This Is How the Story Ends

This Is How The Story Ends

All In a Day's Work

Mine enemy is growing old--

I have at last revenge.

The palate of the hate departs;

If any would avenge--

Let him be quick, the viand flints,

It is a faded meat.

Anger as soon as fed is dead;

'T is starving makes it fat.

-Emily Dickinson

Harry walked into the busy office, the latest edition of the Daily Prophet in hand and wand in pocket. Walking skillfully along the numerous rows of tall cubicles, he stopped at the end of a long aisle; poking his head in the cubicle and grinning broadly.

" 'Morning, Kingsley!" Harry said brightly. Kinsley Shacklebolt looked up and winced.

"Much too cheerful for the morning," he grumbled, his eyes wrinkling merrily in the corners. Harry chuckled and waved the Daily Prophet in front of Kingsley.

"Guess who's in the paper?"

"What did Moody do this time?" Kingsley said, trying to look stern. Beaming widely Harry positioned the paper in front of his eyes and read out loud:

"Arthur and Molly Weasley of Winging Surry are happy to announce the engagement of their daughter, Virginia Weasley, to Neville Longbottom. The couple will be married July 19, 2001 at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

"The bride-to-be is currently in training to be an Auror for the Ministry of Magic. The future groom is employed as Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts."

Kingsley sighed heavily.

"Not another one! I tell you, Hermione and Ron's wedding took all the partying out of this old man."

Harry chuckled again.

"Yes, I suppose you're right. You were the best dancer at the reception. You and Amelia Bones sure hit it off."

Kingsley blushed as he frowned menacingly.

"Out of here you young ruffian! Out I say!"

Harry laughed heartily as he left the cubicle and headed back down the aisles to his own office. He slumped down in the chair at the big oak desk, pulling his wand out of his pocket and pointing it at a coffee cup on one of the filing cabinets.

"Maté," he muttered and the mug filled with steaming coffee. Taking the cup by the handle, Harry took a sip of the warm bitter liquid and leaned comfortably back in his chair, looking absently around at the many things posted along his cubicle walls.

There was his Auror certificate that declared that he had been licensed an Auror on "the Twenty Fifth of June, the year Two Thousand." Harry had framed the certificate, hanging it in the center of his cubicle.

Then there was the bullion board that was cluttered with pictures. A couple were from the last year of Hogwarts, showing the smiling and waving forms of himself, Ron, Hermione, and all of their friends. There were photos of the Order of the Phoenix, with all the newly recruited members. However, most of the pictures were from Ron and Hermione's wedding, from about a half-year ago. Hermione danced around in a lovely white gown, Ron gazed happily into her eyes, and the whole wedding party proposed toasts. The wedding reception had been in the Great Hall of Hogwarts. The reception had seemed so magical. Maybe that was due to all the pranks Fred and George had played on the couple. Indeed, the twins owning a magical joke shop had made the lives of all their friends and relatives very interesting.

Yet Ron and Hermione's wedding was only one of a series of recent nuptials. Two years previous, Harry had married the love of his life, the most wonderful, creative, and beautiful person he had ever known, Luna Lovegood. An addition to their small family had arrived but a year later. Lily's picture was pinned in the middle of the bulletin board. Her big green eyes were so like her father's and her downy blonde hair like her mother. She hadn't quite lost her baby fat, as she was only a year old. Harry couldn't believe how such a small human being could bring so much love and happiness into his life.

Fred and Angelina were to be the next ones to tie the knot. They're wedding but a week away, Harry was anxious to see if George would allow the festivities to run smoothly.

And in the upcoming July, Ginny and Neville. It was not hard to imagine the headache Molly Weasley had had for the last year or so, what with all of her children getting married. However, the family could now easily afford the wedding expenses. After all, the Minister of Magic does make quite a lot of money. Arthur had been promoted after Cornelius Fudge's retirement in Harry's seventh year, much to the joy of the majority of the ministry faculty.

A flashy blue poster hanging on the left wall of the cubicle showed the whizzing figures from the Appleby Arrows, the Northern English Quidditch team. The special thing about the poster, however, was the handsome image of Oliver Wood, star Keeper for the Appleby Arrows. Oliver had sent Harry the poster in the mail, and even signed it. Harry couldn't help but think the fame was getting to Wood a bit like it did to Lockhart.

However, the far corner of the cubicle was more serious. It was there that Harry hung the newspaper clippings with headings such as "The Defeat of Voldemort; Boy Who Lives Conquers."

Even though the Dark Lord had been destroyed, there was much on the Auror's plates. Right and left old Death Eaters tried to reunite Voldemort's followers, not quite believing that Voldemort was finally dead. And dead he was. There was no way possible he could have survived. His remains were kept in Ron's department, the Department of Mysteries, constantly under surveillance and heavy death spells.

Harry felt as though a part of him had died after that final duel with Voldemort in his seventh year. There was no one to want revenge on for killing his parents anymore. He had done his vengeance. There wasn't the constant lurking fear of Voldemort hurting any family or friends. Voldemort was dead. Still, there was one person to pay back. Wormtail hadn't been caught. Harry knew he was out there, prowling and waiting for the right moment to lash out and begin Voldemort's reign again. Wormtail had become stronger. He was much more power hungry and Voldemort like. And he was still free.

With Voldemort dead, Harry had dedicated his time to hunting down Wormtail and destroying him also. He had charts in the corner with marks on where Wormtail had last been seen, or where clues had appeared. Where murders had occurred. The world was not yet safe from the terror of Voldemort.

A small article tucked away under some of the large charts read, "Malfoy dies in Azkaban Resistance." No, Draco hadn't been killed, but his father had. Lucius Malfoy was found guilty in affiliation with Voldemort. However, Lucius had fought against the Aurors and been killed in the process. The culpability of Lucius had brought the family name down considerably in the books of dignified wizards. Draco Malfoy worked in the Department of for Rights of Fubberworms, being the only job the Minister of Magic, Arthur Weasley, would allow him to hold in the Ministry.

Harry was jerked out of his relaxation when a blur of white landed in the coffee mug he was about to take a sip from. Grumbling on the imprecision of paper, Harry plucked a quivering memo plane from his mug. After shaking the excess coffee off it, Harry unfolded the note and read:

Potter. Quick. Wormtail. Edinburgh. Hurry!

-A. Weasley

Harry jumped out of the chair, grabbed his cloak from a hook by the door, and ran out of the cubicle, almost bowling over Tonks, who stood just outside of the door.

"Whoa, Potter! Where's the fire?" Tonks exclaimed.

"No time to talk. Wormtail's been sighted," Harry called over his shoulder, still sprinting down the aisle.

"Anything I can do?" Tonks hollered back.

"Call Luna! Tell her I'll be late!" Harry called before turning a corner at the end of the row.

He dashed onto the elevator and was driven mad with impatience before it finally can to a stop on the main floor. Sprinting out of the elevator and into the lobby, Harry pushed ahead of several people in line for the fireplaces.

"Move people! Auror coming through! Important business!" he shouted. The people parted like water. It was routine to let hurried Aurors through.

Harry quickly grabbed a handful of Floo Powder from the pot, threw it into the fire, stepped in, and called, "Princes Street!"

The warm fire, blazing with green flames, roared as Harry hurled through fireplaces. He instinctively clutched his glasses to his face so they wouldn't fall off. Finally he tumbled out of the fireplace, rolling over into a summersault and jumping neatly to his feet. He was in a living room, the headquarters of the Edinburgh Aurors. Arthur Weasley sat on a threadbare couch, looking at his watch intently.

"That was a record, Harry," Arthur grinned. "Only about ten minutes."

Harry growled in frustration.

"If only it weren't for that dang elevator I could have been here in five."

"Yes, well, then there's no time to loose," Arthur said, jumping to his feet. "Peter Petegeiw was spotted a few miles away, at Holyrood Park. Can you get there?"

Harry nodded.

"We were clued in by a reliable source. Careful Harry. I hope this isn't just another false alarm."

Harry frowned.

"Go now!"

With a swish of his cloak, Harry apparated from the Prince Street Headquarters. In less than a second he appeared outside on a path surrounded with park trees and benches. The sun shone brightly up in the clear blue sky, but Harry's mind felt clouded. He didn't know where to start. In disgust, he began the easiest and most obvious thing he could.

"Er, excuse me, ma'am," he said, stopping an elderly lady walking surprisingly fast along the path. "Have you...have you seen anything peculiar around here?"

