Harry Potter and Grief's Wisdom

Poetheather

A/N: Sorry for the delay. My recovery has also included a good bit of not really being able to focus on writing or even editing, which is more what I had to do. I hope you all enjoy this and Happy Samhain.

This is a work of fiction using the characters created by J.K. Rowling. They are not used with her permission. All actions follow the events of book five of the series. Any similarity between any person living or dead is purely coincidental and unintentional. If you happen to find your life reflected in this piece I'll be impressed and perhaps a little scared.

Chap 13

As usual when he stayed over at the Weasleys Harry was up far before most everyone else. Stretching, he grabbed a change of clothes and headed into the bathroom, where he was assured at least some hot water. Once he was cleaned up, he went downstairs, and, as usual, there was Mrs. Weasley, futzing around in the kitchen. She always seemed to be in there unless there was reason for her to be elsewhere. It was obviously her space and one she was proud of. She looked up as he descended, since he had forgotten the creaky stair. Once she spotted him she started making him a cup of tea. "Good morning Harry."

"Good morning Mrs. Weasley." He smiled at her. For all that she got into his and everyone else's lives, she was a wonderful person.

"Sleep well?"

"Well enough." Harry yawned and wiped his eyes. Some days it was a lot harder to get going though he was sure a cuppa would perk him right up.

"Just to let you know Harry, I plan to go shopping over the weekend for school supplies. I can pick up everything for you then as well."

"Thank you Mrs. Weasley but I want to go with you if possible so I can pick up some things for myself," stated Harry.

She smiled at him, handing over his tea, "I think that can be managed. Let me talk with Headmaster Dumbledore and arrange for security. I would hate for something to happen to you."

He smiled at her, knowing his protests about the Headmaster would fall on deaf ears. It was easier to get along with her and try to make things work his way rather than butt heads with her. She made Ron look positively giving. "Mrs. Weasley, do you know how to get to the Lovegood place from here? I usually go running in the morning for exercise and since I wanted to check in with Hermione and Luna I can take care of both things at once."

"Ah…," Looking uncomfortable at his question Mrs. Weasley obviously wasn't sure what to say. He could kind of understand since ultimately she was looking out for his wellbeing, regardless of how annoying it was. Surely though she had gotten the message about him refusing to let his life be completely controlled? Right? Tonks wouldn't let him down.

Before she could directly forbid him anything and open a rather uncomfortable can of worms, a voice came down the stairwell. "I can take him Mum."

Harry turned to see Bill there, smiling at him, stepping down into the kitchen.

She didn't exactly sigh in relief but it was obvious that she was glad that there wouldn't be a row over this issue. "Thank you William. I didn't want Harry to go out without protection."

"Sure Mum."

While she went to fix her eldest a cup of tea, he came over and sat next to Harry, a smile on his face. "It's not too far from here actually, maybe a half mile or so if you follow the trail. I know you have been running longer distances than this but this isn't running on streets so it will be different. The trail isn't exactly smooth if you take what I mean."

Harry raised an eyebrow in question. Bill just laughed, following what was unspoken. "Yes, I have been watching out for you as has Fleur. We got the job because we could keep up with you while you were jogging. Apparently the first time Doge tried to do that he needed to see Poppy Pomfrey."

Shaking his head, Harry was amused with the whole matter. They had really stationed that old man to watch him while he had been jogging? How stupid was that. "Well, it's been helping me get in shape and I'm not sorry about that. I am sorry it has been a problem for some people but really… Doge? He is nearly as old as Dumbledore."

"Not a problem Harry. Gringotts insists that their human employees are fit, almost on the order of their warriors, since working in a tomb is not something you want to do if you're out of shape. So I am used to running as is Fleur, so you at least have two companions. You have no idea the amount of dodging, rolling, jumping, running and such are involved in my work."

"Thanks Bill, that helps. Well then, as soon as you're ready we can go. I want to get this done before its time for breakfast. I'm sure Hermione is already awake and reading something so it's not like she will still be sleeping."

Bill clasped him on the shoulder with a big grin on his face. "Sure thing Harry, just let me have my tea and we'll be off."

