The group of friends marched up the hill with lanterns lit and soft glow of Fred's wand. Luna wondered what they would find arriving at the place she once called home. Did she want to know? YES! Luna scolded herself of course she did. She had to know. The time for magical creatures and fairytales was over foe Luna. At least until she found her family. With her friends and the Weasleys she was wondering if she had found maybe possibly more.
A light started coming up the hill fast and spastic. Within seconds everyone had drawn their wands ready to go. However just as they were about to send spells a breathless faced George suddenly became visible grinning ear to ear.
"Shit George!" Fred glared. "I almost hexed you. What in the bloody hell are you doing?!?"
George out of breath laughed. "You didn't think I'd let you lot leave me behind Fred." George put a hand to his chest in feigned shock. "Twins are always to stick together. You should very well know this Fred.. Plus the wee little blonde could be a handful." He winked eyes twinkling playfully at Luna and gripped her from behind in a bear hug.
Luna squeaked like and reasonable teen girl would do and rolled her eyes. Once everything was quiet again they all George now included continued up the hill. Up the hill to what just a night ago used to be her home. As they approached the ruins it hit Luna that it looked almost eerie. Nothing like the joyful laughter filled sunny gardens of her childhood. What now lay before her was rubble.
Luna felt the urge to cry but held back as. She felt a strong hand on her shoulder as Fred whispered.
"Breath Luna. I'm here with you. We all are and I promise it will be ok. You're not alone anymore. I know it's hard. I couldn't even imagine but you can do this."
She looked at the tall redhead and smiled he was quite calming and possibly a little handsome.
Her eyes twinkled in the moonlight. Then she spoke.
"I know I can. Thank you." She said softly.
As they went in to the rubble Hermione turned to them all.
"Should we be concerned for the age magic trace." She asked in concern but determination.
Ron shook his head at her.
"No". he spoke. "Mom doesn't like us to break the rules but in magical households the trace is harder to point. It should be fine. We're close enough to the Burrow."
Hermione nodded. "OK then everyone step back." With a determined look she cast the spell. Everything came alive like the blue shadows of a ghostly memory.
The first thing the group saw was the ghost of the memory of Xenophilius sitting at his desk writing a letter frantically to someone unknown. As if he was speaking to them himself they could hear the words of the letter echo off the walls.
My dear friend,
I hope this letter find it's way to you in time. I worry now that the rumors have spread as Pandora feared they one day might. After what happened at the ministry the Death Eaters will know and soon will come looking for my Luna. I set up a protection years ago at her mother's request to hide her the moment they arrive. The wards will alert me the minute they touch the ground up to even a mile away. The ministry will assume like others that I'm being attacked because of my out spokeness against the Dark Lord. At this very moment the ministry is so busy with the repairs from the battle they won't know until it's to late. There are monsters even in those halls and no one must know of what Pandora left behind for Luna. Please keep you're promise to me should I go missing. My hope lies in you.
Minutes past by and both Luna and her father were shown readying for bed. Suddenly appearing infront of Lunas' father a patronus of a hummingbird appeared. A woman's cool voice whispered. They are coming Xenophilius Lovegood. They will be there within minutes. Tonight is the night. Grab the girl and hide her.
It disappeared in a whisp like smoke.
The next part Luna remembered. Being woken up by a noise. Her father grabbing her and just before she disappeared hearing that laugh. As soon as her father shut the wardrobe door he sighed in relief. He'd gotten her out in time. He rushed out the room and down the stairs. Running to the desk he'd been at earlier that night. He cast a spell and burned the letter. It's recipient never knowing it's contents.
He quickly removed to vials from his pocket taking his wand to his head. He bundled them up then speaking very clearly. He took a handful of floo powder and threw it into the fire. He watched with what looked like tears as it was engulfed in green flames. The words he had spoken and where he had sent them would never be known as right as he did all the the windows shattered. Laughter filled the whole house as the death eaters appeared from clouds of black smoke.
