Harry Potter and the Last Goodnight

Chapter 34: The Last Goodnight

A half-hour later Nora was curled up on the couch, snoozing lightly. The twins and Charlie had just finished another round of Gobstones. Harry had spent the time with his arm around Eva, whose eyelids were also getting quite droopy.

When the conversation had quieted to a lull, Eva sat up and stretched her arms. "We really ought to be going if we're to make the last bus."

"I could give you a ride," Charlie suggested.

"Or you could stay the night," Harry added.

She shook her head. "I can't," she whispered. "I promised..." her voice trailed off. "We just need to get going." She smiled and stood up. Harry couldn't help but watch her hips sway as she sauntered over to the couch and leaned over, shaking Nora.

"Come on, sleepy-head. We've got one more stop to make."

Nora sat up and yawned. She didn't object. Harry realized that visiting the cemetery where their mother was buried must have been their Christmas tradition. She collected her set of Gobstones and Eva grabbed her book.

"Here, let me get you a bag for those things," Mrs. Weasley said, rising from her seat. She returned with a cloth satchel. "I'd offer you some food, if we had any left over." She shot a glance at the twins, who exchanged grins.

Everyone walked the two of them to the door. Harry wanted more than anything to be alone with Eva. If only he could find the damn mistletoe. It was probably in some odd, secluded place.

"Are you really going back to London tonight?" Hermione questioned. "It's a quite a ways away."

Eva shrugged. "It's only a little over three hours. The night is still young." She lowered her voice. "And this way, by the time we get home Nora will be so tired I'll have time to set things up for tomorrow without her knowing." She winked at Harry.

"Thank you so much for everything," she continued. She helped Nora put on her jacket, and then she put on her own. "This has truly been one of the best Christmas Eves I've had in a long time. It has really meant so much to me, and to Nora, that you've included us."

"It was no trouble dear," Mrs. Weasley said. "Please, stop by again over the holidays. We've always got room for a few more."

"I'd like that," Eva replied. She glanced at Harry and grinned, her cheeks flushed. "Thank you for the gifts, Harry. I really appreciate them."

"You're welcome," he replied. He didn't want her to leave. He wished he could make her stay, somehow. Now that he was with her again, he didn't want their time together to end.

"At least let Charlie drive you to the bus stop," Mr. Weasley suggested.

But Eva stood firm. "It's a nice night outside. We'll be fine." She didn't want anybody's help.

"I love to walk in the snow," Nora added. "It's so peaceful." She tugged on Eva's sleeve.

Eva hesitated in the doorway. "Well, thank you everyone. And Merry Christmas!"

"Merry Christmas," everyone replied automatically. And to Harry, it felt as though just as soon as she had reappeared in his life, Eva was gone again. Outside the door.

Everyone was moving back into the living room, and Harry followed behind, his mood growing sourer by the second. He was staring at the floor, thinking of things he should have done, when he suddenly felt a smack on the back of his head.

"Harry!" Ginny cried. She half-whispered, half-yelled. "What's your problem?"

"My problem?" Harry said. "What are you talking about?"

"If anyone has ever needed a last goodnight, it was Eva. And you just let her walk out that door?"

Harry was about to protest, but then he realized that she was right. What was his problem? If he wanted Eva, he was going to have to make a move. He had to do something. He took a deep breath and hurried back to the front door, throwing it open into the cool night air.

"Eva!" he cried. He could see the two sisters walking swiftly down the driveway. They weren't too far away.

Eva stopped and turned around. "Go ahead," Nora said. "I'll wait for you at the end of the driveway."

Harry watched as she jogged back up the driveway towards him. Her cheeks were red from the cold and so were her bare knees. They weren't covered by her skirt or her stockings.

"What is it, Harry?" Eva asked, breathless.

Harry suddenly found it very difficult to form words when he spoke. "I... er... well, I just... I... I didn't get the chance to say..." He paused. "Goodnight."

And from somewhere deep inside he pulled out all of the courage he could muster on the Weasleys' doorstep. He leaned forward and put his hands on Eva's cold cheeks and pulled her towards him, their lips meeting. Her cool lips felt like fire against his own as they mingled together. From somewhere far away, he heard a familiar musical duet, and he could almost taste the chocolate pecan pie they'd eaten for desert. As she pulled away from him, smiling broadly, face flushed, Harry had only one thought:

The third time's the charm.

Harry could see that she was still stunned. He took his hands away from her face. "I... Thanks..." she said. "Goodnight, Harry."

Then it was Harry's turn to be surprised. She leaned close to him, and this time, she put her arms around his neck so that she could keep her balance steady. Harry closed his eyes and was once again greeted with the warmth of her kiss. She titled her head just right, and Harry slipped his tongue between her lips. She moaned, and held on even tighter around his neck.

It felt like they had been locked in their kiss for ages, but it was still not long enough for Harry. Eva pulled away for air. Harry grinned like an idiot. He could get used to kissing Eva Finnigan every night. He really could.

She returned his smile and pointed up at the door frame. "Look, mistletoe."

