Author's Note: This chapter would have come out sooner but I decided to combine it with the following one as I suspect you lot would not have appreciated the suspense in this case. Now, I need to get to work again planning out how to handle the next couple chapters. BTW Cyber Hamster which runs my heart on reviews and such is looking a little skinny. Please provide him with sustenance. My Betas are pretty busy lately so this one isn't betad. I'll look into doing a clean up job a bit later. My brain is melted right now.
One last note: I'm working on a secondary project which I might put out someday. I need volunteers to help look it over and give opinions on the general premise.
Warnings: Disturbing content, possible trigger events.
Chapter 22: The Respite Ends.
Tonks hated interrupting those two. She hoped that some time soon the time they spent together would force them to see the light. But who knew with teenagers, they could be so damn blind sometimes.
But she had no choice but to bother them now. They had disappeared together into Hermione's room a couple hours ago and for all she cared they could stay in there the whole night if they wanted to. But just a minute ago one of the portraits in the common room had cleared his throat to gain her attention.
She had looked up at the unobtrusive noise and the little man in the portrait had apologized. "I am sorry Auror, but the Fat Lady is requesting prefect Potter's presence, she indicated it was quite urgent…"
Kara she noticed seemed worried at that and had decided it would be best to do as asked in this case. She had hauled herself up out of the surprisingly comfortable chair and paced across the room to the door and knocked.
The door opened, disappointingly at least for Tonks, to a completely respectable Harry, a couple moments later. Hermione was quietly getting up from a chair behind him, absently brushing something from her skirt.
"Sorry to bother you Harry, but the portraits say the Fat Lady wants to speak with you, they said it's urgent." She barely got the words out before the two teenagers were reacting. Harry's eyes sharpened and Hermione looked up with a startled expression on her face.
He didn't waste anytime asking questions, quickly pushing past her "Right, come on." He Tonks turned to see if Hermione was coming when he bolted for the stairs only to nearly be mown over when she charged through the doorway.
She spotted Kara struggling to her feet as she turned to follow the two teenagers. She was impressed Harry really was fast, he was already halfway down the stairs when she and Hermione had just barely reached the top.
She spotted him bolting through the portrait hole from one of the small windows overlooking the commonroom.
She hustled to catch up with him, passing a few dozy Gryffindors along the way. She and Hermione pushed into the portrait hole and pushed the painting aside and out into the corridor.
What she saw next was shocking and heartbreaking in equal measure. The first because it was not everyday you saw Harry Potter hugging a nearly naked girl out in the middle of a school hallway. And the second, and more painful, because said girl was weeping hysterically and covered in clearly visible bruises.
She didn't even recognize the girl in question until Harry spoke. "Ah, hell Luna, I'm so sorry." He murmured, holding her close. Hermione gasped in recognition.
"At least they let me keep my underthings this time…" the younger girl sobbed.
Luna then glanced up and Tonks sucked in an angry breath at the large black eye which was forming on her face. "I—I'm sorry Hermione, I promise I'm not hitting on your boyfriend." She whispered between wracking sobs.
Hermione was clearly stricken and stepped forward to place a hand on the poor girls shoulder. "I know that Luna. Don't worry,"
"Luna? What Happened?" Harry murmured to the girl. But she just shook her head before glancing, clearly afraid towards the corridor a few meters away.
Harry noted her reaction and gave Tonks a pointed look before jerking his head towards the hall. She nodded, as he shrugged off his cloak and wrapped it lovingly around the small girl. She turned and hurried to the juncture of hallways and looked around. Putting herself between the teens and whatever was out there.
She heard Harry speak to Hermione. "Hermione, could you clear the common room?" She heard rustling "Kara? Could you—" There was hushed muttering she didn't quite catch. "Yes, believe me I know, could you find Ginny? She's a friend of Luna's…"
She heard Hermione and Kara reenter the common room as she spotted a set of shadows hurrying into the corridor a long way along, but they stopped when they spotted her and darted out of sight. She would have bet money that those were whoever had done this to Luna. And wished dearly she could give chase, but she had her job.
She heard Hermione belting out instructions through the portrait hole, the other Gryffindors were to return to their rooms. Under that were the low murmurs of Harry trying to console his friend.
Eventually the girls returned with Ginny in tow. Who gasped upon seeing her friend. "Luna, what happened?"
It appeared Luna still couldn't bring herself to answer. Not that she blamed her. Harry took charge again. "Okay, here's what were going to do, you three get Luna up to Hermione's room. See if you can't keep anybody from bothering her?" he said urgently. "Me and Tonks will keep the guys away and meet you there."
Tonks turned away from the corridor and jogged over to the small huddle of teenagers, following them into the common room. Under normal circumstances she might have questioned the fact that she was following Harry's lead on this and not the other way around. But thus far he seemed to know what he was about and the others would follow him without question.
Harry hurried up the boys staircase pausing at each door to check it was secured. He had to pause at the second door shooting a stinging hex over the head of a second year who considered himself clever. "Don't let me catch you doing that in an emergency!" Harry growled.
He spent most of the rest of the journey up to the fifth year prefects common room grumbling about idiots.
When they finally made it all the way up and over to Hermione's room they found the girls already within. Hermione was ransacking her chest of drawers for clothes while Kara and Ginny did their best to comfort Luna, who appeared shocky.
Kara looked to Harry an intense look in her eye as Hermione hauled a pile of clothes out. "This is what's been happening to her?" The american demanded harshly.
He shook his head. "No, at least it's never been like this before." Harry explained before crouching in front of Luna.
—-
He had a hard time ignoring all the bruises, just looking into her eyes. "Luna," he asked gently. "Do you want me to get the teachers? Maybe Professor Mcgonagall? Perhaps she could help catch whoever did this?"
She just shook her head tearfully. It was heartbreaking to see her poor bruised eye and her lips, usually so prone to smiling, split and cracked. He had to work hard to ignore the fact that there was a hand print bruise around her slim neck. "Luna, do you want to tell me?" He pleaded. "I can't stop this if I don't know anything…"
She shook her head again, and looked down in shame. "I'm s-so sorry Harry, but I—I can't…" She croaked weakly.
