▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃

EPILOGUE!
— Limerence

" Then we'll put you up for adoption
and you will be removed from my bloodine. "

EMBER ESTELLE POTTER HAD DESTROYED THE FINAL HORCRUX YEARS AGO. She did it with the consciousness of her lost friends that had died in the war. She did it for Ava, Ophelia, Marlene, Regulus, Gideon, and Fabian. She did it for a future worth living for Valerie and Harry, along with Erick. Remus had convinced Sirius to let him adopt the six-year-old boy with much convincing. They grew up with Neville Longbottom and Ron Weasley. Five close friends that would last a lifetime.

She had lived on to make advanced potions and healing spells, even helping madam Pomfrey for three years whilst James took care of Harry. Of course, she spent more time with Professor Remus and Professor Evans than actually helping the woman... Not that Poppy minded. Neither did Headmaster Dumbledore.

They had a certain reputation with the Hogwarts students- Lily Evans, the potions professor was known to be the calm between the group. Remus was the go-lucky teacher that all students loved - even if the information of being a werewolf had gotten out Then there was Ember Potter. People knew her as Harry Potter's mother, one of the greatest healers of their time, the destroyer of the final Horcrux, or Madam Potter if they were injured during Hogwarts.

One person that story was erased through the years would be River O'conner. His fellow death-eaters blamed him for the death of Voldemort. Weeks after he was fully destroyed, River was found dead by Aurors. These Including James, Frank, Moody, and Sirius. His body was mutilated and tortured in a way you would expect animals to be the cause.

He died loving Ember Potter. His obsession with the girl was what got him killed. The death eaters would claim if he loved a little less then Ember would be dead... Voldemort wouldn't had hesitated to kill her.

Blinded by their lost for their master, four death eaters sent out to kill River O'Conner. Rage overfilling their blood, grim smiles on their faces as he screamed out that he didn't do it. He wasn't the reason that Tom Riddle had met his dismise. He didn't do it... but he did. He convinced Voldemort to spare Ember.

Before his death, the only thing he could think about was Ember White. She would never be Ember Potter in his eyes. He was tortured and beaten thinking about the blue eyed girl. How life would be if he didn't date Lily Evans.

It would be so different. Ember wouldn't be holding Harry and James's hand as they ran down King's Cross for his first day. Harry's grip on her hand tightening a bit more the closer they got to Hogwarts. "Do I have to go?" He asked while he stared at the big, red train.

James stared at his son with confusion. "Harry, last night you were jumping up with joy at the chance to go to Hogwarts. Why the sudden change of mood?"

"What if people hate me! Or they become friends with me just because of this stupid scar on my face. What if Im just incredibly bad at magic- don't look at me like that! Im scared not an art exebit!-" Harry exclaimed, swatting his dad's face.

Ember laughed and bent down to his level. Beside her, Hedwig gittered in his cage. "ignore your father. I know what its like to be scared, harry. Trust me. I assure you everything will be okay. Think about it like this, Erick is head-boy this year, Neville, Ron, and Valerie will all be there with you. And trust me, Val will not hesitate to hex someone if they're mean to any one of you."

Harry, though flashing her a small smile was still scared. He had all rights to be. Voldemort was gone, never coming back. However, the boy would be facing the same things everyone else faced. "What if I'm not sorted into Gryffindor than!"

"Then we'll put you up for adoption and you will be removed from my bloodine." James teased in his most serious tone. Harry stared at him with wide eyes, his hands going limp at his sides.

"Oh would you shut up!" Ember laughed, hitting James's head. "Harry, be sorted into Hufflepuff. Its the best house. Hufflepuff or Gryffindor, we're rooting for you."

He bit back a smile. "Ill be sorted into Ravenclaw."

"No you wont. You're lacking the intelligence for that." She kissed the top of his head, clearly not meaning the words that left her mouth. "Whatever house you're sorted into we love you."

"okay." He breathed, turning to the train. However, his victory was short lived since In a flash of light he was knocked down to the ground.

"Harry!" Valerie gapsed, hugging his neck. Valerie, the carmel skinned curly hair girl who had been Harrys best friend since she was adopted.

Emebr looked back to see Remus and Sirius strolling down the station. Behind them, Erick was dragging the carts around. The blonde hair that once stood out had faded to a light brown color. However, it was just as floppy. The couple were holding eachothers hands, teasing Erick about the trunks.

"Oh merlin, here comes trouble. James, let's leave while we can." Ember mused, taking James's arm. He rolled his eyes and flicked her forehead.

