Mr and Mrs Potter

by MRSTJ1

Third and last chapter: if everything changes, is it worth trying to keep anything the same? Harry has to decide.

2. Chapter 2

Mr. and Mrs. Potter

The Middle

When Harry and Luna arrived at the Burrow, everyone else was already there. Fleur rushed up to him and gave him a hug. Luna watched them, frowning slightly. She never knew how to take this girl, who had sat right across from her at the Ravenclaw table for weeks, and never even noticed her. Fleur had been polite enough to the little neighbor girl, when Luna and her father had come to Bill's wedding, but even then the French girl had not been overly friendly to her.

"At last, 'Arry! Zey told me you were coming, but 'oo is zis?" She shook back her mane of silvery blonde hair and eyed Luna curiously, as everyone else looked up expectantly.

"This is my wife, Luna," Harry said, reaching out to clasp Luna's hand. His fingers felt rather cold.

For a moment, there was dead silence. Then Fleur looked at Luna, her blue eyes wide. "No one told us zis! When did you wed?"

"This morning. Ron and Hermione were the witnesses," Harry said, looking at Ron in mute appeal.

Molly Weasley turned on Ron. "Is this true?"

When Ron nodded uncomfortably, grabbing Hermione's hand for his own moral support, his mother gasped. "And you didn't tell us?"

"We told him not to," Luna said softly. "We wanted to tell you ourselves, didn't we Harry?"

"Yeah, we did." Harry looked around the room at everyone. Arthur looked stunned. Remus and Tonks were looking at each other, with worried expressions on their faces. Ginny looked furious. Fred and George looked as if Christmas had come early.

"Way to go, Potter," Fred said, grinning. "The idea of you married and settled down is pretty bizarre, but congratulations."

"Yeah," said George, turning to Luna, and giving her a congratulatory hug, which drew her and Harry into the room. "I don't know what you see in him, but he's not so bad once you get to know him."

"I…have to go to the kitchen," Molly said weakly. "I'll have to change the cakes. They'll have to become wedding cakes. Everyone should have a proper wedding cake." She rushed out and as she did so, Ginny took off up the stairs, her face flaming.

"Yes, congratulations," Remus Lupin said, coming to kiss Luna's cheek. "This is exciting news! Your parents would be so happy for both of you."

"You're so lucky, Luna," Tonks said quickly. "It took me forever to convince Remus to marry me."

Bill stepped up, put his arm around Fleur and said, "Yes, congratulations. My sister-in-law will be disappointed, though. I still think Gabrielle was hoping you'd wait until she grew up." He winked and Harry blushed.

"How is she?" Harry asked hastily.

"Oh, we see 'er often," Fleur said. "We 'ave a place not far from my parents. It is in wine country. You must come and see us soon."

"I could use a bit more wine myself," said George. "Want one, Harry?"

"Yes, please," Harry answered. "How about you, Luna?"

"I'd better not," she said, and Remus and Tonks looked at each other, worried again. "Maybe some tea for me." She and Harry sat on the sofa, and Fleur sat across from them with Bill.

"You 'ave a lovely wedding ring," Fleur said, when Luna held out her hand to take the cup of tea that George had magicked up. "Did 'Arry choose it?'

"We picked them out together," Luna said softly.

"We have a new joke ring at our shop," Fred interjected. "It's called the Gorilla ring. When you put it on, you sprout hair all over."

"I'm sure there's a crying need for that," Bill retorted, sitting back comfortably with his arm around Fleur.

"Don't knock it," Fred said, propping himself on the arm of the sofa. "We're doing so well, we're thinking of taking over the old Zonko building. It's been closed since the war started, but with Hogwarts getting back to normal, I think they'll be a market for a joke shop in Hogsmeade again."

Luna set down her teacup on the small table next to the sofa. She needed to go to the loo. She had to go so frequently now. It was frustrating. "Excuse me, I'll be right back." Harry watched her rise and started to follow her.

"Are you all right?" he whispered in her ear.

"Fine. I just drank that tea too fast."

"You are sweet, "Arry, to worry about your new bride so," Fleur purred. "Come and sit down and tell us more about your wedding. An elopement can be so romantic, yes?"

Luna slipped away and went up the stairs to the nearest bathroom. She used the toilet, and washed her hands, and tried to smooth her hair, which was a wasted effort. "This baby will have the messiest hair in history!" she muttered to herself. As she walked out of the bathroom, she heard voices coming from down the hall. She hated people who eavesdropped, but when she heard her name mentioned, she couldn't resist standing behind the next door down.

Ginny was snarling. "This is so stupid! Harry and Luna? Married? Don't make me laugh. Harry can't possibly love Luna. I mean, honestly, Luna Lovegood? We're talking about Luna Lovegood here! What a farce!"

Luna, shrinking against the wall, heard Tonks answer quietly. "If they say they are married, then they are Ginny. This is not the kind of thing Harry would do for a joke. It's real, Ginny, whatever the reason, and we have to accept it. What else can we do? If he loves her, and she can make him happy, we have to accept it."

"Aren't you listening to me? I know Harry doesn't love her. He can't possibly! It's just another one of Harry's stupid noble gestures that's what it is! He probably just feels sorry for her, because her father died. Harry can't possibly love her for herself. What can she do for him? What can she do for Harry? She's not even pretty, and she's never been popular. He probably thinks he's the only one who understands what it's like to be an orphan, so he has to save her from being alone. What a fool he's being!"

Luna started as a strong hand took her firmly by the elbow to lead her away. They stopped on the stairs, and looking up at Harry, with unshed tears glistening in her eyes, Luna whispered, "Oh, Harry! Did you hear all of that?"

"Most of it, I think," Harry admitted. "I was worried about you. I was afraid you were ill again, so I came looking for you. Luna, I'm sorry you had to hear that, but that's just the way Ginny is. She'll never understand. So what? It doesn't matter. Don't go getting hysterical or starting a war."

"She's the one who's starting a war! I'm nobody, is that it? Do you feel that way, too? How horrible! Harry Potter got stuck for giving the little nobody a break!" Luna did begin to cry then, but Harry shushed her quickly, smoothing the pale hair away from her damp cheek.

"I've never said that, and you'll never hear me say it. You have always been someone to me. You were always a person in your own right, and you still are." He took out his handkerchief, and wiped her face. "Now don't cry anymore. Come down and have some dinner. You'll feel better if you get something to eat. The baby will starve if you don't eat."

She closed her eyes for a moment, and then nodded. Harry smiled, and kissed her and Luna got the feeling, that even if he did not yet love her, he might learn to. If nothing else, she understood what it meant to be the mother of Harry Potter's child. He was not, she was certain, going to leave his child's mother readily for another.

"Hey, none of that, you newlyweds!" George bellowed, coming into the hall below. "Where are Tonks and Ginny? Why do women always have to go the bathroom in pairs?"

Tonks and Ginny appeared at the top of the stairs. "What are you yelling about, you idiot?" Ginny asked grumpily.

"It's time to eat and I just caught Mr. and Mrs. Potter snogging on the stairs! Look at her face, how red it is! Are you sure we're not related some way, Luna? You look like Ron does when Fleur's around. Save it for later will you?" He trooped off, and Harry and Luna followed. Harry could almost feel Ginny's eyes boring a hole in his back.

They got through the dinner party with no more incidents. The one good thing about having Fleur around was that she talked a lot, so no one else had to. Mr. Weasley did discuss how well Harry had been received at the media meeting, though, and asked Harry if he would be willing to do a few more public speeches on behalf of magic/muggle relations.

"If it's something I believe in, and not just Ministry propaganda, yes," Harry said firmly.

Luna and Harry were both exhausted from the strain when they got home, and by the time Luna had bathed, Harry was already asleep. She had planned to lie awake crying all night, but the minute her head hit the pillow she was out like a snuffed candle.

When she woke up in the morning, Harry was walking into the bedroom from the shower, smelling of soap, his hair spiking up here and there like little, wet horns. His eyes were greener than she had ever seen them, and he was wearing nothing but a towel. Luna was slightly embarrassed. In spite of the fact that she had already seen him in even less than a towel, she wasn't completely used to having a man walking around her bedroom with practically nothing on.

"You were sleeping with your mouth open," Harry said, sitting down on the side of the bed.

"Was I really? How awful."

"I should have said with your lips parted. It sounds better."

"I'm not used to having people spy on me while I sleep."

"I wasn't spying. I was taking inventory. Move over." She moved over. He flicked off the towel and got into bed beside her. He scooped her shoulders into the crook of his arm. "Welcome to day two. This is for all of the people who said it wouldn't last."

