Moonlit Bonds

Epilogue: Five Years Later

The soft sound of waves lapping against the shore echoed through the open window of their seaside cottage. It was peaceful here quiet in a way that had seemed impossible just a few short years ago, when their lives were still tangled in the chaos of war. Now, that life felt like a distant memory.

Remus sat on the worn but comfortable armchair, a book resting idly in his lap. His gaze, however, wasn't on the words but on the scene in front of him. Across the room, Sirius lay stretched out on the floor, laughing as he entertained two small figures—Harry, now five, and their daughter, Ryder, barely two. Harry's mop of dark hair was in wild disarray, and Ryder's laughter filled the air as Sirius conjured bright, dancing lights that twirled and flickered above them like tiny fireflies.

Remus smiled at the sight, warmth flooding his chest. This was their life now—simple, joyful, and filled with love.

"She's got your laugh," Remus said, his voice soft and filled with affection.

Sirius looked up, catching Remus's eye with a grin that hadn't lost any of its roguish charm. "She's got your eyes," he countered, scooping up Ryder and twirling her in the air, making her giggle uncontrollably.

Ryder's bright amber eyes, so much like Remus's, sparkled with delight as she squealed for Sirius to do it again. Harry clapped along, clearly amused by the spectacle.

The years had been kind to them, despite everything they'd been through. After Voldemort's defeat, life had settled into a new rhythm. Sirius had never gone to Azkaban. Instead, they had fought for their happiness, choosing a life far from the madness, a life where they could just be themselves. And this, raising Harry and their daughter Ryder in their cozy cottage by the sea, was everything Remus had once thought he could never have.

Sirius set Ryder down, her tiny feet pattering across the wooden floor as she ran toward Remus, arms outstretched. "Papa!" she called; her voice still wobbly with the speech of a toddler. Remus's heart melted as he scooped her up into his lap.

"Hello, love," he murmured, brushing a few strands of her wild hair out of her face. "Have you been giving your dad trouble?"

Sirius scoffed from the floor, pretending to be outraged. "Trouble? Me? Never!" He grinned as Harry collapsed next to him, exhausted from the play but clearly content.

"You sure about that?" Remus teased, though his eyes were full of love as he glanced from Ryder to Sirius. This was his family—an idea that still felt surreal, even after all this time.

Sirius sat up, crawling toward the armchair with that mischievous look Remus had come to know so well. He rested his arms on the chair, gazing up at Remus and Ryder with a playful glint in his eyes. "I think you're the troublemaker here," Sirius said, leaning in to steal a quick kiss, his lips brushing softly against Remus's.

Remus chuckled, pressing his forehead against Sirius's for a brief moment, the intimacy of the gesture grounding him in the simple joy of their life together. "I think we're all a little trouble," Remus replied. "But that's what makes it fun."

As the afternoon sun filtered through the windows, casting a golden glow over the room, Remus reflected on how far they had come. James and Lily were gone, and that loss still lingered like a dull ache, but they had created something beautiful out of the wreckage. They had built a life not just for themselves, but for Harry, too—a life filled with the love and security that had been taken from him so early.

"Hey, Moony" Sirius said suddenly, his voice quieting as he settled into a more thoughtful tone. "Can you believe it? Us, living like this? Raising a family?"

Remus looked at him, his heart swelling with emotion. "There was a time I didn't think this was possible," he admitted. "But now...I can't imagine life any other way."

Harry, who had been listening quietly, crawled into Sirius's lap, his green eyes—the same as Lily's—full of curiosity. "You were friends with my mum and dad, right?"

Sirius wrapped his arms around Harry, his expression softening as he nodded. "We were. Your mum and dad were two of the best people I've ever known, Harry. They loved you so much."

Remus reached out, resting a hand on Harry's shoulder. "They'd be proud of you, Harry. They'd be proud of how kind and brave you are."

Harry smiled, resting his head against Sirius's chest, comforted by the knowledge of his parents' love. It was a conversation they had often, and Remus knew that as Harry grew older, they would tell him more—about James, about Lily, about the war that had changed all their lives. But for now, he was happy just to let Harry be a child, safe and loved.

Ryder had dozed off in Remus's arms, her little head tucked under his chin as she snored softly. Remus looked down at her, his heart swelling with a love so deep it almost hurt. This was their life now, and it was perfect in its simplicity.

Sirius stood, carefully cradling Harry in his arms as he carried him toward the small room, they'd set up for him. "I think it's nap time for the both of them," Sirius said softly, giving Remus a wink before disappearing down the hall.

Remus smiled as he watched them go, his heart full. For so long, he had believed that this kind of peace, this kind of happiness, was out of reach. But here they were—happy, free, and together.

He stood slowly, carrying Ryder to her small room and tucking her into her crib. As he watched her sleep, he felt Sirius's arms wrap around him from behind, pulling him into a warm embrace.

"We did it," Sirius whispered, his breath warm against Remus's neck. "We made it."

Remus leaned back into him, closing his eyes for a moment as he allowed himself to savour the feeling of contentment that came with being here, with Sirius, with their children. "Yeah," Remus whispered back. "We did."

And as they stood there together, watching their daughter sleep, the soft sound of the ocean outside, Remus knew that whatever came next, they would face it together. Because after everything they had been through, they had found their way to this—love, family, and peace.

And that, Remus thought, was more than he hadever dared to hope for.