Chapter Five
Moving Forward
That night was one of the best Harry could remember. After the newlyweds left for the evening, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Neville and the newly arrived Luna stayed up late with Moody and Kingsley watching old Muggle movies and eating popcorn. Kingsley’s home may have been very Muggle, but he had magically enchanted his Muggle appliances to work without electricity. Ron nearly shot popcorn out of his nose when he first saw the images appear on the television. Neville and Luna laughed hysterically as the knights in the film ran around clacking coconut shells.
Kingsley had fallen asleep on the couch, while Mad-Eye opted for the recliner, leaving the teenagers in a pile on the floor. When Hermione fell asleep half way through the movie, Luna and Ron brought pillows and blankets into the living room. Ron gently laid a soft blanket over Hermione while she snoozed on the loveseat. Ron sat just out of her arm’s reach on the floor. Neville and Luna scooted closer together while finishing off the popcorn as the movie came to an end.
Harry woke up late that night and stumbled through the foreign house to find the loo. When he found his way back to the living room he couldn’t help but notice that Ron had fallen asleep leaning against the loveseat where Hermione had dozed off. They had apparently moved closer to each other as they slumbered. She pillowed her head on her arm and innocently rested her other hand on the back of his neck. Ron’s forehead was resting gently on Hermione’s protruding elbow while he propped his left arm on his knee with his hand crossing his chest so he could gently stroke Hermione’s fingers. They were loving and gentle and completely oblivious to the fact that they were madly in love with each other.
If only they could see themselves through my eyes. Harry let himself think.
Neville and Luna had fallen asleep in a similarly suggestive position. They had leaned against Kingsley’s couch while watching movies. After the movie had ended Luna and Neville whispered tales of their summer to each other as Harry succumbed to sleep. Neville had put his arm around her in his sleep and she had snuggled into his chest. They were both so sweet and innocent, Harry was certain that Neville had no idea that Luna was interested.
Neville is going to be a fun shade of pink in the morning.
Harry crawled back onto the floor and fell asleep thinking of the way sunflowers perfume red hair.
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Remus and Dora returned the next afternoon apparently angry about something. As they entered the house, they heard Kingsley’s off key voice singing in the upstairs shower. Harry was disgracefully splayed out on the floor while Moody was crammed into the recliner. Neville and Luna were sound asleep in each other’s arms and Ron’s head dangled at a very odd angle. His hand was still linked with Hermione’s from their unconscious interlude. Harry faintly heard someone speaking, but he couldn’t open his eyes.
“Dora they look so cute and innocent.”
“Yeah, then they wake up.”
“Was it really that bad dear?”
“Of course not, but seventeen times! I did not know that was humanly possible!”
“Well we did figure out a way to make that portrait shut up.”
“Can I attack them now?”
“Sure, but let Moody be, I don’t feel like being a widower just yet.”
Harry was suddenly upside down and being shaken with great force with Ron and Neville by his side. Luna and Hermione shrieked and laughed.
“Which one of you put that charm on Remus!?” Dora demanded.
“What charm?” Neville squeaked.
“The one that caused an amorous reaction every time my hair changed color!”
“No idea,” said Harry as he laughed with difficulty seeing he was still upside down.
“Fine then. Who slipped the potion into my drink that caused my hair to change color every half and hour?” She bellowed again.
Everyone laughed as Moody raised a sleepy hand from the recliner. The youngsters fell to the floor in disgrace as Dora rounded on Mad-Eye.
“What in bloody hell did you do that for and who was your accomplice?!” Dora screeched.
“I did it because if the situation was reversed you would have done worse and my accomplice was a silent partner. I assure you that the individual in question is decidedly more terrifying than you so I will not rat her out.”
“It was a her! Oh, when I get my hands on Molly Weasley!”
“Shouldn’t we get this band of criminals to our first destination?” Remus yelled over his wife.
“We’ll get the bags,” Harry gestured to Ron and Neville and the boys ran out of the room.
When they reached the closet that had stored their things, the boys pulled out some clean clothes and quickly changed in a spare bedroom. As the boys were pulling on their shoes, Harry decided to see exactly how red his friends could get.
“Ron, your neck must be stiff after last night.”
“What do you mean, Harry,” his voice cracked and his ears were a deep chrimson.
“Well, last night I woke up and couldn’t help but notice that you looked very affectionate towards Hermione. Care to comment?”
“Erm…No thanks,” Ron looked as if his eyes had suddenly exploded and sent blood every where across his face.
“What about you, Neville? Since when are you and Luna such a dreamy couple?” he choked back a chuckle.
“I have no idea what you are talking about, Harry.” Neville didn’t even blink.
“What am I talking about!? You two only seemed rather close last night. I was just teasing,” Harry stuttered.
“I like her, a lot. We have talked a few times since that night, in our fifth year. We are really good friends right now, but maybe we’ll be more. I don’t want to rush things, besides we graduate this year, she is a year behind me, and I hear there is a war or something going on…” Neville had grown up, in that very instant, in Harry’s eyes.
