Son of a Marauder

by zArkham

While the Golden trio catch their breath at Grimmauld Place after the attack on the Weasley wedding, Harry stops and really thinks on his life and all the odd questions he previously brushed off. Has he ever been in control of his life? Harry decides to start thinking for himself and become a true son of a Marauder. On Hiatus due to changes in where the story/ship is to go.

6. Betwixt Passion and Reason

DISCLAIMER THE FIRST: It is by JKR's writing alone I set my mind in motion. It is by the grace of coffee that thoughts acquire speed, the back acquires strains, the strains become a warning. The warning is that I make no money from this. It is by JKR's writing alone I set my mind in motion.

PITHY STATEMENT RELATING TO THIS CHAPTER: Fight! Fight! Fight!

"The voice of passion is better than the voice of reason. The passionless cannot change history." – Czeslaw Milosz

"If passion drives you, let reason hold the reins." – Benjamin Franklin

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CHAPTER SPECIFIC WARNING: For those who get their knickers all tight in a bunch, this chapter will have the beginnings of unpleasant things men do to women. Luckily this is cut short due to unpleasant things men often do to men in response to the original unpleasantness. There you have been cryptically warned.

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CHAPTER SIX – BETWIXT PASSION AND REASON

OUTSIDE THE ROOKERY, OTTERY ST. CATCHPOLE – AUGUST 8th 1997 – LATE MORNING

Harry watched as his transfigured squirrel raced off towards the oddly shaped building in the distance. Tonks' directions had been right on the money and he had found the Lovegood home without any problems.

Harry turned and looked across the dale towards a copse which he knew hid the Burrow. It was odd that in all the times he was at the Burrow that Luna had never visited. Certainly she was often off with her father over the summer but it was still strange she never seemed to visit her supposed best friend Ginny. For that matter, Harry couldn't understand why Cedric had never come over for one of the many Quidditch games played at the Burrow.

Once again Harry couldn't shake the feeling that Dumbledore had been working to keep him as isolated as possible. Sure Dumbledore always had said he put the Gryffindors and Slytherin classes together as often as he did to try and mend the rift between the two feuding houses. However in reality it meant Harry had fewer opportunities to get to know the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs. Even the classes he did have with them tended to be ones you didn't need much group work or you slept through like Binns' class.

Harry scanned the surrounding area carefully while pretending to read the book in his lap. While he had his invisibility cloak hidden on him, Harry was relying on being seen as something too normal to bother noticing. He had multiple disguises in place. First he was wearing Muggle clothing so he could pass for someone from the village. Harry had hiked up from Ottery St. Catchpole to further this image. Luckily with three magical families (that Harry knew of) in the area, the village had an official apparition point. For once Harry got a break since the spot wasn't on the other side of the village in relation to the Lovegood home.

Harry was also wearing what he had taken to call his Evan face which he felt confident no one would recognize him with. He figured with Luna's perceptiveness she'd be the exception. On top of that he had a wand which he had found in the Peverell vault when he had done his whirlwind tour back at Gringotts. It might not have responded to him as well as his holly and phoenix wand but Harry felt a good connection with it. If somebody was watching him, Harry felt they'd just see Luna talking to a local boy and not pay them that much attention. If confronted, Harry felt he could fake being from one of the poorer Magical families. It had been enlightening to learn from Andromeda how few Magicals went to Hogwarts.

Harry wasn't taking any chances but right now it seemed he might be in bigger danger of being stumbled upon by a Mundane rather than a Death Eater. Considering how inept the Weasley family seemed to be regarding the mundane world, it surprised Harry to see how close to Ottery St. Catchpole they actually lived. He could understand how people like Ollie and Cedric could grow up in a magical household and yet by practically muggleborn if this is how close many Magicals lived in relation to Mundanes.

Harry frowned. It just didn't make sense as to why the Weasleys were so poor and yet there was plenty of work for the Weasley children to do in the area. He had already seen plenty of pre-teens and teenagers out and about doing various rural related chores. Harry just couldn't understand why none of the Weasleys ever helped out by doing such odd jobs in and around town. Yet every time he'd been at the Burrow, the only thing the kids had done was the odd task like degnoming the garden and the like.

Harry shook his head. Just another weird thing about the Magical world. He still hadn't had anyone be able to answer why the stairwells in Hogwarts moved to Harry's satisfaction. In fact, Harry had been getting down right sick of so many basic questions he had had over the years being answered with blank stares more often than not. He sometimes wondered how Hermione hadn't had a nervous breakdown in the face of so many unknowns. What had seen so wondrous his First Year had quickly become an irritant by Third Year and a downright pain in the arse by Fifth Year. Yet all the magic-raised kids never seemed to ever question it. It just was as it had always had been.

That sort of thinking was foremost in Harry's mind right now. He was seriously confused after the events of the last few days. He wasn't sure what to think anymore. In the span of a couple of days he had had his world turned upside down and Hermione wasn't that much better off. Now neither of them was acting in ways which made sense. It was almost like they were different and the same people all at the same time. One moment Hermione would react differently and the next moment Harry couldn't believe some of the things he was thinking or saying. Had Molly's potions been the only thing done to them?

Harry wasn't sure. In fact Harry wasn't sure about a lot of things. Ted's seemingly blasé acceptance of him sleeping with his married daughter to say nothing of his wife troubled him. It didn't fit his mental mold. Then again Hermione accepting he had killed two Death Eaters without so much of an 'Honestly Harry!' for doing it while drunk really threw him for a loop. Maybe she was just numb considering she had barely mentioned his accidental sleeping with Andromeda. For whatever the reason of her silence, it was confusing to Harry.

Harry sighed. Perhaps this was just what happened when you took the normality of life and shattered it utterly. No one knew how to act or how to react. Of course this was just his type of luck. Right when his magic had gone out of whack which amplified feelings that had previously been held in check, now he had to deal with not knowing what to expect from anyone.

With Ron gone, Harry wasn't sure how anyone back at Grimmauld Place would react to anything anymore. At least Ron tended to be a reliable git. Right up to the end he could be trusted to take things the wrong way if given half a chance. Of course Crookshanks seemed to still act the same. He seemed right put out when Hermione had asked Dobby to go fetch him from wherever he had been staying.

Now there was someone who hadn't changed! Dobby had predictably almost shat himself with joy when Harry had called on him and offered to make him a Potter elf. Winky, surprisingly, had been a lot more subdued. When he mentioned this to Hermione, she had merely shrugged and figured it was because Harry was the master of four Houses and she was acting how she felt an elf of such a Lord would want. She had taken her new duties well. Dobby had been less happy to have to remain at Hogwarts full time but his happiness over being Harry's elf at least had mitigated his disappointment.

Movement in front of the Lovegood home caught Harry's eye. Shading his eyes against the sun, Harry could see Luna coming out from the front door with a basket. Good! He hadn't sent a note with his squirrel. He had just hoped Luna's natural curiosity would be piqued by the off-beat animal sent to her. Knowing the Lovegoods were under watch had made Harry be extra cautious. Constant Vigilance would hopefully see then through the conflict alive. For all his vigilance, Harry hadn't spotted any of the watchers Crabbe Senior had mentioned. If they were around, they were hid a lot better than the ones watching Grimmauld Place.

Harry pretended to go back to reading. For the next twenty minutes, Harry watched as Luna made her way closer to where he was reading against a tree. She stopped to pick some dirigible plums and sample fruit from some of the trees surrounding her home. All the while his transfigured squirrel chattered impatiently at her. Harry could hear the murmur of her sing-song voice as she chided the animal.

Finally Luna was close enough for her to see him. Harry waited a second until she spoke at the squirrel again before looking up. Then he waved cheerily at her. Covering his wand movements with his book, Harry summoned the squirrel back to him. Sure enough Luna followed the speeding bundle of fur which had practically run up Harry's leg as it scampered up the tree. Idly Harry wondered how long the squirrel would last before reverting to its original form. Unlike his newly found metamorphmagus powers, Harry hadn't the chance to practice with his newly powered-up magic.

As Luna approached, he could see her face had her typical serene look on it. Yet Harry noticed she kept her hand on her wand and carried the basket hanging on her forearm. Thus she was able to cast while looking to a Mundane as if she was merely holding a stick. It was obvious to him that loony or not, Luna was practicing her own constant vigilance.

"Hey Luna! I'm surprised to see you out today. I would have thought you and your dad would be out on holiday like normal. It's why I came out here. Thought I'd give your place a quick check as well as get away from my buddy for some peace and quiet. Billy's been fighting with Jane enough to drive me to drink if I was old enough." Harry called out with fake cheerfulness. He hoped Billy was close enough to Bilius for Luna to pick up on who he was referring to.

Luna's perceptiveness seemed to be up to the task as she made her way to the top of the hillock. She gazed deeply into his eyes with her head cocked to the side. Suddenly she smiled and said, "It is good to see you Evan."

Harry blinked in surprise and then smiled broadly. Not only had Luna figured out who he really was, she'd even guessed what name he'd use as a cover! Harry once again marveled at how perceptive Luna was. Hermione might be the best linear thinker in Hogwarts but Harry would bet his old Trust Vault that Luna was the most abstract thinker.

