain parchment into identification cards and glowing references before her interview. The lady who hired her, took an immediate liking to Riley, and gave her the job on the spot. Riley anticipated it being more difficult, but soon found out they needed the staff.
And thus, Riley settled into some semblance of normalcy. She had a job that she enjoyed, she had a home, and her co-workers were lovely. Although, there were several rumours going around about what had happened to her eye, but so far, none of her coworkers were brave enough to ask.
During the first two months after Draco left, Riley was preoccupied with browsing aisles in the shops as she determined what colour to paint her kitchen. Riley did a lot of window shopping as she leisurely picked out all her furniture; the witch was in no hurry to furnish her house as she didn't have anything else to do at the time.
Consequently, she attempted to reach out to her parents, but was met with the grim reality that the spell had not only worked on Wizarding folk, but it also affected Muggles. As a result, she was reduced to a stranger darkening their doorstep on an otherwise perfectly splendid, September afternoon.
Funnily enough, anyone new that she met, remembered her once she used her assumed name, Rowan.
Riley briefly wondered if that meant they hadn't recognised her in any of the photographs around their house, or whether when they looked at said photographs the spell kicked in and caused them to mentally gloss over her. She didn't ponder on it for too long, it was a painful concept; an unfortunate side-effect that she was sure Draco and Hermione hadn't thought of.
Every night for the first two months, Riley would surround herself with a handful of Sirius's shirts that she'd nicked. They still smelt of him, and his scent helped her sleep, but eventually his smell faded and it was as if she was left all alone again.
Which is how Riley ended up seeking out employment, a purpose. She'd tired quickly of not doing anything. And so, five days a week she had a place to go where she could forget the wizarding war she was not allowed to partake in, and she could forget that her existence had been wiped from her loved ones minds.
After that, the months slid by effortlessly, Riley would go out for drinks with her co-workers, and attend house parties. Normally ones hosted by Miles, and they would drink cheap wine and play harmless, entertaining games. Most of her co-workers were older than her, and had settled down somewhat, so things like charcuterie boards were often present. It was strange how detached Riley was from her old life.
The seasons changed as they always did, and before Riley knew it, over a year had gone by.
Sunday, November 1st, 1981
Undisclosed Location Along Wales's Coastline, UK
Sett Cottage
Riley blinked thrice, stunned by the sight before her. Her front door was wide open, and she was gazing down at the landing from the otherside of the threshold.
I must have drunk too much last night, Riley thought with a grimace as she tiredly raked her fingers through her hair. Riley had gone out with Miles and his friends to a massive Halloween party the night before. Miles introduced her to his new girlfriend, Jodie, and Riley liked her immediately. Jodie was a charming girl.
(Miles had asked Riley out once or twice in the past, but once it was clear Riley wasn't interested, he respectfully backed off.)
Riley got back home at four in the morning, and she'd slept until the late hours of the afternoon. The sun was setting in the background, but she'd heard a strange sound from outside, like something scratching at her door, so she went to investigate.
Riley's black cardigan had fallen off her shoulder, exposing her bare skin as she was wearing a lavender, satin slip with flimsy straps, and even as the bitter wind blew against her, she was rooted to the spot, unable to move as she tried to comprehend what she was seeing.
"Midnight?" Riley murmured, lowering herself to her knees, hands folded in her lap as she gazed down at the black cat.
"Hello lovely. Why are you here? Weren't you with Lily and James?"
Draco and Hermione had always assumed the cat could somehow understand them, and it'd appeared they'd been right. She might not be a kneazle, but she possessed her own magic. Unbeknownst to the Potters, she knew when they'd perish and unable to bear witness to it, the feline had left Godric's Hollow several days prior. There was no way for her to feasibly convey that to Riley, so the cat remained still and silent.
"Did something happen?"
A feeble meow left Midnight's lips. Riley gazed deep into the cat's keen eyes, and through unknown means, she understood.
Riley's hands flew to her mouth, and her back curved as she choked down a sob. "James?" She got out.
Midnight appeared to shake her head, and her ear twitched.
"Lily?"
Midnight repeated the action, and Riley gulped in a shaky breath. Draco talked about Harry in his future, and she hoped that that remained true; that the events to come would stay set in stone. Otherwise why had they gone through all the trouble of ensuring the timeline remained intact? Why had James and Lily died? Why were they all suffering? It would break Draco and Hermione if all their efforts were in vain.
"Harry?" Riley asked. Harry had to be okay.
Nothing. Midnight didn't budge, she merely stared at Riley.
"Midnight. Midnight, is Harry alive?" Riley asked, eyes wide, her hands scrambling to find something concrete and steady; she grasped the doorframe.
The cat bowed her head. Riley almost collapsed from relief, and she dragged air into her lungs, tears brimming in her eyes. Midnight rose and padded over to the witch. Riley gathered the cat into her arms, cradling her to her chest as she wept.
Ugly, graceless tears fell from her eyes, her nose leaked and she clamorously roared her grief. James and Lily were gone. Riley mourned her dear friends, she mourned their son who was left behind without his parents. Riley cried until no more tears fell from her eyes, and she slumped against her open door, allowing the cruel, frigid wind to batter her.
Midnight normally did not allow extended periods of physical contact, but she didn't squirm or try to escape Riley's grasp. Eventually, Riley relinquished her hold on the cat, and on trembling legs she stood and closed her front door.
Riley headed into the living room and collapsed on her couch: she coiled into a ball, her knees drawn to her chest, and she stared blankly at the opposite wall. Midnight curled up on the floor under the coffee table, dutifully watching over Riley.
"They're gone," Riley whispered, her voice raspy and faint. Her skin was chilled, and her heart heavy. Her friends were gone.
Days later, the wizarding world was still rejoicing at the defeat of Voldemort and praising The Boy Who Lived. One upside to no one remembering Riley was that she was able to walk through the streets of Diagon Alley without drawing attention to herself, however, to be on the safe side, she'd changed her hair colour and temporarily glamoured her eye and scar. It was only then that Riley was able to gather information about what happened that fateful night.