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Harry and Moody had discussed the situation of the Horcuxes while everyone was dancing at the wedding. Harry convinced Moody that he wanted Neville and Luna to know what was going on because they were going to be with them for the summer. Harry remembered how Dumbledore had asked him not to tell anyone about the Horcruxes but somehow Harry knew that Neville and Luna would never and could never betray him. They were two of the best people he knew and wanted their help. Moody had instructed them, the next morning, that Dumbledore had suspected that one of the Horcuxes was actually a jewel-incrusted dagger. Though they knew that it had once belonged to Rowena Ravenclaw, they did not know a way to get to it.
“Dumbledore had once believed that the dagger was in the possession of the Malfoys, but he was never able to confirm it. Since his death, I was able to determine that ‘R.A.B’ was in fact Regulus Black and he did indeed destroy Slytherin’s medallion.”
Harry and his friends listened carefully to Moody.
“Well it seems we need to find a way to confirm if the Malfoys have Ravenclaw’s dagger, as we have no other leads, I suggest we head off for the graves tonight. My home is not far from there and we can stay there for the night before heading out to Godric’s Hollow.” Remus mentioned to the group.
After a general nod of concurrence, the Lupins, Moody, Kingsley, Hermione, Luna, Ron, Neville, and Harry, left for the burial plots of James and Lily Potter.
The large group co-Apparated to the base of small hill. It was a bright day without a single cloud to be seen. Dora led the group to a small iron gate that was magically locked. With a swift ‘Alohamora!’ she had ushered them behind the fence and locked the entrance behind her. Remus slowly moved up the hill guiding them through the various gravestones. Harry could feel something. It was like an echo as he crawled up the hill.
“I think I’ve been here before,” Harry hissed to Ron.
Something wasn’t right. Harry felt an unnatural pull forward. It was evil, unholy. A blinding pain shot across his scar. His scar hadn’t burned like that since the night Sirius died. The white hot wound enveloped his body as his body contracted and he fell to the ground. Harry felt Hermione and Ron pull him back onto his feat.
Through a sea of tears he saw his mother’s name etched into thick granite. Harry knew his friends were calling his name but they sounded like mere whispers. He clasped his wand from his cloak, fearing Voldemort was near. Hermione lost her grip and Harry sank onto his knees. Ever so faintly, the tip of his wand touched his mother’s name, and Harry Potter blacked out.
****
When he came to, Harry was lying peacefully on a soft white couch. A setting sun shone through the large window, the final rays dancing on the pink sky. A wet cloth fell from Harry’s brow as he heard murmuring from another room. He followed the familiar voices to see his group of vagabonds crowded around a small kitchen table, gazing at a small golden tea cup.
“Harry! How are you feeling?” Hermione jumped up and offering her seat to him.
“Fine it doesn’t hurt anymore. Is that what I think it is?” he looked at Moody.
“It would seem so; it appeared to be hidden in a secret compartment next to your mother’s grave. When your wand grazed her name, it revealed itself. I am certain that it is the Horcrux because when Miss Lovegood picked it up, she started to scream in pain. Neville is with her upstairs with a Healer. She should be just fine.” Moody explained.
“Why did I black out? Why could I feel it? How did we find it and why am I not in pain right now?” Harry demanded.
“We believe that you blacked out because of the pain, simple enough. We aren’t sure as to why you felt it but it could be because of the transfer of power to you from Voldemort himself when you were a baby, it could have been the brotherly connections of your wands, we just don’t know. As to why you felt it then and not now, Hermione put a magical blocking charm on it. It can not emit a magical pulse. If she were to remove it you would be screaming again.” Lupin explained patiently.
“Great, now how do we destroy it?” Harry hissed.
“We haven’t figured that out yet. We know that each object is like a magical bank. If the magical reserves are pulled two many ways or weakened, then it can be destroyed but how to do that… We are rather stumped.” Hermione muttered.
They spent the next several hours trying to shatter the tiny porcelain cup, but to no avail. The next morning was spent in similar fashion. In the end they carefully boxed it up and decided to move out to Godric’s Hollow. Luna had improved greatly, apparently the cup performed a painful curse but there were no lasting effects. Neville flat out refused to leave her side. The Healer turned out to be Dora’s friend, Veronica. Though she didn’t know how Luna was injured she diligently worked to help her. Harry wished he could have talked to her but he and Ron kept trying to blow up the cup.
(okay betas this previous chapter is ugly. Help!!!)
Kingsley used a Muggle car to drive the large party to Godric’s Hollow. The seemingly small vehicle had been magically expanded. It began to rain softly as they twisted through the country side, coming upon a small town. Harry gazed out the window. He smiled to himself. He had one of the remaining Horcruxes. Once it was destroyed, he would get the dagger somehow and then go hunting for that vile snake. As horrific as his task was he could not feel happy about the fact that they had made such quick progress. The car turned down a worn lane and pulled up next to an empty lot. The group fell out of Kingsley’s car and stared at the absence of the home that was once there. All that remained was a small white fence and gate. Hermione pushed her way through leading the group. She suddenly screamed and ran forward through the thick weeds and overgrown lawn. Ron and Harry caught up with her before the rest. She was huddled over a blood soaked body. He was barely alive and his breath was weak.
Even for him, Draco Malfoy had never looked so pale.
A/N: Huge thanks to Orlaith for writing a large chunk of the ending as well as to sciving_snackbox for all her fabulous help with grammar. I love you both!