The dream had left Luna confused. In her dream, she had seen the two scary adults dressed in black. They moved like dancers entering a criminal's den. Their wands produced sparks of fire. The dreamer noticed the two were struck down, bleeding, and then Luna heard the two promise each other eternity. Luna cried. The scary lady in black stepped forward and said to Luna:
Assassin Jane asked, "Why do you cry, little one?"
"You and your friend were hurt, he loved you," answered Luna.
"I love him too. It was unfair; we were betrayed, but we will meet again; that was a promise," replied Jane.
"Are you not afraid of dying?" asked Luna.
"I'm afraid of never finding him again," answered Jane.
The woman smiled and said, "You're Luna, Luna Lovegood."
Luna nodded, amazed at the scary lady. She smiled and said, while extending her hand in a salute. "My name is Jane. Nice to meet you, I have a confession. You are my second favourite witch,"
Luna raised an eyebrow and asked, "Your favourite, I mean, your second favourite witch?"
Jane countered. "Yeah, you are one of the strongest, more imaginative, friendliest and kindest people, and, to me, you are pure love; like your name says, Love good. Your love is the best,"
Luna blushed and then Jane said, "I'm glad I met you. Darn, I wish we could meet again, but I already have a place I need to be." She nodded to the young witch and continued her journey.
Luna woke up and knew that something ominous was going to happen today. She couldn't figure out what. She looked at the date in the Daily Prophet, June 27, 1990.
Pandora Lovegood looked at her daughter as she walked into the kitchen and stared at the mail, then the newspaper. She understood that Luna was still in a state of semi-sleep, or revelation. Pandora waited and then noticed a beautiful, snowy owl blinking at her. Pandora felt her eyes watered, and then the Crone of the Night spoke to her and to her mind.
" I'm not here for you or your loved ones. I'm here to tell you that the Grim and heir of the Hallows will meet with you. Bid them welcome. Your child has already welcomed a messenger from death; don't be afraid; your daughter will grow strong and gifted. A shift of power is near. Let the Heir of the Hallows and his bride, a messenger from death, stand and complete their work. Your journey is far from done. "
The snowy owl blinked, then looked away. In a movement, the bird was gone.
Luna spoke softly to Pandora, "Mum, there is a strange invitation for tea, I think we should go,"
Pandora blinked as tears kept seeping from her eyes. The Crone of the Night, Cailleach Oidhche had visited both Luna and her, as though she was still in a daze she looked at the invitation Luna pointed at.
Pandora muttered. "Lord Black, of course, the Grim." She blinked, dried her tears and said to Luna. "The Black family and my ancestors kept close. Old traditions kept the Blacks from dying, and then, before I was born, the Black family began taking advice from a beautiful liar with a silver tongue. My Grandmother tried warning the head of the family, but he wouldn't listen. I was not allowed by my grandmother or by my mother to answer their calls, not until the Crone of the Night said so."
Luna nodded and said, "We are going for tea with the Blacks. The goddess gave her permission then?"
"Yes, it is the will of the Crone," said Pandora.
Neville Longbottom hated family meetings. His uncle Algie almost killed him of fright. His grandma was a very serious, cold person. Plants, flowers, the earth and its cycles always drew his attention above anything. Then one day his Grandma returned from her visit to the Wizengamot and began studying a series of files.
His grandma, who performed with an unmovable conscience, returned quite shaken. She studied a sheet of paper, brought a photograph out, and wept. Neville observed, confused. He shyly entered her study and quietly asked.
"What's wrong, Grams?" asked Neville.
Augusta observed her grandson and remembered Sirius at the same age, and the idea that he could be taken and jailed without a hearing or a trial, lose years from his life, and have fortune turn and find out he was innocent. The guilt felt like a wave of dark magic. Something akin to the Crucio. Augusta couldn't answer, but she could do something about Neville's question.
Augusta said in a broken voice, "I made a terrible mistake, Neville, dear."
Neville tried to gather more information. "What happened?"
"Let's just say that I was the worst judge of character, lazy and outright cruel to someone who was innocent, and today, I was informed that the person that I love to hate, was not the monster I believed." Augusta's voice broke and her face stained with tears.
"Did you apologise?" asked Neville.
"I did, then I declared the person clear of charges. He was compensated for the damage, but the good of those deeds doesn't lessen the guilt, or how stupid I feel now, for letting it happen. Remaining deaf, blind and mute to the injustice," said Augusta.
Here is where Neville nodded. "That's it; that's all you can do, Grams. You made a mistake, apologised and made up. Could you do more than what you did? If not, Then what's the point of feeling so bad, if nobody will care about that?"
Augusta smiled with tears. "Merlin, you are just as smart as your mother and as brave as your father; I cannot thank the heavens above enough for how much of a good boy you are."
Neville blushed; it was then that he said, "Grams, Uncle Algie tried to kill me."
Augusta sobbed and said, "Tell me everything."
