An Ending and a Beginning
Harry had been asleep when they'd arrived back, pale but peaceful, swaddled in the white sheets of the hospital wing. His scar had faded now, even smaller than before, the only visible evidence that anything had happened to him. He had woken slowly, Sirius’ hand on his shoulder and smiled up at them as he opened his eyes, his face turning serious as soon as he remembered -
‘Hey - wait, what - what happened?’
‘Well,’ Sirius said, sitting back in the squashy purple armchair beside the bed, ‘Well-’
He was interrupted by the door opening behind him, banging off the wall and several pairs of footsteps, followed by curtains being pulled -
‘What do you think you are doing!’ Poppy shouted from her office.
‘Harry!’ came Ron’s voice, ‘Harry, where are you? Oh, gosh, sorry Sir - Harry?’
‘We’re over here,’ Remus called, leaning around Dedalus’ cubicle to wave at Ron, Hermione and Neville, who hurried over to them, smiling apologetically back at Poppy who was wagging a finger at them from her desk.
‘So you know!’ Ron was grinning, ‘These two beat us to it -’
‘Know what?’ Harry replied, looking around at them.
‘He’s gone!’ Ron said, ‘He’s gone, properly this time, Dad sent an owl and it’s in the -’
‘It’s front page news,’ Hermione said, unrolling a copy of The Daily Prophet and laying it on the bed, revealing a photograph of Alastor Moody and Kingsley Shacklebolt, both looking very serious behind a Ministry lectern, under the headline: ‘FOURTEEN YEARS LATER: LORD VOLDEMORT GONE, NEVER TO RETURN.’
Harry picked the paper up, his thumbs running gradually down the page as he gazed at the headline. He looked up at Sirius, slowly, a question in his eyes. Sirius nodded, and Harry’s face broke into a nervous smile.
‘He’s really gone?’
‘He’s really gone,’ Sirius said, as Remus picked up the paper, scanning the article. It was light on detail, mostly focusing on the escape of Peter and Barty, crediting them for the resurrection of Voldemort and describing his subsequent capture and defeat as down to an unspecified ‘Ministry taskforce’. He folded it back up, and dropped it onto the bedside table. At least they’d kept Harry well out of it.
He looked up at Harry, who had shuffled up the bed now and was sitting, staring at his friends as they chattered excitedly around him, and at Sirius who was watching Harry, his face tense - nervous.
‘You were part of the taskforce, weren’t you?’ Hermione asked Remus, blushing slightly as she did so. ‘That’s what all your research was about.’
‘It’s not a very interesting story,’ Remus replied, glancing at Sirius, whose gaze had not wavered.
‘We’ve got some other news too,’ Sirius said suddenly, causing the children to fall silent, and Harry to turn to him, his brow furrowed. ‘Harry - if you still want - now Voldemort’s gone, there’s nothing stopping -’ he hesitated, ‘Professor Dumbledore has agreed that you can come and live with us - if you want to. If you’ve changed your mind - you don’t have to -’
‘Are you insane?’ Harry said loudly, a laugh bubbling up from somewhere in his throat, ‘What are you talking about? Of course I want to!’ He smiled broadly, and Sirius grinned back at him.
‘We’ve also sorted the Tournament,’ Remus added, ‘You’re done with all that now. Disqualified, for being too young, and not actually entering it yourself etcetera etcetera -’
‘How did you manage that?’ Harry asked.
‘Dumbledore owed me a favour.’ Remus replied.
*
‘Merlin, you really can’t see a bloody thing, can you?’
‘Yeah I don’t feel like the big pictures work as well in the dark do they?’
‘They’re alright but three going at once is just a lot to look at - oh - wait! Look, Cedric and Krum are about to crash into each other!’
‘Ouch, that looked nasty -’
‘Better than a skrewt!’
They were sitting in the stands, looking down at the great maze that stretched out before them, coloured lights over the heads of the Champions helping them track their progress, and the same charms they had employed in the Second Task, projecting images into the sky, giving the crowd a visual of what was happening on the ground.
