10
Disclaimer
J K Rowling and their respective copyright holders own Luna Lovegood, Harry Potter, and other characters.
Chapter 10
Luna sat in amazement as Harry told her of his first meeting with Sirius.
"So are you telling me all it took to get past ministry security was some bluster and a camera?"
"I hope I never have to trust my security to the ministry, it was rubbish. Meeting Sirius was strange he only calling me Harry a couple of times, it was mostly pup and on a couple of occasions James."
"Harry he was kept in the high security section of Azkaban, dementors drive most people insane, it will take him some time to be completely rational."
Andy laughed, "Sirius Black might be many things but completely rational will never be on the list. He is going to be back to normal, physically in a week or two, mentally it will take longer, but he will get there. Harry I don't want you visiting Sirius again in the hospital; we got away with it this time because no one was expecting it. People's guard will be raised now; I'm surprised your photo isn't all over the Prophet as it is. Our top priority now is keeping you safe and the easiest way to do that is to keep you out of public eye. We've raised our heads above the parapet, we've got most of what we want, and we need the dust to settle for a while. They are many groups who want to get to you. Albus has an agenda that involves you, ask Luna about that one. But there is no end of political figures that would pay a lot of galleons just to be seen shaking your hand. You could stabilise Fudges administration, or bring it down with one misplaced comment at the moment. As much as I hate it I'm going to have to teach you politics.
"I understand Andy; I knew when I did the interview that things wouldn't be the same, it's just I guess no matter how many times you or Luna told me I never really believed I was famous. But I saw it today it was the way people looked at me it was as if Prince William walked into the room. It was scary but if that's how people are going to treat me I guess you'll have to teach me how to deal with it."
"I think you can invite Hermione over for the lessons too, that girl has so many questions that she wants answers too it might dampen her curiosity. "
"Andy an agumenti to the face wouldn't dampen Hermione's curiosity. Speaking of invites Harry will you tell her she can visit The Rookery whenever you come over. I can't decide who I want her to meet more my mum or my dad."
"Is this one of those future things?"
"Not really it's just I know how she reacts to most things but meeting my parents will certainly take her out of her comfort zone. She's far too trusting of authority figures it will be fun to let her meet newspaper publisher and member of the establishment Xeno Lovegood."
"I suppose he doesn't quite fit the mould."
That following weekend Harry and Hermione flooed to the Lovegood house. Luna watched as Hermione greeted her mother politely then waited thirty seconds for the barrage of questions. It was early October but the day was still mild enough for Harry and Luna, to go walking in the woods.
"Is it ok going off and leaving Hermione?
"As much as I'd like to watch the sideshow of my mum and Hermione, we would both get bored listening to them. They think far too much alike, Hermione will be questioning her about every single charm and spell in the kitchen, and my mum will enjoy explaining things to her.
How are you dealing with everything?"
"Not too bad, Dora sent me a copy of the Quibbler to autograph, so I know she will wind me up went we meet. Andy and Ted have told me the magical world is off limits for the time being.
So no more visits to see Sirius, no quidditch games and defiantly no visits to Diagon Ally or Hogsmede.
They think if I bump into a reporter they could put words into my mouth and change the face of civilisation, as we know it. Well something like that anyway. "
Luna and Harry shared the joke.
"It does freak me out though that just because of something I can't remember and had no control over I'm famous and my opinions count. Did you know that giving the interview would cause all that chaos? Ted told me that Fudge was lucky to last the week, and Dumbledore has been weakened too.
We've been getting the prophet and Andy has been explaining the unwritten story to me. Halfway through the week the tone changed, they stop pursuing Fudge and the emphasis became blaming Crouch and calling for immediate freedom for Sirius. She tells me that someone either scared off or paid of the paper.
"No Harry, I didn't think through the consequences of this one, but we all talked it over and none of us did, and a room with my parents and the Tonks' should of realised that this would have a bigger effect than we did. Ask Andy what she thinks of this as an idea that you write to the prophet thanking the public for the overwhelming support, but saying that it wasn't your intention to blame anyone just see justice for your godfather.
She might veto the idea in favour of keeping a low profile."
They meandered back to the house, in search of Hermione and food. While at Lunch Xeno and Hermione had a discussion on primary and secondary sources and author bias. It was clear that Hermione was having trouble seeing his point of view but didn't like arguing with an adult.
They headed up to the living room after Lunch. Harry and Luna watched Hermione like a parcel that turns up unexpectedly and ticks.
