HARRY POTTER AND ICE CREAM DELIGHTS 2-12-10
Author: Luckner
Disclaimer: The characters and their world are the property of J.K. Rowling, various publishers and Warner Bros. No money is being made and no copyright infringement is intended.
CHAPTER 23: RETURN TO PRIVET DRIVE
The night of the full moon finally arrived, and Voldemort and Bellatrix were ready. The two waited in the darkness for the ceremonies to begin; the razor-sharp mountain peaks surrounding them like the teeth of a giant beast. A few minutes before midnight, torches blazed up on the mountaintop in the distance. It was the signal for Voldemort to begin the execution of his own plan. Using an incendiary charm, the Dark Lord set a large bonfire ablaze. As the fire licked at the dry wood it sent up a storm of sparks into the midnight sky.
Voldemort and Bellatrix immediately began their own sacrifice to Hecate, and the screams of the helpless muggle rent the silent night. The two were acutely aware that their activities were visible to Gofden and his followers; in fact that was the whole basis of their plan. A moment later several pops were heard, and a number of black clad figures appeared in a circle around the two. Voldemort and Bella found themselves covered by a dozen wands. All was silent except for the crackling of the fire and the moaning of the muggle sacrifice.
Then a tall, thin figure left the circle of robed figures and stepped towards the dying sacrifice, examining the marks of torture with clinical interest.
"I have rarely seen the 'Skinning Torture' performed as well," the man said in a soft, yet chilling voice.
"High praise indeed," Voldemort replied carefully.
"So, what brings you to these lonely parts?" The dark man asked.
"A midnight offering to Hecate; won't you join us?" Voldemort asked smoothly, and then he waved his hand and the neck of the muggle snapped with a loud crack
The dark figure stood silent for a moment, impressed by both the use of wandless magic and by the ease with which the stranger had ended a life. Voldemort could only see the mouth of the tall man; the rest of his face was concealed by a dark hood. He noticed a mouth full of very sharp white teeth, which slowly curved into the kind of grin that would give the best of men nightmares.
"Generally strangers do not find a friendly reception in these mountains; but to every rule there is an exception. But as the host I would ask that you join us, both for the sacrifice and the revel we have planned for afterwards. And by all means bring your offerings, Lord Voldemort," the gaunt figure said as he nodded to the three muggles that lay trussed up on the ground.
"It would be our pleasure," Voldemort answered smoothly, but he was somewhat troubled by the fact that his adversary knew his true identity. "Bella, will you bring the offerings along," he said with a glance in her direction.
"As you command, my lord," she responded with a grim smile.
Over the next three hours a half-dozen more muggles met grisly ends, and even the most experienced members of the coven had to admit that the newcomers had a rare gift for torture.
Lord Voldemort was rather surprised by how much he enjoyed the dark revel that followed the mountain top sacrifices, and readily admitted that his host knew how to properly entertain his guests. Several muggles were brought into the great hall of the castle, and the Dark Lord found their ends to be extremely entertaining. Torture, as practiced in Eastern Europe, had a subtly and artistic precision that was lacking in the west; and the Dark Lord made several mental notes for future reference
The merriment did not conclude until the first rays of the sun peeked above the mountain tops to the east; it was only then that the members of the coven began to drift away to their own chambers.
"I hope you enjoyed our entertainment last night; but I do regret that our supply of muggles was somewhat limited. One of the villages that owe me allegiance failed to provide the three sacrifices that I required. They will be attended to presently," Gofden said with a grim smile, showing his sharp teeth to his guest. "Perhaps you would care to stay for a few days and see how we manage our muggles in this part of the world?"
"I would be most interested," Voldemort said honestly.
"Excellent; we can talk more after you've rested. This witch will show you to your chambers," he said referring to a dark-haired woman on his left. "She will provide you with anything that you desire. And again I welcome you to my home," Gofden concluded with an unreadable smile.
As Voldemort followed the young witch up a curved flight of stone steps, he wondered about all that had transpired over the past twelve hours. His original plan had been to get close to Gofden, learn his secrets and then kill him. But now he was beginning to wonder if patience might not serve his purposes better, and he resolved not to rush his next move. He had to admit that the luxury of the ancient castle was most agreeable; far more so than the drafty manor house he had occupied on the Cornish coast, and the entertainment was excellent. Potter could wait a few more weeks while the Dark Lord enjoyed a bit of a vacation.
