86. New Start
The aftermath of the battle was as dreary as he had expected. There was no grand cheer of victory or anything of the sort. Only resigned relief marked the ending of the whole affair.
Bodies littered the field as the remaining living forces of Tom's army were hauled away. Harry cringed as wands were unceremoniously snapped. Perhaps it was callous to be far more affected by the wands' destruction in comparison to the sheer number of fallen witches and wizards and other living beings.
It was something of a surprise to him when saw the quantity of the fallen. He hadn't been aware that there were so many on either side. A part of him wondered what their final moments were like. Did they feel relief at the sight of Death, his sweet Death?
Harry roamed the battlefield like some sort of demented tourist. Morose faces were visible as far as his eyes could see. Bodies of the Order were levitated away. From his location he saw the pale figure of Snape being covered. Had the man received the end he had envisioned or desired? It didn't bother him much; he had hardly known the man. Now he knew that was intentional so he carried on leaving the man to his peace.
Further ahead he saw Ron and the rest of the Weasleys huddled together. There was no shortage of tears between them. Harry's throat tightened when he saw what lay in front of them. It was one of the twins. A cold chill passed through him in understanding. This was just another family torn by the machinations of Tom. Hopefully he could never again hurt the world.
He found solace in knowing that the Weasley twin's final journey was beside a comforting face like Death. Imagining the meeting he believed that the fallen twin was knocked out of his socks by Death's introduction.
It was all he could do to have any sort of light in this situation. Though he knew this was little comfort to the grieving family.
Harry pulled down his goggles and peered through the green lenses. Faint ambers of darkness faded faintly into the surrounding air. Beneath all of that was the item of interest. Getting closer, he could now taste the taint in the air, but he brushed it aside. Dumbledore's wand laid on the ash covered ground.
Picking through the ashes, he plucked up the wand. It shared the otherworldly properties of the Cloak of Invisibility and the stone. There was little doubt this was one of the objects that Death had created. They were all so beautiful. A sweet smile curved his lips and his eyes lit a soft fondness.
"I'm glad."
Harry turned to the voice to find Luna walking to his side. For a moment, her eyes gazed upon the battlefield. "It is good that you are able to still smile, despite everything. It is a blessing." She turned to him and made an attempt at a smile, "It appears that I'm struggling myself."
"I'm not surprised. This was all horrible. I never thought it would turn to this when I received my Hogwarts letter. I hope everything is finished now," he admitted.
Luna laughed a dry and weak chuckle, "I'm glad that I was fortunate enough to reach the end. I don't ever want to be involved in something like this again. There was so much to lose; so much that others did lose. Inside, I feel so shaken. I wonder if my mind has been taken by some flying beastie."
Harry slumped to the ground and Luna followed suit. She scooted by his side and wrapped her arms around her bended legs.
"So what is next for Luna Lovegood?" Harry asked with a quiet concern.
There was a pause between them and he couldn't read her expression, but her eyes looked lost.
"Life goes on," she said at last. "I'll do what I have always set out to do." A confident smile graced her features as she faced him fully, "There are still so many strange creatures going bump in the night and journalist Luna has to be on the case."
Harry laughed, "Too true. Maybe I'll tag a along for a bit. Where there are strange creatures, there must be stranger magic at work."
"Well Mr. Potter, I shall have to review your credentials. I fear I will have a plethora of applicants to parse through," Luna teased. "Thank you."
Harry hummed in confusion, "For?"
She nudged him in the shoulder, "Thank you for letting me touch your life. You are one of the strangest things I have ever met. If anyone had told me of your existence, I would have mistaken you for a Crumple-Horned Snorkack. There are great things in store for you. I can tell, but I feel honored to have played a part, however small. Do try to remember us, even as your own road grows more resplendent and ethereal."
"I like to think of it as a given, Luna."
Harry was rather surprised to see happy tears running down Luna's face as she hugged him tightly. He rubbed her back as her tears continued to flow and cries grew louder.