Luna seemed pleased with his reaction. Flicking a pale blonde lock out of her face she smiled at him warmly. "As why we are not on holiday, my father is a bit ill so we had to cancel. It is good to see you. I was a little worried after that fight in town."

Harry shrugged even though he realized what Luna was really talking about, "Oh we got out alright. Still a bit of a bloody disaster if you'll pardon my French. Oh well, nobody likes party crashers anyway but no harm, no foul eh? Of course now the cops seem to be everywhere and watching everybody. I feel like I'm being watched all the time. It's one of the reasons why I decided to come out here."

Luna looked around before turning back to Harry and nodding, "Well except for that little shifty squirrel there, I agree this is a good place to be alone. I have not seen anyone for days." Luna carefully sat down next to Harry. "Of course I have not really been looking since everyone must expect us to be on holiday so no one bothers us out here."

Harry fished into his pocket and pulled out a small book. "Oh Jane wanted you to have this. It's that phrase book that you wanted. It has all the info and directions you wanted. It'll get you to where you wanted to go. Jane said how just cracking open the book seemed to take her away to a new land of adventure."

Luna took the book and her eyes widened as Harry gave her a significant look. Luna nodded and put the book (which was actually a portkey) carefully into her basket. "So how is Jane? Why has she been arguing with Billy again?" she asked.

Harry frowned, "Uh well you know his mum. She's always sticking her nose into things. Seems she decided Jane needed to quit stringing him along and realize she's just right for him. Course she feels the same about me and Jennifer. We realized over drinks that she really wasn't going to take no for an answer. You know how his mum is. If she can't get what she wants, she'll just give thinks a bit of a push."

Luna stiffened at Harry's emphasis on the word drinks but before she could reply she was interrupted by a series of loud cracks. Before either of them could do anything, Harry found himself staring down the wand of Draco Malfoy.

However Draco's sneer rapidly turned to surprise. He glanced at the witch who had appeared next to him, "Hey! This isn't that mudblood lover!"

"I told you that wasn't the Weasel, Draco!" Pansy said peevishly. The look on her face seemed to imply she'd been arguing the point for awhile earlier.

Harry did a quick check and saw that Crabbe and Goyle had apparated in behind them. They weren't pointing their wands at him or Luna but they were out and ready.

"If you are looking for Ronald, Draco, you will find him at the Burrow. Although I doubt he will be very good company. Ginevra says he has come down with a nasty case of spattergroit so I doubt Mrs. Weasley would let him out of the house," Luna said in her usual voice as if having a wand pointed at her was an everyday occurrence.

"Something I already told you, Draco!" Pansy said. Again her tone showed how irritated she was that Draco had obviously blown her off.

Draco waved off her snide comment with a gesture towards Harry, "Well he might not be a Weasley but he's no Muggle! He barely flinched when we apparated in! Check him!" Draco ordered.

Pansy waved her wand, "Revelare specialis umbra!"

Seeing how disappointed Draco and Pansy were at not finding a glamour, Harry decided to try to bluff his way out before Draco got too close a look at him, "That's because I'm not a Muggle. I'm Evan Carpenter and I'd appreciate it if you'd point your wand somewhere else, please. I don't know what all this about but who the bloody hell are you?" Hopefully being around the Weasleys for as long as he had would allow him to fake the local accent convincingly enough.

Draco sneered, "Never heard of you and watch your tone, farm-boy!"

Harry shrugged, "Well you look like a bloke of means so I'm guessing you go to Hogwarts. Me, I'm a St. Michael's graduate so it's no great surprise you don't know me. Not like my family gets out much. Not many galleons to be found out this way if you know what I mean."

Pansy sniffed, "You're dressed like a Muggle. Don't you have any pride?"

Harry shrugged again, "Like I said, not much work round these parts so I pitch in where I can and I don't say no if I'm paid in pounds or galleons. Bought the only time I see a sickle is when I work for the Diggorys. With them losing their son like they did, well I'm happy to help them out even if their money wasn't so good.

Luna smiled serenely, "Evan comes by and looks after things when my father and I are on holiday."

Draco was looking at Harry with suspicion. "Well isn't that convenient? We're looking for some runaways and suddenly someone not on any of our lists shows up at one of our watch locations. I don't buy it. Crabbe! Goyle! Why don't you take Looney here back to the house? I'm going to have a few words with Evan here."

Harry was about to protest but Luna put her hand over his before he could draw his wand, "Evan it is alright. You better do what he said. He is Draco Malfoy and his family is very important. Fighting him will only get you into trouble and your family noticed in a way you do not want. Besides I know it would kill Jane if anything happened to you. You have nothing to hide." Luna gave him a quick peck on the cheek before getting up and letting Draco's pet thugs lead her away.

Harry got up and glowered at Draco. It wasn't hard to fake being angry. While he doubted Draco would do anything even close to one of Voldemort's Cruciatus curses, Harry didn't like the fact that he was probably in for an interrogation which wouldn't be pleasant. He'd have to bide his time till he got his chance to act.

"Don't look at Draco like that, farm-boy! You're lucky he doesn't have you whipped!" Pansy said with her usual sneer.

"Now Pansy, Evan here can't help he's a poor excuse for a wizard and probably comes from low stock. Everyone out here comes from the same inferior stock especially the Weasels." Draco said soothingly. His wand suddenly made a sharp slash, "Acerbus Poena!"

Harry let out a cry of pain as it felt like water was boiling in his belly. While it was nothing compared too many of the pains Harry had endure, he knew better than to tough it out so he fell to his knees.

"That's more like it! Now that the Dark Lord has returned and taken up his rightful place, all will kneel before him!" Draco said with a zealot's pride.

As Harry moaned he wondered what had changed. Gone was the teen that couldn't bring himself to kill Dumbledore. Perhaps Draco was once again acting like the ponce because he was in a position where he wasn't being asked to do much more than terrorize Magicals his own age. That and with Dumbledore dead at the hands of Snape and Voldemort ascendant, Harry was sure Draco was probably trying to prove his loyalty hadn't waivered like it had that night.

Draco kept the spell on him for over a minute before releasing Harry from its grip. Harry let out a mumbled curse and fumbled for his wand. He didn't want to do this but Harry wanted Draco and Pansy to see it wasn't Harry Potter's wand.

"Ardens Manus!" Pansy spoke the spell with almost a lazy drawl. Harry dropped his wand as it felt like his hands were on fire. Harry quickly tucked his hands under his armpits when he noticed the spell had caused his blood quill induced scars to reappear on his left hand. He hoped he'd be able to cover them again after Pansy released her spell with his metamorphmagus powers before they noticed the identifying mark. As he howled with pain (more acting as the pain wasn't that bad) Harry realized the scars on his hand was another thing he had forgotten about when he had killed Flint and Shunpike.

This train of thought was quickly derailed as Draco hit him with another spell. For the next twenty minutes or so, Harry endured various painful spells along with the pair's clumsy attempt at interrogation. While unpleasant, the torture wasn't nearly harsh enough to get Harry to drop his act of a local wizard caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.

"Pansy! That's enough. Quit playing around and check him out. See if he has anything like a portkey or something on him! Let's see if he's actually the farm boy he says he is or an Order spy." Draco snapped.

Harry was thankful Pansy was as inept at frisking as she was at torture. If she had been smart she'd have cast another detection spell geared towards items instead of glamours. If she had she would have found his pistol hidden by a Notice-Me-Not charm in his shoulder holster. She did find a pack of cigarettes and a lighter which he had bought prior to apparating away from London. He had gotten them as an excuse for him to reach inside his jacket for them when he was actually going for his gun.

Pansy also found the switchblade which Ted had given him before leaving. Pansy proved herself a Pureblood by not recognizing what it was. "So farm-boy, what's this? More Muggle trash?"

Still faking like he was in pain, Harry gasped out, "It's a torch."

Draco frowned as he stopped idly flipping Harry's wand in his hand, "That's nothing like a torch you idiot." Draco said as he waved Harry's wand at him like McGonagall often did when she was lecturing a student she had caught doing something against the school rules.

The nearness of his wand to Draco's face gave him an idea. "Well if you give it to me I'll show you."

Pansy eyed him with suspicion, "No tricks!" Nevertheless she passed him the knife.

Harry shook his head. He took a quick look around but didn't see either of Draco's goons. Time to take a chance, "What tricks do you expect me to do? You've got my wand!"

Draco nodded towards the knife in Harry's hand as he idly tapped Harry's wand against his check. His own wand, however, was still aimed at Harry. "So farm-boy, show us how that's a torch."

Harry held the knife out as if it was actually a torch. "Well you see this is a Muggle thing. It runs on batteries which allow it to throw out light. You won't really be able to tell since it's daylight."

Pansy looked vaguely interested, "How does it work?"

Harry tried hard not to smile as he edged a bit closer to Draco while he answered Pansy, "See this little button? I press this and the light will come out of the front here."

"Show me!" Pansy ordered.