-o-
If Harry Potter thought that his spring vacation would be spent enjoying peaceful woodland walks with his girlfriend, he was quickly doomed to disappointment. Luna would have been delighted with the prospect, and could have suggested a couple of romantic little dells where the two might while away their days. Unfortunately, it soon became apparent that dreams of such romantic pursuits would have to give way to the complications of their lives. On the day after their return, Hermione Granger appeared on Luna's front step, a small overnight bag in her hand.
"Um…hi Luna; I thought that if I could stay with you a few days we might have more time to work on your Mother's notes," Hermione said self consciously, but with a note of hope in her voice.
The girl looked so eager that neither Luna nor Harry had the heart to refuse. Luna looked at her boyfriend and Harry nodded with a smile, then he took Hermione's bag upstairs to the spare bedroom next to his.
"Thanks Harry," Hermione said with relief, realizing that her unannounced visit was something of an imposition.
When Harry returned, Hermione was already in the library sifting through stacks of papers. Luna was waiting by the door, a slightly sad look on her face. "Will you be alright, Harry?" She asked carefully.
"Sure, I'll just putter around a little bit; I still have some unpacking to do. We can take our walk later." he said warmly.
With Luna and Hermione cloistered in the Lovegood library, Harry saw an opportunity to have a private word with Luna's Father.
"May I speak to you for a moment Philus?" the young man asked from the doorway to the study.
"Of course Harry, come in," the man said with a genuine smile. As the boy entered the cluttered room he couldn't help but smile to himself; it was just as he remembered it from the previous summer. Piles of books, manuscripts and papers were stacked high on every flat surface; and there were even stacks on the floor. Every inch of wall space was occupied by bookshelves, all of them crammed with books lying at every conceivable angle. Philus stood up from behind an overburdened oak desk and walked over to greet the boy who had become like a son to him.
"Won't you have a seat Harry?" Philus asked as he removed several ancient volumes from an arm chair that sat next to the fireplace. The fire had already burned down to a few glowing coals, but Philus used an ancient iron poker to stir it up into a cheerful blaze, and then took the seat opposite the raven haired boy.
Um…thank you sir," the boy said, as he wondered if coming to Luna's Father was such a good idea. He sat in the rather threadbare armchair that Philus had just cleared, and found that it was surprisingly comfortable.
"Would you care for some tea or a biscuit?" Philus asked, trying to put the boy more at ease.
"Ah, I would enjoy a cup of tea," Harry said, hoping for a bit of time to organize his thoughts.
Philus poured him a cup, and then waited patiently for the boy to broach the subject of his visit.
"I want to give Luna something…I don't know, something to show her how I feel. Maybe a ring, I'm just not sure," the boy said hesitantly.
"Is it that time already?" Philus mused out loud, and then remembered that he was no older than Harry when he gave his own true love a symbol of his own feelings.
"I do understand, Harry. With women like the ones that we've chosen its sometimes a challenge to know what to do. It was Luna's Grandfather who helped me with the same problem when I was just your age," Philus said in a reassuring tone. Harry let out a breath that he didn't even realize that he had been holding, and felt slightly better.
"Have you ever heard of Pledge Rings, Harry?" The older man asked.
"I don't think so," the boy answered.
"Well it's an old custom that's not practiced much anymore, but it seemed right for me and Elizabeth and perhaps it might be right for the two of you as well. When people fell in love, but were too young for marriage, they exchanged pledge rings to bind their hearts together," Philus explained.
"That sounds perfect," Harry declared in amazement. "Can I find them at Diadon Alley?"
"I honestly doubt it. I'm afraid there isn't much demand for Pledge Rings today. I tried without success to find one when I was your age, but it was not until Luna's Grandfather took me to a small shop in Cornwall that I was successful. The shop caters to witches and wizards who follow the old ways, and if you like I can take you there tomorrow."
"That would be wonderful," Harry said, grateful that Luna's Father was so willing to help him.
The next morning Harry was ready for his outing with the senior Lovegood, and was only waiting for Hermione and Luna to begin their work in the library. Hermione had already discovered several interesting spells among the papers that belonged to Luna's Mother, and he knew that she would be eager to begin. The young man found that he was really looking forward to the trip; not only because he was eager to get Luna a symbol of his feelings, but also because Philus had explained that Falmouth was one of the oldest magical communities in Britain. The young man had visited Diadon Alley and Hogsmead frequently, but Philus had told him that Falmouth had a completely different feel to it.
