57

Love Me Still

Sirius invited Remus and Peter to sit down and served them some beer, crisps, pretzels and some iced lemon squares that he'd had Kreacher make for him to take back to his flat last time he'd been visiting Grimmauld Place. If there was one thing he'd learned from Walburga Black it was how to entertain people, his mother had always been a top notch hostess, whether it was arranging an intimate dinner among a few friends or a huge gala. Her recipe for success included lots of good food and a relaxed atmosphere.

Thus far, it seemed to be working. Peter and Remus were happily munching away, and in Peter's case, drinking a pint. Remus had declined the beer and had some tea instead.

"I don't drink alcohol much." He admitted shyly. "It's not good for someone who has certain violent tendencies to lose control under the influence, know what I mean? Tea's safer and it tastes better too."

Peter laughed squeakily. "How would you know, Moony? You've never even tried it!"

"Yes, I have. At James' wedding, I took a few sips of beer and also champagne. I found both revolting. Maybe it's an acquired taste. As a werewolf, I have heightened taste buds and alcohol does nothing good for them." Remus returned serenely. It was an old argument between them.

"You don't know what you're missing! Beer's mild as mother's milk, chum!" brayed Wormtail. Just to prove it, he gulped down half the bottle and nearly choked.

Sirius swatted him between the shoulders, laughing. "Here now, old friend, don't drown yourself!"

Peter sputtered and hiccoughed.

Remus just shook his head. "Wormtail, you're such a lush. Sirius, how have you been? It's been too long since we've gotten together. Not since James' wedding. The Aurors keeping you hopping?"

"You could say that."

Peter dabbed his fleshy lips with a napkin, his eyes alight with envy and worship. "Did you and James catch any Death Eaters yet? Put them away in Azkaban? Or did you just slaughter them?"

Sirius had to chuckle at Peter's naïve assessment of the life of an Auror. "You make us sound like some knights in a storybook, galloping about slaying dragons. Truth is, we go out on patrol, come back to headquarters, maybe follow a lead or two about a raid, and if we're lucky fine some scurvy bastard for possession of dark artifacts. I haven't dueled any Death Eaters, old boy, sorry to burst your bubble. Most of the real bad ones don't advertise their true allegiance, they prefer to slip away into the dark like—" he had been about say "rats" but recalling whom he was speaking to, substituted "—spiders."

"Well, at least you're out there, doing something," Peter said, sounding rather sulky, like a child denied the chance to play with the big boys. "I'm stuck behind a desk, tallying accounts for my father's business. Just another glorified bean counter."

"Peter, there are days I wish I had your job," said Padfoot sincerely. "Some of the things I've seen . . .you don't want to know about." His eyes grew dark with unpleasant memories. Abruptly he changed the subject. "But I've finally met someone. Her name's Annie Lyons, she works as a volunteer down at the hospital, now there's a worthy profession."

"Oh? Is she a looker, like some of your other gals?" asked Remus knowingly.

Sirius shrugged. "She's got an . . . unconventional beauty, Moony. Not like the ones I used to go out with. Annie's different. Special. She was a victim of a Death Eater attack in Diagon Alley over a year ago. She was badly hurt, nearly died, and she has a few scars. But she's got spunk and heart. She's a scrapper and I've really come to care for her. She's not just some bimbo, know what I mean?"

Remus nodded. "Sounds like the mighty bachelor has fallen hard, eh, Wormtail?"

Peter sniggered. "Ooh, yeah, Moony! Sounds like he's got it bad! Have you popped the question yet, Paddy?"

"No. But I'm seriously thinking about it. Maybe when this damn war's over. Don't want to make her a widow. She's gone through enough without that."

"I can see why you want to wait. But have you asked her what she wants?" Remus queried.

Sirius looked startled. "No, I just assumed . . . maybe I should ask her. She might want to get married soon because of the war, like James and Tuney did."

"How's your mum taking it?" Peter smirked. "Lyons isn't an Old Family name, which means she's not on your mum's list of Appropriate Young Ladies."

"My mother's changed a lot since our schooldays, Petty," Sirius told him, using a nickname which Peter claimed he detested just for the hell of it. "She's . . . mellowed, I guess and she's not trying to tell me who to see anymore or giving me grief if my girl's not a pureblood. She's met Annie and actually likes her. Says she's got bottom, whatever that means. Who knows? Maybe Reg and I will end up getting married together in a double ceremony."

