Chapter III: Weird Occurrences

Stonehenge was peaceful at the dead of the night. The tourists has since long gone from one of the sacred grounds of ancient lore and the spirits that used to dance in the great circle were silent.

They were anticipating the arrival of a warrior to help them in their darkest hour.

A warrior not from this world and yet a part of it.

Wise sages said it was not possible but the spirits knew it was.

For a portal emerged in the middle of the sacred circle filling the night sky with blinding light that would make it seem like day.

And then darkness returned.

And an emissary in his carriage emerged from the light and waited for the vertigo to subside. Sighing the last effects of what he termed as dimensional dizziness, he opened the door of his beat up Cadillac hearse and surveyed the surroundings.

Taking a deep breath, he looked at the moon and smiled in wonderment.

"My God, it worked," he said as he looked at his hearse, or rather what was in his hearse. A little baby girl with green eyes stared at her guardian and giggled. The man was present at her birth six months had past and it nearly tore him to take her away from her mother. But the Lady needed her child to live in a world doomed into darkness.

A pixie suddenly neared and looked at them curiously. And when he gave a smile, the pixie flew in joy. Suddenly the whole area was surrounded with fairies. Most of them were studying the baby who in turn smiled and laughed.

The man never thought in a thousand years that he would see fairies again. The last time he saw one in his world was when he was three years old. And that was about nineteen years ago.

Sighing, he wished his Diana were alive to accompany him to this world. A world familiar yet strange. A world he would gladly shared with her.

A few moments later, the stranger bid farewell to the fairies that had blessed his little charge with the goodness that they possess. When all fairies were at a respectable distance, the man started his hearse and went on his way.

To Hogwarts.

...

Luna stood in front of her townhouse with dread. She could still remember the putrid smell of blood as she entered her home only to find what she had loved had been taken from her.

For two days after the incident she was in a catatonic state. She neither spoke nor ate and took the combined efforts of all of her friends to get her out of it.

But it was a dream that really shook her out of her shock. It was a lovely dream of her and Nathan watching a child playing in a field of flowers. She could still feel the warmth of his body and smell his cologne...

But then she remembered he didn't wear any cologne. He always smelled like wild flowers and she didn't know why. But she liked it.

The image of Nathan in her dream spoke to her one word that broke her trance.

"Live."

And she did.

But she admitted that it would be hard.

"I don't want to live here," Luna said as she stared at the door. "Too many painful memories."

"You're welcome to stay at our place for the time being," Ginny said as she smiled softly. She had accompanied Luna for she knew it would be hard for her to return to the place she called home.

Luna turned and smiled sullenly at her friend. "I do not want to impose."

"Maybe you don't have to," Hermione suddenly said as she walked up to them. "I don't know how to say this Lu, but I will." Hermione gave Luna an envelope which she opened albeit reluctantly.

"What is it?" Ginny asked as she watched her friend read the missive.

"It's a letter from Natty's solicitor," Luna said quietly as she digested the contents of the letter.

"I never knew he had a solicitor," Ginny said as she looked at Hermione. "Do you?"

"Until today, no," she sighed. "What does it say, Lu?"

"I am to appear at Gringotts for Natty's will reading," she mused at the letter. "It is said that I am allowed to bring witnesses to the procedures. Signed Charon Boatman attorney-at-law."

"Charon Boatman?" Hermione cringed at the name.

"You know him?" Ginny asked quite curious as to why that name sent Hermione to shivers.

"Ominous name for a lawyer," Luna remarked as she folded the missive and kept it in her pocket. "The proceedings are on the morrow. But I'm not sure I should be in attendance."

"You should," Hermione said with such certainty that both women looked at her.

"What do you know that we don't?" Ginny asked but Hermione evaded the question.

"Nate would want you to hear his wishes," she said softly to Luna but she shook her head.

"It would only bring memories," Luna said. "Painful memories that I wish to forget."

"Now that's a foolish thing to do," Hermione scoffed. "Forgetting the best thing that happened to your life. There are people who are wishing that they had even an ounce what you two had."

"Despair?" Luna asked sullenly.

"Happiness," Ginny answered. "Hermione's right. Nate was good for you and if he heard you talk like that he'd rise from his grave." She noticed a twinkle of mischief in Luna's eyes when she said that.

"Don't try it Lu," Hermione said in a soft voice. "Raising people from the dead has its draw backs. And I know you would do it even at the cost of your soul."

"Then you know me well," Luna sighed but still hat that determined gleam in her eyes.

"Let's not do anything rash," Ginny smiled uncomfortably. Lately she could not imagine what goes on in her friend's mind and it scares her. "Not until we find out what Nate has to say."

Luna looked at the door to her townhouse and back to her friends. With a nod, she agreed.

...

A rugged black hearse stopped in front of the entrance of Hogwarts in the dead of the night. After getting lost five times, mostly because the topography was different in two worlds, the stranger finally arrived. With a determined look, he exited the car bringing with him his charge.

As he opened the great doors leading into the mail hall he was met with a face he thought he would never see again.

"YOU!" the stranger said as he pulled out his tri-barreled shotgun and aimed at his target.

All Professor Snape could do was watch.

...

The day of the reading of the will made Luna nervous for reasons she could not fathom. It was just a silly will but everything about Nate was not silly. In fact, everything that he did was for a reason.

But that reason eluded him even after Hermione and Ginny walked with her into Gringotts where a grumpy goblin directed them into one of the conference rooms where, to their surprise, was occupied by four goblins and Fleur Delacour.

"What are you doing here?" Luna asked the French witch who gave her a welcoming hug. They stayed in that hug for a while before letting go. The silver-haired quarter-veela smiled and looked at the goblins in disgust.

"The question is, 'Why are THEY here?' As for me, I was requested to attend the reading," she said. She then greeted Hermione and Ginny with the same welcoming fervor.

The door opened once again and a dark cloaked gentleman entered. He held a walking staff that strangely clinked in one hand and a briefcase in the other. The goblins glared at the newcomer with distaste.

"You are late," one of them said curtly. There was a menacing aura radiating from the man and Luna could only guess who this man was.

"Mr. Charon?" she asked and suddenly, the menacing presence vanished.

"I invited Ms. Lovegood and Delacour," the man said in soft, warm tone. "Mrs. Potter and Mrs. Weasley are welcomed but," suddenly his voice held ice. "Who invited YOU!"

"Take care of what you say, Mr. Boatman," one of the goblins sneered. "Or you would face a fate beyond your..." the goblin didn't have a chance to finish his threat for he found himself beheaded and instantly died. The ladies gasped as the head flew upwards and landed at the corner of the room. But that was not the worse of it. His other companions were also beheaded and Luna saw the instrument used.

Charon Boatman was holding a large scythe now dripping with goblin blood. The staff he held earlier was the scythe. She knew now why it clinked as he walked.

Hermione and Ginny went to draw their wands but Fleur stopped them. The spirits of the goblins floated from their bodies but suddenly, the ground opened and the spirits were sucked into the depths of the inferno while they screamed in agony.

The ground closed and suddenly, the atmosphere lifted and the man leaned the scythe on the wall.

"Bunch of cheats," Mr. Boatman said as he opened his case. "They're here only to learn what Nathaniel has. And they paid dearly for it."

"No one cheats Death, no?" Fleur said much to Mr. Boatman's mirth.

"I am not death," he said in all calmness. "I am only the way towards their final destination."

"Why did Nate hire someone like you as his lawyer?" Hermione asked as she looked at the now empty seats in front of them.

"There's a saying about nothing's certain except death and taxes. So, why not cover the other aspect of certainty? Shall we begin?"