A/N: Harry Potter and his world belong to J.K. Rowling, Warner Brothers and anyone that has received licensing rights. I am grateful she gives us the privilege of playing in her world.

Chapter 19

November 5, 1993

Hogwarts, Scotland

Luna walked arm in arm with Astoria towards the rock that was theirs.

She looked towards the smoke from Hagrid's hut and felt sad. Hermione was fighting a valiant fight with her to save Buckbeak, but she felt it would not end in their favor. That did not mean she would give up. Fates can change.

Harry walked on the other side of her. He was looking tired. Between quidditch practices, their study schedule and the Circle's study schedule, they were working hard. Astoria felt proud to pull ahead of Harry in October, but she felt tired too.

That was why Luna had dragged them out here for the morning.

The surprise was Hermione and Neville. They followed them out when they saw them leaving.

"Luna, where are we going," Hermione asked.

"To look for floogalsnouts," she told the frizzy hair girl.

Harry yawned.

Hermione didn't say anything when Astoria looked back to her.

They walked down to their rock. It was a cool, misty morning. She loved the crisp smell to the air. It would start turning cold soon. It had been a nice fall thus far.

"I brought an extra pair of omnioculars," Harry said. "Roger Davies let me borrow them."

"What are omnioculars," Hermione asked.

"They are binoculars, but they let you record and replay things. Zoom in as much as you want. You can even watch an entire quidditch match, even if you weren't looking in that direction the first time," he told her.

"They are very useful. Gran bought me a pair when we went to see the English team play Sweden this summer," Neville said. "I never thought about using them to look for creatures."

Luna smiled. She loved the pair Harry had gotten her last Christmas. "We have seen many things. I want to ask Hagrid to take us deeper into the forest."

"Harry, I was wondering if you could look over my runes translation before lunch," Astoria asked.

Luna tapped her arm lightly. "No work," she said.

Luna didn't think Harry and her would ever grow out of this competitive streak between them. And now with Hermione, the three of them were playing off each other.

"Astoria, how good is the Slytherin team this year," Neville asked.

Astoria shrugged. "Better than last year, but I think the Ravens have a real chance this year. So does Gryffindor. I hate saying it, but I think Harry will have some stiff competition between the Seekers."

Harry snorted. "I'm only really worried about Ginny. We used to play at the Burrow and she is damned fast."

"Don't underestimate Diggory or Malfoy," the last was said with loathing by Astoria. "Diggory has caught seven of the nine matches he has played. And the blonde ponce is a lot of bluster, but he looks to be the best seeker Slytherin has had in years. He caught twice last year."

"No one will beat our Harry," Luna said with confidence. She knew how he flew and had been to many of his practices, sitting in the stands to watch while she did some homework with Astoria.

Harry smiled. "I will do my best," he told her.

They made it to their rock and she immediately brightened. The auguries were already flying over the lake. She didn't see the fairies. She was wondering what they were hunting.

"Harry, you better catch that snitch," Astoria said to him.

He gave her a grin. "Or what?"

She glared at him.

"Are those augury," Hermione asked as their mournful calls came to them.

"Gran says they portent bad things," Neville said.

"They feel the weather," Luna told them. She sat on the rock and took out her omnioculars. Astoria sat next to her and they were joined by Hermione. She handed the omnioculars to Hermione. "They usually hunt the fairies, but it looks like they are after a flock of birds."

She did not have time to zoom in before handing the omnioculars to Hermione. "Why hasn't Hagrid shown us these yet in Care of Magical Creatures," she asked.

"We only see them early in the morning or towards dinner," Harry said. "Maybe their nests are too far into the Forbidden Forest."

"That is far down the lake," Neville said squinting.

"May I borrow yours, Harry," Astoria asked.

Luna felt content to have her cousin, Hermione and her mates around her. She did not mind putting in the hours it took to do their work, but they had not done this enough this year.

"They don't look it in books, but they are rather majestic in flight," Hermione said.

"We have not seen the wolves yet this year," Harry said looking through the spare omnioculars before handing them to Neville.

"There are no wolves in Britain anymore," Hermione told them.

"I have seen them, Hermione," Astoria said. She handed Harry's omnioculars to her. Luna was happy to watch the auguries again.

Hermione looked perplexed. "But they were hunted to extinction," she said.

