The battlefield was quiet now, save for the occasional moans of the wounded and the crackle of distant fires. Hogwarts stood as a somber testament to the battle that had taken place, scarred but still standing, just like those who had fought within its grounds.
Y/N stood on the grass near the lake, her legs trembling beneath her as she gazed at the horizon. Voldemort was dead, but the cost had been high. Friends had fallen, lives shattered. And then there was Peter—their friend turned traitor—who had vanished in the chaos after Voldemort's death, leaving behind only questions and betrayal.
Regulus appeared beside her, his presence steady and grounding. His hand found hers, and they stood together in silence, watching the last traces of smoke curl into the darkening sky.
"You're too quiet," Regulus said softly, his thumb running over the back of her hand in small, comforting circles. "What's on your mind?"
Y/N didn't answer right away, her gaze still fixed on the horizon. "Peter," she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I can't stop thinking about him... about how he just stood there, next to Voldemort. How he chose this. Chose to betray us."
Regulus sighed deeply, his grip tightening on her hand. "Peter made his choice. He's not our responsibility anymore. We gave him every chance, Y/N. He didn't take it."
"I know," she said, her voice trembling. "But it doesn't make it hurt any less."
They both fell silent again, the weight of what had happened pressing down on them. Regulus knew what it felt like to be trapped in a world of darkness, to be surrounded by impossible choices. But he had escaped. He had found a way out, thanks to Y/N. Peter, though... he hadn't been strong enough to do the same.
As the sun dipped lower, the survivors of the battle began to gather in small groups, finding comfort in each other's presence. James, Sirius, and Remus sat together by the castle steps, their expressions tired but relieved. The Slytherin Skittles—Barty, Evan, and Pandora—stood nearby, talking quietly amongst themselves, a strange mixture of solemnity and hope in their eyes.
It had been months since the once-bitter rivalries between Slytherin and Gryffindor had dissolved, thanks in large part to Y/N. She had been the one to forge the bond between the Marauders and the Slytherin Skittles, bridging the divide that had once seemed impossible to cross. And now, in the aftermath of war, they were stronger together than they ever had been apart.
Suddenly, James called out to Y/N from across the grounds, waving her over. "Oi, sis! Come here!"
Y/N and Regulus exchanged a glance before making their way over to join the group. James, Sirius, and Remus shifted to make room for them, and soon they were all sitting together, huddled in a circle like old friends.
"You all right?" James asked, his eyes searching Y/N's face with concern.
She nodded, forcing a small smile. "I will be. It's just... a lot to take in."
"Yeah," Sirius said quietly, leaning back on his hands. "I don't think any of us are going to be the same after this."
"We've lost too much," Remus added, his voice tinged with sadness. "But we're still here. We've still got each other."
"At least that rat Peter is gone," Sirius growled, his face twisting with anger. "If I ever see him again..."
Y/N placed a hand on Sirius's arm, trying to calm him. "We'll deal with him if he resurfaces. But right now... we need to focus on rebuilding."
"She's right," Regulus said, speaking up for the first time. His voice was calm, but there was a determined edge to it. "This isn't over yet. Voldemort may be gone, but his followers are still out there. And Peter... he's a loose end we can't ignore."
James nodded solemnly. "We'll deal with it together. Just like we always have."
The group fell into a comfortable silence, the weight of the future pressing down on them but not breaking their bond. They had survived the war, but the scars it had left behind would take time to heal.
As the night deepened, the conversation turned lighter. Barty and Evan cracked jokes, trying to lift the mood, and Pandora shared some old stories from their school days that made everyone laugh. For the first time in what felt like ages, Y/N allowed herself to relax, leaning into Regulus's side as they listened to the banter around them.
"Hey," Regulus whispered, his lips close to her ear. "Want to get out of here for a bit? Just you and me."
Y/N glanced up at him, her heart skipping a beat at the softness in his eyes. She nodded, and together they quietly slipped away from the group, heading back toward the lake where the night was peaceful and still.
They walked in silence for a while, the cool breeze ruffling their hair, before Regulus finally stopped and turned to face her. "I just wanted to tell you," he said, his voice low, "how proud I am of you. Of everything you've done. You... you're the reason we're all still standing here today. You brought us all together."
Y/N felt a flush of warmth spread through her chest at his words. "I couldn't have done it without all of you."
"Maybe," Regulus said, his eyes softening as he took her hands in his. "But it was you who made me believe I could be something more. You made me believe I could escape the darkness. And now... now we have a future. Together."
Y/N's heart swelled at his words, and for a moment, the horrors of the past few months faded away. In this quiet moment by the lake, with Regulus by her side, she felt something she hadn't felt in a long time: hope.
"I love you," Regulus said suddenly, his voice raw with emotion. "I've loved you for a long time, Y/N. I just... I didn't know how to say it before."
Y/N's breath caught in her throat, her heart pounding as she gazed up at him. "Regulus... I love you too."
The air around them seemed to still as they gazed into each other's eyes, the weight of their words hanging between them. Then, as if drawn by an invisible force, Regulus slowly leaned in, his hand gently cupping Y/N's cheek. Her heart raced, but there was no hesitation, no fear—only the overwhelming rush of feelings that had been building between them for so long.
Their lips met in a soft, tentative kiss, and for a moment, the world around them disappeared. The chaos, the war, the pain—it all faded into nothing as they stood by the lake, wrapped up in each other.
When they finally pulled away, both of them were breathless, their foreheads resting against each other as they shared a small, quiet moment of peace.
"I've been wanting to do that for a long time," Regulus whispered, his voice laced with affection.
Y/N smiled, her heart full. "Me too."
As they stood there, hand in hand, with the stars twinkling above them and the future wide open before them, they knew that no matter what came next, they would face it together.
