Miranda gives Charlie a hand with the Gringotts dragon, and she and Harry have a serious talk.

June 14th-

Two weeks later, they still hadn't had a need to test the full effects of the magic they'd preformed. They had come across little things incidentally. For example, Harry could now activate some of the blood driven Black family books, and he'd found at least three hiding spots that should have been discovered long earlier. Miranda had begged him to poke around in the basement potions lab, but, to her dismay, he hadn't activated any secret troves of rare ingredients.

Harry was out for the day, working with the solicitor on her case at the Ministry. He kept insisting that she let him try to work it out without her involvement. It was sweet, but the sitting around was making her anxious. When a knock on the front door interrupted her creation of a masterful sandwich, she was almost relieved.

Draco stood on the porch with Charlie Weasley. Draco wasn't an unusual guest. He came by every few days, but usually by way of Floo.

Miranda frowned at the odd pair, "Morning…"

Draco laughed, "I know. We look a mess."

Charlie was sufficiently sooty, which was reasonable, but seeing Draco the same way was unnerving. Charlie grinned at her, eyes flitting down to her belly, "Look at you, radiant."

Miranda nodded, "Yes, being pregnant and well fed will do that to you." She took a bite of the sandwich she'd carried to the door with her. Neither man said anything while she chewed. "Not that I'm not glad to have company, but why are you here? And why not use the Floo?"

"Can't stand the thing." Draco explained.

Of course, one was always dirty after using the Floo, so the Malfoy heir wouldn't like it, but… "If you haven't been using the Floo, why are you dirty?"

"Miranda," Charlie said, his voice strained, his usual confidence missing. "We need your help."

"My help?" She asked, pressing one hand into her stomach where she could feel the tiny flutters of the baby moving. Harry was still devastated that he couldn't feel anything.

"It's the dragon, Miranda. She's… she's suffering. We need you." Charlie said tightly.

"Dragon? I'm not a dragon tamer, that's you." She muttered, opening the door more widely to let them in. It appeared their visit was going to require tea. Claudius, ever her shadow, seemed to understand the same, and moments after popping out of existence, she could hear him bustling in the kitchen.

Charlie and Draco, to Kreacher's dismay, made themselves at home on the sofa of the front living room. The pair ignored the elf's grumblings, looking morose. "Well?" Miranda prompted, sitting down in an armchair across from them. "What impossible thing do you want from me?"

"It's not impossible, Miranda." Draco chastised. "It's just you. We need you."

Miranda scowled at them. "I'll say again, I'm not a dragon tamer."

"We need you to speak with her." Charlie said finally, face tight with worry.

A short laugh was torn from her, "Speak with a dragon? Why on earth…?" She trailed off, "Because I've got Sytherin blood. Because I'm a Parseltongue."

Charlie leaned forwards, elbows on his knees. "You've heard of her. A Ukranian Ironbelly. She's the one who saved Harry, Ron, and Hermione when they broke into Gringotts. I've named her Lumina."

Miranda's heart skipped a beat at the mention of Harry's name. Was it wrong to miss him so much after only being apart for a few hours? And this dragon had made it possible for them to be together again. Harry had spoken about it on several occasions with deep gratitude, but, after it's initial rampage it had seemingly vanished. "I remember." She sighed, "Harry said he didn't know what happened to her. Ron said she'd be fine."

Charlie laughed sarcastically, "Ron? He's my brother, but he doesn't know dragons. She's old, and was treated horribly. We've healed her wounds, but…something isn't right. She's dying. We can't figure it out. I thought I would drown my sorrows in a bowl of mum's soup, and then Draco here mentioned you. I'd completely forgotten. These last few months have been…"

"I know." Miranda muttered, "She's not dying from an injury?"

"No." Charlie assured her, "She was hurt, abused, kept in chains, in a space much too small for her. The physical wounds have closed, but…it's like she's broken still. Usually we can see to the needs of our dragons without speech, but she's still fading. We need you, Miranda. None of us can communicate with her, but you can."

