Harry Potter and the House of Meditation

Chapter Three: Seventh Year

Over dinner, Harry told Luna about the two-way mirrors, and she was fascinated. "That should come in handy. I don't know Lupin that well, but he sounds like a good sort."

"He says he knows your dad."

"I think they were at school together."

Harry and Luna spent a good couple of hours speculating as to what Hogwarts had been like when their parents were in school, and relating stories they had heard. When they went back upstairs, Harry felt tired but relaxed. For him this had been an unusually normal day, which was quite a treat. He walked Luna to her door.

"I guess I'll see you in the morning."

"Yes, unless..." Luna stopped.

"Unless what?"

"Never mind, Harry."

Harry drew her back as she started to turn away. "I'm so glad I'm here with you instead of back on Privet Drive." She smiled at him, and impulsively, Harry kissed her on the mouth. He'd never done that before. The thought of kissing a girl usually frightened him to death, but this time it had seemed natural.

"Good night, Harry." Luna was still smiling as she shut the door.

"Good night."

The next day Hermione, Ron, Ginny and Dean came to Diagon Alley, and it was just like old times. The group was larger but the camaraderie was the same and it was comforting to Harry. He did get a bit uncomfortable when Ron pulled him aside. "What's with you and Loony Lovegood? How long have you been staying at the Leaky Cauldron together?"

"We aren't together. We're just together. I swear I have nothing new to report. And don't call her Loony any more." Harry felt a bit annoyed.

"Well, I should hope you have nothing new to report! I admit, though, she's looking good." Ron looked across at Luna, as if he couldn't believe what he was saying.

Hermione joined them. "I can see why she amuses you, Harry, but you have to admit she's, well, a bit odd."

"She doesn't care what people think of her because she's true to herself. She'd rather people think she's odd than take the time to try to live up to everyone else's expectations." Harry found it surprisingly easy to defend Luna. "I like that. I know what it's like to be considered different, and she handles it a whole lot better than I do."

The others approached, and changing the subject quickly, Harry asked how Fred and George were doing with their shop, and after getting a report on their success, Harry suggested a visit to number 93 was in order. Fred and George joined them for dinner, and they had a pleasant meal together before Ginny, Ron, Hermione and Dean prepared to floo back to the Burrow to pack for the train ride to Hogwarts the next morning.

"We'd better pack, too." Harry looked awkwardly at Luna when the others had gone.

"I suppose so. It will definitely be an interesting year." They stood outside Luna's door for a moment, and Harry wondered if perhaps he should kiss her goodnight again, but before he could decide, she told him she'd see him in the morning and shut the door in his face.

Harry sighed and went to his room.

On the train ride back to school the next day, Luna had acted normally for her, as did everyone else. Harry didn't give much thought to the time they'd spent together in Diagon Alley. Once at school he had intended to go straight to Dumbledore to discuss his progress concerning the plans to destroy Voldemort, but Harry quickly got bogged down with beginning of the term details and didn't get a chance. Every teacher piled on homework right away, trying to get a good start on N.E.W.T. preparation, and Quidditch practice started almost at once. School had been in session a week before Harry's future once more loomed unpleasantly before him. As he came into the Great Hall on his way to breakfast one morning, with Ron, Hermione and Ginny, they found a large group of Ravenclaw students watching as Anthony Goldstein was led out the front door by several teachers.

"What's all this?" asked Ron, glancing about.

Luna detached herself from the Ravenclaw group and joined Harry and his fellow Gryffindors, looking grave.

"Anthony's going home. His grandfather died."

"Oh, no!" Harry groaned. "Please tell me it wasn't..."

"He was murdered, just like the others." Luna laid a comforting hand on Harry's arm.

"That's it!" Harry headed off for Dumbledore's office. As he reached the entrance, he was just wondering if the password had changed when the headmaster appeared.

"Ah, Harry, I was expecting you. Come in."

Harry entered the office silently. It was as it had always been. He remembered the night he'd tried to wreck the place, and once more wondered how long it had taken Dumbledore to repair everything Harry had smashed.

"Sit down, Harry."

Harry sat, and waited for Dumbledore to settle himself in his chair.

"I assume you are here because you have learned of the tragedy."

"Yes, Professor. We have to do something. I have to know how to fight him. It can't wait. What he's doing is senseless and cruel. He has to be stopped. I need to know what the plan is going to be."

"The plan, as you call it, is not ready yet." Harry started to interrupt, but stopped when Dumbledore held up his hand and continued. "We do have news. Bellatrix Lestrange has been captured, thanks to you."

"What did I have to do with that?"

"Ever since you told her about Voldemort being half-blood, doubt has been growing in her mind about the Dark Lord's plans. She was captured but in truth, she did not put up much of a fight. She has been very useful, very useful indeed."

"Has she told you how I can find him? How I can kill him? She's a filthy murderess, and nothing else she can do will satisfy me"

Dumbledore looked at Harry, troubled. "No, Harry. Anything but. It seems that Voldemort has developed a new sort of shield that he projects around himself. If anything it convinces me you are still not ready to face him."

"But people are dying!"

"And if you face him unprepared, you will die. And he will win. I know this is hard for you, Harry, but you must trust me one more time. When I know what you must do, I will tell you. "

Harry was angry, but held his tongue. He was determined, though, to talk to Remus Lupin, and slipped upstairs after dinner to use his mirror. But Neville and Dean were messing around in their dorm room with some fireworks Neville had gotten from the Fred and George Weasley, and the common room was crowded with chattering students.

