Part 5


“Harry, Harry, Wake up.” came the concerned voice of Hermione Granger, while shaking him gently.



Harry however was still in his memory, watching his parents intently at the table with all of their very close friends. He slowly turned to look out of the window, something grabbed his attention and he strolled across to the window and looked out at the sunny sky and the green grass.


Over to the left was a small road with a road sign that read “Little Winging” that’s when it hit him, “Of course” he said in exasperation while hitting his hand to his head. “This isn’t Godric’s Hollow.”

Harry remembered that only two people knew where Godric’s Hollow was and that the house was cloaked for their protection. One of the secret holders couldn’t be at this party, he was busy, working out a plan no doubt for the safety of his friends. The other was in this room, smiling on and acting as if he was a loyal and trusting friend. If only they knew, he thought.

In the distance Harry heard a faint whisper and running of steps. He had an inclination it was his own world, trying to force him back, but he didn’t want to go yet, he wasn’t ready.

He ran over to his parents who were chatting aimlessly to Sirius, stating in under no circumstances was Harry going to inherit his flying motorbike. While Sirius went on to try and convince them that it was the safest form of travel.

Harry stood there, watching, wanting to take them all in his arms and tell them that Peter Pettigrew would betray them all, but instead he smiled, watching them and hearing their voices for he knew this was the last time he ever would.

“Harry, please wake up, please.” He heard a young lady’s voice sobbing in the distance.

“I have to go now Mum, Dad, Sirius. I love you, and I will not fail you, I promise.” whispered Harry to his parents and his beloved Godfather, whom he felt so privileged to have known.

While he spoke to them from his heart, they continued to stand there oblivious, laughing and joking together at what seemed to be one of the happiest moments of their lives.

Harry then closed his eyes and told himself he was ready to go back to his normality, and slowly and surely the distant voices became louder. So did the crying and sobbing of this girl who cared for him immensely.

Harry fluttered open his eyes to see the tear streaked face and large eyes of Luna Lovegood staring down at him. He smiled at her and she threw her arms around his shoulders, he glanced around and saw that he was no longer in the Gryffindor dormitory but in the hospital wing.

“Why am I here?” he asked.

“You couldn’t wake up Harry, its 2 o’clock in the afternoon.” replied Luna, while trying to control her sobs.

“Blimey.” He whispered as Ron and Hermione came running to his bedside along with the rest of the DA.

“Harry, what in the world did you take last night? We found this vial next to you on your bed.” questioned Hermione, her eyes wide.

“A sleeping draft, that’s all.” he replied. “Uh, where is Karis?”

Luna got up from holding Harry and looked away. Harry noticed and grabbed her hand and squeezed it tight. She stared down at his face and he shot her a warm smile. As he did so, her heart started to pound hard inside her chest and she beamed back at him.

“She is with Albus, she told us to leave you alone so you could get your rest but Dumbledore didn’t seem too happy with her and told Madame Pomfrey to bring you down here, and well…..we followed. As the door to her classroom shut we heard shouting. Harry, we know that was no sleeping draft!” replied Hermione, holding up the empty vial.

Before Harry could reply Karis waltzed into the room, she looked red in the face but managed to come towards the front of his bed, she stood there with a questioning frown.

“Um, can everyone please leave the room for five minutes; I need to talk to Karis about something.” Harry said to his gathered friends.

There was a few mumbles, mainly from Hermione and Ron who still seemed a little shook-up at today’s events.

Karis sat down on the side of his bed and took hold of his hand, as Harry just stared up at the ceiling. A tear trickled down the side of his face. Karis put her head down, still not sure what memory Harry had witnessed.

All of a sudden Harry sat bolt upright in a flash and took Karis in his arms and held her into him so tightly she had to take a few moments to reflect what was going on.

“It was my first and only Birthday Party.” He whispered to her.

He felt her body go heavy in his arms and as she started to shake beneath his grip, he knew then that she remembered it vividly. The day she knew that Lily and James were to be her new parents and Harry her baby Brother, at the request of her Grand Father. All the while enjoying huge slabs of chocolate cake.

“What happened to you Karis? You seemed so….. neglected.” He asked quietly, while stroking her hair.

“Voldemort.” Was the one and only word she spoke out of her broken breath.

“He has destroyed us both more than I could ever imagine. I’m not the only orphan he has made, but I promise you Karis we will be his last.”

She looked up at him. His eyes glassy waiting to explode at any moment with streams of tears, but instead he smiled at her and brushed her hair off of her face. “You are my sister.” he said quietly, nodding in a way of affirmation.

