Sirius slept comfortably for the first time in years, he woke up with a stretch and looked at the clock, it was already half-past ten, he jumped out of bed, summoning a bathrobe from the chair nearby, he put it on and went to Harry's room first to knock on the door.
After three tries and hearing nothing he opened the door, the bed was immaculate, he wondered if he was up or perhaps slept with the girls. When he found Hermione's bedroom intact, he started to worry that he slept in and they decided to do something foolish.
But at the landing on the first floor, he heard snoring, he followed it and in the library he saw a disarray of food, blankets, pillows and bodys all over the floor.
Fred and George had floating hammocks, with the help of Hermione and Daphne wandwork, but everyone else was sprawled on the floor, feets in other people's faces, Neville had no pillow or blanket. Daphne and Tracey had secured so many pillows they may as well have been sleeping on a mattress. Blaise had taken the couch, Millificent had taken several chairs and lined them up together to sleep on, Harry and Hermione had their blankets and pillows, Luna slept sideways on top of them. Susan was on the edge of the rug but looked very comfortable, her back was pushed against Hannah, they became good friends after the club meetings.
Sirius didn't know if he should laugh or be the parent because of the mess. Instead he went to the kitchen and had Kreacher start breakfast for the troupe first.
And then he went back to the library and took out his wand, he conjured several feathers and directed them to each face.
"And now on three….one-two-three!" He waved his wand and the feathers started to tickle.
"Wassit!" Hollered Fred before falling from his Hammock, George managed to stay in his, slowly everyone started to wake up.
Sirius clapped his hands and everyone jumped, "Now I think we should have some breakfast before sending you back home, or at least send an owl to your parents."
Everyone managed to look sheepish and did as they were told, unfortunately because they had snuck out, everyone was forced to go home, except Neville.
His grandmother was quite proud of him, and finally living to the family expectations, and told him to enjoy his summer, she sent his trunk later that day.
So Neville, Harry, Luna, and Hermione remained at the Patria, they helped clean up the library, Sirius told them no magic can be used. Once they finished, Sirius called Harry and Hermione to his study and closed the door.
Neville walked off to the kitchen, the cleaning had worked an appetite for him, Luna had intentions to walk upstairs to Hermione's room to freshen up, but she had forgotten her overnight bag in the library.
She skipped through the hallway when she passed the study and overheard her father's name and waited patiently outside the door and unintentionally , she overheard the conversation.
"Xeno helped me find the mandrake leaves, and a patch of undisturbed dew. Now today will be your last day to speak, so any words before you begin?"
Harry quickly thought of something, "What about eating?"
Sirius glanced up in the air, "Hmmm, it was tricky to eat because you can't remove it once it's in."
Hermione raised her hand like in a lecture, "It says you must have it in your mouth at all times, it cannot be removed for speaking nor eating?"
Sirius nods in response, and then Hermione shrugs, "Why not put it under your tongue then?"
Sirius blankly stared at her.
Hermione continued and picked up the book on his desk for the Animagus transformation, "It says it cannot be removed and has to collect saliva, so the best part would be under the
tongue right?"
Sirius started laughing, "You're very bright indeed Hermione!" He reread the passage in several other books.
"Yes they all say the same… in fact, we moved it around when we ate." He closed the book with a snap, "If it doesn't work, we'll know if the potion does not change properly."
Harry nodded, "Fair enough." They each took a mandrake leaf and placed it under their tongues.
Hermione was the first one to speak, "I feel a bit daft speaking like this." She said slowly.
Harry nodded afraid to drop it.
Luna gave herself a mental nudge, she had listened in on a very private conversation without intending to, she decided to hurry up to the bedroom and change into fresh clothes.
Once the study doors were opened, Luna stopped in on her way back to the kitchen, when she entered and she glanced at the desk, just a quick glance over let her understand what the method was, she quickly took an extra mandrake leaf and placed it under her tongue.
