Epilogue: King's Cross

"Alexis, Alexis wake up." Alexis's grey eyes snapped open and he blinked them blearily. The train was slowly down. They were nearly to King's Cross. Alexis sat up and glanced around the compartment.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione had already shed their school robes. At Hermione's insistence, Alexis had shared their compartment on the train ride back to London. Normally, he would have refused but given as every other compartment was full, he didn't have much choice. Whereas Fred and George were kind enough to leave him to his own devices, the trio had insisted on involving him in all that they did, forcing awkward conversation the whole time. Eventually, because in Alexis's opinion the Gods were merciful, he had fallen asleep shortly the food trolley had arrived.

Thankfully they had decided to let him stay asleep. The scarlet engine came to a slow halt just as Alexis pulled off his robes and stuffed them into his trunk. "Well come on then," Harry said eagerly. He had already left the compartment. Alexis couldn't help but smile. He couldn't remember Harry ever looking so happy.

Together, the four of them stepped through the barrier and into the crowded station. Alexis saw them first while Harry was saying goodbye to Ron and Hermione. His parents and Cassie were standing near a newsstand, laughing and talking animatedly seemingly heedless of the stares they were receiving. It made Alexis angry that people were still looking at his father like a caged animal that might attack at any moment but those feelings took a backseat. He hadn't seen Cassie laugh like that in years.

It was amazing too, the way laughter transformed his father's face, it was like someone ten years later was smiling through the starved mask. Remus too seemed lighter and so much happier. After Harry had bid goodbye to Hermione and the Weasley clan, he came to stand next to Alexis and looked around eagerly. "Relax Harry, they're right there," Alexis said, nodding his head in the direction of the newsstand. Remus had just spotted them and was smiling welcomingly.

Sirius took a less subtle approach and began waving like mad while grinning from ear to ear while Cassie threw her head back and laughed. Alexis laughed and shook his head while Harry positively beamed. And so together, Harry and Alexis pulled their trolleys towards the newsstand.

And their family.