He shook his head sadly and slowly moved to sit gingerly beside her, but she didn't shrink away, which was promising. He rubbed her back cautiously through the cloak which was still wrapped around her.
He just sat thinking for a while before turning his attention to Tonks, who was stood, upright and tense in the corner, observing. "Tonks, if I had my way we'd have the teachers and Madam Pomfrey in here, but that's not an option. I assume you know some healing?"
She nodded, it had been a good guess he figured, most law officers had some basic medical training. "Would you please run and grab some healing potions from the Hospital wing please?" He went on to explain. "I'd do it myself, but I've got some people to talk with if we're to figure out what happened…"
He rubbed the wounded girls back gently then pushed to his feet and paced from the room, closing it behind Tonks who had followed him out. "Who will you be talking to?" She asked.
"Just a few people I know I can trust to watch her back, and keep an ear open." He explained making his way to his own room. "Now—please hurry," he urged. "Those bruises look serious." He disappeared inside.
—-
Tonks hurried as best she could. Madam Pomfrey had of course asked what was going on when she found her ransacking one of the supply cabinets. But she had managed to successfully put her off for the time being by telling her it was Auror business.
She had rushed her way back to the tower as quick as she could. And then made her way up to the room where they had Luna sequestered.
She really was a horrible sight, the bruises were already turning an ugly black in places. She hustled over to the bedside and carefully knelt with her satchel of potions in front of Luna. "Hey kiddo, I've got some potions to fix things up a bit," She greeted, and offered the girl an apologetic smile. "But I need to examine you so I know what you need. Is that going to be alright?"
The girl eyed her warily, after all they were barely acquainted, before she offered a nod. Hermione whispered encouragements to the girl as she and Kara helped her to her feet. Kara informed her that Ginny had been dispatched to keep the rumours under control.
They helped her gingerly pull off the cloak which Harry had wrapped her in. She couldn't help but winced at the extent of the injuries she was seeing….and where they were. The girl was a mess, she had a black eye, split lip, bruised jaw, the unmistakable print of a hand around her throat, a bruise across her right shoulder, which judging by the tread mark had come from a boot. There were two more fist sized bruises on her back, a huge ugly one over top her ribs on the right side, another on the girl's thigh, one across her lower back, one on her knee, and her ankle looked swollen. Most worrying was the hand print one visible around the fabric of her bra.
She sighed as she finished her examination. This had the earmarks of a sexual assualt, attempted or otherwise. But she didn't think she could ask about that just then, not with how much the girl was struggling with just remaining standing.
She drew her wand and started doing medical scans over the worst bruises and winced when the wand started spitting out various readouts. Luna's ribs on her right side were cracked.
Her kidney on her left was bruised from the blow to her lower back. The rest was mostly soft tissue damage, none of it very serious, just painful. The one other exception was the bone around her eye, the orbit had been cracked, and she was fortunate whatever blow had caused it hadn't put out her eye.
She turned away and began rifling through her purloined satchel of potions. She selected the pain management potions first, and handed them to Luna to drink. In the end the other girls had to help her hold them, because her hands were shaking so hard. It was painful to watch the poor lass struggle to swallow because of the bruising around her throat.
The next step was to reset what fractures she could, which she set about with her wand. Without those pain potions Luna would have been in extreme pain each time a bone cracked or thumped back into place.
The next thing on her list was giving her bone knitting potions to get them started on the right track, as well as a trio of potions to reduce swelling and bruising. That was all she felt safe giving the girl as it was the girl seemed dozy from those she'd swallowed.
The thing to remember about potions, she'd been told, was that they weren't a cure all, and they didn't fix things perfectly. They would get the job started but only the body and time could finish it.
Another thing to remember, it was just as possible to overdose on potions as it was to on muggle medicines.
She watched the girl lay down on her side and doze off, and wondered if maybe she should run a rape scan when she got the chance. She wasn't optimistic about getting consent from Luna any time soon.
Kara wrapped the girl in Harry's cloak again before lying down on the bed beside her an putting her arm around her.
A few minutes later, as Tonks and Hermione just stared at the pair on the bed blankly, that a knock came at the door.
—-
A Few Minutes Earlier
Harry grabbed his invisibility cloak and rushed out into the castle. Before he then made his way to the Ravenclaw tower, and revealed himself to the statue.
"You aren't supposed to be out this late, it's not your night for patrol." The statue noted dryly, or rather more dryly than even a statue normally was.
"I know, but there's an emergency which requires delicate handling, would you send Padma Patil out here, I need to talk with her. It concerns the good of another Ravenclaw." He instructed and the statue eventually nodded.
A minute passed and then the door opened and the Indian girl emerged cautiously. "Harry, what are you doing here?" She hissed nervously.
"We found Luna Lovegood wandering the halls, mostly naked." He noted going for firm and cold.
She gave a start, then nodded. "I'd heard about that, that's apparently just Luna…" She said shaking her head tiredly.
Harry cut her off with a sharp gesture. "I know perfectly well it's not voluntary Padma," He growled, and she gave a flinch. "She mentioned that,"They" at least let her keep her underthings this time. This time." He repeated dangerously. Then shook his head and frowned. "She's in rough shape. Now I've agreed to help her if she needs help in the future but I've got questions. And I need you to be honest with me Padma. Did you honestly not know how serious the situation was, or have you been ignoring it?" He asked.
She blinked at him for a moment stunned. Then rushed to reassure him "Harry, I swear I didn't know this was happening like that. I was told it was just Luna being, you know, Luna. That it was some sort of ritual to pacify the Nargles or something." She said frustrated and horrified something had happened to Luna.
"Padma, Nargles are Luna speak for "I'm scared and uncomfortable, and don't want to talk about this" He explained tiredly.
