Mad Snorkacks and Englishmen

A/N: Well, you are not going to believe this, but here's a short chapter to tide you over. Wanted to get this out of the way before the real fireworks began. And ya know--I was sitting in this interview last week for a job I didn't get, and when I got the call that they had declined me and I was asked if I wanted to hear some feedback, I said sure, why not, I could always use it, but I was surprised when it was suggested that maybe I couldn't convey my meaning concisely to a team. I've had no problems with that before but then I was all, you mean I ramble? and when I asked my sister she said, well, yeah, kinda. Re-reading some of these chapters I'm inclined to believe that they may have a point. Ah well. Brevity isn't all its cracked up to be in this sound-byte world, but here's a go.



And y'all, I know how this story is going to end, I know who is going to end up with whom, and I am not above letting our lovers mess around a bit. They're teenagers for god's sake, let them figure things out. I suppose I should add some more tags, but I hate to give too much away.



Shinteo so glad to hear from you again and I'm thrilled you are still enjoying the story. Wonder if steffis is out there, too. Yay, that I'm turning you on to the hotness that is Harry/Luna. I have enjoyed a fair amount of H/Hr; regularly visit Portkey, and like the thought processes between the two--it's certainly more interesting than what Ginny provides Harry intellectually. I'm not saying anymore about future spoilers, though, I already said enough to Coco.



Coco, I always assumed, but are you male or female? 'Cause if you're a girl, then yeah, I could see how telling your older brother about your first time might be awkward, lol. And Rickman!Snape, please!



Sneakyfox, that's so great I could make you laugh like that. I had a good time with that line, too. And yay that you like Luna's present :) As for your remarks on Ginny, totally agree 100%. It was just lazy dating, and lazy writing all-around. I wouldn't have minded so much if Rowling had at least tried to make the girl interesting. Ginny had such potential, and the romance could have worked, imo, with just a little effort. But I thought for sure that Luna had been introduced as a romantic partner for Harry after OotP, so I was a little heartbroken when I saw the writing on the wall.



SoftO, your reviews rock. I'm so thrilled when my writing makes you happy. I really hope your Ginny distaste has fun with this chapter. As for what comes next, the following chapter will be written for you ;)



Gang, I realized as I reviewed DH that I screwed up in the detail of Harry's knapsack so I'll have to go back to edit that. I try to stay within the constructs wherever possible, but I am fudging the timeline here by about a day. Hope my poor attempt at the political machinations leading up to the Ministry stranglehold works for everybody. Happy reading, this one isn't such a slog.









Chapter 16: Lady Madonna







Luna sat at the Weasley kitchen table drinking from a hot mug as she watched Bill and Charlie argue across from her. It was very late into the night, at this point, and the dragon tamer was insisting his brother take his new wife and get to them both to the Delacours home in France while they had the chance. Bill didn’t want to leave yet, expecting an Order meeting to be called in the next few days for a debriefing of the Ministry’s full activities for the night. Arthur had already been notified about Dedalus’ home being ransacked as he was questioned by Ministry thugs and Death Eaters alike. More reports were coming in from other Order members who hadn’t been present at the wedding; it appeared all of them were being harangued for Harry’s whereabouts this evening.





It had been a long night after Ministry officials had contained the stragglers left at the party. Most of the guests had been able to Disapparate, but the Weasleys had no intention of leaving their home and those from the Order present, like Remus and Tonks, had held off the trespassers bravely until it was apparent they were outnumbered. It had been sickening to see Death Eaters parading around, even doffing their masks, interrogating the remaining bunch with as much impunity as the now menacing Aurors.





Luna had been asked the same questions by at least five different henchmen until they grew frustrated with her nonsensical answers. They had shouted at her father, insisting he was a known Potter supporter with that rag of his, but a couple of the older Aurors suggested that the old man was crazy as a loon and no threat at this time. Xenophilius had only clutched his daughter tighter to him.





