You Only Live Once

CHAPTER 26

 The healers had allowed Mira to leave the hospital and go back to her own house with one condition. She would have to lay in bed. All. Day. Long. That meant she had to rely on everyone else in the house and she definitely didn't want to be an inconvenience to anyone. Especially Mia and Monty. They had their own problems and their own children to take care of. No matter how many times they assured her that it was their pleasure to help her out , she still tried to ask for their help as little as possible. James and Sirius were around too of course, occasionally attending Order meetings, but she didn't want to rely on them either. Oh yes! The Order meetings. Dumbledore had invited them all to be members as expected and they were now in more danger than Mira would ever like them to be even if she knew it was coming. Going to secret meetings was one thing but going out on missions was a whole different one. A lot more dangerous one. She was also worried that one of her Gryffindor friends would hurt one of her Slytherin friends in the processes or vice versa, and it was terrifying. Lily and Remus were in Potter Manor any chance they got since Mira's arrival. They were so glad she was okay and were more than happy to help her out with anything she needed after having to go through missing her so much. Today there was an Order meeting and everyone was out ,except Mia, until very late. It was now the end of July and Mira was feeling a lot better. She could move and laugh and eat on her own. She was certain that by the end of next week she would be able to walk too. There was also a pureblood party every last one of her Slytherin friends would attend. She was invited too of course, but she couldn't make it. She couldn't help but feel a little jealous that all her friends would be together without her. She hadn't gotten to see them in so long and she missed every one of them terribly. Even Regulus. Mr Crouch had promised a million times over that Barty would visit her like he did on Christmas and Easter but he never showed and honestly that made Mira a little sad. He was the only one who was able to see her and yet he always found some type of excuse. She couldn't help but wonder if something was wrong perhaps and that's the reason he wouldn't show his face.

"Rosie, sweetheart" Mia knocked on her door gently. "I'm going to bed , love. It's getting quite late for me. If the boys come back tell them to wake me up" she said with a smile turning around to leave. "Which I doubt they will" she emphasized closing the door behind her.

"Goodnight, Mia!" Mira shouted utterly confused with the older woman's behavior. Normally she would go inside the bedroom and talk to her before going to sleep. She eventually would kiss her temple, ask her if she needed anything and then she would leave. She must have been really tired not to do any of that. That made Mira's disappointment for the night even worse. She couldn't go see her friends, Remus and Lily were at a meeting that would go on until the morning and Mia decided not to have their daily chat before going to bed. The brunette craved for someone to talk to. After a while her door knocked once more but she didn't get to answer before it swung open revealing a boy she most certainly recognized.

"Did someone order something hot?" he asked leaning against the door frame with a smile on his face. "Teddy!" Mira exclaimed trying to stand up and go hug him but failing due to the sharp pain she felt on her spine. Maybe it would take her a little longer to walk than she had hoped. Theodore's expression quickly changed to a concerned one and he rushed to her side, helping her sit back down on the bed gently.

"So that's something that's sticking?" he asked trying to lift up the mood. And he did achieve just that. Mira actually laughed . During the last three weeks Mira and Theo had secretly exchanged letters . In some of those letters Mira had insisted that she needed a nickname for him since she had so many for her. He barely called her by her name and she wanted to get back at him. So she thought of teddy. It was just perfect...in her brain. Theo hadn't appreciated it much but didn't argue much about it.

"Yup!" she replied with a huge smile, happy to be around him after so long. They just looked at each other for a moment or two, trying to soak in the fact that they were actually together . Mira took the liberty to lean in and give him a gentle kiss, trying to be closer to him . That what she needed most right now. Theo didn't hesitate to deepen the kiss, carefully laying Mira on her back and hovering over her . He had missed her more than words could ever express. The letters weren't enough for him, he needed to feel her presence, kiss her, touch her. And at the moment he really enjoyed kissing her and she seemed to feel the same way. The passion he felt took over him and made him disconnect his lips from her mouth , making them travel down to her neck. His hands had lost control too, touching her everywhere. He quite liked it when her breaths started getting shorter and her chest started heaving up and down while she tugged on his hair slightly. She didn't sound like she was in any pain like he had imagined. That's when pictures of the last time he saw her, blood everywhere , screaming for mercy, came rushing into his mind and he suddenly stopped.

"Why did you stop?" she questioned with a low chuckle, trying to regain her breath. Theo didn't respond to her question, he remained as he was , his hands around her waist looking at nothing in particular. "Teddy?" Mira took his face to her hands, making him look at her. She gently caressed his cheek and started playing with his hair, something she knew he loved. "What's wrong?"

"I'm so sorry darling ' he said , looking deep into her eyes with sorrow. Mira had no idea what he was talking about . Was he really apologizing because he stopped kissing her? Theo took her hands in his and kissed her knuckles before laying down on the bed and bringing her head onto his chest, giving it a kiss. "I'm just scared I'm going to hurt you again" he confessed,his hands gently caressing her side , as if to show her how sorry he truly was.

"You'd never hurt me ,Teddy" Mira mumbled softly before hugging him, trying to get even closer to him.

"Are those little stars on your ceiling?" he asked trying to change the topic of the conversation.

"Yes. You know I love them. That's why I spend so much time up at the Astronomy tower"

"And I thought it was because you enjoyed my company"

"I do, there's just...something so comforting about the stars" Theo had noticed Mira's eyes almost shined when she talked about something or someone she loved or found beautiful. It was honestly heartwarming, the way she was looking and the sweet smile that spread on her face.

"You're the most beautiful person in the world, darling" he said with a smile before kissing her once more. But before the kiss could get any more heated there was a knock on the door. Mira and Theo paused looking at each other in confusion.

"Who is it?" Mira asked carefully.

"I hope it's alright we're here" said a sweet female voice before the door opened wide revealing none other than Barty ,Evan and Pandora "Reg is coming through the window so he won't run into his brother'
'He's not here"

"And? Reg doesn't know that" Evan said before his face broke into smile and running to Mira, hugging her and giving her cheek a sweet kiss. "We really missed you, pretty girl" he said before taking the seat right next to her in the bed.

"Yeah. The party wasn't the same without you" Pandora said before going in for along hug. She had really missed her friend.

"Why are you here already , Nott?"

"What can I say?" I'm obsessed" he shrugged his shoulders before taking Mira in his arms once more.

"We know you are buddy" Barty scoffed once he was close enough to ruffle Mira's head affectionately. "Hi, Mira" he cooed making her glare at him. "Sorry I didn't come earlier. I'm just at a point in life where I go against everything my father says"

Once everyone was situated around her bed comfortably a panting noise came from her window, which Barty had opened for Regulus. Just then Regulus appeared, visually exhausted.

"Honestly Potter, it's like you want me to die"
"Missed you too Reggie"