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—IT WAS HALLOWEEN. Rigel watched as the students were all rushing to Hogsmeade. He had planned to visit his parents' graves instead, since it was the 12th anniversary of their death..
The nightmares hadn't been going away. Rigel had suspected that the dementors being too close to Hogwarts had something to do with it. The bags under his eyes were evident and not too hard to notice.
Remus sighed sadly and walked over to his son, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Are you ready?"
Rigel merely nodded. Ever since the death of his parents, he would never talk on October 31st, even when he was only 2.
••
Rigel watched as Sirius shed a few tears and was now in Remus' arms, who was also crying. He looked back at the graves,
'IN LOVING MEMORY OF James Potter + Lily Potter'
All he felt was numbness, and it was the worst. Since his third year has started, he didn't go one day without the flashbacks of his mother's screams or his father's body hitting the floor.
He sighed and gave the two men a little space.
Sirius and Remus simultaneously looked at the 13-year old, who had his eyes stuck on a ruined house.
They pulled away, both of them standing in front of the grave.
"I would've said that he's like you both," Sirius started, "But.. He's not. He's got your messy hair, James.. and your eyes, Lily.. but," he looked back at his son, who couldn't hear them due to being a little far away, "he's his own person."
Remus pulled out his wand, a flower appearing in the middle of the grave, "You both are probably so proud of him by now.." he mused.
••
"Rigel?" Tom asked, frowning as he sat in front of the said boy.
Sirius, who decided to visit the school since all the other students were at Hogsmeade, spoke up, "He won't talk today. Whatever it is, tell him tomorrow."
Tom nodded understandingly, his eyes leaving the boy, who was staring at the fireplace. "I take it you guys went to Godric's Hollow?"
Sirius nodded, "Yea, we did."
"I'm sorry." Tom said sincerely, "I really am—"
"It's not your fault." Sirius cut him off, catching Rigel's attention.
"Yes, it is." Rigel spoke up, his voice slightly hoarse. Sirius looked extremely shocked at the fact that he had spoken, while Tom was looking very guilty.
"It's not, Ri."
"Don't you get it?" Rigel asked, his voice holding an edge to it. "My mum begged for mercy, but all he said was 'step aside silly girl'."
Tom sat up straighter, looking shocked. "How did you know—?"
"You offered her a chance to live?" Sirius asked, earning a nod from Tom.
"What is wrong with you?!" Rigel snapped, looking at Sirius as if he were stupid. He stood up angrily and walked upstairs to his room, shutting his door so harshly that the sound echoed throughout the whole common room.
••
"Don't take it to heart," Sirius said, sighing sadly. "He's been really stressed these past few days."
"No, Black." Tom shook his head, "He's right. The problem, however, is that I can do nothing to make it up to him anymore. It's up to him whether I'm to be forgiven or not."
••
Rigel frowned as he stepped into the great hall with the other students, all of them holding sleeping bags. "What's going on?" He whispered to his cousin as they all laid down in their sleeping bags.
"Reckon he thinks you're a Gryffindor because of your father." Blaise pointed out, seeing Rigel's extremely confused look.
Rigel's face showed understanding, nodding in agreement.
••
"I searched the astronomy tower and there was no sign of Pettigrew anywhere," said Filch as he walked into the great hall a few hours later.
Dumbledore nodded.
"Third floor's clear too, sir."
"Very well," sighed Dumbledore, "I didn't expect him to linger."
"Done the dungeons, headmaster. No sign of Pettigrew. Nor anywhere else in the castle." Snape joined in.
Dumbledore nodded again, looking thoughtful. "Should the boy be warned, headmaster?" Snape asked, both of them simultaneously looking at Rigel, who was pretending to be asleep.
"Perhaps. He probably has been warned already, though." Dumbledore said, "But for now, let him sleep. For in dreams, we enter a world that's entirely our own."