"These are descended from werewolves," Harry responded before reaching into his pocket.

"Harry, we are not doing work this morning," she reminded him.

"This is fun reading," he shot back.

"If I can't talk to you about Runes, you can't read on whatever you are doing," Astoria said, looking down on him.

He huffed. "You're no fun."

Hermione looked at him with pity. "Neville told me the same thing this morning."

Neville sighed. "Hermione, you've been up to all hours doing your work and looking in those law books. I agree with my cousin, you need to relax at times."

She didn't miss the look Hermione gave Neville. Hermione liked her cousin and listened to him. Luna felt them a good match.

The five of them watched the auguries, and then a few centaur who came down into the shallows to catch fish with spears. They talked more about the upcoming Slytherin-Gryffindor match next weekend, and then the Hufflepuff-Ravenclaw match end of the month.

Luna was pleased to have them there like that.

-oOo-

November 6, 1993

Hogwarts, Scotland

Harry was excited for this morning. The five of them were in Uncle Remus' DADA room just before eight. The desks had all been pushed to the sides and what looked like a practice field had been set. Three spaces had been set for them to stand about ten yards apart from each other. Mattresses had been placed behind circles on the wood floor.

"I see you are all here bright and early," his Uncle said coming into the room from his office right at eight.

"Yes, Professor," Astoria said in her proper tone.

"So, what are we learning today," Harry asked, unable to hold his excitement.

His Uncle chuckled. "Some basics. We are going to work on a few spells."

"Will you teach us to stun," Hermione asked.

"That will be soon. I would like to start with some simpler spells like banishment, leg-lock, disarming and a freezing spell."

She sat back and crossed her arms.

"Mr. Lupin, we already know those," Luna said. They had been practicing some of those on their own.

"Humor me today, Luna. I would like to see how you cast. Sometimes a little extra movement can mean the difference of getting two spells off, compared to one. Trust me, you will want the speed and accuracy we will work on," Uncle Remus told them.

"Professor Lupin, have you been in many fights," Astoria asked.

"More than I would like," he answered her. "Now, line up. I can work with someone or you can have a group of three."

Harry took up a spot and Astoria was across from him. He smirked at her, knowing she had wanted a chance at this since December. Luna came and stood on the side.

"I know you all have been taught how to disarm. I would like you to start and I will help correct you."

Harry took a stance like he was ready to fight. Astoria looked determined. "Move your foot a little further back, and point your back foot out. Good," he said to Astoria. Luna looked like she was loosely holding her wand, but Harry knew she was quick with it.

"Neville, feet farther apart."

They all looked at each other. "Now take turns, you three. Start."

"Expelliarmus," Astoria almost tripped over the word as she said it as fast as possible. Harry was about as fast. He felt the pull on his wand as her wand pulled out of her hand.

He let out a cry of triumph before he just about caught her wand. "Expelliarmus," Luna said calmly. He wasn't expecting it and Astoria's wand flew away from his hand and his own was ripped from him.

"That isn't fair," Astoria said to Luna.

Neville chuckled and she cast him a glare. "Expelliarmus," Hermione stated.

All the wands in Luna's hands zoomed out. "I do not think it will be fair if we are in a real fight," Hermione stated.

Remus chuckled. "Very true, Hermione. Now, everyone take their wands and start again. One person at a time."

-oOo-

November 27, 1993

Quidditch Pitch, Hogwarts, Scotland

Harry was above the chasers waiting for Madame Hooch's whistle.

It was a cruddy day. Heavy mists lay around the grounds and the clouds kissed the towers of the school. In the flat light, it would be difficult to pick out the snitch.

A much larger sixth year boy was flying across from him. In his uniform, Harry could not make much out of Cedric Diggory besides looking more muscular than Harry and he was on a Cleansweep Seven.

Besides all of Slytherin, Harry was the only other student at school with a Nimbus 2001.

"Good luck, Potter," the boy said drifting over and reaching out a hand.

"And to you, Diggory." Harry shook his hand and they backed off as Madame Hooch gave a two-whistle warning. She flew up to the middle of the pitch.

"The snitch is set loose," someone said from the Professors tower.

