Led by the Spirits
-oOo-
Chapter Four
Early Edition
-oOo-
An hour later and Harry was still trying to stop his hands shaking. Together with Luna, packing up all of her things had been easy and quick. They were now back at the Phoenix Hotel, Harry in the kitchen making lunch. But with Gary around, Harry had been jumping at every purple thing that moved (and the surprising thing was that Luna had A LOT of purple items which were animated ... it hadn't helped his nerves).
Add the fact that the little … thing … seemed to have taken a liking to him … Harry tried to shake the feeling of tiny claws from his mind. Luna seemed quite attached to the tiny monster, and when it wasn't attached to the back of Harry's shirt or head, it was perched on her lean shoulder, chattering away and playing with her earrings.
"Gary!" Harry began to turn but stopped, a scowl marring his face. Another fact that wasn't helping was that the monster's name was FAR too similar to his own. Every time Luna called one of them, they both turned.
"Harry?!" It took him a moment to respond, making sure she wasn't calling to 'it'.
"Yes?"
"Can I have another slice of beetroot? Gary's finished his first one!"
Harry shook his head. It really was going to be a long day. A second later something small, purple, and chattering barrelled into the back of his head.
Again.
-oOo-
Dusk was falling and Gary had finally fallen asleep … on the ceiling. Luna had explained that the little 'dumpling' was related to the gecko, and shared its feet. It was also apparently distantly related to a goat, but Luna hadn't explained how yet. And frankly, Harry really didn't want to know. The monster was annoying, loud, liked him, and was never in the same place when he turned back to look at it- there was nothing else he needed to know about it.
But at least the thing was asleep.
Harry and Luna were sitting silently on the sofa, Harry fidgeting uncomfortably, and Luna gazing at him intently … either that or she was looking through him, it was hard to tell.
The silence was beginning to get to him until Luna finally blinked and cocked her head to the side in thought.
"Do you think we had sexual intercourse last night?" she asked innocently.
Harry paled, his eyes bulged and he felt his inside shrink, but at the same time a strange warmth pooled in his stomach. He had a sudden suspicion that Luna had been mentally stripping him before.
"Why-" his voice was a high-pitched squeak, and he quickly cleared his throat, colour rapidly returning to his face. "Why would you ask that?"
Luna blinked again as she moved closer to him along the couch. "It's only logical, really, considering the fact that we woke up devoid of clothes and were thoroughly drunk/intoxicated the night before."
She moved closer again, and Harry was suddenly very flustered.
"We are also, obviously, a man and a woman. Hormones and such," she added, stopping her slow approach towards him. Harry could feel her warmth through his shirt, and that foreign emotion was rising in his stomach again. He tried in vain to swallow it down, but Luna took that moment to place her orange-nailed hand on his thigh and smile radiantly at him, and Harry felt like his heart was about to burst.
Harry lent forward, his hand reaching up to get tangled in her long hair, her face- her lips- were inches away from his when-
A great lump of purple gecko-and-goat-related newly-discovered creature collided with his head. Tiny fingers and claws attached themselves firmly to his face and Harry yelled, flailing backwards wildly and falling from the sofa with a painful 'thump'.
"Gary! Oh, you poor dumpling! Come here!" Luna exclaimed, falling to her knees beside Harry who was vainly trying to pry the babbling thing from his crimson face.
The Snorkack turned its small face to her, with what Harry would describe as a malicious grin and Luna a charming smile, before lifting its arms up to her. She smiled and pulled the wriggling creature from him and hugged it to her side affectionately as Harry crawled back to his feet, the shaking that had just left him returning full force.
I need a drink … a strong drink … or six, he thought as he ran his hand through his hair, humiliation staining his face.
"I'm going to bed …" he trailed off. Luna was his guest, his wife in fact; he wasn't going to let her sleep on the couch. With a silent groan he walked to his room and pulled a spare blanket and pillow from the chest at its foot before turning to leave. But the bed caught his eye and he felt his blush deepen.
The sheets were gone, (he remembered vividly Luna wearing them that morning) and the blankets were rumpled and half-falling from the bed. Did we … For a moment Harry saw Luna entwined in his arms, an alcohol-tainted breath breathing quickly in his ear, and scorching skin hot against his own.
