Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling

A/N: Wow! I knew there would be a few flames on the last chapter but nothing like the response I received. Even my wife threatened to make me sleep on the couch because of it, but after I told her why I did it and what was to come she allowed me back into bed. So I would like to give a little explanation to hopefully redeem myself.

First, it was not just a gratuitous violent scene just to cause Harry and Luna distress. This incident will have a deep psychological effect on Harry as he felt helpless to aid Luna and will stir within him a desire to strengthen himself magically and physically, it will also strengthen the bond that Luna and Harry share, now that they are fully aware of their own mortality.

Luna will also become stronger because of the incident (Strength through adversity). She is obviously distraught over the loss of her gift, on this particular point many of you have voiced you um…displeasure. Let me remind you that this is a Luna/Harry story and there will be a happy ending. Though Harry did not receive Luna's gift it is not the end all of gaining immortality, I have already left a clue in a previous chapter on how this could happen, and am a little disappointed that no one picked up on it.

Robyn Goodfellow or Puck as he is also called will still play a role in this fic. I should state that this fic will not have Horcruxs', Voldemort's survival after his attempt on young Harry's life will be explained in later chapters.

I can't tell you any more without revealing too much of the story plot lines. I hope that you will continue to read and enjoy the story and hope I'm forgiven for such a terrible x-mas gift.

Chapter 12

After retrieving his jacket with the remains of Zara and collecting Dazz from the hollow that Luna had placed him in at the beginning of this horrific incident. Tara repeated her earlier request of the trees who allowed three large leaves to fall. She tenderly wrapped Dazz's body in the ways of her kind. Unfortunately they could not find any remains of Huck and Tara sang a tune of mourning over her lost companions.

The three friends then continued their way to Aoife's island, Harry carrying Luna bridal style with Tara snuggled into Luna's neck and wrapping herself in Luna's hair. Tara sang a soft tune that was meant to comfort her two charges. The little pixie then vowed to herself to never leave their sides again, she would be their constant companion and protector throughout their lives.

Aoife saw her children reach the edge of the shore and climb into the small boat that would carry them across the ancient lake to her island. She could sense their grief and sadness and cursed her inability to leave the island and rush to their aid. Guilt and fear for her two lambs was almost overwhelming.

Fairies were believed by most in the Wizarding world to be emotionless and only caused mischief and mayhem, but it was the farthest thing from the truth. They loved deeply and passionately, they were elemental creatures who cared for mother earth. They were life givers, they enhanced everything they touched. Because of them the trees grew a little taller, flowers smelled a little sweeter, the grass a little greener. They understood the connection between all life and that it was a symbiotic relationship. Man needed nature to exist and nature existed to help mankind.

Pain, death and destruction were contrary to their very nature. It was their faith and love of man that blinded them for centuries to the evil that could exist in the hearts of men. Not until man began to hunt them near to extinction did most of the Fae turn their backs on the mortal realm. The Elves were among the first to go, a true elf or High Elf had not been seen by mortal eyes for centuries until their existence became more a thing of myth and legend than fact.

If not for their love of mother earth the woodland Fairies would have abandoned the mortals to their fate a millennia ago. Once their kind walked freely among men, they would bless the soil, and the farmer's fields and livestock with great fertility. But man became slothful and demanding and jealous of the fairies ability and coveted their power and sought ways to take it. The Fairies who abhorred war tried to convince the mortal wizards to cease their attacks on the Fae but would not acquiesce.

In a passive aggressive manner the Fae decided to still their gifts. Within a decade, famine, pestilence and disease swept through the mortal world affecting the mortals magical and mundane, tens of thousands died. Humbled and starving the mortals plead with the Fae to return and bless the land once more. A pact was then made between the immortals and mortals. Laws were enacted and promises made to respect and protect one another.

Over the centuries the mortals began to forget their promises and though the new problems never reached the same level as before the Fae became more isolationists and hid themselves from mortal eyes for self preservation. Despite the duplicity of the wizards they never turned their back on their stewardship of protecting the magical world or mother earth.

Although the Fae helped conceal the existence of the magical world from the mundane as a concession to the wizards, it was not done out of deference to wizard kind but to the magical world as a whole.

At best there was a precarious truce between the two cultures and at worst there was a significant under tow of enmity between the Fae and the magicals. Distrust of the mortals was now so ingrained in the minds of the Fae it was a rare event indeed when the two cultures interacted.

Aoife now realized her failure in her teachings to her two children. She had taught them to nurture and develop their abilities but she failed to prepare them for the harsh realities of the world. Aoife understood that the young couple had had some tribulations in their lives more so Harry than Luna, but neither one truly understood the depths of depravity and evil that existed in the world, she would need to correct that immediately.