Harry Potter was 'The Boy Who Lived', and Albus Dumbledore had privately handled everything. Harry's current whereabouts were unknown: Dumbledore refused to disclose it for the boy's safety, privacy, and to be respectful of James and Lily Potter's untimely demise. It hadn't taken Riley long to figure all that out from a few drunk patrons at the Leaky Cauldron.
Riley's stomach tossed in self-loathing as she came to the sickening realisation that whilst she'd been partying—having the time of her life—James and Lily had been murdered by Voldemort. Harry had apparently vanquished him in return, how, no one knew, but nor did they care. (Halloween would be forever ruined for Riley.)
"Shite," Riley muttered under her breath as she hastily wove through the cobblestone streets of Diagon Alley. Life was being breathed back into the area, a bustle of wix were celebrating and wearing their finest, most vibrant robes. The streets were packed, and Riley was overwhelmed. She tried to escape as swiftly as she could, but then a group of men's loud voices drew her attention.
"Heard it was Sirius Black who betrayed them. Not a surprise if you ask me. His entire family is rotten, the lot of them. The rumours must be true, madness runs through their veins."
Riley stuttered to a stop, and a girthy woman bumped into her and sent her stumbling to her left; she fell into the side of a building. The impact knocked what air she had left in her lungs out. She couldn't breathe.
Another man piped up, "not only did he betray them. He murdered twelve muggles, and one of his friends from school, Peter Pettigrew! I heard all they found of the poor chap was a finger!"
Riley couldn't listen to anything further, she held one hand against the building as she strode forward, and her pace quickened until she broke out into a run. Witches and wizards stepped back out of the way, but were too concerned with their own merriment and conversations to pay her much mind.
As soon as she got to an apparition point, she twisted on the spot and vanished abruptly. Riley collapsed on her front lawn—onto the damp grass—a couple feet away from the front of her cottage. She was panting, her hair had fallen into her face and the wind whipped against her mercilessly. Riley dug her fingers into the earth and a raw, strangled scream burst out of her.
"Sirius is a good man, Riles. Truly. Don't believe anything you might hear to the contrary." Draco's words echoed in her mind, and Riley's body quivered. She squeezed her eyes tightly and Draco's words were a chant on an endless loop in her thoughts. Those men were wrong, Sirius would never betray James and Lily, much less murder Peter and twelve innocent muggles.
So, Riley chose to believe Draco's words and they were what gave her the strength to stand once more. She stood, and retreated back into her cottage. That night, she wore one of Sirius's shirts to bed. She'd called in sick at work that morning, stating that it was a stomach bug, so she wasn't due back for a couple days.
Riley's thoughts were plagued and haunted into the night as she aptly came to the conclusion that Sirius was in Azkaban now. Riley was lying in her Queen sized bed, with an array of comfortable pillows and wrapped up in her soft sheets, and the man she loved was locked away in a cell. A cell in a dismal, life-draining place, defenseless and surrounded by Dementors who feasted on happiness.
Sirius was alone, imprisoned for a crime he hadn't committed, mourning the loss of his friends, and their entire society was convinced that he was the one responsible for their deaths. Riley whimpered, and pressed her palms against her eyes.
She wanted to march into the Ministry and demand justice. But she had no proof, and no one had any memories of her. They may just end up throwing her in a cell for what they would see as mad ranting and raving.
"Twelve years," Riley cried into the darkness. She was powerless to save the man she loved, and even if she managed to see him this very moment, he would have no idea who she was. She couldn't handle this on her own anymore, it was too much. Formidable, stupendous waves of emotion raged inside of her.
It overwhelmed her to the point where she passed out. Midnight sprang onto her bed, and curled up at the foot of it, watching over her mistress as Riley navigated the dark corridors of her night terrors.
Riley made a mistake. Her body had traitorously moved of its own accord, and she'd apparated to Devon. More specifically, Ottery St. Catchpole, a small village that housed both muggle and magical communities. It was also where the Weasleys, Diggorys, Fawcetts and Lovegoods lived.
Riley had paced for an absurd amount of time on the path that led to the Lovegood's property. She wished she had some of Hermione brazen courage bottled so that she could use it in situations like these. She eventually summoned enough bravery to open the latch on the small, wrought-iron, black side-gate that stood between her and her destination.
Riley adjusted her black leather jacket, squared her shoulders and pushed the gate open. The Lovegoods home was hidden amongst rolling hills and vast wild gardens. Riley had absently picked a few wildflowers on her way, and the shoddily put together bouquet was grasped tightly in her hand.
Riley passed through the gate, and continued up the path for a few minutes, surrounded by trees and thriving fauna despite the frigid weather. It was like an enchanted garden, and she swore she saw a few pixies hiding amongst the flowers. It wasn't long before the Lovegood's house came into view. It was shaped like a massive rook, and Riley found herself smiling.
However fear pumped furiously through her veins as she realised Pandora Lovegood was standing in front of the house, hands tucked into the pockets of her oversized, light-blue trousers, staring directly at Riley.
Riley halted several feet away from her former friend, her heart in her throat, a vice grip on her makeshift bouquet.
Pandora cocked her head to the side. "Those flowers for me?" Riley's eyes widened, speechless. "Well, you certainly took your sweet time getting here, so I guess that's as good an excuse as any."
Riley's lips moved soundlessly for several moments. Pandora did not seem surprised by her appearance, nor perturbed in the slightest. In fact, she looked amused at Riley's bafflement.
"Rowena. The face you're making is exactly like that time I found you stuffing yourself with a mountain of biscuits in the kitchens in the middle of the night." Pandora smirked, rocking back on her heels.
As Riley processed Pandora's statement, she took in the woman's appearance. Pandora's dirty blonde hair was piled messily onto her head and secured in place by a slender paintbrush. She was wearing a plain, white crop top. Riley recognised it, Pandora had 'borrowed' it from her but never given it back. Her trousers cut off above her ankles, and on her feet were thick, bright yellow socks.
"What?" Riley managed to get out.
"Welcome back, Riles," Pandora's expression morphed into something warmer, kinder. The emptiness and loneliness that'd overrun Riley's life in the two weeks since All Hallows' Eve shattered and Riley began to cry.
Riley wailed as she sprinted at full-speed towards her friend, her eyes stung as the wind cut across her face, and her hair whipped out behind her. She practically crashed into Pandora, whose arms wrapped reassuringly around her, and low shushing sounds were ushered into her ears but were drowned out by Riley's cries.