"Of course. The beauty of this is you don't even need to use the spell Lumos!" Harry pushed his magic as hard as he could as he cast the spell while shutting his eyes. Just like in the summer of his Fifth Year, his wand responded with the spell even though it wasn't in his hand. Unlike that time, his wand flashed with a brilliance which blinded both Draco and Pansy. As both cried out in surprise, Harry triggered the blade and lunged at Draco. The blade sank deep into Draco's flesh. However while he had been aiming for Draco's neck, the teen had moved at the last second. Even so the blade was wedged under his collarbone.

Harry quickly let go and kicked Draco in the stomach causing the screaming wizard to fall to the ground. Harry quickly drew his pistol and turned towards Pansy. Before he could get a shot off Pansy shot a stunner which barely missed Harry as she flailed around blindly. Finding himself almost on top of her, Harry struck Pansy hard across the forehead with the butt of the pistol. The witch dropped like a stone from the forceful blow.

Unlike Pansy, Draco was conscious and screaming bloody murder as he struggled to pull out the knife which was still stuck fast under his collarbone. Harry quickly grabbed both his and Draco's wand.

"You fucking whoreson! My father will have your head for this! Your whole family's heads will be put on pikes in Diagon Alley to warn off others!" Draco's spiteful ramblings broke off with another shriek of pain as he again failed to pull the knife out.

Harry was sorely tempted to shoot Draco in the knees and let him bleed out while he went to go find Luna. However Harry remembered Hermione's concerns about becoming like the enemy they were fighting. Plus from what Harry had learned from the goblins, he owed it to his ancestors to acknowledge them.

Harry holstered his pistol and took up his wand, "Accio switchblade!" Harry deftly caught the knife in his left hand. A wave of his wand cleaned it off before Harry stashed it back into his pocket. Hermione's admonishments aside, Harry couldn't help but take some satisfaction in Draco's screams as the knife had been wrenched out of his flesh. Pointing at the freely bleeding wound, Harry cast "Exsercio!"

Seeing the wound mend up enough to stop bleeding freely Harry cast again, "Incarcerous!" Harry looked at Pansy and sent a silent stunner at her just for good measure.

"You won't get away with this!" Draco said haughtily even as fear shown in his eyes.

"Draco, Draco, Draco! I can and will get away with it. Of course taking you out is small potatoes compare to killing Riddle," Harry said. He realized he had meant to say Voldemort before he remembered the spell Hermione had used on him to prevent him from saying the name. Once again the bushy-haired witch had saved him from himself.

"Riddle? What Riddle?" Draco asked as he struggled against the magical ropes that bound him.

"Riddle as in Tom Marvolo Riddle but you know him better as the Dark Lord." Harry said.

Draco's eyes widened in shock before a sudden look of hope blossomed on his face. Quickly Harry cried out, "Labi de Lingua!" with a sharp jab of his wand towards Draco before he could say Voldemort's name and activate the Taboo. Harry certainly didn't want to duel whoever might show up in response to the Dark Lord's name.

"Nice try Draco but calling for help isn't going to do you any good. So who would have thought all those years ago in Madam Malkin's that it would end up like this?" Harry asked.

"Madam Malkin's?" Draco asked stupidly sounding a bit like his pet thugs for once.

"Oh come now Draco! Don't tell me you have forgotten when we first met?" Harry said. He knelt down so his face was about a meter from Draco's. With a bit of mental strain he willed his features back to normal. He was finding it easier and easier to switch between these two forms.

"Potter!" Draco spat.

"The one and only thanks to your boss!" Harry shot back flippantly. Harry got back to his feet, "I thought it fitting you knew it was me. I mean our families have such a history together. Did dear old dad ever tell you the real story of how the Cauchon family came to England? How the last true King of England cursed your family as did the Jarl Hardrada? How your family name tells everyone of the treachery which runs in your very blood?"

"What of it Potter? Ancient history isn't going to save you from the Dark Lord's wrath if my father doesn't get you first!" Draco said. Harry wasn't fooled by Draco's bravado since it looked like there was a suspicious stain starting to spread around the teen's crotch.

"Well I just wanted you to know that both Hardrada's son and Godricson's daughter married Potters. Later those lines merged so not only am I the last Potter, I'm also the direct heir to both lines which cursed your family for its treachery. A treachery which is about to be finally be avenged as soon as I catch up with your dear old dad." Harry said evenly.

"You're not going to kill me Potter! A Dumbledore boy like you doesn't have the stones!" Draco sneered even as Harry heard the fear in his voice.

"Speak for yourself Draco. Besides I was there that night and watched when you couldn't kill the Headmaster. Too bad you didn't take him up on his offer. It might have kept you from dying today. As for not having the stones to kill you, I killed Marcus Flint and Stan Shunpike just the other day," Harry said evenly.

Harry grinned as Draco's eyes widened even more in fear, "Actually Draco, in your last moments, you should be thanking Hermione 'Mudblood' Granger. If it wasn't for her, I was going to let you bleed painfully to death. However she was right about not wanting to become what were fighting. So I'm going to do this the right way."

As Harry brought up his wand it occurred to him that most spells he knew which would kill Draco would make a mess of him. Not wanting to use the spell that killed his parents (and unsure if he could even cast it) Harry switched his wand to his left hand and drew his pistol and aimed it at Draco's chest.

Even as a Pureblood, it was obvious Draco knew what Harry had in his hand, "Wait! Potter! You can't do this!" Draco practically bleated.

Harry smiled his signature lop-sided grin, "Oh but I can!" His face grew serious and in a formal voice, Harry intoned, "Draco Hyperion Malfoy; for crimes against Magical Britain as well as your family's crimes since 1066 I, Lord Harry James Potter-Pryce-Peverell-Black, do sentence you to death. Remember Draco, the hellfire which awaits you is of your own making. Good-bye, Ferret. Say hello to Marcus and Stan for me."

Draco's last plea was cut short as Harry shot him twice. Harry stared down at the body as it twitched for a second or two before going still forever. Harry was surprised to see a slight gold glow surround Draco which then jumped to him for a moment. Was this something relating to the curse? The glow merely prickled his aura before disappearing. Harry didn't notice a similar glow behind him.

Harry looked down at Draco's corpse. He had mixed feelings about what he had just done. Unlike the previous times he had killed, this was an execution. Harry felt he had the right of it but this was this first time he had killed someone like this. While he hadn't given Flint or Shunpike much of a chance to respond, there had always been chance they might defend themselves.

Harry shook his head of his doubts and pulled out his invisibility cloak. He reminded himself that it was only by luck that Katie and Ron hadn't died due to Draco's actions. This on top of all the people who would have died if he hadn't given out the remainder of his Felix Felicis when Draco had let the Death Eaters into Hogwarts. That and Sirius had told him before he died how while the exact process was not known, the Unspeakables working with the DMLE were almost certain the taking of the Dark Mark involved murder by the one to be marked.

So Harry told dismissed his concerns and quickly made his way towards the Rookery.

OoOoO

Luna tried not to flinch at the sound of Harry's cries of pain which floated down from the top of the hillock. While she was certain Harry wasn't in as much pain as he made it sound like, Luna was sure whatever he was undergoing was unpleasant.

As Crabbe and Goyle silently took her back to the Rookery, Luna debated the wisdom of whether or not to grab the book which Harry had given her. Goyle had taken her wand but not the basket. After some reflection Luna decided to wait. She wasn't sure she wanted to take a portkey to a destination she knew nothing of especially without her wand. However it gave her an out which gave her a measure of comfort.

As they came up to the Rookery, Crabbe finally broke the silence, "We haven't seen your da around. Where is he?"

Luna tried to keep the serene mask she was known for in place, "He has had some trouble with stress lately so he is at hospital."

Goyle frowned at this, "No he's not. We'd know if he was."

Crabbe leered at Luna and put the end of his wand under Luna's chin, "Listen chippie! Lying to us is going to be very painful. Your pure blood doesn't protect you from pain!"

"I never said he was at St. Mungo's, Vincent; I said he was at hospital. Before the end of term, I was speaking with Hermione Granger regarding Muggle mental medicine. She felt it would help father and so far it seems to be. He was much calmer when I visited him in Exeter the other day." Luna said calmly.

"You are looney if you are listening to a mudblood like Granger! As if the Muggles could help a barmy old coot like your da!" Crabbe hooted derisively.

Goyle looked at Luna with suspicion, "If your dad is in a Muggle hospital then who has been producing the Quibbler?"

"Oh I'm helping Eithne Quirke produce it for my father. With her daughter of school age now, Eithne feels bored around the house most days so she is happy to help. Do you know her daughter Orla? She is in Ravenclaw and will be a Third Year student this term," Luna said in a bright tone she certainly didn't feel.

Her father wasn't the only one under the care of a psychiatrist. Luna even had her bottle of olanzapine in her pocket. Between the medication and being able to talk things out with her squib therapist had helped her out immensely. The only problem was now Luna realized how precarious her position was. It was difficult not to show the fear she was feeling. She realized in retrospect her good showing during the fights at the Department of Mysteries and Hogwarts were due to the fact she hadn't felt fear and thus had taken risks a normal person wouldn't. This had thrown off her opponents when they weren't busy underestimating her.

