Harry sat down at the large wooden desk in his bedroom and pulled a blank piece of parchment from the stack to his left. He rummaged in a drawer for a quill (that wasn't broken) and after finding one, dipped it into a well of green ink.

Gringotts

-Ron-

-Hermione-

-Neville-

-Dean-

Luna

Fred & George

Dumbledore

Seamus

Hagrid

He slashed through the first four names and set the quill down with a sigh. Four down, six to go…

---

Harry only re-checked the address once. After all, he really shouldn't have been at all surprised. He drove through the gates and parked next to a large tree sprouting some bulbous, foul-smelling pink…things and walked up to the door, all the while staring in amazement at the creation that was Luna Lovegood's house.

To call it a house was perhaps a bit of an understatement. The Quibbler was obviously quite profitable, because the building was more like a mansion than anything, though it was nothing like any mansion that Harry had ever seen. Ever.

The structure was covered in spherical blue protrusions that squealed and popped spectacularly when prodded. Purple ooze crawled its way down the face of the house, disappearing magically before it reached the ground. A new blue bulge would grow in the dead one's place, restoring the wall to its original glory.

The roof had spectacularly large green flowers growing from every inch of it. They were whispering. It was quite alarming. Harry noticed large pink insects flying around to each of the flowers, pollinating them. One flew down near to him and he could tell that it whispered too. The big bug was shivering in fear. Harry heard it say something about Crumple-horned Snorkacks before flying away again.

Something large and hairy nudged Harry in the back, and he jumped, whipping around to face it. The Snorkack came up to Harry's waist. It was a drab shade of brown and had a nose like an accordion. It snorted loudly and Harry jumped. It looked hungry. Harry smiled uncomfortably and gingerly patted it on the head. The Snorkack snorted, then walked away dejectedly, obviously realizing that Harry had nothing for him. Harry finally walked up the steps to the large door. The door was carved with a large Crumple-horned Snorkack eating a muffin. Harry blinked, then knocked softly on the door, hoping it wouldn't spontaneously blow up in his face.

The left side of the Snorkack door swung open, and Luna Lovegood stood framed in the doorway. She was wearing deep purple robes that had a collection of pockets, all of differing sizes. She held a copy of The Quibbler under her arm. Harry could vaguely make out the words: Harry Potter – Released From Azkaban – Or Was He? With the subtitle: What the Ministry Isn't Telling You.

Luna spoke, her voice as airy and bewildered as ever.

"Oh…Harry. I was just reading about you."

"Oh," Harry cleared his throat, "erm…were you?"

"Oh yes. About how the ministry created a double of you so they could keep the real you in custody. Quite fascinating, really."

"Erm. Yeah…Listen, I really need to talk to you Luna."

"You can come in. I'll put a pot of Bertie Bott's Every Flavored Tea on…though I think there's only the Spinach kind left…"

"Oh, um…no, that's quite all right Luna. That won't be necessary."

"Alright then."

Luna moved aside to let Harry into the large foyer. There was a Snorkack head mounted on the wall above a framed assortment of butterbeer caps. Luna motioned Harry to the left into the sitting room.

"Um. So, do you live here alone?" Harry asked her, taking a seat on the normal-looking couch. The couch said 'ouch.' Harry shifted uncomfortably.

"On no. My daddy lives here too. He's not here now, though. He's at the office; he's been quite busy lately.

"Has he?"

"Yes," Luna was patting a cat that had just jumped into her lap. It was a sickly shade of yellow and had three tails.

"Listen, Luna, I have a big favor to ask of you," Harry shifted again, and the couch grumbled in annoyance.

"Hmmm?" The cat was purring. One of its tails fell off and landed on the ground. Harry jumped, and the couch cursed loudly.

"Your cat!" Harry's eyes were wide.

"Oh it's quite alright. Happens all the time. Grows right back, nothing to worry about - that one was just getting old…he's had it for a month, you know? There'll be a new one in a few days."

"Oh. Um, well Luna. I need your help with something. You see, a few friends and I, we're going to…well, break into Gringotts."

"Oh? Are you? Well – that sounds quite exciting."

Harry was shocked.

"Erm…does it?"

"Oh yes! Father would love to write about it. Yes, quite exciting."

"Well. Um. Would you like to help then?"

"Can I really?" Luna's protuberant eyes lit up with happiness.

Harry nodded encouragingly, amazed at Luna's enthusiasm.

"How will we get in? Will we use a Fractrated Break In Device? That's what the Ministry uses, you know. Highly illegal."

