Still Open For Business
They'd tried to make Harry leave with the others, but as an adult nobody could ever tell him what to do again - he'd steadily refused to leave the castle until the last of the injured were treated and removed.
"Hello, Harry Potter" Luna's slightly Irish lilt made him come out of his thoughts and he looked to see her coming towards him dressed in a jumper and jeans.
"Hey, Luna… How's things?"
"Good" she replied as she sat on the grass next to him. "My dad is dead" the girl added.
"Um, sorry…?" he stuttered.
"He died from all the torture the Death Eaters put him through after you escaped" Luna said calmly. "At least he's up in heaven with Mummy now"
"Right… So I guess you are the head of your family now"
"A small family with only me in it, but it's a family all the same"
"I know how that feels" Harry said bitterly and watched as smoke still drifted out of the castle. He could see where huge parts were missing in its ancient walls, some of the smaller towers had been reduced to rubble and the sickly sweet smell of death could be smelt even by the Great Lake.
"You do, don't you?" Luna said quietly. "Its not very nice is it?" she added.
"Being on your own or the castle?" Harry chuckled.
"Both, but the castle looks very sad for itself" Luna said. "I don't know if it will ever reopen again"
"Is it that bad?" Harry jerked to look directly at her with some concern.
"I heard Professor McGonagall say that it might be dangerous with all the latent magic in the air, something about even the goblins couldn't handle a big task like this without calling in outside help from other branches. Anyway, why is Ginny not with you?"
"She went home to bury her brother" Harry said softly. "She wants to get back with me, but I don't want to get with her if that makes sense"
"It does, Harry – we've all changed from children to adults" Luna said. Harry thought she sounded as bitter and angry as he'd ever heard her before. "Some people had to grow up really quickly…"
"And some will never grow up" Harry finished for her. "You're right, Luna"
"About what?"
"The castle does look a little sad" he stood up and helped her to her feet. "Let's make it happy again"
"How?"
"You know how, Luna, you are a Seer after all…" and Luna blinked several times in surprise. She'd tried very hard to keep the news of her abilities secret, yet Harry had just demolished the barriers in just a few words. Smiling to her friend, though, she took his hand and allowed him to walk with her towards the castle.
#
It was the one spot of the castle that had escaped any damage at all – the pole still stood gleaming with a few strands of rope running up and down it. Harry looked to see the bundle Luna was carrying being fixed by the girl to the turret wall – it had taken her a few minutes with the help of her wand, though the writing was a little wonky in a few places. The pair exchanged glances, nodded to the other and then they pushed the bundle over the side and then pulled on the rope until they could no longer do so.
"What are you feeling, Luna?" Harry asked as he noticed her eyes were shut but tears fell out of them all them same. She sniffed and then opened her eyes to look at Harry with a smile on her face.
"The castle feels happy now, Harry Potter, it has hope" she replied. Together, the two friends left battlements and went to see the remaining occupants and their wellbeing. They left behind a giant version of the Hogwarts crest fluttering through the smoke in a slight breeze and a giant sign over the main doors to the school…
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Still Open For Business
Re-Opens 1st September