Luna had to smile then.

She was still smiling when Harry opened his eyes about an hour later and said, "I'll race you getting dressed."

"But I don't want to get dressed." Harry was about to make a remark he might have regretted, when someone knocked on the door. Luna hastily pulled the sheet up to her chin.

"What is it?" called Harry, smoothing his side of the sheet over his lap.

The door swung open, and Dobby and Winky appeared, carrying breakfast trays. Their tennis ball sized eyes got even larger when they saw Harry and Luna scowling at them over the sheet, obviously unclothed..

"Excuse please," Dobby said, "but we thought Harry Potter and Miss Luna might want breakfast in bed. We has eggs, and toast and orange juice and coffee, and bacon. We did not mean to intrude."

"Dobby, Winky, I would love breakfast in bed," Luna assured the elves, as she tucked in the sheet a bit more firmly. "I haven't had breakfast in bed, since I was a little girl. My mum used to bring me breakfast in bed when I wasn't feeling well. This is sweet of you."

"Thank you, Miss." Dobby looked at Harry. "Is Harry Potter angry with Dobby?"

"Not at all," said Harry, smelling the hot coffee and suddenly feeling very hungry. "Thank you."

After he had given Harry his tray, and Winky had given hers to Luna, the elves hesitated. "The newspaper came, sir. Harry Potter is on the front page." Dobby extended the newspaper carefully, as if it were a bomb about to go off. Harry dropped his end of the sheet and snatched the paper, and Winky backed hastily out of the room.

"Oh, damn! Not already." He flipped it open and scanned it quickly. "Hermione was right," he said to Luna. "They must have been monitoring the registry office records, and then spoken to the clerks. There's not much here but the basics."

He began to read out loud. "Surprise Elopement! Secret sources tell the Prophet that Harry Potter and Luna Lovegood were married yesterday morning in a private ceremony at a muggle registry office in London. Muggle-born witch Hermione Granger was the maid of honor and Ronald Weasley, son of Ministry official Arthur Weasley, was the best man. The bride wore a white dress trimmed with yellow and carried a bouquet of white rosebuds. No further information is available at this time, but the staff of the Prophet joins our readers in wishing the happy couple all the best."

Harry looked over at Luna. "Isn't that special? We'll probably start getting owls within the hour."

Dobby, who had been edging his way toward the door, looked sheepish. "Harry Potter has already gotten mail. Does he want Dobby to bring it up here?"

"Hell, no," said Harry. "Sort it out, though. If you think it's from someone I know, set it in one pile, and if you aren't sure who sent it, set it in another. We'll be down after we eat and get dressed to look it over."

After they ate, they got involved with other things, however, and it took them awhile to get finished. When they finally did wander downstairs, they had large piles of mail, and Dobby and Winky were hard-pressed to organize the owls that were arriving every few minutes. One pile consisted of the mail from people Dobby thought Harry knew. One was undetermined, and sitting off by itself was a single envelope addressed directly to Luna alone.

"That is from the Quibbler office," Dobby said, pointing it out to her, "so Dobby kept it separate. Dobby thought it might be important business." Luna reached for this envelope as Harry dug into the pile of letters from friends and acquaintances.

"Oh," he said, "this one is from the Diggorys. They are congratulating us. Mrs. Diggory wants to know if we'd like to come to lunch sometime."

"Maybe later, when we get better organized," Luna said. "I like them. She was very nice to me and to dad when Mum died. They lived quite near us, you know."

"I'm going to get some parchment, so we can start writing back to the people we need to answer," Harry said. He got a box and several quills and bottles of ink from a drawer, and set them on the table between the piles of letters, pausing only to tell Hedwig to be quiet. The white owl was aggravated, whether or not it was from the visits of so many strange owls, or because she could sense that Harry and Luna were in for a trying day, he could not tell. He began an answer to Mrs. Diggory as Luna saw that inside the envelope from the Quibbler office, there was a smaller envelope from America. Frowning, Luna tore it open.

Dear Luna,

What a wonderful name! Inky skies, sparkling stars, and moonlight come immediately to mind. Meeting you was the best thing that happened to me on my trip to London. It seems like I've known you forever. That happens sometimes, you know. And it isn't only because you're a woman and I'm a man, although I'm very happy that that is so.

I forgot to ask, do you like animals? Not ordinary house pets, but really exotic animals? I'm a volunteer at a private wizarding zoo just outside of the city, and it gets pretty interesting. I'll tell you all about it next time if you won't be too bored.

Have you set a course for yourself yet, or are you still recovering from the events of the last year? I may be coming back to England after this year, as my father would like to see me continue to be involved with my uncle's advertising business. Wizarding/muggle communications seems to be a growing business, and if it continues to do well, my uncle may be able to exercise a little nepotism.

I will tell you more about THAT when you write back to me, which you may do by giving your owl the address at the top of this page. I will sit right here and wait until you do.

Yours,

Nicholas

Luna stared at the letter. This was the young man she had gone to get ice cream with in Diagon Alley, and he was flirting with her. She'd never had a man flirt with her before, but it was even obvious to her that that's what he was doing. She glanced up at Harry, who was still writing his letter. She had never mentioned Nicholas to him, thinking it unimportant. She had even forgotten that he had promised to write her.

Dobby came into the room looking harried. "The Longbottom boy's head is in the fire in the drawing room. Would Harry Potter like to speak to him?"

"Neville? Oh, God! Yes, I'd better." He got up and hurried out. Luna picked up a piece of parchment and quickly wrote:

Dear Nicholas:

Thank you for your nice letter. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed your visit to Britain. I agree that the communications business is going through a lot of transitions right now, which will mean great new opportunities. I hope your uncle will have much success. We at the Quibbler certainly look forward to doing business with him again.

I too have made transition, a very happy one. I am now married to a wonderful man, and I hope to live, as the saying goes, happily ever after. Perhaps when you come to Britain next year, my husband and I will run into you.

Best of luck!

Luna Lovegood Potter

As Luna was writing to Nicholas, Harry was talking to Neville.

"Is it true?" asked Neville. "Are you and Luna really married?"

"Yes," Harry assured him, holding up his hand so Neville could see the ring on his finger.

Neville gaped so that he swallowed a mouthful of soot, and began to choke. "I couldn't believe it. I still can't," he said, when he had finished coughing. "Neither could Gran, but she wants to do something for you. What would you like? A wedding shower? We could have an evening party, mixed. It would be good for Gran. You know she can't get out much now, and I can't leave her alone. It would cheer her up. Just tell me. We want to do something."

"I don't know," Harry said doubtfully. "I'd have to talk to Luna. I don't think showers are in order after you're married, and I really don't want people thinking they'd have to buy us presents. We don't need anything. I'm not sure Luna would be up to an evening party."

"Why wouldn't she be up to it? It wouldn't have to be anything really fancy," Neville argued.

"Maybe later," Harry said, "when we get settled." He knew Neville would catch on soon enough.

"Yes, sure. Just let us know," Neville said, in a hurt voice. Neville sounded like Ron had done. He obviously hadn't put one and one together and gotten three yet. Harry sighed. He went back to the table, and Luna hastily shoved the letter from Nicholas, and her reply into her pocket. As luck would have it, her letter to him tore. They continued to open mail. Some of the mail, especially the letters from people who knew them, turned out to be kind and tactful, wishing them well.

Not all of it was positive, though. Some of it was incredulous. Some of it was cruel, accusing Luna of all sorts of things, such as deliberately tricking Harry into marriage by using love potions, or spells. Some Prophet readers guessed rightly that Luna was pregnant, and many had written to Harry telling him to make sure the baby was his, accusing Luna of being a slag, or of getting pregnant on purpose to trap Harry. These letters upset Luna.

Harry tried to dismiss them several times as they day wore on. "Luna, there are people who always say unkind things when someone runs off and gets married. I'm used to getting nasty mail. You aren't. You'll learn not to take it so seriously after awhile. We can just chuck the bad ones into the fire."

"I never was with anyone but you, Harry," she said tearfully. "You have to believe me. I'll take veritaserum if I have to."

"I believe you. Do you honestly think I'd ask you to do anything of the sort? I do have to ask you to pull yourself together, if you can. We'll have to go out in public, and you can't let things you hear get to you."

Another owl came flying into the room, and Harry caught the letter it dropped before it could hit him on the head. He read it, and folded it up carefully, not letting her see it. "This is from Remus Lupin. I have to go and see him and Tonks tonight. I'll be having dinner with them. You'll be all right, won't you? You can just tell Winky to make you something, whenever you get hungry."

