Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter

Beta Services: DreamStallion33

Chapter XXXI: Autumn

Harry apparated with a tiny pop into the clearing outside Xeno's tower, a questionable black smoke poured from one of the windows, and Harry hoped that it was nothing more than poor cooking. Harry remembered how close he had come to disaster in Xeno's old home however, and he decided to be cautious when he entered. He was probably just being silly, but Harry couldn't shake off a feeling he hadn't known truly for many years; danger.

He kept his wand up his sleeve and knocked authoritatively on the door next to the sign posts. Harry smiled despite himself, keep off the Gernumblies indeed. Now as he waited, he remembered a happier time where Gernumblies were involved- Luna had been bitten by one at Fleur & Bills wedding. He chuckled.

Harry once again witnessed the door of the Lovegood home swing open, and he was greeted by Xenophilius. "Harry Potter, I expected that I would be seeing you soon." he gripped Harry's hand and nearly pulled him into the house.

"Sorry, Xeno- you say you were expecting to see me?" Harry's eyes scanned all over the home, all across the suspicious looking animal skins, past the empty jars, and his eyes scanned the stairs leading to Luna's old room.

"Yes, the Worrywhims, of Welsh descent." his voice was gruff tonight, and Harry continued to look around.

"No, nothing like that at all." Harry knew it was time for tact, he couldn't let Xeno know that he didn't know Luna's whereabouts at such an hour. "I am actually here to borrow," Harry paused, needing to remember. "the recipe for your Fresh Water Plimpie soup. I was thinking about making it for a meal soon, and it was good." Harry lied, remembering how disgusted Ron and Hermione had looked.

"Plimpies…yes. Let me get that for you, it's in the kitchen. Follow me." he proceeded out of the room. "You'll have to ignore the smell, I had a dish go bad on me," Xeno called from ahead of Harry.

Harry had a better view now, and saw no trace of Luna- he was still feeling a little on edge, but he was sure Luna was ok. He did know an unexplainable need to find her quickly though, he was worried. "Luna said she was going to try and come to see you soon, she wanted to know a good time." Harry lied again, using his best Auror techniques to find out information.

"Hrm…well I do have the interview with the Leader of the Gaudy Gnome Tribe next week, take away a Thursday with my publisher…hmm…." he said, rooting through a heavy looking book with many yellowed pages. "yes, I think any day but Thursday and Friday…it will be so nice to see her, it's been too long."

With those words Harry's heart fell a bit, Luna had not been here at all recently, and so once Xeno found the recipe Harry accepted it with thanks and quickly departed out the front door, his wand in his hand as he stared into the darkening sky. "Luna, where are you?"

# # #

Ginny had taken to abusing Luna verbally, since physical pain only seemed to exhilarate her. "Do you know why you have no friends? It's because you're a blonde, no blondes have friends." Ginny declared, as she stared at Luna defiantly.

"Ginny, that is the most pathetic thing I've ever heard. Everyone knows that I have plenty of friends." Luna was getting a little bored of Ginny's behavior, honestly, the girl knew no good tactics. "Ginny, what's going to happen when I get out of here?"

Ginny giggled, and her eyes lit up. "You think you're getting out of here? When?!" Ginny giggled onwards.

"What will you children say? Forget Harry and the Ministry- is this really how you want your children remembering you?"

Ginny did not stay in the room long after that, Luna hoped desperately that she had knocked some sense into her.

# # # # #

The Owl arrived exactly one day after Harry had left, and Knoby unrolled the parchment and read the letter.

Knoby,

I am still continuing my search for Luna, Xeno knows nothing of her whereabouts and I don't want to keep you and the children in the dark. I have however been in touch with Neville and I want the children going back to Hogwarts at once- their education must continue, and plus, I think it will be the best place for them emotionally until this is all resolved.
Keep your chin up,

Harry

The house elf's eyes widened, and his head nodded in understanding. He sighed, and then turned the parchment into dust which he dumped into the rubbish bin. Knoby informed the children that they would be returning to Hogwarts on the next day via the Floo Network. Though they had some worry over returning, they trusted their father completely, and so it was that on the next day that they departed.

Knoby felt a great deal of loneliness having to stay in the great estate all by himself, and as there was no work to be done, he was in quite a state.

The days slipped by, and after the initial Owl there was no further communication from Harry. The children however were quite regular with their Owls, to which Knoby responded as informatively as possible. According to the children, Scorpius had returned to school, and it was a loss of points to anyone caught harassing Scorpius. Though Knoby didn't know the boy- he did feel a deep pity for him. Knoby never knew his mother nor father.

All in all, things were quite somber, and the passing days were hard on the elf.

# # # # # #

The room was cold, and Draco pulled at the inadequate covers that had fallen between the bed and the wall. The patrol was already making a din throughout the corridors of Draco's ward. Sleepiness soon left him and it took a little energy to get out of bed that morning, but then he remembered what today was- it was his trial.