Bellatrix Lestrange was suddenly behind him a knife to his throat. In the real time Luna cried out. Ginny wrapping her in a tight hug as the scene continued to play out.
"I don't have to hurt you dove. No no not at all." Bellatrix said in a mockingly sweet voice. "All you have to do is give us the little girl. We know the truth and the dark lord finds her services very beneficial. Don't worry no one will hurt her as long as she does what she's told.." Bella said petting his hair then grabbing it and pulling it further exposing his neck. A trickle of blood dripped down his throat.
"I won't give you Luna. She won't help even if I did. As for what he could want with her I have no idea. Nor do I know where she is." The man croaked in pain.
Bella fumed and pushed him to the floor a crazed look.
"YOU LIE!" She screeched. "Maybe this will loosen your tounge."
She pointed her wand at the man on the floor.
"Curucio." She screamed eyes gleaming. This went on repeatedly as the man screamed out in pain.
One of the other death eaters stopped her.
"I'm quite good at legilimency Mrs. Lestrange. As much fun as this is I assure you he'll go crazy before he can give us awnsers. Let me just pull it from his mind." He smiled.
Bella huffed looking like a sulking child and rolling her eyes said fine.
The man approached Lunas' father and began. After several minutes the man looked at the others confused and angry.
"There's nothing there Mrs. The the memories are gone." He said in shock
Bellatrix fumed realizing what had happened lashing out her wand making dishes and cabinets shatter and break. Furniture crumbled to pieces.
Finally she calmed her rage. She grabbed Xenophilius by his neck and lifted him in the air. Talking to him in a baby voice with a fake pout.
"Well that's just fine isn't it." she glared. "We don't need you're wee memories. We can just take you. The girl will come for her father. Then we will have what we need memories or not." she finished soundly. They walked out with Lunas' father tied in ropes a spell dragging him on the ground behind them covered in blood.
Bellatrix turned with one last grin and cast a spell. The whole house exploded and went up in flames.
In that moment Luna saw it. Her entire childhood and every memory she ever had up in flames and blown apart. She fell to her knees before the ruins of her home feeling unable to breath.
Fred Weasley rushed down by Ginny next to the blonde and said in a calming tone.
"Luna I need you to breath love. In through the nose out through the mouth. I know that was horrible beyond imagination but you're father's still alive. There's still hope. I can't speak for the others but I won't leave you. I'll help you find him whatever it takes ok?" He said running a hand down her small back.
Luna looked up blinking the others had all approached one by one and they surrounded her. Neville was the first to speak after Fred.
"I'm in." Neville said with Loyalty in every word.
"I'm in. You guys need me. Plus I go where Fred goes." spoke George.
Ginny sighed. "Well I'm obviously in that's just a given."
The rest of the Golden trio followed suit saying their own words of encouragement and their own views to help. They all agreed to start investigating right away.
It was Ginnys' comment that had everyone thinking.
"But what do they want with Luna? What did Lunas mom leave beind and what can Luna provide that the Dark Lord wanted so badly? It can't be knowledge of nargles. No offense Luna." The redhead said shaking her head.
Luna huffed. "I don't give a shit about stupid nargles and I have no idea." She finished throwing up her arms. "I'm just normal."
Everyone eyed her. "Well power wise." she said rolling her eyes.
"Lunas father mentioned the ministry clean up in his letter. Said he didn't trust them. What if... well what if when the prophecy room broke a death eater heard one about Luna? One he thought that would benefit them. Maybe that's their sudden intrest in her." Harry theorized outloud.
"There's so many things we need to know." said Hermione. "Like what memories did he take out and where did he send them? Who was the woman who sent the patronous? Maybe they'll be the start of some awnsers." She theorized.
Ron spoke up over the crowd. "This is all great and all but how about we discuss this in the morning? After food and some bed. I'm starving." He groaned.
As annoying as what he said had been they all agreed and continued on home back to the Burrow. Luna prepared for bed and both her and Ginnt crawled into bed. However not everyone slept so well that night. Luna tossed and turned her dreams more vivid than ever before.