How ironic that the better she became mentally, the more she felt fear which could which could keep her from saving her life!

Goyle look at Crabbe, "So now what? While I'd rather not sit out here in the sun, I don't think we should go inside. Who knows who might floo in? We were told not to be seen by anyone."

Crabbe looked back up towards the hillock. Faint cries of pain could barely be made out. "Yeah well it looks like Draco is still having fun. Who know how long he'll be." Crabbe looked at Luna with an odd gleam in his eye. "There are those benches in the back of the house. Let's wait there."

The two pushed Luna back towards the rear of the house. Both wizards promptly sat down on the benches by the garden. Luna decided her best chance of escape was to continue to be seen as harmless 'looney Lovegood' so she hummed to herself while pretended to be looking for weeds in her herb garden.

Long minutes ticked by in silence. Luna could almost feel the impatience rising off of Goyle. Finally he spoke in a low tone as if someone might overhear, "So…what do you think happened to Marcus and that Stan guy? Draco is sure they were captured. I'm not so certain considering all the blood they found. From what the Professor said, Potter and his friends weren't pulling any punches at the end of term you know. Draco won't admit it but if it hadn't been for the Professor getting there so quickly, he would have died in that bathroom duel with Potter."

Crabbe snorted, "You worry too much! The Professor said the only reason Potter cast that spell was he didn't know what it did. Do you think a Dumbledore boy like him would have the balls to try to actually kill anyone? He doesn't have the guts or the spells."

Goyle looked around before retorting, "Yeah well I don't know what your dad told you but mine made it clear that Potter was able to escape a duel with the Dark Lord himself! Then at the Ministry he and Black dueled Mr. Malfoy to a stand-still and probably would have taken him if Bellatrix had saved his arse! I'm telling you Vinny, I think it's a mistake to think Potter is a wimp. Even if he did just capture Marcus, why keep him alive after they interrogate him? It's not like they can dump him in Azkaban when they're done with him!"

"Shut up Greg! You don't know what you're talking about. You better not let the Professor or Mr. Avery hear you talking like that. You just need to relax. Chill out some! The Dark Lord took down the Ministry with barely a wand waved. Oh sure there are a few Order members who still need to be run down but that's about it. The ICW is sitting on their hands and the rest of Europe is doing nothing! What's Potter going to do all alone with only his mudblood girlfriend to help him out? You need a shag to relax." Crabbe said in an airy tone.

Goyle scowled, "Like that's going to happen before term. Even then I'm tired of having to settle for Millie. I mean she's got great tits and all and no gag reflex but…well I'm tired of looking at the face if you know what I mean."

Luna frowned at this. She actually was on speaking terms with Millicent due to her love of herbology which mirrored Neville's. She would often floo to the Rookery to buy many of the magical plants Luna's mother had planted and she herself had continued to nurture in Selene Lovegood's memory. While not attractive, Millicent was not the stupid troll the boys seem to want to make her. In fact, Luna felt the older Slytherin felt as trapped by Death Eaters as she was feeling now.

Crabbe laughed, "Greggy, you're not getting with the program. We're going to rule the school this term. If we want some pretty Polly, we'll just take it. Do you think any of those girls are going to say no with this on our arms?" Crabbe pulled up his sleeve to reveal the Dark Mark.

Goyle refused to be mollified, "Maybe you and Draco like taking it but excuse me if I prefer a willing bird."

"Ha! Like any of the stuck-up gals at Hogwarts is going to give up the old in-and-out! Even tarts like that Brown gash barely let you get to second base from what I've heard. I'm looking forward to crashing the Gryffs locker room and consoling them after they lose to us. Especially that Weasley slag; I'm betting she's a real spitfire in the sack." Crabbe said as he chortled at his own joke.

Luna found it difficult to keep up her looney act as she listened to Crabbe go on about what he planned to do to Ginny. In fact she had to block him out so completely she didn't even realize he had gotten up until he grabbed her by the arm.

"While I doubt you're going to be much of a shag, I'm tired of sitting on me bum. If Draco can have his fun then I can have mine." Crabbe said with a leer as he dragged Luna back towards the bench.

Luna shrieked when she couldn't break Crabbe's grip. Worse was the fact she had dropped the basket with the portkey in surprise when the wizard had grabbed her. For all her struggling she was simply no match for Crabbe's strength and size.

"Scream all you like Looney; no one's going to hear you through my silencing charm," Crabbe said with a laugh as he pushed her to her all fours in front of Goyle.

"Vinny! We can't be doing this! She's of the Blood! We'll get the Cruciatus for sure!" Goyle exclaimed.

Crabbe scowled at his friend as he was dropping his trousers, "Quit being such a nancy-boy! We ain't going to do anything to her she couldn't put out at Hogwarts! Now hurry up so we can give her the old double beater bat!"

Luna shrieked again as Crabbe flipped up her dress and roughly ripped her panties off. She tried to crawl away but Crabbe grabbed her ankle before she could get away.

"Now, now chippie! You can stand still or we can petrify you. Let me tell you that you won't like it as much if we do that!" Crabbe said with playful menace in his voice.

Luna gulped and tried to control her breathing before she hyperventilated. She knew exactly what Crabbe was threatening. Every so often a witch was found choked to death from being forced to perform oral sex in Knockturn Alley after being petrified. Crabbe was not making an idle threat.

With a sigh, Goyle had dropped his trousers as well. He began stroking himself to hardness while Crabbe was prodding her anus with rough fingers. She forced herself to be still but couldn't help but shake uncontrollably. She could almost taste the bile at the back of her throat. For all her wanderings throughout the castle, she had seen many couples engaged in various sexual acts. She'd even seen a Slytherin slumming (or at least that's how her house would see it as) with two of the Hufflepuff chasers doing what she was about to be forced to do.

Yet she'd never been this close to a man's privates nor had she ever thought her first sexual encounters was going to be rape at the hands of Draco Malfoy's cronies. She tried desperately to push the pair away with wandless magic but her magic was silent. Yet just as she felt Crabbe grab her hips and the tip of his penis prod her bum, her body did what her magic couldn't.

"Cor! Oh Merlin that's disgusting!" Goyle yelled as he leapt back as Luna lost her breakfast in violent heaves. Crabbe also gave a cry of disgust as he too edged away from the spewing witch.

"This is exactly what I was talking about Vinny!" Goyle yelled as he fumbled for his wand to clean the vomit off his trousers. "Damn you girl! You had better pray to Merlin that the stink gets out of my clothes or so help me I'm going to…"

Goyle's rant was cut off by two sharp, fleshy sounds. As Luna gagged on the last bits of vomit, she felt something warm and wet spattered against her back and bum. She looked up in time to see Goyle stagger with two red blotches on his chest. His eyes rolled up and came crashing down next to her.

"What the fuck?" Crabbe yelled as he tried to pull up his trousers with one hand while casting stunners blindly around him.

Luna kept close to the ground regardless of disgusting her vomit was and all of the blood seeping out from under Goyle's body. It was obvious to her he was very, very dead. A state she desperately wanted Crabbe to join his buddy in.

She got her wish. Crabbe got out a strangled cry of, "Potter!" before he too fell backwards to the same meaty sounds which preceded Goyle's death. After a second, Luna could suddenly hear the squawking of the birds which were flying around in obvious agitation. She looked up and saw Harry wearing his real face coming towards her carefully. He had a Muggle pistol in his hand and was pointing it into different possible hiding places as he moved.

He nudged Goyle's body with his foot before going over and doing the same check on Crabbe. Luna grabbed her wand from Goyle's robe, thankful it hadn't been broken when he fell. She quickly repaired her knickers. After she had gotten herself cleaned up and properly clothed again she looked up to see Harry offering his hand to help her up. His piercing green eyes were filled with concern and anguish.

"Luna; I am so sorry I couldn't get here faster," Harry said with guilt evident in his voice.

With a sob Luna launched herself at Harry and hugged him with a hug worthy of Hermione Granger. "Oh Harry! Only you could apologize for escaping torture to save a witch's virtue just in the nick of time!" Luna sobbed into the crook of his neck.

OoOoO

"Let me get this straight…because I killed Draco, I own Pansy now?" Harry asked with disbelief evident in his voice. Regardless of the fact he had just killed three people, talking to Luna about what had happened to him since they last saw each other was ending up becoming the more surreal event of the day. Plus it felt odd to have endured some light torture, killing Draco and then saving Luna by killing Crabbe and Goyle to end up just be sitting in her living room. It didn't help Pansy was unconscious on the couch nearby.

Luna nodded as she busied herself with writing the note to Eithne Quirke saying she was taking an extended leave to be with her father in Exeter.

Harry just stared at the blonde in disbelief. Quiet pops here and there were the only sound. Winky was efficiently packing up things which Luna had felt could be taken but not missed if someone searched the house. Kreacher had already taken the corpses back to Grimmauld Place. Happily it seemed Hermione was still out with Andromeda and Tonks doing some shopping and getting her hair done. Ted was away finalizing the move to France so there hadn't been any panic back at Grimmauld Place. Harry knew that would probably come later.