The lady gave Harry a quizzical look, but then her features smoothed and she smiled.

"Harry Potter! Well, I never..."

"H-how do you know who I am? Are you a..."

"Who doesn't know who Harry Potter is?" the lady squealed, tapping her forehead and staring pointedly at Harry. "And yes, I'm a witch. Dorcus Methuselah's my name, but it's Miss Dorcus to you, young man!"

Harry was quite taken aback by the lady's effrontery. He also felt very impatient.

"And, as a matter of fact, I have seen something 'peculiar' around here. I'm the one that alerted Arthur. Uh, I mean, the Minister. You see we've been friends for a long time. Oh...ever since he was a baby, I suppose. See, that was back in '63. No, no, or was it '64? I can never remember, though I probably should, but--"

"Ma'am, could you please tell me what you saw?" Harry interrupted edgily. Miss Dorcus frowned in disapproval.

"Disrupting your elders. Honestly, the youth of today..." she grumbled.

"Please." Harry began to fidget with anxiousness.

"Well, I saw a man that looked incredibly similar to the description of a man named Peter Petigiew. You see, I knew his mother. Always was such a nice young boy until He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named hooked him, you know."

"What did he look like?"

"Oh, you know, the evil air to him, black clothes, looked an awful lot like a Petigiew." Miss Dorcus said, a look of concentration on her face.

"That's it? Evil air, black clothes?" Harry asked in disbelief.

"He looked a lot like a Petigiew," the old lady added haughtily. Harry sighed.

"Where'd you see him?"

"Uh, well, I was selling some flowers a couple of turns to the right," she said, pointing down the path. "And then I saw him. He's probably long gone by now. You just took so long."

Harry growled in irritation.

"He walked by, he did, and I called and asked if he would like to buy a flower. He gave me this unnecessary dirty look, quite dirty, and just kept walking. Yep, I tell you, it was a Petegiew!"

"Thank you for your time, ma'am," Harry sighed.

"It gave me quite a start to see him, you know. Peter was always such a good--"

Not wanting to hear any more, Harry apparated back to the Auror Headquarters. Arthur wasn't there any more.

Still seething with anger, marched over to the fireplace. However, with a burst of green flames, a figure appeared.

"Arthur?" Harry growled.

"Mr. Potter?"

The figure wasn't Mr. Weasley. It was Walt Raimmio, the newest of the Aurors. The Minister of the Irish Ministry of Magic had recommended him to Arthur Weasley. Walt had wanted some experience in different ministries as he hoped to one day become Minister in Ireland himself.

"Did you catch him?" Walt asked in his Irish accent.

"Catch who?" Harry snarled. Walt sighed.

"Everyone knows that the famous Harry Potter is trying to catch the evil, notorious Wormtail, successor of...uh, well, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named."

Some people really got on Harry's nerves and Walt was one of those people. Walt was a nice guy and all, but he just rubbed Harry the wrong way.

"His name is Voldemort," Harry snapped, causing Walt to flinch. "You're an Auror for goodness sakes! You should be brave enough to say his name."

"Vol-de-mort," Walt said slowly. Harry rolled his eyes in disgust, stepping around Walt and into the fireplace. Walt grabbed his arm. "You were after him, weren't you?"

"Yes," Harry snarled.

Harry traveled by Floo Powder back to the Ministry of Magic. Storming out of the fireplace and pushing several Ministry workers aside, Harry marched down several halls and straight into the Ministers office. The secretary looked up in surprise.

"Mr. Potter, do you have an appointment?" she asked automatically, beginning to thumb through some papers.

"No, I don't need one," Harry said rather loudly. He walked right into Arthur's office. The Minister sat at his desk.

"I thought you said the tipper was reliable," Harry commented, hands on his hips. Arthur looked up slowly.

"Previously Dorcus Methuselah has proven to provide valuable information. It was her tip that had Bellatrix Lestrange caught."

"Well, she sure blew it this time!" Harry stated.

Arthur smiled.

"Don't take it so hard Harry. I have confidence that you will someday soon get Wormtail. Until then, have patience."

"I think I've used all my patience up," Harry sighed.

Arthur smiled again.

"Luna just sent a message for you before you came in." He picked up a memo from his desk and peered at it through the spectacles on his nose. "Ah, yes. She said that you were supposed to be home at noon to get ready."

Harry smacked his forehead.

"I forgot!" he exclaimed, turning on his heel and grabbing the doorknob. He looked quickly at Mr. Weasley. "Thanks for the advice," he added.

Not for the first time that day, Harry ran though the halls of the Ministry of Magic and out. Once outside, he apparated to his home in Winging Surry. He appeared at his living room.

"About time," a critical voice said behind him. Harry turned to see Luna with an amused look on her face and Lily on her hip. He grinned sheepishly and sighed.

"Wormtail business," he said simply.

"Reliable?" Luna asked. Harry shook his head, rubbing his temples. Luna stepped up to him and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Someday," she murmured. "Someday."

Harry leaned over and kissed her on the forehead. Lily grabbed a good handful of his hair. Laughing, Harry pried her strong fingers from his locks, patting her lovingly on the head.

"Shouldn't we be getting to leave?" he said, tossing his cloak on the couch. Luna nodded, picking up a tote bag from the coffee table.

" 'K, I've got diapers and a bottle and some books for Lily. I'm all ready. Do you want to change?"

Harry looked down at his black slacks and blue formal shirt.

"No, I think I'll be fine. Let's go."

Lily wasn't old enough to travel by Floo Powder, so Harry called up the Ministry and hired a ride from Arthur. The Ministry car showed up just minutes later. They then traveled to London and Kings Cross Station. The small family stepped through Platform 9 3/4, bringing back so many old memories. Together they boarded the Hogwarts Express.

Stepping into the first compartment, Harry held the door open for Luna and Lily. The compartment wasn't empty. Harry looked straight into the startled eyes of Susan Bones. She smiled.

"Harry! I haven't seen you in forever!" she cried. Harry grinned sheepishly. Luna sat down across from Susan, resting Lily on her knees.

"Susan Bones? I remember you," Luna said, glancing back up at Harry. He sat next to his wife.

"Oh my word, this is Lily?" Susan breathed, resting her elbows on her knees and taking Lily's hand. "She's gotten so big! The last time I saw her was at the wedding!"

Lily giggled, pulling her hand out of Susan's. Susan straightened and looked at Harry.

"I assume you're going for the commencement," she said.

Harry nodded. "This was Mark's last year," he replied.

"Yes, my cousin also. Hufflepuff." Susan smiled.

Just then the compartment door slide open and a new face emerged. It was a medium sized man with a squashed face and ginger hair.

"Harry! Luna!" the man exclaimed. "I'm glad you could come! Mark was really hoping you would."

"We wouldn't miss it for the world, Uncle Forrest," Harry said, beckoning for his uncle to sit down. "Where's Aunt Gertrude?"

"Ah, well, she met a couple of her potions buddies in the back. Stopped to swap a couple of recipes. She'll come in a sec."

Harry turned back to Susan.

"Luna and I are taking the train because we can't apparate to Hogsmeade with Lily. Why are you?" he asked.

Susan breathed in deeply through her nose. "I just wanted to ride the train again. You know, all those memories."

Harry nodded, a smile on his face.

"Well, I'm takin' the train 'cause Gertrude can't apparate," Forrest said, pulling a cigar from his pocket.

"Forrest, please. The baby," Luna scolded. Forrest dejectedly put the cigar back in his pocket.

"Gertrude may be a Squib, but she's one heckofa potions master," Forrest went on.

Harry had just recently gotten used to having another aunt and uncle. In their seventh year at Hogwarts, Harry, Ron, and Hermione had found that Crookshanks wasn't any normal cat. Of course, Ron had suspected that from the beginning, but his suspicion was proven when Dumbledore sent Harry on a mission to go after Voldemort with Crookshanks as his partner. It was during that little mission that Crookshanks revealed that he was really Harry's uncle, or Lily Evan's big brother, Forrest Evans. He was an animagas and had kept the form of a cat to spy for Dumbledore at Hogwarts. On the other hand, Forrest preferred not to call it spying but observation. Undoubtedly, he had failed in Harry's fourth year when he hadn't discover that Mad-Eye Moody was really Barty Crouch Jr., but he made up for that after Harry's final duel with Voldemort when he brought Dumbledore to the critically injured Harry.