"That's right, Regulus is still going with Cindy Graves from our year," Remus confirmed. "How's that working out with the folks?"

"Good. It's weird though, thinking of my little brother as old enough to marry." Sirius admitted. "I'm still used to remembering him as the little pain in the arse who bugged me every time I went off to play with James."

"Even little brothers grow up," Remus grinned.

"Maybe you ought to ask Regulus where the Death Eaters are hiding," said Peter slyly. He had never liked the younger Black and used any opportunity to badmouth him.

Sirius frowned sharply. "Not funny, Wormtail."

Peter gaped at him. "What? Then you don't think he's a junior follower of You-Know-Who? But he's a scummy Slyth and hangs out with Snivellus Snape!"

"Stop it!" cried the Auror. "Look, I know I used to think that and be a real arse, but lately I've . . . learned a few things and I've come to see that not all Slytherins are evil. I might not like Snape, but then again, he's not my best friend so I don't have to. Merlin knows Reg doesn't really care for you, Peter."

"He's an arrogant little shite!" Peter snapped. "What's he doing these days? Palling around with the greasy dungeon bat, making poisons?"

"You're a riot, Peter." Sirius said, pretending to be amused. "He's working for Borgin and Burkes as an assistant."

Peter spewed his beer all over. "And you think he's not one of them?"

"Look, he took the job 'cause it paid well, that's all." Sirius said stiffly. He was rarely put in the position of defending Regulus to his friends and he found Peter's insinuations disturbing and annoying. "He's going to take a job over at Slug and Jiggers when a position's open, but for now he works for Mr. Burke."

"Learning about dark objects. Tsk! Tsk!"

"Shut it, Petty!" snapped Sirius.

"I can't believe you're defending him. You always said he'd go dark!"

"That was then." Sirius took a gulp of beer. "Case closed." He looked over at Remus, suddenly sorry that Wormtail had come with the werewolf. "Moony, what's your love life like?"

"Nonexistent," laughed the werewolf. "I have no time for romance. I'm studying for my teaching exams."

"You're going to be a professor? No way!" Sirius blinked in shock.

"Haw! Haw!" Wormtail bayed. "That's a good one, Moony! Tell us another."

"It's not a joke. I'm serious. You know how limited I am in what sort of professions I can have. Being a professor is the best option of the lot. And I like books and am pretty good with kids."

"But what about the full moon?" asked Sirius.

"That's my only problem. But I'm working on it. You know Marcus Belby's invented a new potion—the Wolfsbane? Well, I'm on the list for a test subject. If it works, I'll be able to teach without worrying about the Change. It'll make me safe. But first I have to pass my exams and get certified."

"What will you be teaching?"

"I'd like to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts. Or maybe Care of Magical Creatures. You know that Defense is usually an open position at Hogwarts and there have been rumors that the Magical Creatures professor is going to retire. Right now I'm studying for both, just in case. I'd be happy teaching either one."

"Then you'd be colleagues with old Snivelly," Peter remarked. "I hear he's the new Potions Master."

"I have no quarrel with Severus," Remus said mildly. "But that's in the future. First I have to pass my certification." Teaching certifications were required for any magical subject unless you had a Mastery in that field, which required extra years of study. Severus had earned his Mastery at the Academy of Potioneers before accepting Dumbledore's offer to teach.

"Are the tests hard?" Peter queried.

"Not really. They're geared towards general knowledge of the subject, but I have to study different methods of teaching." Remus explained.

"You ought to do well. You used to tutor all the firsties at school," Sirius reminded him. "And you always were a bookworm too."

Remus sipped his tea and smiled quietly. "I think I'll find teaching a rewarding experience. Provided my students don't eat me for breakfast."

They all shared a good laugh over that, then Sirius shared the news of James' impending fatherhood with his old friends. "Prongs just sent me a letter, telling me he's going to be a dad. He and Petunia are expecting."

Whoops of delight greeted that statement and Wormtail insisted they drink a toast to James and the little missus, plus the newest Marauder-to-be.

"That means we'll be uncles," exclaimed a rather drunk Wormtail.

"Or godparents," Remus added.

"I can't imagine myself as a godfather," Sirius said. "Let alone a father. Getting up at midnight, changing nappies . . ."

"Then you don't want kids, Padfoot?" Moony asked.