Seeing that Luna wasn't being more forthcoming Harry sighed. While not in a hurry, both felt the need to leave the Rookery quickly. They didn't know how often Draco's group had to check in. Neither felt it would be soon but neither did they want to take a needless chance.

"Alright Luna you got to give me more than that. I didn't grow up with this sort of stuff and the little Andromeda has been able to teach me doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of all the traditions I never learned." Harry said.

Luna looked up from her writing, "It is actually quite straightforward Harry. Pansy was under a marriage contract to Draco. I am sure once they graduated from Hogwarts they would have quickly been wed. Since you killed Draco in combat under magical vendetta between your two houses, your house magic transferred Pansy to you as war booty as it were."

Harry looked down at the unconscious witch. Harry quickly shoved down an irreverent thought about how fine Pansy's booty was. She might have been a bit of an ugly pug back in First Year but like Hermione, she had certainly had grown into some very nice looks. "Okay I get that part. What I'm not getting is the whole concubine thing. I thought traditional marriages had all sorts of nasty oaths in them to keep everyone faithful and monogamous."

Luna startled Harry by breaking out into a loud laughter, "Oh Harry! I am sure that is what you have been told but let me assure you the reality is very different," the blonde said after she got her mirth under control. "The wedding vows are not the protection one might think. There are all sorts of loop-holes to the traditional British vows. True most of them apply only to the men but even then there is more leeway then one would imagine."

Luna took up her note and sealed it in an envelope and sealed it with a dab of hot wax. Looking at Harry she could see he wasn't convinced, "Harry, you have to understand the rules for the major houses are different than for the rest of Magical Britain. These exceptions apply even more to heirs like us. You, for example, are eligible to take up to four wives. Due to your wealth you could, by custom, take four consorts as well in addition to as many concubines as you could convince your wives to allow."

Harry shook his head, "See that's what I'm not understanding. What's the difference between a wife, a consort and a concubine?"

Luna frowned, "This is a rather serious subject which I must confess I am a bit concerned you were never told about. You must understand Harry that while witches may rise up to positions of power such as Millicent Bagnold or Amelia Bones, the rules are stacked against us by custom and magic. This is very true when there is only a direct female heir to continue a line."

Luna nibbled on the tip of her quill for a bit before continuing, "Between Grindelwald, the Dark Lord and the Dragonpox epidemic of 1976, there are so many families pruned down to the nub. You are the best example of that being head of four houses by blood. However there are many houses with single heirs. Since my aunt Sybil has no children and seems to have little inclination to change this situation, it falls to me to continue my line."

Harry blinked, "Wait, Professor Trelawney is your aunt?"

Luna blinked back owlishly, "She is my father's sister. She was born Melissa Lovegood. She only took that silly name when she applied for work at Hogwarts. Of course Trelawney is her married name." Luna looked sad for a moment, "Poor Uncle Botholio; he died in the strike against Fabian and Gideon Prewitt. Father says if it had not been for the Dark Mark being cast over his body that it is doubtful anyone would have found it given how badly it was savaged.

"So if Professor Trelawney had a son, he'd take over House Lovegood?" Harry asked.

Luna shook her head, "You must understand Harry that House magic is severely patrilinear. Even though I am a witch, I am of my father's line. So if I had a male cousin, all he could do is be named regent till I had a son. Only if I did not would the house magicks be his to command. However for me to bear an heir I must take my chance as a concubine, become a consort, or bear a bastard."

Harry glanced at Pansy, "I thought concubines were just mistresses?"

Again Luna shook her head, "They are often seen that way, especially here in England. However in most countries a concubine bond is as valid as a marriage bond. The difference is the wizard has power over the witch. However, unlike a marriage bond, a concubine's children can be taken in by the witch's family. Unfortunately the house magic often refuses to accept the child even if it is male. As you can surmise, few witches wish to give a wizard power over them simply for a chance their son will be accepted."

Harry nodded, "Okay I can see why a witch would rather not be a concubine. But if being one is so bad, why is it even considered an option over becoming a consort?"

Luna looked away and was quiet. After a minute she looked back at Harry and sighed, "The reason goes back to the patrilinear nature of house magic. House magic acts as a repository of the family's experience. Have you noticed any change in your behavior lately?"

"Yes I have although I thought it was just because of all the craziness of late," Harry replied.

Luna smiled wanly, "Yes there is something to be said of that. However much of your new feelings are because you are now the official head of your houses. Family magic remembers, if you will, what members of the house did. What worked and what did not. Therefore you will unconsciously begin to act the way successful wizards of your family did and shy away from things which lead to bad ends. In a very real magical sense your forefathers experience is in you now."

Harry nodded. It made sense given how he suddenly seemed to be decisive and actually starting to plan and think ahead.

Luna sighed, "However this is why a consort bond is not something witches want to do either. To begin with a consort either has to find a man willing to repudiate his name or find a wizard whose wife is willing to share. Plus as the head of her own line, the consort's own house magic will subtly be at odds with that of her husband's house. Now many lines have been allies for many generations so this effect can be slight. If you were to take Susan Bones for a consort, I am sure her family magic would not conflict with yours."

Again Harry nodded. Given what he knew of Susan and her aunt, it didn't surprise him that House Potter and Bones had been on good terms for years.

"The main problem with becoming a consort is in doing so the witch fully takes up being the head of the house. Thus the family magicks flow through her. However as I said this magic comes from father to son. If a witch has to take on such magic, we suddenly are filled with male magic." Luna said sadly.

"Hold on, are you saying you became a man or something? I'm confused! How would you have a kid then?" Harry asked.

Luna shook her head with a slight smile, "No Harry, nothing that drastic. However it does alter the witch mentally. Suddenly she begins think less like a woman and more like a man. What is worse the witch begins to have desires like man."

A light went on in Harry's mind, "Oh. So she starts looking at women?"

Luna's smile deepened, "Oh our hypothetical woman will do more than look. Given the stigma of homosexual behavior, she will be looked down upon even as she is the Lady of her House. Even worse is she will be attracted to women but will still feel the normal female attraction to her own consort. So she still is in competition with the wizard's wife for his affection even as she may lust after her as well."

Harry shook his head, "Wow, I can see why being a consort is something witches would take a pass at. I'm sure having the house magic is great but the cost…" Harry's voice trailed off. He looked up with a frown, "So do most witches in this situation have kids out of wedlock?"

"They often do but the stigma of bearing a bastard is even worse than of having homosexual leanings. Also, as with concubines, there is no guarantee the house magicks will accept the child. However it is rather common for witches like myself to get pregnant right out of Hogwarts and then leave on a Grand Tour. While in some foreign land, she has her bastard. If the house magicks accept the male child then she returns and bears the scandal regarding her actions. If not, well the child is usually fostered out, left in an orphanage, or even killed. On her return she will then try to find a wizard willing to take on a consort," Luna explained.

Harry marveled at the terrible choice Luna and many other witches he knew had ahead of them. However something Luna said earlier suddenly popped to the forefront of his thoughts. "Okay so I have Pansy as a concubine but you said I could marry four women? Merlin! I'm not sure I can take care of one, let alone four!'

Luna shrugged, "As I said, the marriage bond ensures any children are of the father's line. The only way this can be changed is if the child renounces their house. This usually only happens when a second son is needed to take up his mother's house if it is dark. Charlie Weasley still has that option in regards to House Prewitt."

"So even if I had a wife who bore me four sons, they'd all be Potters?" Harry asked.

"Yes unless you disowned them formally but this has serious ramifications magically. Additionally it is very rare for the child to be accepted magically into the mother's family because of the stigma of being cast out," Luna explained.

Luna looked up and gave him a searching look. "However you may not be in such a need to marry to that many witches. While bastards of witches mostly go unrecognized by house magic, this is rarely the case of bastards by wizards especially the designated head of the house. I would say with some measure of certainty that since you got both Andromeda and Nymphadora with child you may have two sons you can designate an heir of any house. Although I'm sure one of them would have to be House Black."

Harry leapt to his feet, "What? Luna that's crazy! I already told you Tonks is pregnant with Remus' baby. How can you be so sure I have gotten Andromeda pregnant? We only had sex one time!"

Luna closed her eyes briefly and seemed to shiver in pleasure, "Oh Harry you do not know what you do! If you could feel the affect your aura has you might not be so quick to disbelieve my words. Your personal magic is no longer being siphoned away by the Headmaster's Blood Wards. In addition you have access to four houses, three of which you are the only known heir. All of this is pushing you to breed. It is as Mr. Tonks predicted. Your rampant libido is merely a manifestation of your magicks working on your so that you continue your line. Remember you are filled with the magic of your ancestors who all successfully continued their line. When you are filled with emotion, your aura picks it up and it is…difficult not to want suggest we retire to more pleasurable activities."

Harry quickly calmed down, "Look I'm sorry Luna. I really am. I don't mean for my aura to be giving you feelings like that. Frankly I'm all confused about my feeling for you and Hermione and the last thing I want is my aura to make things worse."