He found himself smiling, a rare thing as of late, he knew that he would see his son today, Draco wished for a picture of Scorpius, but the guards wouldn't let any prisoner have their personal effects.

"Luna will be here shortly," Draco sighed, he had really come to hope on her for his freedom, and somewhere deep inside him he knew that she would convince the Wizengamot of his innocence. "then I can see Scorpius." he felt his spirits fall, however. "Astoria…" simply speaking her name seemed to make the morning feel more hopeful, though his voice carried sadness…

The hours slipped by, Draco grew more anxious with each passing second. His guard told him at around noon to be ready for his departure to the Ministry. Draco went to the bars. "Has my legal representation made contact with your people yet?" he asked, not wanting to doubt Luna, only to reaffirm that which he hoped for.

"No communication has been made." he said coldly, and left Draco wrapped around his bars, wondering if he really was in trouble.

# # # # # # # #

Luna had been alone for quite some time now, the darkness keeping her company and the cold not daring to settle upon her flesh. Ginny had not even made an attempt to re-enter the room, and Luna was a little grateful for it; a little uneasy. Her thoughts were of Harry, and those alone were keeping her warm. "Hmmm…this would make a rather interesting role play…" Luna said, not expecting her voice to be so loud.

She had spent some time wondering how she might best escape, the chains of course were magically reinforced. Her dirk was still in it's hiding place, but with no way of reaching it, it remained hidden. She felt hungry, but she had no idea for how long she had been. Time was nonexistent.

There were footsteps from outside the door before it opened, revealing the silhouetted form of Ginny. The room was brightened a moment later, Ginny's wand held firm by her fingers.

"Luna." Ginny walked in front of Luna, who watched her closely.

"Ooh, look, a Blubbering Humdinger." Luna said, stretching herself as far as she could around Ginny.

Ginny turned around with a look of intrigue on her face, before she heard Luna's snickering.

"Very funny." Ginny returned her attention to Luna, who smiled knowingly.

"Fooled you once."

"Luna, I don't want to do this anymore; I'm sorry." Ginny's face looked as though she had aged.

"You don't want to keep me as your hostage anymore?" Luna asked, hope empowering every word.

Ginny sat down now, her wand falling onto the floor out of her reach. She held her face in her hands and shook her head, long locks of red falling in front of her hands. "No." Came her muffled reply.

Luna suspected a trick of some kind, but she couldn't rationalize why Ginny would do so.

"Oh." Luna managed. "Well that is good. Much preferable to this, you weren't very good at it."

Ginny nodded, her hair swaying. Luna heard her breathing become labored, and saw a tear drop fall from Ginny's wrist. "I have done horrible things, and I don't want to do it anymore."

"So, no more dark witch?" Luna inquired, "Might I be released then?" Luna dared to hope.

"No, not yet. I need to tell you Luna." Ginny said, her face emerging from behind her hands and hair.

"I'm listening." Luna genuinely was.

Ginny told Luna about her wicked deeds, she told her over and over again why she had done them. The grief had consumed her, she hadn't wanted to lose Draco, she had never wanted to lose Harry, not really. She reacted violently and told Luna of the diary, and how this time there was no dark wizard controlling her. Ginny was sobbing openly now, and Luna found herself believing her tale.

"What made you give this up, Ginny?" Luna asked, looking at the pitiful woman before her.

"It was what you said,…what my children will think of me. I have ruined their lives, from the moment I Imperiused Draco and Astoria. 'You didn't just cheat on Dad, you cheated on us.' " Ginny's shoulder shook. "Look at what I've done to James, my own flesh and blood." Ginny looked away, taking her wand and casting Relashio on Luna. "He will never forgive me or love me again." Ginny remained seated, while Luna rose to her feet.

"There's a way to be good again." Luna volunteered.

Ginny laughed. "No there's not, not this time L." Ginny reverted to her childhood nickname of Luna. "I just want you to make me pay for what I've done. I have a copy of the Prophet, Draco is standing trial today…take me to his trial, and I will openly confess before the Wizengamot. Please, restrain me Luna. Before I hurt anyone else."

Luna shrugged and used the chains on Ginny, before she was satisfied she asked. "I'm going to take your wand now, ok?"

"You don't need to ask my permission." Ginny shook her head sadly. "Do it."

Luna took the wand and wondered if Mr. Ollivander could make her another one. Ooh, good, I get to see Mr. Ollivander again soon. Luna grinned, and the children and Harry!

"I will take us to the Ministry now." Luna said, and Ginny nodded.

Luna disapparated with Ginny in tow, a smile on her face that even the compressing darkness couldn't remove.

# # #

AN: Hello All,

I've returned from the honeymoon and it was fantastic. Better news still, I have a new computer so the updates to which you've grown accustomed shall return.

Dream & I spent a little bit more time working on this chapter to make it work- hope you've enjoyed it. The next update will come quickly, until then,

Happy reading.

-TowerMage