They had all gone through some rough treatment, however, as the Weasleys were expected to have information, having been so closely associated with the suspect for so many years. One dark haired man got right in Arthur’s face, suggesting he would have the man’s family detained at Ministry headquarters if he didn’t stop lying and give up the boy until all four of his sons jumped towards him in defense. It had gotten ugly until Arthur bade the quartet to stand down and relax. His hands had been shaking, Luna could see, as he tried to further appease the police and convince them that he was cooperating to the full extent. No one knew where Harry was; only that he was last heard from at the Tonks home after the Death Eater attack.





Hearing Harry referred to as a suspect in the death of Albus Dumbledore had been ridiculous enough to make her want to laugh loudly, but she didn’t think that would go over too well with their belligerent guests so she kept quiet. By the time they had finally left, Mrs. Weasley was beside herself, sniffling into a kerchief as she shrilly demanded that everyone sit around for some tea and leftover wedding cake. For some reason, the Aurors seemed to think that Ronald was up in the attic with a case of spattergroit, but Luna didn’t bother to correct them, as she realized rather quickly that his family wanted them to think that. The squad had left quite a mess in their search for leads or incriminating evidence, or perhaps Harry himself; Luna wasn’t too sure what they hoped to find.





She watched Ginny’s face through most of the cross-examinations, at turns frightened and nervous then just plain angry and seething. The red head was certainly passionate and willful; the blonde teen could see why Harry was attracted to her, and she wondered if the boy would ever get over the girl. Ginny was much prettier than her, Luna felt, and she worried that she was somehow not enough for Harry; Harry who had quite an insatiable appetite when it came to the pleasures of the flesh.





The young Weasley witch was a desirable catch to many in the Hogwarts fold, not just to the Boy-Who-Lived. The pale girl was well aware of the fact that even Draco Malfoy wanted to get in her pants, he made mention of Ginny enough times as he shoved his cock in Luna’s throat, even charming her hair red on one occasion. Then again, the introverted Ravenclaw often theorized he was merely coveting Harry’s possession.





Yet, somewhere floating in that head of hers a voice insisted that Ginny had probably not had the beautiful green-eyed boy tell her he loved her. Probably not…most likely…possibly. It was kind of a shame, really, because it was obvious how much the girl was head over heels for him. They did make a striking couple, too, and complimented each other athletically…aesthetically, even temperamentally. The loud-mouthed girl seemed to give as good as she got, so maybe they made a better match, Luna reasoned. She sighed. This vacillating from rivalry to sympathy had given her a headache and she’d had to stop compiling data and banish the argument from her thoughts.





Of course, if the Ministry ever got Harry in their grip, this whole debate would be moot as the boy would most assuredly be locked away in Azkaban far from both of them the way things were heading. It was quite apparent to all involved that the coup d’état had been a success and that a puppet Minister had quickly been instated. Luna feared for his safety now, as well as his sidekicks. Surely they would be hunted down now that Voldemort had the means and excuse to do so legally. Things were suddenly a lot more insidious all around. Her insides felt tight with the anxiety. She felt bad that Bill and Fleur couldn’t even enjoy a honeymoon to celebrate their union, but then look what had become of their special day.



Luna had stayed with the family as they eased back into a state of calm, sending her father home and promising to join him soon on the Floo. He had been frazzled after the attack, especially when he’d seen Luna fighting. She’d been zinged on the corner of her shoulder by a hex, but it only left a gash and Mrs. Weasley had fixed her right up after they had been rounded towards the house. The kind woman had patted her father on the back to soothe him and praised him for having such a brave child. After he had Apparated home, Luna had helped Mrs. Weasley in the kitchen while Ginny brooded up in her room.





She told Mrs. Weasley that she would take Ginny some tea and cake to make sure she was alright. Molly had grabbed the girl’s face with both hands and gave her a warm smile.





“You’re a lovely girl, Luna. Thank you so much for your help tonight. I know Ginny is just worried for Harry and her brother, as we all are. Hermione, too, of course. Tell her that her father will send them a message just as soon as he can, alright?”