‘Blimey, where have they got a sphinx from?’ Remus said as Cedric’s screen filled with an image of an enormous lion, with the head of a woman, who smiled down at him, her mouth moving in an inaudible riddle.
‘Dunno, maybe Egypt?’ Sirius said, sarcastically, leaning forward in his seat, eyes fixed on the events below.
‘Oh shut up -’
‘He’s through!’ Harry shouted as the yellow marker light began to move again, ‘He must have got it right! He’s almost at the centre -’
‘Oop look though - Fleur’s not far away!’ Hermione called, as the blue marker began to move swiftly from the opposite direction, ‘She just blasted something huge out the way, I barely caught what it was - it’s going to be close!’
Cedric was running now, they could see the effort on his face, as his feet pounded down the grassy paths, following them as they twisted and turned. Fleur was indeed coming in quickly too, their markers getting closer and closer -
The crowd erupted. Remus found himself on his feet, cheering with the rest of them. Sirius was hugging Harry, who was screaming, both fists in the air. Cedric’s image filled the sky above them, his handsome face flushed and beaming, the glittering cup held tightly above his head.
*
‘Thank you so much for taking the time,’ Dumbledore said, as they sat down once more opposite him in his office. Remus looked around the room, his eyes lingering briefly on the empty space above the Sorting Hat, where the Sword of Gryffindor had hung.
‘It disappeared,’ Dumbledore said, in answer to his gaze, ‘Shortly after we returned from the battle. Taken itself off somewhere, I expect, where it is more needed. Or maybe for a bit of a rest,’ he chuckled lightly and brought the tips of his fingers gently together as he looked at them over his half moon spectacles.
‘The trials of Peter Pettigrew and Bartemius Crouch Jr have concluded,’ he said, ‘Both have been incarcerated in Azkaban, Mr Pettigrew under the necessary enchantments,’ he inclined his head slightly as he said it, as if reading Sirius’ mind. ‘Mr Longbottom spoke beautifully and courageously at Crouch’s trial, and I believe I can say genuinely, that they are both now safely where they belong.’
He paused, and Remus glanced at Sirius, who was staring at the inkwells on Dumbledore’s desk as they sparkled in the morning light.
‘I have also been in contact with Mrs Petunia Dursley, and have arranged for Harry’s belongings to be delivered to Grimmauld Place at the end of next week, so that Harry may return home straight to you.’
Remus looked at Sirius again, who remained silent, his eyes were now on Dumbledore.
‘Thank you,’ Remus said hurriedly, ‘Thanks, that will - Harry will really appreciate it.’
‘I do have one final proposal,’ Dumbledore continued, ‘For you Remus, although I suppose it concerns the both of you,’ he paused once more, raising his eyebrows slightly at Sirius. ‘Professor Slughorn has expressed his extreme desire to return to retirement, and I was wondering, Remus, now the curse has lifted, if I could persuade you to take your old job back?’
Remus inhaled more sharply than he had meant to, and cleared his throat awkwardly.
‘What about Severus?’ he asked, still coughing slightly.
‘It was Severus’ idea,’ Dumbledore replied, ‘I suppose something helped to remind him of his passion for potions -’
Remus glanced at Sirius again, who was looking back at him now, his face unreadable.
‘Can I think about it?’
*
They were back at the flat. At some point in the last few months, the chicken shop across the road had become a pizza place, and so they were now sitting, boxes open on their laps, Remus’ ancient battered Muggle television in front of them. An old man in a suit and tie was fanning cards across a table while the audience applauded.
‘I thought it said this was going to be about magic?’ Sirius said, a look of disdain on his face.
‘Muggle magic,’ Remus replied, turning a page in his book, ‘I told you you wouldn’t like it -’
Sirius huffed, turning off the television with a flick of his wand, ‘Let’s have music on instead.’