"Does he really believe that? That books can't be trusted. "
Luna smiled to herself. "Hermione of course books can't be trusted. Mein Kampf is not a good book to read if you want ideas on racial tolerance, not everyone agrees with the works of Marx and Engels. The Bible, The Quran and the Bhagavad Gita have some differences of opinion making it hard to believe in all three simultaneously. Believers in one don't believe in the other two.
I can find you books that express the opinion that you as a firstgen magic user should not be allowed to join our society. Although they wouldn't use that term some wouldn't even call you muggleborn.
So books can be as trusted as much as the people who wrote them. That means some, not at all.
I mean I've been told Hitler was a reasonable painter but look what happened when he moved into politics.
People, even leaders are good and bad. Churchill was a great wartime leader, but if it were up to him, women wouldn't have the vote and look at his record when he was Home Secretary and there was a strike on. However, he is only really remembered now for his resistance in the war.
The magical world is the same we have leaders remembered for one good thing they did and everything else is forgotten.
People are fallible, books are written by people.
"But how do you know which ones can be trusted and which can't be?
"You can never be certain, facts can of course be checked, but sometimes text books simplify things that while ok on one level could be deadly on another.
What is the speed of gravity Hermione?"
"We did this in science last year its ten metres per second squared."
"That is what you'd be taught in junior school. And also in secondary school until you took your GCSE's if you went on to 'A level' physics you would find out it's 9.8m per second per second. It was simplified to make the maths easy to work out, and until you get to the higher level you don't need to know it."
Luna watched Hermione wrestle with this new information, still it was better to bring a little uncertainty to her world now rather than to let her get into patterns of believing all official information she would receive.
"I'm going to play a little game Hermione, I will describe a creature, and you have to guess if I'm making it up or if it's real or if there is still no evidence either way."
Luna used all her expertise in cryptozoology to describe animals that Hermione would never have heard of, once she got over the idea that dragons, unicorns, and werewolves all existed Luna started to enjoy herself and slipped in a description of nargles and wrackspurts.
"An hour ago I'd have been certain they didn't exist but then I was certain that books could be trusted and unicorns where just story book creatures. I suppose they could exist but it doesn't feel right believing in them with no evidence."
Luna did a little victory dance on the inside but sat still on the outside, she had never been able to get Hermione in her old life to be that accepting.
"But you didn't just dismiss them out of hand; there is no evidence for either in fact one I made up, but the other is a possibility and I still think they exist even if Daddy has doubts."
"How do you know all this Luna? Teachers keep telling me I'm bright, and my dad boasts I'm a genius but your running rings round me here."
"Don't worry Hermione you are clever you kept up with my mum this morning, but I've had an unusual upbringing, both my parents are academics they pursue knowledge, it's rubbed off on me I guess."
Harry and Hermione flooed back to the Tonks' not long after that Luna followed them through. Once Hermione had departed, Harry confronted her.
"Where you just trying to confuse Hermione or was there a point to all that?"
"Harry there are some things about you I love. This is one of them, your fierce protectiveness of your friends. Yes there was a point to all that, Hermione is a borderline genius but she spends too many years just doing rote learning and taking things at face value. There is too much prejudice in the world for Hermione just to believe things without question. Books are a good starting point but they should only be a springboard for learning. Hermione became my best friend in my old life, much more than you where. I would never set out to hurt her, and I hope to keep her from as much hurt as I can, although that won't be possible without giving her a personality change."
"What do you mean?"
"Hermione is a muggleborn who is bright, clever, and driven to push her way forward. She wants to be the best, there is however some in society that will treat her as nothing more than a talking dog. An aberration from how they know the world to be. A muggleborn doing better than they do? Not possible."
"If that's how society thinks then it needs to change."
Luna was startled from Harry's statement by Ted applauding as he walked into the room. "Bravo Harry, a noble cause, but one that will take you your whole life and possibly the lives of your children unless you find a way of accelerating changes. Luna is right about the prejudice Hermione will face because I live with it every day. I attempt to make society a little more just and fair but it's not easy in a world where privilege rules. By the way, ask Andy for the real meaning of privilege when you have time. This wasn't what I came to find you for. Sirius's hearing has been set for next week. It will not be a trial but more a formal acquittal as there are no known crimes to charge him with, that Peter hasn't already confessed to.
I was with him today and I can tell you his mind is getting sharp again, he has a few things planned for that meeting which he should get away with. One of them will make your life a little easier too."
"What is it?"
"Nothing bad and it should give us a little more misdirection as to where you are living."
"I know that face you're not going to tell me, I can still pester Andy into telling me."
"Too much pestering and you'll have her move back onto full shifts. Sirius hopes to take full rights again including rights as your godfather. This will make him your magical guardian, while we will still be your legal and physical guardians. All those people trying to find you after your journalistic foray will be completely misdirected as to where to look.