Luna eyes reflected her own concern, but she nodded to Ginny’s mother and tried to offer her return smile, even if it was just a hint of one. When she made her way upstairs, she pondered which door was most likely to lead to the girl’s room, but then heard a faint weeping coming from behind the one closest to her. She made her way over and knocked softly.





“Ginny, it’s Luna. I brought up some tea for you.”





It got quiet suddenly, but then there was a rustling of fabric and shuffling across the carpet heading her way. The door was opened only partially as a splotchy, freckled face peered at her from under matted strands of fiery hair. Ginny stared blankly for a few moments, but then moved aside to allow the pale girl entry. Luna looked around briefly to notice the setting as Ginny moved back to her bed, sitting down in a whoosh as she sniffed hard and rubbed her swollen eyes. She looked quite miserable, which Luna could certainly appreciate. Nevertheless, she gave another of those wistful half smiles and set down the plate of cake, walking over to Ginny to hand her the hot tea.





“Your mum said to tell you that your dad was going to send them a message soon, to get them word that we’re alright. Maybe they’ll be able to find a way to signal us; too, although I’m sure they’re fine. Harry knows what he’s doing,” she assured her friend.







“How would you know?” Ginny snapped in a stuffed up petulant voice. Her glare directed to Luna over the teacup was now full of distrust.





“I guess I just watched him enough during the DA lessons to feel confident he’ll have a handle on things. Plus, Hermione’s a smart girl, I’m sure she took them somewhere safe,” she concluded as she saw the girl before her deflate a bit in her hostility.





“Yeah, I suppose you’re right.” The red-head sighed before getting up to set the cup on her desk. She whisked over to stand in front of Luna, the taffeta of her dress noisily swishing in rhythm; then turned her back to the girl.





“Can you get my buttons, Luna?” she bid her.





Luna slowly put her hands to Ginny’s neck as she began to unhook the little pearls from their eyelets, moving carefully downwards as she worked silently. The last few buttons sat on the top of the girl’s petite bum and as Luna finished, she pushed the material away from Ginny’s back as her hands slid up to the shoulders. She tugged the capped sleeves over to the girl’s waiting fingers. Soon Ginny had pushed the dress down her front and stepped out of the circle of shimmery gold, unconcerned that she was standing in her undergarments.





“Ginny, you seem to be missing part of your knickers back here,” Luna was quick to inform her. She wondered if her friend had accidentally shrunk them in her distress.





Ginny only smirked as she snorted at Luna’s ignorance. “It’s supposed to be like that. It’s a thong.” She turned so that Luna could see the front side was still intact, although sitting quite high on her hips, as she pulled up the dress from the floor to fling it over the chest at the end of her bed.





“What’s a thong?” Luna asked innocently. She wondered if Harry would like the way the cut showed off the arse that way.





“It’s a French thing. They do love their lingerie. Phlegm wears them and she bought these for me to wear under the gown. She gave me the bra; too, it sort of pushes your tits up, which is kind of nice if you can use the help. Don’t think Phlegm didn’t enjoy pointing that out for me, either. I still think she’s a bitch, but she has her moments, and she sure does make my brother happy.”





Ginny seemed to settle into more of herself as she spoke. Luna was a little confused by the nickname at first, but then got who she was referring to. As the red-head reached under her pillow to extract her nightgown, she gave a full show of her backside, which only confused Luna further. Then the girl was pulling apart the hooks of her bra and she let the silk fall forward, her perky breasts as freckled as the rest of her with the exceptions of the rosy pink tips. She slipped her head under the cotton of her shift and then popped out of the other end, tugging the material down over her hips and sitting back down on the bed.





“You should eat something. Everyone is feeling so drained after all those questions, your mum thought we could use the cheer,” she said as she moved to pick up the dessert and hand it back to Ginny.





“Oh, God, no. I had enough already, it’s ghastly sweet. You can have it, though. Take a seat, why don’t you?” Ginny offered her the chair behind her desk and Luna turned it round so she could face the bed. She didn’t need any more cake, either; Ginny was right.