Luna's face soften into a loving smile, "Harry, you are so sweet. Do not let it bother you. I believe I can control myself. The medication I am taking certainly helps me fight it. That and I am finding my occlumency training also mitigates it somewhat."

Luna closed her eyes again and gave a breathy sighed, "Of course none of that has help from keeping your aura from feeling like a warm, lascivious wave washing over me."

Harry ran his hand through his hair. After being totally clueless around witches, now he was a Merlin-damned projecting mood ring set to 'excite' of all things! "I still don't see how you think I might have gotten Andromeda pregnant to say nothing of Tonks."

Luna opened her eyes and smiled indulgently, "Harry Potter. After all the things you have seen since you came into the magical world, you still refuse to see the power of magic! Think about this. Magic allows for a half-man, half-giant to exist. The same applies to Professor Flitwick as much as it does to Hagrid. Do you really think it so unthinkable your magic cannot force an egg out of the womb, ensure it is fertilized and then see it implanted in the uterine wall? Nymphadora's pregnancy is irrelevant. I would surmise that the only time your magic would fail to produce a child is if the witch was under her monthly cycle. Since I would doubt you would bed a witch during such a time, you must realize it is probable that if you have intercourse with a witch, you will impregnate her unless you take stringent precautions."

Seeing the dumbfounded look on Harry's face, Luna hastened to add, "Of course this will die down when your magic synchs up properly and even more so when you have heirs.

Harry just stared at Luna. His weird life just kept getting worse. It was bad enough he had given in to having sex with Tonks. He could rationalize that. Having sex with Andromeda was a drunken accident. Harry could deal with the guilt of that. Yet to find he had probably gotten both women pregnant? Ted was going to kill him for certain now!

Harry frowned at this thought, "Luna, do you think Ted Tonks might suspect all this? I mean he seemed awfully blasé about me sleeping with his married daughter and his wife if you ask me."

Luan gave a slight toss of her hair as she cocked her head to the side, "Yes Harry I would believe he more than suspects. I would hazard that probable pregnancy of Nymphadora is the reason for his mild reaction."

Harry racked his brain but came up with nothing, "Okay I'm drawing a blank. How would this be good for him?"

Luna laughed softly, "It is okay, Harry. While a Muggleborn, I suspect Mr. Tonks is looking at becoming an ancestor and to do that he needs you."

"Go on," Harry said. He still wasn't quite sure what Ted stood to gain.

"It is simple Harry. The Tonks have been married for over two decades and yet have only had one child and even then they had a witch. With no sons, Mr. Tonks has no one to carry on his name unless Nymphadora becomes a consort. Now however you come along and impregnate Nymphadora. If she bears you a son, then he might petition you to not declare that son as heir to one of your houses but keep him a Tonks," Luna said.

"And since there is no House Tonks, there is no magic to stop Tonks from doing this, right?" Harry asked.

Luna nodded, "Very true. Now depending on what Nymphadora does with Remus' child, if it too is a son then he will probably be a Tonks and not a Lupin. With one or two sons, Mr. Tonks could then petition you to sponsor House Tonks, presumably via House Black. By the time he is a Great-Grandfather if the line continues to produce an heir, House Tonks would cease to be a client house and become a full House of its own." Luna explained.

"What about Andromeda? Any child of ours wouldn't have any Tonks blood. Even if they bore the name, there wouldn't be any blood connection," Harry asked.

Luna shrugged, "Either Mr. Tonks could ask for a blood adoption which would make him enough of a Tonks for inheritance even though it is incredibly illegal and immoral or you might make that child the heir to House Black, presuming it is a son, of course. The former, while unlikely, would gives him another chance at a son while the latter gives you an heir and another reason to grant his petition to sponsor House Tonks. You must understand Harry, in our culture there is almost nothing more prestigious than becoming a pater familia. In light of this, the sex with his wife and daughter are minor things."

Harry jerked his thumb at the unconscious form of Pansy, "So what about her? I thought England didn't have concubines?"

Luna made a 'so-so' gesture, "Yes and no. Unlike nations like France, it is true that it is very rare to have formal concubines. Certainly there have been times when an impoverished family would sell a daughter into a concubine bond but it would never be acknowledged. However, again the great Houses who are in danger of going dark but still have plenty of wealth and power often take on concubines and shrug off the social stigma. Acquiring Pansy as you did has always been legal but rare. As I said, it simply was not because you killed Draco. It was because your families have a known and magical vendetta which made Pansy yours by right of combat."

Harry nodded at this, "Yeah okay I can see that. I'm betting without any formal vendetta that if you could snag a witch that way, well I'm sure lots of guys would get into duels in hopes of not only killing a rival but picking up a concubine as well."

Which is exactly why the law is written as it is." Luna looked unsure for a moment before letting out a small sigh, "Now there is another way in which a witch may become a concubine and that is through the payment of a life-debt."

Harry fought the urge to leap out of his chair and cry 'What?' again. "Are you telling me that I could take Ginny as a concubine simply because I risk my life for hers?"

Luna nodded sadly, "Yes but once again this is due to you being special. You are the last of House Potter and now we find last of House Pryce and Peverell as well. When you risked your life for Ginevra, you risked your houses as well. This creates a much larger debt than a mere wizard's debt such as Professor Snape or Peter Pettigrew owe you. So yes, you could ask for Ginevra to be your concubine and Mr. Weasley would have to grant it. The same could be said for Hermione and the Delacour sisters."

At the mention of the Delacours, Harry's mind flashed back to Gringotts, "Luna, do you think the reason Fleur said I need to go to France relates to these life-debts?"

Luna tapped her chin with her index finger for a few seconds while she thought about the question, "I would assume so. Life-debts may affect Veela differently than normal witches. So little is known about them. I would suspect they will ask you to allow Gabrielle to have sex with you as payment of that debt. A child of that union would most likely be a girl which would be useful for you to use as a potential wife to a House you wish to ally with via marriage if you were to play the Game of Houses."

Harry scowled. He knew enough about the Game of Houses from the little he had gotten from Andromeda to know he'd never callously use his children as pawns to marry off for political advantage. "I don't see what the Delacours get out of it. While I know virginity is pretty important to wizards, I doubt they'd turn down a Veela wife even if the chance of a son is rare. So it seems a lot of effort to get out of a debt I might not even call in."

Luna leaned forward with a smile, "Ah but that is just the point! Gabrielle cannot marry with the life-debt hanging over her. Veela are very monogamous and so even the tie of a life-debt would keep her own wedding vows from taking. Thus Gabrielle must make payment to you if she ever hopes to wed." Luna's smile turned mischievous, "Of course maybe they hope you will take her as one of your wives even as you said that the chance of her providing an heir is small."

Harry snorted at this before a thought struck him, "Wait a minute Luna. You said Gabrielle can't marry while under a life-debt to me. Well Fleur owes me one as well. In freeing her from the Tentacula which was holding her while the Devil's Snare was entombing her, I almost died myself. I think that was another time when I breached the Blood Wards because my wand was almost hot after I cast the incendio which got me out of the Snare. In fact I think I was in far more danger in saving her than I was with Gabrielle. So how could she marry Bill?"

Luna blinked at this and then frowned, "I do not know. As I said, knowledge about Veela is rare. I am sure once you journey to France, the mystery will be revealed. I hope you allow me to journey with you. I was far to looney to be able to approach Fleur to answer some questions when she was at Hogwarts."

Harry looked at Luna, "So how 'un-looney' are you now if that isn't an incredibly rude question to ask?"

Luna's frown deepened, "I am much better as well as far worse in a sense. You must understand the reason I ended up like this, Harry. My father and I were not always like this. In fact, now that you are the head of House Peverell, I have something for you."

Luna got up and left the room. While she was gone, Winky popped in and told Harry she had completed all her tasks. Harry thanked the little elf and asked her to return to her normal duties even as he cautioned her he might need her again depending on what they did with Pansy.

Winky had barely popped away when Luna came back with a small box. Harry could sense the heavy wards around it. Luna set it on the table and tapped it with her wand, "If you have knowledge, let others light their candles with it." The latch opened and Luna opened the lid and took out another box. She murmured a cantrip on her finger caused a trickle of blood to well up. She touched this onto the smaller box. Again she tapped it with her wand, "He who only employs his passion can make no use of his reason." Again the latch popped open of its own accord. Luna reached into the box and pulled out flat stone large enough to fill Luna's palm. It was heptagonal and Harry saw that it bore the Fairy Star on one side.

Luna held it out to him, "Take it, Harry. It is yours as heir to House Peverell."

Harry took the stone carefully. From the moment it touched his hand, Harry felt a frisson of power. He looked at Luna quizzically, "What is it?"

"It is the Resurrection Stone either created by Cadmus Peverell or given to him by Death itself depending on the teller of the tale. It is but one of the three Deathly Hallows. You already own the third Hallow; the Cloak of the Unseen Veil. Again gifted to or created by your ancestor, Ignotus Peverell." Luna explained.