He followed the snitch as it took off towards the Ravenclaw's tower for parents and alumni. He had already said hi to his mum and she was sitting in the tower with the other Ravenclaw parents. "I want a nice clean game," Hooch called out. She threw the quaffle into the air, and Harry took off around the pitch.

Davies wanted him to do a few circuits around the pitch, see if Diggory would follow and for him to get a feel for his opponent. He had seen the snitch take off for the Hufflepuff goal posts, so he started there.

Diggory, with more experience, instead took off high. When it was apparent that Diggory was not going to follow, Harry did a few circuits just above the melee below, having to dodge a bludger a few times. He was scanning around, hoping the snitch was lower to the ground. In the grey light, it was going to be near impossible to get a glint of it unless it was within twenty feet of him.

Diggory was flying a deliberate search pattern.

"Ravenclaw gets the first goal," he heard the boy say.

After ten minutes of looking for the snitch, Harry determined it was going to take more of an active pattern than Davies and him had thought. He was happy to have his goggles. It was not cheating to put anti-fog, rain or glare charms on them. They had also been fitted with lenses that worked like his glasses.

"Hufflepuff races up the field. It goes to Macavoy. Then Applebee. Davies gets a hand on it, but Macavoy gets it back. Blocked by..."

Harry paid attention, but he only needed the score. Davies wanted them to be up over a hundred over Hufflepuff or more than two-hundred points total before he caught the snitch. Thus, he had drifted towards Diggory.

"Fine weather today," he said to Diggory.

The boy had a look of concentration and didn't answer. Harry didn't stop looking as he moved closer. "I hear your father is Head of the Magical Creatures Department. Is it hard to a get job there?"

Diggory smirked. "Good try, Potter."

Harry shrugged, rolled over and raced towards the ground. He had seen something, but he wasn't sure if it the snitch. Diggory hesitated a second, before following. The Nimbus was faster, but he slowed to let Diggory catch up. Harry was positive it must have been a small bird or something else, but he dove through the Hufflepuff Chasers and dodged a bludger before pulling up.

When he came back up to the proper height, Diggory fell in besides him. The boy seemed to be regarding him now, as though he was a threat. "You had me for a moment there," Diggory commented.

"Just playing the game," Harry said cheekily and drifted towards his goal post. After that, Diggory wasn't far behind him and fell for it once more. Each time, Harry was reacting to something, just not the snitch. A larger than small part of him was hoping Diggory would flatten himself.

About an hour and a half into the match, Ravenclaw was up 130 to 70. Burrow had just taken a bludger and Davies called everyone down as he was being evaluated. "Potter, I need you to stop toying with Diggory. That last one almost got our Keeper."

He shrugged. "Fine. I was just trying to buy us time."

"I really thought he had Diggory that first time. Potter has broken their advance a few times," Inglebee said, one of their Beaters.

Davies nodded. "I'll give you that. The weather is getting worse," he said. A fine mist had started. "I want you to end it if you see the snitch."

"Sure."

"Now, get up there. Diggory is already searching. Samuels I want you..."

Harry kicked off and sped up to Diggory. "No more playing," he told Diggory with a smirk.

Digory snorted. "I wasn't playing, Potter."

"I know."

It was a few more minutes before the whistle blew again. Harry shadowed Diggory. A steady rain started and it started to feel cold, especially as the rain started to .

Something moved close to them and Harry jerked his head. The snitch was fifteen feet to his side. Harry pulled his broom and leaned over. The snitch took off. He didn't look to see if Diggory was following. The snitch dove towards the pitch. He spun over to chase after it. He caught Diggory diving out of the corner of his eye.

Harry stretched out his hand and it suddenly changed course and buzzed past him. He got a finger on its wings before he was pulling up on his Nimbus. It responded faster than Diggory's Cleansweep. He looked up and saw the snitch racing straight up.

People were cheering and screaming.

Harry raced the broom as fast as it would go. His hand stretched out and grabbed the snitch. A broad smile spread across his face and he leveled off. Diggory had already stopped and they looked down onto the pitch. Through the rain, he saw people running and dark shadows around the edge of the pitch and over it.

His blood ran cold. The really cold day suddenly made sense. A hundred or more dementors were roaming over the pitch and a few were drifting towards him and Diggory. He saw patronuses start to run around.

"Diggory," Harry called out. He felt the effect of the creatures, but tried to push it down. Diggory and him needed to get down. His panic was for Luna and Astoria. As he thought of them, he pushed his broom down.