Riley gripped onto her friend desperately, and she let out everything she'd been holding in since Draco left. Her best friend remembered her. She didn't have to pretend to be Rowan Pembrooke, or get turned away again like she had with her parents. Pandora knew who she was.
"It's okay, sweetling. I'm here now, it's okay."
"S—Sirius, and James…and L—Lily…" Riley cried, unable to say anything more. Pandora read between the lines with uncanny skill.
"I know, my love. James and Lily's passing was a great tragedy. Not to mention, Sirius is innocent, but I don't have to tell you that. It must have been so hard for you since Draco left."
Pandora not only remembered her, but she remembered Draco and Hermione as well. Riley thought she'd made a mistake, but in actuality, she made one of the best decisions of her life.
"We have much to discuss, Riles, but before we get to all that…there's someone I'd like you to meet." Pandora said. Riley was hiccoughing, gasping for air, and she pulled back to look at her friend, who was blurry through her tears.
"Wh—Who?" Riley blubbered.
"Luna," Pandora smiled as if she'd just revealed an improper secret.
"Luna?"
"You'll see, now let's get you inside before I freeze my arse off. My feet are cold." Pandora said as she wrapped an arm around Riley's shoulders and guided her to the front door.
Riley was besotted with Luna the moment she laid eyes on her. The small girl was clutching a turquoise blanket twice her size, sitting up in the middle of the living room with a small smile on her face. She had a tuft of pale hair that stuck straight up on her head.
"I missed your entire pregnancy, and the birth of your daughter. I am a wretched friend," Riley whispered.
"You had a lot to deal with. Don't worry about it for even a second, love."
Riley was tucked into Pandora's side, and her friend briefly squeezed Riley's shoulder. It'd taken the better part of twenty minutes, but Riley calmed down, and Pandora explained who Luna was. (Pandora had taken the flowers from Riley, and gave them a new home in a slender, crystal vase.)
"Everywhere she goes, that silly blanket follows. Plus, I constantly have to keep an eye on her these days, or she crawls somewhere she isn't supposed to," Pandora said, her voice chock full of affection. She strode over to her daughter, and knelt on the ground in front of her. She clapped her hands together, smiling and said, "isn't that right, Lu?"
Luna began babbling softly to her Mum, gesturing in a purposeful manner that maybe Pandora understood, but made no sense to Riley.
"Can I hold her?" Riley asked as she crept over her friend and her daughter. Riley slowly lowered herself to her knees, and sat back on her haunches.
"Of course, Riley," Pandora said, shooting her a droll look. As if the answer was obvious, and she was unsure why Riley had bothered to ask in the first place.
Riley scooted forward, hands extended, and carefully picked the girl up and settled her on her hip. Luna's silvery blue eyes stared into hers, and she was enchanted. Luna's hand moved to pat Riley's left cheek and she was staring at Riley's milky white eye. Riley smiled at how fascinated the girl was.
"Hello, Luna," Riley said.
"You're her Godmother," Pandora stated, and Riley turned to her right and gazed at her best mate. "Though, I suppose you technically have to agree first."
"Really?"
"In case anything happens to me, I know you'll look after her," Pandora said nonchalantly, her fierce, blue eyes glittering with something unknown.
Riley's brow puckered, and she faced Luna once more. The girl smelled of pomegranate and cherries, and Riley let it wash over her. The emptiness inside her was being filled, not fully, it would never be full again. "Of course I'll be her Godmother, Dora."
A flicker of something unreadable crossed Pandora's face, her smile tighter than before, and she nodded curtly. "I should put on the kettle. Xeno is at work right now, but he should be home soon. He doesn't remember you unfortunately."
"Does he still work for the Prophet?" Riley asked absentmindedly, too busy watching the everchanging expressions crossing Luna's face as she curiously examined her surroundings.
"He does, but he'll probably quit soon. Xeno wants to start his own tabloid. Focus on other things besides the mundane comings and goings of Wizarding society. The Prophet has that covered, and I'm sure things will relatively calm down until You-Know-Who's return."
Riley's blood ran cold. Her gaze fixed on Luna, she shakily asked, "what exactly do you mean by that, Dora?"
"Simple really. Harry may have gotten rid of him for now, but he'll be back. Not today, or tomorrow, but someday." Pandora said cavalierly, shrugging as she spoke. She ran her fingers across the carpet, drawing concentric circles. Riley met her friend's gaze, and shuddered at the surety in her eyes.
After that day, Riley's quality of life improved significantly. She would stay at the Lovegood's rook-shaped house every weekend, and her re-introduction to Xenophilius was pleasant; the man didn't press for details about her past. He also was unperturbed by Riley's intrusion every weekend, in fact he often looked forward to seeing her. He enjoyed her company thoroughly.
Strangely, even though she told Xeno her real name during their 'first' meeting, he always remembered it and never forgot her, unlike everyone else she'd told. Riley tried not to think about it too much or what it meant. (He of course never recalled anything prior to that November afternoon.)
Xenophilius was surprised to come home from work and find a guest in his living room, sitting on the couch, drinking tea and having a mid-afternoon snack with his wife. But the man hid his surprise well, and welcomed her warmly. Consequently, he strolled over to the couch and gently scooped his daughter into his arms, as not to rouse her from her fitful slumber; Luna had been napping in the space between the witches, her blanket held tightly in hand.
At the end of December, Midnight disappeared in the middle of the night and didn't re-appear until after the new year came. Riley soon learned that the cat was pregnant.
Pandora and Riley attended the New Year's Eve party Miles and his girlfriend were hosting. Pandora came up with a simple story that partially resembled the truth. They claimed that Pandora was an old friend from the private boarding school in Scotland Riley had attended during her adolescence. Additionally, they said that Pandora'd been 'out of the country' for the past few years, but she'd moved back recently.
As the countdown began, several couples, smitten, grabbed hold of their significant others and kissed at midnight. Riley and Pandora kissed each other's cheeks and hugged as they greeted a new year.
Riley missed Sirius. Despite having friends, a home and a cat, there was a hole in her life. Every morning she woke, rolled over, hand reaching for Sirius, but she always met a cold pillow.
