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 25

June 10, 1994

Hospital Wing, Hogwarts, Scotland

Astoria was growing to really dislike this place.

After arriving, she had held Luna as the girl kept trying to get to Harry. If Professor Lupin had not gone after him, she would have. Astoria wanted to go after him, but Luna was here and the blond girl needed her. Madame Pomfrey had to give Luna a calming draft before the girl allowed her to heal the cut on her head. She had helped to wash Luna's hair while she just sat on the bench in the shower, a towel wrapped around her and just staring away at nothing. After that, Luna had asked for her to just hold her. Neville and Hermione stayed until they were told to leave close to curfew. Madame Pomfrey let her stay with her best mate.

Astoria held Luna tight as the girl leaked tears. Luna wasn't really crying, but a tear would fall every once in a while. She kept her own at bay. Luna needed someone strong to protect her. Astoria would and held her wand in her hand.

A little after Midnight, she woke with a start when the Headmaster threw open the doors and walked briskly to the Matron's office. "Poppy, I am allowing Mr. Potter, his mother and Remus to take a portkey. There are injuries, but I don't know who or the extent."

She moved. Luna was asleep on her chest. The constriction in her chest tightened to see the man. "Headmaster, they found Harry," she asked.

The man turned to her. "Yes, Ms. Greengrass. Are you ready Poppy? It should arrive in about ten seconds."

The Matron bustled out with a tray of potions she put on a table next to a bed. She pulled Luna in tighter. "Astoria, what is going on," Luna asked sounding tired.

Mr. Lupin and Mrs. Potter suddenly appeared, walking into the hospital wing out of nowhere. She saw Harry being carried in Mr. Lupin's arms. "Where do you want him, Poppy?" The man sounded worried and spoke fast.

"Over here," she said.

"He has a concussion and I think some serious bruises. Maybe a separated rib," Mrs. Potter said sounding as though she was trying to keep herself together. "He has a curse on him that I couldn't identify and didn't want to remove it until he was at a Hospital. I don't want to cause more injuries."

Astoria took in a breath. He looked banged up. His shirt was ripped open and there was blood on his hands. "Oh, no," Astoria gasped. Luna turned over and struggled to get the blankets off her.

"Harry," Luna called out.

Mrs. Potter intercepted her. Astoria was right behind her. "He will be alright," she was telling Luna as the girl hugged her tight.

Madame Pomfrey was running her wand over him before focusing on his head. "Remus, I need that purple potion," she said.

Mr. Lupin reached for it and handed it to her. The Matron pointed her wand at it and it disappeared. "What happened here, Lily? There is a curse putting pressure on his brain."

"He lashed out as Boardman tried to curse him," she said with tears.

Astoria had a sob escape her. Mrs. Potter turned to her. "Come here," she said pulling Astoria in.

The Headmaster moved in. "Can I take a look, Poppy," the man asked.

She moved to let the Headmaster run his wand over Harry. The man muttered a few words and an array of runes appeared. He looked at them for a moment before starting to do some fancy wand work. "No," Luna said. Mrs. Potter pulled them closer.

Astoria made out a few of the runes. Harry's magic was fighting something trying to kill him. The Headmaster worked over Harry for a moment before a sickly purple mist exploded out of his head. Harry took a deep breath and opened his eyes. She felt his magic burst out. "Nigra canis ab deme! Multitudine sagittarum imbrem!"

Mrs. Potter pushed them down as his magic released a wind that knocked them over before dozens of arrows came out of his hands.

"Harry! Stop!" Luna said, struggling to get out of Mrs. Potter's arm. The Headmaster raised his wand at Harry.

"Don't! Urna quis retro," she cried out. Her magic was like a trickle compared to the torrent around the black hair boy. It was enough, though, to cause the Headmaster to block her spell. Luna dove for Harry, pushing through his magic and taking his face in her hands.

Mrs. Potter stood up, her wand out. "You dare raise that wand again and I will duel you," she said in a deadly tone. The Headmaster glared at her.

"Look at me, Harry. Astoria is here. I am here. Your mum and Uncle Remus are here. You are safe," Luna tried to reason with him.

