Harry Potter is the property of JK Rowling

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AN-Hey, sorry it's taken me forever to get this up. Good news is that I am finally back on my own computer again! Even better news, it has working spell and grammar check WOOT! Bad news...only two more chapters after this one. All plotted out in my little head and ready to get typed out. Hopefully sometime late next week or week after this one will be history. :)

Uber shout out to WaytooHPObsessed aka Mary for helping me break my record for highest reviews in a Harry Potter fiction! YAYNESS! Sitting at 295 so lets kick this sucker up to 300 guys!

Thanks,

CJ

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Fred's Gift

Chapter 28

Goodbye

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0.0 -Warning-Lime Content In First Part- 0.0

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Bright moonlight shone around her as Luna sat watched the frogs in the garden pond behind the cottage in Little Matako. It was a distracted sort of interest, meant more to give her eyes something to do while her mind drifted where it so often did of late. There was so much to think about, so much to consider. The immense fragility of life, how it could end so suddenly with nary a warning, how a single act of violence could change so very many things.

It wasn't just the death of Ashley Moore that had brought these thoughts on, though that had been the original trigger. It was the news that had come the day of Ashley's funeral, the news that had perhaps been the biggest shock of all.

It had been nearly a week and still, the moment she closed her eyes she could see it, as if reliving it all over again. They had been crossing the road after Ashley's funeral when they came across Harry, Ron and Hermione. It made no sense that they were there. Hastily penned owls had been sent out the day after Ashley's body was found informing all that the wedding had been moved back two weeks. As they crossed the distance, she began to suspect that something was seriously wrong…and she was right.

Nathan Wayling had escaped while he was being transported back to Warrington, the US wizard prison to await sentencing for the murder of Ashley Moore and the rapes of Brenna Youngman, Syndee Barclay and Luna herself. Security around the village was intense; the compound was surrounded by aurors, members of United Front and The Order of the Phoenix. A tense three hours later, the news came that Nathan was dead. He hadn't escaped to hurt anyone; he had escaped to kill himself. His body had been found hanging from a tree only three miles from where he escaped.

It was hardly the first time Luna had experienced the death of someone she knew. Not even the death of someone who had hurt her. When she had learned of the death of Peter Pettigrew, she had felt a sort of numb relief that he could never come after her again. As she had watched Voldemort fall, she had experienced a sort of second hand triumph that he would never hurt another. However, her reaction to the news of the death of Nathan Wayling was nothing like she had ever experienced before.

She was filled with grief.

It wasn't until late that night, while she lay wrapped tightly in George's arms trying to talk it all out that she finally understood. She wasn't grieving for the Nathan Wayling who was, she was grieving for the Nathan Wayling who should have been. Nathan's life had been destroyed by his father before he had ever had a chance to live it…in effect, this death had been decided since he had watched his mother murdered. It didn't excuse the things he had done; it didn't make it right that he had hurt people. Ashley Moore was dead and nothing at all could justify that. But Luna couldn't stop wondering if…maybe she had looked harder…if maybe she couldn't have helped him.

She knew it was an irrational thought. That she could have no more helped Nathan than she could move the world. But always there was the "What if" thoughts. What if she had seen the pain, what if she had realized sooner that they had shared horrible similarities in their pasts? Maybe if he had known…maybe he would have opened up to her. Maybe Ashley would still be alive. Maybe…

"You're doing it again." Luna jumped at the soft voice behind her. She should have known that George would notice her gone from their bed. He had been sleeping so light lately. "I thought we agreed you needed to stop doing that. And I'm sorry…I didn't mean to startle you."

"Doesn't take much these days." Luna smiled wryly and offered him her hand. George sat next to her and pulled her into his lap, tucking her head under his chin. It wasn't hard to read Luna's thoughts these days. Since the news had reached them of what Nathan Wayling had suffered at his fathers hand Luna had been nearly consumed with the thought that she might have been able to help him...if only she had known what had been done to him. Her thoughts had only worsened since his suicide.

