(Luna's POV)

There's a moment of silence as the three of them comprehend what I've just told them. I want to brace myself, but I'm not sure what to brace for. They've been through a lot of things, but I don't know how they're going to react to finding out that their friend holds a piece of Lord Voldemort's soul.

"Okay, good one," Ron laughs uncomfortably.
"My best mate. A horcrux. You've got to be loony."

"It's true," I reply.
"Harry is one of the Dark Lord's horcruxes."

"Why did you call him the Dark Lord?" Hermione asks.

"I'm working for him."

"Okay, she's not just loony," Ron gasps.
"She's out of her damn mind."

"I have to," I sigh as my head bows low.
"He's discovered I have Seer's blood."

"What the bloody hell is Seer's blood?"

"It's a genetic condition that gives female the abilities of a Seer," Hermione says.
"Such as being about to commune with the dead, see auras, and predict the future."

"Okay then. Predict this," Ron says to me with some hostility.
"Is Harry gonna get out of this alive?"

I try to commune with the dead on this one, but I'm far too exhausted as well as for the fact that I've tried that before. It's all comes up blurry and hazy for me. I shrug.

"I can't say for sure," I sigh.
"All I know is that my mum told me that Harry has a part of the Dark Lord's soul inside of him. That's probably how he's able to hear his voice and have a connection with him."

"That actually makes some sense," Hermione exclaims.

"So, now what?" Harry asks.

"Well," I sigh solemnly.
"The only way to get rid of the Dark Lord's soul in a horcrux is to kill it."

"What does that mean?"

"Harry," I admit sadly.
"You're going to have to die for the Dark Lord to die."

Everything goes quiet all of a sudden as they take in the news.

"What? No. That's not right," Harry exclaims low, his voice quivering as he shakes his head violently.

"Luna, please tell us you're joking," Hermione growls.

I shake my head slowly and shamefully.

"Oh bloody hell!" Ron exclaims with a squeak.
"My best mate's gonna die."

"I mean, it's not over yet," I point out, attempting to console them.
"There could still be a miracle."

"How can there be a miracle?" Harry nearly shouts.
"I'm going to die!"

"Things have worked out for you before."

"But not this time, Luna. Death is the end of all life. I'm gonna be dead."

He then manages to compose himself before taking a deep breath.

"But if I have to," he says as calmly as he can manage.
"I will."

"Harry, no! There has to be another way," Hermione exclaims as tears begin to form in her eyes..

"No. There's not."

All of a sudden, we hear footsteps rapidly approaching.

"Oh no!" I whisper.
"Quick, get out of here. Go to the Forbidden Forest tomorrow morning. I have a feeling they're close to breaking through the barrier."

Before they leave, and without warning, Harry leans down and pecks me on the lips. I manage to recover after about 5 seconds and turn towards them as they jump out the open window.

"Be careful," I whisper to them as I go over to the window to close it.

At that moment, the door flies open to reveal Bellatrix, Avery, and the Dark Lord.

"What was that sound?" Avery says.
"We thought we heard Harry Potter."

I shake my head innocently.

"I don't know what that sound was. But I do know where he'll be tomorrow, my Lord."

"Is that so?" he asks in piqued interest.

I nod once.

"Harry Potter shall be in the Forbidden Forest tomorrow at dawn. The barrier is almost broken. The time to kill him will be about right, my Lord, but I must warn you that it may not work out the first time."

"Why might it not work out the first time?" Bellatrix sniffs.

I shrug.

"I couldn't quite make out that part of the vision."

"Well," the Dark Lord says.
"Thank you, Miss Lovegood. You have been most useful to me so far. You shall be rewarded."

"Thank you, my Lord," I say curtsying.

"If you don't mind, I would like to have a talk with you alone."

I gulp and try to suppress my anxiety.

"Of course not, my Lord," I reply as my voice gives way to a slight quiver.

Bellatrix, sniffing, and Avery, smirking, turn and leave the room, the doors shutting behind them, leaving me alone with the Dark Lord. I'm trying to not squeak in fright. To be honest, being alone with one of the most powerful wizards alive is slightly intimidating.

"Come. Sit upon your bed," he offers as he sits down upon it.
"You look quite tired, my dear."

Reluctantly, I push myself up beside him. There a moment of silence as I take it in; I'm alone. In my room. With the Dark Lord. Who I work for.

"I would like to discuss…..our ceremony."

"Ceremony, my Lord?"

"You are to be wed to me, are you not?"

Oh yes. I nearly forgot about that.

"Of course, my Lord."

"I shall allow you to invite whomever you wish, as long as they're near or pureblooded."

"Will there be food?"

"Of course," he laughs.
"What is a celebration without a feast?"

"Celebration?"

"Yes, this is not only the celebration for our marriage, but also as a way to celebrate the defeat of my greatest enemy."

Then he leans in closely, a bit too closely, but I dare not back away.

"And then, that night, when the festivities are over with, we shall consummate our marriage."

I gasp and back away.

"Not to be obstinate, my Lord," I say uncomfortably.
"But I'm only seventeen. I don't think the age of seventeen is an age ready for consummation."

"Nonsense," he hisses.
"You'll learn to love it, just as you shall learn to love me."

"But don't I love you already?" I ask tilting my head.

"There are other types of love," he replies.
"Loyalty is only one of them. But devotion is entirely different."

He takes a lock of my hair and lets it run in between his pale, bony hands while he pushes my chin up with a bony finger on his other hand.

"And I expect my bride to be completely devoted to me."

I feel the butterflies again, but this time, these are monster-sized butterflies, and they're making me feel sick.

"I believe this is a good place to stop for now," he says suddenly.
"I must prepare to kill Harry Potter tomorrow. I expect you to be beside me."

"Why is that, my Lord?"

"I want you to see how much your loyalty has paid off. Now be sure to get a good night's rest, my dear. Dawn is quite an early time to rise."

And with that, he leaves, the door shutting behind him, leaving me quite frightened. Silent tears begin to fall down my eyes as I climb into bed and, for the first time ever, I begin to wish that I had stayed inside of dad's innocence chamber.