In Harry's sixth year, he had met his other cousin, Mark Evans, the son of Forrest Evans and his wife Helen. However, the two had split up shortly after Mark's birth. Helen ran away with her son, never telling Forrest where she and Mark were. Sadly. Helen died due to a fatal potions accident, leaving three year old Mark in the possession on Helen's mother, a Muggle by the name of Beulah Carilla, on Wisteria Walk in Winging Surry. For ten years Harry had been unaware that he had another cousin living within walking distance from the Dursley's house.

Beulah Carilla let her grandson go to Hogwarts when he received the letter, and it was there that Mark first met Harry. Harry automatically felt protective of Mark, even though he didn't know why. However, when Beulah died in Mark's fourth year (and Harry's seventh), Mark was returned to his father, Forrest Evans, and Harry finally found that Mark was his cousin all along.

Forrest had remarried several years after his split with Helen. Mark now treated Gertrude Lamar like a mother.

And now Mark was graduating. Harry had to be there to support him.

Aunt Gertrude showed up shortly. The time after slipped by surprisingly fast. Before they knew it, the train stopped. Together, they all loaded off the train, stepping out of the station and into the familiar streets of Hogsmeade. Just like it used to be when they were students, several horseless carriages waited for them. Luna and Harry glanced at each other, knowing they both could actually see the thestrals pulling the carriages. But they climbed in and began the short ride to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

His Shall Name Live Forever

Hogwarts loomed ahead, looking so familiar and home like. Harry put his arm over Luna's shoulders, pulling her close in a hug. Luna looked up at him, smiling. Home. Hogwarts seemed like home.

The sun was just beginning its decent in the sky as the carriages stopped in front of the front doors of Hogwarts. Harry jumped out, holding Luna's hand and helping her and Lily out of the carriage. Forrest, Gertrude, Susan Bones, Harry, and Luna and Lily walked slowly up the front steps and into Hogwarts. Harry looked up and all around the entrance hall, swamped with memories. Luna's hand slipped into his own and squeezed encouragingly.

"Harry!" called a voice from the direction of the Great Hall doors. Neville Longbottom stood in the doorway, arms outstretched, dressed in the traditional black robes.

"Neville!" Harry cried. The group walked toward the Great Hall entrance. Neville and Harry greeted each other with a brotherly bear hug. Neville patted Luna's shoulder and cooed in Lily's face. Lily grabbed a handful of his hair. Harry hurriedly unpried her fingers, apologizing. Neville just laughed.

"She gets bigger every day," he commented. "Come! The ceremony is about to start. I'll show you to some seats."

Neville led the small group into the Great Hall. Rows and rows of benches were lined up, facing the head table. Most of the benches were filled with thrilled parents, excited grandparents, and bored siblings. Harry, Luna, Lily, Forrest, and Gertrude took seats next to another family that Forrest and Gertrude knew. Susan went to sit with her parents.

As Luna settled Lily down, Harry looked up at the head table. The traditional row of teachers, with the exception on Neville and Dumbledore, sat calmly and serenely, once in a while leaning over to talk to one another.

Just then a cord was struck, and a slow processional tune began. The Great Hall doors opened to reveal several colorfully robed youth. Up at the head table Neville slipped into his seat. The students began to walk slowly into the hall, down a break in the middle of the benches.

The students were clad in four colors of robes: red, green, blue, and yellow, obviously to represent their own houses. They processed into the Great Hall and sat on the benches closest to the head table. Once they were all settled, the music stopped. It was then that Harry noticed another gleaming figure up at the head table. Dumbledore stood, beaming down at the students and their families.

"Welcome!" Dumbledore boomed, raising his arms. The silver on the rim of his half moon spectacles flashed in the light. "Well, today is quite a big occasion, isn't it? Many of you, I know, this is not your first time at Hogwarts. I can spot many, many alums here." Harry thought Dumbledore looked straight at him. The next instant, he was grinning at the other side of the room.

"I suppose this is the proper time to give a fantastic speech about how wonderful this class is and on how hard they have worked. Well then, this class is wonderful and they have worked very hard." Dumbledore paused, causing a couple people in the audience to chuckle. "No, really, I am very proud of them. Very proud indeed."

And with that, Dumbledore strode around the head table and stood directly in front of the students. Behind him Professors McGonagall, Snape, Sprout, and Flitwick stood and also walked around the table to stand by Dumbledore. From under the table McGonagall produced a golden basket full to the brim with scrolls of paper. A soft buzz rose over the students.

"When you first came to Hogwarts you were called up individually to be sorted into your houses. Now, again, you will be called up; this time to--in a way--unsort you. Now each and every one of you will become equals. You are no longer rivals; you are partners heading out into the adult world hand in hand, equal to equal." Dumbledore's strong voice echoed throughout the silent Great Hall. Harry clutched Luna's hand in his own, squeezing it every once in a while. Dumbledore calmly took the golden basket from McGonagall, and, picking the first one his hand touched, called, "Alton, Don!"

Don Alton strode confidently up to the head table, shook the hand of the head of his house, Professor Flitwick, and then ceremoniously received his diploma from Dumbledore. Don then when back to his seat among the flash of cameras.

"Barlow, Brent!"

"Calvert, Perry!"

"Clifton, Alvita!"

"Dalton, Terrence!"

"Evans, Mark!"

Luna sat up straight, peering over the heads to get a glance of her cousin-in-law. Mark marched resolutely up to McGonagall, then over to Dumbledore.

"Fabian, Brooke!"

"Kipp, Lawrence!"

"Nigel, Dulcia!"

After Dumbledore was finished naming off the multitude of names, he handed the gold basket back to McGonagall and nodded for the teachers to return to their seats. Then he clasp his hands in front of himself, beaming.

"Farewell to thee, now noble adults. Welcome to our side. Alas, we are no longer professor and student, but man to man, woman to woman, just two people facing the same harsh world. Good luck."

Afterwards Luna and Harry hung around in the entrance hall, talking to various teachers. McGonagall cooed softly at Lily while Harry talked with Neville.

"You and Ginny were in the Daily Prophet," he said, grinning. Neville's eyes twinkled.

"I know. Ginny's Mum started bawling, rambling on about all her children leaving. Really, I thought she was over it. I mean Ginny and I've been engaged for two weeks already."

"Well, she was pretty emotional at mine, and Luna and I aren't even related to her. Honestly, women can be so emotional."

"Uh-huh," Luna grunted disapprovingly. "I wasn't the one crying at the alter if I remember right. You were the one with the 'allergies'."

Harry decided to change the subject.

"Has Molly taken over all of the wedding decisions yet?" he asked.

"Yes," Neville said, rolling his eyes. "She's determined that the bridesmaids dresses should be pink. Ginny's firmly disagreed, but I can't help but worry." He gave a wry smile. Harry chuckled.

"I know how you feel, pal," he said sympathetically.

"Ah, Harry," said a voice behind him. Harry turned to face the twinkling eyes of Dumbledore. "How are you?"

"I'm good, sir," Harry replied.

Dumbledore leaned over to ruffle Lily's hair. Unsurprisingly, Lily grabbed a good chuck of his beard.

"My, she is displaying quite a strong similarity to you, Harry," Dumbledore remarked.

Again, Harry had to pry the baby's strong fingers out of someone's tresses.

"That was a brilliant ceremony," Luna said to Dumbeldore, swaying back and forth with Lily on her hip.

"Thank you very much, Luna dear," Dumbledore smiled, bowing very slightly. He clamped a hand on Harry's shoulder. "I hate to be abrupt, but I do believe that Miss Fabian's parents would like a picture. I will see you later." With a swirl of shiny purple robes, Dumbledore swept over to Brooke Fabian's family.

"Good evening, dears," said a soft whispery voice in Harry's ear. Professor Trelawny's large bug eye like glasses sparkled in front of his face.

"Professor," Harry sighed, remembering his miserable Divination classes.

"Ah, it seems that Lily has grown to be quite the little child. I could have predicted as much." Harry grimaced. Trelawny pretended not to notice. "Spring is steadily approaching. With that comes danger," she said in a low voice. Harry tried to ignore her, looking over the top of the crowd for someone else to talk to.

"Before its peak in the month, the moon will flicker out forever," Trelawny whispered, staring dreamily off into space. "For when one knows much too much, away from life will it sever." And just like that she melted away into the throng.