As Luna and Hermione walked towards the library, the young girl suddenly turned around and ran back to Harry. She gave him a kiss on the cheek and a warm but knowing smile before turning back to the older girl. He had told her that he was merely going shopping for some new clothes, but Harry had the feeling that she knew exactly what he was going to do. He had long since realized that there was no sense discounting Luna's unique instincts.
"Let's go," Philus said conspiratorially as soon as the girls had left the room. Reaching into a pewter mug above the fireplace, he took out a large handful of floo powder. As he threw the powder into the fire the flames turned a bright green and roared up. In a clear voice he said: "The Crying Witch!" And stepping into the fire the older man disappeared into its swirling vortex of green flame.
Harry repeated the man's actions, thinking that their destination had a most unusual name, and soon felt himself spinning in the warm heat of the fire.
Traveling my floo always made Harry a bit dizzy, and stepping out of the fireplace he stumbled and almost fell, but caught himself at the last minute. The first thing that he noticed was a salty smell to the air, and he knew that he was close to the sea. Looking around the boy realized that 'The Crying Witch' was actually a tavern; and one that would have been very much at home in the Eighteenth Century. The room had a distinct feeling of age about it, decorated as it was in dark oak paneling illuminated by numerous ancient oil lamps. Over the bar, which ran the length of one wall, was mounted an old ship's figurehead of what appeared to be a woman crying. The patrons were a rough looking lot, and were dressed more like muggle fishermen than wizards.
Noticing the perplexed look on the boy's face, Philus leaned in close to his ear. "Things don't change very fast down here, and style isn't very important," he said as he nodded to the man behind the bar.
"Philus, it's good to see you again. You better brace yourself with some hot mulled wine before you leave, it's a harsh day out there," the man said in a friendly way.
"Thanks Valorious, but I think we'll need it more when we return. By the way, this is my friend Harry," Philus said as he made the introduction.
"I'm pleased to meet you young man; Valorious Hardcastle is the name," the man said in a gruff voice as he extended his hand.
"I'm Harry Potter, I'm pleased to meet you Mr. Hardcastle," he replied as he felt the firm but friendly grip.
"It's Valorious, Harry; we're rather informal down here. When you return I'll have a hot drink to warm you right up," he said with a smile.
"They're a rough, but a good-hearted lot," Philus said as he led Harry out the door. A damp, bone-chilling fog immediately enveloped the two men, and Harry suddenly felt like he was wrapped in the arms of a gigantic ghost. As they walked up the steep and narrow lane, the boy noticed ancient stone buildings leaning in on either side, heavily shrouded by the fog. A steady drip of icy water came off the overhanging slate roofs, causing the cobbled street to feel more like a shallow stream as the water rushed down towards the bay.
"How can it be so cold here while it was so warm in Devon?" The young man asked with a shiver.
"This is Cornwall, Harry. Weather rules don't apply here," Philus said as he tried to get his bearings.
Old cast iron signs swung silently on the outside of ancient buildings, indicating that the main floors were occupied by local merchants. At the head of the steep lane Harry could see the rough walls of an ancient fortress looming above him.
"Here we are, Harry," Philus said as he came to a halt at the door of an old stone building that had stood on the same spot for centuries. Harry looked up to see a hanging, wrought iron sign swinging gently above the door; it was a black cat with an arched back standing atop a gold crown. Below the sign it indicated that the business had been founded in 1719, which made it quite new when compared with Ollivander's Wands.
The boy had visited a jewelry shop in Hogsmead a few months before, and knew that they were quite similar in arrangement to such muggle establishments. That was why he was so surprised when he entered The Cat and the Crown, which was unlike any shop he had visited before. It felt almost like he was entering the parlor of the Lovegood home back in Devonshire. A fire was blazing cheerfully in a fireplace on one side of the room, while a number of comfortable chintz-covered chairs were grouped around it. An ancient black cat was lying on a mat in front of the fire, warming itself contentedly. In an ornately carved rocking chair by the fire sat an old woman with white hair, knitting peacefully. The cat opened a single yellow eye to observe the newcomers, and then closed it again to resume its nap.
"The kettles on, Philus; please have a seat and introduce me to your friend," the old woman said without looking up from her task.
Philus smiled slightly and led Harry to a sofa that faced the fire from the other side. "Good morning Hephzibah, it's been much too long. You look as young as ever," the man said, clearly pleased to renew an old friendship.