He gulped audibly before flicking his wrist and fixing the bed, conjuring the missing sheet. He'd think about that tomorrow.
Returning to the lounge Harry paused as a soft lilting voice met his ears. A soft lullaby drifted sweetly around the near-silent room, the only sounds being the gentle song and two sets of breath.
Harry crept further into the room, not wanting Luna to stop her singing. She was rocking the monster gently, her blue eyes glued to its awkward form curled in her arms. It was obviously asleep, but Harry wasn't going to risk waking it again. His face stung where its sticky feet had gripped it, and its claws had anchored it in place. He was sure he had little cuts all over his face.
'The moon hides her face, eyes drooped with heavy sleep
The stars sing their lullabies, gently, tenderly, shining just for you each night
Clouds drifted slowly, soft beds for sleepers deep in dreams
But then the moon's eyes close, heavy, heavy, just like every little dreamer.'
The song didn't rhyme, and its rhythm was different for every line, but with Luna's soft voice, nowhere near perfect, but sweet and gentle, Harry couldn't help but smile.
Had his mother ever sung him a lullaby like this? Just gentle calming words strung together with apparently no effort.
Harry tried to forget that Luna was singing for the monster.
Slowly she let her voice fade away and turned to him, smiling. Apparently he hadn't been as quiet as he thought he'd been.
"Do you have a basket or something Gary can sleep in? I've found he likes enclosed warm places," she whispered.
The little thing purred and curled up tighter against Luna's chest, curling its little fingers into the fabric of her shirt. Harry forced his scowl from his face as a foreign feeling rose up inside him at the sight of it. How about the dryer? he thought.
"Yeah, how about the washing basket?" he said aloud.
Luna beamed. "He'd love that. Thank you, Harry."
As soon as the purple thing was tucked into Harry's dirty laundry, (the basket's contents disappeared each morning and reappeared clean and folded each day while he was at work. Harry was secretly hoping that Luna's precious 'Dumpling' would disappear too …) the newlyweds stood in the kitchen, Harry making tea while Luna fetched cups.
"What happens now?" Luna asked quietly as she placed the cups on the counter.
Without looking up from pouring Harry answered, "Well, first we get you unpacked," –and find a nice strong cage for the purple blob- "and then, well, let's take it a day at a time. Worry about … er … one sugar or two?"
"Four."
"Oh. Anyway, we'll just deal with what comes up," he finished, handing the steaming cup over to Luna's waiting hand before making his own.
Once they were seated back on the sofa, Harry blew at his tea absentmindedly as Luna sipped at her own tea quietly. His stomach slowly churned as one thought dominated over the frenzy in his head.
The Daily Prophet would be out when he woke up ... everyone would be reading it, everyone would know how he messed up ... how 'The Boy Who Lived' was a bloody drunk ... his mouthful of tea suddenly turned very sour. Should I warn Luna? He slowly looked up at her through his bangs. She was sitting with her shapely legs tucked neatly beneath her, orange-nailed fingers wrapped lightly around her cup as if she was absorbing its warmth.
Part of Harry wanted to move over and drape his arm around her shoulders, just in case she was cold. The other half wanted nothing more than to go back to his small kitchen and dig out the firewhiskey he'd hidden there and spike his own tea.
Both looked highly appealing.
"What happened between you and Ginny?"
The question caught Harry off guard, and he looked up mid-sip before looking back down. "She dumped me. Nothing else to say really."
"Last night, didn't Arthur mention something about marriage?" she prodded.
Harry nodded slowly. "Said I was a coward for not proposing to her. She said she'd already 'waited too long' for me to get my act together, and so on and so forth." Harry grinned into his cup as he looked back up at his wife.
"She's gonna be really pissed at me."
Luna nodded, a slight frown marring her brow. "Yes … Ginny's changed, hasn't she?"
Harry opened his mouth to defend his ex-girlfriend but stopped himself, realising that Luna was right. The Ginny he had first gone out with had been caring, feisty, and contentedly cheerful. She'd jump to anyone's defence in a second, and would wear whatever she had, as long as she was comfortable in it.
