Tales of a Spiritual Warrior

Chapter Eighteen: Picking up the Pieces

Luna stood before Harry, her eyes blurring from tears. Just when she thought her heart would break, he suddenly reached up, and pulled her onto his lap and cuddled her close. To her surprise, she saw his eyes glistening as well.

"Do you realize how risky that was?" Harry shook his head, still unable to totally comprehend the enormity of what she had done. "Do you realize what would have happened if Voldemort had figured this out sooner? He probably would have cut you to ribbons and left you in the middle of the road, Luna! And he would have enjoyed it!"

"But he didn't, Harry," Luna argued gently. "He didn't care about me as a person. He was just interested in me because he knows how loyal you are and he thought I would make good bait to lure you into his trap. He didn't know anything about me, and he didn't have any idea that you had been training for months to meet him. "

Harry ignored this. "Did you ever stop to think how dangerous it was for you to be dragged along the way you were? Any time over the last two days you could have lost that baby in a ditch somewhere and died. Voldemort would have left you on the forest floor without a qualm!" He held her tightly. "Do you have any idea what it would have done to me if I had found you like that?"

"I would like to think you would have continued on and done the same thing you did today. I told you before not to put me before your mission. You agreed that you would not. I just made you MY mission. If I hadn't thought I could manage, I would not have done it. I trusted everything to turn out all right. At least it seemed like something positive I could do. So much of what was going on was negative."

"And you're sure you're all right?" Harry paused awkwardly. "Are you sure that you're both all right?"

'"Oh, quite sure." Luna paused. "I'm sorry I wasn't honest with you."

"I believe you. It's just...oh, wow!" Harry looked at her, stunned. "We have to get married."

"What?"

"I haven't had a family since I was a year old!" Harry said, excitedly. "This makes us a family! If the whole point was to make sure there was another Potter, then this kid might as well have the name, too. Besides, it will be a whole lot easier to take care of you if we get married!"

"You want to marry me? Because, Harry, you don't have to. I can take care of myself."

"The hell you say!" He kissed her again, fiercely.

"Fine," Luna murmured, brushing her cheek against his. "I'll marry you. Now let's get back. We definitely need to talk to Professor Dumbledore."

Harry and Luna apparated to the edge of the Hogwarts grounds. Luna looked at the stone winged boars at the gates and shook her head. "I have to admit," she sighed, "I will never again enjoy a walk as much as I used to."

"Neither will I!" Harry also admitted, taking her hand.

They trudged up to the castle, and found the front doors mended but open. Luna entered first, and Harry stepped in behind her. The noise and movement of the place surprised them. No one would ever have realized that one of the greatest events in wizarding history had just occurred. Flitwick and McGonagall were loudly debating with Dumbledore. Snape was sitting on the stairs, and Madam Pomfrey was applying some kind of ointment to what remained of the cut on his head. Ron and Hermione were talking quietly together, their heads almost touching. Ginny and Neville were holding hands as they walked toward the great hall. For a moment, no one gave any recognition of the new arrivals, and Harry and Luna, looking around, hesitated to break the easy mood of the castle, where everyone they knew seemed to be in his or her proper place.

Then Dumbledore looked up. "So. You are finally here! Excellent! The watchers saw you coming from the tower." He looked them over and seemed pleased with what he saw. "You don't seem to have come to any harm, at least. I'd like to have Madam Pomfrey check you both over, to be sure, though"

Harry grinned sheepishly. "Fine. Whatever you say, but first you must congratulate us."

Dumbledore looked taken aback. It wasn't like Harry to push himself. "Of course, Harry. You did better than we could ever have expected of you. You've all done very, very well."

"I didn't mean THAT." He looked at Luna, who smiled back at him. "Luna and I just got engaged."

The whole hall went silent, except for the rustling of portraits as the wizards and witches in them went flying out of their frames to spread this news.

The first one to speak was Hermione. "I knew it! I knew it! I knew it!" She punched the air triumphantly with her fist. Ron groaned, annoyed with her elation.

Snape also groaned, but with disgust. "I wondered why you wanted to stay behind. For Salazar's sake, Potter, are you mad? I know, I know...you like her and she likes you, but you're still only seventeen."

"I'll be eighteen in two months, and we have been through an awful lot for our ages," Harry reminded Snape with a shrug.

Luna walked over to Professor Snape, and looked at Madam Pomfrey, sitting on the step beside him. "Speaking of time," she said conversationally to Madam Pomfrey, "you've been a widow too long." Luna glanced at the neat bandage the witch had just finished tying around her Professor's head. "If he can be up and about soon, I don't see why you can't be next."

Madam Pomfrey stared at Luna for a moment, then gave her a conspiratorial grin. "Never fear, my dear. He will be up and about, or he will have a deeper wound than he has now!"

Snape stared at her open mouthed.

Professor McGonagall said, amused. "I do believe the world is coming to an end!"

"By the way," Harry said hastily, "What happened to Draco Malfoy?"

"The Order is preparing to hand him over to the Ministry," said McGonagall, her voice now harsh. "They are already talking about the execution chamber for him."

"No!" Luna cried. "No! They must do him no harm!" She turned to Harry and Dumbledore and implored them. "We must see him spared!"

"Luna," Harry said gently, "it's out of our hands. He sided with Voldemort, and they aren't going to forget that. He murdered Pansy, and you were nearly murdered because of information and assistance he gave Voldemort. How can you defend him?"

"Draco did not murder Pansy. It was an accident. I am quite sure he didn't intend for her to die. The look on his face when Voldemort told him she was dead! If you had seen it, you would believe me. Draco had no idea she had died. I know it. And Draco really did nothing to me. He had no choice in many of his actions. We are all driven by fears, and to some extent we are all driven by materialism. We are all driven by the need for approval. Malfoy was driven by all of these things, and he was not always in control. He could not help being what he was. He helped, actually. He turned on Voldemort at just the right moment to give you an advantage, Harry. You know he did."

"There is much wisdom in what you say," Dumbledore said slowly, "but I fear Fudge will never agree."

"Fudge is totally useless," Harry said. "I think the last holdouts will see that now. If Luna speaks out in favor of Malfoy's life, then so will I."

McGonagall sighed. "Just do me one favor, Mr. Potter."

Harry eyed her cautiously. "What's that?"

"If you set Luna Lovegood on Cornelius Fudge, I want to see that. I wouldn't miss that for the world."

Madam Pomfrey rose and smothered a laugh. "Come now," she said to Harry and Luna. "Hospital wing, please. I still need to make sure you're all right. It's been a long weary weekend." She herded the two teens away.

Snape stood up shakily. "Damn it! What just happened?"

Dumbledore shrugged. "We congratulated Harry for defeating Voldemort, and on his engagement, and Miss Lovegood for showing wisdom and mercy beyond her years. The two of them just may be all right together at that." Then he smiled, his eyes twinkling behind his half-moon spectacles. "Most importantly, I believe congratulations are in order for you, too, Severus."

For once, Severus Snape was absolutely speechless.