LXVII. TIMES ARE HARD FOR DREAMERS
19:09 ─❁────────── 19:79
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❝All it takes is one more step
And then I'm here!❞
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AS SOON AS LUCIA WOKE up, Harry immediately kissed the crown of her head before running out to tell the Healers and Dumbledore, leaving Lucia slightly in a daze. She woke up. She actually woke up.
Maybe the world didn't suck that much...
Nah, it totally did.
Anyway, at least this was their compensation. She was alive.
Harry watched, heart thumping as Lucia was approached by Healers to see whether she was stable enough while he stood with Dumbledore at the corner of the hospital room. Harry wanted to have her in his arms. He wanted to relish every single moment he has with her and never let her go again.
Once the Healers finally left, Lucia achingly propped up against her pillow as the colour took its time to return to her face, in contrast of when they first arrived her. Harry would have already gone to her and kiss her, but if it weren't for Dumbledore...
"How are you feeling, Miss DiFiore?"
Lucia smiled softly like she didn't just die and came back to life. She was all perky and beaming at the said professor. "Perfectly fine. Actually, it felt like I finally got a good night of sleep!"
"Let's be grateful that you didn't sleep for forever," mumbled Harry.
Professor Dumbledore shook his head, smiling. "The Healers informed that you may take off that whenever you feel uncomfortable."
"Really?" she beamed, and Dumbledore nodded. "Yes!"
Frankly, she was bracing herself. She was really hopping there was no scars, as she didn't think she could quite handle the Beaumonts wrath. Yet, at the same time, she couldn't find much urge to be nervous of their wrath. In comparison to before, their anger... their threats... it felt emptier now.
Was this how it felt to be freer?
Lucia unwrapped the bandage gently around, Harry helping her setting it down on her bedside table. She ruffled her now untamed hair around before setting out a quiet exhale. "So? Anything wicked on my head?" she asked.
"We can't quite see anything," said Harry weakly.
Her lips parted, an "oh" uttered out. Well, that's a good thing...
She ruffled her hair once more before running her fingers through her scalp, causing the hair to be push away from her forehead. She was about to ask how it looks, was it wicked or not, however she was only met by a look of bewilderment coming from her two visitors. She blinked. "What's wrong?"
Harry seemed to have a hard time speaking, for he could only stutter out, "S-Scar..." before his fingers trailed to his forehead where his lightning scar was. "Scar..."
"Scar — I have a scar?! Is it big!?" alarmed Lucia.
Dumbledore, however, remained calm. "It is nothing, Miss DiFiore." He assured her, "It is nothing Madam Pomfrey cannot help. However, Miss DiFiore, may I speak to you?"
Lucia glanced up at Dumbledore, surprised. "Oh? Uh... sure?"
"Harry, will you leave us?" he beckoned, and Harry was to make a protest.
"But Professor —"
"Harry," said Dumbledore again, but Harry stood his ground. It wasn't until he felt Lucia's hand over his was when he gave up.
"Fine."
When they were sure that Harry was out, Dumbledore waved his wand; the door closing behind Harry. He then conjured out a mirror, handing it to the girl. Lucia didn't question as the moment her eyes saw her reflection; Lucia let out a gasp.
"This —"
"Is like the scar Harry has, yes. Only milder of course."
"How — what — huh?" Lucia stared, bewildered by her reflection. "Did I hit my head too hard or something? Because it did hurt —"
"Do you remember anything before you, well, died." Professor Dumbledore said rather bluntly.
Lucia didn't know whether it counted as dying anymore, but either way she answered, stammering, "Uh..." it was then she remembered every second of the moment. Her body shook in realisation, a hand immediately clamping over her mouth. "Sirius."
Dumbledore furrowed his eyes. "Sirius?"
"Sirius." Lucia said breathlessly. "H-He — I was about to push him away from the veil I think and he —" she rubbed her face in distress. She was the cause of Sirius' death. Even if he hadn't fallen through the veil, he had shielded her from a curse. A Killing Curse.
Dumbledore immediately understood. "Do not stress yourself more, Lucia."
"But —"
"It was Sirius decision," he said. "He wanted to protect you than he did of himself. His action was not in vain, he believes so. I implore you to not think otherwise."
"Sirius took the curse for me..." Lucia trailed aimlessly. "But I don't understand! Was I dead or not? I mean, when — when I was unconscious, I think, I saw my dad... What does that mean?" she asked desperately.
"Despite not being hit by the curse, you still hit your head quite harshly against the dai. There is a large possibility that your mind went into a state in which it makes you believe that you are in that thin thread between life and death."
"So I wasn't... dead?" Lucia asked slowly, confused.
"That is not the case either," said Dumbledore, which merely added to her confusion. "You could've gone either way: dead, or alive. Thankfully, you've chosen to be live."
"This is so confusing," cried Lucia, tracing her scar. "So, what, am I like Harry now?"
"Not necessarily, but due to you having almost surviving the Killing Curse, I would say that is an achievement that Harry has that none other did."
"Wicked..." she croaked. Lucia glanced at her headmaster with a sad smile, "M-May I talk to Harry now, sir?"
Dumbledore nodded graciously. He exited out of the room and after a few seconds, Harry came in, closing the door behind him. He sat at the edge of her bed, still in disbelief that she was in full health after what had happened, though seem to be in equal state of mind as she traced the scar on her forehead aimlessly.
