A few days had passed since their peaceful escape to the countryside, and life had slowly returned to its usual pace. However, Y/N had something special planned for Regulus' 19th birthday, which was approaching quickly. She wanted to give him a gift that wasn't just material, but something deeply meaningful. Regulus had always been a private person, but over the years, they had shared so many moments that meant the world to both of them.
For months, Y/N had secretly been collecting photographs of them together—some magical, but mostly Muggle ones. She had started carrying a small Muggle camera after the war, wanting to capture the fleeting, beautiful moments of their lives. Regulus had always been fascinated by the simplicity of Muggle photographs, how they could be still and yet hold so much life within them.
She spent hours arranging the photos on a large canvas, carefully placing each memory in the perfect spot. In the center was one of her favorite pictures: a candid shot of Regulus sitting by the Black Lake at Hogwarts, the wind blowing through his hair as he looked off into the distance. He hadn't known she had taken it, but the serene expression on his face made it one of her most cherished memories.
Around it, she added photos from all the adventures they had shared together since the war. There were pictures of them at the beach, laughing as they splashed in the water; moments from quiet dinners they'd shared with their friends; and even some shots of Regulus and Sirius, sitting together in the library with soft smiles on their faces. Each photograph captured the essence of who Regulus was to her—a person of strength, love, and depth.
Finally, after arranging them all, Y/N sat back and looked at the collage. The result was perfect—a visual representation of their journey together, a collection of memories that told the story of their love.
The gift:
The next morning, Regulus woke up to the smell of freshly brewed coffee and the soft hum of Y/N moving about their kitchen. He sat up, blinking groggily as he heard her approach.
"Good morning, birthday boy," Y/N said with a wide smile, entering the room with a tray of breakfast—warm croissants, fresh fruit, and his favorite tea.
Regulus smiled lazily, running a hand through his tousled hair. "You spoil me," he murmured, reaching for her hand to pull her into the bed beside him.
She laughed, setting the tray down on the bedside table before leaning into him. "Only because you deserve it. Happy 19th, Reg."
He kissed her forehead, feeling the warmth of her love in that small gesture. "Thank you," he whispered, his heart swelling as he held her close.
After they ate breakfast, Y/N pulled out the carefully wrapped gift she had been hiding under the bed. "I have something for you," she said, handing it to him with a shy smile.
Regulus looked at her curiously, then began unwrapping the package. As the paper fell away, his breath caught in his throat. There, in front of him, was the tableau she had created—a tapestry of memories, each one a small piece of the life they had built together.
For a long moment, Regulus was silent, his eyes roaming over the photographs, taking in each one. He touched the canvas gently, his fingers lingering on the photo of him by the Black Lake. "You kept these?" he asked, his voice thick with emotion.
Y/N nodded, her heart pounding in her chest as she watched his reaction. "I wanted to keep all the moments we shared... and I wanted you to have something that reminded you of how much you mean to me, and how far we've come together."
Regulus turned to her, his grey eyes shining with a mixture of love and awe. "This is... it's perfect," he said softly, pulling her into a tight embrace. "Thank you, Y/N. I don't know how to put into words what this means to me."
Y/N smiled against his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart. "You don't have to say anything. Just know that I love you more than words can express, and I always will."
They sat together for a while, wrapped in each other's arms, the tableau of memories resting on the bed beside them. It was a reminder of everything they had survived, and a promise of all the moments yet to come.
Later that day, they invited a small group of their closest friends—Sirius, Remus, and even Pandora and Evan—to celebrate Regulus' birthday. But as the sun set and the evening festivities faded, it was the quiet moments between Y/N and Regulus, the laughter shared over breakfast and the heartfelt gift, that made the day truly special.
For in those moments, Regulus knew without a doubt that, no matter what the future held, Y/N would always be by his side—his light in the dark, his home in a world that had once felt so cold.
