Dear Reader,

I hope that everyone enjoyed chapter 1. Thanks so much for the reviews. They make a world of difference. This is obviously chapter 2, and if you're one of the people who was hoping for romance and wondering where it was, this is the chapter for you. There will end up being 6 chapters all together. Please R&R because it really motivates me to write more. Anyway, where did we leave off? Oh, yes, Dumbledore just suggested to Harry that he take on Voldemort this very night…

LunarLitLover

Chapter 2: Goodbyes?

Harry was shocked. "How can Dumbledore ask me to do this now?" Harry thought. "Like he said, I'm only seventeen! And I'm supposed to face the most powerful dark wizard alive!"

"Harry, I understand your apprehension," said Dumbledore, as if reading Harry's mind. (?) "And I will not disagree about its merit. However, I think this is the chance of a lifetime to fulfill the prophecy. I know you're young, Harry, but you're also bright, resourceful and a great wizard like your father. I have faith in you, for strength is not always in magic alone."

Harry still didn't know what to say. This was so abrupt, so soon. He hadn't expected to face Voldemort a final time for years. Harry realized now that he had been thinking extremely unrealistically. But still, he hadn't thought that this information that he had uncovered would cause him to face Voldemort tonight.

Then again, Dumbledore was right. Voldemort's defenses were down, and he wasn't nearly as powerful as he would be in a few years. Harry had the upper hand.

"Do I really want to die tonight?" Harry thought. "But do I really want to go on living my life like this? Do I really want to get involved in a life that I can't have because I may die any day? Dumbledore is right; it's better to try now. Then if I die, I die and I hope wizarding kind and muggles can survive. But if not, then I can live an unburdened life forever. Yes, I'll do it." These last words Harry said aloud to Dumbledore.

Dumbledore grimaced, "Oh Harry, I thought I would be relieved to see you make the right choice, however I am more anxious than I ever thought possible. Well, the decision is made. There is nothing more for me to decide. I suppose you would like a few words with your friends before you leave. Please be quick, though Harry. It will take me at least a half hour to meet with the people that I must, but we have not a moment to loose. Please meet me back here as soon as possible."

"I will, Professor. Thank you for allowing me to say my…uh…goodbyes." Harry's voice was monotonous, uncaring. He was too close to the situation for it to seem real.

Harry exited Dumbledore's office in a daze. He didn't know what he had just done or what he would do now. He must go to see Ron and Hermione and tell them the truth about the prophecy, which he had never divulged to them. He now wished he had done so earlier.

As he entered the Gryffindor common room, he heard only the wind's howling as it hit the windows. It must be late, for everyone had retired. Crap. When Harry peered into the room though, he saw that he had been mistaken. Two figures in the corner or the room were passionately kissing each other with such fervor that neither had noticed Harry's entrance. Ron and Hermione were snogging again. Obviously, they had waited until the common room was completely empty before doing their…erm…business.

"How can they be doing that at a time like this?" Harry wondered. But then he regrettably remembered that the only reason they weren't worried sick over him was because he, Harry, had never told his friends the full truth about the prophecy. Harry now wished he'd had – before now anyway. Well, there was nothing for it.

"Eeeeerrrrrrrrmmmmmm," Harry said, clearing his throat to get their attention.

Ron and Hermione looked up, startled. "Harry!" said Hermione, taking up the initiative after a few moments of awkward silence. "We didn't expect you back so…well…soon." She pulled her bushy hair out of her face as Ron straightened his robes.

"Yeah, Mate. Don't you have Occlumency tonight?" Ron responded.

"Yeah, well, I do… or I did. Whatever, that doesn't matter. I'm really sorry to interrupt you two, but it can't wait. I need to talk to you right now. It's about Voldemort."

Ron and Hermione gave each other puzzled glances and sat down with looks of uneasiness on their flushed faces.

Harry told them every detail as quick as he could about what Dumbledore told him his fifth year and everything he'd learned since. He tried to leave out nothing and therefore included everything, from Neville being baby number two, to Voldemort's headquarters being in Godric's Hollow. When Harry stopped, he realized that it had been too much. Ron and Hermione didn't fully understand the consequences for Harry and all humans, wizarding kind and muggles alike. Nonetheless, Harry finished, "And I've decided to face him – for good – tonight."

"Tonight?" asked Ron, horrified.

Harry nodded.

Moisture filled the corners of Hermione's eyes as she began to comprehend what all of this really meant. The lake of tears overflowed onto her cheeks. Harry had never seen her so desperate or at a loss for words.

"So," Harry continued softly, barely able to speak. "I suppose I just wanted to…erm…speak to you in case, well in case I – in case something happens to me."