"Moony and Prongs aren't bad." James defended them, a brightening smile dancing on his face.

"They convinced their daughter to buy our son a snake. James, he's terrified of snakes. Why is he terrified of snakes again?" Ember asked him with raised eyebrows.

He slumped his shoulders slightly. A pout overcoming his features. "Because Sirius told him Voldemort looked like a snake... and Voldemort gave him his scar. So then Harry was convinced a snake bit him as a baby and 'killed us' for years."

"That's what I thought."

Valerie smacked harry on the shoulder, jumping over to Ember. "Aunt Em, guess what happened?"

Ember smiled, "What happened, Val?"

"Erick accidentally sat dad's hair on fire this morning and he started crying. It was really funny... Papa and I were laughing while Erick was freaking out and dad was bawling." Valerie giggled, using her hands to play out all of the events.

Ember bit back a loud laugh. "Are you serious? Oh merlin, I'm never letting him live that one down."

"Yes you are." Sirius grumbled. His hair seemed to be normal meaning he most likely had Remus fix it.

Harry popped up, standing next to James and Valerie. "Is Wormtail coming?"

"No." Remus frowned, "He just had a baby."

Ember snorted, running a hand through her hair. They glanced at her and noticing the eyes on her she rolled her eyes. "What?! I had this monster-" she pointed a finger to Harry who gasped. "And then my husband was called to do Auror work! That was a very stressful day I will have you know!"

"I was there with you!" Remus laughed.

"Yeah and I only cried three times that day."

James grinned widely, "New record."

The married couple began to bicker, only ever haunting when the train rawred. Ember glanced down to Harry with sadened eyes. "Okay, this is it. Please write us every single day. If you need anything- anything at all, please owl us. I'll miss you so much, Harry."

She wrapped her arms around his body, him returning the action. James shuffled to join their small group hug, "Dont get slytherin, please."

"I won't, dad. I'll get Hufflepuff maybe!" Harry exlaimed with bright eyes, pulling away from his parent's hug.

Valerie huffed, taking his arm. "We're gonna get in Gryffindor. We are the Marauder's children. Don't worry, Harry. Bye Dad! Papa, let's go. Don't fall asleep on the train like you did with Erick, please."

Sirius waved at his daughter, son, and husband, once again crying. James snickered and hit his head though he was teary eyed himself.

"I still can't believe we won't see them until Christmas." Ember grumbled, hugging Erick before he ran off. "I'm gonna miss Harry making messes every three seconds."

"It's alright, Blondie. Maybe Harry will finally ask out Valerie-" James smiled. However, it was short lived as Sirius began to punch his bestfriend repeatedly.

"That will not happen."

The train let out one final blow before it puffed away. A smile ran onto her face knowing that he would enjoy those seven years of his life. She helped the world by destroying voldemort, winning the war. She did it all for the future generations, more importantly, Harry Regulus Potter.

SOMEWHERE FAR
the 'dead' gang

"ABSOLUTELY STUPID!" She exlaimed, throwing herself onto the fluffy couch thag had appeared out of thin air. "Sirius needs to own up and accept that Valerie and Harry will be an item one day."

Marlene laughed, ruffling Ophelia's hair. Beside the couple, Regulus gagged. "I apologize, but Harry and Valerie will not work. Biologically, Valerie is my niece. Mentally, Harry is my nephew. That's gross."

"That's just for you though. Harry and Valerie have no relation together!" Marlene countered. Regulus sighed, raising his arms in defeat.

From above Ophelia went quiet, staring at the scene. She wanted nothing more than to be down there with her friends. She would be waving them off like everyone else. Definitely making fun of Sirius for crying and burning his hair.

"It's alright, Oppie. You know she did everything with us in mind. I sure know she did." Marlene soothed the dark haired girl, sitting next to her on the couch.

Regulus nodded, "aim proud of her. She finished what I wasn't able too."

"Yeah, yeah she did."

Though they couldn't be with the smiling trio - quad once Peter was finally able to escape Hailey. - but they were with them in every way possible but physical. When the ones on earth laughed, they laughed. When they smiled, they reciprocated it.

They weren't together— two groups thrown across time and life itself. They were apart in every means. However, did not exist without death; lie did not exist without truth. Friendships torn by an ending that never truly concluded. They were apart, yet so together. In harmony they sang, in tears they cried, and in love they conjoined.

LIMERENCE
PUBLISHED ON JANUARY 22, 2021
COMPLETED ON JULY 8, 2021

WRITTEN BY
-crushcuiture

To the end of an era
:)