In Your Darkest Hour - Harry/Luna - 3/4
Title: In Your Darkest Hour (3/4)
Author: Tonya (_fullofgrace)
Prompt: #7 - Days
Word Count: 2027
Rating: PG/PG-13
Summary: Death is common during the second war, but sometimes it hits closer to home than imagined.
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The sun shined brightly on the day Luna’s father was buried.
Everyone gathered at the cemetery, dressed in black and heads lowered. The Weasley family. Members of the Ministry. Members of the Order.
Harry stood at Luna’s side, her smaller hand wrapped in his. Her other hand held onto a single yellow rose, and he watched out of the corner of her eye as she brought the flower to her nose and inhaled. He would have thought it odd that morning to see her exit her room in a Ravenclaw blue dress--and not the typical color of mourning--if it hadn’t been for their conversation two nights prior, when he had seen her finally cry for her father. When she had shared with him her need to mourn her father's loss, but at the same time, her need not to.
Harry had awoke that morning with a horrible crick in his neck, and the sensation of a warm body on his. He had opened his eyes to find himself in Luna’s bed, her sleeping form lying against his. His arms were still protectively around her as they had been the night before as she had cried, and her head rested peacefully against his chest and a hand light on his stomach. He had laid as still as he could as not to disturb her, the pain in his neck not worth waking Luna from what was maybe the first semi-decent night of sleep she had gotten in days. Unfortunately for her--but fortunately for his own body--she had stirred soon after him, slowly lifting her head and blinking at him.
“Good morning,” she had said before yawning quietly.
Harry had smiled slightly at the way her hair seemed even more haphazard first thing in the morning. “Morning.”
“You didn’t have to stay with me last night. I’m sure this bed wasn’t the most comfortable for two people to be squeezed into.”
Harry had pulled himself up, resting his back against the headboard. “It’s okay. You fell asleep before I did, and I didn’t want to wake you so…” He had shrugged. “So I just stayed.”
A small smile had spread across Luna’s lips. “Thank you.”
He had nodded, clearing his throat. “Coffee?”
“That would be nice, thank you.”
“Welcome,” he had replied with a smile before pulling himself from the bed. As he had closed the door behind him, he had glanced through the closing gap to see Luna lay back down, a content smile still on her face as she had gathered the warm blankets to herself and closed her eyes.
That had been two nights ago. She had slept peacefully the following night, Harry actually making sure by periodically peeking in on her during the evening. She had slept soundly, however, not once opening an eye as her bedroom door opened ever so slightly every few hours.
He wondered how she would sleep tonight.
The ceremony finished, Luna finally released his hand and approached the casket, placing the yellow rose onto the dark mahogany. Everyone else followed in suit, Harry continuing to hang back as people approached Luna to offer her their condolences. Ginny was currently hugging the other girl fiercely when someone tapped him on the shoulder, pulling his attention away from the one thing that had taken over all his thoughts recently.
Harry turned to be greeted by a solemn Remus, who offered him a firm pat on the shoulder. “How has she been?” he asked, nodding towards Luna.
Harry glanced over his shoulder to see Ginny and Hermione now standing with Luna, deep in discussion. He turned back to Remus with a small shrug. “She’s okay. Still trying to get over the shock of everything, I think.”
Remus nodded before reaching over and taking hold of Harry‘s shoulder, leading him off to the side and away from the people gathered. His voice was quiet as he spoke, Harry nearly needing to lean in to hear the man. “This is not the proper place to inform Luna of this, but I assumed you would like to know.”
“Know what?” Harry asked, a sudden sense of panic starting to take hold of him.
“The Death Eaters suspected of the murder are in custody.”
Harry blinked, not sure he heard correctly. “What?”
“They’re in Azkaban as we speak. All three are awaiting the Dementor’s Kiss.”
Harry felt a mixture of relief and unadulterated joy to hear that the bastards that had killed Luna’s father were only a few hours away from death themselves. If he had been a lesser man, he would have clapped Remus on the back and smiled widely in victory.
But instead, he settled for a nod of acknowledgement.