Now the girl was looking at her curiously, her expression quite hard.





“So, where did you go there for a bit? I saw you talking to Charlie and then you were gone. Hermione and I were searching for Harry to get ready for the bouquet toss but we couldn’t seem to find him,” she noted as her eyes flashed with something Luna was hesitant to acknowledge.





“Oh, well, I’m not sure, really. I think I was just taking a break in the house, you know, looking around. I probably had to use the loo.” Luna didn’t like lying but she understood when there was a need for it. She stared right back in the girl’s eyes without so much as a nervous twitch, remaining her unflappable self in the face of a threat.





“Yeah? Maybe you saw Harry, then. Ron said he was in the washroom, too. You weren’t in there, together, were you?” asked the girl with a bit of a dire laugh, as if she were joking, but obviously not.





“No. No, we weren’t.” Luna seized upon the opportunity to be totally truthful.





“Well, the next time I saw you, you were standing in front of him, defending him from some DE trash. That was recklessly brave of you, Luna.” There was nothing in her voice to denote admiration, however.





“It was important that he get away from here. I just did what I thought was necessary,” she explained with that same serenity.





“Necessary? Luna, no one knew why they were there. You could have been killed. Were you really planning on sacrificing yourself for the Chosen One?” she accused heatedly.





Luna was starting to feel apprehensive about this whole discussion. She’d been interrogated enough for the evening.





“I hadn’t really planned anything, Ginny. I was just trying to use the instincts Harry encouraged during our lessons in the DA. Maybe I should go so you can get some sleep.” She made to move out of her chair, but Ginny was keyed up now and kept at her needling.





“Or maybe you just wanted to show him how you’d die for him. Why don’t you just own up to your crush, Luna? It’s pretty obvious you have a thing for him. I mean, come on, a fucking silver pocket watch? You think I wouldn’t notice how expensive that was? Trying to show me up or something?”





Ginny was moving rapidly into her outrage as she pressed the wan girl. Luna could see that tears were glistening in her eyes again as her accusations grew more desperate and cruel.





“Ginny, I would never do that to you. I-I just wanted him to have a special birthday and since I wasn’t invited to his party I thought I’d get him something nice. He never looks as though his family dresses him well,” she said earnestly. Her voice stayed soft as Ginny’s pitch ascended.





“Yeah, well, he didn’t ask for you, did he? What, you thought because Harry took you to Slughorn’s Christmas party you were his one and only now? Harry wants me, so you might as well get that through your loony brain!”





Luna was starting to feel affected by the shrieks of her attacker and wanted to get home. She put her hand to her throat to calm the fluttering there and brushed back her hair.





“If that’s how you see it, Ginny,” she offered with a defeated sigh.





“He said he broke up with me to protect me while he fights that snakey bastard and I believed him. So, why are you showing up all tarted up and posh with your hair slicked back and your tits hanging out like he’s going to suddenly be interested in you or something? What were you two so deep in conversation about at the table? I saw the way you were looking at him, you bint. You don’t think I see all the fucking slags at Hogwarts stare at him like that all day in the halls? He doesn’t want any of you!” The girl cried insistently as her fists clenched in her lap.





Luna’s smooth shell cracked a little more and she tried to reign in her anger at her fickle friend’s words. She thought about how Harry demanded she defend herself when he wasn’t around, prompting her to speak sharply.





“You really have no idea what he wants, Ginny.” The silver in her eyes tinged with a blue flame like the low wattage of Lumos.





Ginny leapt off the bed at that as she confronted the girl still in her seat.





“What the bloody hell does that mean? And I suppose you do?” When Luna would only glare back at her, Ginny demanded yet again, “Answer me! What do you think you know? He doesn’t believe your stupid fantasy creatures, you know, he just agrees with you to be nice.”