"I know what you're going to say." Luna smiled slightly. It was comforting to think that someone knew her so well, loved her so much that he could be so in tune with her thoughts, and she with his. "You're going to tell me to stop martyring myself with what-if's. I know you too well George Weasley. "

He couldn't help grinning. He and Luna had become so much more in tune with one another in the days since they had reconciled. They had always had a connection, but it was so much deeper now that the final barriers had come down between them.

"If you know me so well," he teased, pulling back and lifting her chin to look her in the eye "then tell me what I am about to say now."

Luna sighed; a slight shiver ran up her spine at the look in George's eyes. They were both extremely aware of how close they had come to losing one another. They had been through so much since the September day they left Hogwarts together, but those obstacles had been the doing of other people. What had nearly broken them apart recently, the thing that had come closer to tearing them apart than Xenovius Lovegood, Nathan Wayling and Angelina Johnson combined, was of their own doing. They had been their own worst enemy…and neither was going to forget that anytime soon.

Every touch was precious, every kiss, every embrace. Every 'I love you' had more meaning than the last and they made love as if they might never love again.

Luna's throat clenched as the feelings washed over her. It was all so intense between them now and she wondered... how could this intensity ever last without their being devoured by it?

"You're going to say the same thing that I think every minute of the day." She leaned forward and gave him the briefest of kisses. "I love you. If I had to choose between breathing and loving you, I would never breathe again."

"You can read my mind." George brushed his thumb down her cheek "Except you forgot the part about how beautiful you look in the moonlight."

"Well…I didn't want to sound vain." Luna grinned and kissed his palm. "We should go inside, Hope…"

"Hope's fine." He nuzzled her neck with his nose, brushing it over her jaw to her ear "She's sound asleep and Ginny is in the other room."

"But if she wakes up, she'll wake Ginny up." Luna breathed deeply when his lips replaced his nose on her ear. Many things had changed since their reconciliation, but some thing's returned to the way they had been before Hope was born…most importantly their inability to keep their hands off one another.

"And your point is?" His hands brushed over the buttons on her nightgown, popping them open one by one. Luna shifted so she could straddle his lap, thankful as usual lately that he slept in nothing but boxers.

"Point?" She moaned a little as the nightgown slid down her arms and his mouth moved over her breasts. "Was I trying to make a point?"

She lifted her hips, pressing them into his and with a blissful groan, George slid off the bench and lay her down into the grass, spreading the nightgown out beneath them. He allowed his eyes to roam her body. Her eyes were wide open, sparkling in the moon light and she smiled at him in anticipation. The pregnancy had changed her body; she had once been on the skinny side, tiny and lean, perhaps even a bit scrawny. She had lost most of the baby weight, but she had curves now and her breasts were full and more temptation than George could bear.

"I love you." Luna crooned softly as his tongue flicked around her breast; her hands wove into his hair to pull him closer. George lifted his head for a moment and a line of breast milk trailed from her nipple onto her chest.

"I love you" He bent his head again, flicking out his tongue to lick the milk away. It wasn't the first time he had done this and as usual, Luna found it oddly erotic.

"You taste incredible." He murmured before moving his mouth to her other breast.

Luna knew she wouldn't be able to stand much more. Sweet as it was, it was still torture, waiting for the moment when he was inside of her, for the sweet friction that would drive them both to the fringes of insanity.

"George…please." She whimpered and tugged at his boxers, allowing her hand to brush over his length. "I need you."

It was all the encouragement he needed. It was as if in one fluid motion is boxers had vanished and he had moved on top of her. Their eyes never left the others, their bodies became one and the sweet, sweet dance began.

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For the first time in months, there was reason to celebrate in Little Matako. This day a favored daughter was getting married and so it was cause for great celebration. Catherine Jane Forrest had grown up in Little Matako; her father had been a premier wand maker. It wasn't uncommon that a visitor to his shop found his daughter sitting on a stool behind the counter, a beatific smile on her face and happy chatter bubbling from her lips.

