The war is over. Death Eaters are being rounded up by the Ministry. The injured are being treated by the best healers in Brittan. The dead have been buried. No one has seen Harry Potter in almost a month.
The arguably most famous wizard of his time disappeared hours after the Battle of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. A special team of Ministry officials, along with several reporters, have been assigned the task of finding Mr. Potter. England, Europe and essentially Earth, are large areas it could take decades to locate one teenage wizard.
A young redhead sits alone in her room. She has spent the better part of the last few weeks in this same spot, staring out her bedroom window. With everyone around her quietly morning the loss of her brother, Ginny Weasly is mourning the loss of the love her live. Is he dead? Why is he hiding? Does he still care? Her eyes are fixed on the last hilltop visible from the small window looking towards Ottery St. Catchpole.
A soft knock on her door bring Ginny back to reality. "Yes?" she whispers her voice weak from lack of use.
"Ginny dear, can I come in?" Molly Weasly asks calmly from the hallway. Without waiting for an answer she enters the room. It breaks the woman's heart to see her daughter this way. "I brought you some lunch sweetie."
"Thanks mum." Ginny vaguely smiled as her mother placed the small tray of food beside her on the bed. She looked up into her mother's knowing eyes before falling face first into her pillow a small "why" heard by Molly before sobs overtook the young girl. Over the next few hours Ginny and Molly Weasly laid in the small bedroom of the Burrow gently holding each other and crying softly. This had become a normal afternoon at the small Weasly family home.
POP …. A dark haired young man appeared on top of the hill that young Ginny's eyes just left. He stairs over the tops of hills that separate him from the Burrow. He still can't bear the fact that the Weasly's all hate him; at least that's what he thinks. He turns his attention away from the Burrow and walks. This is something he has been doing a lot of lately. Unable to sit still, not knowing what to do next, alone in the world, Harry Potter walks.
There are two places Harry Potter calls home. First Hogwarts, overrun by ministry officials rebuilding the ancient castle. Second, the Burrow, home to the only family he has now besides the Dursleys, all of which, in Harry's mind, blame him for the death of their family member. Where does an outcast go? What does an outcast do? All Harry knows at this time is he must never be close to anyone again. Everyone close to him gets hurt. But Tom Riddle is dead. Who can possibly be worse than him?
"Hello Harry Potter" a small voice meets his ears. Harry's hand immediately goes to his jean pocket and withdraws his wand, his eyes searching for the source of the voice.
"Lu.. Luna?" he calls to the smiling blonde sitting in the cool grass under the shade tree. A nod from the blonde head confirms it is her and the wand is returned to his pocket a confused expression on his face. "What are you doing out here?"
The blonde smiles. "Well I live just over that hill." She points to the other side of the small stream separating Luna Lovegood from the strange home she shares with her father. Luna's smile turns to a frown as she sees the expression on Harry's face. "Are you okay Harry?" she asks staring into the green eyes that are so much like his mothers.
"Yeah, I just didn't expect to meet anyone this far out of town." Replies Harry walking over to take a seat in the grass near his faithful friend.
"Oh, I come out here to watch the water gimplies" her eyes moving back to the slow moving clear waters of the stream. "They are so beautiful in the afternoon." Harry smiles knowing his friend is probably talking about some other strange creature her father has told her all about. The pair sits in silence for several minuets. "Are you sure you're ok Harry?" Luna asks waking him from his apparent daydream.
"What?" he looks at her questionly. "Oh, um, yeah I just um.."
"Have you been to the Burrow yet?" Luna asks cutting him off. "I know they have been worried about you" Luna smiles sweetly at Harry before continuing. "Ron has been so lost; he came over the other day. He talked about you a lot."
"He probably wants to see me in a grave." Remarked Harry who became suddenly interested in a spot of dirt at the mention of the youngest Weasly boy.
"Not at all Harry Potter." Luna placed her hand gently on Harry's shoulder. "I think Ron misses his best friend. So does the rest of the family." Luna once again showed her knack of saying things like they are. She gently squeezed the boy's shoulder hoping her small gesture would somehow tell the boy just how much he is loved by his closest friends.
"How could they possibly miss me? The person responsible for the death of their son." Harry looked up at Luna a look of pleading etched on his face.
"Harry nobody thinks you are responsible for the death of anyone. Everyone did what had to be done to get rid of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named" Luna's small body shivered at the mention of the former Dark Lord.
"But if I ha…"
"No buts Harry Potter. It's not your fault. You have to understand that." The sun starts to hide behind the horizon as Luna stands. "Come with me tonight, I will take you to the Burrow in the morning and you will see." She holds out her hand offering it to the boy sitting on the grass with tears in his eyes.
"I'll come with you tonight Luna, but I can't go to the Burrow." Harry stands following Luna to her house.