“I know that,” the blond witch conceded. “Harry could use some support. He doesn’t really have use for people who supposedly care about him badgering him because he’s not fulfilling their needs. Like on the train.”





Luna wanted to make a point about Ginny’s earlier behavior now that she was seeing it in context with this display of jealousy. The other girl’s eyes narrowed to dangerous slits at the mention of the Hogwarts Express and it seemed to trigger another wave of thought.





“Yeah, about that train ride; just what was he doing with you all that time, anyway? Why was he holding your hand when you both came back to the compartment? You know, I’ve heard things about you, Luna,” she suggested disparagingly.





“What things have you heard?” Luna whispered, not really expecting to be surprised by the answer.





“That the Slytherins call you Loony Suckgood because you like to get on your knees. I always thought it was bollocks, but now, I don’t really know, do I? Just how far would you go to get Harry in your clutches?” Luna stared back defiantly but said nothing.





“Well?” the girl asked shrilly, “Is it true? That you like to get on the boys’ knobs and show them a good time?” She waited for the girl to respond and grew more agitated the more silent her answer. “Just tell me the truth! Did you suck Harry off or not?” Her tone was almost pleading with Luna to end her agony on the matter.





Luna held her gaze as long as she could, knowing that she didn’t have it in her to give the girl such a bald-faced lie and yet cursing herself that she was betraying Harry somehow. Finally, she looked down at her lap in her shame. Ginny became apoplectic.





“Oh-ohgod-ohmygod-what the…how…how could you?! You, fucking slag! I knew it; I knew you were after him! I can’t believe you’d stoop so low. I-I tried to be your friend! And this is the thanks I get?!” Her anger was furious but the tears rolled down her face unabated. Luna felt terrible now and tried to absorb the girl’s pain.





“I’m sorry, Ginny,” she moaned pitiably, “I didn’t mean for it to happen. It wasn’t like that, I swear. We-we needed each other. Please, I wasn’t trying to hurt you. I love him.”





Ginny’s eyes grew huge in her face as she attempted to comprehend something in Luna’s confession. Her arm moved up slowly as she pointed her finger shakily at Luna like Death coming to claim its next victim.





“What-are-you saying? You mean, you and Harry shagged?” She practically puked the final word in her disgust as she looked on with incredulity at the quiet girl in her room.





Luna’s saucer eyes could only stare painfully back as the words got stuck in her throat and she felt her own bile start to heave upwards. She was not prepared for the girl’s next move when the sharp sting of Ginny’s slap knocked her head sideways, the sound of it loud and reverberating in her ears. She froze in her shock as Ginny unleashed her full fury.





“GET. OUT!! GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE!! I WANT YOU OUT OF MY ROOM, OUT OF MY HOUSE, YOU FFFFUCKING WHORE!”





She continued to scream as they heard heavy footfalls racing up the stairway, but Luna could only shake as her hand reached to cup her battered cheek. Then Ginny’s hands were moving again and Luna went to put her hands over her head as Ginny’s open palms smacked against her repeatedly.





“Get out, I said! I can’t stand looking at you another second!” And she pushed the girl against her shoulder until Luna was off the chair and landing hard on her knees and hands.





She tried to scramble away then, getting tangled in her robes, but felt Ginny’s foot actually kick her in the rear as the girl raged and she fell forward. She grew fearful as the crazed red-head threw herself onto her back and started to beat her with her fists, but then the door was suddenly thrown wide open and several shocked faces loomed in the opening.





“What in Merlin’s name is going on in here?! Ginny, my word, get off of that girl this instant!”





Then Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were running forward as they attempted to pull their psychotic daughter free from her victim. Charlie leaned in on his knees and grabbed Luna by the forearms, dragging her body away from the violence and pulling her up towards him. Once he had her standing again and pushing her back to the doorway, he looked completely lost as to what could have possibly occurred to provoke such a reaction in his sister. He looked back at Luna sympathetically as the blonde girl wrapped her arms around her tightly. She still shook and now she felt like she was about to come undone. She had to get out of there.