“The Order has placed all the possible wards we could on Luna’s own flat,” Remus continued against Harry’s silence. “She may even have more protection than your home now,” he joked lightly. “It’s safe for her to return home, Harry. We’ve made doubly sure of it.”
Harry could only nod again, this new development stunning the words right out of him.
“Harry?” Remus asked with a raised eyebrow. “You did hear everything I just said, correct?”
Harry bit his tongue to snap himself out of his silence. “Yes. Yes, every word. I’ll tell her tonight.”
This time it was Remus’ turn to nod silently, a hint of concern crossing over his face.
“Thank you for telling me and for making sure her place is set.”
“You’re welcome.”
Harry smiled and turned to make his way back over to Luna, who was presently being doted on by Mrs. Weasley. When he joined them, Mrs. Weasley quickly turned some of her attention to him, swallowing him up in one of her typical motherly hugs as Ron informed his mother that Harry would need to come up for air soon.
---------
The sun had already begun to set by the time Harry and Luna finally made it home.
Mrs. Weasley had invited them back to the Burrow for tea which they had accepted graciously, but by the time she had offered dinner, Luna had thanked the Weasleys for their kindness but informed them that she was getting tired. With that, they had all bid their goodnights.
They were barely over the threshold before Luna pulled off her heels, preferring to pad about the apartment barefoot. “Today was a good day, don’t you think?” she said as she placed her shoes near the couch.
Harry hung up his jacket in the corner closet. He turned to her with a nod, not really sure how to respond to that sort of question on the day of her father’s funeral.
“Dad always enjoyed these types of day. Perfect sky. Sun and clouds.” A hint of a smile on her face, she glanced towards the window where the sun’s rays were slowly disappearing. “He would have enjoyed today.”
Harry smiled softly, slipping his hands into the pockets of his dark slacks. “Then today was definitely a good day.” Luna turned back to him, and his smile brightened. “You hungry? I could attempt to throw together something edible.”
Luna laughed, and Harry noted that it was the first time he had heard her do so in days. “No offense, Harry,” she teased in a fairly serious voice, starting by him and towards the kitchen, “but at times, I wonder how you’re the wizarding world’s saving grace.”
“Hey!” he offered up in his own defense as he stared after her, laughing.
----------
Luna reached into the box for a third slice of pizza, nearly dropping sauce onto her blue dress. Harry smirked at her as she grabbed a napkin. “You know, you could have changed before eating.”
“This is alright,” she said before taking a bite of her new slice.
Harry watched her for a moment, not sure he wanted to bring this up when Luna seemed to be in the best mood he had seen her in since everything had happened. He cleared his throat, his decision made. “Luna, Remus approached me after the funeral.”
Luna nibbled on the end of her crust. “He and Tonks are quite an interesting pair,” she replied airily.
“Yeah, a little,” he agreed. “Um, he told me some good news actually.”
She watched him expectantly.
“They found your dad’s killers,” he said with a small nod. “They’re in Azkaban at this very moment.”
Luna stared at him for a moment, placing the remainder of her crust on her plate. She blinked a few times before replying in a soft, vague voice, “That’s not good news, Harry.”
Harry stared back, stunned by her response. “It’s not?”
“No, not at all,” she said, getting up from her seat and approaching his side of the table. She paused, a smile slowly spreading across her face. “That’s wonderful news!”
Before Harry could brace himself, she leaned over and hugged him tightly around the neck. With a quiet chuckle, he hugged her back. “Yeah, it is,” he said as she finally released him.
She returned to her seat with a happy bounce, and Harry grinned despite himself. “Didn’t I tell you today was a good day?” she asked, smiling.
Harry nodded, but his own smile started to falter as he remembered the second part of Remus’ message. “Um, there’s more actually. The Order has set up wards on your place for your safety. The best and strongest wards they can conjure.” He paused to clear his throat. “You can go home now.”
Luna nodded, her smile fainter than before. “Oh, well, that was very nice of them to do.”
Harry sat forward in his seat. “I’m not kicking you out,” he clarified. “I just wanted you to know that your place is safe now, but you… you can stay as long as you like. Or, I mean, if you want to leave, you’re free to do that too. I mean, it‘s your choice….” Harry bit his tongue to stop rambling like an idiot.