Screams were coming from the stands. "Potter," Diggory yelled at him as he raced down. He heard the basilisk screaming as it died. He focused on the stands where he knew his two friends were. A lynx patronus was running over the heads of the people there.

Suddenly, a large silvery phoenix flew around the edge of the pitch. It left a silvery shield as it flew around. Harry was starting to feel as though all the happiness was gone. Only the thought of Luna and Astoria was keeping his focus. He was almost to the stand before a fleeing dementor reached out for him. Harry saw it turn its face up and saw the hole where its mouth should be.

He heard the echo of his screams from the Chamber. He saw the blonde hair of Luna skipping with the dark hair Astoria by his side as they walked to keep up with her. It was a happy thought that chased away the feelings of hopelessness. The hand holding his snitch pulled back. He held that image of the girls and punched the dementor as its face came close to him. The thing needed to be gone. It was a white light that blinded him for second or two. His hand hit something solid and it cried out as though it was a dozen tormented souls.

Harry screamed as it felt like a ice rod had been jammed up his arm. The shock caused him to release his broom. He slammed into another dementor as he started to fall. The image of a petrified Luna filled him as he fell. He lost his image of the girls from walking to the lake. The last thing he remembered was screaming all around him as he hit an empty bench in the stadium.

-oOo-

November 7, 1993

Hospital Wing, Hogwarts, Scotland

Harry was in a curtained off bed. Almost a dozen students were in the Hospital Ward tonight with broken bones or other injuries from the stampede in the stands. Everyone was trying to get away from the Dementors when they had swarmed to pitch.

She ran her hand through Luna's hair as the blond girl slept with her head in Astoria's lap. The poor girl had cried silent tears for hours.

They had watched Harry falling out of the sky. Luna had been able to cast a cushioning charm before Harry hit the bench flat on his back. It was all that had kept him from dying. As it was, he had three broken ribs, a broken leg and a punctured lung.

Mrs. Potter was sitting in a chair on the other side of him. She had no idea what time it was, but he had not woken yet. The blood trickling from an ear and his mouth as he lay on the cracked bench had scared her.

Astoria's insides still felt knotted and her heart faint. It was a feeling she had only experience when either Luna or him were hurt.

"You should get some rest, Astoria," Mrs. Potter said to her.

The only reason she was here was because her parents had given her permission. Otherwise she would have been forced back to her House at curfew. She didn't want to leave them.

She didn't say anything as she squeezed Harry's hand.

"He will be alright and still be here in the morning. I can help Luna into a bed, if you want," Mrs. Potter offered.

"Mrs. Potter, can you punch a dementor?"

The auburn hair woman looked at her. "I suppose you could," she said cautiously. "That seems an odd thing to do though. Most try to run or use a patronus."

Astoria met her green eyes. It was the same green eyes that Harry looked at her with. She had seen the woman come in and out of her house for years, but only got to know her since the start of summer. Mrs. Potter looked at Astoria the way her own mother did. The woman cared for her.

"Astoria, why would you ask that?

"I saw Harry falling," she said, running her hand through Luna's hair again. She had saved Harry. Astoria would have to do something nice for Luna. "He punched one of them. There was a white light and then... I... I think I saw the dementor dissolve."

Mrs. Potter looked at her. The woman looked shocked. Astoria was surprised Mrs. Potter didn't question her. It was the most absurd thing she could say, but she knew she saw it. Luna had too. Nothing was known to destroy dementors. She had seen the creature reach for him and he punched it in the face. It was a bright white light and the thing just washed away in the rain as it dissolved. She was so shocked, it had fallen to their blonde friend to save him.

"Did Luna see it too," she asked.

"I am quite positive. I don't know if anyone else did. There was so much panic."

His mother's eyes already looked to be thinking. "I do not like to ask you this, but can you not tell anyone?"

She nodded. Astoria knew Harry was powerful. What she had seen should have scared her. It should frighten her just the raw power that would have taken without a wand in his hand. Instead, she felt a warmth to know he was her friend. She was finding she liked him as more than a friend. What concerned her was that she knew Luna liked Harry. It was obvious to see. Harry doted on her and protected Luna as fiercely as his mother did him.