“What is the meaning of this, Ginevra? How dare you assault your guest! Have you lost your mind, young lady?” Mr. Weasley spoke forcefully. He looked at Luna to make sure she was alright, but the man obviously was just as much at a loss as the rest of the group to explain this show of aggression.





Ginny could only seethe as she pointed at Luna again. “I want her out of this house!” she shouted again as another wave of tears burst forth and her choked rage ended in deep sobs.





Mrs. Weasley wrapped her arms around her daughter in her consternation but looked to Luna as the source to illuminate the meaning of such hysteria.





“Luna, what is she talking about? What is all this?” she demanded, but Luna could only back away from them all in a daze.





“I’m sorry, really, I’m so sorry. I have to go,” and she turned and ran. Bill was on his way up the stairs and shouted to her as she ran past, but she didn’t stop. She had to get home, away from what she had done. She had ruined everything.





When she got in the kitchen, she ran to the hearth and grabbed some Floo powder before they could get to her. She stood in the cold grate and called out her home, waiting for that whooshing to pull her away from this madness, from her screw-up. By the time she fell out of her own fireplace, her father waiting for her arrival, she was already bawling in her wretchedness. Her daddy grew alarmed as he moved to lift her from her puddle of yellow as she sat draped on the cobblestone. Luna clung to him and let her despair take over.







_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________







The next few days went by in an agonizing crawl for the wistful witch. She had tried to fill up her time trawling over the Prophet, collecting as much information as she could on the shift in the Ministry objectives. Luna and her father listened to the Wireless over dinner, occasionally interrupted by his mutterings and cries of indignation. He told her that his contacts from inside were getting awfully worried at the quick change of attitude. He was convinced that Thicknesse was under the Imperius curse from what his sources could glean. The man was adamant that it was up to The Quibbler to gain support for The-Boy-Who-Lived as quickly as possible before the masses had opportunity to switch their allegiances or speculate on Harry’s innocence.





When she had disintegrated into her father’s arms that horrible night, he had managed to calm her eventually, but let her take her own time to explain what happened to bring on such a lamentable state. He walked her slowly up to her bed and then rocked her as the girl quietly wept some more. She told him that she had just ruined a friendship, but spoke no further of her troubles as she wondered whether she would always be doomed to be alone.





If only Harry had been there. Luna needed his strength to fill her so much. She thought back to her last moment alone with him before he pushed her back to the others, how soft his lips had felt on her cheek, the same cheek that had burned hours later with Ginny’s fierce slap. He had said he loved her and Luna let that sentiment keep her spirit buoyed, let it keep her moving each day as she looked for spells she could alter for the galleons like she’d promised.





She used her father as a resource as they debated the merits of a portkey on such a system, hypothetically. Well, at least to him it was, but Luna absorbed every detail in his rationale as she worked out the problems in her mind. They talked more about the types of spells that could summon measurements of the Earth’s terrain while she offered nothing on where she intended to use this information.





When he had tentatively asked about her relationship with Harry and how it was faring in light of recent events, she admitted to him that she was deeply in love and that her heart was afflicted with her loss. She did not share details of their physical intensity, however, as she felt her father could use a bit of protecting in that area. She did not want to add to his worry.





“Oh, my moonbeam, I wish I could tell you it gets better, but when we truly allow ourselves to love like that, I’m afraid we’ll be forever vulnerable to the whims of fate,” he imparted knowingly. He sighed loudly as he gazed out at the dying light in their window.





“The heart wants what the heart wants, Poppet. I can no more protect you from that than I can protect you from life. Conscience doth make cowards of us all* eventually, I’m afraid, but you’re braver than that, sweetheart. You love like your mother, completely and terribly no matter what the cost.”