Luna stared at him. He was going off, just like that, without even an if you please, or would you like to come along?

"Fine. Have fun," she said coldly.

He stared back. "Well, what else? Is there anything else you want me to do around here?"

"Not a thing. Like I said, have fun."

"You say that, but you don't sound like you mean it. You sound angry."

"Why should I be angry?"

"How the hell should I know? What I know about women wouldn't fill a goblet."

"Then don't try to fill one!" Luna walked out of the kitchen and went upstairs. She hadn't even reached the bedroom door, before she heard the front door slam. Harry had already gone. She sat down at the desk, and reached into her pocket. Pulling out Nicholas' letter, she crumpled up and threw her own torn one into the little bin next to the desk. She put his carefully into her bottom drawer, with the marriage license, and picked up a quill. Luna began to write a quite different response than she had originally planned.

Dear Nicholas,

I simply adored your letter. It came at a time when I was feeling quite low, and it picked me right up. I'm so glad you enjoyed your visit to London.

Yes, I adore animals. My father and I went to Sweden once to look for crumpled-horned snorkacks, and I once got to ride on a thestral. What sorts of animals do you help with? Please send me a picture if there are any snorkcacks, or if you ever see a heliopath. I have a friend who doesn't believe they even exist.

Goodness, how I do run on! It it's your fault, however, for getting me started. Are you sure you want to do that?

She hesitated a long time trying to decide how to sign it. Anything with yours in it was definitely out. Finally she wrote her name at the bottom of the page, her first name only, and sealed it. Writing it had been fun, almost like an essay for school, and she had always adored essays. She gave it to Hedwig, who eyed her suspiciously.

"It's just a pen-friend, Hedwig," she said. "Sort of a vacation from reality." Hedwig finally hooted softly, and flew away.

When Harry arrived at Lupin's, he found not only Remus and Tonks Lupin present, but Arthur and Molly Weasley were sitting around the kitchen table as well. They had already started to eat. It was quite obvious that they had been planning what to do when Harry finally got there. He groaned. "What is this? An intervention?"

"Harry, we're just worried about you," Arthur said, shooting Molly one of the looks he usually reserved for the times he was forced by her to meddle in someone else's business.

"Well, don't be. I'm fine." He sat at the kitchen table, and stared into the plate of stew that Tonks placed before him.

"Eat something, Harry, while we talk," she said calmly.

He tasted it, and found it excellent. Remus, who began to pick at his once more, said slowly, "We just have a few questions we want to ask you, as friends, who care about you."

"Only one question," Molly Weasley retorted. They all sat quietly for a moment, until Molly got up the nerve to begin again. "About last night, tell us the truth. Did you and Luna HAVE to get married?"

She was certainly asking for it, and Harry supposed he might as well let her have it. Now was as good a time as any time would ever be. He swallowed hard. "I didn't HAVE to do anything. I did it because I wanted to do it. Luna needs me. What do you want a signed confession? Yes, she's expecting a baby, but no one forced me into that, and no one forced me into this. Let's just say I'm a wanton person and leave it at that, shall we?"

"I wish I could believe that," Tonks said. "I wish I could believe that, and just call you a foolish hormonal kid, let myself feel superior, and let it go, but I can't. You're not usually this immature, Harry, and we want to make sure nothing happened to make you feel you were trapped into doing this. There were other options, you know."

"No, there were not," Harry snapped, slamming down his fork. "Luna never considered them, and I didn't either. This is my child. Don't listen to any of the lies anyone is spewing about that. She was a virgin when I took her, and she hasn't been with anyone else since. She's having my child, and I'm going to be there for it. Can't you see? All I ever wanted was family of my own, and I'm going to have one. It wasn't a difficult decision to make. No one had to force me into it. It's what I always wanted. This isn't the way I'd hoped or how I'd planned to get where I am, but nothing ever turns out the way I've planned."

Molly sniffled. "We were your family. Weren't we good enough for you? What made you want to hurt us? Is it because we tried too hard to be the parents you never had? Did you resent it? Why would you want to do something like this to us?"

"I didn't do it to you," he snapped. "I did it for me. It has nothing to do with anyone else. It's my business, and Luna's, and if anyone else asks you, you can tell them I said so."

Molly got up, and turned her back on the table. In the dim light of the kitchen, Harry could see her shoulders shaking, and even if he couldn't hear her, he knew she was crying. She finally said softly, "You're breaking my heart."

Harry relented. He did love the Weasleys, and he hated to see Molly so unhappy. He spoke more gently. "What do you think would have happened to Luna's, if I had slept with her, and then walked out on her? She loves me. I can see it in everything she says and does. If you think she had an ulterior motive in this, you're wrong. She's always been completely honest with me, completely loyal to me."

Remus interrupted. "Do you love her? Or are you just doing this out of loyalty?"

Harry paused. "I don't know how I feel, but I know what I have to do. I've never been so sure of anything. I don't know if it's a good decision or not, but it's one I've made for me, and those are the only good kinds to make."

Arthur cleared his throat, embarrassed. "It's not that we have anything against the girl. We hardly know her in fact, but we wanted to be sure…"

"Don't worry," Harry assured him. He looked at Molly who was looking back over her shoulder at him. "Now come sit down, Mrs. Weasley. It will be all right. When the baby comes, you'll see. I hereby declare it an honorary grandchild of yours. You'll probably love it to pieces the minute you see it."

"I hope it looks more like you," she said, smiling tremulously. "No offense Harry, but you have the prettiest eyes I've ever seen on a boy. Do you want a boy or a girl? When is the baby due?"

"I haven't thought about it. I just have to take what I get. You should know that better than anyone does," Harry teased her. "I don't know exactly when. Nine months from March, but as to an exact date, I have no clue."

"You'll have to get her to a healer, soon," Tonks said. "She needs to find out her due date, and find out if everything is going all right. How I do envy you. If only Remus and I…"

Remsu Lupin began to choke, and Tonks, giggling, got up to get another bottle of wine. Harry, laughing, poured himself a glass, after smacking Remus quickly on the back. Harry knew Tonks was just trying to be nice. She wouldn't want to be in Luna's shoes for all the gold in Gringotts. He changed the subject to Mr. Weasley's earlier suggestion that he go out in public more, and Mr. Weasley said they had gotten a request to have Harry speak to the Department of Mysteries staff on horcruxes. Harry readily agreed, and the evening became much more cordial.

After Harry had left Grimmauld Place, and she had finished her letter, Luna had sent the elves to bed. She went and got into bed herself and finally cried. She cried over every bad thing that had happened to her since the night she was born until that night. As soon as she stopped crying, she began to get nervous. She began hearing things, like scratchy noises at the window, and things on the roof.

When it got to be midnight, she heard Harry come home. When he came into the bedroom, he smelled revoltingly of wine. She shut her eyes and pretended to be asleep. He clattered around for awhile, then climbed into the bed. "Are you actually asleep?" he finally asked.

"No," she admitted, opening her eyes and looking up at the ceiling. "So what was that all about? Did everyone console you about getting stuck with me?"

"No," he snapped. "They were worried about us, and especially about you, if you want to know the truth. Does that bother you?"

She sat up, hugging the covers to her chest. "Why couldn't you have taken me with you?"

Harry sat up, too. "You didn't ask me to!"

"How could I? You just said you were going, period. Obviously, you didn't want me to come. You want me for my baby. I understand that. But once in while I need a little attention for me, as myself. You didn't seem to care what I did."

"You want me to show you how much I care? Come here." He reached out for her, and she flinched.

"Oh, that's really romantic, Harry."

"You're my wife. You're having my baby. I thought we agreed it's not just yours. Great Merlin! Why does everyone want a blueprint of my emotions? When I'm in bed with you, I'm showing you how much I want you with me."

"All boys want, " Luna said stubbornly.

"Any girl at all? Any time at all? Is that what you think?"

"Well, don't they?"

"Hell, no!" he snapped. "I know I don't anyway! Look! Forget it, okay? Just forget it. Go to sleep." He turned away from her. She lay there for a long time, feeling hurt and withdrawn, until she finally fell asleep for real. When she woke up, faint moonlight was streaming into the bedroom, and she could see Harry quite clearly. He was lying on his back, one arm crooked above his head. He looked terribly young, and defenseless, and somehow sweet.