"So that's where the damn thing was," Harry muttered. "I've been looking for it all night."

Eva laughed. "Maybe we can use it again." She gave him a kiss on the cheek and let go of him. "Perhaps we'll stop by tomorrow to see if St. Nicolas brought you anything good."

"I don't need anything else for Christmas," Harry replied. He hated to watch her leave, but he knew that she had to go, and he knew that if she stayed in his sight another second he would have to kiss her again.

And he really, really wanted to.

"Good night!" Eva called. She waved to him, then turned and jogged down the driveway, the satchel bouncing against her back. Harry watched her until she disappeared beneath the bright moon light.

He didn't notice the cold until he stepped back inside. Everyone was smirking. He knew that they had just seen them kissing, but he didn't care. Nothing could ruin his mood.

"I can't believe you bought her Hogwarts: A History and you still got a goodnight kiss," Charlie said, shaking his head.

"Two, to be exact," Harry corrected him.

"Blimey, Harry, I hope you've never kissed Gin like that," George said. "There's a picture that would scar me for life."

Ginny reached over and swatted him on the back of the head the same way she smacked Harry. "Oh, shut up you git." She glanced over at her parents, who were whispering to each other.

Mr. Weasley cleared his throat. "I think it's about time we all went up to bed."

"Harry, you'd better not try saying goodnight to me like that," Ron laughed.

"Come on, that's enough," Mrs. Weasley scolded. "The sooner you all get to bed the sooner Christmas will come."

Everyone groaned but they all stumbled up the stairs. But Mrs. Weasley stood perched at the bottom of the stairs. "Harry, dear, would you help give me a hand in the kitchen, please?"

"Sure," Harry replied, coming back down the stairs. He followed Mrs. Weasley into the kitchen, where she was directly the dishwashing with her wand. He thought that maybe she needed help scrubbing the walls after the exploding cake mishap, but he could see that everyone was already cleaned up. He supposed with a good cleaning charm it was much easier than elbow grease. She gestured for him to sit down.

"Harry, we need to have a little chat."

Harry gulped. He didn't like the sound of that. Come to think of it, it was rather odd that she wanted him to help with everything was already getting cleaned up with magic. Maybe this wasn't about lending her a hand.

He suddenly had a sickening feeling inside. Maybe she was going to tell him some bad news.

After a long silence, Mrs. Weasley took a deep breath finally spoke. "Harry, dear, I know that you're young and well..." She sighed. "Well, women - all women - like to be treated with respect. Even though you may want the same thing in the long run, you really need to take your time..."

Harry sat at the kitchen table, bewildered. Just what was she trying to say in this "little chat"?

"...And you shouldn't rush into things. There is a difference between lust and love, and even if it is love, you've really got to take your time... and there can't be any pressure at all..." She paused. "And you've got to remember that she is a Muggle. Muggles are different, in their own way... Am I making any sense?"

And then it dawned on Harry. She was trying to have The Talk with him. "Mrs. Weasley, are you trying to tell me about... er, the birds and the bees?"

She looked utterly confused. "The what? Why no, dear. I'm trying to talk to you about sex!"

"Oh god." Mortified, Harry buried his head in his arms across the table, and was almost feeling grateful that she was interrupted by a blood-curdling scream.

The two of them sprang from their seats at the kitchen table and ran to the front door. Mr. Weasley was already halfway down the stairs with his wand in his hand, and the others were not far behind him. Harry quickly pulled the door open.

He could see a tiny figure running up the driveway. "Nora?" he called. He ran out to meet her, and the others followed. Hermione, Ginny, and Ron were already in their night clothes. "What's going on?"
"It's got her!" she cried. "It's got her! Harry, you've got to save her!" There were tears streaming down the girl's face. She was hysterical.

"Slow down, sweetheart," Mr. Weasley said. "Who's got her?"

"I... I don't know!" she stammered. "It's a dog. A wolf. I don't know. It's huge! It's got her."

"A wolf?" Harry questioned.

"Remus," Mr. Weasley whispered.

And then Harry realized what Nora was saying. Eva had been attacked. Attacked by a werewolf.

"Charlie, Percy, Fred, and George, get your wands out. You're coming with me. I want everyone else back inside with Molly." He turned to Nora, and stooped down to her eye level. She was breathing erratically and sobbing. "Nora, honey, where are they?"

"I'll take you to them!"

"No, it's too dangerous," Mr. Weasley said. "Just think. Where are they?"

"She's at the edge of the forest. In the clearing. The one before the bus stop."

Mr. Weasley nodded. "C'mon, boys. Molly, you take care of Nora. Apparate at the bus stop and we'll go on from there."

The twins, Percy, and Charlie all had their wands at the ready. With several pops, they disappeared from sight. Harry took his wand out of his pocket and tried to run down the driveway, but Mrs. Weasley held him back.

"You can't go, Harry," she said. "It might be a trap. It's too dangerous."

"I don't care!" he cried. He had to go. He had to save her. There had been so many times when he needed Eva, and now she truly needed him.

"Harry, you don't understand." Mrs. Weasley glanced at Nora, then lowered her voice. "With werewolves, there are usually no survivors."

