Rylin Riddle: After The War

chapter sixteen

May 19, 2000 (Thursday)

"You got a letter from Plymouth, England." I announced, weaving between book shelves to find Theo. He's been spending the past couple days in the library reading as much as he possibly can. I mean I don't blame him, if I could keep my mind focused on a book, I'd be in here too.

"Plymouth? I don't know if anyone I know is from there." Theo called back, leading me to his reclined position on one of the larger couches. I dropped the letter on his book and scanned the new pile of books Theo created.

"Maybe someone moved there after the war? Everyone has grown up since we last saw them." I suggested. I don't know why he bothers making a pile of books... In Cold Blood, Dracula, Pride and Prejudice, To Kill a Mockingbird-

"Holy shit." Theo whispered, pulling my attention from the stack.

"What?"

He sat up and hunched over the parchment in his hands.

"Who's it from?" I asked again, standing in front of him.

Theo was reading over the parchment intensely now, completely ignoring my comments. I tried to read from above him but he was almost entirely blocking me from seeing.

"It's from Alexander Nott. Alex is alive. My brother is alive. Ry, I thought he was dead." Theo exclaimed, finally looking up at me.

"That's great news! Theo, you still have family." I smiled seeing Theo's reaction. "I can't believe it. He wants to see us, he only knew we were here because of the news articles." Theo jumped up off the couch and lunged towards me, wrapping his arms around my waist. He lifted me off the ground and spun me, clearly in a good mood.

"We can go to him or he can come over here whenever. I can arrange for something to do or we can just hang out or whatever you want to do." I told Theo, feeding his excitement. This is the most energized I've seen him since he got out of Azkaban.

I've never been so happy for him.

"He invited us over to his house. He's been in a muggle town and has been searching for your family and me. He said if he could find either one of us he thought he'd find the other one." Theo explained.

"Maybe the reporters aren't so bad. This really is amazing news."

~~~

May 24, 2000 (Tuesday)

Theo and Alex made arrangements for us to come over for dinner today. Theo's been over the top excited and stressed to see him. He wants it to be perfect. I can't say I'm worried about anything because they're brothers.

What could go wrong?

"Ready to go?" I asked Theo, picking up my purse and slinging it over my shoulder. "Yeah. We should be able to apparate directly to his front door." I nodded only to see Theo not even paying attention. He was messing with a non existent spot on his button up shirt while staring in the mirror. I came up next to him and touched his arm lightly, pulling him back from the mirror.

My pale blue sweater and short black, tight skirt matched his black button up and pants. My hair was curled nicely, his the same it always looks.

"You look fine. I don't think he'd care what you were wearing no matter what." I reassured him, running my hands down the front of his shirt and flattening it. He paused and looked at me, taking a breath.