As she leaned over him, she felt a flutter deep inside, like too many fish in too small a fishbowl. She held her breath, and it happened again. It was life. She was carrying a life, a gift, a trust, and it was just as real as the boy lying there on the bed next to her was. Luna felt somehow responsible for them both. She whispered to Harry that she was sorry. She wasn't sure if he heard the words, but something got through to him, because he opened his eyes and put his arms around her. He was with her then, and she knew she was special to him, mostly for the baby, yes, but a little bit for herself.

In the morning he looked at her sheepishly. "Last night at dinner they asked me when the baby was due. They asked me if you'd gone to a healer. I felt stupid. I didn't even know."

"Oh, Harry! Is that what upset you? I'm sorry you felt stupid. I didn't mean for you to feel that way. I'm guessing it's due at the end of the year, but I don't know for sure. I just went to see if what I thought was true," she answered, snuggling up to him. "It was just a general thing. He didn't know much about babies. He gave me the names of some specialists."

"You need to go soon," Harry said, caressing her shoulder. "You have to make sure everything is all right. I want to go with you. I want to hear what they say." His hand wandered lower, and he stopped, looking at her in a puzzled way. "You…feel different than you did at first. I just noticed it."

"Just a little firmer, maybe a little bigger. That's normal." She hesitated a minute, then admitted, "I felt the baby move last night."

"Wow! No wonder you were so emotional! Can I feel it?" He swept his hand down over her belly, which seemed a bit firmer as well. It was no longer completely flat, but had a curve to it. Harry grinned, and Luna had to smile. She couldn't tell if it was a typical "Now the whole world will know I can get it up!" male attitude coming though, or if it was just his fixation with family resurfacing.

"No," she laughed. "I don't think it's big enough yet, but when it gets big enough, you won't be able to miss it. Every time he kicks me, I'm going to lean on you, so you get kicked, too."

Harry laughed at that. "Do you think it's a boy?"

"No idea. Does it matter?"

"No." Harry hesitated. "I wish, if it was a boy, I could name it after Dumbledore, but Albus is a really stupid name when you think about it."

"Brian," Luna said swiftly, propping herself up on one elbow.

"What?" He looked at her as if she were completely mad.

"Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore," Luna chanted. "Albus and Wulfric are a bit old fashioned, and I know you'd rather face a inferi attack than name any son of yours Percival, but Brian is a nice name."

"Hey, I like that!" Harry said excitedly. "God, you're smart!"

"Ravenclaw, remember?" Luna said, smiling. 'But what if it's a girl? What would you think of the name Rose?"

"I don't know," Harry said honestly. " Why call her Rose? Is that your mother's name or something? My mother's name was Lily, and her sister's name is Petunia. Were flower names popular at that time? "

"I was just thinking that it's considered a miracle to see a rose growing in December. It's supposed to take very powerful magic."

"I'll think about it," Harry said, getting out of bed. "Now, speaking of growing, besides making that appointment with the healer, you need to get some maternity clothes. You can go anywhere you want, magic or muggle and spend whatever you want. The sky's the limit! I'll go to Gringotts today and get you some money to get started. "

"Do you want to go shopping with me?" She asked, stretching, and stifling a yawn.

"God, no! I don't know anything about girls clothes normally, much less pregnant clothes. Don't you have any girlfriends? Why don't you ask Hermione, or Tonks, or someone to go with you? You'd have a lot more fun with either of them than you would with me."

"I think I'd rather go with Hermione. She has much better taste than Tonks," Luna said. "I mean, I love Tonks, but I don't have any idea what she'd pick out for me to try on."

"Good thinking," Harry said, trying to picture a baby outfit decorated with the Weird Sisters logo.

They went downstairs and had a simple breakfast together. Luna had just finished a note to Hermione, asking her if she had any time available that week to go shopping, and Harry had just left to go to the bank when Hedwig appeared. She had an envelope for Luna that had been forwarded from the Quibbler office, which Luna exchanged for the letter to Hermione. She took the note upstairs to the desk in the bedroom.

Dear Luna,

A pox on anyone who doesn't believe in heliopaths! I did see one once, on a trip I took to Colorado. My father thought a visit to a ranch would make a man of me. He didn't know what to make of a son who spent all day lying around drawing and scribbling. Now that he realizes I can make money in advertising, of course he's changed his mind.

What do you do all day? I remember you as being very ethereal. I can't picture you just eating, or sleeping, or doing the washing. Do you have a lot of friends to gossip and giggle and shop with like most girls? I have very few friends, but the few I have I've had forever. I'd like it to be that way with you.

Your friend, I hope,

Nicholas

Luna hesitated. She wondered if she should answer this letter. There seemed no point to it, but there didn't seem to be any harm in it, either. It was kind of nice to have a pen friend overseas. She liked the idea of having someone to talk with about the things she couldn't discuss with Harry. Sliding Nicholas' letter into her bottom drawer, she picked up her quill.

Dear Nicholas,

It's terrible that your father took awhile to see you for who you are. My father was always very encouraging, which is why I miss him so. I wish I could go to Colorado and see a heliopath! Tell me that it will happen someday. I need encouragement to believe that my whole life isn't all set out for me.

No, I do not have many friends. My best friend has been for quite some time, and I hope will always be, Harry Potter. I have a few female friends that are good friends, but not many. I've never gotten along that well with other women. I giggle sometimes, but not often, and I really don't care for gossip. It's hurt me too many times. I wouldn't mind doing the washing, but we have house elves that would be upset if I tried. Don't get the wrong idea, they are freed elves, and we pay them to work here. They are very sweet and devoted, and like to keep busy. I'm actually waiting for one of my girlfriends to answer me, about a shopping trip. I need clothes, and it's no fun to try them on alone. I need someone to tell me how I look. I never thought of myself as ethereal. What an odd word!

Luna

When she had finished the letter, she slid it into her pocket, walked downstairs and took the floo to St. Mungo's. She went to the reception desk to make an appointment with one of the obstetric healers the heart specialist had recommended to her. The receptionist looked at her a bit oddly when she gave her name.

"Tuesday at ten o' clock, Mrs. POTTER," the woman said, stressing the last word, "with Healer Greher."

"Thank you," Luna said, with all of the dignity she could muster.

The hospital gift shop had a small postal service, usually used for taking in get-well messages, and Luna went there to rent an owl to take her letter to Nicholas. While she was there, she also looked at some of the baby clothes they had for sale. She wouldn't buy anything there, as they were way overpriced, but it was fun to look at the tiny nightgowns and bonnets.

When she got home, Harry was there, and he was furious. "Where did you go? You didn't leave a note. You didn't say anything to Dobby or to Winky. What was I supposed to think?"

"I didn't think I'd be gone that long," Luna answered, surprised that he had been that worried. "I went to St. Mungo's to make my appointment. It's for Tuesday at ten. Do you still want to go with me?"

"Oh," said Harry, mollified. "Yeah, yeah, I do."

"I don't know if they will let you go in with me all of the time. I mean, there may be things they have to do to me that they won't let you watch, but you should be able to hear whatever the healer tells me to do." She said, hanging up her cloak.

"They might do things I don't want to watch," Harry said. "I heard Aunt Petunia talking to one of the neighbors once about some lady stuff, and it didn't sound like very much fun. I don't know if it's different for witches."

"We'll see," said Luna. "Now how about lunch?"

It was over lunch that he dropped the next bombshell. "When you go shopping, be sure to get a really nice set of dress robes to wear to the Benefit Ball for St. Mungo's. I'm on the committee, so I have to attend, and I want you to come with me."

"Oh, Harry," she wailed, setting down her sandwich. "Everyone in the world will know the truth by then. The receptionist at the hospital gave me a very strange look when I asked to see the healer. I don't mind seeing our friends, but a Benefit Ball will frighten me to death."

Harry sighed. "I've been stared at all my life, and I know it's not much fun, but Luna, we are what we are. There's nothing we can do about that. I promised to do this, and I'm going to keep my promise. I always do, if I can, and you know that better than anyone does."

He changed the subject. "I saw Ron in Diagon Alley. Hermione got your note, and she'd love to go shopping with you. Ron invited me to go to a Quidditch game next week. The Kestrals are playing the Cannons. While we're there, you girls can do your thing. Is that all right?"

Luna sighed. "It's fine."

The next day when Luna and Harry got up, they were very much at loose ends. What on earth to do all day? So far, all they knew to do with their time was eat, sleep, play bad chess and have great sex. Harry finally suggested going to the Quibbler office, to pick up the rest of Luna's things. It was no use leaving the flat empty when someone else might be able to use it. Luna seized on this idea gratefully.