The entire village embraced her when her parents had been murdered; during the first weeks, there was always someone underfoot at the main house. When her grandmother had moved to the coast, most had expected that CJ would go with her. Instead, she stayed behind and offered her home as a safe haven and the village embraced this as well.

It had caused quite a twitter the previous summer when CJ had started being seen in the village frequently with not just one handsome young man, but two. It was obvious they were in the area for protection, only a part of a larger family as they were also seen with a much older man and woman and younger girl. The man and woman were their parents, Theodore and Rosemary, and the girl was their sister, Bonnie. But it was the two boys that were the center of attention. Gregory and Oliver Wood were both tall and muscular, but that was where the similarity ended. Gregory favored their mother with bright blue eyes and blonde hair; Oliver on the other hand favored their father with dark brown hair and eyes.

It seemed love was in the air, but not in the direction it appeared for most of the summer. The village had been sure it was Gregory that had stolen CJ's heart. The two had been seen alone together quite often, far more often then they had seen CJ and Oliver together. Yet at the end of the summer, it was Oliver who put a diamond ring on CJ's finger and stayed behind when the rest of the family returned home. Finally, this day the entire village and all of their friends were joined together in celebration. The first true celebration since the fall of you-know-who.

The wedding had gone off without a hitch; the weather was in perfect cooperation with their schedule and at last, the guests had gathered under the giant awning for the wedding reception. George was having a difficult time as usual noticing that there were other people in the room with Luna sitting so close. Luna was wearing a pale pastel green chiffon sundress that was perfectly cut to cling to her body. She wore her hair up in a messy knot that allowed loose tendrils to fall down her neck and back.

And as if that wasn't enough of a distraction, Hope rested on her shoulder in the most adorable of fluffy pink dresses with a ridiculously large pink bow on her baby headband. He couldn't help smiling all over himself as he realized once again just how blessed he was.

"She looks beautiful, doesn't she?" Luna smiled as she watched Oliver and CJ exchange another kiss at the head table.

He laid his cheek on his palm and leaned closer "Who?"

Luna turned to him with an incredulous grin and then blushed as she recognized the look in his eyes. It was the look that had lead to their handing Hope off to someone to look after quite a few times in the past week. However, this was not the time, and it was definitely not the place. Besides, his parents were all the way across the room.

"Don't look at me like that." She turned away, her cheeks the most adorable shade of pink.

George grinned, he loved how easy it still was, even after all these months, to ruffle her. "Like what?"

"You know like what." Still should couldn't resist a little smile; thinking about what would come eventually. "This is hardly the time George."

"Don't you have a dirty mind." He winked and lifted Hope out of her arms. Since their reconciliation, he had been making up for lost time. He had missed being able to hold her and cuddle her close and so his time with her was precious. More and more he could see Fred in her appearance. The muddy newborn shade in her eyes had turned into light bright brown, her hair had been a brownish red, but now it burned with the trademark Weasley flaming red. George looked to the other side of the room where Angelina Johnson sat with her flavor of the week and smiled smugly. There was no way Angelina or anyone else could claim that Luna had been lying about Fred being Hopes father ever again. He was holding the proof in his arms at that very moment.

"George." Luna wrinkled her nose and put out her arms for the baby. "I think she needs to be changed."

"I'll do it." He rose and kissed the end of Luna's nose. "You enjoy yourself."

"Err…are you sure?" Despite the changes, she still wasn't used to not doing everything for Hope herself. "I can go with you if you like."

George gave her a look that made her blush deeply. His message was clear…if she went with; they would be gone a lot longer than it took to change a diaper.

"Alright then." She nodded and turned back to watching Oliver and CJ. "You'll be fine."

"I'll hurry back." He whispered into her ear and gave it a tiny lick before turning away. Luna swiped up a napkin and began to fan herself furiously. The temperature had seemed just fine a moment before.