"Go to him," Mrs. Potter said, still holding her wand up towards the Headmaster.

She felt unsteady on her legs after that use of her power. It was a few stumbling steps. His magic was still thick in the air. "Harry, please stop," Luna begged.

Astoria moved in, taking a hand and leaning in to kiss him on the forehead. It just seemed the right thing to do. His eyes finally focused on Luna as she pulled away. A stuttering breath escaped him before he looked at her. His eyes were pools of green power. All she wanted to do was hold him, but Luna was straddling him. "See, we are here and unharmed," she said.

The power in him pulled back. He was breathing heavily before fear took over. He looked at Luna. "I didn't hurt anyone," he asked Luna.

Luna shook her head. He collapsed and Luna pulled him to her chest. Harry started to cry. Astoria just sat on the side of the bed. After a moment, Luna looked up at her. Her hand reached out, grabbed her shirt and pulled her in. Astoria wrapped her arms over the top of him. Everything was silent. Harry broke down in their arms.

"Will you tell me what happened and why he just tried to rip the Hospital Wing apart," the Headmaster asked.

"It is a magical outburst, Dumbledore. He was attacked, kidnapped, tortured and almost raped," his mother said with anger. "If you do not put your wand down, you will find out what a Sorceress can do with a wand and her ability to cast without one."

Astoria leaned over more, putting her cheek on top of Harry's head and closing her eyes. It felt like an electrical storm ready to break with the power from Mrs. Potter and Dumbledore filling the space left by Harry. She grabbed Luna's night shirt in both hands. She would not allow them to get hurt as she tried to shield them.

"That is enough. I have a patient that needs my help. Remus, you are to go to that bed. That gash in your arm looks bad," Madame Pomfrey said angrily. "If you two really feel the need to do this, take it outside."

She heard the clack of boots and looked to see the Matron walk between them, her wand in hand and features set. The woman moved to the bed. "Ms. Lovegood, can I get in," she asked much kinder. The power between the two obviously strong witch and wizard retreated.

Madame Pomfrey moved Luna enough for her to get her wand to Harry. "You don't have to move, Ms. Greengrass," she said as Astoria shifted. Astoria had no intention of leaving them.

"Mrs. Potter," Dumbledore said.

"That is Lady Potter, Headmaster."

"Lady Potter," the man said in a much calmer voice. "I was only going to stun your son to subdue him. I think you can put your wand down and we should address this in my office."

"Are you seriously asking me to leave my son after what he just went through? I will make myself available once he is ready for me to leave him."

The Headmaster regarded her for a few. "I will be available when you are. Poppy, do you feel safe enough for me to leave you?"

"Mr. Potter poses no threat, Albus." The woman twirled her wand and the curtain closed around two sides of the bed, blocking her view of Mr. Lupin and the Headmaster. The Matron spoke softly. "Ms. Greengrass, can you please sit. I would like to look at his back."

Astoria sat back. Luna had grabbed her shirt and didn't let go. Astoria couldn't go far, even if she wanted too. Which was the last thing she wanted to do. The Matron tried to lift his shirt. "Harry," the woman said kindly. She had never heard the woman use any students' first name. He had stopped sobbing now. "I cannot get a good look at your back or sides. Can I remove your shirt and cloak?"

She felt him shiver. "Don't leave me," he said grabbing Luna's pants and Astoria's shirt.

"I would never leave you," Luna told him.

"You're stuck with me for now, Harry. Where else would I find a study partner," she said.

He gave a sobbing laugh.

"Are you alright if I banish your shirt and cloak," the Matron asked again. "Unless you would like to take them off yourself?"

He grabbed them tighter and shook his head. Luna looked up at the woman. "You can vanish his shirt and cloak. Nothing else."

"Do you agree, Harry?"

Harry nodded. His skin felt warm when his clothes disappeared. She kept in her gasp to see large bruises on his back and side.

"Thank you. Can you get these into him," the Matron asked after a few minutes. Some of the bruising looked less and he was just breathing heavily now. The Matron reached for the potions that had been knocked over and almost pushed to the floor.

