Chapter Twenty Five
I think you're going to like me very much at the end of this chapter. Just wait. Oh yeah, sorry it's slightly late, lost track of time.
Disclaimer – I don't own Harry Potter universe but I do own Lana and little bits of this story that J.K Rowling blatantly didn't write.
Three months following the light side's victory in the Final Battle, two of which had been spent fighting depression, Lana found herself once again living in Potter Mansion with her nephew and, not very surprisingly, Draco. The former would be moving out soon, she believed but she would let him come and confirm her suspicions before jumping on him. She sat on her beautiful terrace in the mild late afternoon, sipping her lemonade occasionally. The platform rising slightly above the ground below was perfectly polished wood. The furniture was beautifully wrought white steel with warm orange cushions on the chairs and a glass top on the round table. Various large white flower pots filled with lilies and poppies surrounded the wooden patio. The garden itself was mainly a quidditch pitch – complete with stands and hoops – and some plants Neville had recommended for her.
"Aunt Lana?" Harry's cautious voice seeped into her thoughts and she raised her head to look at him. His green eyes, partially hidden behind his round glasses, were slightly hesitant as he sat down next to her clad in his trainee auror robes. After the war had ended, Harry had decided that he wanted to continue helping people and vowed to hunt down any escaped Death Eaters. He had instantly applied (and been accepted) to the auror programme and his training had begun instantly. Aiming more for the quiet life free of those kinds of fights, Ron had pursued his quidditch aspirations. He had become the stand-in Keeper for his favourite team, the Chudley Cannons, and was well on his way to becoming the starting Keeper. Lana, along with Harry, Hermione and the majority of the Weasley's, attended every game. Hermione, ever one for a mystery, had joined the Department of Mysteries with her new boyfriend: Draco. Lana had taken great pleasure in knowing that she'd seen it coming and been the first to congratulate the pair. It had also been her that had knocked sense into her stunned nephew and Ron, who now had a girlfriend of his own in Lavender Brown – much more serious than it had been in sixth year, Lana was sure. Lana herself had returned to her auror position and had taken up the role of Head of Department of Magical Law Enforcement – much to her glee. She'd also cut her hair to just above elbow length in choppy layers because she had felt like a change.
"What's up, Harry?" she asked cheerfully, placing Quidditch Through the Ages on the table. Her nephew swallowed.
"I wanted to ask you something." She had never seen Harry chew his lip so much.
"Harry, you're making me nervous. Just tell me what's on your mind," she urged and he nodded determinedly. He was so very different from James that it almost made her laugh. James would have come right out and said it whilst Harry was slightly more careful.
"I'm going to ask Ginny to marry me." A wide grin split Lana's face.
"That's fantastic! I'm so happy for you!" she squealed excitedly, feeling the happiest she had since Remus had died.
"I was wondering if you had . . . um, my mum's ring." Lana froze. Then she smiled again.
"I'll be right back." And she left her slightly stunned nephew on the terrace whilst she ran through the house, up to her room. She shot straight to her wardrobe and pulled out the box that held her most precious items. Instantly pulling out the black velvet box, she ran back downstairs and perched slowly in her seat, sliding the box over to Harry. He reverently opened the box and she saw happy tears fill his eyes as he gazed down at it. It really was a beautiful ring. The band was shiny silver with a single, square diamond on top. Three, tiny little rubies sat on either side of the diamond, set firmly into the band.
"Thank you," he whispered and Lana shrugged.
"Good luck, nephew."
XXX
Lana woke up a month after her nephew had asked for Lily's ring and two weeks after Harry had finally gotten the nerve to ask Ginny to marry him. Of course, the youngest Weasley had had no hesitation in saying yes. The eldest Potter rose from her bed and took a long, relaxing shower. Afterwards, she decided to use the hairdryer (something Hermione had introduced her to – it was fascinating) to dry her hair the muggle way then left it hanging in waves to just above her elbows. She outlined her hazel eyes in a thin line of gold and black eyeliner and put silver diamond studs in her ears. Then she proceeded to dress in electric blue skinny jeans that were artfully ripped with a black halter neck top (after a long conversation with Hermione, she had finally started wearing short sleeves and exposing her wrists again) and black, crocodile skin platforms (that were not real). Satisfied, she went downstairs intent on having a quick bagel for breakfast and scurrying out.
"Bloody hell, get your own house!" she cried at the couple snogging each other in her kitchen. Draco and a furiously blushing Hermione pulled apart as Lana walked past them. Hermione's bushy hair was a complete wreck and she was only wearing Draco's green shirt. Draco himself was only wearing boxers. She hated living with teenagers.
"Sorry Lana," Hermione apologised in a squeaky voice.
"You're up early," her blonde companion stated. Lana glared at him.
"Yes, Draco, I'm up early. I'm going to grab a quick breakfast and leave you to your . . . activities. In an ideal world, which this now is, you will keep it to the bedroom. Good day." And she stomped to the toaster to find a hot and waiting bagel. She beamed thankfully at Benny, the house elf responsible for the food then grabbed her bag, apparating out.
"Ah, Miss Potter!" greeted the eager receptionist. Her pixie cut hair was as sleek as ever and the golden strands were slightly white in the bright, St Mungo's light. Her big, blue eyes were welcoming and her thin lips were stretched into a smile.