"Well!" A loud voice said from behind her. "We meet again!"

Luna jumped and then turned in her seat to find herself face to face with the leader of the town council, Leroy Brinks. She hadn't spoken to any of the council since returning to Little Matako. She had only seen them briefly at Ashley Moore's funeral and then was hardly the time for conversation. But she had half been expecting that today at least one of them would seek her out to confront her about the fact that she and George had spent so many months lying to them about their identity and the real reason they were in Little Matako. They had in fact stood in front of them, accusing Nathan Wayling of crimes while they were in fact committing a few of their own. Luna figured anything she heard now she had coming to her, and so, she was determined to accept whatever she had coming to her.

"Councilman Brinks." Luna stood and offered her hand. "It's nice to see you again."

"Evanna…" He stopped and shook his head. "It's not Evanna is it? Luna... Luna Lovegood."

"Yes sir." Luna nodded nervously "Well, Luna Weasley now."

"So, you're legally married now?" He smiled and his eyes twinkled. "With papers to prove it?"

Luna caught the teasing tone in his voice and relaxed. If anyone were going to give her a lecture for what she and George had done, it wouldn't be Councilman Brinks.

"With papers to prove it." She smiled "Would you like to see them?"

"I'll take your word for it." He laughed. "Please, sit."

Luna sat and offered him the chair next to her. She couldn't remember the last time she had felt so relaxed talking to someone who wasn't family.

"So where is Ol…er…George?"

"He'll be back soon; our little girl needed a fresh nappy."

"I'd heard you had a little girl." He smiled kindly. "I was also saddened to hear the true reason why you were here."

"I'm sorry we had to lie to you." Luna pulled a solemn face. "I know we must seem hypocritical, all the accusations we made against Nathan Wayling when we were lying ourselves, but there was just no other way."

"It's okay dear." He patted her arm. "There is never a truly proper reason to lie mind you, but sometimes, the end justifies the means and I would say saving a child's life is justifiable."

"It's all over now." Luna smiled again. "Everyone came out of it okay."

"You know young lady, I should have known who you were the moment I lay eyes on you. You are the very image of your mother."

Luna's head shot up, her eyes huge and round. "You knew my mum?"

"Oh yes! Louisa, Louisa Westier." He smiled, his eyes taking on a far away look for a moment. "I knew your father…and your uncle. Which is why I found your reason for having to run away so shocking? I never could have imagined Xenovius Lovegood capable of such a terrible thing."

Luna shook her head slightly, trying hard to take in all she was hearing. This man knew her mother and father, and not just that, he knew her uncle too…an uncle who wasn't capable of doing the things that the uncle she knew was.

"You knew them?" She took a deep breath and tried to calm her thoughts. "How?"

"Oh well. My father had came here from Godric's Hollow years before I was born, but see, back when I was a boy, we didn't have a wizards school in the US. No, our people were home schooled. My father wanted better for me so he made arrangements with old Professor Dippet for me to go to school at Hogwarts. I was in the same house with your mother, father and uncle…Ravenclaw."

"Me too." Luna smiled

"It does tend to run in generations." Councilman Brinks smiled. "All three of my boys went to Hogwarts and all but one of them went to Ravenclaw. Had one Gryffindor; but I guess it could have been worse, he could have been a Slytherin." He chuckled at his joke for a moment before going on.

"Your mother was a lovely woman Luna. Brilliant potions student, had professor Slughorn twisted tight around her little finger…had your father and Uncle twisted even tighter."

"My Uncle?" Luna sat straight up in her chair. "I don't understand."

"No, I don't imagine you do." He sighed "But, it's not really my story to tell dear."

"Please Sir." Luna pleaded. Now that she knew that there was a story, she was desperate to hear it. Something, anything, that might explain why her uncle hated her so much…why he had hated her father so much. "Please, my mother and father are gone, there's no one that can be hurt by my knowing, but maybe…I don't know…maybe someone can be helped."