She looked at him for a moment and gave a jolt. "Damn it, I should have known there was something else going on when she talks like that. I mean she's plenty bright under the oddness. I just figured it was one of those genius and insanity things." She said annoyed with herself. "Okay. What's the plan?" She asked a determined look in her eye.
"For now Luna isn't comfortable telling me who's doing this or the extent of what's happening to her. She was beaten this time, and I'm trusting you not to go spreading that around understand?" He asked sharply, she nodded hurriedly, eyes wide. "I'm wondering just how many are in on this, whatever this is, and are concealing it so they can continue to torment her. Now are there any people you know for certain aren't involved in this?" He asked.
She looked pained like she wanted to say yes. She appeared shocked when he mentioned the beating. She shook her head. "No Harry, I don't know for certain, but I'll keep my eyes open to see if there are people who aren't complicit" She said sadly.
"Then, all I can ask in the mean time is that you watch out for her. I'm gonna keep her safe overnight, and I'm gonna get some security put in place for her to fall back on. Padma, this is unacceptable, Luna is a gentle soul, it's wrong all the way through. If I catch whoever did this things are going to get ugly, fast." He warned.
She nodded grim understanding. "I'll keep watch, if I have to sit in front of her door to keep her safe at night I'll keep watch." She said determined.
"Then that's all I can ask. Let me know if something comes up." He waited for her to leave and he pulled up his cloak. This time hurrying to the Hufflepuff Den entrance, he knew where it was but there wasn't a password, statue, or portrait, so he came up with a new plan. "Tinker?" He called quietly pulling off the cloak carefully.
Instead of a crack, the door to the kitchen across the hall opened, and she peered out confused. "Harry?" She whispered sounding befuddled.
"Hey Tinker, got a minor emergency." He said. "I need you to go into the Hufflepuff warren, and find Ernie Macmillan or Hannah Abbot, tell them to come out here to meet me it's critical to the safety of another student." He said urgently. She nodded and this time did apparate. A minute or so later one of the barrels concealing the entrance to the Common room swung open and Hannah and Ernie both piled out.
"Harry, what are you doing here?" Hannah murmured.
"I have a bit of an emergency I need help dealing with. And you don't tell a damn person about this okay? I'm entrusting you two with this information, not the whole damn school…" He growled, they nodded understanding, "You two know Luna Lovegood?" He asked.
"Yeah, in Ravenclaw right?" Hannah murmured quietly.
"Somebody's been giving her some serious grief turning her out of Ravenclaw tower in the buff at night, tonight she showed up at our tower, looking for aid after getting.…accosted. I've granted her shelter for the night with us. But I need people, and eyes out there watching her back, I got Padma in Ravenclaw, but I don't know who else in there I can trust right now." Harry said darkly.
Hannah and Ernie nodded understanding. "Have you talked to the professors?" Ernie asked.
Harry shrugged. "Not yet, but I'm on it."
"Then we'll watch her until its sorted." Ernie agreed stoically.
"Good, Thanks you two, I knew I could count on you'" he said in appreciation. He waited until they were both in again, before calling Tinker. She appeared with a crack this time.
"Please follow me Tinker, I need your help with something." he lead the way deeper into the school and further down until they were finally outside the entrance to the Slytherin Dungeon. Tinker looked at him in concern when they arrived at their location. "Tinker I need you to fetch two prefects from in there for me."
She cocked her head at him. "Which ones Harry?"
"Daphne Greengrass, and her friend Tracey Davis." He named off enunciating carefully.
The little elf nodded then winked out. He stood in the shadows, partially concealed by his cloak and waited in agitation. Finally after what felt like an eternity the passage opened and Daphne and Tracey stumbled, closely followed by Tinker."
"Harry?" queried Daphne, yawning tiredly. "What are you doing up at this hour?"
"I've got a problem, and I need your help." He said simply nodding slightly to Tracey.
"With what?" Daphne asked a little suspiciously. Boys requesting secret meetings in the middle of the night were not something you had anything to do with if you were smart in Slytherin.
"Luna Lovegood, you remember her?" he asked. She and Tracey nodded. "She's been attacked by someone," he put up a hand to stall their shocked outbursts. "We're taking care of her, but we believe it was a fellow student, and she's reluctant to speak of it right now. Do not spread this around." He cautioned, and good stiff nods in return. "I need you to watch her back if we don't catch who did this soon. But more than that I need you both to keep and ear to the ground. We need to know who hurt her."
"How bad is she?" Tracey asked quietly, remembering the small blonde from the carriage ride to the castle.
Harry hesitated, then sagged. "Not, good."
Daphne and Tracey shared meaningful looks before turning to look at him. "We've got it Harry, we'll let you know if we hear anything."
—-
Harry finally found his way back to the tower some time later, he'd had to take a more circuitous route than on his way down thanks to Filch and his cat from hell. He could swear that thing practically saw right through his invisibility cloak. All in all it made for a highly irritating diversion at a time in which he did not need it.
It was strange, he reflected just how much things could change. Everything changing in a moment. Going from elation and relief, joy and hope, to despair and worry. It had been less than two hours ago he'd been with Hermione and they'd kissed for the first time. Fate had an awful sense of timing.
He knocked when he finally reached Hermione's doorway. His knock was met with the sound of murmuring. "Hang on a minute…" Came Tonks' voice from the other side of the door. She cracked the door soon after and slipped through shutting it behind her.
"How'd it go?" She asked as they stepped across the room to talk.
"I got some friends I trust to agree to keep an eye out. I'll see about talking to a couple more tomorrow."
She appeared to consider that nodding, before sagging slightly and flopping into one of the chairs. It was peculiar to see Tonks so serious, but if any events warranted it, it was these. She rubbed her forehead tiredly, her hair, usually some variety of fluorescent a reddish brown. "Harry, I've put it off this long because we have things to deal with. But I need to warn you about something, because of my oaths to the Ministry I will be required to report this."
He nodded, he had expected no less, but Tonks' tone was worrying. She continued. "The Ministry—has this policy in cases like this…" She started hesitantly. "Clear signs of abuse and such. That in the interest of public safety she will need to be brought in and interviewed by the DMLE…"
Harry slumped into the chair across from her. He offered a low heart felt oath. "Really Tonks?" He groaned.