There wasn't much to pick up. Luna had already taken all of the clothes she owned. Just a few boxes of things that has been saved from the rubble of the fire, and some things Mr. Lovegood had kept in his office when he ran the Quibbler remained in the closet. Luna started to drag a box out, and Harry shouted so loudly, she almost jumped out of her skin.

"What in the hell do you think you're doing, woman? If I ever see you lift anything larger than a toothbrush before this baby is born, you'll regret it! You're here to supervise, not to fetch and carry, so get out of my way. I'll do all of that. You just have to take care of the baby."

"Yes, sir!" she said meekly, as he waved his wand to shrink the boxes down to a more manageable size. Then they both laughed. They stopped into the office on the way down from the flat, and everyone from the editors to the cleaning staff came running to congratulate them and exclaim over Luna's ring.

Mr. Hunnicutt whistled when he saw it. "What a set of rocks! I don't suppose you'd let us take a picture of you two for the magazine? The Prophet hasn't let me hear the end of it, since they broke the story about the marriage. A piece with photographs, about how you're settling into married life would help a lot."

Luna and Harry looked guiltily at each other. They'd had so much else on their minds they had never thought about what their relationship would mean to the magazine, and they both owed a lot to the Quibbler. "Of course," they said, in stereo.

"I have a new photographer, that I think will be thrilled to death for a chance like this," Hunnicutt said, with a wink and a laugh. "I'll go get him."

Harry quickly tried to smooth down his hair, and Luna wished she'd worn nicer robes.

They both looked up, surprised, when a familiar voice said, "Hello there, Harry!" It was Colin Creevey.

"You're the new Quibbler photographer?" Harry asked stupidly.

"I owe it all to you," Colin said earnestly, fiddling with his camera. "I put a lot of photographs I took of you in my portfolio."

Before Harry could reply, Luna said swiftly, "I'm happy for you, Colin. You take lovely pictures, and I know you'll do a good job for us now. I'd like to have copies of them if you don't mind. Harry and I didn't get any wedding pictures taken when we went to the muggle registry office. I'd love to have a photo of us together taken by you."

Colin beamed, and told Luna and Harry to stand by a wall nearby that was a clean white, and blank. They stood next to each other, and Colin frowned. "You don't look like newlyweds. You look like you're having mug shots taken. Put your arms around her Harry, and try to look less nervous and more happy."

Luna let Colin guide her in front of Harry, and felt Harry's arms go around her, and she wrapped hers around his. Her head was against his chest, and he felt warm and solid in back of her. She felt Harry's cheek touch her hair, and smiled when Colin told her to. Colin snapped the picture, and then tried a few other poses before he was satisfied.

"Now," said Hunnicutt, "give me some details. "They didn't have much of that in the Prophet. Are you going to keep living in London? Are you going to have a regular job, or are you going to continue with your charity work? How long have you two actually known each other? Did you plan the wedding for long?"

"I'm hoping to keep on working to improve magic/muggle relations," Harry said slowly, but I'm not going to be involved in the Ministry in any official capacity. I'm still going to be involved with charity work. We'll both be at the Benefit this summer for St. Mungo's. Luna and I met at Hogwarts, when she was a fourth year and I was a fifth. We had our first date my sixth year, so we've known each other quite awhile. We decided rather suddenly to marry. It just seemed like it felt right, so we did it."

"Happy, Luna?" Hunnicutt asked, shooting her a sharp look.

"Of course," she said automatically. "Harry has always been very special. Everyone in the Wizarding world knows that. He has always been special to me as well, very considerate, loyal and kind. He's a good friend, a good man, and I think he's going to be a wonderful husband and father."

"Thinking of a family already?" Hunnicutt shot her an even sharper look, and she looked up helplessly at Harry.

"Of course. It was always on my mind anyway," Harry said without hesitation. "A family is all I've ever wanted, ever since I lost my own, and I'm sure Luna feels the same way. We've both suffered so much loss and spent so much time alone. After the war, I wanted one more than ever. I know Luna also feels it's the natural thing to want to do. " He looked at her, and she smiled up at him, wanting to clap her hands, and cheer. He had answered brilliantly and with no hesitation. That's your husband talking, she thought, and it was a proud thought.

The appointment with the healer was uneventful. The healer was a short, chubby, cheerful little man, who seemed absolutely delighted to have a new patient, and not even because of Harry's celebrity. He just seemed to love his work. He didn't even flinch when he wrote down Luna and Harry's names in his records. He just moved on to their address, mother's date of birth, etc. He had a chart shaped like a wheel, and by putting in the date Luna's last period started, March 3rd, he got a due date of December 8th.

"That will be your Christmas present," Luna said, and Harry smiled.

"Could be close," said the healer. "First babies are usually a little late." He then whisked Luna off to be weighed, give a urine specimen and have some blood drawn.

Harry was confused by these muggle-like procedures, especially when the healer said, "I wish you had come to me sooner."

"Why?" asked Harry, worried. "Is something wrong that we should have started to work on?"

"I just like to get involved as soon as I can," Healer Greher said. "I will give her a list of things to eat every day, and some vitamins to take. She doesn't need to lose weight. She was too thin to start with, if you ask me. The baby is a little bigger than I would have expected, considering when the date of her last menstrual period was, so I'm going to keep an eye on her blood sugar. It's not very high, but it's in the upper range. Witch obstetrics is not that different from muggle obstetrics, so don't expect a lot of potions and spells. This is something that has to be done naturally. It doesn't do to subject a growing fetus to too much magic.

"You can do what you normally do, but don't go overboard with anything. I wouldn't recommend any apparation in the last trimester, so keep that in mind if you're planning any trips. The pressure isn't good for the baby."

Harry could understand that. He had never gotten used to the feeling of apparation, even thought he had become quite expert at it. "I will be having a few speaking engagements over the next couple of months," Harry said firmly, "but I'm not going to make any plans to be anywhere else but home in December."

They were supposed to meet at the Weasleys the next day. Harry and Ron were leaving for the Quidditch game from there, and Hermione was going to be there to take Luna for the shopping trip. Luna was actually looking forward to that. Robes were well and good, but she didn't have too many of them, and it would be the middle of summer soon. The robes she had were too hot for the summer weather. Her muggle dresses were getting too tight in the bust, and her muggle jeans wouldn't even zip anymore. She had struggled to get into the shirt and skirt she was wearing that day.

When Harry and Luna arrived, Ron was sitting at the table, reading the paper, and wearing a Cannons shirt that clashed horribly with his hair. Hermione and Molly were drinking coffee, and offered some to Harry and Luna. While they were drinking it, Ginny came in from a walk to the village, in a rage about the "insinuations" the Fawcett girls were making about Harry and Luna. Molly gave them a warning look, which told them what to do, even if they hadn't already known. Luna kept her rounding belly under the table, and they let Ginny keep her rage, and her innocence.

After Hermione and Luna left the cottage, Luna sighed. "She's going to find out the truth soon. I wonder how she's going to take it."

"Does it matter?" asked Hermione, briskly. "What matters is how you and Harry feel. I know he's very excited about the baby. I don't know what he said to the Lupins and to Molly and Arthur last week, but Ron says his parents have calmed down a lot about things."

"Harry really wants this baby," Luna said, as they stopped to look in the window of a muggle shop. "All he's ever wanted is a family of his own. He seems to be taking this as a personal sign from fate that his life is finally going to be more normal. I had to keep this baby, I mean, I wanted to, once I knew. I think it would have been really wrong not to have it, but it's complicated, between Harry and me."

"Luna, I have to admit, I just don't understand. I mean, did this really all just happen so suddenly because Harry wanted a family that badly? I know you've known each other for a long time, and you've always gotten along well, but I had no idea it was love. He never said a word, to me or to Ron, and usually he tells us almost everything that's going on in his life." Hermione looked at her questioningly. "Ron and I have been in love, for years, Luna, and we have never done anything like that without using something, if you know what I mean. Didn't you even discuss it, before hand, when you were ready to take your relationship to that level? "

Luna looked at her sadly. "Hermione, we're not like you and Ronald. It's not the same at all. Harry and I were never that close. We certainly weren't close enough to discuss sex. We just felt close when my father died, and all of this sort of happened. I know he does care about me, and he did want me to keep this baby, but I don't think he loves me, not the way Ronald loves you."

"Oh, Luna! How horrible for you! Is this all just temporary then, until you have the baby?"

