Disclaimer; see in Part One.

Hidden Bridges
Ryoko Porter

Part Seventeen

'Love cannot be much younger than the lust for murder.'

Sigmund Freud

As the killing curse hit Christopher Weasley, the entire body went limp as the tentacles slackened before they fell. The five captives were dropped unceremoniously, leaving them to catch themselves as they could. Poor Luna was still caught up in the coils of tentacles around her as she fell, and Harry caught Draco after landing not a second before. Then, just as the body was about to fall from lack of balance, the mane covered head descended down upon it with its mouth stretched open. Everyone watched horrified as Julian started to swallow the body of the man, with the tentacles slowly being dragged in. even the other head seemed a bit disgusted by the whole ordeal, but still continued to watch with fascination.

It was when Draco noticed that Luna, being wrapped with tentacles was being dragged in also, did the other's panic. Having been knocked out from the drop, the poor woman was helpless to save herself. It was thanks to Hermione's quick thinking that she was saved from the fate of being swallowed, by casting a "effrego" spell, which split the ends of the tentacles from the rest. They then watched as the head threw itself back and swallowed the last of Christopher Weasley.

The sounds of someone stumbling over the ruble turned Harry and his friend's attention over to the entrance of the room, there Luna Lovegood was faltering in with distress all over her face. It was quickly realized that it had been her to cast the killing curse, and it seemed that she was dismayed by the act she'd done. Forgetting about Mrs. Grey for the moment, Harry ran over to his friend, with Draco only a step behind. When they reached Luna, the two stopped, wondering what they should do.

'Luna?' Harry whispered quietly to his friend. 'It's okay Luna, you'll be okay.'

'Harry?' Luna quietly begged with lost eyes. 'Harry, I… I,' she stuttered.

'I know, Luna. I know,' Harry answered as he wrapped his arms around her.

Draco wasn't one for comforting others, but he knew that he should at least be near. So he stood close to his new friend and lover, letting his presence be his comfort. He would be eternally grateful to Luna, for saving his and Harry's life. So through the tragedy of murder, the three young magic user's companionship was solidified. And without even realizing what he was doing, Draco found himself holding Luna from behind in a comforting embrace.

From not even twenty feet away, Hermione and Ron watched the encounter between their two friends and Draco. It was at this moment that they both realized that they were being replaced in Harry's heart. Or at the very least, shifted into another category. But in their hurt, even they could see how well they fit together. There even seemed to be a glow, originating off their friendly energies.

So preoccupied with the site of the future "Golden Trio", Hermione and Ron did not even notice Luna Grey awaken and untangle herself. Gaining her senses again, the woman turned to see her younger-self being comforted by the two boys. Getting to her feet, she then turned to face her husband's chimera form. She took a moment to take in the site of what had become of Julian, in the years after his death. All the while, thinking of the "Julian" that she'd left behind. She could only guess as to how old the wizard before her was, as she was not from his time. Her existence was only eight years after the time she now was in. And in her time was a young Julian, probably wondering where she'd disappeared to.

Stepping over to the giant beast Luna Grey let the heads bend down to her, and then took a moment to pet them lovingly. 'Thank you for loving me, Julian. However I think that is time that I should leave,' she said quietly. 'And good luck to you, my love.'

The woman then made her way over to the three embracing teenagers, placing her hand on Harry's shoulder to announce her arrival. The two boys detangled themselves from her younger counterpart, moving so that she could embrace her. For the observers it was an odd site, to see the two Luna's holding each other. One scarred by time, war, and love. The other scarred by her first kill. Both of them taking a moment to mourn life.

'I have to go,' the elder said to the girl. 'I have influenced you far too much as it is, you should not have to be forced into the life that I had. I pray that there is someone out there for you. In the meanwhile, stay away from Julian. He means you no harm, but I don't want you fall in love with him as I have. Especially if he is to never exist, as his plan is. Do you understand?' she asked, looking into her past-self's eyes.

'I do,' Luna Lovegood answered with tears in her eyes. The two again tightly embraced, both gathering their strength.

Pulling out of the hug, Luna Grey looked over to Harry and Draco who were watching the ordeal together. They stood a bit too close, to mistake any of their intentions toward each other. And the woman couldn't help but be happy for them, just as she had been when she'd first learned that they would be together. She could only pray that Julian was as good as he seemed to be, and would prevent the accident that would change them.

'Guys, take care of her for me,' she asked her closest friends. 'And see if you can help her in the dating scene if you could?' she elaborated. Harry and Draco nodded their compliance, both with a slightly wicked look in their eyes. Both present and future Luna could tell that they would have fun with this request. 'Hermione! Ron! You two take care of yourselves would you? And don't be too harsh with them,' she said referring to Harry, Draco, and Luna. 'You both made good friends for Harry, but things change. Relationships change.'

It was another ten minutes before Luna Grey had the Hiding Gates open, letting everyone peer into the vast infinity of the Hidden Bridges. Ron looked a bit feint at the site, but the others took in the amazing site with excitement.

'But how will you find your way?' Hermione asked.

'With Golden Thread,' the woman grinned, as she pulled out a ball of golden thread and placed it before her. Everyone then watched as it started over one of the bridges, unraveling itself for her to follow. And follow she did, leaving behind her past for the last time.

♦♦♦

'Um… Harry?'

'Yeah Ron?' Harry turned to his oldest friend.

'Why is Grey still a…. dragon?' Ron asked, hesitating on what to call Julian's creature form. The others turned to look at the huge serpent, all beginning to wonder the same thing. But before anyone could say anything else, the loud sound of bones cracking came from its long body.

End Part 17.

Thank god! Got to give my poor fingers a chance to rest. More to come though! And just as a note; Christopher Weasley is something like six generations younger than Ron's generation, and it doesn't really matter which of Ron's siblings that he's most closely related to. Review! Review! Review!

Ryoko Porter