If her dad offered it, it was probably for a good reason and she wanted to keep up with everyone. The leaf was sweet to the point it caused a slight tingling in the back of her mouth, the walls swirled in front of her, and colors clashed, she was not frightened as anyone would have been, she merely forced herself to remain calm as she watched shapes form in front of her eyes.
But even she had to admit that the voices she heard could not be normal. She sucked in a deep breath and was rooted to the spot, only when she heard Hermione's voice calling for her and her taking hold of her arm did she finally return to normal.
Luna was shaken and rushed to the bathroom to wash her face, she had no idea what that was and was afraid of telling anyone. She told Hermione not to tell anyone until she wrote to her mother first.
The things she saw and heard, she was no Seerer, but she knew this was something of the same nature, so she wrote to her mother after breakfast. And then went about the day with the others, working on homework and holding the mandrake leaf in her mouth as best she could.
Pandora had received Luna's letter late in the afternoon that same day, she had just put her son to nap as she read over it.
Pandora grew concerned, she had been researching time travel since Hermione, Harry, and Minerva came to her house for the very first time. Sadly, there wasn't enough information on the subject, and any information was being heavily guarded by the Ministry. Her requests to research the magic or to speak to anyone was denied and she was told 'nicely' to stop inquiring.
She had turned to the mystic arts, especially psychic readings and links; there was one topic that seemed to be the only useful information she had found and she found it at a Muggle shop for Occult Arts; Emma had taken her there when she explained how magic was viewed in the Muggle world.
She re-read a passage from the book; Luna was very detailed on the event so it resonated information she had already read in her memory and thus hoped to give her daughter and herself some peace of mind;
"...Lucid dreaming allows one to travel to other dimensions, with claims from practitioners that they have been able to travel to other timelines. In doing so, unaware of how long they lucid dreamt they ended up causing problems to their own timeline and erasing the other.
One avid lucid dreamer claims he erased his original timeline and anchored to his 'other-self' and thus one body had two minds. Similar to a person who was reincarnated, but as time goes on, the invasive self is erased and any memories become faded and forgotten.
Lucid dreaming should not be practiced on one's own, as many have experienced paralyzing moments and claim to see or hear apparitions."
Pandora sighed with relief since Luna was a witch, the Mandrake must have triggered something in Luna's conscience and caused her to lucid dream. Pandora wrote to Luna, telling her not to worry and that all will be well, and that she should confess to Sirius and ask for help as this task was very dangerous.
Luna received her letter the following morning, she was very quiet at breakfast and when up in Hermione's room, she came forward.
"Hermione?" Luna called her softly.
Hermione was reading the course list for third year and assessing which classes she should take, on her list she had crossed out in thick black lines 'Divination' and 'Muggles Studies' only had one line crossed through it.
"Mmm?" She responded half paying attention.
Luna took a breath, "I know you and Harry are trying to be Animagus, and I am too. I had the Mandrake leaf in my mouth when you found me."
Hermione looked up quickly and Luna stuck out her tongue and held it up for her to see, there was the Mandrake leaf sitting neatly.
Hermione was shocked but also very upset, "Luna! That is very dangerous, your mum and dad would be very upset."
Luna looked away for the briefest moment, but gave her a reassuring smile, "I promise to follow all the instructions."
Hermione stood up, "Wait here." She said as she left to fetch Sirius.
Luna sat on the edge of the bed and waited patiently, Hermione returned rather quickly with Sirius, he had Hermione wait outside while he talked to Luna privately.
"Are you curious to know what this is about?" He asked her gently.
Luna met his stare and said, "It's about fighting You-Know-Who, I've heard mum and dad talk about him, I know what Harry and Hermione have done, well some of the things they've done. I want to fight too, I've tried really hard in the club and I study each day for school." She stated matter of factly, though with a touch of pleading."Everyone is trying to protect me, I should be able to do the same. We're family aren't we?"
Sirius balled his hands, and cleared his throat, "Right, it's going to take more than that." He opened the door of Hermione's bedroom. He found Hermione pacing, and told her, "Find Harry and Neville, meet me in the library." He then turned to Luna and nodded to the hallway.
Luna was curious to what he was about to do, was he going to have the others attempt to convince her this was dangerous.