She grimaced. "Hey, I don't like the idea of it anymore than you do, but my hands are tied."
He tried to ignore the images of Luna being interrogated in his head. "There has to be some alternative…"
She sighed, "One or two, but neither are very good." She continued when he indicated he was listening. "The first is to see if this can be handled as an internal Hogwarts affair by Dumbledore. That might allow us to avoid having to bring her in at the very least…"
"And the other?" He asked.
She shrugged. "Convince her to talk to you, in whatever manner she can manage. I can take that to my bosses and we can make this easier on her…"
He didn't really think any of those options were going to fly, but he saw no alternative. "I'm not sure she's up to any of that right now…but—" he paused considering. "If we have no choice I'll start by talking with Dumbledore." He conceded.
She tilted her head. She knew perfectly well he and Dumbledore were not on excellent terms right then. "You want me to come with you?" She offered.
He shook his head. "No, I can find my own way."
She gave him a look. "That's not exactly what I meant,"
He paused, then shrugged. "I can handle him, especially if it's for Luna." He said pushing to his feet. He didn't bother with a farewell merely pacing out of the room leaving her to her ruminations.
—-
This was the second time that night he was out after curfew. He rarely found himself coming and going like this. But the need was certainly urgent enough. He made his way across the castle, thankfully without incident, eventually coming to a stop in front of the gargoyle.
He pulled back his cloak slightly so he was visible. "Hello, can you please tell Professor Dumbledore I wish to see him, it's urgent."
The Gargoyle gave him an unfavourable look. "What? Do I look like a secretary to you?" it demanded. "Get an appointment like everyone else!"
His sullen stare was answer enough and the stoney facade sighed. "Fine I'll check…honestly, kids these days…" it muttered.
A minute or so later the Gargoyle nodded and shifted aside providing access to the moving staircase. He made his way up and then knocked, it swung open allowing him to step inside. Into a surprisingly busy room, considering the time of night.
Dumbledore was there of course, looking as he always did, peering at him over his half moon spectacles. However also present were Mcgonagall, Snape and Madam Pomfrey.
Fawkes was along the far wall, on his perch, peering at him in curiosity, bobbing his head. Somewhat worryingly he was sharing a perch with Huginn.
Dumbledore greeted him "Ah, Harry. Your sense of timing is impeccable."
"Potter, I should have know. What mad scheme are you enacting now?" Snape drawled irritably.
"Severus" Chided Dumbledore amiably. "Please, now is not the time…"
Harry agreed with him for once, Snape was beyond unimportant at a time like this. "I'll skip the pleasantries this time Headmaster." he said stepping forward. "Headmaster were you aware of the situation with Luna Lovegood."
Dumbledore for once appeared surprised, whatever he had been expecting, it hadn't been that. "Ah, I assume you are referring to her occasional nighttime strolls? I have been made aware of them, I was naturally concerned considering her choice of…attire." He allowed, peering at him quizzically. "I even questioned her on it once, but my efforts were met with Nargles I'm afraid."
What is it about intelligent people that most of them are so sodding literal? Harry wondered silently in exasperation. "Headmaster Nargles are Luna's way of saying she's uncomfortable and scared. That she does not wish to talk of something."
Dumbledore inclined his head in acceptance. "Ah, then am I to assume you have divined the true purpose behind her ventures?"
Harry grimaced. "In a manner of speaking. She's being forced out of that tower at night Headmaster, quite often completely in the nude." She heard worried sounds from Mcgonagall and Pomfrey. Snape was impassive for the moment. "Tonight she made it quite clear she was glad that "They" let her keep her underthings this time."
Mcgonagall's sound of protest was more pronounced this time, as was Madam Pomfrey's. And though he hid it well even Snape's visage darkened somewhat at the revelation.
Dumbledore sighed. "Ah, I assume she decided to confide in someone she trusted then and sought you out?"
He shook his head. "Not as such, she came running to our tower and had the Fat Lady request I come." He caught the Headmaster's eyes with his own and would not look away. "Headmaster, when she sought us out tonight it was immediately clear she'd been beaten, badly. I assume Madam Pomfrey is here because of Tonks' visit to the infirmary?" He got nods in the shocked silence that followed his pronouncement. "I asked her to do that because she currently is unwilling to see people she doesn't trust."
"Beaten?" Yelped Madam Pomfrey when she regained her voice.
Harry nodded, not taking his eyes off the Headmaster. "Yes, she had bruises all over her body. She can barely talk for crying so much."
"Headmaster I must see to her at once, if she's—" Pomfrey demanded.
Dumbledore raised a hand to silence her. "I believe Poppy that young Harry has just informed us that she is already being tended to by an Auror. An Auror who I'll have you know happens to be the daughter of a healer."
"But surely…" She trailed off in frustration.
Harry pressed on. "She's going to be on the mend soon, at least physically." He shook his head. "But that's not why I'm here, as I said we're handling that side of things already."
"Headmaster, I assume you know what will happen when Tonks is forced to report this to her superiors?" He asked.
Dumbledore nodded, but recited what he knew anyways. "She would be brought in for questioning, in accordance with public safety laws."
Harry nodded. "Sir, she's in no shape for a Ministry interrogation and it turns out Tonks agrees. She was hopeful you had an alternative."
Harry could see the gears turning in Dumbledore's head. The unfortunate fact of the matter was that this was not always a good thing. So he was less than reassured that he appeared to be considering it. Eventually Dumbledore sighed and removed his glasses to rub at his face tiredly. "I am afraid Harry, that in this case, despite Miss Tonks' hopes my options are very limited. With the Ministry soon to be involved, and with DMLE scrutiny at an all time high I too am uncommonly bound to ensure that the public safety laws are upheld to the letter." he spread his hands helplessly. "All I can offer at this time is to conduct the questioning process myself, I can at least assure you that I will be far gentler than those who would otherwise handle the matter."