The old woman chuckled lightly as she finished her row and put her knitting aside. "I know how I look old friend, but like my old cat I can endure," she said as she fixed the two men with intelligent lavender colored eyes.
"Gramalkin must be the oldest cat in England," Philus said as he laid a gentle hand on the cat's back, which at once began to purr.
"Yes, and the truest familiar that a witch could ever want," the old woman said wistfully. "And who is this handsome young man?" the woman said as she smiled at Harry.
"This is my friend Harry Potter, and we've come looking for a Pledge Ring," Philus replied with a smile.
"Not little Luna?" The old woman asked with genuine surprise.
"She's sixteen now," was Philus' simple answer.
"Ah, how fast the years pass; it seems like only yesterday that I gave her those radish earrings for her seventh birthday. I'm very pleased to meet you Harry; and I do hope you know how lucky you are," she said as she extended her hand.
"Yes madam, I do indeed," the boy replied, liking the old woman immediately.
"It's Hephzibah, dear," she said in a grandmotherly tone as she slid a tray of shortbread across the table to the two men, and then went to get the tea kettle. In the hour that followed the three of them had a lovely tea together; and Harry almost forgot the purpose of their visit.
"This shortbread is delicious Hephzibah; it tastes just as good as Luna's," Harry said as he took his third piece.
"It should be, Luna's Mother gave me the recipe years ago," the old woman said wistfully. Then looking up at the wall clock, and seeing that it was almost noon, she suggested that they step into the back and look at rings.
"Watch the shop darling; Mother will be back soon," she said to the old cat as she led Harry and Philus through a beaded curtain and into a room filled with with shelves and display cases that were crowded with a variety of magical items and devices.
"Do you know much about Pledge Rings, Harry?" The woman asked as she moved with the stiffness of age.
"Not very much," the boy admitted.
"It's a very old practice in our world, and one that I'm sorry to say seems to be dying out. The world is changing so fast that people don't seem to have time for long term commitments; and so they avoid the idea of pledging a mate. But there are still some people who cherish the old ways, and I stay open to provide for them. A pledge ring, like a wand, chooses the person to whom it will belong. But in this case it's a choice that is once removed, for the ring will sense Luna through you Harry. The ring will help to form a lifelong bond between the two of you. Some people later choose to use their pledge rings as wedding rings. Isn't that so Philus?" Hephzibah asked with a smile.
"Indeed it is, Hephzibah; Elizabeth wouldn't have had it any other way," Philus said with a faraway look in his eye.
"Yes, she was a remarkable witch, and a good friend. I really miss the talks that we used to have," Hephzibah said sadly, as she came to a stop before an ornately carved display case.
"Now I need to put a charm on you Harry; it will enable you to see the ring that is right for the two of you," she said as she took a wand from her robes. She waved the wand above his head and mumbled the charm; and as she did so the boy felt a slight stirring in his heart.
"Now Harry, if you will look down at the rings in this case the right one will make itself known to you," she said. As Harry surveyed the large case, which contained hundreds of rings, he wondered how the right one would reveal itself to him. Some of the rings were clearly very old, and had obviously been worn by previous owners. Some carried the crests of various families, others had runic symbols that the boy couldn't read, and still others were set with single stones in brilliant colors. He recognized one ring that carried the Longbottom crest, and he wondered if someday Neville might give it to Ginny.
Suddenly Harry felt a slight pull, and his attention was drawn to the corner of the back row. There he saw a small silver ring set with a silver-grey stone, and it was glowing brightly. It seemed to call to him, and he knew immediately that it was the right ring. Beside it lay another larger ring, which was set with the same stone.
"That's the one; I'm certain," the boy said as he pointed to the ring.
"I thought that would be the one," the old woman said smiling as she placed the ring in his hand.
"Why did you think that?" The boy asked curiously.
"Because it's a Moonstone, Harry; the women in Luna's family have always been drawn to Moonstones as far back as I can remember. The stone is sacred to the old Celtic goddesses, and seem to possess unique powers that only special people can bring forth," the old woman said.
"That's right Harry, Elizabeth had a Moonstone ring almost identical to this one, and she would never take it off; she said that it always brought her peace. I know it should have gone to Luna, but I couldn't take it even after Elizabeth died," Philus said sadly.
As Harry listened to Philus he realized for the first time how truly important the ring was, and the pledge that went along with it. As he looked into the ring he could see beyond the silver-grey color, and saw a whole rainbow of colors within its depths. The stone had a special beauty hidden under the surface, just as Luna did.