He clambered over the coffee table, and began flicking through the cardboard sleeves, pulling one out and carefully placing a record on the turntable. Remus deposited his pizza box on the table and closed his book, leaning back and shutting his eyes as the music filled the room.
‘Have you thought any more about the job yet?’ Sirius said, coming to sit beside him again.
Remus opened his eyes. ‘Have you?’
‘I think if you want to do it, you should go for it. You love teaching ,and you’d be near Harry -’
‘But I wouldn’t be near you.’
Sirius hesitated, turning away again, watching the record as it spun around on the turntable.
‘Yeah, I’ve actually been thinking about that.’
*
‘Isn’t it perfect?’ Sirius smiled across at him as he pulled him across the room to the window, ‘Just look at the view -’
‘It’s not of the side of a kebab shop,’ Remus replied, gazing out at the rolling Scottish hills, mountains rising up from the distant horizon, disappearing into purple clouds.
They were in a cottage, if you could call something so big a cottage, on the very edge of Hogsmeade, not far from the forest. Sirius had found it somehow, through a friend of Aberforth’s who was looking to sell, and was more than happy to bring up his moving date in exchange for a large cash payment.
‘This would be our room,’ Sirius was saying, ‘Because I thought you’d like the view, and the bookshelves,’ he smiled, ‘And then there are three more - one for Harry, and then a couple for if he wants to have friends to stay, you know.’
Sirius beckoned to Remus from the doorway, opening doors as he made his way down the hall, ‘There’s a bath,’ he said, opening the next door, ‘And then sort of a box room, we could have a study - it isn’t quite the library at Grimmauld, but you know, we could put an extension charm on it -’
Remus followed him, running a hand along the chair rail that ran the length of the corridor. The walls were a soothing pale blue, and the carpet was soft under his feet. He followed Sirius down the stairs, into a generous kitchen.
‘The kitchen is pretty good, everything we’d need I think, and then out here -’ he opened the back door onto an enormous garden, which stretched away from them towards the forest.
‘I thought we could have Harry’s birthday party here this year. It’s great, no cursed portraits, no horrible childhood bedrooms, no surprises in the basement, and enough space for Harry. It’s got everything really, everything we need.’
Sirius turned to him, his eyes shining, biting nervously on his bottom lip and Remus smiled, bringing a hand up to the side of Sirius’ face.
‘Everything we need, right here.’
*
‘OK, so obviously you know what you’re doing really, but we still haven’t managed to get my mother off the wall, so you might want to just watch the noise in the hallway, although actually, I expect she might be in a better mood for you, so -’
‘I’m sure we’ll manage -’
‘And Kreacher likes his space under the boiler, it is pretty grim if I’m honest, but you know, he’s old and grumpy so -’
‘I can manage Kreacher, Sirius. He’s been extremely pleasant so far -’
‘And we didn’t get through all of the rooms on the top floor, so there might be a few - curses -’
‘Oh honestly Sirius,’ Andy snapped, flapping her hands at him, ‘You’re acting like she didn’t pretty much grow up here.’
‘Yeah, sorry. You’re right. Anyway, we’ll leave you to it. You can Floo if there are any issues, otherwise we’ll see you on the 31st?’
‘See you on the 31st.’
Narcissa and Draco had returned from their undisclosed location, to find Lucius under house arrest, awaiting trial for his association with Voldemort. Initially, they had been staying with Andromeda, until Sirius had remembered the newly empty house in the family and offered them Grimmauld Place. Kreacher had been delighted by the prospect of looking after his beloved ‘Mistress Cissy’, and had rediscovered his love of cleaning in anticipation of their arrival. Remus looked around the kitchen once more, as he hoisted the last of the boxes into the Floo beside him and watched as Sirius hugged his cousins tightly.
‘Bye!’ he called to them as he stepped up into it, smiling to Sirius - ‘See you at home.’
*
On the morning of Harry's 15th birthday, Remus woke early and rolled over to find Sirius beside him, fast asleep, buried under the duvet despite the warmth of the summer. He lay there a moment, marvelling once more at what had now been more than three months worth of nightmare free sleep. He eased himself out of bed, creeping quietly down the hall past Harry's room and down the stairs to the kitchen.
