Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or anything you recognize.
I just thought everybody would like to know when in the year the story is at right now. March 27, 1996. Okay, here it is.
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Chapter 56: Celebration
The D.A. meeting the next day wasn't so much a meeting, as a party. People had nicked things from the kitchens, or brought in candy that they had saved up. A couple of people brought in radios or fireworks (Weasley brand of course). They'd showed the Slytherins that they weren't going to back down. They'd proved that they had the guts to fight and that they would fight.
It was a victory celebration.
After five minutes, Harry gave up trying to have any sembelence of order.
"Isn't this supposed to be an organized meeting?" asked Hermione, seeing him give up.
"Let them celebrate. There's been little to celebrate the last couple of years. They could use the cheer. We all could," Harry replied softly.
They were about a half an hour into the festivities when Marcus and the Creevy brother (who had taken the young Gryffindor under their wing) walked up to him. "Harry! Look what we've got!"
They all had one of their sleeves rolled up. From each upper arm a red and gold Phoenix stared back at Harry.
Harry went numb with shock. It was too much like Dark Mark on the arm of every Death Eater.
Hermione spoke first. "Boys, where did you get those? Your mothers will have a fit if you come home this summer with tattoos!"
"They aren't real tattoos. Terry drew them for us. We decided that we needed something to show that we're all together."
"And we thought a Phoenix would be perfect. They say Dumbledore has a Phoenix."
"And that it showed up to help you rescue Ginny when me and her were in our first year," said Colin.
"He does have a Phoenix," Harry said.
"And the story about the Chamber of Secrets?"
Harry's eyes were downcast. How could they sound so eager? He and Ron and Ginny had nearly died. Of course, they didn't know the whole story, did they? They didn't know the pain and the guilt Ron felt or Harry felt, only that there'd been a spectacular rescue. "It's true."
"See? It's perfect. And they're only ink."
"Yeah. Real nice." There was no emotion in Harry's voice. He looked up and saw others getting Phoenixes drawn on their arm.
Hermione seemed to be thinking the same thing as Harry. "It's too much like the Dark Mark, isn't it?" she whispered.
"Yeah," agreed Ron. "You want me to put a stop to it?" He took out his wand.
Harry hesitated. The kids all looked like they were having fun. Didn't they deserve some fun? Harry gave himself a mental shake. Kids? Some of them were his age and a few were older. But he felt older. Much older. "Let them be. What can it hurt?"
Soon everyone but Harry, Ron, Hermione, Luna, and Terry had gotten their Phoenixes. "What about the four of you? Interested?"
Ron shrugged and looked at Harry. "Why not, mate?"
Harry just shrugged too and Ron went over to get his "tattoo".
Hermione went after Ron. While she was getting hers done and the party went on, Harry went to sit next to Luna.
"Are you okay? You haven't said much."
"I'm fine."
"Are you sure? You don't look it."
"I'm fine, Luna."
"Just asking." She put her head down on his shoulder. "You really don't like the idea of everyone getting those Phoenix marks, do you?"
"It's just so much like the Dark Mark. I mean, a Phoenix doesn't look like the Dark Mark, and these aren't permanent and they aren't going to summon or hurt anybody, but still."
"What are you really afraid of, Harry?" she whispered.
His voice was far away. "I don't want to be like him. He says we're alike. Half blood. Parseltongue. Even the dark hair. The sorting hat wanted to put me there, Luna. In his house."
"But it didn't."
"Only because I begged. Luna, don't let me turn into him."
"Don't worry, I won't." She hugged him before getting up and getting a Phoenix drawn on her own arm.
"Harry, do you want one? Everyone but you and me are done," Terry called.
"Do yours. I'll go last," Harry said. Going to a table and picking up a bottle of Butterbeer. He took a swig.
Terry had soon finished his own Phoenix and called Harry over again. Harry sat down on the little stool and Terry rolled up his sleeve. He had a little table set up with pots of ink and quills and brushes.
"Where'd those come from?" asked Harry.
"I don't know. I was here before thinking it'd be great to have something to work with and then I turned around and found all this here. Really great isn't it?"
"Yeah."
Terry talked while he worked. "You seem a bit down. I thought you'd be happy. Everybody else is celebrating."
"Oh. I'm happy. Just a little distracted lately, that's all."
"Whatever you say." He kept working.
"Terry, do you think I was right to go after Malfoy?"
"Yeah. That git deserved all he got and more. Why?"
"Because I don't think Luna thinks I should have gone."
"What makes you say that?"
"I'm not really sure. I'm just getting that impression from her."
"Any other girl would be flattered that you hunted down a pack of Slytherins on her behalf."
"But Luna isn't any other girl."
"You got that right. She's something else."
"Yeah."
"All done." He handed Harry a mirror so he could see better.
"Hey, mine looks different from everyone else's."
Terry blushed a bit. "Well, since you're the leader of Dumbledore's Army I thought it was appropriate."
The Phoenix on Harry's arm was different in two ways. Firstly, it was wearing a crown that was clearly a crown of flames. Secondly, the eyes were a brilliant green.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome. It' s nothing really."
The party went on for another couple of hours and as it ended, people went up to Hermione to have her charm the phoenixes on their arms to last longer, which made everything last another half an hour.
Harry said goodnight to Luna as everyone was leaving.
"Luna, I need you to explain it to me. Why aren't you happy about what I did to those Slytherins? I thought you'd be proud of me for standing up to them."
"Harry, I asked you not to do anything stupid. I warned you that they were a waste of time."
He was still confused. "But I did it for you."
"There's enough pain, suffering, and misery in this world without adding to it. What possessed you to think I'd want more of it added on my behalf? I presumed that you of all people understood."
"I do, but . . . No, I guess I don't. The way I saw it, the way I see it, Malfoy did wrong and so he deserved to be punished."
She shook her head. "You said you don't want to end up like the man who gave you that scar. I tell you now, the only way to avoid it is love and forgiveness. You don't have to love Malfoy, you do have to forgive him. You didn't punish him for my sake. If you had wanted to do something for me, you would have let go of your anger like I asked. What you did, you did for you. You used him as a way to vent your angry feelings on. He may have deserved it, but that doesn't make it right." She kissed him on the cheek. "You'll understand one day, harry. Far in the future when all this is behind you, you will begin to understand it."
Harry held her hand. "You're pretty smart for 15. Don't ever change."
"I won't," she promised.
"Good. Goodnight, sweet moon."
She smiled, "Goodnight, Harry."
Luna stared into his eyes a moment, leaving him peaceful before they went their separate ways.
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Okay, yeah, I got a little philosophical at the end and some of you might disagree and say that Harry should go after Malfoy right now and pound him first chance he gets, but even though one little speech isn't going to convert Harry overnight, he is not going to go chase him at the moment.