THC/The Houses Competition

House: Gryffindor

Category: Standard

Class: Potions

Prompt(s): [Location] Hogwarts Express, [Pairing - Positive] Luna Lovegood and Theodore Nott

Words: 1404

Warnings: Character death, trauma, blood mentioned.

Summary: Theodore and Luna are on the train, heading to their last year of Hogwarts when something tragic happens.

Title: My Little Moon

Who knew that the Hogwarts Express could crash? It was a magical train after all, but here Theodore was, laying on his back amongst the wreckage as he tried to recover from the shock of it all. After he regained consciousness he tried to recall what had happened. He remembered being in one of the compartments with Luna, talking. He couldn't remember what they were talking about, but they were talking about something, he knew that much. He remembered leaving, wanting to get some sweets from the trolley for himself and Luna a few hours after lunch was served, with Luna requesting a liquorice wand for herself. Theodore had a vague memory of talking to the trolly lady, asking her how her day was going before ordering a package of Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans, a chocolate frog and, of course, Luna's liquorice wand.

He was making his way back to the compartment when the train gave a sudden jerk, causing everyone to yell out of surprise. Theodore remembered dropping his sweets as he placed his hands on either side of the aisle to keep himself steady as the train continued to quiver and jolt. Many students poked their heads out of their compartments to see what was going on when the train abruptly turned on its side causing everyone to tumble to the left side of the train. Theodore was unable to hold on as he plunged into one of the empty compartments, hitting against the glass window with a loud thud. He cried out in pain as he felt his wrist break under the pressure of his body falling on top of it.

Theodore opened his eyes that were clenched shut, looking in horror out the window as the hundreds of trees and the river got closer. Theodore's fear only increased when a loud screeching noise could be heard, made by the bolts that kept the tracks intact breaking free. Theodore could feel the train start to shake as the tracks gave out a moment before the train plummeted down to the river. Theodore screamed as he reached up and grabbed a hold of the upper racks meant for students' trunks, hoping he could get his body up and off the glass before the impact would most certainly shatter it.

It is said that in your last moments, your life would flash before your eyes, but Theodore didn't see his parents or his friends. He didn't see his life at Hogwarts. He didn't get to experience all the good times that he had. He didn't get to see the bad and he didn't get to see his regrets. All he thought about was Luna, alone in the compartment. All he could think about was getting back to her, making sure that she was alright. Theodore closed his eyes, the sound of every student of Hogwarts' screaming filling his ears as the train hit the ground.

Theodore was in a world of pain when he came to. He didn't know how long he was out for, but he was able to guess with how dark it was outside that it had been a few good hours since the train crashed. All he could manage was a painful moan as he rolled onto his side. He fiddled for his wand as he slowly pulled it out of his sleeve "...Loo…Lumos," Theodore managed to get out, lighting the tip of his wand and illuminating the area.

If Theodore was capable of jumping back in that moment, he would have. When he lit his wand, what he saw would forever be in his mind. A thick trail of blood led into his compartment from the outside and one of the enchanted chocolate frogs was jumping amongst the blood as if it was in a garden. He took a moment to gather himself before, with great effort, pulling himself up to his knees. "Hello!?" Theodore yelled as he pointed his wand around, hoping to find any signs of life. "This can't be happening…this can't be happening," he spoke softly as a lone tear slid down his face and onto his jacket.

Luna…he needed to get to her. He needed to know if she was alive. He clenched his teeth, taking in a couple of rushed breaths before pointing his wand at his wrist. "Episkey!" Theodore shouted, unable to hold back his scream as his bone snapped back into place. Theodore did his best to breathe through the pain as he ripped off a piece of his jacket and used it to bind his wrist. Once finished, he flipped his wand around and took hold of it with his mouth before starting the climb out of the compartment.

Theodore dug his feet into the surface of the train, using all of his strength as he pulled himself out of the compartment and into the aisle. He stood up, taking his wand out of his mouth before pointing it forward. Theodore's heart dropped when he saw the damage. Students' bodies were thrown all over and the blood…there was so much blood. Theodore had been through the war with Voldermort, fighting by Harry's side as they defended Hogwarts, but not once did he see this much blood.

"Luna!?" Theodore called out as he started to track back to their compartment. He was careful to step over the broken glass and debris, but the worst was having to step over the remains of students, of his schoolmates, having to look into their lifeless eyes. He never thought he would see another dead body after the war but here he was, shifting through the remains of his friends as he tried to get back to Luna.

"Luna!" Theodore cried out as he forced the door open of their compartment and pushed his way inside, kneeling down next to Luna.

"I'm right here, I'm here, now," Theodore gently spoke as he held his hand above Luna's bleeding head. A large gash ran across her temple and along her hair line, bleeding profusely. Deep, scarlet blood mixed with her golden locks as her limp body lay in his arms. Theodore took off the remains of his jacked, folding it up and gently, but firmly, placing it on the gash.

"...Theo?" Luna whispered, using the nickname that she had come up with for him. She cracked her eyes open as her body took in a ragged breath "I…I'm so cold," Luna slurred as she tried to keep her eyes open.

Theodore held back his tears at the sound of Luna's voice as he reached forward and grabbed his trunk that had fallen and snapped open the locks. He pulled out his Slytherin robe and draped it over Luna.

"It's going to be alright. Help is coming," Theodore reassured. "The moment the train didn't show up, they would have contacted the Aurors." Theodore expected that the Aurors and Healers would be coming any minute now. "The Healers…they're coming, you just need to hold on a little bit longer."

Luna softly shook her head. "I…I've been holding on...so I could see you one last time…so I could say goodbye," she murmured as she held out her hand, laying it against Theodore's chest.

"No…no," Theodore cried as he tightened his grip on Luna. "Don't say that, you are going to be okay. You have to be okay. You can't leave me. I'm not the same man without you. You bring the good out in me and if you aren't there, then…" Theodore couldn't finish as he broke down in tears. He couldn't lose Luna. She was the only person who ever saw the good in him.

"You always had good in you, it's always been there. You are a good man, you've always been a good man," Luna explained. "I love you, I love you so much and I want nothing more than to stay, but it's my time." She took in another ragged breath, this one worse than the last. "Promise me that you won't lose yourself…promise me that the good in you won't disappear."

Theodore let out a heartbreaking sob as he brought Luna closer to him, laying his forehead against hers as he wrapped his arm around her back. "I promise…I promise. I love you, I will always love you, my little moon," he softly spoke, holding Luna in his arms until her body suddenly went limp as she let out her last breath.