"Good morning, Nicky," Lana greeted, handing over Nicky's favourite muffin – blueberry and chocolate chip. The receptionist gave her a thankful smile. The two had formed a companionship over Lana's twice weekly visits.
"You know where he is," Nicky said, diving into her muffin gratefully. Lana nodded and headed for the fourth floor: Spell Damage.
"Morning Lana!" a little girl said. Despite the unfortunate accident that had caused her to grow antlers, the girl was rather cute and her intense treatment was working.
"Hey Gee, your antlers are shrinking!" Lana pointed out happily. Gee nodded ecstatically.
"They'll be gone in two days!" she pointed out. Being only three years old and slightly overwhelmed with the antlers on her head, the girl held up four fingers. Lana laughed gently before bidding the girl goodbye and proceeding on to the one she actually came to visit.
"Hey Fred," she said quietly, conjuring fresh yellow daises and placed them in the crystal vase at his bedside, vanishing the ones in there already. Fred Weasley still looked pale and like he was barely breathing but, according to his Healers, he was improving daily. His red hair wasn't fluffy anymore and Lana missed his teasing grin. "So, I caught Hermione and Draco practically going at it in the kitchen this morning. If I didn't know any better, I'd say George slipped them a love potion . . . or some aphrodisiacs. As much as I hate being on my own, I wish Draco would move out. Or at least keep the hormones at bay when I'm in the room. Harry's gone already. He and Ginny moved into the brand new penthouse apartment in, of all places, muggle London. But it's a very nice place. I guess I just miss my nephew. And I've already told you that I'm not going to be the only female Potter anymore. Ginny will be Mrs Potter when her Hogwarts education is over. As a wedding gift, George and I are paying for everything: dresses, shoes, robes, food, venue, furniture, invitations – everything. I wish you could be here. I know Ginny wants you awake for the ceremony. And George is suffering without his other half. And it would be nice to have you both there to hold my hand, you know? I just know I'm going to look at those two and I'm going to see James and Lily." She sighed, reaching out to hold Fred's lukewarm hand and looked at the ceiling. "I miss them so much. And if you wake up, it shows there is justice in this world. You prove that I'm not completely bad luck to everyone around me. Because that's what I am." Lana's voice became choked with repressed sobs and tears filled her eyes. "I've lost the most important people in my life besides Harry. My family is basically all gone. And I was doing so well up until now. I just miss them so much! If you die too then this world truly sucks and it makes me feel worse knowing that George will be in an even worse state than I used to be." Lana let her head drop forward so she was watching her tears drip onto the white floor, slightly black with mascara. When she was about to get up and leave, firm pressure on her hand made her head snap up. Looking at her with worry were Fred's bright blue eyes and she let out a sob of happiness.
"You're a mess," he commented jokingly and she smiled through the tears.
"I know. I'll go get your Healer." And she leapt up instantly in search of Fred's Healer, knowing there was justice in the world. That was good. She'd been very close to giving up on it.
XXX
"What's wrong with you?" Lana asked Draco as she plonked herself in a chair across from him three days after Fred had awoken from his coma. The blonde was gazing intently down at the almost black wooden table and his hair was, for once, not a mess.
"Nothing," he answered in a confused tone as Benny planted a plate of pancakes in front of him and a plate of waffles in front of Lana.
"Thank you Benny," she told the house elf who skipped off. She swept her hair away from her face and wished she'd brushed it upon waking up. Waiting patiently for Draco to answer, she cut a substantial amount of her syrup soaked waffles and ate the mouthful. Damn, her house elves were good.
"Hermione's hiding something from me," he finally admitted when Lana was halfway through her second waffle. Draco's pancakes had been started but not considerably dented as of yet.
"Do you think it's something big?" she asked after swallowing some pumpkin juice. Draco shrugged.
"This is Hermione we're talking about. I don't think it's a bad thing, I just wish she'd tell me." Lana sighed.
"Maybe she wants to surprise you. She'll tell you when she's ready, Draco. Now eat your breakfast or I'll do it for you," she ordered, brandishing her fork in a playful manner. Draco nodded and dug into his pancakes whilst Lana contemplated what his girlfriend was hiding.
XXX
Hermione swept into the Department of Mysteries and navigated the elusive corridors expertly. She was dressed in a dark green dress with thick straps that clung to her form and came to her knees. Lana had taken her shopping a while back and the eldest Potter was a force to be reckoned with. Hermione had finally convinced her best friend's aunt that she couldn't walk in heels as high as Lana wore, so the result was small black shoes with a slight heel. There were many other pairs and Lana had discovered a love of flat shoes through Hermione. The female member of the Golden Trio couldn't figure out if that was a good thing or a bad thing. Hermione sighed as she reached her destination. She felt guilty as she pulled her simple black robe over her outfit but she couldn't tell Draco or anyone else what she was doing. Her department members were called Unspeakables for a reason. But she was doing a good thing, she knew that. This would not only bring about a revolution in magical knowledge, but it would save a trapped soul and, perhaps the closest thing to Hermione's heart, make Lana one of the happiest people on Earth. Yes, Hermione reasoned as she watched the tall, rocky Veil in the bowels of the Ministry, she was doing a very good thing.
Please tell me you know what that means. I don't think I could have made it anymore obvious unless I'd written it there! I'll see you in three days! Love Bianca :) x