Luna didn't recognise the young woman staring back at her in the mirror. She supposed it had been a blessing to not see the extent of decline her body had gone through these past months. But she now understood both Harry's and Dean's shocked expressions when Ron's Deluminator had given light on her situation, literally. It had only been after burying Dobby and sipping up a warm cup of broth from Fleur, that she had managed to go into the bathroom to clean herself up.

She had carefully peeled off her clothes and had only caught a glimpse of herself before spending a long while under the hot water, scrubbing every inch of herself until her skin felt raw. Fleur had taken her clothes away to be washed and laid down some of her own clothes for Luna to wear. But standing naked in front of the mirror, she had time to reflect on her condition. The grime had certainly hid part of the damage.

Now two enormous pale blue eyes stared back at her from deep sockets. Her cheeks were gaunt, making her high cheekbones stand out. Her nose too seemed somehow more pronounced. Her skin deathly white with a greyish tint. Her regular slim body, now was skeletal. She reminded herself of a Thestral, which was the only humorous thing she could think off. Her hair was a matted mess of wild white blonde strands and she had tried to shampoo and condition it as much as she could. Combing it would be the next challenge.

She had just slipped on Fleur's jeans and blue sweater that hung heavy on her shoulders, when there was a knock on the bathroom door. It was Fleur, who looked her up and down. Luna was grateful there was no pity of the woman's face but rather determination.

"Come on cherie. I will 'elp you with zat." She said and led Luna downstairs to the kitchen dining table. Bill was busy stirring soup on the stove, with Dean sitting by the window. He was covered in bandages and was wearing one of Bill's jumpers. He looked up when they walked in and gave her a small smile. She felt his dark eyes assessing her and was suddenly reminded of Blaise's dark gaze. It sent a shiver down her spine.

Fleur set her down on a chair and pushed a bowl of soup with a slice of warm bread towards her.
"Eat. We need to get your strength back. I'll fix thees." She said and produced an elegant silver brush.

As Luna started to take small spoonfuls of soup, Fleur meticulously started to tackle the tangles in her hair. She was both gentle and firm and tried to make the difficult process as painless as possible. Her own long silver blonde hair cascaded down her back, shimmering in the light. Luna wondered whether this was what having an older sister felt like. As if reading her mind, Fleur started to tell her stories about her sister Gabrielle. Luna particularly enjoyed her recount of a time when a chocolate frog and toffee had tangled themselves in her sister's hair and Fleur had watched their mother Apolline tried to get all the candy out as her sister sobbed.

Dean, who had remained quiet, watching their process, snickered at this. He had four younger sisters and joined in to tell stories about hair mishaps at muggle schools, most involving bubblegum. And for the first time, in a long time, Luna felt her spirits lighten. It wasn't the same as the relief she had felt when escaping Malfoy Manor, nor when she had heard that Blaise was alright. No, she actually felt joy bubbling inside her and laughed. It sounded a bit rough to her own ears, but she would treasure that sound nonetheless. Dean, Fleur and Bill joined in her laughter and with it even the kitchen seemed brighter.

Once done, Fleur left to help Hermione and tend to Griphook and Ollivander more thoroughly, while Bill prepared dinner. He extracted as much information as he could from Dean and Luna while giving them grim reports on the state of the wizarding world.
Luna was relieved to hear that Ginny was safe. Her friend, with the rest of her family, had gone into hiding after Easter. There was of course no way to ask about the Zabini family, so instead she tried to discern as much as possible from accounts that Neville managed to get through to the Order. She felt a surge of pride on how he was coping alone at Hogwarts. Gone was the insecure boy that had fumbled his way into becoming her friend. Now his bravery was irreplaceable to the war effort.