He filled the kettle and tapped it with his wand, crossing the room to open the window, letting in the morning breeze. It had been two weeks since the last full moon, spent together in the forest, and Remus was feeling healthier than he had in years. He stretched his arms out against the window frame and then settled himself onto them, inhaling lungfuls of the fresh Scottish air. Looking up he caught sight of a huge silhouette, soaring along the treeline, hanging in the wind for a moment, before it flapped its wings once more, disappearing from view. He stared at the space it had left in the sky, thinking of nothing but the feeling of the wind across his face, until the kettle began to boil.
He made two cups of tea, and was on his way back out the room when a low hoot from the open window turned his head. He made his way back over, leaving the steaming mugs on the table as he paid the owl and unfolded the newspaper, scanning the front page before dropping it onto a chair, and retrieving the drinks. He climbed the stairs, tiptoeing back along the first floor corridor and clambering back into bed.
‘Morning,’ Sirius grunted from somewhere beneath the covers.
‘Made you a tea.’
‘Thanks.’
Sirius burrowed into his side as he settled himself back against the pillows, his mug hot between his hands.
‘We should get up soon,’ Remus said, ‘Get everything ready.’
‘Harry’ll be asleep for hours,’ Sirius murmured from somewhere near his hip, ‘No rush.’
It was warm in the kitchen when they finally made their way downstairs, the flagstones heated by the sun that was streaming through the open window. Sirius wandered over to the oven, putting the kettle back on the hob the Muggle way and turning to survey the room.
‘OK, so I think we could have drinks out here, for when people arrive,’ he crossed to the back door, pushing it open, ‘But then everything else, just in the garden I reckon.’
‘There’s enough space,’ Remus nodded.
They were half way through the balloon arch when Harry arrived, alerting them to his presence with a laugh.
‘What on earth is that?’
‘It’s an arch of balloons,’ Sirius replied, obscured by the bundle he was struggling to attach to the frame. ‘It - why are you laughing? It looks good.’
‘It does look good,’ Harry replied, his amusement still clear in his voice, ‘It just isn’t necessary. You guys are so over the top about birthdays.’
‘We’re exactly the right amount about birthdays,’ Sirius grumbled, finally managing to free himself without letting any of the balloons escape, and waving his wand across them, casting a stasis charm to ensure they stayed fully inflated.
‘Happy Birthday Harry,’ Remus said, ‘You ready for some breakfast?’
‘And some presents?’ Sirius said excitedly, hurrying past them both into the kitchen.
‘I hope you are ready -’ Remus murmured as he followed Sirius’ lead, ‘He hasn’t exactly - held back -’
*
‘Do you think I look alright?’
‘You look amazing,’ Sirius replied, from behind another bundle of balloons, these ones for the mouth of the marquee.
‘No, I’m serious,’ Harry replied, ‘Look properly.’
‘You look great,’ Remus said from his vantage point beside the record player. He had set up the speakers, and was now trying to charm them so that he could control the entire system with his wand from anywhere in the house.
‘Are you sure?’
‘Why?’ Sirius asked, tying off the last balloon and crossing the garden to appraise Harry’s outfit, ‘Who are you trying to impress?’
‘No one. Shut up.’
‘It’s a great shirt Harry, that’s why he picked it out for you,’ Remus added, giving Sirius a look. ‘Don’t embarrass him.’
‘I couldn’t, could I?’ Sirius said, smiling down at Harry, seemingly oblivious to the blush on his cheeks.
‘No comment.’
‘See - wait - what?’ Sirius stuttered as Harry hurried back into the house. ‘What did he mean by that?’ he said, turning to Remus.
‘I think he meant you can embarrass him,’ Remus replied, placing a record on the turntable and turning it on with a flick of his wand. He smiled at Sirius’ incredulous expression. ‘I think it is very normal.’