Miranda swallowed hard. The thought of a creature, any creature, broken by the cruelty of others made something inside her scream. Was it the obscurous? Maybe. Was it the little girl she'd once been who had been broken and abused? Probably. She didn't know the dragon, but she understood pain. She understood the weight of suffering, the kind that broke a soul over time.

She shook her head, her fingers tightening on the armrest. "No. I can't. I'm pregnant, Charlie. I can't risk leaving the house. Not with everything that's still happening…the legal trouble, the attention I don't need. If anyone finds out…"

"Well, I won't tell anyone." Draco said haughtily, drinking his fresh tea like it was an evening scotch.

Charlie glared at him, and then gave his attention back to Miranda, "I can clear out the camp, no one needs to know you are there. We can have you back in an hour. You need to help her."

"Help her?" Miranda's voice was barely above a whisper. "I don't even know what she needs, or how to approach her. I've never spoken to a dragon before."

Charlie nodded, face grim, "She's not just a wild beast. Some of them are, most of them are, mind you, but some are immensely intelligent and capable of great sensitivity. She doesn't need you to heal her, Miranda. She just needs someone who understands, someone who can listen to her. I've tried, we all have, but she needs more."

Miranda closed her eyes, the weight of their words settling in her heart. The truth was, she had felt this tug before, the need to help, to ease suffering. She'd always had someone pulling her away before, telling her that it wasn't her place. There were risks, so many risks, but shecouldhelp now, even if it scared her. "I'll go. But only long enough to speak with her. No longer. And I'll come back the moment I've done what I can. Understand?"

Charlie nodded quickly, relief on his face palpable. "Thank you. You don't know how much this means."

Draco stretched his long limbs, "Shall I stay here and let Potter know his woman has run off with a Weasel?"

Miranda glared at him, "Don't you dare." She looked between Dobby and Claudius, deciding the former would have more success, "Dobby, would you please find Harry and let him know I've gone to run an errand?"

"Dobby would love to find Harry Potter and relay your message." The elf said, his tennis ball eyes wide and joyful.

"Thank you." Miranda told him, "And please let him know Draco is with me, so I'll be well protected."

Draco scoffed, drawing himself up to his full height and putting his teacup back on it's saucer, "I'll keep you safe, but you owe me."

"Let's go." She said quietly, grabbing her favorite cloak from the hook by the door and wrapping it around her shoulders. The weight of her decision pressed on her chest, but there was no turning back now.

Draco and Charlie went out first, made sure there were no signs of anyone watching the house, and then Miranda stepped out. Moments later, they disapparated.

Night had fallen already in Romania, and the dense forest was quickly darkening. Charlie had brought them as close as he could, but the dragon was apparently hiding away from the others in the sanctuary in a valley. She had tucked herself under the overhang of a jagged cliff. The air was thick with the scent of earth and stone, a strange warmth clinging to the place despite the evening.

"Careful, I'll go see her first." Charlie whispered.

Miranda shook her head, "No, I can feel her."

And she could. The same magic that she had innately used to guide her through a sightless world as a child told her exactly where the creature was. "Hello?"

A low, raspy sound answered her, and a pair of milky pink eyes, slowly turned toward Miranda from the shadows. Charlie and Draco framed her, but Miranda wasn't afraid. The dragon was immense, move visible with every shuffled step, but she kept her enormous spiked wings tight to her sides. Her face was scarred horribly, and Miranda's breath caught in her throat.

"You're the witch," the dragon hissed, voice rough like gravel. Miranda understood her though. "The witch who can speak with beasts."

"I'm here to help, if you'll let me." Miranda said, swallowing hard as she stepped forward.

"You carry young." The dragon stated, her tone flat.

Miranda's hand instinctively moved to her belly. The dragon was mostly blind, with her cloak on there would have been no way she could see her bump. "How?"

"I can smell it on you." The dragon explained, "Males think us weak, but we are stronger when we have young to protect. Even now, these two coddle you."

Miranda laughed a little, "They want to make sure you don't hurt me. My…mate…would be angry if you hurt me." She paused, "Are you in pain? Your eyes, do they hurt you? Mine never did."

