(author's note: yes, i know this is not how it works, but keep in mind this is just a fanfic.)
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—THE WEEK PASSED BY QUICKLY, MEANING IT WAS NOW MARCH. The war was in two months, which was something Rigel couldn't stop thinking about, but Tom helped him forget about it sometimes— which was when he wasn't at meetings.
Tom's meetings have increased due to him trying to make his death eaters ready for the war, which meant that he was spending less time with Rigel— which made him feel guilty to no end, but the first thing he did after his meetings was go to his boyfriend and spend time with him. Thankfully, it eased his guilt.
Rigel didn't care about Tom spending less time with him because he understood that his followers needed to be ready, so he didn't take it to heart.
Something else that changed was— Rigel had been.. normal.
Normal again.
Normal as in he wasn't eating too little, nor too much.
Normal as in he could sleep much better than before, (Of course, he always slept better in Tom's arms rather than alone, which was something Remus had finally gotten fine with.)
Normal as in... surprisingly... smiling much more.
"—and Mr. Black? You are now undiagnosed with depression." The psychiatrist finished.
Rigel's head snapped up. "What?"
"Your mental health is clearly much better, and that means that you've beaten your depression, Mr. Black."
••
"Rigel.." Remus breathed out, his eyes filled with tears of joy.
The two were now back at Black Manor after what had just happened, both of them too in shock to say something.
Remus stood up from the couch he was sitting at and cupped his son's face. "You did it."
Only now finally realizing what happened, Rigel smiled widely. "I did it."
Remus nodded proudly, smile never leaving his face as he ruffled his son's hair.
••
"What?" was the first thing Tom asked when Rigel was done telling him the good news.
Not only did he look more hopeful than Rigel himself did, his smile was so wide that it made Rigel unconsciously smile as well.
"I did it, Tom."
"Yes, you did." Tom proudly said as he hugged his boyfriend, who started shedding happy tears, not being able to hold it in anymore. "I am so proud of you, Ri.."
••
"Oh my Merlin.." said Sirius that night when Remus told him the good news.
Rigel wanted Remus to tell Sirius the good news because he knew Sirius would most likely burst into tears, and he wasn't ready for that.
And he was right.
Sirius immediately burst into happy sobs in Remus' arms. "We didn't fail them." He whispered happily. "We didn't fail Rigel, either.."