Lately Ginny had begun to obsess with clothes, makeup and jewellery. That in itself didn't bother Harry; it was the fact that she'd started obsessing over her media image as well. She'd religiously read every magazine that could mention her, and snap at anyone who disturbed her. She'd started trying to dress Harry up and drag him to fancy restaurants, like he was some sort of flashy accessory to go with her new dress …
And the worst thing was that Harry had still loved her during it all. Once again, Harry snuck another look at Luna, who was still watching him intently. He let a smile spread across his face that reached his eyes. Loved. Not anymore.
"Yes, she has. But so have you. I mean- not like her. She's just … and you're …you've changed in a good way. When did the whole magi-zoologist thing start?" He stumbled, the right words thick on his tongue. Smooth, Potter, smooth, he mentally berated, placing his empty cup aside and running his hand through his hair. As usual, this just made it stick up even more … I really should stop doing that …
Luna smiled brightly. "A few years back. I've always been interested in creatures which no one knows much about. So has Daddy. We found Gary together in western Scotland. It was a fun summer. Once I've finished all of my papers on the little dumpling, I plan to get an article published in 'The Magimal Journal'. You're not sleeping on the couch, are you?"
"What? I mean, yes. I've … er … fixed up the bed for you. I'll bunk down here for the night. You're my guest, after all."
"Wife."
"Er … yes, that too."
"And as your wife I am not allowing you to sleep on the sofa. At least not without me if you do." Luna looked up at the clock on the wall. "It's ten thirty-eight. Are you working tomorrow? Of course you are. Come on then, bed time," Luna instructed as she got up and collected the tea cups. Once she'd put them on the sink she came back to find Harry hadn't moved.
She rolled her eyes.
"Come on, Mr Potter. I don't bite unless I feel like it, but I don't at the moment so you don't have to worry. Come on, bed," she insisted as she grabbed his hand and pulled him to his feet.
"But-" he began. Luna rolled her eyes again
"We are only going to sleep. Unless you'd like t-"
"Luna! We-"
"Are married, and are thus allowed to have sex if we so please."
She stopped pulling him along and turned to him, big blue eyes wide and innocent … but Harry was sure there was something far less innocent swimming in the cerulean depths. The monster was waking up again.
"Do you regret marrying me?" she asked frankly.
Harry was surprised to find he wasn't. Even with the article about them in line for printing, and the inevitable wrath of Ginny, he was glad Luna was there.
With him.
With a shaking hand Harry reached up and cupped her smooth cheek, his wedding ring cool against her warm skin. She closed her eyes at his touch, and Harry found himself leaning down to her, his lips soft against hers. But only for a moment. He pulled away slowly, and she opened her eyes, a soft smile tugging at her lips.
"I'm glad," she told him.
-oOo-
The next morning Harry woke with Luna leaning against his side, his arm draped around her. Nothing had happened, they'd just slept, Harry's usual nightmares warded off by her warm presence beside him.
It was the first time he'd ever slept the night completely through since he'd left Hogwarts.
He lay there silently, waiting for Luna to wake up before he moved. Her breathing was soft and even, but slowly it deepened and her eyes fluttered open and her arms tightened around his middle.
"Good morning, husband," she said as she buried her face in his side.
"Morning, Luna." Hesitantly he added, "I'll have to get ready soon. Work and all."
She nodded, but Harry didn't move. I really should … but he felt so comfortable.
"Harry?"
"Mmm?"
"You really should get up. I don't want you to get in trouble because of me."
"Yeah …" A moment later an owl tapped at his window and Harry felt his stomach plummet.
"Oh no," he muttered, closing his eyes.
"What? It's just the morning owl with the paper … but it is a bit early. Breaking news, perhaps?" Luna said before untangling herself from him and moving to the window.
The bed suddenly felt empty without the Ravenclaw's warm presence beside him, and Harry quickly got up to join her by the window. It had never felt like that when Ginny left …
"Oh, Merlin."
Luna had read the headline.