The drawback will be that he won't be able to live here, but with all the means of travel available to him I doubt he will be away from here much."
The next week dragged for Harry, Luna caught him staring off into space when they were together, most of the conversations they had that week were of the 'what if' type as Harry played over different things that could go wrong. Luna could not promise anything as this was new ground for her so she spent her time distracting him.
ooo000ooo
The floo flared green causing everyone in the room to jump and stop all conversation. Ted stepped out with a slightly strained expression on his face.
"Everything went well then Ted, you know that poker face of yours doesn't work on me. So where is he? You haven't unleashed him on society by himself."
The floo flared green again and out stepped Sirius, he was dressed in formal robes and had a haughty expression on his face, but a light in his eyes that mitigated his expression.
"Hello Andromeda, thank you for allowing me entrance to this house"
"Hello yourself Sirius, why so formal?"
"Come now Andromeda, surely you have a better greeting than that for your lord"
A slightly pained expression crossed Andy's face, "We might be family but you are not my lord, your father formally disowned me for marrying Ted. I thought you knew that Sirius."
"Old business Andromeda, new business was carried out today on the floor of the Wizengamot. Andromeda Tonks nee Black was formally reinstated as a member of the Black family. The House of Tonks where adopted as a protected family by Lord Black, oh and I cast out Bella from the family. I'd have done Cissy too but Ted advised against going that far."
Habits drummed into Andy from her childhood took over as she sank to her knees. "My Lord, welcome to my home you do me honour by your presence"
"Stand up Andy you look silly on your knees. Come on, this old dog wants a hug."
Luna nudged Harry whose mouth was hanging open at the interplay between the two. As Sirius gave Andy a hug he turned to Ted, "See I told you she'd be pleased."
He looked around the room and his eyes fell on Harry. "Hello Pup, good to see you when my heads on right."
"Hello Sirius, good to see you out of bed."
"Harry we are going to have fun together, Andy and Ted are good people and I feel I owe them a life dept for taking you in, but they are far too serious for my liking. I owe you a lot of fun. Here I am out of prison and your too big to ride my back anymore, I used to love hearing you giggle as your dad put you on unccy pafots back."
Harry's eyes started to mist over, as much as the Lovegood's and the Tonks' had tried to help him connect with his parents here was someone who knew them intimately.
"Unncy pafot?" asked Harry
"You went even two at the time, my memory is a little time locked at the moment, finding it hard to get over the idea you are grown up. I bet you don't even remember my party trick." On saying that Sirius turned himself into a large black dog.
Ted swore quietly at the back of the room, Harry initially jumped back in shock than stepped forward to stroke the dog in front of him.
Luna giggled she had known of Sirius' abilities but had never seen the transformation. Sirius strolled over to Luna and as she leaned towards him, he licked her face.
"No bad dog." Taking two fingers, she smacked his nose.
"Ow why'd you do that it hurt". Said Sirius turning back.
"I find letting strange old men lick my face a little creepy."
"What do you mean old I'm only thirty-one."
"Yes and I'm ten" or twenty-eight Luna thought to herself and he is good looking.
"Oh Merlin" muttered Sirius. "I'm sorry Luna, it is Luna? I spent so much time in the dog form in prison I've started reacting as an animal would.
I owe you a debt of gratitude it was your family that discovered the Rat and started the ball rolling. I now owe you a formal apology too.
Miss Lovegood if the House of Black can do anything for you ask and I shall do my best to answer your request."
The floo flared green again and Xeno stepped out.
"Greetings Lord Black you do like to leave chaos in your wake don't you?"
"Daddy" interrupted Luna, "I've just got us a boon from a noble house, isn't that good"
"I was just about to ask how it was you spotted the rat?"
"My dear Lord Black, what sort of zoologist would I be if I couldn't tell that my nearest neighbour had a disguised animagus living with them?"
"Yes I suppose, so what sort of chaos have I left behind?"
"The press core can't decide how to play this, you allowed Fudge room to manoeuvre, Dumbledore took some more hits, but there is no way that the press will go after him yet, his reputation with the wider public is still too good.
Turning down compensation in favour of setting up that charitable fund was a work of genius."
"Well once Ted discovered I still have access to all the Black vaults I don't need any more money."
"Didn't your mother cut you off from them?"asked Andy.
"Ah dear old darling crackpot mother. She threw me out after we argued and didn't allow me access as I wasn't of age at the time. Father never formally disowned me from the family because although I didn't agree with his politics I think the old man thought it was good to have sons of either side of the war it guaranteed the families survival. Besides, I moved in with the Potter's not Remus.