"Harry, look," Luna said. "Here comes Mark."

Harry turned around again seeing through the crowd of people his cousin heading towards them.

"Harry!" he called, waving. Harry smiled back.

Mark was dressed in radiant red robes, his light brown hair swept coolly across his forehead, fringing above brilliant emerald eyes, so much like his father's and Harry's. It was an Evans trademark.

"Top marks, Harry! I got away with top marks! Maybe my dream of being an Auror will come true!" he cried.

"Of course it will," Harry said to his younger cousin. "I didn't have the best of grades and look where I am."

"Yes," cut in Luna. "Working late hours every day because of some false lead on Wormtail."

Forrest broke through the crowd, an unlit cigar in his mouth and eyes gleaming.

"That's my boy!" he said, slapping Mark heartily on the back. "That's my boy!"

Gertrude appeared behind her husband, tears in her eyes. "We're so proud of you," she sobbed. Mark beamed.

Out of the corner of his eye, Harry saw the looming figure of Hagrid standing at the edge of the large crowd.

"I'll be right back," Harry said softly to Luna. She nodded, beginning a conversation with Gertrude about baby formulas. Harry skirted out of the mass of people and towards Hagrid.

"Hello, Potter," said a soft, cool voice in his ear. Snape.

"Hi, Severus," Harry said.

"Congratulations to your cousin," Snape said, his dark eyes flittering around at all the people.

"Oh, he's right over there. Go tell him yourself," Harry said brightly, pointing towards the Evans family.

Snape knew Forrest well. After all, brothers often do like to have the lowdown on the boyfriends of their sisters. Snape had once dated Petunia in their youth.

"I think I will, Potter," Snape said. Then his face darkened. "Any luck with Wormtail," he whispered.

Harry sighed. "No, just a load of false alarms."

"Shame," Snape grunted, slipping through the crowd towards Forrest. Harry shook his head disbelievingly as he headed toward Hagrid again.

"Hi, Hagrid," Harry said once he reached the half giant.

"Hey!" Hagrid said, looking down. "How's it goin', Harry? How's Lily?"

"She's great. I'm good," Harry replied.

"Wormtail?"

"If anything had happened you would have been one of the first to know."

"Oh."

"How's it going with Madame Maxime?"

Hagrid blushed.

"Perty good," he mumbled. "We're not nearly as busy now tha' the Dark Lor's gone." Hagrid grinned. Harry nodded.

"Well, I suppose things could be worse," he commented. Hagrid chuckled.

"I don' mind, you know. 'S nice to jus' spend time with the students."

"Harry!" called Luna's voice from behind him. "Come on! We're going with Forrest and Gertrude to the Three Broomsticks."

Harry looked back up at Hagrid.

"See you around," he said, extending his hand. Hagrid shook it.

"Don' be a stranger," Hagrid said cheerfully. Harry nodded, grinning sheepishly, then turned around and left the entrance hall with his wife and family. Together they left the Hogwarts grounds.

The Gray Mare, the Better Horse

How Do I Love Thee

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height

My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight

For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.

I love thee to the level of every day's

Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light

I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;

I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.

I love thee with the passion put to use

In my old griefs, and with all my childhood faith.

I love thee with a love I seemed to lose

With my lost saints,-I love thee with the breadth,

Smiles, tears, of all my life!--and, if God choose,

I shall but love thee better after death.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

"...To have and to hold all the days of your life?"

"I do," was Angelina's breathless reply. Fred swiveled slightly, looking at George, his best man. There was an awkward pause.

"The ring!" Fred hissed. George's eyes lit up.

"Oh, right," he mouthed, sticking a hand into his coat pocket. The awkward pause got longer. George fumbled around in his coat pocket, an anxious look on his face. His motions became frantic. He checked his breast pockets, the inside of his coat, his back pockets; no ring. Fred's eyes widened in panic. Angelina shifted uncomfortably. A couple of people coughed in the audience. Fred stepped over to his best man, feeling through the jacket himself. Suddenly George stuck his hand up his sleeve and pulled out the gold diamond ring.

"Here it is," he whispered, a mischievous grin on his face. Fred wanted to hit his brother over the head but thought better of it. With annoyance, he stepped back onto the alter, holding the ring delicately in-between his thumb and forefinger. Angelina sighed in relief. Smiling consolingly, Fred took Angelina's hand and placed the ring on her finger.

"I love you," he murmured.

"I love you too," she replied, grasping his hand with hers.

"I now proclaim you man and wife. You may kiss the bride."

There was no hesitation there.

The organ played as Fred and Angelina, now Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, walked triumphantly back down the aisle. Molly Weasley sobbed noisily in the front row.

George processed down the aisle after Fred, arm linked with the Maid of Honor, Katie Bell. Alicia Spinit and Lee Jordon were right behind.

The reception in the Weasley's garden quite easily fit all of the wedding guests. Molly had insisted that the family move now that they had the money to do so. After all, the Minister couldn't live in an old shack like the Burrow.

Harry and Luna were sitting at one of the tables off to the side of the small fishpond, sipping from champagne flutes. Ron sidled over sitting down across from them, humming a tune. On his face he had a curious expression, taut with stress. The soft glow from the many candles lighting the garden accented his freckles and handsome face.

"Don't look so worried," Harry commented. "This wedding isn't nearly as good as yours."

Ron chuckled, his eyes flickering through the crowd of people mingling about.

"Oh, Harry," Luna said suddenly, resting a hand on his arm. "I didn't tell you, I've decided to take up another story."

"Another? Honey, don't you have enough on your plate?" Harry remarked, gazing into her pale eyes. Luna winked.

"Well, yes, but this one I really want. I can't think of anyone on the Quibbler staff that can handle it."

"Rita could."

"No, she couldn't. This article just so happens to be about my husband."

Harry raised an eyebrow.

"Oh really, and who might that be?"

"Harry," she groaned. "I want to do an article on Wormtail and how it's all going."

"Dear..."

"No, the more we get it out there, the more people are going to be willing to help."

"Luna, I don't need help. I can handle this myself!"

"Whoa, you guys," cut in Ron's voice. "You two sounded almost as bad and Hermione and me for a moment there."

Just then a large owl swooped out of the dark evening sky and abruptly settled itself on the table. Harry looked quizzically at Luna, and then untied a small piece of paper from its talon. He looked at it and leaped to his feet, crumpling up the paper and stuffing it into his pocket.

"What is it?" asked Luna, a hint of concern in her voice.

"Wormtail. Again," Harry said. And with that he apparated from the premises.

A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

"It just infuriates me," Harry said pulling back the sheets and climbing under. Luna set her book down on the nightstand and gave her husband an understanding look. "False alarm after false alarm. You know, I think Wormtail does this on purpose. He goes around and shows his horrible little face just so someone will call the Ministry. I bet he knows that I'm the one who's looking for him!"

"And he's trying to get you frustrated," Luna said soothingly. "But he'll slip up, just you wait."

"I am so sick of waiting," Harry growled, his voice shaking with emotion.

"Baby," Luna said quietly, putting her arm through the crook of his elbow. They were both silent for a while, staring off into space and enveloped in their own thoughts.

"The wedding was really nice," Luna said softly. "Weddings always bring back memories of our own." Harry smiled. Luna rested her head on his shoulder. "I love you," she whispered. Harry turned his head and planted a kiss in her hair.

"I know."

The bell on the door of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes rang cheerfully as Harry entered the shop.

"Hello?" he called, looking around at the various familiar inventions of the Weasley twins. A red head popped up from behind the counter.

"Harry! Oh thank gosh you're here!" George exclaimed. "I am running so behind on inventory. You can do that for me." He ducked back under the counter and hoisted up a big heavy box onto the flat surface. "Just a few ingredients for something new Fred and I are cooking up."

"I take it things have been heck because of the honeymoon," Harry said, one eyebrow raised.

"Yes," George moaned. "I tell you, when I get married, if I ever get married, I am not going on a honeymoon. There's too much to do! Plus I don't think Fred could handle it." Harry chuckled as the bell on the door jingled again. Another red head burst into the room. Ron was panting, a huge smile on his face.

"Guess what?" he exclaimed.

"You just made a professional Quidditch team?" George replied.

"Uh, no. Better!"

"Your boss was murdered."

"No!"

"What, then?"

"We're pregnant!"

There was a very quite silence for a couple of seconds.