Harry finished his own tea, enjoying it in a way that he couldn't enjoy anything at the Dursley's. There was something that he was feeling and it wasn't something he was used to feeling, which often meant it would end up Voldemort related but he was awake and his scar didn't hurt, leaving him at a loss. Examining it further, he realized that he felt this… nervous anticipation, was the best way he could think of it. Was he nervous about seeing Hermione? Luna? Really? It was just Hermione and Luna. Why would he feel that way? The introspection didn't help matters either as that was a question that didn't come even remotely close to getting answered. He never felt this way before coming here to the Burrow so it had to be related to the girls somehow… right? Was he attracted to them?

He closed his eyes to groan internally. That was all he needed. Then again, maybe it really was something he needed, something to make his life less about noseless and more about… well, life. Okay… that was definitely something that warranted a lot more thinking about but which girl? Hermione was his best friend because she never had abandoned him. Ron had the distinction of being his first friend and best mate, the friend that he always knew would come through for him in a pinch, regardless of their other issues, but even Ron didn't know him like Hermione. And then there was Luna. He felt comfortable around her, pretty much at ease even with all her strangeness. She seemed to get him in a way just as much as Hermione though in a different manner and he was working on trying to get her. It was most definitely a work in progress.

In short order Bill had finished his tea, and led Harry outside. They both stretched a little as he said, "So I'll lead, since I know the route and if you need me to go faster just let me know."

"Right." That sounded good to Harry so he just grinned and nodded.

The pace Bill set was good and while it certainly wasn't the fastest Harry had gone it was enough to make him puff and sweat as the run went on. The change from paved road to trail certainly made a bit of difference. Granted it wasn't a very long jog, compared to runs he had gone on before, but it was really nice in the quiet with a slight mist hanging to the grass, making it almost feel like he were running through another world. Before he knew it they had passed through a slight stretch of woods, which included a few roots seemingly there to nearly trip him up and as they came out there was this squat tower that looked a lot like one of Ron's chess pieces sitting there looking strangely both in and out of place. That had to be Luna's house. Bill just stood there and stretched a little as Harry walked up to the door.

Before he could knock, the door opened and there was Luna looking at him with those large eyes of hers, a slight smile on her face. "Well hello Harry Potter, what a pleasant surprise. How are you this morning?"

"Just fine Luna. You weren't expecting me?"

"Oh I was," replied Luna. "but I figured it would be later in the day. Hello William."

"Hi Luna."

"Come on in. Hermione is helping my father make breakfast. We're having pikelets with dirigible plum preserves and honey and rashers of bacon. We also have tapioca. I prefer it to most porridge. Would you like some?" She stepped to the side to allow him in.

"Sure." Harry was aware that he probably didn't sound overly sure, given that he was unsure what some of that was but it might be good. If nothing else there was always bacon.

Once inside Harry noted that the house seemed to fit Luna rather well. There were bright colors about, far brighter than he had seen in any other house, paintings both magical and non, books flooding over multiple shelves and random stacks, several Persian rugs, as well as a samovar with steam rising from it. A tall thin man with stringy blond hair a shade or two darker than Luna's with whom she bore a good resemblance asked, "Chai?"

"Uhm… no Harry."

The man blinked owlishly at him, "You want to drink yourself?"

"What? No."

"So Chai?" he asked again patiently.

"Okay…" He was unsure of his answer as he had never had chai and was uncertain how it would taste. From what he vaguely recalled it was a sort of spicy tea with milk maybe? The man poured it from the samovar and handed him a steaming mug with a bright smile on his face. Hermione was kind of hunched over her own mug sipping away looking rather pleased. Harry decided she looked awake enough to tease, "I thought you were helping to cook."

"I did," replied Hermione defensively, glowering at him a little.

"So the foods done?"

Luna nodded as she carried in a large bowl of tapioca pudding from the kitchen. "Oh yes. They're in the covered tray if you want some."