Riley missed talking endlessly about everything and nothing for hours, about fascinating matters and mundane ones. Sirius always managed to make even the most boring topics interesting. She liked hearing his deep voice, and she loved watching his facial expressions change as he spoke at length.
Riley missed Sirius's warmth, the way he would play with her hair absently, or lace their hands together whenever they were sitting beside one another.
Helga, Riley missed being intimate with someone, whether it was kissing for hours, or passionately losing herself in Sirius's embrace in their bed all day with no regard for the time.
Riley missed his hugs, and the way he dropped kisses onto her forehead as he passed her. Sometimes he would lift her off her feet, swing her in a circle, and pepper her face with kisses.
Riley missed hearing his random theories about Transfiguration, even after they left school, and in spite of the war, his passion for the subject never died.
Riley missed him. She missed her wizard, with all his flaws and recklessness. She loved him, scars and all; the scars leftover from his childhood that he didn't openly discuss. He'd only told her a few details, but it was certainly more than he'd told anyone else.
Riley pressed her painted lips together, and as the new year began she raised her flute glass filled with champagne in a toast to her best mate. Pandora saw through her with her piercing eyes, and a shudder ran down Riley's spine but she mustered a smile regardless. Pandora shared it.
Riley missed Sirius Black.
Friday, April 20th, 1990
The years had passed peacefully as time's continuous march proceeded forth. Unfortunately, misfortune struck the Lovegood household as one of Pandora's many experiments went wrong. Luna was present in Pandora's study, and she'd witnessed everything. Thankfully, the young girl was unharmed as she was playing in the far corner of the room.
Pandora had finally gotten her hands on some Acromantula venom, it had taken years since it was so rare and highly-valued. She immediately began researching it in depth.
A mishap during one of her tests caused the venom to enter her system—a highly concentrated dose—and her body swiftly stiffened. The antidote was in one of the nearby drawers, but she didn't have enough time to grab it and protect her daughter, who had dropped her toys, gotten up and was making her way over to her Mother.
Pandora chose to save her daughter in that moment, and as her limbs were afflicted with rigidity, she cast a wandless Petrificus Totalus charm on her daughter. To ensure that Luna would stay as far away from her as possible in order to escape a similar fate.
"Stay there, Lu. It's going to be okay," Pandora gasped as her face lost its colour, and as she lowered her head to her desk. Never taking her eyes off her daughter.
When Xenophilius found the pair, his wife was slumped over her desk, her veins black and showing through her pale skin. Pandora was facing her daughter, her eyes closed, but there was a tight smile on her face. She had tried to reassure her daughter that it was all going to be okay until she left this realm.
The moment Pandora died, her magic released her daughter, but Luna remained immobilised, incapable of movement.
The man could not process the scene before him; his brain would not permit him to, it made no sense. Xenophilius swept his daughter into his arms and carried her from the room. He carefully placed her on the couch, and ordered his thoughts enough to floo call the Ministry's general reception desk.
Not too long after, some members of the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes were crawling around the premises, and Xenophilius and Luna were forced to leave the house until they 'dealt with the problem'.
In a dazed state of shock, Xeno piggyback carried his daughter down the way until they reached the Burrow. Molly Weasley's smile was bright as she opened the door, but she hastily realised something was amiss, and she ushered the two into her sitting room and readied some tea.
Molly's two youngest, Ron and Ginny, were hiding and spying on Xeno and Luna from the adjoining room. They clung to the doorframe, pushing and shoving each other—not to mention shushing one another—as they tried to get a peek at what was going on in the other room.
Molly pretended to not hear them, and sighed heavily. Neither Xenophilius nor Luna seemed to notice. The girl was staring blankly into her teacup, her long, dirty-blonde hair hanging in front of her face like a curtain. Xenophilius was in heady denial, his shoulders sagged, his knees were pressed together and his feet turned inwards.
Later that evening, Riley was humming, dancing leisurely as she prepared some lasagna for her dinner, when a silvery-blue, corporeal owl Patronus flew into her kitchen. Riley stopped chopping her basil, placed her knife down on her wooden cutting board and warily faced the owl.
Its beak opened, and the quivering words that came out of it caused Riley's knees to buckle, and she crumpled to the ground. She hyperventilated and any air she tried to inhale was instantly pressed out of her lungs; she clawed at her chest and her eyes darted about helplessly.
The Lovegoods were practically the only family Riley had left, but fate had seen it fit to cruelly rip someone else she cared about from her. Riley slumped sideways, her cheek pressed against the cool floor, her fingers dragging across the ground.
"Why?" Riley croaked, gasping for air. "Why?"
Midnight had passed away three years ago, but Riley had kept one of her kittens and named her Dawn. Dawn had a similar disposition to her Mother, and her sleek, slender form crept over to her Mistress as she investigated what all the commotion was about. There was a ovular white patch of fur around her left eye.
Upon finding Riley in a pitiful state, Dawn opted to bat her chin with her paw and meow softly. Silent tears were leaking from Riley's red-rimmed eyes and she stared dully at her cat. Dawn yawned, her tongue lying flat against the bottom of her mouth.
"Pandora's dead…" Riley said the words aloud, her tongue numb and swollen. Dawn sat down, raised a paw and began licking it. "What do I do now?"
Dawn stopped licking her paw, and stood up. She made a racket as she trotted off, as if relaying numerous instructions to her Mistress as she went.
Riley rolled onto her back, arms extended on either side of her, and closed her eyes. The witch stayed there for the remainder of the night, awake but on the precipice of unconsciousness the entire time.
In the subsequent months, Riley grieved on her own. She quit her job, and abruptly cut all physical ties with her Muggle friends. She would miss Miles and his wife, Jodie. They'd settled down, and had two children over the past five years. She wrote them a brief letter that vaguely explained Pandora's passing and that she needed her space for the time being. Riley used the Nurseries as a return address so she knew she would never receive a response.
Time passed by listlessly, Riley was a husk of her former self, she lost considerable weight, and the world lost its sparkle. The only activity she partook in was half-heartedly tending her garden, but she found herself apathetic to how the plants fared.