Only Harry and Ron joined them for dinner. Hermione, Griphook and Ollivander remained upstairs. Bill and Dean couldn't hide their annoyance as the other boys refused to go into further detail on what exactly they were doing. But Luna understood they are on a dangerous mission and that had priority over everything else. The less other people knew, the less likely Voldemort would find out. And the less Death Eaters could extract from them. Frustrating yes, but understandable. And so she tried to lighten the conversation, telling them about her adventures at Hogwarts during the first half of the school year and the protests against the Carrow's. Dean seemed happy to receive at least some news about how Seamus Finnigan had been doing.

Harry, Ron and eventually Hermione all remained tight lipped throughout the next few weeks. It was obvious they were planning something at Gringotts, having several conversations with Griphook and listening mutely to Bill's warnings.

Ollivander remained bedridden and so Luna and Fleur took turns to aid his recovery and keep him company. Once he had regained some of his strength he had set out to make Luna a new wand. It was a long process, but as much as Luna insisted that it wasn't necessary, Ollivander was adamant.
"I wouldn't be here without you, my dear." He kept saying and so Luna watched in awe as his old hands nimbly craved the wood and inserted its core. A Beech wand, 11 inches, inflexible with a unicorn hair core. Shaped into a whimsical tulip design.

As soon as she held the wand in her hand and golden sparks flew from its tip, she finally felt whole again. She spent the rest of the day in the dunes, practicing her magic. Once the sun had set and darkness started to descend she lay in the grass, twirling the wand in her wand. Luna wondered what would happen if she cast a Patronus charm. Would it be different than her hare? She had never been afraid of change but now she was hesitant. It would be a confirmation that she herself had changed to her core. She knew Tonks' patronus had changed for her love of Lupin. Luna didn't believe her feelings for Blaise would be strong enough to warrant it. And in Tonks' case it had been her sadness and unrequited love initially that had caused the shift.

She took a steadying breath before letting the spell fall from her lips. A silver hare shot from her wand and hopped around her head in the darkening starlit sky. It took a while for her to realise she was crying as she beamed up at it.

Days passed slowly. The house was cramped with all its guests. And so Luna and Dean often ventured outside, breathing the fresh air and gathering firewood. That way they could make themselves helpful. The bubbly Dean that Luna had gotten to know in the D.A. was gone, or at least hidden. He too had seen more than enough during his time on the run. Luna therefore often dove into tales of her childhood and her father. It had been difficult at first after hearing Harry, Ron and Hermione's recount of how her father had tried to hand Harry over to Voldemort in order to get her back. It hadn't surprised her as much as she thought it would. Her father had always made it very clear that his loyalties lay with her first and foremost. But she was disappointed and now had to worry about his safety all the more. Ron had suspected they would have brought her father to Azkaban. She wasn't sure what she hoped because surely that would be an excruciating death sentence for her father?

She launched into happy tales about different creatures and her father al the more. Both her and Dean had gathered driftwood that day on the beach, and entered the dining room where Ron and Hermione were setting the table, Harry bringing in pumpkin juice. This evening Mr Ollivander would leave to Ron and Bill's aunt Muriel to fully recuperate.
"If you ever come to our house I'll be able to show you the horn. Daddy wrote me all about it but I haven't seen it yet."
"Luna, we told you, that horn exploded. It came from an Erumpent, not a Crumple-Horned Snorkack…" Hermione called over to her. Luna gave her a serene smile.
"No, it was definitely a Snorkack horn. Daddy told me. It will probably have reformed by now, they mend themselves you know."

Before they could continue, Bill appeared along with Mr Ollivander, clinging to his arm, a large suitcase in tow.
"I am going to miss you Mr Ollivander." Luna said, approaching the old man. He patted her shoulder fondly.
"And I you, my dear. You were an inexpressible comfort to me in that terrible time place."

Fleur joined them and gave Mr Ollivander kisses on both cheeks.
"So, au revoir, Mr Ollivander. And I wonder whezzer you could oblige me by delivering a package to Bill's Auntie Muriel? I never returned 'er tiara."
"It will be an honour. The very least I can do in return for your generous hospitality." He said with a little bow.

