Epilogue
It was quiet by the lake in Cornwall, England whose gentle waves lapped lazily against the rocky shore that market the edge of the tree line. It seemed as though even nature had let out sigh of relief now that the dark cloud of evil that had been hanging low in the sky for years dispersed.
Two months ago, in late May, famous Professor Dumbledore had gathered his trusty Order of the Phoenix and loyal auror members and ambushed Voldemort as the dark wizard entered his old home town.
The fight was brutal and bloody, and nature had mourned her losses with rain that washed clean the faces of those fighting. It was there Lord Voldemort feel at the hand of Dumbledore, the Eldar Wand casting the fatal curse.
He died human. He was not immortal. His soul was not split. His body hit the mud and did not move again.
The wizarding world rejoiced, praising those who had bravely fought off the darkness. In a hospital bed at Hogwarts, four students cried with joy, unbothered by their untold stories.
The waves on that lake in lower England crested, growing in size as shrieking and laugher danced over the surface. Five canoes appeared from around the bend, tipping and rocking as they sent splashes of water on the occupants.
The canoes reached shore and the children piled out, giggling and shoving each other.
A boy with shaggy black hair grinned mischievously at his companions as he threw his arms out wide.
“Welcome, my friends!” His voiced boomed. “To Camp Cornwall!”
Another boy, this one with glasses, pionted majestically at the trees.
“Onward to adventure!” He cried.
With that, the ten children hoisted the canoes onto their shoulders and set off down the winding path that led dealer into the forest.
***
Sirius was giggling like a madman and Remus couldn’t help but grin along with him. James had woken them and Lily up for an early morning hike while leaving the rest of the group back at the campsite.
The couple were currently swing their intertwined hands as they crested the top of the hill. Sirius sent Remus a knowing look while the werewolf returned, and they hung back, watching there friends closely.
The sun was peaking over the treetops, sending pink and orange beams illuminating the forest.
“It’s beautiful,” Lily murmured, leaning in towards James. He looked down at her, demonstrating the definition of heart eyes.
“It really is.”
Sirius snickered, and Remus hit him, effectively shutting him up. James stepped away from Lily, who tilted her head questioningly.
“James, what are you—“ she stopped wide eyed as James dropped to one knee.
“Lily Jade Evans,” James paused, hand swiping under his glasses before reaching to his back pocket. “You are the most loving, kind, generous person that I have ever met. I have loved you since the first time I spoke to you. You challenge me and orient me. You encourage me and give me purpose. You…I just adore you. I think I always have and I know it always will.”
James pulled back the lid of the little box to reveal Euphemia Potter’s wedding ring.
“Will you,” James sniffed, the picture of adoration as he knelt lovingly at Lily’s feet. “make me the happiest man who ever lived and become my wife?”
Lily was sobbing, her body quivering with joy.
“Yes!” She bobbed her head up and down. “Yes, James! Yes. I will be your wife!”
James threw himself at her, picking her up and spinning her around and around. He was sobbing when he stopped, setting her down only to collapse onto his knees again, this time with Lily right beside him.
“I love you, I love you, James,” she murmured into his ear, holding his face in her hands and wiping away his tears. “So much. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
Grinning and crying and looking like the happiest person on the plant, James Potter slipped the ring onto Lily’s finger.
Sirius whooped, his eyes as wet as the couple and ran towards them, Remus hot on his heels. The teens collided into each other becoming a pile of hugs and kisses and laughter and tears and every good feeling in the world.
They were family. They had been since the first day at Hogwarts, that first trainride. Maybe they always had been, simply waiting in anticipation to meet before they ever knew they even would.
They had lived together, and they had loved together. They’d experience unimaginable heartbreak and indescribable joy, and through it all they had remained family. Brothers. Sisters. Soulmates.
Sometimes in life you meet someone who is simply radiant, and they change everything. Your perspective of the world, the way you see yourself, your interactions with others all irrevocably altered because of this one incredible person.
You have to keep your eyes and heart open for them. They’ll find you just the way you will find them.
In the meantime, be kind and brave, be loyal and wise, be discerning and hopeful. You never know who that remarkable person will be, and you never know the true depth of those around you.
It will be hard, and it will be tiring. You will get frustrated and sad. But you will also find something. Something worth fight for.