"What are you giving him," she questioned defensively. He had not let go of the death grip on her shirt.

"Pain relief, something to help with the bruising, a mild blood replenisher, a calming draught and a sleeping draught. I am then going to reset his thumb and close up that wound," she said in an easy way.

"Astoria, Madame Pomfrey will not do anything to hurt him," Mrs. Potter said coming up behind her.

Astoria took the first one. "Harry, can you look at me," she asked.

After a moment, he sat back. She had to put the vials to his mouth. He refused to let go of them. It wasn't long before his eyes closed and they layed him down. His hands only let them go when he fell asleep. Luna and her did not move as the Matron took his right hand.

With her wand, she popped Harry's thumb back into place. Astoria hadn't even known it was broken. There was a gash that she healed with a sing song spell.

Mrs. Potter sat in a chair next to the bed and ran her hand through his hair.

"I want you and Ms. Lovegood to get some rest," the Matron said to her. "I am going to check on Professor Lupin."

"Don't make me leave Harry," Luna said. Astoria looked to the girl. Her eyes were blood shot and tear filled.

Astoria pulled Luna to her, hugging Luna tight. Luna wrapped her hands around her. Mrs. Potter summoned two chairs. "Here, take a seat. If you want the bed, I will watch over him tonight," she told them.

Astoria nodded. They took the chairs.

-oOo-

May 10, 1994

Hogwarts, England

Harry sat in the bed. Luna had crawled onto the bed soon after he woke. Astoria and her looked as though they hadn't slept. He doubted he would have if he had not been given a potion.

Luna was curled up around his legs and her head was in his lap. By the way she was breathing, he hoped she was asleep.

He ran his hand through her hair and looked at Astoria.

She looked really rough around the edges. Her eyes looked dull with sleep, her hair unkept and her clothes mussed, as though she had not changed them.

He was holding her hand. "You can lay down too," he told her.

"Who will watch over you two," she asked.

"I will," Uncle Remus said. He was sitting in a chair down the end of the bed. It was angled so he could watch over the main doors and the Matron's office.

Harry could see her war with herself before she curled up on the chair and put her head on the bed next to him. He shifted a pillow so she could put her head on it. He started to run his other hand through her hair.

Astoria reached over and brushed the hair out of Luna's face.

Having them both with him was the only thing keeping him from panicking. He had not liked the way the man had touched him. He had actually pulled away from Uncle Remus this morning when he woke.

Uncle Remus was not Stubby Boardman, but right now he really only wanted Luna and Astoria to touch him. It was the only thing keeping the terrors away.

After a moment, he looked up and stared at the wall. There was no sign of the arrows that could have killed people in this room. He had thought he was still in the Shrieking Shack. His mind was only processing the man that had been holding his hair.

Astoria relaxed and he felt she was soon sleeping.

It was very quiet.

The doors opened and he stopped his hands over the girls' head, ready to react. Neville and Hermione walked in closer to lunch. Uncle Remus put a hand to his lips and they came over as silently as they could. Neither of them said anything as Hermione took the chair next to Astoria and Neville just stood there.

He didn't meet either of their eyes. He wasn't ready to see whatever was there.

After a few, Hermione whispered, "Are you alright, Harry?"

He shrugged and started to run his hands through his girls' hair again.

"Glad to see you back, mate," Neville said.

He nodded.

A little while later, the door opened again. His mum and Professor Flitwick walked in. Astoria stirred and sat up. Then blinked her bleary eyes and rubbed them. Luna still clung to his leg. He focused on his mum.

"Mr. Potter, how are you today," Professor Flitwick asked.

He looked at the short man. His Head of House was looking at him concerned. "I was told I can't take the Runes exam today. I won't be able to keep our deal."

The man gave him a half-smile. "I think you did more than enough to keep our deal, Mr. Potter. Professor Babbling has been very pleased to have you and the others in her class. You have also kept your excellent marks."

Harry nodded.

"Ms. Greengrass and Ms. Lovegood, you are excused from the exam today as well. Ms. Granger, good luck."

"Thank you, Professor," Hermione said.

"How did your arithmancy exam go," Astoria asked her. Her hand snaked into his, weaving her fingers between his.