Harry looked confused, "Deathly Hallows? I've never heard of them."

Luna smirked, "But you have seen the mark of the Hallows and more recently than the Wedding I would wager. Tell me, did the Headmaster gift a rare edition of the Tales of the Beetle Bard to Hermione?"

Harry nodded, "Yes he did. How did you know?"

Luna made a dismissive gesture, "The Headmaster was only able to acquire that copy with the help of my grandfather Praxis. Look at it closely and you will see the sign of the Hallows on it. It is the symbol my father wore to the wedding, the one Viktor Krum mistook for Grindelwald's personal sigil."

Harry looked at the Stone. While he could feel its power, he had no idea what it was, "Why would the Headmaster give Hermione that book? Does it relate to these Hallows thingies? Dumbledore never told me my cloak was anything other than just being owned by my father."

Luna's face turned grave, "Probably because if you were to unite all three Hallows, then you would have access to an ancient power. With the Cloak of the Unseen Veil you can walk undetected. If you find the Elder Wand, you will be able to cast spells of incredible power."

Luna looked away and whispered, "With the Resurrection Stone you can make the Dead give up their secrets along with other terrible things. With it, even the Dark Lord would fear you!"

Harry realized something was seriously bothering Luna. He put down the Stone and embraced her. She melted into his embraced and started to softly cry against him. After a few minutes of her softly weeping, Luna finally pushed away from Harry. Harry conjured her a box of tissues which the blonde took thankfully.

Harry waited patiently for Luna to collect herself. It was odd seeing Luna so lucid. However he was worrying about the price she seemed to have paid for it.

Luna blew her nose and dabbed at her eyes. With a self-deprecating smile towards Harry, she cast a few minor beauty charms. This surprised him since Luna never seemed to mind how she looked. Not that he was complaining. Of course even with all the emotion charging the air, Harry was well aware how his body was responding to the pretty witch. Harry knew exactly how his body wanted him to comfort Luna in her time of distress. He gritted his teeth and will himself to ignore those urges as well as the nascent erection growing in his trousers.

"You said you and your father weren't always…well looney." Harry gestured towards the Stone, "I take it this has something to do with it?"

Luna nodded. "Remember how I told you how I could see thestrals because I saw my mother die?"

Harry nodded.

"Well most who know me either believe my family has always been off or it was my mother's death which caused it. While my mother was involved, it was my father's obsession with the Hallows which ultimately led to both of our undoing."

"Obsession?" Harry asked.

Luna smiled a sad, timid smile, "You know how some people watch trains or collect stamps? My family collects ancient lore and artifacts. The Lovegoods have quested for the Deathly Hallows for generations. By the time of my mother's death, my father was in possession of the Stone while being fairly certain that Gregorovitch the wand maker had the Elder Wand while your father had the Cloak. After my mother's death, my father became obsessed he could use the Resurrection Stone to bring my mother back to life. Why else would it be called such if it could not bring the dead back to life? He faked a body which went into the ground and kept my mother's corpse hidden and under stasis magicks to protect it from decay.

Harry stayed silent. He thought of the things he had spoken to Sir Nicolas about death. He doubted any magical item would have such power.

Luna smile faded to be replaced with a sick look, "My father would experiment day and night and with each incremental success he would use the Stone to summon my mother's shade. Each time she begged him to abandon his foolish quest and to move on. Each time he refused. Then one day…" Luna's voice trailed off.

"Then one day," Harry prompted softly.

Luna swallowed hard before continuing, "Then one day my father tried to summon my mother and she refused to speak to him. She said she was going to forgo staying in the hereafter and reenter the world to escape his attempts at bringing her back. My mother said she loved him too much to keep him ensnared by the false promise of hope."

Harry frowned, "What did your mother mean by reenter the world?"

Luna sighed, "It is believed that when soul passes on that they journey to the next great adventure. Yet this adventure is not an eternal one. Many decide to be reborn back into the world. If a medium well trained in necromancy cannot summon a shade, it is a reliable sign they have left the hereafter and have become born once more into the world. Often this is done when a new child is to be born into their family as there seems to be strong evidence souls prefer to become reborn into their line or at least in the region where their family lives."

Harry nodded, "Okay so if your mother threatened to take the next available body to be born into then I'm betting your father panicked."

Luna nodded, "He did."

Harry's eyes narrowed, "Xenophilius used the Stone to try to call her soul back to her body and it didn't work. Am I right?"

Luna nodded. It was obvious from her demeanor that her father had done more than simply fail.

Harry reached out and took Luna's hands in his, "Take your time. I'm here for you."

Luna smiled wanly, "Thank you Harry; you are such a dear friend."

Harry's thought back to when it was Luna who helped him through his own dark times. He leaned forward and gently kissed her on the lips. Pulling back slightly, "You were there for me when I was lost. Let me be here for you."

Luna nodded even as she worried her lip making her look a bit like Hermione. Finally she took a deep breath. "You must understand that as a girl I knew nothing of all of this. I thought my mother was safely buried in the Lovegood family plot. I only learned what I've already told you recently because seeing his memories in a pensieve have helped me in my own therapy. So my first inkling of what my father had tried to do was when I came home from a day at play with Ginevra at the Burrow."

Luna squeezed Harry's hand tightly. He made an encouraging noise for her to continue.

"When I got home I found the kitchen to be empty. So I set out to find my father since he had taken to forgetting to eat while he was in the lab. Normally it was warded to keep me out but whatever energies my father had unleashed had broken them down. In fact since my mother's death I had never seen the door open so I was rather alarmed to see it so. I hurried down the stairs. That's when I saw the thing which broke us both." Luna said hauntingly.

Harry simply kept a tight hold on Luna's hand, "What did you see?"

After another deep breath, Luna went on in a hushed voice. "My mother. She was in the process of destroying my father's lab. Well I should properly say my mother's body was. For all his experiments, all his knowledge and precautions, all that my father had done was turn my mother's body into an Inferis. Yet she was unlike any Inferis in service to a Dark Lord. No, my mother's animated corpse seemed to be filled with rage. When I arrived, she had cornered him behind an overturned table while my father who was pleading for her to stop."

"Had he lost his wand?" Harry asked quietly.

Luna shook her head, "No. He simply could not bring himself to cast any magic at her even as she was trying to kill him." Luna looked away briefly before continuing, "I screamed at my father to attack it. At that point I didn't realize the thing was my mother's corpse. When he ignored me, I took up a flask of Deflating Draught which, as you know, is highly flammable. I grabbed a brand and ran up to the horrid thing. I broke the flask on it but just as I was igniting the potion, she turned on me. As she erupted into flames, all I could see was my mother burning to death even if she was already dead. Her screams were terrifying! They seemed to echo in my mind and in my soul. I began to scream and scream. Even as I began to black out, the last thing I saw was the burning, writhing form of my mother still screaming its unearthly shriek."

Luna seemed to sag as if she no longer had the will to keep upright so Harry pulled her back into a comforting embrace.

"I woke up in St. Mungo's three days later," Luna continued softly. "I stayed there a month and after that I was never the same. As usual, the mind healers there were as effective as wheels on a broom. So even when I was deemed well enough to go home, all the healers had really done was to send me back to the place where the trauma happened along with the man who caused it all. My father."

"Yet he was suffering too. Isn't that right, Luna?" Harry chided gently. He wasn't sure he liked the tone in her voice in regards to her father.

Luna snuggled against Harry, "Yes he was. Yet this made it worst for me. I loved my father and wanted him to get better. Yet I hated my father when I realized what he had done to me and to my mother. My love and hate were in constant war. Finally I think my mind could not take the war so it simply left the battlefield as it were."

Luna leaned back so her cerulean blue eyes met his emerald green ones, "So in answer to your original question. Yes I am doing better. However in the process I have had to finally acknowledge many things I had walled off. I am finally having to come to terms with my past. I am finding it very difficult. I felt if I had been the old Looney Lovegood that I might have figured out some odd way to have avoided Crabbe and Goyle trying to have a go at me."

Harry smiled and kissed Luna again, "Well I know how it is to suddenly find your world isn't what you thought it was. I'm going through the same thing. Right as I need to be focusing on Riddle, I'm suddenly saddled with finding out my best mate's mum was potioning me up to fall for her daughter to say nothing of trying to get Ron and Hermione together. This on top of my magic forcing me into a state of near perpetual randiness."

Harry shifted uncomfortably, "In fact, I need to sit up. You are soft and pretty and smell nice...and my trousers are about to cut off my woody which is living up to its name."

Luna giggled slightly at this, "I would offer to help you out but this is neither the time nor the place." The pair got up and readjusted their clothes.

"Winky came by while you were getting the Stone. She's all done. So we can leave any time you're ready. All I have to do now is figure out what I'm going to do with Pansy."

Luna looked down at the witch on the sofa with a thoughtful look. "You know Harry, as repugnant as it might initially sound, Pansy might be the beginning of the answer to your rather personal problem."

Harry's head jerked towards Luna, "What? What answer?" Harry wasn't sure but from the sound of Luna's voice he wasn't sure he wanted to know.

