Chapter Twenty Four
I quite like this chapter – not to fly my own broom or anything.
Disclaimer – I do not own the Harry Potter Universe! But Lana is mine and various little bits too.
Whoever said patience was a virtue was stupid. Lana had successfully chewed her nails to stumps two hours after her nephew left.
"You're going to have no fingers left if you continue down that route," Draco said a while later as he sat next to her on Bill and Fleur's couch. His tousled blonde hair indicated that his fingers had been running through it nervously for a while and Lana honestly couldn't blame him. Seeing no other option, she dropped her slightly shaking hands into her lap as she figured out that she would need her fingers some day. Instead, she took to raking her fingers along her pale pink skinny jeans. Draco's hand hesitantly reached out to still her fingers. "Relax. It's only noon." Lana gave him an exasperated look.
"I feel like something is going to happen!" she snarled, glaring at the coffee table in front of her, tapping her knee high, flat black suede boots against the floor in an irritating rhythm. Draco gave a very loud sigh and squeezed her hands.
"Why didn't you let Bill take me with the others?" he asked and she frowned. She didn't know whether it was an attempt to distract her or not but she did know that he was genuinely curious. She looked up at Draco's probing eyes, sending a jolt through her as she thought of Sirius' very similar orbs.
"I need you here." She sighed in annoyance. "You're the next best thing to Harry and seeing as he is unavailable, I am not letting you leave. I need someone to keep me stable who kind of has an idea of what I'm going through." Her confession left Draco stunned but grateful.
"I wish I'd had family like you growing up. I would love to have relatives as fierce and protective as you looking out for me. Even now, with Harry gone, you sit here in concern. My family think it's weakness but they're all losing their minds. Just look at my Aunt Bella." This caused Lana to hiss and freeze. That bitch would pay one day. Draco gulped but continued. "I'm glad I came to you for help." Lana gave him a proud smile.
"You are not and will never be like them, Draco. Remember that." With an affectionate pat on the back, she rose to go and walk off her tension, craving a good massage from Sirius.
XXX
"I'm nervous," Draco admitted as they walked behind Bill and Fleur in the secret passageway from the Hog's Head. Lana smiled gently at his honesty and reached out, nudging him comfortingly.
"If anyone messes with you, I'll kick them into next century," she assured him and he looked mildly placated, if slightly sick. Bill and Fleur had told Lana and Draco about the mass message Neville had sent out and she had been shocked that her nephew had worked so fast. Keeping her pink jeans and black boots on, she had also donned a black long sleeved, deep v-neck top and put her long black locks in a side plait over her shoulder. She'd had to talk Draco out of wearing a suit and he was clad in black jeans with white trainers and a dark blue hoodie.
"I feel too casual."
"Remember when I told you that you were different to your family? Bear that in mind. Suits are not appropriate battle material," she scolded as they walked into a filled room. "Oh, the Room of Requirement!" she gleefully exclaimed, receiving many strange looks which she ignored.
"Lana!" Molly cried and they shared a hug. Lana then noticed the mischievous two and grinned.
"Are you two ready for this?" she asked daringly and they looked at each other then at her in synch.
"We can handle it," they assured her and she nodded once. There was a skidding noise and Lana looked up to see a surprised looking Harry.
"Harry, what's happening?" Remus asked and Lana eyed him. She assumed Tonks was with her godson or Remus would be in trouble.
"Voldemort's on his way, they're barricading the school, Snape's run for it. What are you doing here? How did you know?" a bemused Harry asked and Lana snorted, walking to sling an arm around her nephew's shoulders.
"Oh Harry, Harry, Harry. We can smell trouble a mile away. Of course we came here."
"That and the entire of Dumbledore's Army were sent a message and they told the Order of the Phoenix and it all kind of snowballed." Harry looked at Lana who shrugged.
"That too."
"What's going on?" George asked eagerly and Lana smirked.
"They're evacuating the younger kids and everyone's meeting in the Great Hall to get organised. We're fighting." Lana sighed happily as everyone charged away, leaving only a small amount of people. She watched as Ginny was dismissed and a spluttering Percy arrived.
"So – 'ow is leetle Teddy?" Fleur asked and Lana eagerly moved in to see a picture of a baby with turquoise coloured hair, ignoring Percy's rambling. When everything was resolved, Lana breathed loudly.
"It's time to go for me. See you all in the Great Hall!" she cried and ran off, leaving them all grinning after her.
XXX
Lana kicked a Death Eater in the face with a victorious 'HA' then stunned a few more opponents.
"Avada Kedavra!" yelled a male someone behind her and a green light shot past her right ear. Turning, she grinned tauntingly.
"You missed, darling," she mocked the masked Death Eater and the dual began. He was good, she realised. But she was better. Her green light hit him in the face and he fell to the ground as Lana blew out a breath, looking at the ceiling. "Phew, that was a close one, huh?" she asked rhetorically, imagining James' expression in response. Lana began running through the various fights happening, searching for her nephew but she went flying to the ground as the entire castle shook. "Bloody Hell," she hissed as she scrambled up and ran out into the grounds, stunning and hexing various enemies. Then she felt the cold seep into her skin and almost passed out right there. She saw Sirius telling her about James and Lily, saw the ruined house in Godric's Hollow, saw Dumbledore telling her about Sirius. She felt her pain as she cut her wrists, wishing for death and every single bit of agony she'd kept contained since she'd found out Peter Pettigrew was responsible for killing her little brother and sister in law.
"Lana, come on! Give us a patronus," she heard Hermione shriek at her. She was one to talk - her otter had just fizzled out like an extinguished candle. A silver hare, boar and fox leapt past her and she tried her best to summon up a memory. She looked pleadingly at the sky, begging for anything. Then it hit her.