"Hermione...Hermione's going to have a baby?" Harry gasped.

"Yes!" Ron said, beaming. Harry strode across the room and slapped Ron on the back.

"Well I'll be! I'd never--"

"Does Mum know?" George asked abruptly, still behind the counter.

"No, you're the first to know!"

George smiled and walked around the counter, his eyes sparkling. Silently he hugged Ron.

"I'm happy for you little brother," he said softly.

"Where's Hermione?" Harry asked.

"She's probably at her parent's by now," Ron answered.

"You know what? This calls for a celebration," George said, pulling something off one of the many shelves in the store. In a flash of red smoke, a green wine bottle appeared in George's hand.

"Now you talking!" Ron grinned.

Rowing In the Same Boat

The Moon

O, look at the moon!

She is shining up there;

O mother, she looks

Like a lamp in the air.

Last week she was smaller,

And shaped like a bow;

But now she's grown bigger,

And round as an O.

Pretty moon, pretty moon,

How you shine on the door,

And make it all bright

On my nursery floor!

And there is a star

Close by you, and maybe

That small twinkling star

Is your little baby.

-Eliza Lee Follen

Luna considered herself a top reporter. Editor of the Quibbler often had to be. She loved her job, she really did. It gave her the chance to get out and make discoveries and then spread them to as many people as possible. And the Quibbler was the perfect magazine to do the job.

So an article on the hunt for Wormtail seemed reasonable. It would give her a chance to help her husband and alert people. Not to mention, people loved to read about the Aurors.

"I really don't see why I can't have this article," Rita said, crossing her arms, one perfectly manicured eyebrow raised. "This is the sort of action I've always dreamed of writing about!"

Luna smiled, shaking her head. "Rita, you've got the Romania incident to write about," she said, grabbing her purse from a hook on the door to her office, checking to make sure her wand was in it. "I'm going to go dig up some information. I figure I'll go over to the Ministry and ask around." Luna walked out of the office, walking over to her secretary.

" 'Morning, Mindy!" Luna said brightly. Mindy looked up and smiled.

"Good morning, Mrs. Potter."

"How are the grandkids?" Luna asked, picking up a folder from the secretary's desk.

"My little Janie made the Hufflepuff Quidditch team," Mindy sad, beaming. Luna gasped.

"That's great! Tell her good luck for me!" she said as she headed out the door.

"Thanks, Mrs. Potter," Mindy said softly, as small smile on her face as she looked back down at her paperwork.

"Harry, I've got another assignment for you," Arthur said, looking Harry in the eye from across the desk. "It is, in a way, Wormtail related. However, on this particular one, I am going to assign you a partner."

"A partner?" Harry said, a bewildered expression on his tired face. "But you've never given me a partner before."

"I know, but I need someone with experience to go with this one. Walt Raimmio doesn't know his way around England that well, and I need you to show him around."

"What has that got to do with Wormtail?"

"Patience, Harry," Arthur said, smiling slightly, like a father would to his son. "I simply need you to look up on a couple of suspicious people. You know, see what they've been doing." Harry nodded. This was custom Auror procedure. You get a list of Death Eater suspects and you go and check their wand to see if they've done any of the Unforgivable Curses or the Dark Mark. It was still fairly common to see the Dark Mark in various places.

"Right," Harry sighed, raising from his chair and leaving the Minister's office.

Walking down the hall outside of Arthur's office was Kingsley Shacklebolt.

"Eh, Harry!" he called. "You just got a message from Luna saying she'll be late tonight. Lily's with Molly."

"Thanks Kingsley," Harry called over his shoulder. He went down the elevator, into the Auror department, and straight to Walt's cubicle. Harry knocked on the door.

"Come in," Walt said. Harry opened the door and saw Walt draining a coffee mug. "Hi, Harry!" he said brightly.

"The Minister's assigned us a mission. Together," Harry added.

"Great! Are we going now?"

"Yes."

Walt stood up, setting the coffee cup down on his desk.

"Let's go, then."

Harry and Walt apparated to the first spot, a home in east Sussex. It was in an older and more dismantled part of the town. Standing on the sidewalk outside of the house, Harry pointed his wand discreetly at the front door and whispered, "Berceuse." Instantly the leaves rustling on the trees in the yard quieted, as if the wind had stopped, though Harry could still feel it blowing through his hair. Hurriedly Harry walked up the front walk and to the front door, Walt right behind.

"What did you just do?" Walt asked. "It was strange."

"A sleep spell. Anyone in the house will be unconscious for about an hour. Very useful," Harry added. The front door was locked, but Harry used a simple lock spell to open it. Together he and Walt stepped inside. An old lady lay snoring on an old frayed couch.

Harry looked down at the description list Arthur had handed him.

"Irma Virgil, Caucasian, about seventy-five years old, female...yep, I think that's her," Harry said, gesturing at the woman. Spotting a wand sticking out of her pocket, Harry slide it out. Then he took his own wand and joined the tip with the other wand.

"Prior Incantato," he mumbled. A soft smoky figure snaked out of the tip of Irma Virgil's wand. It was in the shape of a whisk beating two eggs in a bowl.

"Oh, how dangerous," Walt retorted. Harry glared at him. Another shape emerged: this one of a knife cutting up potatoes. "Looks like someone was making dinner," Walt said in a bored tone. "But wait, she could murder someone with that knife!"

"Shut up," Harry hissed. "Deletrius." He carefully slipped the wand back in Irma's pocket and abruptly went out the front door.

"That's it?" Walt said, tagging along.

"Yes, 'that's it'," Harry said, looking down at the list.

"So business-like," Walt said mildly. "So unlike your father."

Harry's eyes snapped from the list to Walt's face.

"What?" he asked. "Did you know my father?"

"As a matter of fact I did," Walt said, a pleased look on his face. "Quidditch, you see. I used to play for my school in Ireland, and we were both offered positions on the same professional team. Of course, we both declined. I was in training to become an Auror, and your mother was expecting you."

"Pity that," Harry mumbled, turning and beginning to walk down the sidewalk.

"Yes, well, if your father had taken the position, he wouldn't have been involved in all that silly Dark Lord stuff that got him killed."

Harry whipped around. "What my father did was noble, and don't you forget it!" Harry yelled. Walt stared wide-eyed at Harry, and then he looked from side to side.

"Er, it looks as if you've attracted some attention," Walt smiled. Harry saw several heads sticking out of windows. Groaning in disgust, Harry turned on his heel and walked away.

Later that afternoon Harry was knocking on the Weasley's front door. Molly opened it and smiled.

"Ah, Harry! Here for Lily, I suppose?"

"Yes, I am," Harry replied.

"Come in, come in! Hermione and Ginny are here. Won't you stay for a cup of tea?"

"Sure," Harry shrugged.

Molly led him into the fancy parlor where Hermione was seated on the Victorian chaise longue and Ginny on the floor with Lily. Hermione stood.

"Harry! Great to see you!" she cried as she ran over and hugged him.

"Congratulations on the big news," Harry said, his eyes twinkling. "I'm really happy for you."

"Ack, so am I!" Molly said from the parlor doorway, taking a handkerchief from her pocket and dabbing her eyes. "I'll be back in a jiffy with the tea," she added as she walked away.

"Has she been like that all day?" Harry asked.

"Ever since she found out," Hermione chuckled. "Keeps babbling on

about being a grandmother."

Harry bent down and swept Lily into his arms.

"Harry, did you hear the news?" Ginny said, standing up. Harry looked questioningly from Ginny to Hermione.

"No..."

"Oh, its all over the papers. Viktor Krum was bit by a werewolf!"

"No way!" Harry cried. "That's horrible!"

"I know," Hermione said sadly. "I feel so sorry for him."

"How?" Harry asked.

"Well, Krum's been working in the Auror Department recently in Bulgaria, you know. He was trying to hunt down this werewolf that's been storming cities and stuff and, well, it got him. I suppose the good thing is that he did manage to capture it."

Just then Molly returned with the tea.

"Oh, you're not telling him about Viktor Krum, now are you? Harry's got enough on his mind as it is," she said briskly.

"Yes, Harry, how's it going with your search for Wormtail?" Hermione asked.

"Without event," Harry sighed.

The usual friendly conversation followed as Harry downed his tea. Finally when Lily began to yawn, he decided to leave.

Once at home, Harry got Lily to bed. Then he got into bed himself. Luna wasn't home yet, so ultimately he fell asleep.