Mortals could be covetous and selfish and were prone to violence, but they were also capable of great love and acts of compassion and sacrifice. The Fae could also be vindictive and cause harm to others but it was a rare occurrence. She had felt the presence of Puck for some time now. She however believed that he had come for her and not her children. Harry was not of the Fae and Luna was only part faerie, so she mistakenly believed that he would not go after them. And with the protections she had placed around the Rookery and the trail leading to the lake should have kept them safe. She obviously was wrong and her children had suffered because of it.

Harry lifted Luna in his arms as he stepped out of the small boat. Luna's dress slipped slightly off her shoulder and Harry stared at something he had never seen before on her shoulder and collarbone. Before Harry could ask Luna about the markings Aoife had swooped down and gathered the two children in her arms and held them both tightly to her.

Aoife fell to her knees clutching them to her. "I-I'm so sorry Harry… Luna, I didn't t-think he would, sweet Bridget I never imagined he would try and take you!" Aoife cried the tears flowing from her watery eyes. Harry and Luna looked bewildered at the rambling woodland faerie, they had never seen her any other way but poised and regal.

"Come children I have much to explain." Aoife stated standing up and taking hold of both Harry's and Luna's hand. "Let me send word to your mother that you are fine and with me." A message was written and given to Tara to take back to Selene. But the tiny pixie appeared to have no desire to leave Harry or Luna.

Aoife smiled warmly at the pink haired guardian. "They will be safe Tara; I will not let them out of my sight." Aoife reassured the pixie. Tara reluctantly nodded and took the message from Aoife. With surprising speed Tara rushed to the Rookery so she could return quickly to her charges. Aoife had been informed of the death of Dazz, Huck, and Zara by the wood nymphs that were whispering to the trees and had been told of the tragic incident.

An hour later, Harry and Luna had been told of who their attacker was and Aoife's connection to the monster. It was difficult for the two youngsters to hear of the depths of depravity that Puck who had been a confidant of the Faerie court to have fallen to. It also made them quite nervous to know that he was still at large.

Luna who had been listening attentively to her grandmother could no longer hold her emotions back and began to sob again. "Grandmother my g-gift…" Luna choked on her words too overcome with emotion.

"I know sweetheart." Aoife responded consolingly. Kneeling in front of the small blonde she opened up her arms to her, Luna fell into the waiting arms and was immediately wrapped in a warm hug.

"It's gone…" Luna whispered sullenly. "I wasn't able to give it to Harry." She sobbed as tears began to flow down her face.

Harry didn't know what to say or do so he just rested a soft hand on Luna's shoulder. Luna closed her eyes at the contact and could feel Harry's tender emotions fill her. She had never felt his emotions so strongly before, it seemed to fill her and warm her from the inside out. She stopped her sobbing and gently sat up from Aoife's embrace. She turned to look at Harry's worried face but felt the depth of feeling he had for her. She launched herself in to his arms her face buried into his shoulder.

"How is it that you don't hate me for losing the gift?" Luna whispered. She only felt his love and concern flooding her senses and knew he held no anger or loss it was surprising to her young mind.

"Why would I be angry Lu? It was not your fault. I'm just relieved that you were not hurt." Harry said honestly giving her a warm smile. "Besides… we are still here and we have many years together." Harry offered, a small lump forming in his throat as he spoke though in the depths of his heart he wished he had been able to receive the gift and be like Luna. Luna hugged him tighter feeling a little better but still sad about the loss of her gift.

Aoife watched the young couple interact carefully noticing that both their auras had changed somewhat. Luna's was much brighter indicating that her magical core had strengthened and her species aura was no a vibrant green indicating that her essence was now mostly if not entirely Fae. Aoife was at a loss to explain the sudden transformation but nonetheless was excited about the turn of events.

Harry's aura was by far the most amazing, not only had his magical core strengthened which shouldn't have happened for another year being a mortal, somewhere near to his eleventh birthday but what was the most astonishing was his species aura, it seemed to be in some kind of flux. There were now traces of green in the bright white that definitely should not be there. 'Was it possible that because his species aura and magic were unwritten that he could become Fae or any of the other magical species he wished?' Aoife mused, stunned at the implications of the possibility.

While in their embrace Harry again noticed the strange markings on Luna's shoulders and collarbone. "Luna, what are these markings on your shoulder?" Harry asked admiring the intricate patterns,

"I don't have any markings Harry, not unless I was hurt when that thing took me." Luna stated trying to see what Harry was looking at.

Harry shook his head. "I don't think it is an injury Lu…it looks like a tattoo of some kind."

