Harry Potter and the Loss of Innocence

Disclaimer: Harry Potter characters and locations belong to JKR and her agents, I'm only playing in her sandbox.

Rated: M for violence, language and sexual situations.

Ships: Harry/Luna, Neville/Susan

Genre: Romance/Tragedy

Warning: Major character deaths.

A/N: This is an AU look at what might have happened during and after the battle in the DOM.

Summary: Luna comforts Harry after the disaster in the Department of Mysteries.


Chapter two: After The Battle

The trio landed with a thump in the Headmaster's office. Albus Dumbledore arrived minutes later. He noticed that Luna had a firm grip around Harry, who seemed to be in a state of shock. She was whispering soothing words in his ear and it seemed to help, as he slowly stopped shivering and looked around, bewildered.

"H-Headmaster? W-what… where…? Um, this looks like your office," he stammered.

"Yes Harry, I sent the three of you back here to avoid the questions that surely would have followed by Minister Fudge. He's still sorting out what happened and I fear he may insist on meeting with you. Best if the three of you check into the Hospital Wing and let Madam Pomfrey look after your injuries."

Harry, Luna and Neville had not noticed the nasty cuts and bruises each had. Luna in particular had a rather deep gash on her arm which continued to bleed and Harry had numerous bruises and small cuts on his face and arms. Neville had a black eye and broken nose. Their clothing was a mess: rips and dirt everywhere. Luna's hair hung limp and disheveled; Harry's was it's usual messy self, although it too had picked up a heavy dusting of stone particles. Neville had fared somewhat better, although his robes were badly torn. He held his wand, which apparently had broken, listlessly in his left hand.

On closer inspection, Dumbledore noticed that Neville's right arm appeared to be broken. "Off you go now," he commanded. "I'll let Poppy know you're coming."


Poppy had fussed over the trio, tsk tsking as she healed them. "You three had better stay the night. You look exhausted. I'm going to give each of you a dreamless sleep potion.

"Madam Pomfrey," Harry started. "C-could y-you c-check on Hermione? She was taken to St. Mungo's."

"What happened to her, Mr. Potter?"

Luna answered. "She was hit with same kind of purple spell. It was cast silently and hit her in the chest."

Harry choked out, "We don't know if she… she's a-alive," he managed.

Poppy gasped. She knew that spell; it was a cutting spell that was almost always fatal. The fact that it was cast silently might give hope that the brilliant witch would survive. "I'll check on her right away, Mr. Potter. Were there any others hurt?"

Neville answered hesitantly, "Ron and Ginny Weasley were killed, Madame Pomfrey."

Harry let out a sob, "And it's all my fault! Voldemort lured me to the Ministry. I tried to go alone, but they refused to abandon me. We never should have gone and they would still be alive. It was horrible, Madam Pomfrey. I'll have nightmare about Ron and Ginny forever."

"Shh, Harry. It's not your fault. Voldemort is the bastard responsible," Luna reassured him.

Poppy gasped as she took this in. Molly and Arthur would be devastated. 'I'd better keep these three isolated from the rest of the Weasley's. Albus will have to deal with Molly and Arthur,' she thought.

As if on cue, Dumbledore stepped into the hospital, a grim look on his face. "Poppy, I need to talk to Mr. Potter before he sleeps."

"Albus, no! The three of them have seen things no child should see. They need to rest and recover from what most certainly was a horrific ordeal!"

"I'm sorry, Poppy, I must insist. I'll merely remove a memory strand from each of them and study them in my office."

"Be careful Albus. Harry in particular is in a very fragile state at the moment. It's against my better judgment to even allow you in here."

"I'll be quick. Poppy." Albus approached the trio and requested each of them to bring their recent memories of the evening to the forefront. He then extracted multiple silvery strands from their foreheads, depositing them in small vials he had brought along.

After that was accomplished, Poppy administered the dreamless sleep potion and calming draughts to each of them, settling them in three beds, a privacy screen between each.

As Harry calmed and sank into sleep, he wondered about Luna and how she had managed to keep him focused and sane these past hours. The image of Hermione being struck sent shudders through him and he fervently prayed that she would be all right. The last thought he had, was of Ron. What a horrible way to die. Tears fell and a sob escaped his lips as he finally succumbed to sleep.


Meanwhile, Albus was reviewing what happened in his pensieve. It was not a pretty picture and he was afraid that Harry would be in terrible danger now. He'd have to contact Arthur and Molly right away and break the sad news. He only hoped that Arthur had not already found out. 'Oh!' he thought. 'Molly has that enchanted clock! That won't be good. I'd better go right away.'


At the Burrow, Molly had just stepped into the kitchen, when she noticed her clock. She screamed just as Arthur entered the door and Albus apparated in. "Ron, Ginny! Th-they're d-d-d…" she couldn't finish the sentence, crumbling to the floor in a dead faint.

Arthur noticed the two clock hands on the floor and knew the worst had happened. He had only been told that there was a fight in the Ministry and that his children and Harry Potter were involved. Now he was very afraid what would happen to his family. "Ron and Ginny." He sobbed. "NO!"

Albus quickly pulled Arthur to a chair and enervated Molly. Arthur was in shock and Molly was nearly incoherent, tears streaming down her face.

"W-who did this, Albus, how did this happen?" she cried.

"Voldemort, I'm afraid, Molly." Albus replied sadly.

"W-where were they that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named would…"

Arthur replied. "Molly, they were in the Department of Mysteries with Harry and three others. Why were they there, Albus?"

I'm afraid Voldemort lured them there Arthur. Actually, Harry was lured there and the others followed him. I…"

"Harry brought them? He caused the d-death of my two children?" Molly's face was enraged.

"Now Molly, I'm sure Harry…" Arthur started, only to be interrupted by Molly.

"Don't you 'now Molly' me Arthur. That boy caused the death of our two youngest. I want him locked away, Albus. In Azkaban!"

"Surely you can't mean that Molly," Albus replied. "Hermione Granger was also seriously injured in the fight. They managed to kill three Death Eaters including Bellatrix Lestrange and captured two more. We have Lucius Malfoy in custody due to their heroism. We also captured six others in full Death Eater garb. I, myself fought Voldemort, with Harry's help."

"Ronald and Ginny are DEAD, Albus. I don't care what you say, I hold Harry Potter responsible."

"I'll try to reason with her, Albus," Arthur spoke softly. I'm sure Harry wasn't to blame for the fight. I'd like to know what happened though."

"I'm afraid I can't reveal that, Arthur. It'll be the subject of an investigation and I don't want wild rumours spread around tainting the evidence."

"But… but… you will find out for us, won't you Albus? I'll have to tell the other boys what happened." Arthur wasn't looking forward to that task. If Molly told Charley and Bill… well he didn't want to think what might happen.

"Yes, Arthur, you'll be the first to know when all the investigation is complete."

Molly had slumped down in a chair, a defeated look on her face, unwilling to accept that her two youngest were gone.

Arthur wondered how the Grangers would react.

HPATLOI