Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. Otherwise, this wouldn't be FANfiction
Hares, Dingleplums and Butterbeer corks.
When I was four, my parents got married. There was nothing strange about it. They hadn't had an illicit affair and only got together years after I was born, it wasn't like that. They had been together for ten years before I came along but never felt the need to tie the knot.
My father asked my advice before he asked her. I said yes, of course, and so did she.
The ceremony was a quiet one; just close family. Which were just me and my parents. It was in the garden and everyone was in yellow. My father turned two dingleplums into crystal earrings. He said that normal rings were too clichéd.
When I was eight, we went down to the stream at the bottom of the garden. My father waded through the water with his trousers rolled up, sending his gudgeon-shaped patronus through the reeds, chasing plimpies. I swam in the deepest bit of water where the waterfall had carved away the stream bed, while my mother sat on the edge of the pool, cooking the plimpies my father caught. She taught me how to uncork butterbeer bottles with my teeth and we sat watching the sunset and the swallows, eating plimpy soup, before walking home in the darkness.
Later, I collected the butterbeer corks, made them into a necklace and remembered how my father's patronus and been exceptionally bright that day.
My mother died when I was nine and I cried for days. After a while, my father took me aside and told me that, even though she was dead, she would never truly leave me. I still cried, and complained that it wasn't the same, that she still wouldn't be there for me when I needed her. My father had smiled and said that my mother would be watching over me and would wait for me 'beyond'. I said I didn't want her to wait for me, but to come back for me.
He then told me a tale about how ancient muggles believed hares were born on the moon and had the ability to carry messages to the dead. How my mother's patronus had been a hare… finally, he tucked me into bed and said:
'There is a silver lining to even the heaviest storm cloud. You'll be able to see thestrals now.'
When I asked what a thestral was, he said they were beautiful black horses with pales eyes and wings like a dragons.
Days later, I found a hare by the stream. I gave it a message; asked it to tell my mother I loved her. Then I lay back, watched the swallows in the summer sky and dreamed of thestrals…
Years later, when I cast my first corporeal patronus and the silver hare leapt out of the mist,
I wasn't supprised.
A/N; this is just a little oneshot that came to my mind while trying to work out some of Luna's quirks. I kinda like it, even though it's not my best. Still, R&R, tell me what you think.