The dragon's head swooped suddenly closer, as if she was now far more interested in Miranda. "You? You were blinded?"

"Yes." Miranda whispered, "By the time I was old enough to form memories my sight was fading. It was gone completely shortly after that. Magic healed me, but the fear still lingers."

A long silence stretched between them, and Miranda could feel Charlie and Draco shifting nervously beside her. She looked the dragon over more closely while she waited, imagining what she must have looked like in her prime. She had to have been lovely.

"When the goblins captured me, they took my egg." The dragon said softly, eyes dimming further, "They stole it, lured me into the depths, and trapped me. Will you do the same?"

Miranda wanted to reach out and touch the poor thing, but she didn't think Charlie and Draco could handle it. "We can't bring your egg back, but no one here wants to take from you. The sanctuaries are necessary to protect everyone. Charlie only wants you to be healthy and happy. What can we do to help?"

The dragon swooped her head again, narrowly missing hitting Charlie, who dodged out of the way. She stopped with her massive muzzle directly in front of Miranda, "The others will kill me if I go near."

Against her better judgement, Miranda placed a hand on that muzzle, "You're lonely."

The dragon leaned in ever so slightly, as if she was reciprocating the touch, "Yes."

Miranda turned to look at Charlie, remembering that he and Draco had no clue what they'd been saying. For all they knew, the dragon was about to kill them all, "She's lonely, Charlie. The goblins used her egg to lure her into Gringotts, then it was gone and she was alone. She says the other dragons are aggressive towards her."

Charlie frowned, "They're not exactly herd animals, but I did think she was keeping an unusual distance."

Miranda sighed, "She is afraid they'll kill her." She paused for a second, "If I had to guess, her vision is making her a target."

Charlie looked speculative, but then shot his eyes right to Miranda's, "Would Lumina care for a dragon egg not of her breed? We have a Hebridean Black egg we got from a captured dragon dealer. We have been taking care of it, but they…the little ones do better with an adult. We don't have any female Hebridean's now who aren't already raising their own young. We'd been working with the Scotts to try to come up with a solution, but…"

"I'll ask." Miranda said instantly.

The dragon answered before Miranda could even ask, "Yes.I'll take the egg, raise it. Tell him I like the name too. He could not speak my true name."

Miranda smiled, "She will, and she likes the name Lumina, by the way."

Charlie looked absolutely besotted when he looked back at the dragon, "You beautiful, wonderful creature. I'll go get it and bring it to you as soon as we get Miranda back home. Do you need anything else?"

"I will be fine once the lonely days end,"Lumina told her, "Though this visit has been entertaining. I would not begrudge another."

"I think I can do that." Miranda said with a grin.

"Go home, little one. Perhaps bring your mate next time." Lumina commanded, settling back into her hideout to wait for the egg she would raise.

Miranda's joy over the positive outcome faltered, "She's just reminded me I have to go home and face Harry."

Draco grimaced, but Charlie was on a different planet, overjoyed at his luck at solving two problems with one solution.

Miranda stepped into Grimmauld place five minutes later, the familiar scent of wood smoke from the crackling hearth and the ancient magic of the house itself greeted her. She felt the magic of the binding snap back into place, enveloping her as she pulled her cloak off and hung it back on its hook.

Harry stood at the base of the stairs, arms crossed over his chest, face drawn with concern, "Are you hurt?"

His green eyes were positively stormy.

Miranda slid her arms around him, holding him close so their faces were inches apart. He stood rigid in her arms, but she brushed a chaste kiss to his lips, "I'm fine." She brought one of his hands to her belly, "We are fine."

He pulled her against him completely, burying his face in her hair. Miranda pressed her cheek to his chest, feeling the warmth of him, and breathed him in- a reminder that, despite his frustration, despite their issues, he was her home.

"I'm sorry," she murmured, her voice muffled against the fabric. "I had to go, Harry. The dragon who saved you, Charlie's named her Lumina, and she's beautiful, under all the hurt. She needed someone who could listen, and I can."

Harry's hands trembled slightly as he held her, one resting on the small of her back, the other cupping the back of her head, his fingers threading through her hair. "I understand. I could have gone with you. I can't lose you."