One day, she woke up, and it didn't hurt as much. That day, whilst she had the energy, she decided to visit the Lovegood's. It was the middle of November, the weather was unforgivingly bitter and Riley wrapped her large, umber scarf tightly around her neck and lower half of her face.
She nearly lost her motivation once she reached the front door. She stomped the snow from her black boots on the yellow welcome mat, and swallowed thickly before she rapped her knuckles across the front door. Riley tucked her gloved hands under her armpits, trying to warm her chilled fingers as she waited.
Xenophilius opened the door, his pale hair was much shorter than before, only an inch or two long. His blue eyes were sad, he'd also lost his sparkle, and his thick eyebrows rose in surprise. "Riley."
Riley pulled her scarf down so that it didn't cover her mouth. She sniffed loudly. The cold was drying out her eyes and the tip of her nose was pink. "I'm sorry it's taken me so long…I just…it was too hard—" Riley's face crumpled, and she was unable to go on.
Xenophilius stepped forward and tugged her into his front, he was impossibly warm, and Riley sagged against him. She weakly wrapped her arms around him. "You have nothing to be sorry about."
The Lovegoods were her family, and even if Pandora was gone, her good friend—who'd become like a brother to her—and her God-daughter were still here. They understood her pain, she wasn't alone.
"Now come inside, it's freezing out here," Xenophilius said, and he extracted himself from her embrace, took hold of her hand, and pulled her into the house. The warmth hit her immediately, and Riley smiled crookedly, it felt a lot like home. Something was still missing, but for now, this was enough.
Saturday, December 18th, 1993
Scotland, UK
Hogsmeade Village
Riley wanted one measly glimpse. She wanted to see Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy. She wanted to see them before they were the people she'd grown to know. She was also desperate to see Harry.
Besides, I miss Luna, Riley thought, even though she was fully aware that Luna wasn't old enough to go on Hogsmeade Village trips.
The witch was proud of her disguise. Simple black robes that were lined with wool—she'd woven warming charms into the fabric for an extra layer of warmth—her black leather boots hidden under her hem that barely skimmed the ground. Riley had transfigured her hair an unremarkable shade of brown, painstakingly added freckles to her nose and cheeks. She wore her hair out, and used it to cover her eye. For an added effect, she deepened the wrinkles by the corners of her eyes and on her forehead. She wouldn't be able to maintain the numerous layers of intricate glamours forever, but she would most likely be able to keep them in place for a few hours.
Riley scowled at herself. She'd returned to her Muggle roots and didn't use magic for most things these days, so she was out-of-practice and it took more effort than it used to cast spells.
Riley apparated directly into the village, landing a few feet from the Hog's Head. Snow crunched under her feet, her robes swishing about her as she strode forward. She gazed around in wonder. It'd been years since she'd been in the village, and nostalgia shocked her system. A wistful smile took over her face as she stopped in front of the Hog's Head's entrance and gazed at the students milling about in the distance.
The numerous students had created several informal paths as they walked from one building to the next, and Riley was grateful as she hadn't bargained on trudging through inches of the white powder. Although, the snow banks on the paths' flanking sides looked fluffy and part of her wanted to dive right in.
Riley reached Honeydukes when something she hadn't felt in years struck her like a bolt of lightning. An old bond flared in her chest and its warmth spread from her magical core all the way to her fingertips and toes.
Remus, Riley thought in amazement. She crept over to one of the slightly fogged-up display windows of Honeydukes and she peered through it. A wash of unfamiliar faces were milling around the sweets shop, but Riley spotted a figure by the till, paying for his purchases that she would recognise anywhere. Riley pulled the hood attached to her robes over her head, her eyes widening in shock.
Riley's feet hurriedly carried her in the opposite direction, and she almost bumped into a tiny witch with crinkly, dirty-blonde hair. A plum coloured jumper dwarfed the girl, a ravenclaw scarf was wrapped around her neck, dirigible plum earrings hung from her ears, a crown of snowdrops and holly was seated on top of her head, black trousers were tucked into thick, neon pink socks, and she wasn't wearing shoes.
"Luna?" Riley hissed under her breath. The witch turned towards her Godmother with a dreamy smile, and clapped her hands together in excitement. Even with the glamours and enchantments, Luna knew it was her.
Riley closed the remaining distance between them, and placed her hands on the girl's shoulders. "Why in Helga's name are you not wearing shoes?"
Luna shrugged languidly. "Aunt Riley, are you here for Padfoot?"
At that very moment, the faintest hint of two other bonds flew from Riley's chest in various directions and she frowned. She also swore she caught a whiff of cinnamon and leather, but dismissed it as a baseless conjecture.
Sometimes, Luna said strange things that baffled Riley despite having known her her entire life. This was one of them; Sirius was far away, locked away in Azkaban.
"Why would I be?" Riley asked, mouth curved in displeasure as she noted that Luna was stubbornly shifting topics away from her lack of footwear. She also noticed that Luna was carrying two packs of sugar quills.
"Have you been following the news lately, Auntie?"
"No, it's easier if I don't pay attention to it. I'm not supposed to be involved," Riley reminded Luna.
Luna nodded once. "You should ask Daddy what's been going on."
The girl possessed her Mother's unsettlingly accurate gift of Sight, but Riley didn't know its limitations or how much the girl actually knew.
When Luna returned home for the Christmas Holidays during her first year, she had pulled Riley aside and laid her cards on the table. In the endearing, roundabout, dream-like way that only she seemed capable of. Luna knew the basics. A memory spell was in place so no one remembered Riley's existence, and it would be lifted when one day, her upperclassmen, Hermione and Draco travelled to the past.
Luna told Riley that she hadn't properly formed opinions on Hermione Granger nor Draco Malfoy. Although, Hermione apparently had a penchant for getting into trouble because of her friendship with Harry Potter and Ron Weasley. She regaled a tale of the three of them battling a troll in their first year, and Hermione being petrified by the basilisk that lived in the Chamber of Secrets last year.
Riley felt faint as Luna spoke, and asked how she knew all these things. Luna shrugged, and went back to her painting of the wildflower field behind the Lovegood's house when it was in full bloom during the summer.
"Besides, Lu, how did you get out of the Castle when you're a second year, and not allowed out on Hogsmeade weekends?"
