JK owns all the characters, but the plot is mine.
Chapter 7: A Loving Farewell
Harry Potter shot up in bed, he groaned and pulled his legs to his chest and wept quietly. The nightmare had been one of the worst he had ever had. Resigned to having no more sleep that night he got up from the bed. Being careful not to disturb Ron, he slowly retrieved some cloths from the drawers to put on, afterward he reached under the bed and pulled out the Griffindor sword and put it through his belt loop. Somehow when he carried it with him it made him stronger, more confident. He reached into his pack and put some fire and aquaballs in his pocket along with his invisibility cloak. He slipped into the stairwell and approached the door to the girls' room as quitely as he could. Cracking the door, he took a peek inside and let out a sigh of relief as he saw Ginny sleeping peacefully in her bed.
"Sleep well Gin." He whispered, and then silently closed the door. He walked down to the kitchen and poured himself a glass of orange juice, he chugged it with his eyes closed, trying to clear his mind of his nightmare. He opened his eyes and sputtered with shock. Eight owls were hovering outside the window carrying a very large package. He hesistated before opening the window, then opened it when it would be hard for the birds to get threw all the protection around him unnoticed, he opened the shudder windows allowing the birds to land the package on the dining room table. He felt a hard nip on his index finger.
"Hedwig! I've missed you. You want something to eat?" He gave some cookies to the Hogwart's owls before there trip home, he stroked Hedwigs' feathers. "I missed you." Hedwig hooted doefully in response. I missed you too. Harry looked at the package which was in the shape of a overly large bowl; it was covered in plain brown wrapping paper held together with string. It reminded Harry of the packaging he had recieved his cloak in. Harry was about to pull the loop out of the bow on top when-
CRACK
Harry spun on the spot simultaniously drawing his sword and wand. He bought the sword up to their neck and pointed his wand directly at them. It took Harry a moment to realise was standing before him, a look of terror on his face.
Harry didn't lower the sword or his wand. "What do you want Percy?"
"Look Harry I'm sorry for everything alright, everything. Right now all that matters is that I talk to mom and dad."
Harry looked at him in the dark could see a dark spot on his cheek. His anger turned into a deep-seated fear as he realized Percy had blood on his face and robes. "What happened?"
"A group of death eaters collapsed a building."
"How many are hurt?"
"We don't know, we got as many people as we could to St. Mungo's before the policemen came, theres about five hundred there now."
Five Hundred. "I'll go wake them." Harry ran from the kitchen and up the stairs pausing at the girls' room. Should he wake them?
No. I'll come back and get them all later, after they get a good sleep.
Harry knocked on the door to his parents' room; he knocked on the door twice.
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley opened the door a moment later. "Harry what's wrong?"
"Percy's here, there's been an attack by the death eaters."
They asked no more questions. "We'll be down in a minute." Harry returned to the kitchen and waited in silence with Percy until they came down the stairs.
The weasley parents grabbed Percy's arm, and Harry grabbed his.
"Harry-"started Mrs. Weasley
"I'm coming Mrs. Weasley."
Without another word the foursome left with a CRACK
They appeared in a buge room about half the size of a quidditch field. Harry heard the start of many screams before they were stopped with a silencing charm. All around him was pain, he saw a little boy with a bone petruding from his right leg, an old woman whose face was coated with blood. Harry stood there numb to the choas erupting around him.
"Are you alright Harry?" said Mrs. Weasley.
The words sounded absurd to Harry, concerned over his mental state when so many people in front of him were in such great pain and torment.
"I'm fine."
The three spoke to the doctor on what they could do to help, the doctor gave Harry a brief lesson in bandaging severed limbs and that's what Harry did. After about an hour he no longer shuddered at each injury, telling himself nervousness only made the situation worse. He was content that what he was doing was helping people.
"Excuse me?" Harry turned his head and saw a doctor standing behind him. He continued rapping the little kids' leg, "Yes?"
"Are you Harry Potter?"
Harry finished bandaging the little boy's leg before answering her. "What do you want?" This isn't exactly the time for an autograph Lady.
"Are you friends with Luna Julia Lovegood?"
"Why?"
She jestured to a bed in the far side of the room.
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Harry walked towards the bed shaking, what the doctor had said to him had shocked and horrified him. His heart ached and he approached the bed with terror, he stood next to her bed.
"Luna."
Luna Lovegood was looking out the false window beside her bed; she turned her neck towards him.