So as I never did anything that disgraced the family creed, dad didn't disown me. By the time he died, I was in prison, at that point in time the whole world assumed I was a Deatheater and had betrayed Harry's Parents. Dear old darling mummy thought my previous behaviour was a cover story and was overjoyed that I was on her side. She released all Black properties, vaults and trusts to me in case I ever got out again.
So I turned down the ministries offer of compensation and had them set up a fund to pay for defence lawyers for anyone who couldn't afford to bribe the judges."
"Yes although you didn't quite phrase it like that, the press aren't stupid and we knew what you meant.
You blindsided Albus on Harry's guardianship so it was agreed to before anyone realised what it was they had agreed to. "
"All I asked for that all rights that where my legally mine be reinstated to me, there was no way that a pureblood packed chamber would ever vote against that. So once it was agreed I then pointed out that made me Harry's magical guardian, I informed them I had already spoken to his legal guardians and was happy he was in a safe and secure place and would allow him to continue to stay with them. However, I also placed Harry under the protection of the house of Black.
"What does that mean exactly? You've mentioned it a couple of times my politics lessons with Andy haven't got that far."
"Well it doesn't mean as much as it used to. At one time an ancient and noble house would be allowed to raise its own army and anyone daft enough to go against the house would find an army camped on its lawn. Nowadays it just means I can use any legal means possible to damage someone who insults you. But as the Blacks are one the richest wizarding families it just means I'd bankrupt anyone who annoys me, and no one with respect for tradition, meaning all the pureblood families in the Wizengamot would stand and watch and not intervene."
"Cool."
"Let that be a lesson Harry, learn the rules and use them to get what you want. Now if you'll excuse me this is the longest I've stood or spoken for over eight years."
"Not quite yet my Lord, you have paperwork to fill in, right now.
"What now Ted?"
"You're an animagus and I know you're not registered. All we need is a reporter sniffing around and your back in Azkaban, so you will fill in the form, pay the fee and I'll have them on Amelia's desk before there is any trouble."
"You worry too much, you know." Said Sirius sitting down at a table with a pile of forms Ted had produced from inside his briefcase.
"You are too much a Gryffindor and never consider the consequences."
Luna and Xeno excused themselves and headed home.
"Luna if your friends keep making so many headlines I'm going to have to go weekly."
"Well they are the type of people who can destabilise a government over breakfast."
"Not quite, Sirius went out of his way to be fair to Fudge. He stated he had no argument with the current minister or the DMLE. It was only the people in office or holding titles of responsibility at the time who should have to account for their actions. He gave Albus a very pointed look while saying this. I know the press box picked up on it, although I doubt it will see print.
We came very close to seeing a new minister because of our plot, but you back tracked quickly, is Fudge necessary?"
"No, in fact he's worse than useless in my time he denies Voldemort's return even after Harry and Dumbledore insist he's returned. No if I thought, there would be a strong and effective minister after him I'd have pushed for his fall. But you told me there was no strong contender ready to replace him. Getting someone from the conservative pureblood camp would be a disaster. I want to change things so much that Voldemort never returns and whoever is minister is just a sideshow. Not saying that there aren't some people in the ministry I'd like to get rid of. Not sacked necessarily more imprisoned or possible just sent swimming in a vat of lobalug."
"Luna, that isn't how we brought you up."
"It's very hard to be forgiving to be people who have tried to kill you or killed and tortured your friends, even if it hasn't happened yet."
They headed into the house and settled down for the night. The following morning Luna rather pensively approached Selene.
"Mum I want to go and see Sirius soon and I need you to come with me please."
"What the problem Luna?"
"Well I need him for some schemes but the problem is my head tells me he is a good looking man three years older than me, but my body is of a prepubescent girl and I'm repulsed by the idea I find him attractive. So I need to have a business meeting and I need you to kick me if I start flirting"
Selene grimaced as she thought this over. "I'm trying to come up with a response that isn't throwing up at that idea and grounding you."
"I know exactly how you feel that why I need you to come with me."
Selene and Luna first flooed to the Tonks house, after a brief discussion Ted floo called Sirius who came through to them.
"Good morning Lord Black, I need to call in that favour from you."
"Morning Luna, Selene good to see you again. Well I know I made it formal last night but really as I understand it you where instrumental in getting Harry away from his aunt and uncle, and also getting me out of prison so if I can do anything for you I will."
"What do you know of Horcruxes Sirius?"
"Never heard of them, why?"