Harry, had to fight down his frustration with a great deal of effort. Had this been his previous fifth year self, he would have lost his temper right there. But he was not his old self, and he had obligations. "I don't think she would go for that sir…"
Dumbledore nodded sagely. "Then only one alternative remains. And that is for you to try, as her friend, to convince her to speak to you herself…"
Harry nodded, and rubbed the bridge of his nose. He couldn't help but wonder where Dumbledore's adherence to the rules had been hiding all these years, only to show itself at the most inconvenient time possible. "Very well. I'll see if I can talk her around. May I ask that you and the other staff keep an ear out to see if you can find whoever is doing these things to her?"
Dumbledore nodded solemnly. "Of course Harry."
Harry was about to turn to go when a throat was cleared. "Mr Potter?" Mcgonagall asked tentatively.
He stopped, "Yes ma'am?"
"Excellent work, shelter a fellow student in need? Exactly the kind of thing I expect from my Lions. I know it is a hollow gesture right now, but fifty points to Gryffindor." She murmured, offering a sad smile to him. He nodded to her and caught Snape's eye before turning, the dour potions master offered a silent dip of the chin. The closest thing Harry had ever seen to approval from him. "Thank you ma'am. Now, I really must be going…I have business that needs attending to."
He walked silently out of the room, shaking his head. This was unlikely to be pretty.
—-
When Harry returned and knocked at the door, he found Luna lying on her side on Hermione's bed, Kara holding her in her arms. Hermione was dozing tiredly at her desk, and Tonks was sitting staring at the ceiling thinking about something.
"Hey you guys" He greeted quietly, stirring them. "I need to speak with Luna for a bit, can you maybe give us the room?" He ventured.
Tonks and Hermione nodded, but Kara looked concerned. "Can I stay Harry? I think she needs to be held right now…"
He considered, and seeing the way Luna clutched to the girl nodded. If anyone in the room understood Luna's position right now, even better than him, it was Kara. He nodded to the others as they padded out. Catching Hermione's eye and offering a thin sad smile.
He sat on end of the bed. Careful to give Luna some space just in case. Luna and Kara got sat up but Luna stayed tucked in Kara's arms. "Hey Luna, are you feeling any better?" He asked gently.
She shrugged minutely. "I don't hurt quite so much…"
He knew perfectly well that was merely the physical side of things, and that only thanks to the pain potions. He sighed, knowing he shouldn't drag this out. "Luna, you know that Tonks is an Auror right?" She nodded hesitantly. "She's found herself in a bit of a rough spot, her oaths require her to report this…" He felt bad immediately as Luna wilted, seeming to turn a bit grey at the thought of it. "I know, and I'm sorry, she's not happy about it either." He promised.
He looked to Kara who was looking at him questioningly. "You remember the case orange at the Hospital?" He asked, she nodded wincing in remembrance. Harry knew about beatings too she knew.
"In accordance with Ministry laws, the DMLE will be required to bring Luna in for questioning." She looked up sharply at that as Luna started to tremble.
"I don't want that to happen either Kara," He assured her. He had to fight down the images in his mind of Luna huddled and alone in an interrogation room across the table from a looming and unsympathetic shadow. The image was more similar to his memories of her from Malfoy manor than he cared to think.
"I went to Dumbledore hoping he had an alternative…" He saw Luna tearing up again and felt like a monster. "I know, but I had no alternative if I wanted to prevent you getting hauled in Luna." She still sniffled but nodded understanding. He pressed on, "Unfortunately all he can offer given the circumstances is to question you himself. He promises to be as gentle as he can…"
"I don't want him—" She wept.
He shifted a bit closer and offered his hand which she gratefully latched onto. "I know…I know. Which leaves me with one last option Luna, I don't want to ask this, but I have to. Will you please tell me what happened?"
She curled in on herself, but didn't let go of his hand. "Why can't they just leave me alone?" She sobbed. He remained silent at her outpouring of grief. "Why would they violate my mind as well?" He sighed at that, the implications were grim. But he couldn't conscience pressing her right now. "Look…we have a little time, we don't have to talk about it right this minute." he promised her.
She was silent as he just rubbed his thumb back and forth across the back of her hand, before finally offering a sniffling sigh. "I don't know, that I'll ever be ready to talk about this…" She offered weakly. Harry looked to Kara despairingly and she shrugged forlornly. "But—"
Luna looked at him from beneath her hair. "If I must tell someone…I suppose I'd—prefer it be someone I trust…I know—" Her voice had roughened with her tears. "You wouldn't hurt me would you Harry?"
It broke his heart that she even needed to ask, but answered as seriously and honestly as he could. "Never."
She nodded pressing into Kara's shoulder. "Do we have to do this now?" She asked somewhat muffled.
He considered that. "I think i can talk Tonks into holding off for a little bit." he decided.
"Okay," she mumbled.
He got up, only reluctantly letting go of her hand. "I think I'll leave you to rest for a bit. I'll go talk to Tonks about putting it off until morning…"
"Thank you Harry…" Luna murmured.
He smiled slightly at her. "Anything for you Luna."
He paced quietly out of the room as the two girls lay back down and made his way over to Tonks who was standing by the common room's fireplace. "No luck with Dumbledore" He reported. "I had to talk her into telling me. But I'm letting her rest for a bit before we try."
Tonks nodded, blowing out a breath and sagging somewhat in relief. "Okay, I can put it off till then."
He turned his attention to Hermione who was curled up in one of the chairs. "You okay Hermione?" He asked her.
She nodded, "Yeah, I'll be fine. I just feel so bad for Luna." She murmured. "Who could do something like that to her?"
Someone utterly reprehensible by his reckoning "I don't know, but I will find out…" He promised.
—-
Harry woke with a start a couple hours later when there came a gentle knock at his bedroom door. He got up with a groan and padded over to the door before pulling it open and peering blearily out.
It was Kara and Hermione, both of whom appeared more than a bit anxious. "Hey," He yawned. "Is everything alright?"