Stretch Forth One's Hand

Harry woke, feeling slightly out of place. Something was wrong. Slowly opening his eyes, Harry realized the familiar warmth on the other side of the bed wasn't there; the sheets were neatly tucked in on that side, never used. He groggily sat up and put on his glasses, looking around the room. Slipping out of bed and into a pair of slippers, Harry swayed into the kitchen, scratching his head. Hedwig sat on her stand in the living room, her large eyes closed.

"Luna?" he called. There was no reply. An owl pecked at the front window, carrying a copy of the Daily Prophet in its talons. Harry checked the time: 11:37. Luna usually brought in the paper around nine. Something was wrong. Rushing to the fireplace, Harry threw in a handful of Floo Powder and stuck his head in, clearly calling, "The Quibbler." An office came into view.

"Hello?" he called. A secretary at a desk looked his way.

"Yes, how may I help you?" she asked routinely. Then her eyebrows raised in surprise. "Mr. Potter!"

"Yes, Mindy, I was wondering if Luna's there."

"Why, no. I haven't seen Mrs. Potter since yesterday morning. She never reported back last night. I figured she had something urgent."

Harry felt a rock of panic drop into his stomach.

"Thanks, Mindy. Let me know if you see her," he said and before she could ask any questions, Harry pulled his head out of the fire. He could hear Lily crying in the other room. He quickly got her dressed and raced over to the Weasley house, knocking frantically on the door. Molly swung it open, her graying red hair in curlers.

"Harry! Back so soon?" she said, a look of surprise on her face. Harry stepped into the house.

"Molly, I need you to watch Lily. Something's terribly wrong. Luna didn't come home last night and the people at the Quibbler haven't seen her either!"

"What?" said a voice behind Mrs. Weasley. Arthur shuffled over dressed in a wine colored robe. "Luna's missing?"

"Yes."

"Are you sure?" Arthur inquired.

"Arthur, I'm sure enough to be very worried."

"Well, in that case, Molly, watch Luna. Harry, I want you to look around wherever possible. I'm going to go to the Ministry and see what I can do. I'll contact you if I find anything. Okay?" Harry nodded. He said a quick thank you before apparating from the spot.

Harry appeared seconds later at the Quibbler.

"Back so soon, Mr. Potter?" asked Mindy.

"Yes," Harry said quickly before hurrying over to the doors on the left of the room. He entered the one with the nameplate Luna Potter on it. Carefully shutting the door behind him, Harry dashed over to the desk and began to search through piles of papers, looking for any clues as to where Luna was. With triumph he found the leather bound planner he had given her last Christmas. Flipping it open, Harry looked at the previous day's date.

" 'Meeting with Doctor Patric, 10:00'," he read. " 'Padma's birthday, shop for summer clothes for Lily'...There's nothing here!" he cried in irritation. His eyes searched the room. He found nothing. In dire panic, he apparated from the spot and appeared moments later in front of Hogwart's front gates. Taking a key from his pocket, Harry unlocked the gates and raced up the path. He stepped into the entrance hall, which sounded eerily quiet. Harry jumped up the steps, along several halls that her knew like the back of his hand, and past many classrooms. Finally he stopped in front of a frowning gargoyle.

"Uh, sherbet lemon?" he tried, fidgeting. "Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans, Drooble's Best Blowing Gum, Chocolate Frogs! Uh, Vampire Pops, Cockroach Clusters! Oh, what is it?" He cried in frustration. "Weasley's Wizard Wheezes!"

The gargoyle rumbled to the side. Impatiently Harry leaped inside and up the winding staircase to Dumbledore's office. He knocked loudly.

"Come in," came Dumbledore's voice. Harry burst into the room.

"Dumbledore, I need your help!" he cried. "Luna's missing." Dumbledore looked up from where he was standing next to Fawkes. "She didn't come home last night, and no one at the Quibbler's seen her! I've checked her office, there's nothing there," Harry's voice began to feel choked up. "I'm really very worried."

"Yes, of course, Harry," Dumbledore said, his blue eyes boring into Harry's. "Calm down, boy. Think. Think of what she's been doing, or talked about recently."

Panting, Harry squeezed his eyes shut. Suddenly he snapped them back open.

"Wormtail!" he breathed. "She's doing an article on Wormtail!"

Dumbledore seemed to grow a couple of inches. "Harry, this doesn't look good," he whispered. "Have you talked to Arthur?"

"Yes, he's at the Ministry right now doing what he can."

"In that case, Harry, there's only one thing for you to do."

"What, sir?"

"You must find Wormtail. It is with him that I predict you will find Luna."

"But...I've been looking for him for years," Harry said, his voice quivering. "How the heck am I supposed to find him in so short a time?"

"You must think of some way, Harry. If I come up with anything, I will alert you."

Harry nodded and turned to leave.

He had no idea where to go. There was nothing to do. If there had been something on the Wormtail article around, he would have found it in Luna's office. Sinewy bile was rising in his throat. His mouth felt sour and as dry as cotton. He wandered the streets, meandering his way along various streets, not caring where he went. Finally he found himself at the Leaky Caouldron. In a dreamy state he opened the door and slumped onto a stool at the counter.

"Hey, Harry," said Tom, the barkeeper. "Can I get you something?" Harry nodded and Tom placed a glass in front of him. "Is something wrong?" Tom asked, taking a rag from his pocket and drying a glass. Harry shook his head in an idle way, his eyes felt unfocused. "Can I help you with anything?" Harry looked up at him, his eyes glassy, and chuckled hollowly.

"Have you seen Wormtail anywhere?" he asked. Tom cocked his head to the side.

"That's what's botherin' you? Harry, don't worry. You'll get him someday."

Harry just shook his head, staring down at his drink. He stayed in that state for many hours, racking his mind for anything that could help him find Luna. But as time went by, his mind began to feel more clouded.

"Harry, you should go home," Tom said around ten in the evening. Harry's shoulders shook in reply.

"Here," said a new voice. "Let me take him." Harry felt strong hands on his shoulders as someone guided him to his feet and walked him out of the Leaky Cauldron. "What's the matter?" the voice asked consolingly as a night breeze rustled through Harry's hair. It sounded very familiar.

"Lupin?" he croaked.

"Yeah, Harry. I'm here for you. Don't worry. Let's get you home."

Harry remembered nothing after that.

The Gorge is Rising

Harry woke in his own bed with a horrible headache. His eyes ached as if he had been crying, and his muscles were sore. He felt unbelievably weak.

Rubbing his temples and feeling utterly miserable, Harry forced himself out of bed. It was then that he realized there was a letter on his bedside table.

Harry, Lily's still with the Weasleys. Call me if you need anything.

-Lupin

So it was true. Luna was still gone. Feeling total emptiness, Harry slowly changed clothes, stuffed his wand in his pocket, and walked out into the kitchen. The house was forbiddingly silent. There wasn't the familiar sound of Luna making breakfast, or Lily crying in her room. It was then that Harry noticed that even Hedwig wasn't there. He was all alone.

Harry shivered. The kitchen window was open, letting in the cool morning air. The sky outside was bleakly gray. He walked over to close the window, but saw the white shape of an owl soaring towards it. Harry stepped aside as Hedwig fluttered in and landed on the kitchen counter. Harry absently went over to her and began to stroke her soft comforting feathers. Hedwig pecked at him with her sharp beak. Harry noticed that there was something in her beak. He cautiously took it. Hedwig hooted softly.

Harry felt the biggest jolt of his life. It was Luna's ring: her wedding ring. It was 24 karat gold, set with emeralds and diamonds. Questions raced through Harry's raw mind. How did Hedwig get Luna's ring? She never took it off. Did Hedwig know where Luna was? Was Luna okay? Did she give Hedwig her ring on purpose? Perhaps, just perhaps, she had left him on purpose. What if this was a sign that...but no! Just a couple days before she had said that she loved him. Could she have changed her mind in so short of a time? Harry shook his head, trying to shake those thoughts from it. He raced over to the fireplace, threw in some Floo Powder and stuck his head in, shouting "Dumbledore's Office, Hogwarts!" The interior of Dumbledore's office appeared in front of his eyes. It was empty except for the sleeping form of Fawkes on her stand.