"Well, sure I do. Someday. Like in the future."

"The far future!" Peter snickered. "Got to carry on the family name, right, old man?"

"That's a burden I'd rather leave to Reg for the moment. He's the one who's actually set a date." Sirius said easily. He could picture his brother with a half dozen little Blacks running about, if Cindy was half as fertile as her mother was.

The three friends ate some more food and drank some more beer and tea, and spent the rest of the night reminiscing about their schooldays, pranks and detentions and all. They all agreed it was a shame that James wasn't there to complete the quartet, but figured he was probably celebrating in a whole different sort of way with the mother of his child.

LSSSRBSBJPPP

Three nights later

The dark of the moon:

Voldemort put an arm about Regulus' shoulder, causing the younger wizard to squirm inwardly at the other's cold hand. "You have done well, Regulus, at obtaining several worthy magical objects for your brethren," the Dark Lord purred. "I am quite pleased with your efforts."

"Thank you, my lord," Regulus said humbly, keeping his tone neutral. "I but live to serve."

Mouthing that platitude left a bitter taste in his mouth, for nothing could have been further from the truth. Still, he had learned to play the part of fawning Death Eater sycophant very well since being Marked. Severus had taught him how to shield his innermost thoughts with Occlumency, so that all he revealed to Voldemort was his "devotion" to his unholy master and their cause. Regulus was not as skilled as Snape, it did not come naturally to him the way it did to Severus, but he was competent enough to avoid revealing his true nature to the dark wizard.

"Very good, my son. Very good," Voldemort praised. "You are indeed an asset to me." He patted Regulus's shoulder in a fatherly manner.

Regulus felt his skin crawl. When the Dark Lord acted all familiar this way, it usually meant he was going to reward whoever it was, and Voldemort's rewards usually were not the sort of thing Regulus enjoyed getting.

The Dark Lord smiled, but the smile never reached his eyes. "You seem to be one I can count on to perform a task with discretion. However, there is one more duty I need you to finish, my son."

Regulus concealed a cold shudder. The tone of Voldemort's voice was . . . ominous. "Whatever you wish, my lord."

Voldemort's smile became more pronounced. "I need you to punish a blood traitor witch for me. Normally, I'd get Bellatrix to do so, but she is away on assignment for me." The Dark One eyed his follower shrewdly, very aware that he had never seen the young man actively harm anyone. This would be his baptism of fire.

"It would be an honor, Master," Regulus forced the words out, feeling sick to his stomach. But he kept his face impassive.

"Go to the cells below," instructed the dark wizard, there were several storage rooms in the Balkan fortress Voldemort now used as a base of operations. "In the second cell you shall find the traitor. Make her regret she was ever born, Regulus."

Or I shall make you regret it, was the unspoken message.

Regulus understood. "Of course, my lord."

He headed down the stairs to the cells, Voldemort walking a little ahead of him. When they reached the cell where the prisoner was being kept, Voldemort unlocked it with a wave of his wand and opened the door.

Regulus pulled on his mask, it was never wise to let anyone see his face, even a victim. Then he entered the cell and stopped dead.

For there, tied with magical ropes to a chair was little Mariah Seton, one of Cindy's cousins twice removed. Regulus had met her at their engagement party, she was a year younger than he was, a Hufflepuff. His gorge rose and he nearly vomited right there.

She shot him a pleading look. "Please, don't hurt me. Don't. I'll give you whatever you want. Just don't hurt me."

Voldemort laughed, a deep hollow sound, soulless and without a scrap of humanity. "Too late for that, girl. Your family defied me, defied the natural order of things. Now you must pay." He gestured to Regulus. "Begin the punishment."

Regulus closed his eyes and counted rapidly until he could take a breath without spewing out his supper or curses upon the inhuman thing parading as a human being beside him. I'm sorry, he thought helplessly. So very sorry. May Merlin forgive me. He wished he could refuse, but he knew that Voldemort would not hesitate to kill him. And he was close, very close, to discovering the Dark Lord's secret. He could not blow his cover now, for doing so would mean ruining his only chance to discover Voldemort's weakness. He could not risk it. Not even to save this poor innocent girl.

He stared at her for a long moment, praying she could see his eyes through the mask. I am damned for eternity. Forgive me, Mariah. But I must sacrifice you so I can kill the beast beside me. Forgive me. I'll try and make it quick.