Kara nodded, uncertainly. "Luna says she wants to do this thing now." He blinked in surprise and Kara just nodded agreement. "Yeah, that was about my reaction too."
He pulled on his cloak over his night clothes before shuffling out into the commonroom, where he spotted Tonks dozing in one of the chairs by the fire. Kara led them back into Hermione's room, where they found Luna sitting up, a bit stiffly on the edge of the bed.
Harry paused to grab a chair as he passed and pulled it over so he could sit across from her. "Hey Luna, hear you'd like to handle this now? Are you sure you're—"
She nodded jerkily. "Yes Harry, I want this over with, I can't sleep while expecting this…"
He nodded understanding. Anticipation was the antithesis of restfulness. "Okay, so how do you want to handle this?" He asked seriously.
She consider him, her eyes bruised from tears as much as anything now. "Do you know how to enter another person's mind Harry?" She asked tentatively.
Harry blinked in surprise before nodding, somehow he wasn't as shocked as he should be that Luna was aware of Legilmency. "Yes, I am. But I was under the impression that might be a little invasive for you right now…"
She nodded soberly, looking away for a minute before looking back to him. "That was when it would be people who I did not trust."
He nodded considering. "Okay, I can do that. Do you want Hermione and Kara to join us? They could keep you company?" He suggested.
She paused, her eyes flickering to Kara and Hermione for a moment before she bobbed her head. "Yes please…"
The girls hurriedly found themselves somewhere to sit. Hermione in a chair beside harry and Kara on the bed beside Luna, who she wrapped in a one armed hug.
"I've read about a beginner's legilmency probe. It's slower and less efficient than the point and shoot version." He explained. "But it's also gentler and will allow you to choose where we enter your mind. Does that sound good?" He asked crouching front of her.
"Yes," she smiled wanly at him. "You may start when you're ready." She said quietly.
"Okay. I'll go on three. One, two, three, Legilmens."He cast and his wand ignited he extended it to Lunas temple, and her eyes went vacant. He moved it to Hermione, who after a nod he connected it to, and she went vacant as well. He repeated the process for Kara, and then settled himself in the other chair before extending it to himself.
And suddenly they weren't in Hermione's room anymore. He was in a pasture outside a ramshackle homestead he recognized as Luna's house near the Burrow. She lay in the grass next to him. Luna already had her own mindscape. Somehow Harry wasn't surprised.
"You recognize this place don't you?" She asked curiously, smiling oddly at him, before looking back up at the sky. It was bright as day but the stars were still visible. "I wonder what that means. You never visited that I can remember." She noted absently.
He cringed a bit. "I'm sorry Luna, I'm not allowed to talk about it." He apologized sincerely. The other's looked at him, Hermione catching his eye knowingly.
"You are not allowed to talk about a great many things, but somehow it is expected that I must give up what I know?" She questioned gently, but turned her attention back skyward. And she reached out. Suddenly it was as if the stars were only as far away as her hand, and she captured one in her fingers. A small red and fiery one that was of irregular shape.
"This is the memory chain you seek, now if you don't mind i'm going to go and search for Snorkacks in the garden. I do not wish to see it be replayed. Would you two come along please, the Crumple horned Snorkack is very illusive?" She rolled to her feet and strode off behind the house after he captured the star in his hands. The others trailing somewhat dazedly behind Luna, taking in the bizarre sights. It did not take long before the images played before his eyes. In some ways he wished they hadn't.
—-Disturbing Content Warning—
He saw Marietta, Cho Chang's friend, forcing Luna to strip to her underwear at wand point, mocking her all throughout. Saw her twist one of Luna's nipples painfully until tears came to her eyes. Then she forced her with the help of two others Harry didn't recognize on sight to march to the entrance. He saw Cho Chang roll her eyes on the couch by the fire. "Really Marietta? Again, don't you get tired of that?" She asked bored. Harry felt revulsion at her lack of concern.
"She needs to learn her place, that freakish behaviour is not acceptable." Marietta said viscously and smacked Luna across the face before kicking her in the back to force her out the door. Luna heard the other two laughing at her. She fought back the tears. She couldn't cry, mother told her not to before the Angel came for her.
She wandered the halls. She saw the angry aura's of the Slytherin boys. They had found her like this before and now had a game whenever they spotted her like this. Lock up the Loony they called it. Usually it resulted in her being sealed in cupboard somewhere until someone found her. She'd been in one for three days before. Normally she could evade Malfoy and his followers for a time thanks to her ability to see auras even through walls. But it was not Malfoy leading them this time, it was Nott. A brute, and the son of a proud killer.
The caught her and forced her into a broom cupboard, as had happened so many times before. But this time Nott stopped them, suggesting they have a little fun with her first. She struggled knowing what he intended, and for her resistance they rained blow upon her hoping to break her spirit. He winced when Goyles boot connected with her side causing a crunching noise.
Harry dreaded what he feared was to come next. Nott groped her painfully, but he had come in to close, and in the cupboard he could not jump out of the way when she lashed out in a panic. Her foot caught him hard in the groin and he stumbled back howling into Crabbe and Goyle. The lot of them went down in a heap.
Luna saw her chance and bolted, she heard cursing and yelling behind her, but soon enough lost them again in the maze like passages and ran for her life.
—End of Warning—
She ran to the Gryffindor tower as fast as her feet would carry her. Harry would protect her. He needed to hurry though, she could see the angry auras in the distance, she didn't know how they got out each night to look for her, or even how they knew to look for her those nights, but they did. Perhaps a deal with Marietta, or one of the two others? She begged the fat lady to send for help, and to her joy and surprise it came.
Harry standing like a guardian angel shielding her with his body, and his wands. Putting his cloak around her and hugging her tenderly. Then standing wands in hand between her and anything else while he spoke with her. The angry aura's drifted away when they spotted Tonks, the Auror Harry had asked to shield them. Harry's bond mate with the resonance of love had come out too, she too was concerned for Luna, her wand held ready. Then Ginny was there, and in a near panic over Luna's state. They hurried her upstairs, She heard Harry growling in the distance down the stairs but could not make out the words. Ginny and Hermione helped her get clothed. Harry arrived part way through, and asked after her, she saw his fury in his eyes. Not at her, or at the others in the room but at the angry auras, and those in Ravenclaw tower.