Luna stared at Hermione. "Of course not! At least I don't think so. We made promises to each other, Hermione. You heard us. Harry doesn't break a promise, and I do love him Hermione. I love him for who he is, and for who I am when I'm with him. It's hard, loving him, knowing how mixed up he is about everything, but I do love him, with all of my heart and I'm going to try to be a good wife to him, and I want to be a good mother."

Hermione sighed. "First you need clothes. Harry gave me the moneybag. You've got enough in here to empty every maternity store in Britain, wizarding or muggle, so let's get started. Muggle clothes for everyday, I think, and robes for special occasions. Something not too heavy or elaborate that will overwhelm you. "

"He gave you the money? Didn't he trust me?" Luna asked with a small voice.

"To freely spend his money and get everything you needed? No, he did not trust you to do that. Cheer up, Luna, and let's get to it."

They came back to that Grimmauld Place with a wardrobe that any muggle OR witch would envy. Luna had muggle shirts, dresses, shorts, and some jeans with snaps that would adjust as she got bigger. Those fascinated her. "These get huge," she said, wide-eyed.

"No offense, Luna, but YOU are probably going to get huge," said Hermione. "You're so thin normally, that every bulge shows. You can tell already, if you look for it. No one would notice otherwise, but it's definitely there."

"My old things were definitely starting to get uncomfortable," Luna admitted, as she pushed her old clothes into the back of the closet, so she could fit in some of her new dresses.

They had bought maternity knickers, and nursing bras and nightgowns. They had gotten several lightweight sets of robes, including a beautiful deep rosy pink set for the Benefit ball. Luna had wanted to get a green set, in case Harry wanted to wear his dark green dress robes, but Hermione vetoed them.

"But Harry has always had green dress robes, " Luna argued. "He looks good in green, because it brings out his eyes."

"But you are a blonde," Hermone said, "and that particular shade of green doesn't go with your shade of hair. It will make your skin look as green as an old cheese. You need something that won't make you look washed out. I know for a fact that Harry's newest dress robes are black. He bought them when he and Ron had to give their reports to the Ministry after the war. He can wear those. "

They were putting the last of the clothes away, when Luna suddenly sighed. "I feel like a fraud. It's highway robbery, that's what all this is."

"Harry can afford it," said Hermione. "Now put on one of those new shirts, and a pair of those jeans, so you look nice when he comes home." She hesitated. "Luna, I was thinking. Sometimes girls really feel more like doing …it…when it's the time in their cycle this is most likely to happen. Do you think that had anything to do with it?"

Luna suspected that she should have taken this statement as an insult, but she didn't. This was almost comforting. This was the old Hermione, the bright-eyed, logical researcher, who had to find a reason in a book for everything. She would never understand why Luna had done what she had done, because it had nothing to do with logic or hormones. It had been an act of faith, and of fate.

"I never thought about that," Luna admitted, "but it wasn't just the way he made me feel when we touched, or kissed. He's a great kisser, but that wasn't what I was really thinking of at the time, at least the first time. I was too scared. I didn't know what to expect physically. I was thinking about how comforting it was to have him there with me, how sweet and thoughtful he was being."

Hermione smiled. "You love him, all right. I'm glad."

Dobby appeared in the doorway. "Miss Luna had an owl. The Quibbler office sent over a letter from America. It is marked 'personal'. Does Miss want her letter now?" He extended an envelope, which Luna took.

"I didn't know you had friends in America," Hermione commented.

"It's Quibbler business," Luna said, stuffing the envelope into her pocket. She had a feeling that Hermione would be startled by the idea of her having a pen friend like Nicholas, but it was comforting to know that she still had areas of her life that were hers alone, that she didn't have to share with Harry. What this sharing might be doing to Nicholas never occurred to her. After Hermione left, Luna looked at the letter.

Dear Luna,

Harry Potter is your best friend? I'm impressed. We heard all about him, of course. I saw a picture in one of our papers not long after he defeated that Dark Wizard you had running amok in Europe. I was surprised. I expected someone older, or at least more of a warrior type. Harry Potter looked like a midget with glasses, although I seem to remember my uncle telling me he was a rather good Quidditch player. Quidditch is something I don't know much about. We play Quodpot here.

You have house elves? Queer things, aren't they? My uncle has some at his place in Glasgow. They do tend to get attached, to people, if not places. Good for you for paying them!

I hope you had fun on your shopping trip. I know that women can really get into that stuff. If you got something beautiful, describe it for me.

Your friend,

Nicholas

Luna wrote back with a several paragraphs on how Quidditch was played, and tried to describe her new rose robes, but she had to start the letter over when she inadvertently described the "Beautiful Beginnings" shop and clerk too clearly to be comfortable. There was plenty of time to tell Nicholas about the baby later. He might not want to write to a married woman, and his letters were a distraction and fun. She tried to describe Harry, too, to be fair. She explained about how loyal he was, and how brave, and about how much hardship he had suffered.

She had just gotten this letter off, when Harry himself came into the house. "Wow! You look great, but you definitely look like a mum-to-be."

She went to him and kissed him. "Thank you for everything. I've never had so many lovely things at one time before. Hermione and I had a wonderful time."

"Don't mention it," he said looking a bit embarrassed. "Ron and I did, too. The Cannons won, but it was really an exciting game. The Kestrals were up eighty points when the Cannons seeker got the snitch. Ron spent the whole time drinking butterbeer and yelling at their keeper. I don't know what shape he'll be in for dinner tonight. He and Hermione were supposed to go out."

"What do you want for dinner? I didn't tell Dobby or Winky what time to start dinner, because I didn't know when you'd be back."

"How about if we go out to dinner?" Harry asked casually. 'You look so nice, you deserve to be shown off."

"Are you ready for people to see the obvious?" Luna asked, biting her lip.

"I am if you are, and if you're not, remember, I'll be right behind you to brace you up."

They went to the closest wizarding place, the Leaky Cauldron. They did get quite a few curious looks as they sat down, ordered, and ate, but no one came up and said anything straight to their faces. Harry went out of his way to be encouraging, holding her hand on the table while they were waiting for their meal, and for the check. He took her hand to help her up when it was time to leave, and they walked out with their arms around each other. As they were leaving, they could have sworn they heard the click of a camera, but they didn't look back.

They had been caught on film, though. The article in the Quibbler about their marriage just beat the Witch Weekly scoop by two days. The Quibbler article was cute, and Colin's pictures had turned out beautifully. The one of Luna leaning against Harry, where they had their arms around each other, made the cover, and true to his word, Colin had sent them a set of prints, along with a copy of the magazine. Harry and Luna both examined it carefully, and Harry sent Dobby out to get frames for some the larger prints. He hung the largest one in the drawing room, and put one in their bedroom on the wardrobe. Luna was pleased to see him slip a small one into his wallet, and she put a similar one in her handbag. They had a nice afternoon, cuddling on the sofa, drinking lemonade, discussing the magazine article and the Quibbler in general. Harry encouraged Luna to reminisce about some of the places she had gone with her father looking for stories.

That pleasant afternoon almost made up for Harry's reaction to the Witch weekly article, which came out soon after. There was a picture of Harry walking out of the restaurant with his arm around Luna, and it had been shot at an angle, so it was quite clear Luna was wearing a maternity blouse. The caption said:

London, July 13- Newlyweds Harry and Luna Lovegood Potter cuddle their way out of a romantic dinner at the Leaky Cauldron. Besides her new husband and her new one-and-a-half carat wedding band, Mrs. Potter seemed to be showing off a new look, which prompted speculation about an equally new addition to the family.

"Those people are idiots," Harry said furiously, throwing the magazine on the floor. "I knew people were going to talk, but I don't like the idea of them sneaking around snapping photographs behind our backs. It's a complete invasion of privacy."

"Weren't you the one who said not to let things get to us?" Luna asked, dropping down into his lap. "Besides, it's the truth. Now that I think about it, I wish I hadn't worn that shirt, but it's so hard to have something new and not wear it, and my old things were getting just tight enough to be uncomfortable."

Harry sighed, and put his arm around her. "I didn't want you to be uncomfortable, and I told you that you looked good like that. You're right. I did say not to get hung up on these things, and if I expect it from you, I have no right to demand less of myself."

In the same batch of mail, they had gotten an invitation from Mrs. Longbottom for dinner. It was kind of humorous in it's own way. When Harry had finished reading it, he showed it to Luna.

Dear Harry:

Unless I hear to the contrary, we shall expect you and your young lady for dinner on Friday evening. Perhaps she (you will forgive me if I cannot at the moment recall her name) would like to see the greenhouses. Neville has had wonderful success with some new specimens this year.