Harry and Bill sat down, noting that places had already been set for them, clearly before they had arrived. Harry was surprised to discover that pikelets were a type of crumpet that was far more flat and thin than he was used to seeing. When he had heard the word a far more… fishy sort of breakfast had come to mind. When the plate reached him, he took three, determined to slather them in butter and try the jam. Taking a spoonful of pudding for breakfast was a bit odd but Harry figured that he should at least try it. When in Rome and all that.

Talking resumed after the food was halfway consumed, as it was very tasty regardless of how different it looked. "Poppet, I need to head in to work for a little today. Can you spend time with your friends because I would hate for something to happen to you while I am gone?"

"Certainly Daddy. I figure that Harry plans on talking with Hermione, Ron, Ginny, and I about plans for this fall so I am sure we will be occupied with pleasant conversation if nothing else," commented Luna, her spoon full up with tapioca.

Mr. Lovegood glanced over at Harry who nodded. That had indeed been the plan though he hadn't told anyone that. The man nodded in response and had a slurp of his chai. Hermione rolled her eyes at that and said, "I have all the books you wanted in my trunk Harry if there were any you wanted to pick up before we head back to the Weasleys."

Harry was really happy about that. Some of those books would really help him get his points across, especially to Ron. "That's great Hermione, thank you. Also do you know if your parents can drop off some library books for me? I got dragged off before I could drop them off myself and Dumbledore was rather focused on his timetable. I am sure that Hedwig could carry them there but I doubt the library would accept the books from her. Not to mention how that could cause some issues in regards to the statute of secrecy."

"Sure thing Harry. They will surely be fine with that."

"What sort of books?" asked Bill, looking between the two curiously.

"There are a number of works on counterterrorism, military tactics, training methodology, stuff like that," commented Hermione casually, sipping her chai happily.

"I hope you are reading responsibly?" asked Mr. Lovegood.

"Absolutely Daddy. Hermione is the most responsible reader I know," responded Luna.

"Good." Hermione and Harry shared a look, as if trying to figure out what had just been said. It didn't help. Apparently the Lovegoods required more work to figure out.

Luna grinned at him, as if she knew what had been going through his mind. "More pudding Harry."

"No thank you."

She pouted slightly, "I meant for me."

"Ah…" Harry picked up the bowl of tapioca and handed it over, his cheeks a bit warm. He had to admit that while the food was odd and certainly unlike anything he had ever had for breakfast it wasn't bad. Who knew that tapioca might actually work as a breakfast food?

The girls ran upstairs to get ready for the day while Harry cleaned up the breakfast mess as thanks. It didn't take him long to accomplish, as there were a number of things magic made faster even if you weren't the one to cast the spells in question. Bill was still at the table with Mr. Lovegood, chatting, having another cup of chai.

Harry had to admit he felt good, better than he had this morning at any rate. He had already figured out a while ago that being around the girls made him feel better and it most certainly was something he was going to try and continue doing once they got back to school. There were a number of non-common room places where they could go to manage that. What muddied the water some was the whole notion of dating one of them. At this point he was unsure if he would want to risk his friendships with either of the girls over the possibility of dating and on top of that, who would he choose? Both of the girls were awesome in their own ways and he had to admit that they were both cute. In a lot of ways he was sure that there really wasn't a right answer to this whole issue. And he did kind of want to come up with some sort of idea on this whole thing because that might determine what he bought them for their birthdays because if you were dating someone you needed to get them a nice gift.

With Hermione's coming up right after school started back and Luna's a bit after that, he wanted to get a jump on presents in order to make his life easier. Having to scramble to get either a gift would be awkward. However, he was getting the notion that dating never really made things easier, at least everything he had seen by watching various couples at school had shown that. He was an idiot for even thinking this but then again there was no denying that both girls had featured rather prominently in some of his… late night personal time which clearly meant he was already invested in the idea to a degree. He did and he didn't want to do this, as the whole notion of things crashing and burning featured prominently in his worries on the matter but he so had to, because the whole idea of him with either of the girls made him smile. They were both wonderful people and being with them would be great. There was so little for him to smile about nowadays so anything that helped in that was not something he was going to avoid if he could at all help it. Now if only whichever girl he approached would be okay with this then life would be looking up.

The two girls came downstairs together, beaming smiles at him when they reached the bottom. He was screwed.