Love & Scars

65. Cor

"How are Barty and Evan?" Regulus asked after they switched from tea to fire whiskey. Harry was asleep, curled up in a ball next to Izzie.

"Haven't heard from them in a while. We tried to keep in contact, but without you two... Last I heard, Barty was travelling the world with Doctors Without Borders, and Evan works in the department of mysteries. He got married eight years ago, I think. Has two kids." Remus said, sitting on a chair in front of him.

"Good for them. We should visit them once we get a better handle on everything." He said to Izzie.

"Yes, I want to see Lily and James, too, but I need to process everything first. It's been a lot."

"No kidding." Remus chuckled dryly as he swirled the drink in his hand. "We thought you were dead; we had a funeral and everything."

"When - when did you give up?" Izzie asked with a small voice as she stared down at her drink.

"Years." Sirius snapped.

He had been quiet for most of the night, just gazing at her. He jumped up from his seat, knocking over his glass.

"I searched for years! I refused to have a funeral because I believed I would find you. I refused for years! I thought you were death but no, you've just been having your best life without me! Shacking up with some other bloke!"

"Sirius!" Reg and Remus cried out. Harry had woken up from Sirius's voice and looked with large eyes at his godfather. Harry had never seen his godfather like that.

"I didn't know you existed!" Izzie screamed with tears in her eyes. "You think I wouldn't come back if I'd known!? You were the love of my life!"

"And now you found another!"

Her tears started to fall down her cheeks now. She slowly rose to her feet, and Reg and Remus followed her movements.

"I can't believe you." Her voice was so silent, they barely heard it. Then she apparated out of the flat.

"Are you mentally insane?!" Regulus screamed, poking his brother hard in the chest. "Don't you think she has a hard time as it is? Do you want to know what it feels like for us? It feels like we had just woken up the day we got abducted. Fifteen years have passed, and we have built a life, yes, but now it feels like yesterday we were in love with you guys. That you-" He poked his chest even harder. "Was her fiancé. Our heads are on the verge of exploding with the memories of two different lives pressing in our heads."

Sirius felt ashamed and already regretted everything he said, even before his brother started to lecture him. He didn't know where it came from. Since the moment he saw her, he wanted to hold on to her and never let go, yet he screamed and accused her.

"Have you heard her lyrics? Ninety per cent of them are about you! Even if she didn't know you, she had dreams, probably memories that wanted to surface. That's what her lyrics are all about. And since you went to her show, you should know what her Patronus looks like."

Remus looked confused between the brothers. Harry's voice carried through the silent room. "It's a dog, exactly like Uncle Siri's."

"Right!" Regulus pointed out. "So deep down, her heart knew it belonged to you. And yes, she's engaged to Cor, but she never looks at him the way she looked at you. But now you just drove her into his arms. I need to go to her."

"Where are you staying?" Remus asked, stepping forward and grasping his arm. He looked afraid he would never see him again.

"I'm not comfortable telling you in the present company." He sneered at his brother. His eyes softened when he glanced back at Remus. "I'll send you a message tomorrow. I'm not leaving, not again." He reached up and gave him a small kiss. "I still love you." Before Remus could answer, he disappeared with a pop.