Luna held up one of her sugar quill packs, and with a furrowed brow Riley accepted it. Luna ducked her gaze and ripped open the other packet. She removed a sugar quill with fingers flushed pink from the cold, and popped the end in her mouth and sucked on it. "The whomping willow is a lovely tree isn't it?"
Riley smirked knowingly. Luna Lovegood was a clever witch, and she suspected many of her classmates underestimated her due to her dreamy mannerisms and peculiar way of talking. "The Shrieking Shack isn't haunted, but you know that already. Either way, we shouldn't be discussing these matters out in public."
Thankfully, they were out of the way, and the youth wandering the village paid the pair of them no mind. It was as if they were invisible.
"I find the walk to the Shrieking Shack to be especially pleasant," Luna commented airily. Riley wrapped an arm around Luna's shoulders and the witches proceeded in the Shack's direction.
Behind them, hovering outside the door to Honeydukes, Remus Lupin was clutching his paper bag containing his chocolate and other sweets to his front, and peering around in confusion. After several moments, he shrugged and headed over to the Three Broomsticks for warmth and a pint.
As they walked, the witch's conversation picked up in hushed tones. "You were saying something about the papers?"
"Padfoot escaped Azkaban. Your Sirius is free, and he is closer than one might think," Luna said, happily munching on a sugar quill.
Immense guilt had plagued her for twelve years that she couldn't do anything about the imprisonment of the man she loved. Thinking about him being locked up, probably neglected and mistreated created torturous rot in her mind and drove her into periods of great depression. Over the years she learned that wallowing did not change Sirius's predicament, so she tried not to think about it.
"He…escaped?"
"The water must have been cold," Luna stated as she pulled another sugar quill from the packet. Riley's thoughts were spinning in circles. The pair didn't reach the Shrieking Shack, they turned around halfway, and Riley guided Luna back into the heart of the village. She instructed the girl to head straight back to the Castle and for Circe's sake to wear shoes outdoors, especially in the dead of winter.
Riley waited until Luna was a tiny speck in the distance, and was about to leave when she spotted a teenage boy dressed finely in all black, with slicked-back platinum blond hair. He strode confidently in her direction with two larger boys flanking him on either side. He didn't even look at her as he passed by. The faint string tying them together followed him. Riley had unknowingly been holding her breath. She'd overstayed her welcome, and without another moment's hesitation she apparated away.
A trail of clothing items were strewn throughout Sett Cottage from the front door to the foot of Riley's bed. Whilst insightful, her visit to Hogsmeade was overwhelming and draining. She'd removed her glamours, pulled on an orange jumper and black knickers before collapsing onto her bed. She'd wriggled under her sheets and quilt, and laid on her side; her hands tucked under her chin.
She thought she would cry, but no tears came.
It'd been twelve years. Riley felt as if she'd lived several lifetimes since then. Yet, vivid memories of lying in bed beside Sirius, running her hands through his hair as they whispered promises of their future made it feel like it was yesterday. Riley's eye caught the glittering ring on her left hand, and her eyes burned.
"I miss you, Sirius," Riley confessed aloud. Sirius must have lived through hell in Azkaban, and doubt grew in her gut that he would forgive her for not doing anything.
Sunday, November 20th, 1994
Ottery St. Catchpole, Devon, England, UK
Lovegood Home
"Rita Skeeter is a horrid lady, who bends the truth as she deems fit, but you have to admit she has a way with words," Xenophilius said as he perused the article on the front page of the Daily Prophet.
In years prior, Riley had religiously ignored the papers, but she requested Xeno hold onto all the papers that mentioned Sirius last year for her, and she devoured the articles during their weekly visits. However, once she learned that Sirius evaded capture—remaining at large—she stopped paying attention.
She was content for it to stay that way, but then Harry wound up as a TriWizard Champion despite being underage, and she'd been desperate for any and all news about how he was doing. The first task was the day prior, and Skeeter had written up a lengthy exposé on the event.
Riley imagined Lily's fury, and James's outrage. Neither of them would have allowed their fourteen year old to be thrust into such a dangerous competition. The couple would have marched into the Castle, magic sparking and they would have fought tooth and nail to have their son withdraw immediately.
Riley smiled briefly as she envisioned Lily setting Dumbledore's beard on fire and telling him to bugger off. One could dream. Riley put a lot of pieces together over the years, and she figured out partially why Hermione and Draco despised their former Headmaster with such fervour.
"Is Harry okay?" Riley asked fearfully, clutching the front of her jumper.
"More than okay, he did marvellously. See for yourself," Xeno said as he handed the newspaper to her. Riley was enraptured by the large image of the TriWizard champions lined up, shoulder-to-shoulder; she focused on the shortest boy recognising him for who he was in an instant.
The article's content didn't mean much to her, since she agreed with Xeno about the lack of sincerity in Rita's writing. Riley put no stock in Rita's pieces, they were well done and salaciously written, but there was no substance.
Riley fondly stroked the picture, and a melancholic smile twisted her features. She'd only seen him once or twice in grainy photographs before, so this was the first time she's gotten a proper look at him. There was something about the look in his eyes that reminded her of Lily. "Wotcher, Little Fawn."
Despite her ardent interest in the TriWizard tournament, Riley forced herself to loosely follow the events, lest her feelings get the better of her, and she did something half-witted. She focused on tending her garden, and she got back into painting and sketching.
There was a strange feeling in the air as summer approached, and Riley could taste change in the air. What kind of change was yet to be determined, that is until after Luna returned home from school at the beginning of July. As Riley stayed away from most tabloids and news articles, she was mostly unaware of how the TriWizard tournament turned out.
She'd asked Xeno about the outcome, and he vaguely told her Harry won. He hadn't expounded on the details, and she shrugged, content with the answer. Then the man returned to his leather bound journal where he was jotting down notes for next month's Quibbler issue. The man got so immersed in his work, he forgot his cup of coffee and it went cold. Riley silently poured him a fresh cup before she left. He absently thanked her, surrounded by scraps of parchment and a plethora of sketches of odd-looking creatures.
The day after Luna returned home for the summer holidays, Riley came over for breakfast. The young girl chose to wait until Riley was sipping her pumpkin juice to say, "Voldemort is back. He killed an older Hufflepuff boy, Cedric Diggory. Cedric's family lives a couple minutes away actually."