Luna felt somewhat comforted by that and she let it guide her heart as she prepared to find her love and warn him. She worked outside as the summer sun beamed heavy on her skin, while she experimented with a variety of spells that she felt held the closest principles to her goal. It was with the Tempus charm that she was able to make the most progress, noting how the time shimmered forth with her handiwork and then focusing her intent on the space around her. With some subtle motions in her wand work, she was able to summon the degrees of her location with a bit of a Flagrate, the fiery strikes glowing with her triumph. It had required a fair amount of assiduous concentration and she was exhausted by the end of the day, yet the weariness in her body could not dilute her excitement.





It had been several days since the wedding at the Burrow when they received a most curious visitor.





Luna was getting lunch ready for her father as he worked in his study, so she was the first to hear the knock on the front door. When she moved through the front room she felt a little tingle in her stomach as if in warning, but she continued on her way and hesitantly asked who was there through the wood. She was surprised when she heard Professor Lupin answer.





As the dreamy smile appeared on her lips, she opened the door to the weathered looking man on her front pathway. He seemed slightly embarrassed to be there but smiled with some strain to his host. Luna could hear her father shuffle into the room behind her.





“Luna, who is it, my dear…oh, well, hullo.”





Lupin nodded his head in greeting as his eyes wandered over her father’s somewhat disheveled appearance. Luna didn’t think her former teacher was judging him, however, as he was not exactly a man of sartorial upkeep himself.





“Xenophilius, good to see you. I was wondering if I could have a word with you and Luna for a moment.”





Luna’s daddy bellowed with delighted invitations as he directed their guest to follow him into the kitchen.





“Poppet, why don’t you get the kettle on for some Gurdyroot tea? Remus, would you care for a spot of lunch? Luna and I were just about to take our meal.”





The harried-looking man begged off, insisting he was fine, but accepted the offer of tea. As he was deigned to take a seat at the table, his face lost its false cheer for a moment and tension flooded throughout his expression, Luna noted.





“I just wanted to catch up with you since the attack, see how you both were doing. I’ve been, er, speaking with some associates of mine and we were eager to know if your publication would be sounding the alarm. I know the Ministry is doing everything in its power to quash negative outcry. They are working overtime with the Prophet to brush the harassment they performed the other night under a rug.”





“Oh, don’t I half know it. I’m hearing quite a few reports from my sources inside the Ministry that things are only gearing up to get worse. Of course Luna and I have been preparing some articles to negate the fodder we’re seeing in the papers. It’s patently absurd to think that Harry had anything to do with Dumbledore’s murder, and it’s obvious they are attempting to obfuscate their own tracks in the deed,” the disgruntled man exclaimed.





“Well, we’re pretty sure Severus Snape was responsible according to Harry, but I doubt Thicknesse is of sound mind and body at the moment. The entire government seems to be in the control of Voldemort at this point. His Death Eater followers are all coming out of the woodwork now. We’re going to need to mobilize our forces into action as quickly as possible. But we have to have a way to create some dissension among the public. That’s where The Quibbler comes in.”





“Have no fear, Remus. We’ve always been the bastion of truth against that poppycock the Daily Prophet continues to trade in,” Xenophilius decried without a trace of irony.





“That’s good to know. My…organization has connections inside, as well, and what we’re hearing seems to support what you’ve been led to believe. There are more dark times ahead, but we don’t know what his legion has planned right now other than an all-out attack on Muggle-borns. It’s unbelievable the scurrilous lies they’re printing to whip up fascism.” Lupin grew quiet for a moment as he pondered his next words.





“Er, I have a strong feeling I know where to find Harry at the moment and I am planning to get word to him later tonight. I’m…hoping I can offer my services.” He watched both Luna and her father intently as the low burning in her chest that began with the discussion heated up to a licking flame as she grew suddenly optimistic.





“Xenophilius, I know it’s a lot to ask, but….I was hoping to, uh…well, I’d like to know if I can borrow Luna for the visitation. It’s risky, to be sure, but I have a feeling that she will be of the utmost value in my mission.” He looked abashed as he spoke, but determined all the same.





Luna’s father appeared stunned by the request, but the young witch grabbed him forcefully by the arm and spoke for the first time since letting this sad man in their house.