Sincerely,

Louisa Fian Longbottom

"I would love to see the greenhouses, and Neville, too," Luna said uncertainly, "but Mrs. Longbottom makes me a bit nervous. It's the way she looks, all velvet dresses, lilac perfume, and elegant manners."

"She's all right when you get to know her," Harry assured Luna.

It was getting easier for them to be at ease with each other. They may have not had much in common when they started, but living together is one of the most in-common things people can do, and they were finding it easier to build each other up instead of tearing each other down. They were actually talking for hours a day now about things that they had never told anyone else before, things about their pasts, their feelings, their hopes and fears.

They actually had fun with Neville and his grandmother, who seemed quite relieved to see them so comfortable with each other. Neville was still thinking of opening his own plant business, and Harry not only continued to encourage him enthusiastically, he agreed to help with the financing.

"You would be my business partner?" Neville asked, awed.

"I'd be honored. I know you'll be great at a plant business, Neville. I've always told you that," Harry said sincerely. He turned to Luna. "What do you think, sweetheart?"

Luna hugged him around the neck. "Oh, Harry, I think it's a wonderful idea!" After that night, Mrs. Longbottom went out of her way to assure her friends that the Potters were a most affectionate couple, which helped the gossip about them die down a bit.

The party gave also Luna something to write to Nicholas about. She had gotten another letter from him.

Dear Luna,

Harry Potter is lucky to have a friend like you. Ten years in a cupboard being bossed around by some magic-hating muggles, and another ten years being the target of evil! I'm surprised he didn't go completely crazy.

Thanks for the run-down on Quidditch rules. I haven't been to a game since I was quite small and I had forgotten a lot. When I come back to Britain next year, you'll have to take me to a Quidditch game. Then maybe I'll get into it more. I can't really understand it all from your description. How does one ever manage to remember how all of those fouls are made?

Your dark pink robe with all of the pearls on it sounds gorgeous. I wish I could see you in it. Actually, I just wish I could see you. There's a undertone of wistfulness in your letters which I'm trying to fathom. An air of secrecy about details, as if you're not completely real, just some sort of pixie dream I had. I think about it a lot…

Yours,

Nicholas

She described Neville, and his grandmother, and their mansion as well as she could, and also wrote about the greenhouse, and all of the beautiful plants she had seen. She talked about how Harry and Neville had teased each other, remembering their days in Professor Sprout's greenhouse at Hogwarts. If she mentioned Harry in her letters, she felt she was not being completely dishonest.

The letters were, in truth, getting harder and harder to write. As she and Harry developed more of a bond, she didn't need someone like Nicholas to talk to anymore. She was no longer lonely when she was with Harry. But even though the need to discuss things with someone like Nicholas was beginning to fade, she didn't know how to end it, and deep down wasn't sure she wanted to. Harry had gotten a letter, which had made her very sad. It was from the Ministry, announcing that they were formally rejecting his application for auror training, because they were not accepting Aurors with children.

"Oh, Harry, I feel terrible about this!" she wailed when she saw it, hugging him around the neck crying.

He was astounded by her reaction, and patted her gently on the back. "Calm down! It doesn't matter. It isn't good for the baby when you get yourself so upset."

"I just feel like I've ruined your whole life. You've wanted to be an Auror forever, even before they were respectable."

He just shrugged. "Don't feel terrible. It can't be helped. Anyway, I don't think I wanted to work for the Ministry anyway. The baby just made up my mind for me."

Harry was used to letting fate decide his course of action. Luna was finding it harder. That was one of the reasons it was still flattering to have a friend in another country. Her time writing to Nicholas was time that was still her own, and under her complete control. She got a letter from him in return, though, that made her wonder what Nicholas really was thinking.

Dear Luna,

If you hadn't of told me about your shopping trip, I would think you had no girlfriends at all, only a crowd of men paying attention to you. First Potter, now this Longbottom. He sounds like a nice guy, but not at all the sort of man I would have thought you'd fancy. Maybe I'm just being silly.

I'm glad to hear you like flowers, though. I love gardening. All that digging in the earth, handling living things, helping them look the best you can, is a thrill. We have a very nice garden here, even if it's not too big. I can't wait to get back to Britain, get a big house of my own, and do the gardening.

Soon…I hope soon…

Nicholas

Ron and Hermione wanted to have a surprise party for Harry's birthday, at the Burrow, and Luna agreed to help them plan it. She even brought Dobby and Winky over to help Molly do the cooking and cleaning on the morning before the big day, while Harry was at a meeting of the St. Mungo's benefit committee. The benefit ball was only a few weeks away. Hermione and Ron were helping by sorting strawberries for Molly's famous homemade strawberry ice cream when Luna arrived. Molly was icing the birthday cake. Ginny was watching from the doorway.

"Hello, Luna, dear," she said. "Why don't you go help Ron and Hermione? Strawberries have to be sorted by hand. You can't tell if they're ripe by magic, and I want to do this cake myself. I want everything to be perfect for Harry's special day. He hasn't had too many nice birthdays, heaven knows."

Hermione looked up. "How did you get away today without him knowing anything?"

"They had a committee meeting for the St. Mungo's ball," Luna said. "It looks like it's going to be a great success."

"They're lucky to have Harry on the committee. I hear he's doing a wonderful job promoting it. We're definitely all going," Mrs. Weasley said. "Arthur got tickets from work. I think I'll wear that midnight blue hat with the jewels on it that Fred and George gave me a few years back, and my dark blue dress robes. Ginny still hasn't gotten anything, but we have time."

"I am NOT going to that stupid ball," Ginny snapped, flushing, and stalked out of the house.

Molly and Hermione looked gobsmacked, but Luna knew what the matter was. She followed Ginny outside, to where she was sitting on a bench by the pond.

"Just for your information, I'm going to keep a low profile at the ball, and I'm certainly not going to be sitting anywhere near you, so you can stop worrying. I will do my best not to disgrace you."

Luna had really hit the nail on the head when she had assumed Ginny was remembering the rude comments the Fawcett girls had made, among other things and was feeling personally humiliated, even if she had no logical reason to be.

"I can't help it," Ginny cried, kicking a peony bush, just missing a garden gnome who was lurking there listening in on their conversation. "I can't help the way I feel!"

"Neither can I, and right now I hate you," Luna answered honestly.

"I hate you, and I especially hate Harry Potter!" Ginny shrieked. "He lied to me. He told me that he had things to do on his own, not that he had things to do with you! He should have come back to me after the war. It should have been me, wearing that white dress, being written up for the papers. It should have been me giving his children life."

"Ginny, if Harry had ever asked you to marry him, he would never have slept with me. I know for a fact he never discussed marriage with you! We were friends once, you and I, remember? I thought we could be again, now that everything is settled, but that's going to be up to you." Luna turned on her heel and headed back into the house. The baby lurched in protest, and Luna put her hand on her belly in a consoling way. "Never mind, my angel," she whispered. "Daddy loves you. He loves you very much, and so do I."

Harry was delighted with the party, and to Luna's relief, Ginny held her tongue. She was so silent, though, that Harry noticed it. After they were home that night, and getting into bed, he commented on it. "What's going on with her? She still angry at me?"

"She's angry with both of us. She and I had a fight this afternoon. She thinks you led her on."

"If I did, I didn't mean to," he said, propping himself up on one elbow, as he watched Luna get ready for bed. " I don't know why I even went out with her. I knew it was going to be trouble. I spent every minute worrying about how Ron would take it. He always meant more to me than she did. She was going out with Dean, and it just drove me crazy every time I saw them kissing. I couldn't tell her anything important, but I was used to her being there, and just hanging around in the background. More than I liked Ginny, I think I liked the idea that there was someone who would always be there waiting for me."

"I think I was waiting for you," Luna said simply, climbing into the bed beside him, and he looked pleased, taking her in his arms for a very affectionate kiss, and then quite a bit more.

The benefit ball was a great success, and Luna was very proud of Harry for all of the work he had done on it. The Weasleys had all come, and things had not been too awkward, but it was clear to Luna that things had changed between all of them. Harry was still special to them, but he was no longer a surrogate son. Trying to stay as close as they had been in the past was obviously not going to work. In fact, Luna began to realize the less they were involved in each other's lives, the better off she and Harry would be. It was sad realization.

Summer was over and autumn was winding down slowly. She and Harry spent more time alone, buying things for the house, fixing up a room for the baby, choosing baby furniture, and going to more frequent healer visits. The baby moved often now, and Harry never got tired of pressing gently on Luna's belly, and feeling the baby kick him back.