The girl's terrified eyes met his and she seemed to understand.

Regulus swallowed hard, and put all of his emotions inside an iron box within his mind. His eyes grew expressionless, hard as stone. Then he raised his wand.

SSLSJPPPRB

It was nearing midnight when Regulus Black stumbled up the walk of Cindy Graves' house, his broom clutched under his arm. He felt as though his hands were covered in blood, though they showed no trace of the atrocities he had committed that night. The Mark he had concealed beneath his shirt sleeve seemed to throb with renewed ferocity. Regulus was sick and feverish, filled with self-loathing and hatred. For what he had done, he deserved to be cast into the darkest pit of Azkaban, where Dementors waited to suck out his soul.

Once at the front of the house, which was home to his beloved Gryffindor fiancée as well as her numerous siblings, he picked up a pebble from the rock garden to the right of the porch and threw it at the window just above the den. He threw four more pebbles, it was their prearranged signal that Regulus wished to meet with her in private. In the past, he had used it to steal a few kisses and talk about the days when he would make her his wife.

Only now . . .such was no longer possible.

He waited until Cindy had appeared at the window before flying up to her on his broom.

"Regulus!" she exclaimed happily, giving him a huge smile. "What are you doing here so late?" She stifled a giggle. "Come in, love." She threw open the window.

Regulus shook his head. "No, Cin. I can't stay."

"Then why bother coming over? Reg, what's wrong?" she could tell there was something wrong by his stiff demeanor. And he wasn't smiling back at her. "Did something happen?"

"Yes. I've come to tell you goodbye," he said haltingly, struggling to maintain his composure.

"Goodbye? I don't understand."

"I can't marry you, Cin."

"W-What? Reg—why not? Talk to me!"

"I just can't." His voice was hoarse with pain. "Don't ask why. Goodbye, Cin."

"No! You have to tell me why! What did I do?" she half-sobbed, numb with shock.

"Nothing. It's not your fault. You're better off without me." He reached out and took her hand, pressing something within it.

Then he spun about a flew away, feeling his heart shatter within him.

"Regulus!" she called, but he did not slow.

In a moment, he was gone, and Cindy was left standing at the window, stunned. She stared at what he had pressed into her palm.

His betrothal ring.

Stricken, she covered her mouth with a hand to smother her cry of denial.

This couldn't be happening. It just couldn't. Just that afternoon she had been going over bridesmaid gowns with her little sister, choosing styles and colors, and now . . . now it was over.

She gazed at the betrothal ring in her hand and began to cry.

Ten minutes later, she wiped a hand across her eyes and Apparated away to the one person who might be able to give her some answers about her broken engagement.

JPPPSSLSRB

Severus and Lily were woken from a sound sleep by an insistent knocking upon their front door. The Potions Master was out of bed and on his feet, wand in hand, drawing his cloak across his lean frame, he was wearing only a set of pajama bottoms.

"Sev? What on earth are you doing?" Lily murmured sleepily from their warm nest of blankets.

"Answering the door. Stay here," he ordered, then Apparated to the front door.

He opened it to find a wretched half-hysterical Cindy standing on his front porch.

"Severus! Is Reg here?"

"Cindy?" he stared at her for a moment, before stepping back to allow her inside. Then he shut the door and locked it. "What's wrong? Why would you think Reg is here?"

"B-because he . . .he . . .just broke off our engagement!" she wailed, throwing herself at him and weeping into his cloak. "And . . .I . . .just thought . . .he might have . . .t-told you w-why . . ."

"He broke off your engagement?" Severus repeated in astonishment. "When?"

"About twenty minutes ago." Cindy sobbed.

"Shhh . . .calm down." Severus said, hugging her and guiding her towards the kitchen. The lights came on when he waved his wand.

On the way there, he almost banged into a sleepy Arthur. "Sev'rus? What's goin' on?"

"Go back to bed, Arthur," he ordered softly. "This is a friend of mine. Nothing for you to worry about. She came over to visit."

"In the middle of the night?" Arthur yawned.

"Yes. Off to bed," Severus made a shooing motion.

Arthur just nodded and went back upstairs, passing Lily on his way.

"Sev? Is everything all right?" she called, her wand lit as she descended the staircase.

"Fine, Lily. Cindy's here," Severus called.