He looked nervous for a moment, and then he nodded. "Maybe." He shook his head sadly. "I was in the same year as your mother and uncle, year behind your father. We roomed together your uncle and I. I never saw two boys closer than your uncle and father. Brothers, but best friends too. Did everything together. Xenovius always said he loved nothing more than spending time with Xenophilius and his old Granddad hunting. They made trips to Wales to visit their Granddad, couple of times a term. Xenophilius was never fond of the old man, but he went because he knew how much Xenovius adored him.

"Was middle of our first year that Louisa caught their eye. Not because she was pretty...though there was that…but because she was smart. That girl could transfigure a matchstick into a pin before the rest of us had our wands out, but where she really shined was potions. Slughorn practically kissed the bottom of her shoes he thought she was so special."

Luna felt a pang in her chest. She too had been a favorite of Professor Slughorns…until he had turned on her. She couldn't help wondering now if he would have turned on her mother…but of course, the answer was yes.

"The four of us had our own little knot and we didn't let anyone else in. Each of us had a class that we excelled in to ridiculous heights. Louisa had potions, Xenovius had History of Magic, Xenophilius had transfiguration and I had charms. We worked together to better one another and between the four of us we took up the top four spots in our years." He stopped and laughed. "We were a breeding ground for egos and arrogance. Only your mother was immune. Louisa had a sweet nature and a calming influence…it was only when her back was turned that things crumbled.

"It was bound to happen eventually, she was such a lovely girl. But who would have thought that both your father and your uncle would fall in love with her? It was obvious to me straight off that Louisa heart belonged to your father. Xenovius saw it too and being the good man he was, loving his brother the way he did, he stepped aside. The trouble started when your father stopped making time for Xenovius. His life because all about Louisa. Our study sessions stopped, he canceled hunting holidays to Wales to visit their Granddad. Yet Xenovius too this all with a grain of salt…cause he could see how happy his brother was."

He stopped for a moment, his face saddened with the memories. Luna tried desperately to reconcile the Xenovius Lovegood that she had known, and the Xenovius Lovegood of Leroy Brinks memories. There was no reconciling the two…they were two different universes. He was describing a man who would give up his own heart for another's happiness…the man Luna knew would kill an innocent child out of revenge.

"I'm sorry." Luna knew that she must look as shocked as she felt. Councilman Brinks looked at her with sympathy. "This can't be the same Xenovius Lovegood…"

"You don't believe that time and experiences can change people?" He smiled and nodded towards the head table. "When I first met Oliver he was angry and bitter because his being stuck here was cutting into his Quidditch training. He was raging because he was sure he was going to be cut from the team. Now look at him. He has given it all up to stay with the woman he loves. Isn't it possible that the reverse can happen? Can't a good person have something happen, something so terrible that it turns them into someone who can do bad things?"

"I suppose so." Luna agreed, her mind jumping to Nathan Wayling once again. "You're saying something pushed my uncle over the edge."

"Oh yes, yes yes. Something tragic." Councilman brinks nodded. "Your father and uncle were supposed to visit their Granddad over the Christmas holiday. He hadn't been feeling well, had owled Xenophilius, and had asked that they be sure to visit and Xenophilius had promised the old man they would be there. But when the time came, Louisa invited Xenophilius to spend the holiday with her family. She didn't know about his promise of course, she would never have interfered in such way. Xenophilius was never open with her about such things. Well, Xenophilius took her offer and so instead of apparating down that afternoon, Xenovius planned to go the next day on the school train. As he was boarding the train next morning, word came that their Granddad had died in the night.