"Well enough."

"I hope to see you better as soon as can be. You too Ms. Lovegood. Ravenclaw stands behind you. If there is anything we can do, please let me know," Professor Flitwick said to him.

He nodded again.

Professor Flitwick nodded back and then walked out.

His mum sat on the side with Luna and started to rub her back. "How are you really?"

He thought about not telling the truth. He did not want to worry anyone. Her green eyes would see right through his lie, though. "Sore. Scared," he said in a low voice. He couldn't voice how his skin crawled to think of the man. The way his mum looked at him he had a thought she might now.

"Can we go find the porlocks at Potter Cottage," Luna asked from his lap.

Harry understood she wanted to go home. He did too. He didn't feel safe here.

"As soon as Madame Pomfrey says Harry is cleared I will take you home," his mum said. She understood Luna too.

"Hermione, would you like to leave then also, or go home on the Express?"

"I would go home on the Express, if that is alright?"

"That is fine. Astoria, would you like me to talk to your parents?"

"I don't want to be here if Harry and Luna are not," she said, squeezing his hand.

His mum nodded. "I will get Madame Pomfrey to get you some pain relief potion. Luna, is your head feeling better?"

"It is fine, Mrs. Potter. I just want to go find the porlocks." Harry ran his hand through her hair.

His mum touched Uncle Remus' shoulder and he got up to follow her into the Matron's office.

"Harry, are you alright? What happened," Hermione asked.

Astoria shook her head. "Not now, Hermione."

"I think finding porlocks sounds good right now," he told Luna. Astoria squeezed his hand. He knew she got it. Luna moved to cuddle closer to him. Their touch was good.

"Just get better," Neville said patting his leg. "You look like a troll's chew toy."

Harry gave a small laugh.

"How about we get some lunch before I take you to your Runes Exam." Neville put a hand on Hermione's shoulder and she rested her head on it for a second before sitting up straight.

"We'll see you after," Hermione said. She reached her hand over his and Astoria's and squeezed.

He gave her a small smile.

"Can we go find the porlocks now," Luna asked when they left.

"Soon," Astoria said reaching over to run her hand through Luna's hair.

-oOo-

June 11, 1994

Godric's Hollow, England

Luna stepped out of the fireplace. Her trunk was in the living room, having been portkeyed here from Hogsmeade by Mrs. Potter. She preferred not to use a portkey.

She wanted daddy, but he had not come back from Iceland yet. She wasn't even sure if he had received the owl yet. It was unlike her not to be sure.

"Ms. Luna, so good to see you," Willow said. "Willow saw the trunks and was wondering when you might be back."

Luna smiled at Willow. "It is very nice to see you, Willow."

Harry came through and she wrapped her arms around him. He put an arm around her. Her Harry didn't feel like her Harry right now. He was hurt, disturbed, upset and so many other emotions. Wrackspurts and other things swirled around him. When Mrs. Potter came through, she wrapped them both in a hug. Luna really enjoyed Mrs. Potter's hugs.

"Mistress Lily. There is a letter for you," Willow said holding up a scrolled parchment.

"Thank you, Willow. I'll read it in a few," she told the House Elf.

"Willow thinks you should read. It is from Ms. Luna's father," she said.

Mrs. Potter pulled away. Luna didn't like that, but she understood. Harry held her tighter, as though sensing it. After reading, she said, "Luna, your father should be back tonight. He was trying to get a portkey back."

She nodded her head.

"How about a cuppa," Mrs. Potter asked.

"Mum, who is Stubby and Melissa Boardman and why did they want to kill us?"

Mrs. Potter had refused to say anything while they were at Hogwarts. His mum sighed. "I would like some strong tea to talk about this."

Luna closed her eyes as she listened to Harry and Mrs. Potter. The strong black tea was splendid as she wrapped her hand around the mug. Mrs. Potter preferred lots of tea in big mugs. She found she liked it that way too.

"Boardman was an Auror that your father and Sirius had ousted as a Death Eater about a month before he died. Boardman was selling out other Aurors to Voldemort. Fifteen Aurors and their families died in the last year because of him. Including the Longbottoms and your father," Mrs. Potter said.