Fleur drew out a worn velvet case, which she opened to show him. The tiara sat glittering and twinkling in the light.
"Moonstones and diamonds. Made by goblins I think?" Griphook raspy voice said, and Luna was surprised he had joined them.
"And paid for by wizards." Bill told him firmly before guiding Mr Ollivander outside to Disapparate.

The rest started dinner, although Fleur was obviously tense, waiting for Bill to return. Thankfully it didn't take too long before his windswept form reappeared.

"Everything is fine. Ollivander settled in. Mum and Dad say hello. Ginny sends you all her love. Fred and George are driving Muriel up the wall. They're still operating an Owl Order business out of her back room. It cheered her up to have her tiara back, though. She said she thought we'd stolen it." Bill told Fleur after an embrace.
"Ah, she eez charmante, your aunt." Fleur said crossly before clearing away the first course.

"Daddy's made a tiara. Well, more of a crown really." Luna told them excitedly. "He's trying to recreate the most diadem of Ravenclaw. He thinks he's identified most of the elements now. Adding the Billywig wings really made a difference…"
She was interrupted by a loud bang on the front door. Everyone immediately tensed. Fleur came out of the kitchen and Bill jumped up towards the door with his wand, Harry, Ron and Hermione following him. Even Luna had immediately grabbed her wand, once again feeling relief how right in felt in her hand.

"Who is it?" Bill called and the voice that answered send such joy through Luna.
"It is I, Remus John Lupin. I am a werewolf, married to Nymphadora Tonks, and you, the Secret Keeper of Shell Cottage, told me the address and bade me come in an emergency!"

Luna's heart leapt into her throat as Bill opened the door and Lupin stumbled in. He was pale, his greying hair windswept and wrapped in a travelling cloak. At first glance she would have thought he looked the worst she had seen him, but there was a spark in his eyes and she knew his news before he even cried his next words.
"It's a boy! We've named him Ted, after Dora's father!"

As everyone erupted, Luna felt Dean grab her hand at Ted's name. He didn't meet her eyes but she could see the heavy emotion within them. She squeezed his hand reassuringly.
"What? Tonks… Tonks has had the baby?" Hermione cried.
"Yes, yes, she's had the baby!" Lupin shouted, elation pure on his face, making him instantly look years younger.
Congratulations were bouncing around the small dining room, as Lupin strode around the table and hugged Harry.
"You'll be godfather?" Lupin asked at a dazed Harry.
"M… me?"
"You, yes of course. Dora quite agrees, no one better."
"I… yeah… blimey…"

Bill had fetched wine and Fleur persuaded Lupin to have a drink.
"I can't stay long, I must get back." Lupin beamed before thanking Bill for a goblet.
Soon everyone raised their goblets for a toast.
"To Teddy Remus Lupin, a great wizard in the making!" The new father cried followed by a chorus of cheers.

"Oo does 'e look like?" Fleur asked.
"I think he looks like Dora, but she thinks he is like me. Not much hair. It looked black when he was born, but I swear it's turned ginger in the hour since. Probably be blond by the time I get back. Andromeda says Tonks' hair started changing colour the day that she was born." Lupin told them excitedly before allowing Bill to fill his goblet once more. His news had brought a wave of positive energy and Luna couldn't wait until she could see mother and child. She had really connected with Tonks these last few years, both of them living to the beat of their own drum.

"No… no… I really must get back." Lupin said at last, declining another goblet of wine before saying his goodbyes.
"I'll try and bring some pictures in a few days' time - they'll all be so glad to know I've seen you…" He fastened his cloak, embracing them all, before disappearing into the stormy night.

The rest of them passed the evening in further elation, enjoying the feelings of hope that the news had brought. Luna stayed close to Dean that evening and the next few days. Both enjoying the sense of calm that had descended. However that calmness was soon disrupted when Harry, Ron, Hermione and Griphook went on their next mission into Gringotts. Neither she or Dean could convince them to come along and help. And now the calm and silence in the cottage turned eerie and restlessness entered Luna's bloodstream. She was itching to do something!

Then the D.A. coin that she carried on her, started to burn.