At these final words, Hermione said, "Oh, Harry!" and flung her arms around his neck, weeping uncontrollably into his shoulder. Ron joined them in the embrace. He was crying too, something Hermione and Harry had rarely seen him do.

But Harry was the first to pull away. "No sense being cocky and saying I'll be back," thought Harry. So instead he said, "I just want you two to take care of yourselves for me, all right? And tell Ginny, Neville, Fred and George that I – that I hope they're ok."

Harry turned his back to leave when Ron said, "You'll make it, Mate. I know you will." Hermione also warned, "But be careful, Harry."

Harry hugged each of them one last time and quickly walked past the squashy armchairs sitting by the empty fire grate and through the port hole without glancing back. Dew-like drops clung to his lashes. Harry brushed them away with a swipe of his hand as he made his way towards the astronomy tower.

Thursdays were when the Ravenclaws had astronomy lessons on top of the astronomy tower. And by the looks of it, this was about the time the lesson should be letting out.

When Harry reached the tower's top, the wind yanked at his robes, and the cold chilled him. He was disappointed to find that all the Ravenclaws had gone. But as he turned to leave a dreary voice called out to him. "Harry?" yelled Luna. The girl he was looking for was still here. He went over to her and found her sitting alone on a stone brick of the tower, gazing at the sky as if the cold wind did not affect her.

Harry sat down beside her and grasped her hand. "Luna-" he began but was interrupted by her drawling voice.

"Mars is bright tonight," said Luna dreamily.

Something stirred in Harry's memory. "Are you related to centaurs?" he asked, chuckling.

"I believe I am," replied Luna, matter-o-factly.

"Can you tell me what lies in my future, then?" Harry stared into her eyes and caressed her hand.

"No, Harry. I was not cursed with knowing what will become of you this night, thank Merlin. But I do know that you must face He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named."

Harry was startled. So the stars had told her something. She, of course, had already known about the prophecy because Harry revealed that secret to her (and only her) in his sixth year. But the stars had been her informers about tonight's events.

"Luna, I came up here to tell you…well…that I love you." At these words, Luna gazed back into Harry's eyes, no longer in her usual dreamy state. As Harry leaned in to kiss her, she did not pull back, as she had done many times before, but moved in towards him as well.

Harry had kissed Luna so often before now, but no time like this. Last year (when Harry had first tried), Luna had pulled away. Then, after a time, (after Harry and Luna started meeting on Hogsmead weekends) she would not protest his displays of affection but would not return the embraces either. However, this time when Harry's lips touched hers, a passionate shiver ran through her body. He kissed her so gently but so lovingly. And she kissed back. Luna tongue was the first to explore its lover's mouth, but Harry's soon followed suit. They wrapped their arms around each other's necks up there, upon the tower, ignoring the weather stirring around them. Harry and Luna had shared their first real kiss.

But as the kiss ended, Harry saw tears clinging to Luna's cheeks, just like Hermione's tears had previously.

"Luna, what…?" asked Harry, confused and a bit hurt.

Luna held her mouth in horror. "No! No!" she wailed. "I'm so sorry, Harry! I shouldn't have."

"I'm not sorry," Harry replied, flatly.

"No, Harry. I've broken a cardinal rule! A star reader is never supposed to get involved with a person she has been foretold about!"

"But I thought you didn't know what would happen to me!"

"I don't, but I have been told of your duel, and now…"

"Luna, I love you!" Harry yelled. "And I came up here to tell you that before I face my death! That kiss was the best thing you could have given me! And now you want to take it back?"

"No, Harry. Don't you see, that's the problem. In fact, I want to give you as many more kisses as there are crumple-horned snorkacks!"

"Why is that a problem?"

"I lied. It's not about the stars and the foretelling. I promised myself that I would never fall for anyone. You see what happened to Dad after Mom died. Buried in the Quibbler, in his work. I didn't want to deal with losing someone again! And now…"

"Now what!" said Harry angrily.

"You," Luna whispered, her eyes downcast, tears still running down her face.

"Luna, what is it? What did I do?" Harry asked softly, now ashamed of his outburst. He wrapped his arms around her, trying to be comforting.

"You made me break my promise. And now tonight you may not – you may not…" Luna shook her head.

"I – what?" said Harry, realizing what she had first said.

"I care about you, Harry." Luna said. She turned in his arms and tumbled into them. Luna continued, "You, the one person who…well, has to face You-Know-Who. And I…I don't want to stop caring you. I love you."

"Thank you, thank you, Luna. I love you, too. But I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry," Harry whispered into her ear while kissing her over and over."

As Luna cried, kissed him back and confessed her love for him, Harry told her, "I'll be back. I promise."