As they were leaving the shop, Hepsaba handed a small box to the boy. He opened it and saw two earrings on a red velvet background. Each earring was set with a silver-grey Moonstone.
"My gift to the lucky girl," the old woman said with a smile.
"Thank you very much," Harry said as he gave the ancient cat a gentle stroke on the back. As they walked down the narrow lane towards 'The Crying Witch' the boy didn't even feel the bone-chilling fog; he was feeling far too good to notice. He hoped to someday visit the shop again, and as fate would have it his wish would be granted sooner than he could ever expect.
-o-
Two days later Harry and Luna lay together in the tall grass near her house watching the sky turn from blue to crimson. Since their return from school the two had made it a habit to end the day by watching the sunset from this spot. It was unusually warm for April, and the gentle breeze made the meadow feel like a peaceful sea.
Harry closed his eyes and soaked in the smell of Luna's old-fashioned Lavender perfume and the soft feel of the meadow grass beneath him.
"So…how was your shopping?" Luna asked coyly.
"Fine," Harry replied as calmly as possible, thinking about the ring that was safely stored in his dresser upstairs.
"So, when do you want to go collect your things?" Luna asked casually.
"What things?" The boy asked in confusion.
"Well you said that you left some of your stuff at your Aunt's house at the end of last summer. Don't you think we better go and get them?"
"I'd really rather not," he replied sadly, disturbed at the very thought of visiting his terrible relatives.
"Oh come on; you're not going to have a chance later. We'll be going to Sweden in June and then the Quidditch World Cup comes up in July. I thought that you would just spend the whole summer with us. That would mean it would be more than a year before you could get it," Luna explained patiently.
The thought of spending the whole summer with Luna made Harry smile in spite of himself, and he certainly couldn't argue with her logic. He knew that he did need to go, despite the fact that he hated the idea.
"I suppose I should pick my things up; they will probably just burn them if I don't," Harry said with a sigh.
Luna gave him a sad look, which then changed into a smile. "Then let's send them a letter telling them we're coming, and we can go over on Friday. And afterwards you can buy me some lunch at Diadon Alley," she added slyly.
"Are you sure that you want to go; they're not very nice people?" The boy asked, although he really didn't want to go alone.
"Of course I want to go; I can't wait to meet your Aunt and Uncle again," Luna said in a tone that was slightly worrying to Harry.
"You're not going to turn them into Hedge Hogs or something, are you?" He asked cautiously.
"Oh Harry, don't be silly….You would never find a respectable Hedge Hog in Little Whinging," she explained as if the fact should be obvious.
Harry noticed that Luna hadn't exactly answered his question, but her pointing at the beautiful crimson sunset diverted his attention. The next morning the two teens went into Ottery St. Catchpole and posted a special delivery letter to Vernon Dursley informing him of their impending visit. Afterwards they had lunch at Ice Cream Delights, the place where their unlikely romance had started just a few months previously.
Three days later, using a special portkey that Philus had prepared for them, the two appeared in the park near Privet Drive. Harry noticed that the park was as run down as ever, and the play equipment that Dudley had destroyed the previous year still lay unrepaired. As they walked down Privet Drive, passing immaculately groomed houses and yards, Luna noticed that Harry seemed to be walking slower and slower. She gave his hand a supportive squeeze and leaned in against his shoulder.
When he reached the front step of Number 4 the boy stood frozen in place, staring at the front door. Even though it was a cool day, Harry felt himself sweating.
"Harry, are you alright?" Luna asked, and as she laid a gentle hand on his arm with concern. Even though she knew that it was necessary, she was beginning to regret her decision to suggest the visit.
"No…no I don't think I am. But I know that it's something that I have to do. It's just that I still feel like a scrawny eleven-year-old kid around these people," he replied self consciously.
"You…'scrawny?' I guess you haven't seen yourself in the mirror lately," Luna said, trying to lighten the boy's mood.
Harry had to smile; she could always make him feel better, even at a time like this. "Well let's get it over with then," he said as he knocked boldly on the door.
A few moments later Vernon Dursley, still red-faced and blustery, opened the door. He looked at his nephew with no more regard than he would show an insect.
"Well?" Uncle Vernon said shortly, staring at the boy in disgust.
"I…I…good morning Uncle Vernon; I've just come to collect my things," Harry said, hoping to start things off in as positive a manner as possible.