Aoife's eyes widened and stepped toward Luna broken from her thoughts about Harry. "May I take a look at these markings Luna?

"Of course grandmother." Luna replied curious about the markings as well.

Luna turned to face her grandmother. Aoife reached out and examined the tattoo like markings; they were very pale in color on Luna's skin but were quite visible. Aoife grinned like a Cheshire cat as she recognized the strange markings.

"I know exactly what they are Luna." Aoife stated proudly. "They are your wings." The ancient faerie clapped in excitement.

'My wings?" Luna asked with confusion. "They don't look like wings." Luna stated.

With a wry smile, Aoife removed the long shawl she was wearing that uncovered bare shoulders and neckline. On her alabaster skin were similar markings that extended to just below her collarbone and then climbed up and over her shoulders. She turned slowly around and showed the two children her exposed back. Her dress was completely opened at the back the material of the dress ran down the sides of her body and swooped down before swooping back up at her hips.

Luna and Harry looked at the tattoo which had continued over her shoulders and continued down her back disappearing below the dress line. Aoife turned her head to look over her shoulder at the two children and gave them a wink. Harry and Luna gasped as the tattoo began to move and lift from her body and unfold. Within seconds a pair of large and beautiful wings appeared in front of the gob smacked youths.

With a gentle beating of her wings Aoife rose into the air and hovered for a moment before touching back down. Harry and Luna starred opened mouth at the ancient faire who smiled playfully at the pair.

"Wow…wings!" Harry stated looking more closely at Luna's markings.

"Wings?" Luna gasped.

"Yes, wings love." Aoife smiled. "But not yet fully developed. If you noticed, my markings are darker in appearance while yours are more diffused. With time they will mature and your markings will become darker." Aoife told the young faerie.

"Umm…how do you get them to come out?" Harry asked shyly.

Aoife chuckled musically. "It is as simple as breathing for me Harry, but when I was first learning it took a little bit of concentration and focusing on what I wanted them to do. As her wings mature I will instruct Luna on how to call them forth." Aoife stated, smiling at her granddaughter. Luna beamed back at her grandmother.

"Now it is getting late is there anything else we need to discuss?" Aoife asked, pointedly looking at Luna. The ancient faerie could sense that Luna still felt the loss of not being able to give her gift to Harry and knew that the young girl would have concerns.

"Grandmother…" Luna began meekly. "…is there any other way for me to give Harry…immortality? Luna asked though having the feeling she already knew the answer.

"No sweetheart, not until you reach your one hundredth birthday." Luna's shoulders slumped having her suspicions confirmed.

"However…" Aoife started. Luna looked up hopefully at her grandmother, praying for a positive response. "…if my assumptions are correct, Harry may not need your gift."

"Huh?' Both Harry and Luna responded in unison. Aoife chuckled at the pair. "I am not absolutely sure but I think because of Harry's…unique situation… it is not out of the realm of possibility that he already posses or could posses that ability. He has already demonstrated he can use faerie elemental magic." Aoife stated pensively.

"What, you mean calling the stone the other day is faerie magic." Harry asked.

"It is Harry, and when you called forth the tree roots from the earth to free Luna." Aoife told him.

"Well that wasn't really me…I mean I used the medallion that Luna gave me that was infused with faerie magic."

"Did you now?" Aoife smiled with a mischievous look on her face.

"Yeah." Harry stated.

"That medallion Harry, had only enough magic to perform one calling." Aoife stated.

"Uh Huh." Harry stated thinking the debate was over.

"I can still feel the magic in the medallion Harry. That means it was not used. What you did was to call to the trees yourself and they responded to you. That is Fae magic Harry. No simple witch or wizard can call to nature or the elements and have them respond in that manner."

Harry still looked confused but Luna was smiling and almost jumping up and down at what this could mean.

"Harry when I was observing you and Luna moments ago I saw traces of faerie in your species aura. It is small but it is there, and I know without doubt that it was not there prior to today. I think magic is allowing you to pick what you want to be or maybe to be all things at once. I don't know for sure and only time will tell, but I feel that it bares observing and exposing you to other magical species to see if you can learn to use their unique abilities as well." Aoife stated excitedly.

Harry was at a loss for words. He felt confused but at the same time hopeful that somehow he could have the immortality of the Fae and always be with Luna. As Harry thoughts were swirling around the information Aoife had given him, another voice seemed to echo in his head, a warm feminine voice, a voice that Harry knew well now having heard it now on several occasions. '…and he will have power that the Dark Lord knows not…' The voice of his mother whispered softly.

A/N: A short chapter but I hope it is well received and you feel like giving some positive feedback I need some after the lashing I got over the last chapter. I hope everyone had a happy Christmas.

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