Then there was Kara, who followed Harry, not really an angel, not anymore, a weak filament of love between her and Harry, not a bond exactly, but proof of their emotional affections. She wondered if Harry knew what she was?
The angel always flickered. The real her, the gentle face of the girl who cared for Harry in her unmarked school uniform. A small American flag sewn to her shoulder. Then the Angel shone through, her face again but brighter, and wings of white. But when she saw Luna, and beheld her suffering, her Reaper, the avenger of God flickered forward. Luna was afraid of the avenger, who wouldn't be, the scythe as the weapon of office, the black wings, the sunken features, dark hair, and the black fire. She, the angel that is, didn't know it, didn't believe it, but she had the goodness to draw on the fire that all Angels could, the light of god, a fearsome sword that outmatched even her scythe. But she didn't believe she was good enough, she believed her heart permanently blackened by her sins, and so it remained sheathed.
Harry disappeared for a time, the wrath in his eyes. Tonks the Auror tending her wounds in the mean time. She can see the concern and conflict in her eyes. Eventually Harry returned, and told her she could stay for her safety. She was glad, she couldn't stand to return to Ravenclaw.
Harry came to her again, he was frustrated, and clearly tired, and his aura a bit dimmer because of it. It allowed her to see his fabric. A piecemeal of different weaves she didn't recognize, and out of synch like a face, and a voice not matching up quite right. Time?
He was worried but so was Dumbledore, and the Auror Tonks. Snd they had to worry about more people than Harry's friend Luna. Harry warned her, she needed to tell him, so Dumbledore or the DMLE wouldn't take this memory by force to stop the angry auras and Marietta. She is frustrated, and scared, she knew he just wants to help, knows he means well, but he doesn't know the pain. She is so afraid. But he accepts, he backs off, tired and worried but unwilling to press her too hard and hurt her. He's always so guilty around her, why? He's never done anything wrong to her. Perhaps he felt he'd neglected her in the past? Why, he hadn't known her then? He is kind and simply offers to put things off. She appreciates his kindness, and recognizes this is the one who should be told, not the others.
She agrees and he's surprised, she asks for time though, she slept on the Angel's bed that night. She got hugged by Kara as the Angel slept for a time. But she woke again soon enough, her worries denying her rest. She knew then she needed this over. For her own sake. She woke the Angel and told her she was ready. The Angel departed in search of Harry. He returned with them a few minutes later, surprised at her change of heart. She chooses a seat, and so does he. He explains the plan and asks if it's okay to proceed, it is and he performs the spell.
—
Harry was suddenly flung back, and found himself standing, to his great confusion, in the dungeon of his mind's own fortress. Surrounded by floating orbs of light held to the ceiling by chains. He was in his own mindscape, or at least it's current iteration. How did I get here? This is the restricted section. He swung around and found Luna and the other girls, wandering among the orbs looking up at them curious.
Luna smiled at him a little and poked the one above her and gave a giggle, he winced. "Uh please don't play with the memories and dreams in this room. They're uh…not polite to show to company." He admitted. Hermione and Kara looked startled.
"I am glad you feel so about Hermione, I wish someone felt that way about me." She said sadly. Hermione blushed realizing the other girls meaning. Harry realized with a start which one she had caught a glimpse of. She turned stared at the far wall curiously and gasped a little. The other girls turned to look and mirrored her reaction. It was the one he had constructed the rest around. His constructs were more crude, but what did he expect? His weren't constructed by Angels. He was about to ask her how she had brought them here when she spoke.
"Ah, I thought I might find something like this." She said and started forward. Harry followed her carefully he was afraid of what might happen if she tried to see what was inside.
Namely, the forbidden memories. The ones of the afterlife, and of his previous life and death. "Harry, we can't be in here!" Kara warned, and moved forward to watch Luna. Hermione recognized this place too, he could see it in her eyes.
"Uh, Luna, not a good idea to go in there, I don't know if you can, but you shouldn't regardless, I promised to keep people out of there." He stammered afraid he'd have to eject her from his mind. He didn't want to hurt her.
She caressed the shield with her fingers, and he shuddered as is wrung in harmony with her touch. "What would happen if I went in?" She asked curious.
He flinched. "I don't know for certain, but I think they said it would involve the fate of my soul and such. Sooo…." He trailed off, Hermione looked alarmed, and Kara looked worried. But Luna waited for him to finish before trying to proceed further. He sighed. "I don't know? Instant immolation followed by my soul getting shredded, and spread across time and space?" he hazarded a guess.
"Not a bad guess, but a little overdramatic for our tastes." Said a voice behind him and the three youths turned. Ezekiel in his business attire was strolling casually beneath the lights, and came to stop before them.
"Hello Ezekiel" Luna said beaming. "I didn't know Harry knew you too. I suspected Kara did." She said happily. This was the Angel who had taken mother, but she couldn't be angry at him, he was after all just doing his job. It didn't hurt that he was kind to her.
"Hello Little Moon." Ezekiel said fondly. "Getting into trouble in Harry's mind I see." He noted smiling lightly.
"Harry what's he doing here?" Hermione asked, drawing a confused look from Kara.
Luna blushed slightly. "He has an interesting mind." She admitted.
Ezekiel nodded. "Yes, and I'd appreciate it if you'd step away from his vault so we don't have to destroy him to protect the secrets within." He chided. She flushed, and hurriedly stepped away.
"I'm sorry, I don't want to hurt Harry, I'm just curious, it resonates." She explained.
Ezekiel chuckled. "I know, it makes you one of the few who could pass through it while not being his soul mate. Even lord Voldemort could not attempt it. But you could." Ezekiel admitted.
"I wish to know what is inside." She said sadly.