Uncle Vernon said nothing, but his eyes scrutinized the boy critically. Still the same messy hair, the same scar and the same insolent look. Even though Harry was now slightly taller than his uncle, all Vernon could see was the scrawny boy that he hated so much. Then Vernon noticed the girl standing beside his nephew, and the fact that the two were holding hands. Vernon shifted his critical gaze to the young woman.
"Uh…you remember my girlfriend Luna Lovegood, don't you Uncle Vernon?" Harry asked, desperate to save the situation from spiraling out of control.
At the mention of the word 'girlfriend,' Vernon Dursley showed obvious shock, but he quickly recovered himself. As his gaze raked over Luna, all Vernon Dursley could see was the stringy hair, pale skin and large, protuberant eyes. 'Just the kind of girlfriend the boy would find,' he thought to himself.
As Vernon looked at the young girl contemptuously, Harry felt his temper begin to rise.
"Not much is she," Vernon said with contempt.
"She's more than you will ever know, Uncle," Harry said angrily, as his hand tightened on Luna's protectively.
"If you'll just let us come in for a moment we can get Harry's things and leave," Luna said politely, completely disregarding Vernon's unflattering remark. She carefully removed her hand from the boy's grasp, and began to stroke his back gently. The young man felt his tensions begin to melt away, and he began to wish that he was alone with his girlfriend somewhere else.
Uncle Vernon stepped aside wordlessly, and Luna stepped boldly across the threshold, drawing a reluctant Harry Potter in behind her. As they entered the lounge, Harry found himself confronted by his aunt and cousin. The two had clearly been listening in on the conversation at the door, but had quite different reactions to it. Aunt Petunia seemed shocked that her nephew even had a girlfriend, and was extremely annoyed that he would bring the abnormal girl into her home. Dudley, on the other hand, appeared rather jealous, and looked at Harry with both envy and intense hatred.
"We'll just go up and get my things," Harry said briefly, hoping to make the visit as short as possible. He saw Dudley leering at Luna intently, and he wanted to get her out of the house as soon as possible.
"Keep your eyes to yourself Dud, otherwise you might lose them," Harry said tensely, so that only Dudley could hear.
Dudley quickly averted his eyes, and wondered what had happened to the scrawny little cousin who he had beaten up just a few years previously.
"When we received your letter we cleaned out the room, and we put your…'things' in the cupboard under the stairs. You're lucky that we didn't burn them, but as they might contain…abnormal things, we decided to allow you to dispose of them. Take them and get out, we don't want your kind contaminating our home any longer than necessary" Uncle Vernon said caustically.
As his uncle spoke, Harry felt Luna tense up beside him and he knew that she was getting angry. Few people knew it, but when one of her friends was abused the young girl could display a temper fully equal to any member of the Weasley family.
Harry took her hand and drew her away in the direction of the cupboard, determined to get out before the cauldron boiled over. As he walked he could just imagine his Aunt, wearing a hazardous materials suit, gathering his things together using kitchen tongs.
When they reached the cupboard Harry suddenly felt Luna's shoulders sag by his side. Turning he realized that she was staring at the latch on the door and the small breathing hole that had been cut near the top. When he opened the door to the cupboard he heard her gasp; inside could be seen a broken down cot that was covered with cobwebs.
"Ten years…you lived like this for ten years," Luna said in a whisper as tears welled up in her eyes. "How could they do this to you?" She said as the tears began to roll down her cheeks.
Harry didn't know what to say, even after so many years he still felt the pain. There was nothing he could say to take away what she was feeling. He put his arms around her and hugged her tightly as their tears mingled.
"Stop that immediately. How dare you exhibit your filth in my house! I want you out of here immediately," Vernon Dursley shouted.
But Luna Lovegood had finally had enough, and the normally passive girl rounded on Vernon with fire in her eyes.
"How dare us? How dare you treat Harry like this? You will not talk that way to my Harry ever again. A pathetic excuse for a human being like you has no right to even speak to him. He a hero and he's my hero," Luna said angrily.
Harry watched Luna in shock and surprise. He knew that she was fiercely loyal to her friends, but he had never seen her like she was at that moment. And the thought that she regarded him as a hero made him feel incredibly proud.
"You can't talk to my Father like that, you weirdo," Dudley spat out in contempt, forgetting his fear of magic for the moment. "Harry is nothing; you are nothing, no one in your world in anything. What can you do to us anyway, turn us into frogs?" He said with a laugh.