‘At least he still appreciates my fashion sense.’
*
‘Merlin Harry, this is so cool.’
‘So how big is the garden? Does it go all the way down to that fence there?’
‘Is that - hey - Harry, why is Draco here?’
‘No WAY! Is that a new broomstick? Wait - what are you going to do with your Firebolt?’
Remus took a hasty step back as Harry rushed past them, his broomstick over his shoulder and his friends in tow, heading for the end of the garden. He wandered over to the drinks table, and opened another bottle of wine, leaning back against it for a moment as he looked across the kitchen. Andy was sitting at the kitchen table, half way through an enormous slice of quiche, watching Dora and Draco, who were absorbed in a very tense game of chess. Molly and Narcissa were leaning against the wall beside the fireplace, heads bowed low behind their wine glasses, laughing at something, eyes darting around guiltily to see if anyone had heard.
He made his way out of the back door, pausing to say hello to Hagrid, who was showing Moody something in a suspicious looking wooden crate that Remus hoped wasn’t a live birthday gift for Harry. He headed across the grass, past Ginny and Luna who were rifling through a stack of records, to where Sirius was sitting, leaning back on his elbows on the huge checked blanket they had laid beneath the marquee.
‘Definitely a step up for Harry,’ George was saying as Remus leant down to refill Sirius’ glass and help himself to one of the sausage rolls on the plate beside him, ‘Much less chance of us blowing up a fireplace when we come and visit.’
‘What happened with that anyway?’ Sirius asked, ‘We saw - I mean, we heard about it, but -’
‘Oh yeah, well basically we tried to Floo to his Aunt and Uncle’s, didn’t occur to Dad that they’d have boarded it up. I think it would have been fine but we accidentally -’
‘Completely accidentally -’
‘Fed his cousin one of these,’ Fred finished, pulling the wrapped sweet from his pocket, ‘Gave them all a horrible shock - turns out Muggles don’t have the same sense of humour as Wizards -’
‘What does it do?’ Sirius asked, taking the rainbow coloured sweet between his fingers.
‘Well -’
Remus left them to it, picking up the wine bottle and making his way across the marquee to where Poppy was sitting, holding out her glass. He filled it and took a seat on a garden chair beside her, looking out towards the end of the garden where the children were taking it in turns on Harry’s birthday broomstick.
He watched them lazily for a moment, his eyes on Harry as he gazed up at whoever’s turn it was.
‘Hang on,’ he said, sitting forward suddenly, ‘Is that -’
‘She loves flying,’ Poppy shrugged, ‘And that is one fancy broomstick he’s got there. Couldn’t expect her not to have a go.’
Remus sat back, sipping from his own glass, letting his eyes travel up, across the purple mountains and into the reddening sky. It was cloudless, the moon visible already, a little more than half illuminated. A waxing gibbous.
‘You’ve done well for yourselves, you know,’ Poppy said, ‘It’s a beautiful house. A beautiful little family.’
Remus was silent, his eyes back on the collection of people at the bottom of the garden. Harry was on his broom now, soaring high above the treeline. It reminded him of the eagle he had seen that morning, and he found himself holding his breath, waiting for the moment Harry’s hovering figure would turn out across the forest, vanishing over the horizon. He watched as the boy on the broomstick turned, not away, but towards him, flying closer and closer, landing at the mouth of the marquee.
‘Can we do the cake now?’ he asked, spotting Remus, who for a moment couldn’t answer. He managed a nod, and Harry smiled, looking around for Sirius. ‘Shall I round everyone up?’
‘We’ll do it,’ Fred said, climbing to his feet, and hurrying off in the direction of the house, while George made his way to the end of the garden.
Sirius rose, coming over to pull Remus from his seat, and leading him over to where Harry stood, at the large table that was piled high with party food, an enormous chocolate cake resplendent at its centre. They waited as the rest of the party filtered into the marquee, squeezing in around them, shoulder to shoulder. Sirius lit the fifteen candles with a wave of his wand and began to sing.