Luna smiled thinly, "Harry it is a fact your magic is pushing you towards sex. It cannot be helped except by getting some women pregnant. Worse, I doubt your magic will be satisfied with just four witches since there is no guarantee you will have four sons. So this condition isn't about to go away any time soon. Again as repugnant as it sounds, you own Pansy now. You can use her as your own personal sexual release valve."

Harry goggled at Luna. He was truly gobsmacked she had actually said what had drifted in and out of the darker recesses of his thoughts ever since Luna had explained what the gold glow which had jump off of Draco to him had meant. "Luna tell me you aren't suggesting I use Pansy as a sex slave! Luna, you do know that Hermione would kill me in a very terrible way were she to find out I was even contemplating doing it."

Luna frowned, "Things are not always what they seem, Harry. I think you will be surprised at what Pansy is willing to do. You are filled with passion as both Andromeda and Nymphadora found out to their pleasure. Passion is something Pansy never got from Draco. No, she had to go elsewhere for that. As for Hermione reaction, well she herself has a history with Pansy."

"What?" Harry exclaimed. He realized he was doing that a lot today!

"Oh yes. I do not want to break any confidences I have with Hermione. Yet I found out on my own information she later confided in me about. From what you have told me, I am sure you realize that there is a lot more going on with Hermione than just her love of books. She is a witch with deep passions which is why I believe she was sorted into Gryffindor instead of Ravenclaw. I also believe her mother is a cold, driven woman who sees sex as vaguely animalistic and not something one does often or joyfully. Thus from her actions, it seems Hermione prefers to be somewhat forced into enjoying herself sexually."

Harry frowned, "How does this relate to her being a voyeur? She's never even hinting at anything else sexual to me nor have I heard anything from Hermione about Pansy other than contempt."

"From listening to what Hermione has told me and from things she did not say, her perchance to watch came from an early discovery of her father's porn collection. It seems Mrs. Granger does not meet his sexual needs so he has to create his own gratification. Viewing these video representations of sex is what I think whetted Hermione's appetite for voyeurism."

"But how does that relate to Pansy?" Harry asked.

"It does not; not directly at any rate," Luna explained. "I believe Pansy caught Hermione watching others having sexual conduct during their Prefect rounds. This led Pansy to blackmailing Hermione into pleasing her sexually. I know they had numerous sexual encounters throughout the year, often after she had left our D.A. meetings. I believe until after the Christmas break last year, Hermione and Pansy continued to have clandestine sexual encounters. I would suspect that Molly's potions finally put an end to it."

"Wait, you're saying Pansy forced Hermione into girl-sex…and she just went along with it?" Harry asked incredulously.

Luna shrugged, "Perhaps a poor choice of words. From what I gather it was more of a teasing joke which ended up going farther than either of them expected. I'm sure Pansy was expecting Hermione to react a certain way but that isn't what she got out of her."

Luna looked at Harry; her face was uncommonly serious, "Harry, as I said earlier, you must understand that Hermione's bookworm persona is a mere mask she wears to cover the very deep and often conflicted real person below it. Just as you are not the Boy-Who-Lived, she is much more that Miss-Know-It-All Granger. When it comes to sex, Hermione is very confused. This is made even more so because our magical auras. She is uncertain of her sexual identity especially when it comes to how we Magicals view things which are much more accepted in the Muggle world. I really should say no more. Hermione is a dear friend to us both. We should not be speaking of her of things it best left to her to tell us in her own good time."

Harry frowned. He had an inkling of what Luna was probably referring to. While it still shocked him Hermione might have a sexual relationship with Pansy Parkinson of all people, it did at least marry up with rumors which the likes of Lavender and Marietta had spread over the years in regards to Hermione and Lilith Moon.

There had long been whispers of it back in school since Lilith often stayed in the extra bed in their dorm rather than potentially break curfew by trying to get back to the Hufflepuff dorms after a long night of studying with Hermione, Fay and Sally-Anne. Since other than her date with Viktor Krum, Hermione had never dated and mostly had hung out with Harry and Ron. This had fueled rumors she was a witch's witch.

Harry hadn't given much credence to the rumors since Lilith had been friends with Sally-Anne going back to First Year. That and he felt it was typical rumors by girls constantly overshadowed by Hermione's brilliance. Considering what had happened to Marietta at the end of Fifth Year, Harry wasn't surprised Marietta might try to slander Hermione.

Yet now that he thought about it, Lilith always did seem to sit next to Hermione any time they were together. They were obviously very fond of each other. In addition, the only other person Hermione touched or hugged as much as Harry was Lilith. Harry knew the Hufflepuff thought the world of his bushy-haired friend. But even if Hermione and Lilith were having girl-sex it didn't explain Pansy Parkinson. It just didn't make sense.

"I'm still struggling with what Hermione could get from Pansy. If certain rumors are true than Hermione had another outlet." Harry said carefully.

Luna shrugged, "Harry with your magic bound you have not developed sexually in anything like a normal way. Much of your current problem is because in a sense you are going through puberty all at once. So you do not have much experience to understand how confused many people are about sex. As I said earlier, I believe Hermione's mother raised her to see sex as something dirty, maybe unhygienic even. Yet through her father, she had her eyes opened to sex. So she is conflicted."

Luna fingered the butterbeer cork necklace around her neck for a moment, "As a lover of rules I am sure it titillated that she and Pansy were having some form of sex. She knew she shouldn't keep coming back. Yet it is the forbidden fruit aspect, the breaking of the rules, which I am sure she found so arousing. In many ways I am almost certain the reverse was true of Pansy. Considering the lack of attention Draco gave her, having a witch like Hermione obsessing over her must have acted like a narcotic on her."

Harry made a non-committal grunt at this. It did make a sort of twisted sense to him.

Luna smiled at Harry knowingly, "One only has to look at Hermione's relationship with you, Harry, to see the parallels. She is a lover of rules yet her best friend is one who does nothing but break them. In helping you, she can be a rebellious rule breaker yet she can still rationalize that is you who are putting into the position to break the rules, not her. I believe Hermione rationalizes the sex she has with Pansy in the same way. She is not the one actually doing those sexual acts voluntarily. No she can accept it since Pansy is "forcing" her to do it. That this force is a farce does not matter. It is a symbolic submission and for her and I am sure for Pansy that is enough."

Luna gestured to the witch on the sofa, "My point in all of this is if and when Hermione learns you have Pansy, you might find you are not the only one sneaking off for a shag." Harry just looked at Luna. His earlier gobsmacked expression had returned with a vengeance.

Luna's lips quirked into a smile, ""In fact she might have to make up a list of available time slots unless the two of you want to share. I do hope you would. It would make things ever so much easier for us in the future if we're already used to the lists and the sharing. Less domestic disharmony to deal with and more time for sweaty fun."

Harry found himself just shaking his head. Each day kept get weirder and weirder.

XxXxX

Chapter Seven Preview: Time to start collecting the Muggleborn and meeting the with the Squibs. Oh and bump off the odd Voldy supporter along the way.

A/N: I know this is a long chapter with a lot of exposition and less action. However I really couldn't figure out a way to break it up and the story needs this info to be out there to explain things. However, what I added to this chapter is new to me so it probably has some internal logic problems which I will need to address. Please PM me if you discover some.

Shifty the Squirrel: A slight homage to one of my favorite fics: Bungle in the Jungle by JBern.

Open Door: Is it just me or in canon and fanon it seems you can just floo right into someone's house without even a by your leave? Worse is when making a floo call, you see what is going on the other side. I mean I've read many fics (some which are my all time favorites like Vox Corporis) where Harry and his ship are getting amorous and suddenly someone just comes through the floo. It's just weird JKR set it up that way. Plus, why don't they have a little window set above the mantelpiece where one can open up the protective hatch and then make a floo call while standing up?

Movie quotes: Wow! Who would have thought I could quote Grease AND A Clockwork Orange in the same paragraphs! =0

Philosophical Quotes: The quotes Xenophilius used as passwords come from Winston Churchill and Marcus Cicero, Roman philosopher whose rediscovered works along with Martianus Capella collection of the seven liberal arts are often credited with kicking off the Renaissance.

Author as Bastard: For someone who likes Luna so much, I seem to go out of my way to make her life miserable! Oh well…just my way of being able to realistically switch her away from her hard-core looney persona.

Spells: As always, feel free to use these in your own fics if you so desire.

Acerbus Poena: Harsh and/or Painful punishment

Adens Manus: Burning Hands

Revelare Specialis Umbra: Reveal special shadow. Yes I know canon has Specialis Revelio but if my spells are going to be Latin, a few changes need to be made. Plus I see the 'reveal special' part is the base spell like Accio with the third part being what you're detecting. The 'shadow' is glamours or spells on a person as opposed to an item. Incarcerous is close enough to Incarcero to leave as is.

Excersio: Since Episkey is repairs things which are snapped (and based on a Greek word) this Latin word for repair works more for things like tears or punctures.

Labi de Lingua: Slip of the tongue

Non Animadverto: Just for fun, here is the actual Notice-Me-Not charm.