Harry saw the look of fire in his girlfriend's eyes, and he knew that Dudley had said the wrong thing.
"Personally I prefer toads to frogs, but as you wish," Luna said in a coldly clinical way. Waving her hand the fat boy disappeared, and only a pile of clothes remained. Everyone was frozen in silence as they stared at the pile. Then the pile began to shake, and a fat green frog hopped out and croaked loudly. Petunia shrieked loudly, and Vernon's face turned bright red.
"You can't do that to my son!" Vernon bellowed and stepped forward dangerously.
"Actually she can, and so can I," Harry declared fiercely and waved his hand at his Uncle. Vernon Dursley immediately disappeared, leaving only the clothes he was wearing in a pile on the floor. A moment later another fat green frog hopped from the pile, obviously confused by its new body.
Petunia was now shrieking so loudly that the windows were rattling in their frames, and Luna and Harry could barely hear themselves think. Neither teen had ever attempted a silencing spell using the magic that Vivienne had given them, but this certainly appeared to be the time to try. Luna flicked her wrist at Petunia and was pleased when the woman suddenly went mute.
"There, that's better," the girl said calmly.
Petunia grabbed her throat in disbelief, but no sound came out. The woman was clearly terrified, as her eyes grew large as Galleons.
Luna stepped in front of the woman with a sad but determined look on her face. "Mrs. Dursley…Mrs. Dursley?" The young girl repeated as she tried to get the woman's attention. "You and your family have treated Harry terribly since he was brought to you. He was your own sister's son; and he deserved to be treated with love and compassion, but he never was. Harry is a wonderful person, but he was never a happy person; and you are responsible for that. These spells should only last a few days, but I want you to think about what you've done; perhaps you can still learn," Luna said doubtfully.
Harry listened to her words and realized once again how well she understood him, and how lucky he was to have her.
"And by the way, I think you had better get your son and husband into a bucket of water; their skin tends to crack if it dries out. Oh, and if you can get some fresh flies at a pet shop I'm sure they will appreciate it," Luna said casually, as she took Harry's hand and led him to the door.
"Bye Aunt Petunia," Harry said with a grin as he stepped out of the house for the last time.
As they walked down Privet Drive toward the park, Harry wore a grin that threatened to split his face.
"You set this up, didn't you?" He asked, already knowing the answer.
Luna looked slightly embarrassed and blushed ever so slightly. "You had issues with those people that you needed to resolve; I just wanted to give you the opportunity," she replied shyly.
He stopped walking and took her in his arms, kissing her soundly. "Thanks Luna, have I told you today that I love you?" He asked.
"I don't believe so, but I never get tired of hearing it," she said after a moment's reflection.
"Well I do, more than anything," he stated honestly.
They walked in comfortable silence for a while before Harry had another thought. "How long, do you think?"
"Perhaps a day for your Aunt, but at least a week for your cousin and uncle to regain their normal form; I do hope your Aunt can find some flies," she said casually.
Her casual remark caused Harry to break up laughing, and he was still laughing fifteen minutes later when they entered the old house in the meadow.
-o-
The next day Harry had the opportunity to ask a special favor of one of his oldest friends.
"Hermione, do you think you could skip your research work with Luna tomorrow. I want to ask her out on a picnic….I have a very important question to ask her," the young man added with a significant look.
Hermione raised an eyebrow in surprise, and then smiled at him knowingly.
"Well I was planning to visit Ron and Ginny anyway, and I think I can make it tomorrow. Oh and Harry, you're a lot smarter than I thought," she added with a smirk.
"That comes from associating with you and Luna," he said with a smile.
The next morning dawned bright and clear, and the two teens left early for their picnic. Luna seemed to sense the importance of the occasion, and led him deep into the forest to the small pond where Vivienne had her shrine. The place was special to both of them, and Harry couldn't think of a better place to ask Luna a very special question.
He thought that he should probably wait until after they had eaten, but knew that it would be impossible. Even though Harry knew that the two of them were destined to be together, he was never so nervous in his life.
"Ah…Lu," the boy asked hesitantly, as Luna was sitting out a plate of chicken that she had prepared the previous evening.
"Yes Harry," she replied, giving him her full attention. Inwardly she was as nervous as the boy who sat beside her, and realized that the most important moment of her life was at hand.
"The last few months have been wonderful …and I know that it was all because of you. I don't want it to end…ever. When we get old enough will you marry me?" He asked as his green eyes locked onto her silver ones.