"Xenophilius tried to make it up to him, and Xenovius tried to let him. Louisa was furious with Xenophilius, but Xenovius turned all of his hatred and anger on Louisa. Eventually Xenovius and I went our way, and Xenophilius and Louisa went theirs. We thought after some time, maybe things would be okay again. Then, a post came from the ministry of magic for Xenophilius. Their Granddad had left Xenophilius his most prized possession, a broach that had been passed down through the Lovegood family from generation to generation for centuries. Xenophilius made the mistake of giving it to Louisa. Xenovius saw her wearing it, and he never spoke to his brother or her again. "

He stopped for a moment, giving Luna time to absorb it all. It was so much, so much that she had never heard before. It explained many things, so many, many things. To have your heart broken, not just once, or even twice…but three times. How much had her uncle suffered, even though unwittingly, at her father's hand? Luna knew her father, knew that he would never deliberately hurt anyone. But such pain her Uncle must have felt, to give up the woman he loved for this brother's happiness, to lose his brother's attention to that woman…and then to lose someone he loved as much as he had his grandfather because of a selfish decision.

She realized now how true it was that she looked exactly like her mother. How hard that must have been for him, to see Louisa alive again, to have all those memories reopened, like scars torn off old wounds.

It didn't excuse what her uncle had done to her…but it did make it all make sense.

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George made a final adjustment to the diaper cover over Hopes diaper and then lifted her from the bed. He couldn't resist lifting her cheek to his for a nuzzle. She was so soft, and she smelled so sweet…the source of the baby powder soft soapy smell that mixed with the scent of brown sugar and lilac in his wife's hair and on her skin.

"Should we go find mummy?" He cooed softly as he pulled the baby headband back into place. Hope gurgled happily and gave him a soft smile. When she smiled like that, she reminded him so much of Fred that he felt warmed from his toes to his forehead.

"You look so much like your daddy when you do that." He kissed her forehead "Do you know that?"

"Which daddy would that be?" A gravelly voice said from the doorway. "The real one or the make-believe."

George let his eyes fall closed. He was determined not to have a fight with Angelina, not today.

"Go away Angelina"

"Really George. Don't you think that was a bit rude?"

He sent her a warning look. "You're not going to ruin this for Oliver and CJ."

"CJ." She giggled, "Can you believe Oliver married a fatty?"

George rolled his eyes. Leave it to Angelina. "I can think of worse things to marry."

"Really? A whore like Loony Lovegood maybe?"

George stood and turned to face her. Let her insult him all she wanted, but he was not going to stand for her talking about Luna like that.

"Actually, I was thinking more along the lines of a bitch like you."

Angelina narrowed her eyes in a look that George was all too familiar with. He knew he had made a huge mistake in miscalculating Angelina's temper.

"Look, I'm sorry okay? I didn't mean it. But Angie…what the hell happened to you? You used to be my best friend, now look at you, you're mean and vicious. If Fred saw how you are now…"

George was taken aback at the sudden look that crossed her face. She wasn't angry anymore; her eyes were huge and filled with so much pain he could barely stand to look into them.

"Don't talk about Fred." She choked out. "Don't ever."

His mind flashed back to all those nights when Lee had tried to bring Fred up. It had always bothered him, but it had been Angelina who had reacted. She had screamed at him to stop, to never mention Fred ever again…and the night that she had thrown Lee from the flat, it had been because Lee had made a comment about George dying like Fred. It hadn't been about protecting him...it had been about protecting herself.

"Angie." He gasped, his eyes filling. "Why didn't you just tell me?"

"How could I tell you?" She seemed to be struggling with every part of her body. Struggling to breathe, struggling to stand, even struggling to speak.

"Come here." He took her hand and pulled her over to the sofa. He sat her down, then lay Hope in her bassinet and sat next to Angelina on the sofa.

"Angie, it isn't your fault."

"Yes it is!" She pulled her legs up under her and wrapped her arms around them. "After what happened to you…I tried so hard, but all I did was push him away…and then…"

"Shh…" He put is hand on her arm "Slow down."