"Horcruxes are soul anchors, someone who has made one can never really die even if his body does. His soul will still linger and he can be returned to a new body, through various rituals."
"This isn't hypothetical here you're talking about Voldemort aren't you?"
"Yes and I believe you and the House of Black has one in its possession and may have access to another."
"What? How did that happen?
There is a locket somewhere in your mother's house that her house elf has hidden. There is another in Bellatrix's personnel vault. That will be hard to get even harder now you've cast her out of the family."
"So we need to find them and destroy them? Is that it Voldemort gone for good?"
"Well firstly destroying them isn't going to be easy. Fiendfyre will do it. Stabbing them with basilisk venom embedded blade will do it. But I don't know any other ways. The other problem is there are six in total at the moment so all need to be destroyed and I don't know where the ring is."
"You don't" blurted Selene. "I thought you knew them all"
"I know what they are, but Albus found and destroyed the ring, almost killing himself in the process. He might have told Harry where he found it but Harry never mentioned it to me."
"Excuse me," said Sirius "but what the hell are you talking about? We need to find the ring but Albus has already destroyed it? He's told Harry but they have never met."
Luna shared a look with Selene. "I had planned on telling him, but I think we should have built up to it a bit better."
"Tell me what?"
"How long do you think we can keep this up for before he gets really annoyed?"
"I think about another thirty seconds"
"Hello I am I still in the room? Please talk to me."
"Hello Sirius Black, I'm Luna Lovegood and I'm twenty-eight I think. I happened upon a wild form of time travel and I'm now trapped in my ten year old body with all my future memories, and I promise you this I intend to make it better this time."
"Is this a prank? Did Remus put you up to this? It's convoluted enough to be one of his jokes."
"Can you cast a patronus Sirius?"
"I could, my magic is a little haywire since my return from prison."
"Do you think a ten year old can?"
"Never your core isn't developed enough"
Luna wished she had a camera for Sirius's face as a silver hare ran past him. "That's always a show stopper. "
"Who else knows?"
"My parents, Andy knows quite a bit, Ted knows I have future knowledge. Harry knows a lot. I wrestle with what to tell people all the time. I've had long conversations with Harry where I've refused point blank to answer his questions?"
"Why won't you?"
"Imagine knowing who you were going to marry before you had ever met her. It would make for an awkward first meeting don't you think."
"Well it used to happen all the time with marriage contracts, but I see your point."
"Another way of testing is calling for your mother's elf and telling him to bring you the locket Regulus gave him."
"I hate that elf. Kreacher."
"You called master, great mistress said that you went the filthy blood traitor she thought, so you call her I am."
"May I Sirius? Kreacher I believe Regulus gave you a locket to destroy. I want you to bring it to us so we can destroy it for you."
"Yes it was masters last order. Destroy it he tells me, or keep it safe. Let no one know it exists."
"Bring us the locket Kreacher and we will carry out my brothers wishes, you can watch us if you wish."
Kreacher popped out and returned with the locket.
"Here, Kreacher drop it in this bag." Luna held out the bag she had brought.
"So now what?" asked Sirius, "we can't use fiendfyre here Andy and Ted would not be happy if we burned down their house."
"Mudbloods and blood traitors. The shame, you have brought Kreacher to the house of filth. You are not fit to be my master. Your mother was right about you."
"Shut up elf.
"Can you all follow me? I've found a safe place to do this."
Luna appararted to an abandoned quarry. She watched as her mother and Sirius appeared followed by Kreacher.
"There are some lime kilns just over here. They are derelict now but they are designed to cope with intense heat."
The group made their way to the abandoned kiln and Luna placed the bag in the centre of the kiln. "Do you want to do the honours Sirius? Regulus died because he retrieved this from Voldemort."
"For you little brother rest easy." Sirius pointed his wand and cast the spell, instantly the kiln was filled with a roaring noise, and Luna's bag was consumed instantly. The serpents and raptors within the flames looked around for anything else to consume but Luna had picked the spot well and they faded to nothing.
"Well that was easy."
A.N.
I don't know about you but I wanted to get at least to the summer holidays this chapter.
Oh well I have a plan but detail keeps getting in the way. I was accused of micromanaging but I'm enjoying myself and others seem to be too.
There are so many scenes in my head I want to write but I need to get to at least the shopping trip for the first of them.
Magical Guardians, is it just a fanfic cliché or is it a canon fact?
This will not be a Luna Sirius ship story. Her body is 10 and her mind is 28, she gets a little confused sometimes. The whole idea is just yuck. Actually I can't ship Luna with anyone until she her body gets to at least seventeen for reasons of yuck.