"I have to go," he said again. If he didn't try to save her, he'd never forgive himself. There had to be something he could do. She couldn't die. She just couldn't. He broke free from Mrs. Weasley's grip on his shoulder, and she didn't try to stop him as he ran down the driveway. Ron followed him.

"Ron, no!" Hermione cried. "What are you doing?"

He shrugged. "Somebody's got to look after him."

Harry ran at top speed. He followed the tracks that Nora and Eva had made in the snow. He was barely aware of Ron behind him. In his head, he was chanting - praying - over and over again that she couldn't be dead. She couldn't die. No survivors. But the memory of their kissing was so fresh to him. So warming. She couldn't die.

He wouldn't let her.

Finally, he found where their footprints were met with wolf tracks and they deviated off into the woods. As they got closer, he could hear Mr. Weasley shouting, and hear growling that echoed throughout the woods.

In the clearing, Harry recognized the werewolf from his third year at Hogwarts. It was Remus. He knew it. And at his feet - paws - was Eva's mangled, bleeding body. She was contorted in an impossible position, but when Harry peered at her from the distance he was at, he could see her chest rising up and down.

She was still breathing. She was still alive.

Horrified, Harry watched as Remus bent down and picked Eva up again. She was held tightly in his jaws as he shook her around like a rag doll. He didn't know if she was still breathing after that.

"We've got to stun him," he heard Charlie say. "It's the only way to do it without killing him."

"But if we miss, it may be too powerful," Mr. Weasley answered. "It'll kill her."

Harry's heart plummeted to his stomach. What the hell was Remus still doing in Ottery St. Catchpole anyway? But he didn't have time to think about that. Both Remus and Eva were in trouble. There had to be something he could do. They needed a distraction. Something that would make him drop Eva and get her out of the way so that the Weasleys could stun him.

And suddenly, he realized what he had to do. He jumped out into the snowy clearing. Remus heard him right away, and turned towards him, Eva still locked in his jaws.

"Harry! No!" Mr. Weasley shouted.

Harry took a deep breath. The stag had saved his life on more than one occasion. Now, hopefully, it would save Eva's. He gathered all of his thoughts of her, all of her smiles, and all of her kisses, and somehow felt warm inside.

"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" Harry shouted at the top of his lungs. Instantly, a silvery-white stream erupted from his wand, and his father's stag charged into the clearing. Remus appeared to be in awe. His eyes were wide and wild, and his tail was between his legs. He opened his mouth to howl, and Eva fell out, crashing to the ground.

"Now!" Mr. Weasley shouted.

"STUPEFY!" Remus was hit by six stunning spells, including one from Ron's wand. He stopped howling and flopped over on his side, nearly landing on Eva.

Harry quickly collected his Patronus and ran forward into the clearing. Remus was out cold. Eva was lying in a heap, her body covered in blood. Harry was nearly sick at the sight of her. He felt hot tears running down his cheeks. She couldn't be dead. She just couldn't be.

"This is a disaster," Mr. Weasley mumbled. "Fred and George, apparate back at the house and tell your mother to get a hold of Dumbledore. Charlie, you stay here with Remus and make sure no one passing by sees him. He's not going anywhere." Mr. Weasley bent over and carefully picked up Eva. "Come on boys, let's get back."

Harry wasn't sure it was even wise to be moving Eva but he didn't know what else to do but follow him. "Mr. Weasley... you don't think... she's not going to die, is she?"

"Perhaps it would be better if she did."

Harry stopped dead in his tracks, outraged. "What do you mean?"

"Harry, have you forgotten what happens to someone when they're bitten by a werewolf?" Mr. Weasley hissed.

And then Harry realized the awful fate that awaited her. But it was better than death. If he lost her now, he didn't know what he would do. If he was being selfish, he didn't care. He'd just realized how much he liked Eva. How much he needed her.

There were back at the Burrow even quicker than they left it, but it all felt like it was too long for Harry. He worried they were too late. Every second mattered.

When they got back inside, Mr. Weasley brought her directly into the bedroom on the ground floor. He left the door open, but wouldn't let anyone inside. Nora was asleep on the couch nearby, her head in Ginny's lap. Hermione had whipped up a sleeping draught from memory for her. Mrs. Weasley was standing at the fire speaking sternly. Harry could see Dumbledore's head in the fire.

"I'm sending Poppy," Dumbledore said. "She's just run to the hospital wing for a few supplies. I'm afraid I don't know how much she can do."

"There's not much time," Mr. Weasley said breathlessly. "Soon, she won't be able to do anything."

"Where's Remus?" Dumbledore asked.

"He's still in the clearing," Mr. Weasley answered. "He's out cold. He won't be up 'til morning. We hit him pretty hard. Charlie's with him."

Dumbledore nodded. "I see."

"Oh dear, Arthur, you're hurt. You're bleeding!" Mrs. Weasley cried. There was blood all over Mr. Weasley's clothes, soaked through to his skin. She fussed with his shirt.

Mr. Weasley glanced at Harry and frowned. "It's not my blood."