"He was so proud, do you remember? When you guys told me your parents finally let you join the Order? " George nodded. "I was proud too…at first. But after you were hurt, I realized how serious it was. It wasn't like Dumbledore's Army where if we got caught we got scratched up with a crazy old cows quill. I got so scared George, the only thing I could think about was getting him to quit the Order, and I knew the only way he would do that was if he was with me. But he wouldn't! I tried everything to get him to come and be with me…I even thought if we were sleeping together, he would for sure. But the harder I tried… the more I pushed him away."

She was crying now, huge gasping sobs that made her entire body shake. For the first time George felt sympathy for her.

"I was so afraid, nothing I was doing was working…the night he came…I was so drunk. I didn't mean to, it just happened. Things just kept getting worse and worse the harder I tried to make things better. And then he was dead and it was all my fault because if I had done things right he wouldn't have been there!"

"Angie, that's not true." George sighed, "There is nothing you could have done to stop Fred. Even if he had been living with you, he would have apparated to Hogsmeade the moment he heard the rest of us were there. You know that."

"I don't know that! I could have stopped him; I would have found a way!" She said angrily and George couldn't stop himself from laughing.

"Angie, nothing could have stopped Fred, you know that."

"I could have tried." She sniffled "I couldn't save him, and I couldn't save you either. I thought I was helping you, letting you drink so much, I thought it was making it hurt less. But it was only making things worse, and you were getting so sick from it. I bought that damned ring… I thought…if we got married, you wouldn't need to drink anymore. But it only made things worse...so I guess I failed twice."

"No." George sighed. Everything was falling into place, but even though the piles were neat now, the mess still remained. "You didn't fail. I just wasn't ready to be saved yet."

Angelina nodded as if she was pretty sure he was lying.

"Was Fred in love with her?"

"No." He admitted grudgingly, he didn't want to talk about this with anybody, least of all Angelina. It didn't begin to tell the whole story of what happened on the beach that night at Shell Cottage. "But he would have been, he was well on the way to it."

"What makes her so fucking special?" Angelina asked bitterly, obviously, he and Luna would not be having her over for tea anytime soon.

George shrugged "It isn't just one thing; it's a lot of little things."

"The kid really is his, isn't it?" Angelina sounded like a person holding onto her last straw, yet the straw was full of holes.

"Of course she is." He gave her a slightly annoyed look "Did you really think I would believe something like that without proof?"

Angelina was quiet for a moment, as if she was weighing her thoughts carefully.

"Can I see her?"

George showed only mild surprise as he lifted Hope from her pram. He sat so she could see Hope closer. From the look on Angelina's face, it was obvious that she too saw the resemblance. On a whim, George handed her to Angelina and Angelina to his surprise accepted her.

"What's her name?"

"Hope."

Angelina nodded. She held Hope, but only for a moment. Her face was tear streaked as she stood and handed the baby back to George and kissed his forehead. She turned and left the cottage without another word.

A moment later the door opened again and Luna stepped inside.

"George?" She looked worried. "I saw Angelina leave the cottage then she turned and left the compound without a word to anyone…did something happen?"

He shook his head and held his hand out for hers. She took it, sat next to him on the sofa and he put his free arm around her.

He thought sadly again about the look on Angelina's face as she looked down at Hope. For most people looking at Hope was a promise of the things that they had to look forward to, the hope for good things to come. But he wondered now what it had been like to look at her through Angelina Johnson's eyes. She would have seen the life of the man she had loved in his child's face, a life cut way too short. She would have seen the child that in her idea of a perfect world would have been hers. Everything she wanted…but could never, ever have.

For Angelina, facing Hope meant saying goodbye to the Fred she had been holding onto for so long.

"George?" Luna looked at him, her eyes concerned. She had seen the damage Angelina Johnson had done to her husband before, and she wasn't crazy about what she was seeing now.

"What happened with Angelina?"

"Nothing. She just…" He smiled and kissed her gently.

"She just came to say goodbye."

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Chapter 29 preview

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Luna makes an attempt

to heal the wounds of the past while

Ron, Hermione, Harry, George and Kinglsey attempt

to prevent wounds in the future.

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