Harry got a surprise message from his cousin, Dudley the second week in October, asking him to please come right away, if he ever wanted to see his Aunt Petunia again. She'd had a stroke, and wasn't expected to live. She was asking to see him. Harry was horrified by this message. "I don't want to go, he said, looking like a frightened child. "I thought I was done with them, with that place. I have no more obligations to them."

"Your aunt kept you alive," Luna said slowly. "She may have done so without much enthusiasm, but she did take you in. She kept your uncle from throwing you out before you could defend yourself. If you do not go, I think you will regret it. Make peace with your mother's family, Harry, before we have one of our own. Forgiveness costs nothing, but it is worth so much."

"Come with me," he begged her, and she said that she would. Harry then decided, since they would not be home for awhile to send the elves to help Neville, who was cleaning up his new premises in preparation for opening his shop.

When they got to Privet Drive, Harry shuddered. "It looks exactly the same," he said. Luna saw only a typical muggle house in a typical muggle neighborhood. Dudley opened the door, and Harry saw nothing of his aunt in him. He was Uncle Vernon all over again, with a thick neck and narrow eyes.

Dudley stood still for a moment, eyeing them both, then stepped aside. "Come in. She will be glad to see you. She's been asking for you day and night."

"Is it really that bad?" Harry asked quietly, as they stepped into the hall. He averted his eyes so he didn't have to look at the door that led to the little cupboard under the stairs.

Dudley ran a hand through his thinning blonde hair. "We brought her home to die. I gave the nurse the night off. I knew she would want to see you alone." He looked at Luna curiously; his eyes lingering on her protruding maternity blouse.

"My wife goes where I go," Harry said firmly.

"You're married? I haven't even got a girlfriend," Dudley said bitterly. "After Dad died, I was all she had left and she never let me forget it. I had to go to work at Grunnings because HE had. I had to stay here. No one was good enough for me, as far as she was concerned. Every time I brought girls home, she made them miserable. I could never get free of her. At least you did."

They stood around awkwardly for a moment, then Dudley sighed. "What the hell…it is good of you to at least give her a peaceful death. Once you turned seventeen and left the house she lived in torment. She was frightened all of the time."

Harry went into Petunia's room slowly. Luna and Dudley stood in the doorway. When Petunia opened her eyes, she saw him standing in the shadow.

"James, no, please don't. Wait until things are more settled. I don't want to lose my sister. She's all I've got, the only one who understands me. I don't understand you. Why can't you wait until it's safer? James, please! I just have this feeling…"

She closed her eyes and Harry stepped into the room. "Aunt Petunia, it's me. It's Harry."

"Harry?" She opened her eyes again, and plucked at the covers with bony fingers. "Harry? Is it safe for you to be here?"

"Yes, Aunt Petunia." He sat beside her bed, and looked at her thin, gray face and lifeless, limp hair. "The war is over, Aunt Petunia. It's over."

"He will come back," she muttered. "Not dead. Can come back at any moment. I have to keep the boy, my sister's only child, but I'm so afraid. He could come at any time. Not dead, no, not."

"He IS dead, Aunt Petunia," Harry said softly. "You don't have to be afraid anymore. He's really dead, and I'm not a little boy anymore. I can take care of myself. I have a wife, and we're going to have a baby, and every thing is going to be all right."

"No," Petunia said, staring out at nothing. "I have this terrible feeling…"

She closed her eyes again, and did not speak. Harry watched her blanket rise and fall with her shallow breathing. He glanced up at Dudley. "I'll sit with her for awhile. Could you please take Luna somewhere so she can rest?"

Dudley shrugged and he and Luna went downstairs. He made her a cup of tea, and they sat in the kitchen.

"She does that all the time," he said to Luna. "She talks to Lily and James as if they are there, and tells them they are in danger. It's totally weird. I never thought she cared." He paused. "So when is your baby due?"

"December," Luna answered, sipping the milky tea.

"You're a witch," Dudley said flatly. "It was not a question.

"Yes."

"Cool stuff, some of that magic was…listen, if you're really tired, just let me know."

"Well, I am a little. I run out of energy pretty early sometimes, nowadays."

He looked around the kitchen, which was still as surgically clean as always. "Perhaps you should go stay in Harry's old room until morning."

Luna followed him down the hall, shooting a curious glance at the cupboard under the stairs. He showed her up to the smallest bedroom. She sat on Harry's narrow childhood bed, and looked around the room, trying to imagine it with bars on the windows. Had Petunia been the way she had as a way of distancing herself from Harry, whom she believed to be a danger, or in danger? Luna realized they probably would never know. She climbed onto the bed, and fell asleep.

She was wakened in the night by a loud keening noise, and wondered for a moment where she was. Then Harry appeared. "Petunia is dead," he said flatly. "Dudley is taking it badly. She did love him, after all. I think we should stay and help him with the funeral."

So they did. The neighbors all came, and looked at Luna, surprised to see her, and to see Harry and Dudley working together. When it was all over, Luna and Harry were glad to get back to Grimmauld Place. The day after the funeral, Luna woke up with a backache. Harry noticed her painful movements, but neither of them worried much. The healer had told them that carrying around the extra weight on her small frame would probably do that.

"I'm going to go see how Neville is doing," Harry told her. "I'll come back in a little while to see how you are."

"I'll be fine," Luna said, kissing him goodbye. She was sitting with her feet up, when Dobby announced Mr. Harold Hunnicutt. Before she could even say hello, he started to speak.

"An owl came with a letter for you," he said sternly. "When no one was here, he returned it to the Quibbler office." He extended an envelope, and Luna took it.

"Aren't you going to read it?" He asked pointedly.

"Not right now, if you don't mind."

He sat across from her, looking as grim as possible, for him. "I can probably tell you what it says. I had a most disturbing talk on the floo with Mr. Mayer. His nephew is going to start working with him in January, and he told Rory not to make any plans for him for outside of working hours, because he hoped to be spending all of his time with you. It sounded as if it has all been arranged between the two of you. Rory Mayer was most confused."

Luna blushed. "I had no idea…nothing has been arranged." She opened the letter.

My dearest Luna, (That was a switch…up to now it has always been 'dear'!)

I have arranged to start my new job a bit earlier than my uncle originally planned. This letter writing is fine, but I will tell you more about that when I see you. I will also tell you a lot of other things that can't be put into writing. I will be staying with my uncle until we can find a new home, if you know what I mean. If you do, write back immediately. Time is of the essence!

All of my love, forever,

Nicholas

"May I see the letter?" Mr. Hunnicutt asked.

Luna reluctantly handed it over. "He was just a pen-friend, someone to talk to about animals and things."

Mr. Hunnicutt scanned the letter, and threw it back to her. "Luna! How could you? The boy is in love with you, or at least he thinks he is! I can't believe you did this!"

"But it hasn't been like that until now," she argued. "Besides, I thought you knew he was writing to me. What did you think of these letters coming to the office?"

"I assumed you had told him you were married, and that you really were just pen-friends, as you put it. This puts a different light on everything!" He paused. "To be honest, I was glad you were keeping some outside contacts, in case you ever needed them."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

He sighed. "Luna, I know you love Harry Potter, and I knew he's determined to do right by his child, but surely you don't think he's going to feel obligated to be married to you forever?"

Luna stared at him. "Sometimes you shock me. You shock me very much." She suddenly remembered what Hermione had said about the situation being temporary and wondered if everyone thought this.

Hunnicutt sighed. "I just can't help thinking that things would be very different if your father had lived."

Luna had to admit this. "It certainly would be. I can't believe, though, that you think it's all right to deceive Harry, but not all right to deceive Nicholas."

"I don't like deceit in any form, and I want you to do something about it now. You must write to Nicholas at once. I'll try to explain all this to Rory somehow." He left and Luna, her back hurting worse than ever, went upstairs to the desk, and wrote five letters, each one more complicated than the last. She tore each letter up, one at a time, and burned them. She then cried for an hour, then sat down to write again.

Dear Nicholas,

I have been selfish and cruel. There's no way of explaining it, except to tell you that I really did like you, and I couldn't bear to end our correspondence, as I must now do that the whole terrible business has caught up with me. The truth is, I am a married woman, and I have been for quite some time.

I can't expect you to forgive me. I know you will probably despise me, but I still want to thank you for being my friend.

Most sincerely and regretfully,

Luna Potter

She sent the letter, and sat down to cry some more. When Harry came home, she told him she was crying because her back hurt so badly, and he insisted on taking her to the hospital. They no sooner got there than she had the hemorrhage.