Everyone met up and Sirius said, "Harry, Hermione, I think Luna should be allowed to join the Brigade, she is your age as when you first joined forces and started all this, and it's best that she would have someone guide her through all training."
Harry opened his mouth to argue that it was still too dangerous, she was still too young. But Hermione beat him to it, "Harry, she can help us with the younger, new students, if we all leave she can s...be in places we can't be in."
Harry looked at Luna, who gave him a smile and said, "You're not alone Harry."
Those words resounded deeply in Harry, since they were coming from Luna, he glanced at Hermione and Neville on either side, and Sirius across, he looked around the library and he realized he was in a much better place now than before.
He felt a warm feeling flow across his chest and he scratched himself, he was much better off with people who did care and did love him. No matter how odd they are or how dangerous this all was, he was not alone, and now someone else wanted to join to be at his side. He nodded in agreement.
That afternoon they spent catching Luna up to their level of theory, promising her that there will be plenty of time to do the practical, and they also told her about the plans and the journals.
When her hand touched the journals she was again accosted with visions and voices, they were too much to bear and she passed out.
When she came to, she was laying in Hermione's bed, Sirius and Minerva were in the room as were Pandora, Severus was standing by the door watching everything. Pandora had forced Xeno to stay at home; he was beside himself with worry, and she felt she would be better at handling the situation.
"Mum!" Luna called out and Pandora wrapped her in a hug.
"Luna my love, are you feeling better?" Pandora asked her, she was pale in the face, she was terrified that something must be dangerously wrong.
Luna closed her eyes briefly and glanced at the adults in her room, then looked at her mom fighting to keep her lip from quivering, "I heard voices, far away, it sounds like us but not really, and then I didn't hear anything or see anything."
Minerva stepped forward at Pandora's side, "What have you seen Luna?"
Luna looked at her mother first and at her encouragement, said, "Not too much, it was so dark and I felt so sad…" She choked on a sob, "My mum was gone…"
Pandora hugged Luna tightly, "No love, see I am here, mummy's here with her bunny."
They left Pandora and Luna in the room, they stepped in to Sirius' study to talk privately and set charms on the door.
"I have never in all my life witnessed an event as this, is she a true Seerer?" Minerva said as she took a seat.
Sirius poured them each a glass of giggle water, "I asked the children about this, it was when she touched the journals." He quickly avoided the mandrake leaf scene, not wanting Severus to know their plans.
There was a knock on the door, Sirius opened it after disabling the spells and Pandora entered, "I think I know what may be happening." She said color back in her cheeks.
Severus cleared his throat, "I know it as well Pandora, it's quite obvious."
Sirius glared at him, "Well then do tell us."
Severus glanced at Pandora and then at the others with a dramatic pause. "Luna is the connection in the time travel, it is too much in our reality since each item is tied to Luna in a different time, each item from the other timeline must be destroyed, including the journals."
Sirius barked laughing, "You're taking the Mick, there is now way we can do that! Those journals have been the only lead we have, we can't afford to lose it!"
Minerva raised her hands, "Gentlemen please! What would happen Severus?" She asked, she wanted to get the full story before a decision was made.
"Luna will live, but she would have to live in the Muggle world, keeping her safe from magic because it could trigger more of these visions. If she does not, any one object can cause a severe episode to where she can lose her mind, she would be looking at a life in St. Mungo's." He said simply.
Pandora gasped, she clutched her robe tightly around her, she went back to Luna and spent the night with her. The next day a meeting was held with the Circle and Brigade members at Patria. Pandora spoke quietly with Xeno of the situation they were in.
Minerva brought everyone else up to speed, and when the solution to fix it meant destroying their only hope of being prepared, a few voiced their anger.
"We joined because there was security in those words!"
"You said that we would always know what to do!"
"For the love of Merlin's beard! This is my daughter at risk, there should be no discussion to this!" Xeno shouted at the room, "If it was your child, what would you want done?"
Everyone looked away ashamed, even those in agreement with disposing the journals did not voice their support for Luna.