"I know, and I wish I could tell you….Unless" The angel hesitated then continued thoughtfully. "Unless you already know?" he speculated. "Could you tell us all about it? It would simplify things for all of you."
"If she figures it out on her own she can know these things right?" Harry remembered. It was one of the clauses from the form he had signed in the afterlife.
"That is correct Harry Potter, and Little Moon is very smart, as smart as Hermione is in many ways. Hermione outstrips her only by a relatively small margin in over all computational power, but she is too logic driven to make leaps of faith. Which is why she would not have figured out the truth about this wall, and what lies beyond, on her own. Luna, however is all about faith. She takes the intuitive leaps that Hermione could not, and grasps at straws that are invisible to your love. Which is why I suspect she's already got the answer, and just needs to put it into words for you," He said smiling and turning to the young woman in question. "Tell me Little Moon, what do you think you know?"
Hermione, who was only vaguely offended by what was being said, listened carefully as Luna spoke. Kara was staring beadily at her and Harry, with suspicion. "Harry, something you want to tell me?" She asked a moment later, giving him the eye.
He waved that off for the moment, interested in hearing what Luna had to say. She cocked her head considering. "I know, Harry travels with an Angel who loves him, at least a little, I do not know how this is possible. He even knows she was once an Angel it seems, judging by his reaction. He knows things he should not, such as my abilities, my history, and even recognized my house, though I would swear I've never seen him there. He is made of scraps of time, which have been used to patch together his soul…." She was silent for a moment. Then smiled slightly at a realization. "Ah, I assumed he could not have known such things because we had not met before. But perhaps we have. But not here, the past…no,no…the future?" She speculated her face lighting up. "Or a future at least? Ah…I see…clever solution…you've given him another chance. Fascinating, he must have died horribly to require being patched up in such a manner." She said smiling brightly at having solved a puzzle.
Ezekiel laughed and turned to Harry. "See, I told you she was bright." He turned back to her and enveloped her in a hug. "I am very proud of you Little Moon. That was beyond brilliant." He said smiling. Hermione was stunned by what this girl was doing, how could a person's mind work that way? She wondered. To blindly leap, from evidence to conclusion, with missing pieces and so little analysis?
"I will allow you to view some of the memories, the others Harry should have the right to tell you those personally. The first one is some of the past he remembers, the second is his knowledge of the afterlife, and the third is what he must accomplish as he knows it." He said and waved a come to me motion with his hand. A trio of spheres trotted through the vault door and lined up before Luna. Harry was relieved that plan had worked out. He liked being un-immolated.
Ezekiel turned to Kara for a moment. "Harry and Hermione figured it out Kara, you need not worry about that anymore." She looked worried.
He patted her on the shoulder. "It's okay, it has worked out, you did not neglect your duty." He told her smiling then kissed her forehead.
"Now as pleased as I am to see you all I have work elsewhere." Ezekiel apologized. "Take care Luna, keep these secrets, and you as well Harry." He turned to leave but Harry called out to him.
"Uh. Ezekiel before you go. Um…" He trailed off embarrassed, uncertain of the things he should ask. The Angel laughed.
"Mortals are so funny to watch some times. You flail about like mad trying to figure out whats right and whats wrong. I understand, I was there too once. Of course back then I wasn't called Ezekiel, I was just a man, by the name of Khardesh. You have taken good care of Kara so far, so I will give you a piece of advice, two actually, free heavenly council as it were. First is this, you ran out of nudges a long time ago, you have been succeeding by your own merit since you asked Dumbledore who he'd found to be your new Defence teacher, the second is this, when your friend has been cast adrift on the tides of time? Look up." With that the man vanished smiling broadly as he went.
"Great he had to part with a riddle." Harry grumbled. "What is it with mystical beings that they never give the protagonist clear guidelines?" He complained but couldn't find it in himself to be bitter in that moment. He turned and found Luna with her hand in one of the orbs. Luna was smiling vaguely. She withdrew it a moment later and looked at him smiling.
"Kara swears a lot for an Angel." She chuckled tiredly, causing Kara to look down in chagrin. "I saw what you're expected to do, I will of course help, but first let me see the last attempt." She dipped her hand into his last memory orb and got a look of intense concentration on her face. Finally a minute later Luna withdrew her hand. "Do not worry that was not every memory of you past life, just the points I needed to know of the mission. I suspect they didn't want you to be embarrassed by me seeing naughty bits." She joked then grew serious for a moment. Then walked forward and hugged him tightly. She was a fairly short girl and came up well short of his chin. She nuzzled the top of her nose against the bottom of his jaw, from anyone else it would have been intimate, from Luna? It was just her, being her. "Harry Potter, I do not care about the mistakes you made in your past life, even the ones that had to do with me. You were doing the best you knew how." She looked up into his face. "I forgive you, but you should know that I did not think there was anything to forgive."
She got a wan smiled on her face and she rubbed at the stubble on his chin curious at what the texture would feel like in her fingers. "I'm glad you left Ronald though, he hurt you so many times. I saw what happened at the manor, thank you for saving me, and I'm so sorry for what happened to Hermione. I have never seen one so defeated, so broken, who had so much strength, even when they had fallen. You fought despite believing yourself beaten, and despite believing you had no reason to fight any more. You fought harder than the mightiest warrior. I felt your heartbreak at Hermione's absence even though you did not know you loved her. I am truly sorry you had to feel that." She whispered. "Now we will leave your mind, you will show me to Tonks, and you will provide the memory I showed you." She said. Luna continued smiling and laughed a little ruefully. "And you will chase the Nargles away. And I will help you win your war Harry Potter. And I will help you survive the peace that comes after" She had small tears coming from her eyes and she hugged him tighter. "I knew you were special, a good man at heart, struggling against something bigger than yourself. But now I have seen what you face, and if that past Luna, who was all alone, could find the strength to stand up, and fight along side you. Then this one, your friend, can too." She said smiling as the world around them faded away.
Author's Notes: PLEASE rate, review, comment, message me, and recommend to additional readers.