Luna sat back in her chair, absently pulling on a strand of hair that had fallen from her braid. She sat in quiet debate for a moment, Harry watching her with a hint of concern, before she finally focused her wandering gaze back on his.
“I wouldn’t want to outstay my welcome, but I'd prefer to stay a few days longer if that’s quite alright.”
Harry nodded. “You’re welcome here as long as you like, Luna. I mean that.”
She smiled, picking up her napkin and wiping at her hands. “Thank you, Harry. For everything.”
“You’re welcome,” he said, returning the smile.
“I should get ready for bed,” she said, standing.
“Night, Luna.”
“Goodnight.” She started out of the kitchen but stopped as she reached the doorway. She turned back to him as he gathered their dirty dishes from the table. “And Harry?”
He looked up as he placed the dirty dishes in the sink. “Yeah?”
“Get some rest tonight. I’ll be okay.”
Harry could feel himself begin to blush as he rubbed at the back of his neck. “Oh, I wasn’t--”
“You’re not as sneaky as you perceive yourself to be.” She smiled. “Pleasant dreams, Harry.”
Harry grinned. “Pleasant dreams, Luna.”
She gave him a final wave before disappearing through the doorway.
Harry laughed to himself as he gathered the half-eaten pizza, closing the lid on the box, before sliding it into the refrigerator.
He was almost relieved that she had wanted to stay a few more days. He knew that she couldn’t stay with him forever. She needed to go back to her own life, her own normal routines, before she could probably start to feel normal again. But though she couldn’t stay forever, he welcomed the fact that she wanted to stay longer, stay a few more days.
A few more days would give the Order more time to ensure the security of their wards. A few more days would give her a bit more time to recover from everything. A few more days just helped to ease his own worries about her.
Harry switched off the kitchen light as he left the kitchen and started towards the front room. He could faintly hear the shower going down the hallway, and as he collapsed back onto the couch with a quiet yawn, he knew that tonight he’d get a full night’s sleep knowing that she was resting soundly as well.
Author: Tonya (_fullofgrace)
Prompt: #7 - Days
Word Count: 2027
Rating: PG/PG-13
Summary: Death is common during the second war, but sometimes it hits closer to home than imagined.
--------
The sun shined brightly on the day Luna’s father was buried.
Everyone gathered at the cemetery, dressed in black and heads lowered. The Weasley family. Members of the Ministry. Members of the Order.
Harry stood at Luna’s side, her smaller hand wrapped in his. Her other hand held onto a single yellow rose, and he watched out of the corner of her eye as she brought the flower to her nose and inhaled. He would have thought it odd that morning to see her exit her room in a Ravenclaw blue dress--and not the typical color of mourning--if it hadn’t been for their conversation two nights prior, when he had seen her finally cry for her father. When she had shared with him her need to mourn her father's loss, but at the same time, her need not to.
Harry had awoke that morning with a horrible crick in his neck, and the sensation of a warm body on his. He had opened his eyes to find himself in Luna’s bed, her sleeping form lying against his. His arms were still protectively around her as they had been the night before as she had cried, and her head rested peacefully against his chest and a hand light on his stomach. He had laid as still as he could as not to disturb her, the pain in his neck not worth waking Luna from what was maybe the first semi-decent night of sleep she had gotten in days. Unfortunately for her--but fortunately for his own body--she had stirred soon after him, slowly lifting her head and blinking at him.
“Good morning,” she had said before yawning quietly.
Harry had smiled slightly at the way her hair seemed even more haphazard first thing in the morning. “Morning.”
“You didn’t have to stay with me last night. I’m sure this bed wasn’t the most comfortable for two people to be squeezed into.”
Harry had pulled himself up, resting his back against the headboard. “It’s okay. You fell asleep before I did, and I didn’t want to wake you so…” He had shrugged. “So I just stayed.”
A small smile had spread across Luna’s lips. “Thank you.”
He had nodded, clearing his throat. “Coffee?”
“That would be nice, thank you.”