Luna also knew that the two were destined to be together, but she was ever so pleased that Harry had actually asked her.
"Of course I'll marry you Harry; I think I've been in love with you since the day we first met. And I thank you for asking me; they are the words every girl wants to hear," she said with a winning smile.
Harry returned her smile and withdrew the moonstone ring from his pocket, which he carefully slipped onto her finger. "Then here's my pledge to you and to our future. I'll always love you and I'll always be with you. When we marry I'll get you a second ring, but this will always be special to us," he said smiling.
"No Harry, this will be the only ring that I'll ever wear. We will marry when the time comes, but you're my husband from right now," she said seriously.
"And you're my wife," the boy replied as he leaned in to kiss her.
As he sat back he saw Luna withdraw something from her own pocket. "And this is my pledge to you, that you'll be my husband until the day I die, and forever after," she said sincerely and slipped a ring on his finger. It was the same moonstone ring that he had seen next to Luna's at The Cat and the Crown in Falmouth.
"But how?" he whispered in amazement.
"Harry, do you really think you can keep what's in your heart from me?" She asked with a smirk.
"No, I guess not," he said as he leaned in to kiss her again.
-o-
Early in the morning of the last Sunday of the holidays Harry and Luna walked onto Platform 9 ¾, looking forward to the adventure they would share in just a few short weeks. Even in the dim light of the station, the rings that the two wore gleamed with a strange light. More than a few of their classmates noticed the rings, and those from older pureblood families immediately knew what they signified. Soon Harry and Luna became the main topic of discussion as the Hogwarts Express steamed its way north to Scotland.
The six friends managed to find an empty compartment, and the girls became engaged in a discussion of the Goblin Revolt of 1673, for a report that Ginny Weasley had not been able to complete. Apparently, Luna Lovegood and Hermione Granger were the only two students at Hogwarts who were actually able to stay awake for Professor Binn's lectures; a talent that Harry Potter frankly envied.
Seeing the discussion as his best opportunity, Neville leaned over and spoke to Harry in a quiet voice. "Can I have a word with you, Harry?" He asked.
"Sure Neville, go ahead," the boy replied.
"No…I mean in private," Neville responded.
"Ah okay, let's take a walk," Harry responded uncertainly, sure that the girls wouldn't miss them.
The two boys walked forward until the reached the platform that separated the two train carriages. Once alone Harry turned to Neville and waited patiently for the boy to speak.
"I noticed that you and Luna have pledged each other," he said cautiously as he nodded in the direction of the Moonstone ring that Harry wore.
"Yah," the boy said dreamily as he looked at the ring on his finger.
"I wanted to ask Ginny, but I haven't been able to find a ring. No one seems interested in carrying them anymore," the boy said sadly.
"Well I know a very nice lady in Falmouth. Her name is Hepsaba and she runs a shop called 'The Cat and the Crown," Harry said with a wide grin. "While I was there I noticed two rings with the Longbottom crest," the boy added conspiratorially.
"Thanks Harry, that's what I needed to know," the boy said sincerely.
"What are friends for," he answered as the two walked back to the compartment
-o-
The weeks that followed literally flew by, and it was soon almost time for summer vacation. One of the reasons that time passed so quickly was that the students of Hogwarts were overwhelmed with schoolwork in anticipation of end of term tests. For Luna Lovegood, the workload was even greater. Not only was it her O.W.L. year, but she was also working to complete an important project with Professor Snape.
The two had collaborated on potions research for several months, and were on the verge of a breakthrough cure for one of the wizarding world's most serious diseases. Fairy Fever sounded like a benign, and even funny disease; but its effects on magical children was not. And now the potion that would cure the terrible illness was almost finished.
Both Luna and Professor Snape were terribly excited about the results of the first tests, and were already discussing what there next project would be. Professor Snape had been respectful to Harry for some time, but now he seemed nice to everyone. Harry realized that part of the reason was that the Dark Lord was no longer an ominous shadow over the man's life, but the greater reason was that he was now doing the kind of work that he had always wanted to do; all that he needed was to find the right research partner.
Finally it was time to go home. Harry and Luna would spend one week at home before leaving for the Snorkack Sanctuary in Sweden. Neville had already told Harry that the first thing he would do when he returned home was to go to Falmouth and get a Pledge Ring for Ginny Weasley. It was going to be a very interesting summer indeed.