Miranda closed her eyes, relishing in his words. He didn't resent her going, wouldn't have stopped her, he just wished she'd let him be with her. She let out a shaky breath, feeling the tension in her shoulders slowly ease under his touch. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to worry you. I just…I thought I could help her, and I did." She smiled at him, "Lumina asked me to bring you next time I visit."

He laughed shortly, miffed, but pleased. "Okay, I can do that."

"I love you." Miranda whispered, moving her hands up to cup his face, her fingers tracing the lines of his jaw before she leaned in and pressed her lips to his in a kiss that was soft yet full of all the emotions they weren't able to say. "You won't lose me."

For a long moment, neither of them moved, but Harry rested her forehead against hers, "Promise me you'll be more careful?"

"I'll promise, if you do the same." Miranda whispered.

He laughed more heartily, knowing he had a propensity for getting into trouble, "I promise."

Miranda leaned into him, "Promise." They held each other for a little while before she asked him about his day.

Harry clicked his tongue, "We officially have a date with the Ministry next week, and I got them to approve using their Pensieve to show your memory to the court."

"Do you think it will matter, Harry? I did kill that man, that's not up for debate." Miranda said forlornly.

"What I think will matter is the circumstances. You didn't go there intending to kill him. You feared for your life. It was self-defense." He said it all so confidently she almost believed him.

There was a part of Miranda that couldn't help but feel the weight of taking a life, no matter the circumstances. "It still doesn't feel right," she whispered. She had killed a man, and the way she'd felt as she did it…would the Pensieve relay that? The rage and fear, the adrenaline that had pushed her past the point of no return so quickly it still shocked her. Would they find the others? The ones the obscurus had killed in defense of her? They were inexplicably intertwined. Two parts of a whole in much the same way she and Harry were. A thought chilled her to her core, and the words came tumbling out of her mouth before she could stop them, "What if I hurt the baby, Harry?"

The words hung in the air between them, impossible to ignore, impossible to take back once spoken. She felt a deep, gnawing ache in her stomach, a terror that she hadn't even noticed had been rising in the weeks since she had discovered her pregnancy. It had mostly been smothered by the very real idea that she would die in war, would never get the chance to raise her child. What did she know of raising children? Her own mother hadn't even lived an hour with her and Tom. Her Papa had barely kept her from destroying herself and had made Swiss cheese of her memories to do so.

Harry was still for a moment. He hadn't expected this, the fear in her voice. His eyes searched her face with an intensity that made her feel vulnerable, exposed. "Miranda," he said, his voice soft but firm, "You'd never hurt our child." She shook her head, and he continued with conviction, "I've seen you with our family. I've seen you with Teddy. You look at him like he's the most precious thing in the world. You are kind. You are patient. You are loving. You could never hurt our child, Miranda. You just…you don't have it in you."

Tears welled in her eyes, but she held them back, swallowing down the wave of emotion that threatened. It was all so overwhelming, all so real. "I just don't want to hurt them, Harry. That side of me is still here. That part of me I can't control."

Harry's eyes softened, his expression filled with such a deep understanding that it almost broke her, "That part of you…it's not who you are. Love has made you stronger than it. We both know you'd be dead if it hadn't. You are going to be an amazing mother because of that very love."

Miranda closed her eyes, resting her head on his chest, leaning into him. "I love you."

She felt the laugh in his chest as much as she heard it, "I love you too. And we're in this together."

The weight in her chest loosened just a little, enough for her to breathe more easily. It was still there. The fear, the doubt. But with Harry's voice grounding her, she could finally believe, just for a moment, that everything would be okay.

Lily.

James.

Severus.

Narcissa.

Gellert.

They had so much to lose now. But they only had so much to lose because of the very thing that had saved them both time and time again. Love.

Seriously, I'm trying to bring this to a close, but I'm putting more work into tying up loose ends with this version of the story and keep finding new ones to touch on. You guys aren't unhappy about more chapters, are you?

Comments and Kudos are welcome and very much appreciated!
-Jenn