Harry and Hermione read over the journals once more, there was still a lot to go through, would the tournament be held? Would it still be Durmstrang and Beauxbatons? Would they have a chance to meet any of those yet to be met? And the last chapter, the one he avoided at all costs, he didn't know.
Harry flipped forward quickly to read, but, he kept seeing the same phrases over and over, he paused and looked up as the discussion got louder, he saw Luna watching him, no judgment of any kind, just peace and acceptance of his decision.
Harry took Hermione's book and whispered to her, "I know you've memorized yours and mine." Hermione blushed, she had in fact read Harry's journal, and seeing it from the other Harry's perspective it gave her much to think about.
She forced the thoughts away, this was not the time, nothing was set in stone, yet she kept telling herself, instead she forced herself to focus on Harry speaking.
"We've done more than what the other us have done in seven years. And there is no choice to make, the greater good should not be gained because we gave some- no we gave up a friend." He set the journals on the floor, "And as I was told by someone very, very smart, we are not alone, I trust each of you for whatever's coming."
He flicked his wand and nonverbally casted the fire spell on the journals.
Sighs and gasps came from the crowd, Moody was the first to rise and told everyone, "There we have it, we must practice harder than ever, be vigilant more than ever, depend on one another." He clapped Harry on the back, "Potter, I'll see to it that we make it to the end and if not, then I pray I take as twice as many with me on any day."
A few people jumped up and soon everyone was pairing with someone else, a buddy system was created and each pair of Brigade members were assigned a mentor, Severus partnered with Neville and Blaise, he scowled at Neville and with his arms crossed said, "I have the same expectations from you now as in school Mr. Longbottom, if you fail in this you will be very, very sorry."
Neville gulped and Sirius who had overheard stepped up to Severus ear, "And if you torture any student you will hear from me Severus, I think I should let you know now, I am on the Board of Govenors of the school, since my name was cleared and having a family member being an old headmaster, well it does have it perks."
Severus glared and grinned his teeth at Sirius, he was furious that Sirius was pretty much his boss, though he vowed never to call him that and instead left the house for the summer. Though he did send letters to Neville and Blaise on potions he believed might be useful.
Brigade and Circle members were working side by side, one of the adult pairs happened to be Arthur and Amelia, Amelia gave Arthur a big smile, Arthur cleared his throat and looked at the pair of Brigade members he would be working with, it was Susan and Hannah, whom had joined a few weeks ago after Susan had gotten to know her and deemed her, her best friend.
Bill caught on quickly as he was gazing around the room, he got distracted when his dad ears turned red when Amelia smiled at him, he gave a hard nudge to Charlie, they had teamed up with Percy and Penelope, whom Percy brought in as soon as summer started.
Charlie glanced over to where Bill was gesturing, it had been a while since their dad looked smitten, but he was, they gave each other a look clearly saying they had to talk as soon as they could, and then talk to their dad. It was a rare gift they could enjoy, to have their dad be their father and a friend in their older years.
Harry and Hermione had Sirius, Remus, and Tonks be their mentors, Minerva did not supervise anyone as she had to have plausible deniability and be free to go between all.
Everyone's mood changed from that point on, with no advanced warning the future looked as dangerous as Professor Trelawney would love to predict.
Luna went back home with her parents, Xeno wanted to spend time with all of them, becoming more paranoid than ever before, and mumbling to Pandora that perhaps they should stay out of it all together.
Pandora would hear none of it and furiously glared at Xeno, "They saved my life! They didn't have to, they didn't know me, they could have thrown everything away and you'd be left alone with Luna." She held her breath to calm down, "Xeno, it is dangerous, it will always be dangerous if he was not defeated, you remember as I do how bad it was. And before that what our grandparents said with Grindelwald. We cannot let the darkness win, we must fight back or our children will be doing the fighting and if that happens." Pandora looked up to Xeno with tears streaming down her face, "If my children have to fight for their peace, then I failed as a mother."
Xeno hugged Pandora tightly and that night they all slept in the same bedroom holding on to each other as best they could.