After that, Neville relayed the story of Algie's attempts on Neville's life. Augusta's face became devoid of expression. It would be years before Neville found out what happened to Algernon. It wasn't pretty. Neville was glad his Grandmother was brilliant, and would take the secret to the grave; after all, family takes care of family. For the Longbottoms the motto was the same, including the dark justice applied to those who hurt family.
Days later, Regent Longbottom was invited for tea in Black Castle. It was then that Neville met his god brother Harry Potter and Neville's view of the world shifted. Harry was a riot.
His home had so many interesting things. His Adoptive father, Sirius Black, behaved just as badly as Harry. When Madam Bones visited with her niece Susan, Neville felt awkward, but Harry said that the place now had a heated indoor pool and had improvised a pool party. Then the host hit Neville and said, "You're it!" After that, he ran for the pool as though he were on fire. Neville chased behind him, Susan got added, and then Daphne and Astoria Greengrass joined. Draco Malfoy refused until Harry jinxed his feet and fell into the pool.
Neville had never laughed so much. Months went by, and one day one more girl made an entry, and Neville knew things would change. The small girl was different. For the first time, Neville began behaving possessively.
The girl's name was Luna. Luna's mum, Pandora, was a beautiful lady who looked like a life-sized fairy. Neville felt like paying tribute to them. Luna's mum smiled and said, "You've been blessed by Cernunnos, " Neville blushed crimson at the beautiful lady's smile and then noticed her Grams gasping. "Merlin, no wonder the flora reacts to his touch." Neville understood very little of everything now, but he felt the need to protect Luna.
Luna said, "I feel no bad intentions from you,"
Neville smiled and retorted, "Nor I from you,"
"Only the gods know the path you two will follow, but I hope that the path is for the both of you," said Pandora.
Augusta felt like flushing; the last time Pandora's mother spoke, it was to bless Alice and Frank. Neville's parents. Pandora was promised to a powerful family in Eastern Europe. Pandora, though, got swept off her feet by the eccentric Xenophilius. From their union, Luna was born and it was no mistake. The child was just as gifted, if not more so, than the women before.
"The will of the gods will prevail," said Lord Black.
Sirius dropped his childlike behaviour and nodded in a gesture of welcome to Pandora Lovegood, and Augusta Longbottom.
"Sirius Black, it's a good thing my husband isn't here, or he would jump at the idea of interviewing Stubby Boardman," said Pandora.
Luna said, "He does look like him, mum,"
Sirius blushed at the attention from the Seer and her child.
"Would you look at that, Sirius Black, actually learned manners and keeps his mouth shut," declared Amelia Bones.
Pandora asked Lord Black, after greeting him. "Sirius does have Potter blood in him, doesn't he?"
This made Arcturus Black blink and then smile joyfully at the revelation. "Yes, he went through a ritual with Charlus, that time, he ran from Grimmould,"
"That ritual made the Potters gain the attention of the Serpent faced man. He wanted to kidnap Sirius and use him for leverage," said Pandora.
"Of course, he was my heir, that monster, deserves the hell he found himself in," added Lord Black.
"Madam Bones, thank you for attending the Soirée, if you'll pardon me, I have a godson to care for," said Sirius trying hard not to lose his composure.
Lady Bones' face and stare became less fierce. She added, "Of course, your godson, he's heaven's revenge on you, do take care of him." She did a half turn and slapped Sirius in the face with her long braid in a perfect hit.
Lord Black was enjoying their antics, and noticed how his grandson raised an eyebrow, bit his lower lip to stop a curse from escaping his breath.
Sirius denied, then rotated his wrist and his attire changed to swim wear.
Susan, Astoria, Daphne, Luna, Pandora and Lady Augusta blinked stupidly at the exchange between Amelia and Sirius Black.
The young Black looked good. Regal in his posture. It was not only his change of clothes that caught the attention, it was the ease he had when changing, in front of an audience. His natural stance and attitude devoid of modesty. He knew he was a looker, he loved taking care of himself, toning his physique. His choice of pool wardrobe, was a burgundy robe, sandals, and underneath, fitted blue navy shorts. He braided his mane and then adjusted his face goggles and dipped in a summersault from the edge.
The girls at the pool quietly observed, and after Sirius dipped, they turned to Harry, who in turn, began to investigate the wall behind him, something just appeared, otherwise, why were the women looking his way? Neville and Draco, who had been a guest countless times after that first jinx dip, currently had the proper pool party attire, noticed Harry's dilemma and goofed off laughing.
Draco asked, "Potter, tell me you are not that thick?"
"Shut it Malfoy, nobody asked for your opinion," retorted Harry.
"What good friends you are," said Neville to Harry and Draco.
"We're bloody related, that's enough for me," said Harry.
"Hear, hear," echoed Draco.
Lord Black, who was near Harry, overheard the conversation and smiled. In all his years, he never believed that his heart would be so at ease. He needed this kind of happiness at least once before he departed. But before he did, he still had a couple of things to teach these young whipper-snappers.