-oOo-
"HE DIDN'T!? THAT BASTARD IS GOING TO PAY! THAT BLOND BITCH USED TO BE MY FRIEND! EVERYBODY KNOWS HE'S MINE! HE'S MINE! MINE MINE MINE! WHO DOES HE THINK HE IS?! I'M GOING TO HEX HIS BALLS OFF!"
-oOo-
"Oh, Harry you didn't."
"What? Is there something about Harry in the paper? When isn't there?"
"You're just still mad at him because of Ginny."
"And I have every right to be!"
"She dumped him, remember …"
"I don't like your tone. What is it?"
"Nothing …"
"You're awful at lying, Mione. What is it?"
"I told you, it's … no-RONALD! GIVE THAT BACK!"
"No! Not until I've rea-"
…
"I'M GOING TO KILL HIM!"
"No, you're not, Ronald Weasley! It's written by Rita Skeeter! It's probably all lies! Don't you dare go off and accuse him of-"
"-Of what? Dumping my little sister, getting smashed and getting MARRIED TO SOME BLOND!?"
"Ginny dumped Harry, Ron. And … I think that's Luna."
"OH! AND THAT MAKES IT ALL BETTER!?"
"RONALD! YOU'RE BEING UNREASONABLE!"
"NO! I'M NOT!"
"YES YOU ARE!"
"NO! I'M NOT!"
"YES YOU ARE!"
"NO! I'M NOT!"
"YES YOU ARE!"
"NO! I'M NOT!"
"YES YOU ARE!"
"NO! I'M NOT!"
"YOU'RE HANDSOME!"
"NO! I'M - wait. What?"
"You're quite handsome when you get so flustered …"
"… Are you trying to distract me?"
"… That depends on if it's working."
-oOo-
"Minerva, one lump or two?"
"Surely after 45 years of working together you can remember how I take my tea, Albus?"
"Of course I do. It's just common courtesy to ask."
…
"So, why have you asked me to this lovely breakfast, Albus?"
"To discuss gifts for the newlyweds. You have read the morning paper, I presume?"
"No, I haven't yet. After I received your invitation from Winky I came straight here. Who are the lucky couple?! Past students?! Order members? Faculty?!"
"Harry and-"
"Oh! He finally proposed to young Ginevra! That's wonderful!"
"Actually, no. Miss, or should I say 'Mrs' Luna Potter nee Lovegood. Isn't it wonderful?"
"-Luna? Not Ginny Weasley? Why, I was sure those two would tie the knot. Whatever could have broken them up?"
"I truly have no idea, but Mrs Potter is with Mr Potter now. So … gifts? Well-wishes?"
"Gifts … Albus, what exactly was in the Prophet this morning?"
…
"Why don't you enlighten yourself while I collect some more of these delectable biscuits?"
"Oh dear … you never avoid a question. What is in the paper!? –Ginevra isn't … isn't dead, is she?!"
"Oh no! Of course not, but the circumstances of the apparent marriage were somewhat … questionable. Biscuit?"
"Questionable? In what way?"
"These really are very good. Are you sure you'll decline?"
"Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore! I do not want one of your blasted biscuits! - Oh, don't give me that 'wounded puppy' expression! Don't. It won't work, it never does … oh fine! I'll have one of your blasted biscuits!"
…
"These are actually quite good. But I haven't forgotten about the paper!'
"Drat"
-oOo-
"Ah, Scarhead. How far you've fallen … what a pity-" deep baritone laughter welled up and filled the cold room, and even colder eyes teared with mirth.
-oOo-
A/N: AH! An update! The world has gone mad! Reality has snapped…that, or I just got an email from my fan-tabulous Beta, The Dreamer4. Well, hopefully Led By the Spirits is beginning to move along! What a Novel thought, one of Mali Carens fanfictions actually GOING somewhere…(or trying to)? The world is truly, truly mad. and as am I insanity is fun if this is true. Hope you liked! Please Review!
Mali
E/N (editor note) … mea culpa … the brain-fried beta is responsible for delaying this chapter for over a month … begsforgivenessofauthorandreaders … I promise to be faster next time … dodgesrottentomatoesandbat-bogeyhexes … whimper I sorry!
(edited 13-May-2007 - td4)