"Fawkes!" Harry called, trying to wake the phoenix. Fawkes woke with a start. She narrowed her eyes at Harry, rearranged her feathers, and then closed her eyes again. Harry groaned. "Fawkes! I need you to get Dumbledore. Now!" Several of the portraits on the walls began to complain and mutter.

"Wake an old man up, will you?" one voice growled.

"Well, that's one good way to wake up in the morning," sighed another. Fawkes bristled, but took off from her stand. Moments later Dumbledore swept into the office.

"What's this I hear about Mr. Potter attempting to wake everybody in Hogwarts?" Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling. "How's the search for Luna?" he asked, suddenly becoming serious. Harry proceeded to explain what Hedwig had brought him. Dumbledore's wizened face was stony.

"Somehow, I cannot picture Luna leaving you without an explanation. No, she must have given the ring to Hedwig somehow."

"That's what I thought," Harry sighed. "Though I don't know which I prefer: Luna leaving me, or being taken against her will." Dumbledore stared at Harry for a moment before clapping his hands together once, startling everyone.

"Harry, you must follow Hedwig."

"Follow Hedwig?" Harry said, a baffled expression on his face. Then his features cleared. "Of course. Hedwig can lead me to Luna. I'll take my broom."

"Very good, Harry. Now, go quickly, and be sure to be careful." Harry nodded and pulled his head out of the fireplace. Then he dashed into his room and to the trunk at the foot of the bed. He unlocked in and carefully opened the lid. Inside sat two brooms, his old Firebolt and his newer Quicksilver, the Marauder's Map, his father's invisibility cloak, and a photo album of old pictures. Hastily taking out the Quicksilver and his invisibility cloak, Harry rushed over to where Hedwig sat patiently on the kitchen counter.

"Hedwig, girl, I need you to take me to Luna," he said urgently. Hedwig bobbed her head down once, staring at him with large green eyes. Suddenly she took off out the window. Harry dashed out of the house, slipped on his invisibility cloak, hopped on the Quicksilver, and took off. He soared after Hedwig, feeling the cold wind in his matted hair.

Hedwig flew for what seemed hours. The sun grew higher in the sky but the day remained cold and dark clouds threatened rain. From the sky the earth looked dark and brown, as if hosting no life. Harry gazed off into the dark sky, absorbed in his worried and panicky thoughts. Suddenly he noticed he'd lost Hedwig. She had just disappeared. Harry swooped down from the clouds, searching all around him for a hint of white. Then he saw her, soaring down toward the ground. Gritting his teeth, Harry followed.

Suddenly a big wave of realization rippled unpleasantly through his body. He recognized that house on that hill. It was the old Riddle Home, unoccupied and dilapidated. The large building cast ghostly shadows on the sinister lawn. Mental shivers ran up and down his spine as he looked to the dark graveyard that rested beyond the old mansion. He saw Hedwig land on a tombstone. Harry brought his Quicksilver to the ground just outside of the cluster of gravestones. Memories burst into his skull, swamping him. He could see Cedric fall to the ground, hear the evil laugh of Voldemort, feel the pain in his scar, the cut of Wormtail's knife on his skin... Without thinking Harry looked over at the grave of Tom Riddle Senior. With a start he realized there was something resting against the foot of the stone. Harry raced over, pulling his wand out of his pocket.

A hot wave of panic pierced through his body as he realized what it was. It was a body. The arms and legs were spread on the dusty ground in odd positions. The skin was deathly pale. And as Harry got closer he realized with wrenching horror that it was Luna. Her pastel eyes were wide open, staring off into space and not seeing anything. She looked so like a glass doll, lying broken on the dry earth. Suddenly his running didn't seem fast enough. He was going too slowly. Finally, after what seemed forever, he reached her, dropping down at her side and shaking her shoulders.

"Luna," Harry sobbed in a hoarse voice. "Wake up, Honey. Come one." With shaking fingers her felt her neck for a pulse. His pounding heart interfered with his judgment. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't feel her pulse. He began to scream with fury, feeling her wrist, her heart. Nothing. Finally he gave up, lifting her limp body close to his, crying hot tears into her beautiful hair.

"Look familiar, Potter?" said an icy voice from behind him.

Blood For Blood

I had not time to hate, because

The grave would hinder me,

And life was not so ample I

Could finish enmity.

Not had I time to love; but since

Some industry must be,

The little toil of love, I thought,

Was large enough for me.

-Emily Dickinson

Harry whipped around and saw Wormtail standing several meters behind him, a crooked smile on his spectral face, flexing his sliver hand. Suddenly pictures of Tom Riddle Jr. began pouring into his mind. Ginny lying on the ground in the Chamber of Secrets, Tom smiling crookedly at him, twirling Harry's wand with his fingers, Ginny's deathly white face, her limp figure...

"Wormtail," Harry growled, feeling swamped with the unbelievable hate that surged through him.

"Potter," Wormtail sneered back.

"Why?" Harry said, his voice as hard as a rock.

"Because, young Potter, she knew too much," Wormtail replied simply, his cold gray eyes never leaving Harry's face. Harry stared back just as forcibly, not daring to look away. Suddenly Harry could see himself on the ground from up above, clutching Luna's body. He saw himself dive at Wormtail with enormous power. Wormtail leaped to the side, and quick as a flash had his wand out and pointed at Harry.

"Crucio!" Wormtail hissed. Harry returned to his body with a jolt; the anger Harry felt burning inside his heart suddenly burst to every nerve in his body. "Don't do that again, Potter," Wormtail whispered coolly as Harry writhed on the ground. He began to convulse with revulsion. "At last I will avenge the death of my master," Wormtail said with triumph.

"What happened to you?" Harry panted, his voice quaking.

"Whatever do you mean, slime?" Wormtail said with scorn.

"What happened to the good friend of my father? What happened to the--"

"Pitiful whimpering little Peter Petegiew?" Wormtail interrupted. "Dear, Harry, he grew up and realized what power is really like."

"How could you--" Harry swallowed "--betray my parents...and now me?"

Wormtail's eyes glinted dangerously. "Potter, honesty and loyalty are an annoying glitch in life. Why not just take it the easy way? That's what life's about, isn't it? Getting what we want, gaining power, making sacrifices."

"I-saved-your-life" Harry gasped. Wormtail nodded sadly.

"Yes, but unfortunately it is according to very reliable sources that young Harry Potter is determined to do quite the opposite now."

"And who told you that?"

"Why, you did," Wormtail replied, smiling wickedly.

"When?" Harry snarled. Wormtail pretended to be thinking hard.

"Let's see, well, it was about that one time when you got that other false alarm, from Dorcus Methuselah, wasn't it? Yes, well, you told me quite temperamentally."

"I never talked to you!"

"Yes, you did. You see, I've been pulling a trick quite like my master."

"What?"

Wormtail took his wand, and, like in Harry's second year, wrote I am Wormtail in fiery letters in the air. With a wave of his wand the words rearranged into Walt Raimmio. Wormtail sneered back at Harry. "Quite ingenious, isn't it?"

"You got that from Voldemort," Harry said in disgust.

"So naturally I was pleasantly surprised when you didn't figure it out," Wormtail said mildly.

"How the heck did you get Arthur to accept you," Harry spat.

"Oh, Arthur didn't accept me, the Minister of Ireland did. It was quite an easy Imperius spell."

"I hate you," Harry said with quivering malice.

"I know," Wormtail smiled. His cheerfulness was driving Harry mad.

"And what the heck does that have to do with you killing Luna?" Harry screamed.

"Well, she found out who Walt Raimmio was. The other day she went to the office to talk to you while we went out on that mission for Arthur. She wanted to ask you a couple questions about me. She got lost, as it is quite easy to in the Auror offices, and stopped into my cubicle to ask for directions. Imagine the chances of that! Anyways, she noticed something in there that intrigued her. My picture of my mother, was it? Ah, yes. Always knew I shouldn't have put it up there. She got a little too nosy and started looking around the cubicle. She, er, found the potion that was keeping me in the form of Walt Raimmio. Quite coincidently I walked in at that moment and caught her. The rest is history." Wormtail smiled again and waved his hand in a casual manner.

Harry couldn't stand one more minute of it. With a cry of fury he lunged at Wormtail again,

"Crucio!" Harry wailed in agony. Holding onto his own wand with all of his might, Harry struggled to point it at Wormtail.

"Expelliarmus!" he bellowed. The spell hurled off harmlessly into space as Wormtail dodged it, laughing like a maniac.