*Flashback*
It was right after Lana's graduation and the ecstatic girl was dancing around, talking to the various guests at the surprise party Sirius and James had thrown for her. Her knee length red dress had black polka dots on it and a halter neck and she had strappy black heels on her feet. Her hair had been especially straightened and hung down her back. Sirius came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, gently pulling her to the middle of the dance floor in Potter Mansion. Typically, the entire thing was decorated in Gryffindor colours for Lana's celebration. The pair swayed slowly together, simply staring into the other's eyes as they moved gently to the music.
"I love you, Lannie," Sirius said and Lana's heart stuttered over a few beats before it righted itself. Then it sped up as a wide, ear-splitting grin lit up her face and she pressed her lips eagerly to Sirius', licking his lips teasingly before pulling away.
"I love you too, Scorch," she whispered back and Sirius pulled her in for another passionate lip lock.
*End Flashback*
"Expecto Patronum!" she finally yelled, pointing her wand. She jumped when a shaggy dog sprung from the tip of her wand and charged at the dementors. Tears sprung to her eyes as she watched the dementors flee then her patronus stand next to Harry's: Padfoot and Prongs.
"Lana, are you ok?" Hermione's soft voice questioned and Lana looked up as her patronus vanished, the tears spilling over slightly. She rose to her feet.
"My patronus used to be a panther – like my animagus form," she answered weakly and she noticed her nephew glance back at where their patronuses had been standing. "I suppose I'm not surprised really. I haven't produced a patronus since . . . it happened. Anyway, go do what you do and I'll go do my job." And she ran off before she began sobbing.
XXX
Lana stumbled into the Great Hall with a couple of bruises and scratches but nothing serious. Her nephew had been given an hour to go to the Forbidden Forest or the fight would recommence and she was going to make sure he wasn't stupid enough to listen. She walked forward, trying very hard not to look at the injured and dead bodies. She swallowed thickly.
"Lana!" cried a relieved voice and she lifted her tired hazel eyes from the floor to see a tired yet unhurt Draco heading for her. He wrapped her in a comforting hug and she squeezed back briefly before pulling away.
"Did you have any problems?" she asked and he shook his head.
"Crabbe and Goyle attempted to drag me to the Room of Requirement but I didn't do it. Blaise went with them instead. It's fine though," he assured her and she nodded.
"Where's Harry?" she asked and Draco instantly paled to the colour of untouched snow. Lana felt her heart stop beating. "H-h-he's ok, right?" she stuttered and Draco nodded, silently taking her arm to lead her through the crying groups. When they reached a gathering of red heads, Lana looked down and almost passed out. Fred was lying there with his eyes closed and pale skin.
"He's alive," George told her and she did a double take, seeing that Fred was indeed breathing, if only barely. "A wall . . . exploded on him but he'll live. He's in a kind of coma though." George seemed caught between relief and agony so Lana stood, hugging him and decided to give him perspective.
"Just be happy he's alive, Georgie. Please be happy that you've still got him," she begged as she pulled away. Seeing her anguish, George nodded instantly.
"Thank you Lana." She turned around to see everyone eyeing her cautiously and she suddenly felt like she was missing something. Her eyes ghosted over the Weasley's to where a numb looking Harry was standing staring at something. She followed his line of vision and she felt her breath catch in her throat.
"Moony," she whispered, slowly walking over to her friend and staring down at him with wide, fearful eyes. Tonks lay next to him with their hands centimetres apart and she sobbed, collapsing on her knees beside him. Her hands reached for his pulse point and she whimpered when she found nothing. Her head fell onto his chest. "No, please no, oh God, Remus," she cried into his chest, tears soaking into his shirt. She screaming lowly as she cried, gripping his cold, dead hand. "Not you too," she whispered. A hand she knew was Harry's came to rest on her shoulder but she kept clutching to him. Remus was gone. The last true marauder had left her behind. "NO!" she finally screamed into him. Harry was rubbing her back soothingly but she couldn't register it properly. He was gone.
XXX
Lana fought the Death Eaters viciously. What she would give for a chance at Voldemort in that moment. He had taken everything from her – directly or through extension. He had taken her baby brother and sister in law, her lover, her mentor, her friends and now her nephew. He had achieved that which he'd attempted all those years ago, when Harry was merely one year old. Just as Lana stunned yet another Death Eater, she noticed a fuming Molly battling Macnair who had apparently just missed Ginny with a Killing Curse. Then Lana noticed Hermione almost join Lana's list and the protective aunt leapt forward, pushing Luna, Hermione and Ginny (who had scarpered away from Macnair) out of the way. Bellatrix Lestrange gave a demented, excited laugh as she faced Lana who glared harshly.
"It's going to be you this time, Bella," Lana warned before the spectacular dual began. The pair spun in circles, wands twirling in elegant yet deadly manners as both women aimed for the kill. "No one interferes – this bitch is mine!" she screeched at several people who attempted to help. "You – will – never – hurt – another – person – again!" And, picturing Sirius' face, Lana fired the strongest Killing Curse she had in her. The bright green light shot underneath Bellatrix's ready arm and hit her directly over the heart. For one second, the evil witch looked like she understood her fate before she toppled to the ground, still as death. Lana heard the cheers and grinned maliciously. "Vengeance is sweet."
This one was a little longer than the previous few. Anyway, see you in three days! Oh, and I decided (a while ago actually) that, if Lana had ever been in the woman and either of these two were British, Eliza Dushku or Roselyn Sanchez should play her. Love Bianca :) x