“Daddy, please, you must let me go with him. I need to make sure Harry is okay. I promise we’ll be alright. Please, Daddy,” she begged.





“What makes you think my Luna would be advantageous to your reconnaissance with the boy? Surely you will be followed if they detect even a whiff of your purpose.” His brows were perched atop his forehead in a farcical dance, but Luna knew he was seriously frightened by the possibilities.





“Let’s just say that Harry…responds strongly to her. I need him to understand a few things and I want him thinking clearly. He has a habit of rejecting sound advice in the heat of the moment. Luna might be able to assist me in….getting Harry to listen.” He still looked gravely uncomfortable having to expound this much, but Luna seized on his notion and pleaded with her father more stringently.





“Daddy, I know I can do it. If Harry needs help, I want to be there for him. Plus, I have some information for him that could prove useful. Trust me, Daddy, trust Mr. Lupin.”





The old man was looking overwhelmed but he hugged Luna to him tightly just then.





“If you promise me that she’ll be alright…” his hollow voice exacted from the man across from him.





“You have my word, Xenophilius.” Remus was just as grave.





When Remus arrived later that night to Side-Along with her at the end of the garden, Luna gave her father a fierce hug and kissed him wetly on his cheek. She gave him an excited smile as she skipped down the walk to the waiting werewolf in her gingham summer dress and orange high-tops. She waved one more time to her father as she took the blond man’s arm and twisted with him in the night breeze with a crack.





They popped into a space nearby a grove, one that looked vaguely familiar to her. It had seemed a rather short trip. She looked at Lupin confused.





“Uh, Luna, before we go any further, I need to talk with you. There are some things that I just need to clarify before I take you to see him,” he remarked.





Luna was patient as she regarded the man. “Okay. What do you need to know?” she asked in her sing-song way.





“Luna, I’ve spoken to Harry about your relationship. I don’t know how much he’s told you, but I’m aware of the nature of it.” He didn’t appear to be sheepish on the subject and Luna wondered just what kind of conversation they had on the matter.





“No, I didn’t know that. Harry never mentioned it to me.” Her gaze took in every detail as she watched him fuss with his fingers about his lapel and the cock of his head as he thought about what kind of assurance he required of the girl.





“Harry confessed to me that your sexual…activity was very advanced. He’s somewhat commandeering in his manner with you and I wanted to be totally and absolutely sure that you were in complete consent and he wasn’t coercing you into anything you felt uncomfortable with. I know he can be quite persuasive when he wants to be,” and he looked to her as if she would agree.





“Harry takes care of me. He would never hurt me willfully; nothing serious like that. I like the way he pushes me. It’s a very secure place to be.” She thought some more on her feelings as she tried to give Lupin his satisfactory reply. “And he needs me.” She felt positive about that last part.







“You know he can be oversure of himself, sometimes, too overzealous. You have to have the power to be able to say no, sometimes, Luna. Don’t leave it all up to him. You’re both still so young and this is a very adult game you’re playing at. Promise me that you won’t let him get too far gone.”





Lupin waited for her assurances before grabbing her hand again. He told her they would be making hops before they would Apparate to their final destination. He explained that he was a current Secret Keeper where Harry was hiding and would need to disclose the location to her once they were close enough. It would be important for them to arrive on a very tight point of entry. The place would be staked out with Death Eaters or Aurors and they had to be exact.





Luna grabbed tight to his arm and nodded her head in her determination. She would do whatever it would take to get to Harry. She tucked her wand behind her ear and felt in her pocket for the galleons before pulling her fingers to her other hand in a clasp. Lupin spun and Luna felt free.















* from 'Hamlet', by a little guy named Bill Shakespeare

Hey, this story is getting a lot of hits, so I'm assuming a lot of readers are following Harry and Luna's continued exploration of each other and are reading this in its entirety. If you're enjoying it, I'd love to hear a shout-out. No big review necessary, just tell me if it's rockin' your world or not. Feedback is always good.