"Crucio!" again. Harry's throat was painfully raw from screaming. "Harry," came Wormtail's delighted voice. "I am not as careless as my master, nor as stony, perhaps. He never showed much joy in his work. However, I do. Maybe that's what makes me more powerful that he."

Harry felt the bubbling urge to laugh. Instead he snorted, his bloodshot eyes wide. Suddenly he looked back at Luna. The sight of her lying there, useless, so unlike her, brought out all of the sadness, anger, hatred, and revenge Harry had ever felt because this vile man in front of him. Harry's vision was edged with red spots as he felt the strongest burst of power he had ever had. With exact precision, Harry pointed his wand at Wormtail and, before he could dodge, said the first curse that came to his mind.

"Avada Kedavera."

To Where You Are

Who can say for certain?

Maybe your still here.

I feel you all around me

Your memory so clear.

Deep in the stillness

I can hear you speak.

You're still an inspiration

Can it be?

That you are mine

Forever, Love

And you are watching over me

From up above.

Fly me up to where you are beyond the distant stars

I wish upon tonight to see you smile

If only for a while, to know you're there

A breath away's not far

To where you are

While I'm gently sleeping

Deep inside my dreams

And isn't faith believing

All power can't be seen

As my heart holds you

Just one beat away

I cherish all you gave me

Every day

Cuz you are mine

Forever, Love

Watching me

From up above

And I believe

That angels bleed

And that love will live on and never leave

Fly me up to where you are beyond the distant stars

I wish upon tonight to see you smile

If only for a while, to know you're there

A breath away's not far

To where you are

I know you're there

A breath away's not far to where you are

-By Linda Thompson

-Sung by Josh Groban

The light was blinding as Harry's eyes popped open. He stared up at the florescent lights above, small white spots beginning to cloud his vision. Turning his head to the side, Harry realized that he was in a hospital bed. Dumbledore sat in a chair to his right, a very empty expression on his face. Harry sat straight up. Dumbledore looked up at him.

"Harry. Please lay down," he said softly.

"Luna," Harry croaked. "Get me Luna!"

"Luna's not here," Dumbledore said very quietly. "I cannot get her." Something inside of Harry snapped.

"Wormtail," he snarled, jumping out of the bed.

"Is dead," Dumbledore finished. "Harry, I implore you to lay down."

"Don't you dare tell me what to do!" Harry bellowed at him. He ran at the wall and pounded his fist into it. "He killed her!" he screamed. "He killed her!" Harry continued to slam his fists into the wall, wailing and sobbing. Dumbledore just sat calmly at the bedside; tears ran slowly down his face, although he made no sound.

Harry didn't know what to do. He felt so hopeless. He could bring Luna back. There had to be a way to bring her back! She couldn't be dead. First Cedric, then Sirius, now his love. He couldn't handle it. Why him? Why did the precious people in his life have to be taken?

"What did I do?" he yelled, turning his face to the ceiling. With that he ran out of the room and out into the halls of St. Mungos.

"Harry!" Dumbledore called behind him. Harry ignored him, tearing down the hall, down flights of stairs and out of the building. He frantically disapparated to the Weasley's house. Pelting up the front walk, he wrenched open the front door and ran inside. Ignoring the startled cries of Mr. and Mrs. Weasley sitting down to dinner, Harry headed straight to the nursery. He flung open the door, seeing Lily lying peacefully in the crib. He stumbled over to her, scooped her up, and held her to his body, feeling her breathing, her warmth close to him. Lily woke, and started to cry. Harry shook with sobs as he clung to her as tight as he could, falling to his knees. Lily's arms flailed as Harry clutched her, her screams leading the Weasleys to them.

"Harry!" Molly cried. "Harry, Harry, give her to me! Harry, you're hurting her!"

But Lily was all there was left of Luna, and he had to hold on to that. He couldn't let her go. He couldn't let Luna go. He held onto Lily like he would his very own life. He stroked her hair, so like Luna's, smelled her skin. Luna was there. She was. But she wasn't. Luna was gone.

"Harry! Give her to me!" Molly hollered. She and Arthur managed to pry Harry's arms away from Lily. Molly rocked the wailing infant in her arms. Harry roared in fury.

"Everything is gone!" he bellowed. "What's there to live for?" And with that he fled from the room.

Molly stared desperately after her husband as he ran after Harry. Minutes later Arthur returned, panting.

"He disapperated outside, I don't know where he went," he said, lines of worry stretching across his face. Molly sighed sadly.

"Poor man," she said, wiping tears from her eyes. Arthur bolted out of the nursery again, shouting over his shoulder, "I'm going to get Lupin!"

Give No Quarter

Lupin knew exactly where to find Harry. As soon as he heard from Arthur that Harry was missing, he neglected his evening paper and headed straight to Kings Cross Station. As he walked through the crowds of people in the train station and reached the entrance to platform 9 ¾, he found his suspicions were correct.

Since the Hogwarts Express wasn't being used at the time, the platform was locked, blocking off the magical barrier from the Muggle world to the wizard. Harry knelt on the floor against the wall, his shoulders shaking. Several security guards nervously eyed him, obviously not wanting to intervene. Lupin walked up, muttered to the guards that he would handle it, sat down next to Harry, and put his arm comfortingly around him. Harry buried his face in Lupin's shoulder.

"What can I do now?" Harry began to say, his face blotchy, and his speech slurred. "I can't go home, I can't. I won't. What's there to live for? I want to die. I want to die so bad. I want Luna so bad." Harry began to shake violently with a new wave of silent sobs.

"Harry, don't think like that!" Lupin said firmly. "Harry, you can't. There's so much to live for, Harry. So much!"

Harry shook his head, moaning. Lupin grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him.

"Harry! Stop it right now! You have so much to live for!"

Harry began to turn away. Lupin forced him to look at him.

"Harry, think about Lily! Lily! She needs a father! She needs a parent! What will she do without you, Harry? Don't ruin Lily's life because Luna's gone!"

"She--she'll never know her mother," Harry whispered. "She'll never know her mother. Just. Like. Me."

"Yes, but, Harry, give her the chance to know her father! You know what it's like without a father, Harry. Don't do that to Lily. Don't! She needs you! Oh, darn it all, Harry. Don't do this. I won't let you. You need to be strong. You always have been! For gosh sakes, you're the Boy Who Lived! Don't ruin that, Harry! Don't be so darn selfish!"

Harry looked into Lupin's eyes, his own eyes glassy from tears; green orbs of sorrow.

Cut and Come Again

A Farewell

My fairest child, I have no song to give you;

No lark could pipe to skies so dull and gray:

Yet, if you will, one quiet hint I'll leave you

For every day.

I'll tell you how to sing a clearer carol

Than lark who hails the dawn on breezy down:

To earn yourself a purer poet's laurel

Than Shakespeare's crown.

Be good, sweet maid, and let who will be clever;

Do noble things, not dream them, all day long:

And so make Life, Death, and the vast For Ever

One grand sweet song.

Charles Kingsley

The processional music began to play, a sense of supreme joy in the perfumed air. Harry stood and looked into the faces of all the people he loved and knew. There was Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling behind those half moon spectacles. Standing next to him, Professor McGonagall, her usually tidy gray hair in wisps around her teary eyes. There was Ron with his arm around Hermione, winking at him. Lupin with his placid and encouraging face. Kingsey, Tonks, and the whole Auror gang. Snape with his wife, Rita. Neville and Ginny. Arthur Weasley and Molly, Bill and Fleur, Charlie, Fred and Angelina, and forever single George all stood beaming at him.

A jerk at Harry's arm brought his attention to the beautiful young woman at his side. Her long blonde hair, almost white, was piled on top of her head in ringlets, her emerald green eyes nervously anxious.

"Come on Daddy," she whispered. And together they stepped down the aisle, Lily's beautiful white gown sweeping elegantly along the marble floor. She clutched her father's arm with white-gloved hands. Harry gazed at her, an undying love in his eyes.

Too quickly they reached the end, and the music stopped. Father and daughter still stood together. Then Lily leaned over and whispered in his ear, "Daddy, sometimes you just have to let go." Harry leaned down and kissed his precious daughter on the cheek, a solitary tear running down his face.

Yes. He could let go. He had before.

Harry and Luna's married life is busy. Harry works for the ministry, and Luna for the Quibbler. But when former Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, is found dead, Harry must make sacrifices to find the murderer.