Taking the mirror, Harry headed downstairs, hoping to find a private corner. In the hall, he ran into Luna.

"Are you all right, Harry? You look furious."

"I want to talk to Lupin, but I can't do it anywhere I might be overheard. I don't want anyone else to know about the mirror."

"Then," said Luna calmly, "you need to go somewhere where no one else would go."

"Where no one else would go," repeated Harry. "Luna, that's it! You're brilliant!" Harry was so delighted he kissed her.

"What...what did I say?" she asked, putting her fingers to her lips.

"Come on!" Harry was almost jubilant as he pulled her outside. "I'll show you!"

Chapter Four: A Secret Place

Luna followed Harry willingly until they started drawing near the Whomping Willow. Then she held back, even as Harry tugged on her arm.

"Harry, what are you doing?"

"I need a stick! A long stick! Like this one! Watch."

Luna stared wide-eyed as he approached the tree, which swung its branches menacingly. When the tree froze, she gasped in awe.

"Harry, what did you do?"

"I'll explain on the way." Harry led her into the secret tunnel to Hogsmeade. By the time they reached the Shrieking Shack, Luna had the gist of it.

"Harry, that's amazing. I never dreamed...wow! It's a bit grotty, isn't it?"

Harry took one of the least battered chairs and sat down at the kitchen table to unwrap the mirror. "It's perfect, though. No one will think to look for us here."

"Reparo!" muttered Luna, pointing her wand at one of the other chairs, reattaching a broken leg. It worked so well, she began to walk around the room repairing other pieces of furniture, rehanging cupboard doors and peeling wallpaper, and sweeping up dust with a well-placed "Scourgify!"

Paying no attention to Luna, Harry looked into the mirror, and called, "Remus Lupin!" in a clear voice. Nothing happened. Frustrated, Harry called again.

"Maybe he's not near the mirror. Be patient. He'll come." Luna sat down and put a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"Thanks for coming with me, Lu." Harry, smiled at her. "You've been great through all of this."

"I want to be here for you, Harry. I really do." She smiled back, and without even thinking, Harry leaned in. His lips touched hers and they pressed them together.

"Harry? Oops, sorry!" said a familiar voice.

Harry and Luna jerked their heads up, and embarrassed, Luna fled the room, leaving Harry to face Lupin. Blushing profusely, Harry also muttered, "Sorry."

"Thought you were just friends." Lupin was clearly amused.

"We ARE friends...it's just..." Harry's voice trailed off, and Lupin smiled.

"Harry, you just made me very happy."

"Why?"

"I've noticed the way you've been cutting yourself off from everyone the last year or so, and it bothered me. No matter what you have hanging over your head, Harry, you're still just seventeen. It's nice to see you doing what other seventeen-year-olds do. But I don't think you got the mirror out to give me a demonstration of adolescent leisure time activities."

"I wanted to talk to you about Dumbledore, actually." Harry told Lupin about the meeting in Dumbledore's office.

"He's right, Harry. We need to know more about Voldemort's shield before you can act. It's some kind of aura he projects. Granted, he's been attacking wizards and witches who are weak, but I'm sure some of them have tried to defend themselves to no avail."

"So they die," said Harry bitterly, "and I do nothing!"

"There's nothing you can do. I promise you, when there is, we'll tell you." Lupin paused, incredulous. "Are you in the Shrieking Shack?"

"Yeah, I thought it would be the perfect place for a private talk."

"It looks good."

Harry grinned. "Luna's been cleaning it up a bit."

"Where did she go anyway? I hope I didn't frighten her to death. You'd better go check on her, Harry. I'll talk to you another time."

Lupin's lined face vanished from the mirror, and Harry stood up from the table. He found Luna upstairs, humming tunelessly to herself as she repaired things and cleaned in the bedroom. She looked at him standing in the doorway, and he saw her pale cheeks go a bit pink.

"Did you have a good chat?"

"We talked, but he didn't say much that was helpful. I pretty much got the same speech I always get. I have to be a good boy and wait."

"Did he say anything about me? He must think I'm a real silly bint."

Harry sighed. "Don't worry about it Luna. He knows we're friends, and he's fine with it. He's happy I have you, if you must know."

"Really?"

"Really, really."

Luna looked down at the freshly cleaned floor. "I don't usually act this way with boys. I really don't. I just feel comfortable with you, Harry."

"And I do with you. I told you, don't worry about it. Come on. We have to get back to school."

Harry saw Luna to the corridor leading to the Ravenclaw dormitory, and kissed her goodbye, almost defiantly. As he left her he walked past the hall that led to the Divination tower, and heard someone call his name. Turning he saw Sibyll Trelawney step out of the shadows. She smiled at him, gathering her gauzy shawl around her shoulders. .

"You look more at peace with yourself tonight, Harry Potter. The inner eye sees all, and I think I am right in saying you are to be seen most often lately in the company of my young cousin?"

"You and Luna Lovegood are cousins?"

"She is also a great-great-granddaughter of Cassandra. Alas, she does not possess the gift of sight to any great degree, but she has good instincts, Harry. If you listen to them, they will guide you in time of need. And her Aquarius, of course, suits your Leo. Aquarians are the reformers of the zodiac, capable of piercing the veil of future possibilities."

"I don't know about that, but I like Luna. I like her a lot. And I trust her. I trust her totally."

"That," said Trelawney, "is a gift in itself." And she glided away leaving Harry completely confused.