Misery [T. Higgs] ✔

epilogue

Helena smiles, as she holds her first child in her arms. A beautiful baby girl with blonde curls and brown eyes, just like her father had. Terence looks relieved to say the least and reaches out, gently running his thumb over his wife's cheek. "You are the utterly most perfect human being that I have ever seen an I love you so much.", he says, earning his wife's smile. "I love you too. Now kiss me, you bloody idiot." Terence laughs and cups her face before kissing her rosy, chewed up lips, she had bitten bloody during the painful birth. The small babe in her arms let's out a small cry. She smiles and kisses her small hand. "Have you decided on a name?", a nurse asks. Helena smiles and then nods. "Her name is Phoenix."

James, Lily and Harry Potter, followed by Sirius Black, Draco Malfoy, Nymphedora Tonks and Remus Lupin enter the room and look at the happy couple. "And?" "Its a girl. And her name is Phoenix." "Congratulations!", they all smile and come a bit closer to greet the new face in their large patchwork family.
Draco, after both of his parents had been imprisoned in Azkaban for being death eaters, was raised by Sirius Black and grew up with Harry as his cousin and best friend, next to Ron Weasley and Blaise Zabini, who was adopted by Regulus Black and his wife Elina. "Soo... Who is going to be the godparent?" Helena chuckles and Terence grins. "Severus Snape." "Why Snievelus?" "Because Remus and Sirius both have Harry and me already. And you two get to see her every day anyways. Regulus has enough to look after with Blaise. So.. We thought who'd be better than Helena's favorite Professor?" Like he was summoned Severus Snape enters. "May I see my goddaughter?" "Of course! Phoenix. Say hello to uncle Severus." The man gently lifts the girl up and smiles. "That face is definitely yours." Helena smiles happily and Terence laughs. "Those untameable curls are too. Typical Potter curls." Helena grins and gently pushes her husband. "She got my dads eyes for some reason. Hopefully she won't be such a hassle.." James feigns an offended look. "Excuse me. I'll have you know that I was my mothers angel." "Like every single child." He shrugs. "Yeah. You got me there." Snape gently hands back the girl to his mother. Phoenix cuddles into the young woman's warm embrace and Helena smiles. "I'll always protect you. There will be nothing in this world that will survive even bending a hair on your little head. I love you, my little Phoenix."

The fire in her veins had extinguished with her first death. Of course Helena still possessed her strong magic, but she was no longer a phoenix. She had fulfilled her purpose.
She was born, to make the world peaceful and safe once more.
And she did so ever so masterfully.
Still, she had the feeling of missing the warmth inside her chest she had never experienced. A warmth her first daughter brought back. And for that she loved her with all her heart. Her perfectly healthy beating little heart.