Lily came into the kitchen. "Cin, what's going on? Did something happen to someone in your family?" the red-haired witch asked her friend, upon catching sight of Cindy's tear streaked face.

"No, it's Regulus!"

Lily felt her heart turn somersaults. "Reg? Is he hurt?"

Cindy shook her head, blowing her nose with a tissue Severus handed her. "No, he's gone crazy! He . . .he came over to my house tonight . . .and he told me he couldn't marry me and he gave me back his ring!"

She showed them the betrothal ring.

"Gave you back the ring?" Lily was mystified. "But why would he do that? Cin, he adores you."

"I d-don't know! He wouldn't talk to me!" she began to cry again. "All I k-know is that he got summoned to a meeting tonight . . ."

"Hold it," Severus interjected, while Lily hugged her friend. "The Dark Lord called him?"

Cindy nodded, gulping. "Y-you mean he d-didn't summon you two also?"

"No. Which means he had something special in mind for Reg to do," Severus said darkly. "Bloody hell!" He could guess what had occurred.

"Sev, maybe you better find him and talk to him," Lily said quietly. "Cin, why don't you stay here and I'll make you a cup of tea, okay? Reg's probably just . . .not thinking too clearly right now, know what I mean?"

Severus swore under his breath again, then Summoned his shirt and pulled it over his head and put on his shoes. "I'm going to check our old house, Lily. He might have gone there to be alone. Hopefully he's there and I won't have to hunt him down. I'll be back as soon as I can."

He gave Lily a quick kiss, then he Apparated away to their old house in Yorkshire.

He found Regulus curled up on the floor of his bedroom, shaking and whimpering, the front of his Death Eater robes covered with vomit and most of a bottle of firewhiskey. His friend's hazel eyes were glazed over, and in them gleamed endless despair and loathing.

"Merlin, Reg! What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"Get out, Snape," Regulus slurred. "It's over. Finished. Jus' go 'way."

"Like hell. God, you're a mess," Severus sighed. He chanted a quick Cleaning Charm over Regulus' robes. Then he went to heave the other man to his feet. "Come on, let's get you cleaned up."

Regulus shook his head. "No. Don' need . . .get out! Leave me alone!"

"Not till you tell me what happened," Severus ordered firmly. "Cindy came by my house in Hogsmeade, hysterical. She said you'd broken off the engagement. Why?"

"I can't marry her, Sev!" Regulus cried.

"Why? Don't you love her anymore?"

"'Course I do! But I can't marry her. Not after tonight . . ." Tears glittered in his eyes.

Severus hauled the other wizard into the bathroom. "What happened tonight, Reg? What did the old bastard make you do?" he coaxed, his voice softer than silk.

"Can't tell you. Can't . . . think I'm gonna . . ."

Severus shoved his friend's head over the toilet just in time.

"All right. It's all right." He soothed as Regulus vomited over and over, throwing up all the firewhiskey he had consumed.

Severus sighed and reached for a Stomach Soother in the potions cabinet above the sink. "You never could hold your liquor, Reg."

He ran a damp towel over his friend's face and the back of his neck. "Drink."

Regulus shook his head.

"Don't be stubborn, dammit. Just drink it," Severus snapped.

"Bastard!" spat the other. But he drank the potion.

Once his stomach had settled, Regulus straightened. "How did you find me?"

"That was the easy part. Based on what Cindy told me, I knew the last place you'd go was home. And since you weren't knocking on the cottage door, I figured this was where you'd be. It was either here or Hyde Park." Severus answered. "Why don't you take a hot shower? You need it."

Regulus glared at him, but made no protest when Severus started running the water and handed him a large fluffy towel.

Fifteen minutes later, Regulus emerged from the bathroom, wearing some of Severus' pajamas, he refused to don his cursed robes again. He looked better than he did when Severus had first found him, but there were shadows under his eyes and his face bore a haggard cast.

Severus had started the fire in the den and brewed some tea meanwhile, as well as cleaning up the mess Regulus had made in his bedroom.

Regulus looked at the now clean carpet and muttered, "Sorry."

"Forget it. Come," Severus led him into the den and handed him a cup of tea. "All right. Talk to me."

Regulus stared at the tea swirling in the mug then took a gulp of it. He winced and coughed as the hot liquid burned his throat.