"Harry?"
"Hey."
Harry looked at her sadly "Can you move anything?"
"I can move my hand a bit."
Tears formed in Harry's eyes.
"I'm sorry about your father Luna." Harry choked out.
"It's ok Harry. Besides, I'll see them again one day."
"You'll see your parents soon Luna."
Harry saw a fearful suspicion in Luna's eyes. "Harry what aren't you telling me?"
Harry played the hem of his robe threw his fingers. "The doctor said you're bleeding internally."
Luna saw his meaning as she looked into his sorrowful green eyes.
"They can't stop it can they?"
He wanted to tell Luna that it wasn't true, that somehow, someway, she could be saved. That the doctors had made a mistake and she would live. That this was all a dream that she would wake up from this horrible nightmare and her father wouldn't be dead, that she wouldn't be in a hospitol bed about to die. But he couldn't, he couldn't lie to her on her deathbed.
"I'm sorry Luna." Harry bowed his head and looked at his knees.
"You got nothing to be sorry for Harry," said Luna.
Harry didn't respond.
"You being here means so much to me." Harry looked up and saw tears steadily streaming from her eyes.
"Does it hurt Luna?"
"A bit."
Harry pulled out a glass vial containing a red liquid; he placed it on her bedside table. "The doctor gave me this."
"What is it?"
"It'll he-help you to g-go without any more pain."
"Poison?"
Harry nodded.
"How much time did the doctor say I have left?"
"F-f-fifteen minutes."
Luna looked at the vial for a long time; Harry couldn't imagine what thoughts were bombarding her mind. Was she thinking about how much of life she would never get the chance to live? How much of the world she had yet to see? The friends she would never see again?
Or was she thinking of the laughs she had? The smiles she had put on the faces of so many? The good times she had with Ginny just talking pleasantly in their dorm? The fun she had announcing the quidditch game?
"I don't think I can sit here for fifteen minutes Harry."
Harry let out a choked sob and took Luna's hand in his. "You're a great friend Luna."
"Harry it's not all bad. At least you got to say goodbye."
Harry smiled, her words had comforted him, and his next words comforted her. "To the well organized mind, death is but the next great adventure."
Luna smiled, "Harry can you promise me something?"
"Of course."
"Don't ever loose faith in your friends."
"I never will Luna."
"…and tell Neville and Ron that they should always believe in themselves."
"I will."
"Tell Hermione to loosen up."
Harry let out a choked laugh, "I will."
Her eyes began tearing up and there was a moment her face tightened in pain.
"Tell Ginny that I've always loved her as a sister, and I always will. I'll miss all you guys."
Harry simply nodded.
"I think I'm ready now Harry."
He didn't trust himself to speak, he reached for the vile, her hand sqeezed his tightly.
"Goodbye Harry," she wispered softly.
"Goodbye Luna."
Resting the lip of the vial on her lips he froze, he couldn't do it. Then Luna met his eyes and nodded, and he found the strength to tip the glass up. Luna closed her eyes for the last time as the liquid flowed down into her throught.
Harry felt her hand go limp in his. Shaking, he respectfully crossed her arms and nelt beside her. "Rest in peace Luna, may you always be remembered for the happiness you brought to those around you." Harry took the bedsheets and pulled them over her. He slowly turned away from the bed and found Mrs. And Mr. Weasley standing just a few feet away.
"I'm going to go wake up the others."
The Weasleys parents could not find words to say to Harry as he walked by. He sensed gazes being drawn to him in the apparation area. He didn't care.
All that was on his mind was the nightmare to which he would soon awaken his friends.
To all the Luna Lovegood fans out there: Sometimes the one we love the most gets taken away. All we can do is live on, and find peace in the possibility that one-day; just maybe, we'll see them again.
Review Responce
Emmanuelle Lisselle Grey - Thank you so much for your review again, I'll try not to let you down!
midnight8ten - I absolutely love your story, I'm glad you like mine!
Yorkvillebird – Trust me when I say that I know these books. Its Regulus Articus Black btw; I already came up with the last Horcrux. As for the house elf battle, maybe. :)
Kaima – I liked that to, that song was soo bad yet addicting. I'm sorry if this chapter upset you.
imkay92 – Thank you so much for your complements.
I hope I gave a proper goodbye for Luna, it was very hard for me to write. It's kind of sad in that submitting this chapter means I can't bring her back. :( I'll update as soon as I can.
