Hey Potterheads, this has been rattling around in my head for a long time and I thought it was time to try my hand at getting it out into the world.
Feedback is very much welcome, this story is not beta'ed and it's been a very long time since I last wrote anything.
I hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: Anything you recognise is not my property, I am only borrowing them.
As Hermione entered the fourth-floor ward from the lift, the sight in her peripheral vision caused a jolt to run through her from head to toe, as her stomach filled with ice. The first glance of blonde, whiter than blonde has any right to naturally be, hair had caused her heart to feel like it had stopped in her chest mid-beat. Hermione's brain wouldn't accept that it was possible without further proof, she quickly whipped her head towards the source of her sudden inner turmoil.
That's how she ended up standing slack-jawed like a cod fish with a flurry of ice and electricity swirling through her veins. She was vaguely aware that, as a senior healer, it was expected that she acts with the utmost decorum and respect regardless of her personal history or feelings. But…surely seeing the equivalent of a ghost…for the first time in over a decade gives one a pass for such social etiquettes.
'Perhaps so much time spent healing people with wrackspurts and nargles have caused the most revered brain of our generation to begin to lose touch with reality herself?' The lyrical voice almost tinkled with amusement, yet somehow with an edge of mature sharpness that felt foreign to Hermione's ears. The soft smile the apparition-like woman flicked her way caused the swirls of ice and lightening to crash together and erupt into a raging fire licking at every individual nerve in her body.
'Excuse me for my momentary lapse…no-one has seen you in over a decade', Hermione's tone slightly edgy, the hurt of the contactless years weighing on the joy of seeing her long-lost friend. As it was, Hermione felt the overwhelming need to pinch herself and make sure she wasn't just hallucinating.
She tried to stop herself from staring, her eyes drinking in the form of the woman in front of her. Gone was the waif of a girl, too pale with her big doe eyes. In her place was a woman, standing proud, somehow taller and curvier. Her eyes sparkled with life, although a second glance showed the truth underneath, the tinge of past pain. Hermione knew it all too well.
'Yes, it really would be quite a shock I believe,' the woman's smile dropped for a second, the haunted eyes prominent, 'I think we all needed some space to find ourselves without the constant reminders of what was lost'.
'I'm sorry Luna, you're right…it's really good to see you', Hermione offered her a soft smile, instantly regretting her cutting tone as she saw the ghosts in her old friends' demeanour, 'What brings you here today?'
'Oh, my research is finally complete, and I was just so happy I went for a walk and laid down right there in the forest, when I woke up I saw a most wonderful Blibbering Humdinger and so I followed it's trail for a little while and before I knew it I was home.'
Hermione tried to force down the little giggle that rolled up at that, knowing that the blonde was very much telling the truth as peculiar as it sounded. She quickly caught herself though as the ice frosted over.
"Everyone will be very glad to see you back after all this time". The older witch couldn't help the formality of her tone, not with that cold pain still suffocating her.
Luna's eyes flashed sharply with that pained look again before quickly masking it with an airy smile, 'Yes, I'm very sure they will be'.
'Well, I must be getting back to work. I am sure I will be seeing you soon', with a curt nod the brunette turned and walked down the hallway, trying to ignore the curiosity nagging in her mind and the lightening burning her insides, begging her to go back.
Each step (in the wrong direction too mind you) drove the older witch further and further into a spiral of anxiety and confusion. Her curiosity wanted her to run back and hold Luna, ask her everything, hear her adventures - and Hermione was certain there would be many peculiar tales to be told. But mostly, to discover the root of the pain she knew Luna was trying to hide.
What was going on, was it residual from the Battle?
But surely that would not be so strong still, and why then did it seem to get worse when Hermione mentioned 'everybody'?
Was there somebody who had caused Luna pain?
Is that why she had stayed away for all this time?
But then who? Everyone had such a soft spot for the whimsical witch, surely no-one could have intentionally hurt her.
So, if not intentional, maybe accidentally?
What if her heart…
The icy feeling came rushing back through her body. Enough! Stop this nonsense right now you silly witch, where is your occlumency?
Hermione rushed to the nearest bathroom and splashed her face, staring herself in the mirror. Breathe you idiot. 1, 2, 3, 4… Now hold 2, 3, 4… and out 2, 3, 4…
Once she was feeling a little bit more composed, her mind set to not think about the intriguing blonde somewhere in the building, Hermione exited the bathroom and strode back the way she came and into her office.
Despite her utmost determination, no more work was completed by the time she rose to leave St Mungo's for the day.