"Hellfire, Reg! You trying to kill yourself?" Severus demanded. He took the tea from his friend and handed him a glass of ice water he hastily Summoned from the refrigerator.

Regulus gulped the cool water, then he set the glass down. He barely noticed the pain of his burned tongue. After a few more long moments, he began. "I felt the Mark burn and I heard his voice in my mind, calling me to the fortress . . ."

Severus listened quietly as Regulus told him all that had occurred.

The words came out stained with blood, and Regulus paused often to sip his tea, and blot his eyes with a handkerchief. "You understand, don't you, Sev? It has to be this way. She'll never forgive me for what I did."

Severus gently clasped his hand. "Reg, we've both done things that sicken us, that shame us to our very souls. You know what I've done in the name of the Order, the poisons I've brewed . . .and yet Lily forgave me."

"That's different. Lily understands, she's one of us. She knows the score."

"Cindy knows what you are. She knew what it meant when you took the Mark. I think you should tell her, give her a chance to see how much you regret what happened . . ."

"No! Then she'll hate me!"

"She'll hate you worse if you go without an explanation."

"Better that than the truth," Regulus replied bitterly. "Better that she thinks I'm a faithless bastard."

"Better for who? You or Cindy?"

"Both of us. I've done the unforgivable, Sev. That's why . . . I can't marry her . . . Who would want to marry . . .a murderer . . .?"

Before Severus could reply, another voice did. "Oh, Reg. You're not a murderer."

Regulus looked up and saw Cindy standing in front of the hearth, her blond hair tumbling down her shoulders, the front of her blue nightshirt stained with faint sooty markings. Her eyes were red from crying and puffy, her sheepskin slippers scuffed. But she had never looked more beautiful to him, and he felt his heart breaking all over again.

"You don't know . . . you don't understand what I've done . . ." His voice broke.

Severus stood up. "I'll leave you two alone, shall I?" He quickly left the room.

"Reg," Cindy said, approaching him. "Whatever you did tonight, I know it was because he made you. It wasn't something you chose."

"You're wrong. I chose . . .to become a spy . . .to work with beasts and murderers. I swore that I'd never become like them, but . . .now I have. I have."

She came over to hug him, and he pulled away.

"Don't touch me! Don't! I'm tainted." He hissed. He hunched over, curling his arms about his middle.

"You're not!" she cried, and grabbed him, hugging him to her. "Don't ever say that, Regulus Black! You're not tainted. You're a good man forced to do terrible things in order to bring down a monster. I knew that long before I ever agreed to marry you. Why would you think it matters now? I love you, Reg. No matter what, I will always love you."

"No!" he cried hoarsely. "You won't! Because I . . .I killed Mariah! Merlin forgive me . . .but I . . .killed her while he watched . . .so he couldn't . . .make me hurt her anymore . . ."

Cindy went white. "You . . . killed Mariah . . .? My cousin?"

"The same." He rasped. He lifted his head and snarled, "Now tell me you love me still, Cynthia Graves!"

She stared at him, her brown eyes filled with horror and pity and a terrible sorrow. "Oh God, Reg! Dear sweet Merlin!" Tears began to roll down her cheeks.

He made as if to pull away, certain she could no longer stand the sight of him.

But she caught him and drew him against her, holding him fast. "I hate him! I hate him! Not you! Never that!" She stroked his hair while he trembled. "I love you still! Poor Mariah!" She held him as they both sobbed, mourning the loss of a bright young woman whose only crime had been to be born to a family who were not supporters of Voldemort.

Regulus wept bitter tears, knowing that he would never be free of the guilt, but even as he did so, his ears echoed to Cindy's declaration. I love you still! He did not know how that was possible, but he was not about to question it. He knew he was not worthy of her, could never be, but he found he could not give her up. Not now.

He turned his head and whispered, "Do you still want me as your husband?"

She cupped his cheek in her hand, looking at him through blurry eyes, "I do, starboy. I do."

Then she kissed him and in that kiss was the potent taste of forgiveness and love that not even the darkest deeds could destroy.

Severus peered around the corner of the hall, relieved that the couple seemed able to work out their differences. Concealing a smile of relief, he Apparated back to his cottage in Hogsmeade, where his wife waited to welcome him back to their bed.

Yes, I managed to post this before midnight!

Though I doubt if anyone will read or review this till tomorrow morning.

Happy New Year everyone! Please leave a review when you can. Thanks!