What confused her was the way he looked at her. It was the same way he looked at Luna. He protected her. She was starting to realize he did just about anything either of them asked of him.

The butterflies and twisted knots to look at him in the bed, it confused her as much as the ones she was starting to feel for the sleeping girl in her lap.

"He is my best mate. I would not betray him," she told Mrs. Potter.

Mrs. Potter smiled. "I know you wouldn't, Astoria. Just keep him out of trouble if you can."

She would do her best.

"Just put your head on his pillow and get some rest," Mrs. Potter said kindly.

To have permission to be that close to him finally convinced her to shift a little. She leaned over, Luna still in her lap, and Astoria put her head next to his. What was she going to do? She didn't want to be between Luna and Harry. They were her best mates. But, Merlin, did she like him and worry about him.

-oOo-

December 1, 1993

Hogwarts, Scotland

"Remember Thursday will be a sparing class. You use any spell from this year or last," Uncle Remus told everyone. "An eight-inch essay on the differences between zombies and ghouls and how you deal with them due Monday. Potter, please stay after class."

He looked at his Uncle and stayed in his seat. Luna cocked her head and Uncle Remus gently shook his head. "I'll see you at dinner," she told him.

Harry nodded. The door closed behind the last student.

"I didn't do it," Harry said to Uncle Remus.

The man chuckled. "This time, I'm afraid, you did. It isn't anything bad, Harry."

"What did I do," he asked, having a good feeling what his Uncle wanted to talk about. If it hadn't been a full moon Monday, it would have happened then. He had been given three days to think about the game. Astoria had asked him when they had gone to their rock Monday morning.

"Astoria and Luna told me what she saw Saturday after your mum told her to talk to me."

Harry held his Uncle's eyes. "I needed to get to Luna and Astoria."

Uncle Remus looked at him. "Can you describe to me what happened," he asked.

He did his best to describe what the dementors were doing to him. He tried so hard to not reveal how scared he had been for his best mates, or that it was thoughts of them that gave him strength to fight off the dementor. Uncle Remus pressed him though. He wanted to know what he was thinking, what it felt like and what happened when he hit the dementor.

When Harry was done, Uncle Remus looked at him for a few minutes. Eventually, he said slowly, "Harry, I have never heard of something like this. Some of what you describe is how wizards are trained to cast a patronus, but I have never heard of a patronus actually destroying a dementor. Your mum has been able to find out the Ministry reported one dementor missing after the attack. They figure it has gone rogue, which happens occasionally."

"You and mum think I destroyed it. Uncle Remus, how is that possible?"

"I don't know, Harry. I would like to think on this for a bit. I know your mum asked you not to talk about it. I think that best. To be able to do such a powerful action without a wand is not common."

"I know," he said. "It was my magic, Uncle Remus, but I wanted it to get rid of the Dementor. It wasn't like when I was little, or even last year. It was like, I don't know. I needed to get to Luna and Astoria. I just knew what to do."

His Uncle nodded. "You still let go of your broom, though."

Harry grimaced. "It felt like an icicle shot through my arm. It shocked me. I think I could control it better next time."

Uncle Remus frowned. "I don't want there to be a next time before we understand this. If, and only if, you find yourself in trouble again, I will just say take caution. I want you to defend yourself if you must. You understand, Harry. Run if you can, fight if you must."

"Yes, Uncle Remus."

His Uncle ran his hand through Harry's hair. "Get off," Harry laughed at his Uncle.

"I think your girl's like it more ruffled," his Uncle teased.

The whole time Harry had kept his cool. The way his Uncle's eyes twinkled, the secret liking he had started to feel for his best mates crept up to the surface. "They are my best mates." He tried to sound as cool as possible, but his voice cracked. It was the first time he had ever experienced it. He was talking normal and then he wasn't. His face flamed to see the mirth in his Uncle's face.

Uncle Remus tried to keep the laugh out of his voice. "I know they are, Harry. Just remember what we talked about this summer if they ever become more."

"You know, ah," his voice had cracked again. "I need to go."

He grabbed his bag and made it for the door as fast as he could while trying to keep as much dignity as he could. He didn't miss Uncle Remus chuckling as he slammed the door behind him.