"How come you didn't know this. Are you saying Black is innocent?"

Luna took in another deep breath of the tea. She was trying to find her center. Having Harry and Astoria out of sorts made her feel out of sorts.

"That was why I needed to talk with my old mentor in the Unspeakables. The records had been sealed and Boardman's case was suspended after your father died. His oaths to the DMLE prevented him from telling me. Sirius wasn't the one that ran from the scene. Witnesses saw Boardman. It was Boardman and his sister that Sirius had tracked down that day he was caught."

"In the wreckage of the alley, two bodies were found. The Aurors thought they were the Boardmans because they were magicals. Their bodies were so mangled, they could not identify them. No one had the Goblins do a blood trace. I don't know who they were," she said. Harry was curious. He needed to understand. It helped keep the wrackspurts away if he understood.

Daddy had been wrong and he had been right about Boardman. He was not Sirius Black, but the man was like Sirius Black in appearance.

"Does Neville know? He was still blaming Black yesterday," Harry said.

"The Aurors were talking with Lady Longbottom yesterday."

"Where is Black," she asked. As she breathed in the smell of the tea, she was starting to feel like she was drifting. It wasn't an unpleasant feeling, but it wasn't her either.

"He is at St. Mungo's, Luna. The DMLE has a trial scheduled for him next week. I did not know he had been sent to Azkaban without a trial. All his records had been sealed and there were as many public as there were private trials at the time. I didn't want to know the man's fate except that he went to Azkaban. Given the evidence and the capture of Melissa Boardman, he should be cleared of most charges and pardoned for the Muggles he killed." Mrs. Potter did not sound happy at the last.

She felt there was a great importance to everything that had happened in the last few days.

They were all silent for a moment.

"Harry, are you alright," his mum asked concerned.

Harry was clutching his tea. "Can I lie," he asked.

"It would hurt you more than it would hurt us, but if you are not ready to talk, I understand. You look like you have other questions," Mrs. Potter said to him.

Harry let out a long breath. "What aren't you telling me about Black?"

They stared at each other.

Luna felt like she was drifting farther away, but she wasn't. There was a color that was Harry. There was a color that was hers. There was a color for Astoria. She smiled at the lavender of her cute brunette and the more golden color of her dark hair boy. There was a color that was there for each of those she held dear. Her family. Her friends. Then there was a color that disturbed her.

All those she cared for were bright, vibrant, living colors. She liked them very much.

The other was a black color. It was dark, surrounded by many dark threats that cried out in pain. This color was pain. It was hurt. It was vengeful. It scared her.

The cup in her hands slipped out and hit the table, spilling its contents over the nicely polished wood.

She let out a cry as the dark color threatened her colors.

"Luna," Harry called out.

"IN A DARK FOREST, THE MAN OF SHADOW AND SNAKE LIES DORMANT - THE BETRAYER OF THE SON SEEKS REVENGE. RUMORS OF THE SHADOW AWAKEN. THE LIGHTS OF THE SON ARE THREATENED, AS ARE THE LIGHTS OF THE MANY. BETRAYER SEEKS... THE DARK ONE AWAKENS...BEWARE THE SIGNS OF THE MARK... THE DARK ONE SEEKS TO RISE AGAIN...THE SON IS ONE OF THE KEYS…"

Luna blinked. The words still ringing in her head. She felt a tear roll down her cheek. The Dark was so black.

"Luna," Harry said sounding odd.

She moved and realized she was on the floor and cradled in his arms. She blinked a few more times. Mrs. Potter was at her side too.

"I don't feel like I am floating," she told them.

Mrs. Potter looked very concerned. "Luna, luv, do you know what just happened?"

She looked at Mrs. Potter. "I saw lights. They were trying to avoid to be consumed by something black." She shivered as she said 'black'. "I remember what I said."

"Mum, she's a Seer," Harry said.

Luna leaned into Harry. Having him hold her was chasing the visions away. She liked the colors of Harry and Astoria. She didn't want to forget those.

Mrs. Potter brushed a hand through her hair. "Luna, have you done anything like this before?"