She smiled back as another tear protruded down her face. “It was never made legal Harry, they died before that was to happen.”

“It doesn’t matter, my parents loved you so much, and so do I.” he took her hand and whispered. “Merry Christmas.”

Karis grinned widely and the smile reached her large brown eyes. “Merry Christmas Harry.” She then kissed him quickly on the cheek.

“Now.” she said, getting up and brushing herself down, regaining her composure. “I think you have some explaining to do to a one young lady who calls herself Luna Lovegood.”

“How did you know?” he asked her incredulously.

“I have known for a little while now Harry, you have liked her a lot longer than you let yourself realise.”

Harry smiled. “Can’t get nothing past you can I?” he mocked.

“No, not really.” she grimaced, while wiping her wet face on her sleeve.

“I will find out what happened to you, you know!” he stated with a serious note, staring into her large brown eyes.

“I know Harry, and I feel it won’t be long.”

Harry just nodded in understanding, and she shot him one more smile before leaving the hospital wing.

*


Harry heard small footsteps approach the side of his bed; he turned to face the girl who looked so dreamily down at him.

Harry got up and walked towards the door and closed it, as to prevent any prying eyes or ears.

“Karis asked me to come in here and keep an eye on you, I think she is worried Harry.” said Luna. While looking at him questionably as to why he had closed the door.

“She has no reason to worry, she thought it best I talk to you.” replied Harry. Then nearly hit himself for his wary words, he could have been more tactful he thought. But the truth was he didn’t know how to ask her.

Luna stood there, hurt and confused. She knew what was coming; he was going to tell her she meant nothing to him, that they were to remain friends. She stood there, stepping from one foot to the other in a way of distraction. Harry watched her intently and knew there was only one thing for it, to convince her of how much he cares. That is when he decided that she didn’t need words.

He walked up to her and put two of his scared fingers from his right hand under her chin and pulled her face up to look at his.

Her large bluey grey eyes where misty and dull, more so than usual, but he smiled and put his arms tentatively around her waist, and without another moments thought, he lowered his face towards hers and gently kissed her on the forehead.

He then proceeded to run his lips down her nose, kissing her gently every second, until he finally reached her lips. He felt her soft breath on his face and he held her tighter while pulling her into him, she now moved her arms up and wrapped them over his shoulders and grasped her hands together around his neck, and that is where they stood, embraced together, kissing passionately for the first time.

After a minute but what felt like only blissful moments, Harry gently let go and stared her once more in the eye, she was wide eyed and surprised, yet elated.

He drank in her natural beauty and found that he didn’t even find her radish earrings off-putting or weird, because it was simply the way she was, and he loved her for it. Harry knew it was her honesty that he admired about her the most. He also found out today that it was a hidden trait of his Mother’s, and he held back a smile at the thought that he and his father were more alike in many ways, than he ever had imagined possible.

“I wanted to ask you to be my girl Luna, that’s why Karis sent you in here!” said Harry, not breaking his eye contact, and trying very hard not to stutter his words.

Luna started to blush, and momentarily turned away out of coyness.

“Oh Sorry, it’s just, a little unexpected.” she whispered. But inside she wanted to scream in delight, she rationally re-gained herself and stared up once more into his bright emerald eyes. Quickly passing her glare upon his lightning bolt scar, which sent a shiver down her spine, but one of excitement and longing; not one of fear.

“The answer to your question is Yes Harry; it’s all I have ever wanted.”

Harry kissed her more fervently this time and he felt Luna shudder under his strong hold.

Finally after a few moments they drew themselves apart. “Merry Christmas Luna.” said Harry following with a wink.

Luna laughed out loud, her face pink and her eyes bright. “Merry Christmas Harry.”

She went on tiptoes and pulled herself close into him and they held each-other for a few moments. Harry buried his face into her shoulder, which subsequently turned out a little awkward as a radish swung and hit him in the eye; luckily his glasses had formed a coat of protection.

“Oh, sorry, silly earrings, I can take them off.” she stammered.

“No, I like them, they are just so… well… you Luna!” replied Harry with a cheeky smirk. “Don’t change anything because of me, always be yourself!”

Luna smiled and she felt her breath catch in her throat as a butterfly twinge fluttered lightly inside her stomach, it tickled fervently and she fought with herself to stop from giggling.

“You never faze me Harry, everyone calls me Loony and yet, you never have.” she replied, trying her hardest to keep her composure as normal as ‘Luna Lovegood’ possible.

Harry shrugged his shoulders. “I guess I’m just a nice guy.” He said, while throwing another playful smile.

Luna’s eyes lit up once more and she simply replied. “That you are Harry…………… That you are!”