“Welcome,” he had replied with a smile before pulling himself from the bed. As he had closed the door behind him, he had glanced through the closing gap to see Luna lay back down, a content smile still on her face as she had gathered the warm blankets to herself and closed her eyes.
That had been two nights ago. She had slept peacefully the following night, Harry actually making sure by periodically peeking in on her during the evening. She had slept soundly, however, not once opening an eye as her bedroom door opened ever so slightly every few hours.
He wondered how she would sleep tonight.
The ceremony finished, Luna finally released his hand and approached the casket, placing the yellow rose onto the dark mahogany. Everyone else followed in suit, Harry continuing to hang back as people approached Luna to offer her their condolences. Ginny was currently hugging the other girl fiercely when someone tapped him on the shoulder, pulling his attention away from the one thing that had taken over all his thoughts recently.
Harry turned to be greeted by a solemn Remus, who offered him a firm pat on the shoulder. “How has she been?” he asked, nodding towards Luna.
Harry glanced over his shoulder to see Ginny and Hermione now standing with Luna, deep in discussion. He turned back to Remus with a small shrug. “She’s okay. Still trying to get over the shock of everything, I think.”
Remus nodded before reaching over and taking hold of Harry‘s shoulder, leading him off to the side and away from the people gathered. His voice was quiet as he spoke, Harry nearly needing to lean in to hear the man. “This is not the proper place to inform Luna of this, but I assumed you would like to know.”
“Know what?” Harry asked, a sudden sense of panic starting to take hold of him.
“The Death Eaters suspected of the murder are in custody.”
Harry blinked, not sure he heard correctly. “What?”
“They’re in Azkaban as we speak. All three are awaiting the Dementor’s Kiss.”
Harry felt a mixture of relief and unadulterated joy to hear that the bastards that had killed Luna’s father were only a few hours away from death themselves. If he had been a lesser man, he would have clapped Remus on the back and smiled widely in victory.
But instead, he settled for a nod of acknowledgement.
“The Order has placed all the possible wards we could on Luna’s own flat,” Remus continued against Harry’s silence. “She may even have more protection than your home now,” he joked lightly. “It’s safe for her to return home, Harry. We’ve made doubly sure of it.”
Harry could only nod again, this new development stunning the words right out of him.
“Harry?” Remus asked with a raised eyebrow. “You did hear everything I just said, correct?”
Harry bit his tongue to snap himself out of his silence. “Yes. Yes, every word. I’ll tell her tonight.”
This time it was Remus’ turn to nod silently, a hint of concern crossing over his face.
“Thank you for telling me and for making sure her place is set.”
“You’re welcome.”
Harry smiled and turned to make his way back over to Luna, who was presently being doted on by Mrs. Weasley. When he joined them, Mrs. Weasley quickly turned some of her attention to him, swallowing him up in one of her typical motherly hugs as Ron informed his mother that Harry would need to come up for air soon.
---------
The sun had already begun to set by the time Harry and Luna finally made it home.
Mrs. Weasley had invited them back to the Burrow for tea which they had accepted graciously, but by the time she had offered dinner, Luna had thanked the Weasleys for their kindness but informed them that she was getting tired. With that, they had all bid their goodnights.
They were barely over the threshold before Luna pulled off her heels, preferring to pad about the apartment barefoot. “Today was a good day, don’t you think?” she said as she placed her shoes near the couch.
Harry hung up his jacket in the corner closet. He turned to her with a nod, not really sure how to respond to that sort of question on the day of her father’s funeral.
“Dad always enjoyed these types of day. Perfect sky. Sun and clouds.” A hint of a smile on her face, she glanced towards the window where the sun’s rays were slowly disappearing. “He would have enjoyed today.”
Harry smiled softly, slipping his hands into the pockets of his dark slacks. “Then today was definitely a good day.” Luna turned back to him, and his smile brightened. “You hungry? I could attempt to throw together something edible.”
Luna laughed, and Harry noted that it was the first time he had heard her do so in days. “No offense, Harry,” she teased in a fairly serious voice, starting by him and towards the kitchen, “but at times, I wonder how you’re the wizarding world’s saving grace.”