"Well…um…you see Luna…"

---

Harry stepped through the brick arch that opened onto Diagon Alley. He stuffed his hands into the pockets of his robes and kept his head down, trying not to draw attention to himself. He held his breath as he rushed past the Apothecary trying to avoid the unsavory smell that wafted out to meet his nose. Owls hooted from Eeylops Owl Emporium, and Harry could see their jewel bright eyes shining through the window. He would much rather be in ensconced in the darkness of the Owl Emporium than out in the crowd of people whispering about how he was a convict, rushing their young children away from him, saying how they always knew he had a funny look about him. Harry hurried on.

A bell tinkled as he entered Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. The shop was full of students chuckling at the latest joke spell and young wizards harassing their girlfriends with disappearing mice and spiders. Harry tried hard not to look at the gaggle of girls surrounding the pygmy puffs' cage.

"They're really cute!" one of them squealed.

Harry squeezed his eyes shut for a moment and moved quickly through the throng to the counter.

"Harry!"

Fred and George were wearing an outrageous pair of robes. They reminded Harry of a play he had seen after Hogwarts with one of his muggle friends called Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Technicolor being the key word there.

Fred and George came around the side of the counter and slapped Harry on the back.

"Out of Azkaban then?" George grinned. "Learned the error of your ways have you?"

"Actually…can we talk in back?"

Fred shouted to a pretty blonde girl straightening a rack of U-No-Poo stickers. "Oi! Verity! Man…or should I say wo-man the counter, we've got some business to attend to!" The twins led Harry to the back of the store.

"So, what's up Harry?"

"I'm breaking into Gringotts."

Fred laughed. "Sounds like great fun."

"I'm serious. And I need your help."

The two looked a bit hesitant, but agreed right away.

"We're with you every step of the way, mate. We owe you big. Without those Triwizard winnings, we would not be standing here. We'd be janitors at the Leaky Caldron, or something equally dreadful, and -"

"Yes, alright. Thanks very much. Now I owe you two one."

"Not at all Harry, not at all. As a matter of fact, have a Canary Cream…we know you like those."

Harry eyed the cream warily.

"Thanks, but I think I'll pass. Good luck with the shop, I'll get in touch with you two soon."

Harry moved back into the joke shop and through the crowd of customers. The bell tinkled again as the door swung closed behind him. He shivered in the cold that had settled in while he had been in the Weasley's shop. The sky above was cloudy and gray. A drop of rain ran down the lens of his glasses.

The great white marble expanse of Gringotts Wizard Bank rose up before him from across the street. He could see two figures in the brightly lit foyer. A towheaded man embraced a woman with fiery red hair. She was laughing. A few more raindrops fell. And then they were kissing and rain poured from the sky in torrents, reflecting Harry's mood. It disgusted Harry beyond belief, but he couldn't look away. He couldn't move out of the rain. His robes were soaked through, but he forced himself to stand there and watch as pieces of his world fell apart bit by bit and were washed away into the darkness.

---

"Come in."

Harry pushed the door inward and stepped into the aged Headmaster's circular office.

"Ah, Harry. I thought I might be seeing you soon. Have a seat."

"Thank you." Harry lowered himself into one of the two chairs in front of Dumbledore's desk and politely refused the lemon drop he was offered.

Dumbledore sat back in his high-backed chair and surveyed Harry over tented fingers. His eyes twinkled.

"Headmaster, I -"

"I know why you're here Harry." Dumbledore interrupted.

Harry was astonished.

"But how could you possibly -"

"Miss Granger is a very good friend Harry. You should thank her sometime."

Recognition crossed Harry's face. He settled back into his chair and passed a hand across his face.

"Sir, I -"

"It's alright Harry. What you and your friends are planning to do is against wizarding law."

Harry felt guilt cloud his senses. How could he ask this of Dumbledore? Asking the others to break the law was bad enough, but Dumbledore was a great wizard and Harry's mentor. For all Harry knew, the Headmaster may have already turned him in. The dementors would probably be arriving any minute now. He should never have come.

Harry stood up.

"Sit down Harry."

Harry sat down reluctantly, lowering his head into his hands.

"I am going to help you Harry."

Harry's head shot up. He fixed Dumbledore with a bewildered stare.

"Why would you -"

"Love, Harry. You love Miss Weasley very much. Even I, a dithering old man can see that. And I am willing to help you win her back, even if it means breaking the law. There's not enough love left in the world - we might as well preserve any that remains…Lemon drop?" he offered again.

This time, Harry accepted.