Regulus had spent the morning replaying every moment from his birthday in his head. Y/N's gift—the canvas filled with memories—had touched him in a way that words couldn't describe. Every time he looked at it, he felt a deep sense of peace, like everything he had ever fought for was right in front of him. For so long, he had been afraid that the darkness of his past would consume him, but Y/N had been the light that pulled him out of it.
A few days had passed since then, and the world seemed to be settling into a new kind of normalcy. The war was over, the Dark Lord was defeated, and they were all trying to figure out what their lives would look like now that the constant threat of death no longer loomed over them.
Sirius had been visiting more frequently, slowly mending the broken bond between him and Regulus. It had been difficult at first—awkward, even—but with Y/N's encouragement, the two brothers were finding common ground again. Remus, ever the steady presence, had been a great support to them both, offering advice and a quiet understanding.
Today, however, felt different. As Regulus woke up, he found himself thinking about the future—something he hadn't allowed himself to consider for years. The war had forced him to live in survival mode, never thinking more than a few steps ahead. But now, with Y/N by his side and the world open to new possibilities, he could finally imagine what came next.
He turned to Y/N, who was still asleep beside him, her face peaceful as the morning light filtered through the window. Gently, he brushed a strand of hair away from her face and smiled. She had been his strength through everything, and now, he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.
Later that day, as they sat by the Loch Shiel—a favorite spot of theirs—Regulus took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. "Y/N," he started, his voice soft but filled with a new sense of determination. "I've been thinking a lot about what comes next... now that the war is over."
Y/N looked at him, her brown eyes filled with curiosity. "And what have you decided?" she asked, leaning in closer to him.
Regulus paused for a moment, his gaze drifting out to the calm waters of the lake. "I want to build a life with you. One where we don't have to constantly look over our shoulders. I want peace, Y/N, and I want to share it with you."
Her heart swelled at his words, and she reached out to take his hand. "I want that too, Reg. I've always wanted that."
He smiled, a genuine one that reached his eyes. "Then let's make it happen. Together."
In the weeks that followed, Regulus and Y/N, along with the Marauders and the Slytherin Skittles, worked to rebuild their lives. They all had their own scars to heal from, but together, they found strength in each other. Slowly but surely, the friendships between the two groups deepened, with old rivalries fading into the past.
Sirius had taken on a protective older brother role for Y/N, something that amused Regulus to no end. But he knew his brother only had the best intentions, and for the first time in years, Regulus didn't feel like he was fighting his own family.
One evening, as they all sat around a fire at Sirius' home, laughing and reminiscing about their days at Hogwarts, Y/N stood up, catching everyone's attention. "I have something to say," she began, her voice steady but filled with emotion. "These last few years have been... intense, to say the least. But through it all, I've found something I never thought I would—family. You're all my family now, and I just wanted to thank each of you for sticking together, for fighting through the darkness, and for finding the light at the end of it all."
There was a moment of silence before Sirius stood, raising his glass. "To family," he said, his voice filled with pride.
The others quickly followed suit, echoing his words, and for the first time in what felt like forever, they all felt a sense of peace settle over them. The war had taken so much from them, but it had also brought them together in ways they never could have imagined.
As the night grew darker and the fire burned low, Regulus pulled Y/N aside, away from the group. He looked at her, his heart pounding in his chest. "There's something else I've been meaning to ask you," he said, his voice quiet but serious.
Y/N raised an eyebrow, curious. "What is it?"
Regulus took a deep breath, pulling something from his pocket. It was small, wrapped in a soft velvet pouch. "This belonged to my mother," he explained, handing it to her. "She gave it to me when I was a child, and I've kept it with me all these years."
Y/N carefully opened the pouch, revealing a delicate silver ring, adorned with a small, intricate design. She looked up at Regulus, her eyes wide with surprise.
"I know we've been through a lot, and I don't want to rush anything," Regulus continued, his voice steady. "But I love you, Y/N. I've loved you for a long time, and I can't imagine my life without you in it. This isn't a proposal, not yet. But it's a promise. A promise that I'll always be by your side, no matter what."
Y/N felt tears welling up in her eyes as she looked at him. Without a word, she stepped forward, wrapping her arms around him in a tight embrace. "I love you too, Reg," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion. "And I'll always be by your side too."
As they stood there, wrapped in each other's arms, the future no longer felt uncertain. Together, they would face whatever came next—stronger, wiser, and with the love that had seen them through the darkest of times.