-oOo-

December 18, 1993

Hogwarts Express, Somewhere in Britain

Luna was excited. Astoria had just handed them invitations to the Christmas Eve Ball at Greengrass Manor and to spend Christmas with the Greengrasses. Astoria had mentioned it for the last few weeks, but it had not been official until this morning when Harry and her had received their invitations, hand delivered by one cute dark-haired girl with brilliant hazel eyes.

"How will I get there? What should I wear," Hermione asked Astoria. Neville and Hermione had been invited also.

"I will ask Gran if we can escort you," Neville said to her.

"Do you think your parents will let you go," Harry asked.

Hermione smiled. "We are staying home this year, so I don't see why not. I think they will like the exposure to wizarding culture I could get no other way."

"I can ask mother if you can stay over the night before. Daphne and I are going to be fitted for new gowns tomorrow. Would you like to come? Yes, Luna, you are coming," Astoria said to her. She gave Astoria a large smile.

"I am sure the tree will look lovely. Will we be allowed to view it from the Library," she asked. Luna wanted to see the tree. In her mind it was a radiant thing. Daddy hadn't gotten a tree the last two years, but the Potters always did. She missed having a tree.

"Yes, Luna. My parents will not restrict us," Astoria told her.

"If my parents say yes, what time should I meet you and where? How much is a formal ball gown?" Hermione was chewing her bottom lip.

"Hermione, I can pay for it," Neville offered. "This is your first formal Ball and you shouldn't have to worry about it."

Hermione looked to him. Yes. Luna very much liked her Cousin and their frizzy-hair friend together. "Neville, you don't have to do that," Hermione told him.

Astoria raised an eyebrow. "I do not know how much they cost," she admitted. "Mother has always handled it."

Hermione scrunched her brow. "That sounds really expensive."

"Hermione, I don't mind. The goblins finally gave us the full tally from the sale of the basilisk. Gran is letting me have some of it and I would like to do this for you," he told her. "Consider it a Christmas present if you want."

Luna had a feeling Neville felt like he needed to make it up to her for when she had been petrified. She knew Neville had missed her more those three weeks than he was willing to say. At times, Harry still acted the same way, and Astoria still blamed herself.

"Are you sure, Neville," she asked.

"Hermione, let my cousin do this," Luna said kindly.

After a moment, Hermione nodded. "Now that is settled, you can come to Greengrass Manor about ten. If you don't want to take the Knight Bus, I can ask one of our elves to help you."

Hermione seemed to war with herself. "I will take the Knight Bus."

Luna was looking forward to Christmas. Daddy was going to be home all week. She was going to be spending a few days with Harry and Astoria. Harry was going to look handsome in his formal robes. She wondered if he would like yellow or green more. Blue was his favorite color though.

She was thinking about it before looking out the window. The train was traveling along the coast at it approached a muggle station. Looking out the window, she grabbed Astoria's hand. "Look," she said excitedly. It was a windy day out and the sea between England and Ireland was frothing and choppy. In the chop, she saw two creatures playing. They looked like giant half horses and dolphins, with huge fins that looked like kelp. "Kelpies. Do you see them?"

Everyone moved to the window as fast as they could. "Merlin," Neville said.

"Luna, your brilliant," her Harry said with awe. She liked the way he said it. Something made her feel warm inside.

Astoria wrapped an arm around her to put her head on Luna's shoulder as Harry stood over them. It was the best way for them all to look out the window with Neville and Hermione next to them. Luna liked how close they all were.

Soon, the train passed into a cut surrounded by bushes.

"They were very elegant," Hermione said. The girl smiled at her. "I can't wait to write about them for Care of Magical Creatures. Hagrid asked us to keep an eye open. I never thought I would see them in person."

"I am finding the more I spend time with these two, the more I see," Astoria told her.

Luna didn't like that Astoria let go of her as they settled back down. She still wanted to be close. Picking up her Quibbler, she leaned into Astoria. It wasn't the same as doing it to Harry, but it was as nice. She was about the same height as him, though a little bonier. Unlike Harry, who was her rock, Astoria leaned into her, just slightly, but she did. She was not as cold as she showed to most people.

She settled into working on the latest puzzle daddy had put into the Quibbler. It was supposed to hold a clue about Minister Fudge and his plot to overthrow the Wizengamot. Luna wasn't sure if she believed in her daddy's theories, but it was fun to figure it out.