“Hey!” he offered up in his own defense as he stared after her, laughing.
----------
Luna reached into the box for a third slice of pizza, nearly dropping sauce onto her blue dress. Harry smirked at her as she grabbed a napkin. “You know, you could have changed before eating.”
“This is alright,” she said before taking a bite of her new slice.
Harry watched her for a moment, not sure he wanted to bring this up when Luna seemed to be in the best mood he had seen her in since everything had happened. He cleared his throat, his decision made. “Luna, Remus approached me after the funeral.”
Luna nibbled on the end of her crust. “He and Tonks are quite an interesting pair,” she replied airily.
“Yeah, a little,” he agreed. “Um, he told me some good news actually.”
She watched him expectantly.
“They found your dad’s killers,” he said with a small nod. “They’re in Azkaban at this very moment.”
Luna stared at him for a moment, placing the remainder of her crust on her plate. She blinked a few times before replying in a soft, vague voice, “That’s not good news, Harry.”
Harry stared back, stunned by her response. “It’s not?”
“No, not at all,” she said, getting up from her seat and approaching his side of the table. She paused, a smile slowly spreading across her face. “That’s wonderful news!”
Before Harry could brace himself, she leaned over and hugged him tightly around the neck. With a quiet chuckle, he hugged her back. “Yeah, it is,” he said as she finally released him.
She returned to her seat with a happy bounce, and Harry grinned despite himself. “Didn’t I tell you today was a good day?” she asked, smiling.
Harry nodded, but his own smile started to falter as he remembered the second part of Remus’ message. “Um, there’s more actually. The Order has set up wards on your place for your safety. The best and strongest wards they can conjure.” He paused to clear his throat. “You can go home now.”
Luna nodded, her smile fainter than before. “Oh, well, that was very nice of them to do.”
Harry sat forward in his seat. “I’m not kicking you out,” he clarified. “I just wanted you to know that your place is safe now, but you… you can stay as long as you like. Or, I mean, if you want to leave, you’re free to do that too. I mean, it‘s your choice….” Harry bit his tongue to stop rambling like an idiot.
Luna sat back in her chair, absently pulling on a strand of hair that had fallen from her braid. She sat in quiet debate for a moment, Harry watching her with a hint of concern, before she finally focused her wandering gaze back on his.
“I wouldn’t want to outstay my welcome, but I'd prefer to stay a few days longer if that’s quite alright.”
Harry nodded. “You’re welcome here as long as you like, Luna. I mean that.”
She smiled, picking up her napkin and wiping at her hands. “Thank you, Harry. For everything.”
“You’re welcome,” he said, returning the smile.
“I should get ready for bed,” she said, standing.
“Night, Luna.”
“Goodnight.” She started out of the kitchen but stopped as she reached the doorway. She turned back to him as he gathered their dirty dishes from the table. “And Harry?”
He looked up as he placed the dirty dishes in the sink. “Yeah?”
“Get some rest tonight. I’ll be okay.”
Harry could feel himself begin to blush as he rubbed at the back of his neck. “Oh, I wasn’t--”
“You’re not as sneaky as you perceive yourself to be.” She smiled. “Pleasant dreams, Harry.”
Harry grinned. “Pleasant dreams, Luna.”
She gave him a final wave before disappearing through the doorway.
Harry laughed to himself as he gathered the half-eaten pizza, closing the lid on the box, before sliding it into the refrigerator.
He was almost relieved that she had wanted to stay a few more days. He knew that she couldn’t stay with him forever. She needed to go back to her own life, her own normal routines, before she could probably start to feel normal again. But though she couldn’t stay forever, he welcomed the fact that she wanted to stay longer, stay a few more days.
A few more days would give the Order more time to ensure the security of their wards. A few more days would give her a bit more time to recover from everything. A few more days just helped to ease his own worries about her.
Harry switched off the kitchen light as he left the kitchen and started towards the front room. He could faintly hear the shower going down the hallway, and as he collapsed back onto the couch with a quiet yawn, he knew that tonight he’d get a full night’s sleep knowing that she was resting soundly as well.