She would think she would remember this, but she did not remember doing anything like this before. "Not that I know."

"And you remember everything," she asked

Luna shivered again. "Yes. I really don't want to think of the black shadow," she told them.

"You don't have to do anything. Harry, I don't think we should let anyone know," Mrs. Potter told her Harry.

"Yes, mum."

"Astoria should know," she told them.

"Luna, the fewer that know, the better for now," Mrs. Potter told her.

Luna wrapped her arms around Harry. She needed her mates to know. Until now, she had always seemed to just know things. What had just happened scared her. She wanted Harry. She wanted Astoria.

"Mum, I think Astoria needs to know."

She buried her head into Harry's shoulder. The black shadow fell further back. He understood. Harry always understood her.

"Sure. Just don't tell anyone else for now," Mrs. Potter said.

"Can we look for Porlock's now," she asked.

Harry kissed her on the top of her head. "Sure, Luna. Let's go get our omnioculars."

"We'll finish talking later," Mrs. Potter said to Harry.

He nodded as he helped her to her feet. "Alright, mum."

Willow had taken her trunk up to the spare bedroom. Luna was happy for that. Even if daddy came back tonight, she didn't want to leave Harry. She took out the omnioculars and then reached for her necklace. She took off her bottlecap necklace. It did help to ward off nargles, but she needed Harry close to her. The moonflower was white. The five petals looked like a large star. She knew she could change its color, but it wanted to be white.

Putting the necklace on, the chain adjusted so that the moonflower could rest between her small breasts. It was the closest she could have Harry to her for now. The necklace was warm against her skin. It made her feel safe. The last thoughts of the shadow retreated to the small recesses of her mind. It was waiting, but for now it would not rear again. Harry's magic helped to ensure that. It filled her heart with warmth. It made her skin tingle where the moonflower touched. It was a warmth and tingle the shadow feared.

Harry came to the door. "You ready," he asked her.

She closed the case and put it back into its spot. The omnioculars were next to it. She took out the satchel. "Can we look for pixies too?"

"Yeah."

She put the satchel on her shoulder. He took her hand, actually weaving his fingers between hers, when she reached out for him. This tingled also. Mrs. Potter gave them a few sandwiches. "I want you to only go between us and the Abbots. Stay inside the wards," she told Harry before kissing them both on the foreheads.

"We will."

It was a nice day. There was a very high thin cloud cover, so the sun was not too warm. A gentle breeze flew through the grass. They walked to the spot Astoria and her had found Harry on his birthday last year. Sitting in the grass, she took out her onmioculars. Holding them in her hands, she leaned against Harry, putting her head on his shoulder. He had grown and was now a few inches taller than her. She felt some muscles on his lanky body. Probably all the quidditch practices.

They just looked over the field for a while. Birds came and went. At one-point Harry hissed and spat. "Just telling the snake to leave the birds alone," he told her. A portion of the grass moved and she caught sight of a grass snake slithering away.

"Thank you," she said.

Looking up, a few clouds had drifted in. She thought she saw the signs of Blithering Humdingers as small trails of wisps shot out from the side of the clouds.

"Harry?"

"Yes, Moonbeam," he said. She smiled. Her mum used to call her that. Harry had stopped after her mum died. She suspected he didn't want to take anything away from her that she cherished from her mum. She cherished him just as much.

"Promise you will not sacrifice yourself for Astoria or I," she asked. It had not been a good feeling to see him attacked or that he would send her away and not himself too.

He kissed her on the crown of her head. "I will do my best."

It was the best she would get from him. She feared some of the dreams she had had lately. A doubt was creeping in that they may not be dreams.

-oOo-

END OF YEAR 2

A/N: Luna is a Seer. Should be interesting to see her future prophesies... luckily not all prophesy come to life.

Astoria is not a caster like Harry or Lily, but I am going under the assumption those that have the drive, passion and focus can learn it too. Things I see Astoria having. Hermione too.

-oOo-

nigra canis ab deme= banish the black dog

Multitudine sagittarum imbrem = rain of arrows

Urna quis retro = push a man back