Both James and Sirius had a hard time believing Regulus when he rose from the ashes, so to speakâthere was never a body found to be cremated, though their family would rather him be buried anyways. There was never a body found, he was presumed dead, along with Dorcas. So, when the pair of them strolled into the Burrow that has only just become the Orderâs headquarters after the Mckinnonâs were killed, there were a lot of questions. But they were by Dumbledoreâs side himself, though they were adamant they would never work with a guy who allowed eighteen-year-olds to fight a war for him while he sat comfortably in his office in the most intensely protected place in the UK. They had no choice but to believe the story of the Horcruxes, how they destroyed Salazar Slytherinâs locket, Rowena Ravenclawâs lost diadem, Helga Hufflepuffâs, a ring and a diaryâthe last one with the help of his brotherâs unsavoury Death Eater friends. There were believed to potentially be two more, one of which is Voldemortâs snake. Despite everything they have accomplished the last year together, even they know going after that alone would be a suicide mission. But they couldnât figure out what the last one is, if he even made a seventh, but itâs too risky to kill the snake and its owner without knowing for sure if he would never be able to come back.Â
Looking around the cosy living room, warmed by the fireplace and hot chocolate, surrounded by his friendâsâno familyâsâjoy and laughter, watching little Harry run around the room and bumping into almost everything after having too much chocolate, Sirius is eternally grateful for the majority vote a few years ago that lead them to winning the war. Obviously, there were plenty of friends they have lost along the way, people he wishes he could share this moment with. But he survived. These people all survived. He got his brother back and the life he has wanted ever since Remus made him realise that he wasnât as unlovable and uncaring as his parents convinced him he was. This is what made all the pain and trauma and grief worth it. And he will never take anything as simple as playing muggle card games and laughing as a toddler falls over for the umpteenth time for granted, not ever.Â