Riley choked on her juice, and had a coughing fit. Once she could speak again, she demanded Luna tell her everything she knew.
After breakfast, as Riley was washing up the dishes, Xenophihlius wandered over, dressed in far too much yellow. He fiddled with the bracelet of elf wine corks around his left wrist. "Dumbledore is trying to gather the Order of the Phoenix again. Riley, I think it's time."
Pandora alluded to Riley's real identity to her husband once, but she suspected if she outright told him, the memory spell would attack in full force. Rendering Xenophilius into the same state as everyone else Riley had known before Draco left. (He was never told her last name, Pandora thought it too risky.)
Pandora wasn't sure why the spell hadn't affected her, and to a lesser extent her husband, but she was grateful regardless. This way, Riley wouldn't be alone.
"You know I can't do that."
"You don't have to reveal your true identity, you could join, help with the war effort."
"I was given express instructions, and I promised someone dear to me that I would stay hidden until they return. If I reveal myself now Xeno, all those years in hiding would have been meaningless." Riley adamantly refused to even consider her friend's proposal.
"Are you sure, Riles?"
"Yes. Even if it is killing me inside, and no matter how much I want to help, I can't."
Xenophilius never brought it up again.
Riley inspected the silvery white scar above Luna's right eyebrow, and worriedly listened to the girl as she regaled the worrisome tale of her fourth year at Hogwarts.
"I don't think the colour pink suits Madam Umbridge, it makes her toad-like appearance more apparent if you ask me," Luna hummed.
Riley was unable to go to St. Mungo's after Luna had been admitted with several non-lethal injuries, but the girl came home this morning and gladly informed her Godmother exactly what she'd been up to during her fourth year.
Which included but was not limited to the following: Arthur Weasley was attacked in the Department of Mysteries earlier in the year (the Order was protecting the prophecy), Umbridge's tyrannical rule where she'd been gifted sovereignty over Hogwarts affairs with Cornelius Fudge's blessing, and most importantly the Weasley twin's explosive exit. Cornelius's cowardice drove him to discredit Harry and Dumbledore at every turn possible over the past year since Voldemort's return.
Riley was stunned when Luna continued as there was plenty more to share. Harry taught some of his fellow students Defense Against the Dark Arts in the Room of Requirement due to their lack of proper tutelage that year. Luna broke into the Department of Mysteries with her friends, Death Eaters came after them because of the blasted prophecy, and Sirius almost died.
Riley pressed for details. Bellatrix narrowly missed Sirus with a Stupefy that would have sent him hurtling into the Veil. Riley forgot all logic for a brief moment, the need to go to him swole inside her chest cavity.
"Sod it, I am going to—"
Luna cleared her throat, and her gaze was misty and cloudy as she peered up at Riley. "It isn't time yet, Auntie Riley. Snuffles will be fine."
Riley was about to ask how Luna knew that nickname, but realised it was a foolish question because of who she was talking to. It was the nickname Hermione used to tease Sirius with on occasion when they were teenagers.
Luna smoothed her hands across the front of her lilac skirt, and shifted on the tall stool she was perched on. The two witches were in the middle of the kitchen, and a line of potions Luna would have to keep taking for a couple more days lined the counter behind them. Riley's eyes flicked to them, and then back to the girl in question.
Luna was so like her Mother, and yet completely different. Luna blinked, her eyes cleared until they looked like silvery-blue gemstones, and she smiled softly at Riley. Riley knew Luna was right. She grappled her desperation to go to Sirius into submission as she stared into the eyes that she'd fallen in love with years ago.
The pair shared a familial bond, one that had been invoked, acknowledged and sealed when Riley accepted the title of Godmother years ago. Luna would only ever have one Mother, but Riley was the closest thing she got to one these days. She viewed Luna in a similar light to Harry, they were her friend's children, and in some way, that made them hers. They were family.
Riley closed her eyes and breathed in and out as evenly as she could. Draco promised Sirius would be okay in the end, so as always, she would just have to believe in his words.
Another war. This time, it isn't as slow-growing like a fungus, this time Voldemort amassed his former followers and gained more along the way in a scarily short time. His tactics and means of control are executed with frightening precision this time.
Dumbledore died, and that signalled a symbolic shift in power and momentum; it was Severus Snape that landed the devastating blow. Riley wasn't fond of the old codger, but she didn't think he deserved to die.
Supposedly, Draco Malfoy was the one who let the Death Eaters into the Castle, the youngest member to ever join Voldemort's coalition. It made no sense, and she couldn't wrap her head around the actions of this version of Draco.
Luna whispered to her one night that summer, under a sky full of stars, "he didn't want to do it." Riley didn't ask who Luna was referring to, she just knew.
Unbeknownst to Riley, her Father passed away at the end of July, days before Harry's birthday. Overcome with grief, her Mother decided to go live with her sister's family in North America. She'd tried to keep tabs on them over the years, but found it too painful and she'd stopped shortly after Pandora's passing.
There was a wedding at the Weasleys, Riley had helped Luna get ready in her yellow frock. She hadn't the heart to tell the girl she didn't fussy the colour as Luna seemed ridiculously pleased with it. The night ended with Death Eaters crashing the party, and the Minister of Magic, Rufus Scrimgeour was killed. The Ministry fell into Voldemort's clutches.
Riley insisted Luna not return to Hogwarts the following term, but the girl went despite her wishes. Xenophilius and Riley had a massive row about it. Xenophilius's Quibbler articles were brazenly calling out the injustice going on in their society, and Riley told him it was dangerous, and Luna should come to live with her for a while.
(The Prophet, Witch's Weekly and every other news outlet in Wizarding Britain had been infiltrated by the Dark Lord's followers, and they printed what Voldemort wanted them to. Xeno saw it as his duty to the resistance to spread the truth.)
In a rare show of cruelty on the man's part, he shouted at her and declared she had no say in the matter. Luna was his daughter, not hers. It was easy for her to hide away, Merlin knew where whilst the rest of them had to actually fight to survive.
Riley recoiled as if he'd struck her, and she didn't speak to him for months.
Riley tuned into Potterwatch. Xenophilius told her about it before their falling out. She vaguely tracked everyone's movements, and she would fearfully wait to hear the names of the deceased, praying she didn't hear any she recognised.
One day, Xenophilius sent word that Luna had been taken. When Riley found him, he was sitting in Pandora's study, nursing a glass of Elf Wine and the rest of the house was dreary and full of shadows. Xeno was a broken shell of a man; he clung to her and cried that he couldn't lose Luna too.
Weeks later, she came back to find the house in disarray. Xenophilius was sitting in the small garden out back, his fingers digging into the dirt, his hair dinghy and he smelt sour. He needed a bath. It was then that she found out he'd betrayed Harry, Hermione and Ron. He was such a miserable sight in that moment that the anger she should have felt was frozen in its tracks before it could reach a rolling boil.
"I just wanted her back," Xenophilius sobbed, and Riley sank to her knees beside him, and cradled his head to her bosom. When she'd had troubling sleeping when they were younger, sometimes Pandora would sing to her, stroke her hair and tell her it would all work out in the end.
Riley sang the song to her grieving friend. Xeno stiffened in her arms, wept rueful tears, and begged the deities to return his little girl to him safely.
And one day, Xeno received a Patronus from Luna telling him she was safe with the Weasleys, and that the beach was lovely this time of year.
As the war raged, Riley's cat Dawn grew weaker and older. She didn't have long left, but her daughter Twilight was still young and refused to leave her Mother's side until one day, Dawn slipped away peacefully in the night.
A miracle happened. The light prevailed, Harry killed Voldemort, vanquishing him forevermore. And yet, Riley had longer to wait still.
"It's November," Riley whispered. Draco said he and Hermione went back in time in December of 1998, but he also said that he would come get her when it was safe. Thus, Riley stayed put, even though she practically lived at the Lovegoods.
A month later, December was ushered in with a rush of excitement. An odd feeling in her chest burst, and Riley felt the moment the spell lifted off of her. "They're gone," Riley mused aloud.
The following day, Xenophilius swept her off her feet and swung her in a circle.
"Riley!" Xeno exclaimed, eyes wide, his angular features punctuated with warm recognition. He remembered her, and they spent the day speaking of their adolescence. Luna prepared tea, and serenely listened to all of it with a large smile.
Riley contemplated going to Lupin Den, or Potter Manor, or even Hogwarts, but Draco told her to wait until they came for her, and so she did.
Part of her knew she no longer had to hide, but she'd been doing it for so long. It'd been almost two decades, and her world wasn't the same as when she left it.
Sirius probably remembered her, but he most likely wouldn't want to see her. It was a thought that plagued her nights. What if he can't forgive me for staying away?
In a remorseful moment of cowardice, Riley swore that she would wait until either Hermione or Draco came to get her. Doubt consumed her heart, and she didn't know if she could face Sirius on her own after all these years apart.
So, she stayed at Sett Cottage.
One day, the urge to paint came over her, and thus she set up a canvas on her easel in her studio. She'd opened all the windows in the house, and pulled her long hair up into a ponytail to avoid getting paint in it.
The Black Lake, the sun glittering across its surface at the beginning of summer. Riley smiled to herself as she recalled afternoons in her fifth year when they would wade into the water and frolic. Hermione, Lily and Alice would dance, splash one another before the rest of the Marauders showed up and caused havoc.
Riley was having difficulty getting the lake's bank to look right, and in a huff of frustration, she put her paintbrush down. She had been at it all morning, so she decided to take a break. A walk on the beach would do her some good.
Twilight was waiting for her in the hallway, and Riley raised a brow at that. "What's going on, sweet thing?" Twilight sprinted towards the front door and sat beside it. Strange. "You want to join me on my walk?"
A ripple of magic rolled over Riley's skin, and the vague sense that something crossed the wards came to the forefront of her mind. But, it'd never happened before, so she dismissed it. The moment Riley reached the front door, and opened it, Twilight scurried out of the way, and she followed the cat with her gaze.
"Come on, Twilight!" Riley called. A strange sensation tugged at her navel, but Twilight's peculiar behaviour was distracting her.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Riley pursed her lips, hands on her hips. The cat was sitting a few feet away, and she looked smug. Riley kissed her teeth together before striding toward her cat.
Riley reached Twilight, but the instant she did, a crackle of magic sparked in the centres of her palms, and inexplicable warmth exploded in her chest. Riley harshly spun on her heel and dashed for the door; she followed the golden thread urging her outside.
And there he was; Sirius Black. His sudden appearance caused her knees to buckle, and her arms flew out to grasp onto the nearest object; which happened to be the front door.
"Sirius?" Riley asked, her voice trembling.
"Riley," Sirius whispered in return. Riley barely noticed Remus standing behind his best mate. Sirius was older, and his eyes were wiser, but he was as handsome and fit as ever; in a way that was almost unfair.
There was no hatred or anger present in his features. Sirius's eyes openly roved over her, taking in every minute detail of her appearance. His brow furrowed as he caught sight of her left eye, but there was no disgust on his face, only mild confusion.
Sirius was looking at her as if she personally painted the colour into the sky every morning, love and adoration were pouring from his grey eyes, and relief surged through her.
"Are you real?" Riley asked, hand moving to cover her mouth. Tears unwittingly welled up in her eyes. If this was a dream, it was a cruel one. "Do you—you remember…?"
"Most things," Sirius replied, and he shifted from foot-to-foot. A crooked grin pulled at his lips as he declared, "I do remember that I love you."
Remus made his presence known as he groaned and made a comment that Riley didn't catch. By the time she consciously registered the contents of their quick-witted banter, the truth was unavoidable. This was real.
"It is you!" Riley exclaimed. Sirius still loved her, and that thought carried her forth. She bounded out of the house, and vaulted into his arms. She drank in his scent, and her hands roamed over every bit of him she could reach. His familiar warmth enveloped her, and a shiver danced along her bones.
Riley finally had her wizard back, and in all the years she'd lived here, and in spite of the comfort she'd found at Sett Cottage, none of it compared to the feeling burning in her chest now. She was home again.
I just want to clarify that Rowan in the beginning is Riley, in case anyone was confused and I didn't make it clear enough x