It was odd. Of course, people had scars left and right, but he had never seen someone bearing an equal scar that could resemble the one he has. Especially when that someone so happened to Lucia. Frankly, he didn't think anyone else could pull the scar off aside from him, but here he was proved wrong by Lucia as she look effortlessly beautiful even with the state she was in. But knowing her and how her adoptive parents would think of her having a scar from what he had heard, it wouldn't be a surprise if she was internally fretting about it.
He broke away from his thought as Lucia slipped her hand in his, squeezing it. He rose his eyes to her and froze the moment he saw the tears that were brimming her eyes as she spoke quietly to him, "I'm sorry,"
Harry immediately stiffened, "What — where's this coming from?" he asked, incredulous. "If anyone has to apologise, it would be me. You wouldn't be here if it weren't for me —"
"No, no, Harry!" she shook her head, hiding her face in her hand, too ashamed to look at him directly in the eyes. "I-I tried saving Sirius, but all I did was making the situation worse! He wouldn't have died if it weren't for me!"
"What rubbish are you talking about?" Harry furrowed his eyes, "I was the one that ledus there —"
"But you were just scared for him, Harry! My situation was different!"
"How so?"
"If it weren't for me, he wouldn't have been hit by the Killing Curse in my stead!" Lucia admitted. She had never been so ashamed before, and she wouldn't fault Harry if he were to start to resent her. She would resent herself if she was in his place.
Harry stared at her blankly, processing her confession. He was lost for words.
"I was supposed to die last night, Harry! I was supposed to die, but Sirius decided to fight against fate itself and because of that, he would've been dead even if he didn't fall into the veil! A life for a life, I killed Sirius —"
"For fuck sake, you didn't!" Harry exclaimed, voice cracking. "You weren't responsible for his death so stop blaming yourself for once. You were a victim too! You almost died. You did die. But because of 'fate', they decided that it was not your time just yet. Think of it as much as you want, Lucia, but you were not supposed to die last night. You were meant to live, but Sirius..."
An anguishing look crossed Harry's face as he was reminded of his godfather.
Lucia scrambled to her knees and pulled Harry into her embrace that was once cold now back to its familiar warmth, the moment she notices a stray tear making its way down Harry's cheeks. Harry melted into the touch. "I'm sorry,"
Harry was about to protest, but she shushed him.
"L-Let me finish," said Lucia at once. "I'm sorry for making you think I was dead. I'm sorry I didn't follow through with my promise, but I'm here now."
Harry took a sharp inhale.
"I know you don't know how real love feels like after all this time, and quite frankly, I don't know either, but we'll learn it together and with this I vow to you that you'll never have to go through that again. I'll stay by you, Harry, until the very end."
"Y-You've heard..." Harry said breathlessly, gazing into her fulfilling eyes.
Lucia nodded delicately. "I'll proudly and cornily say that your voice led me back to you. All I heard was your voice, it was so vivid even when I was in that dark... buzzing abyss. It was so scary being in there, knowing that I could faintly get trap in there. Forever. alone." She hid her face in his shoulder, "It felt like a long time passed in there, so thank you. Thank you for being there for me even when you didn't know it." Her eyes drifted up to his face, their faces were in proximity of one another as she cupped the side of his face adoringly. "I missed you,"
His heart fluttered endlessly at her words. Sure, he had just heard her said it two times before this, but there was just something about this time. It was as though he could sense her genuineness from afar and believe it that he wanted to hear more of it coming from her sweet voice. He may be foreign to the concept of love, but the thing he has for her was certainly the truth.
"I —"
Lucia pressed her lips, kissing him with the utmost emotion she could muster out. Love. She was young, but undoubtedly that all she felt for him was love. The tugging of her heart would only lead her back to him. Not even the forces of nature could deny what she felt for him, and what he felt for her. Harry couldn't believe that he had went through hours in thinking that he could never taste her sweet lips again and survived, for it only seemed impossible now. He craved for her touch, her scent. Her smile. Everything about her. How was he able to go through hours of her 'death' and survived when right now, he couldn't even think to pull away from her?
She was radiant in his eyes.
Harry caught his breath for a moment, before pulling her back in for another. He smiled through the kiss. It felt amazing. It was as though he was sitting on a cloud. Lucia deepened the kiss, trailing her hand from his chest and to around his neck, bringing him closer. The aroma of peonies filled his nostrils like fine wine, and all he wanted was to drink it all up. As they pulled away, resting their foreheads on one another, he smiled.
"Words can't describe how I feel for you, you know that?"
Lucia played with a lock of his black untamed hair absentmindedly, smiling at him. "How charming."
He pecked a kiss on her lips. "So, what are we now?"
"Human," she snorted.
Harry rolled his eyes.
"Kidding," said Lucia, her thumb caressing his cheeks lovingly. "If you would like, Mr. Potter, go out on a date with me after I'm free to go?"
Harry hummed. "I have to check with my assistant for that, unfortunately he's not with us right now." Harry grinned.
"Well then, get back to me when you have the answer. I don't like to be kept waiting," said Lucia smilingly, "Not anymore,"
"I can tell,"
She giggled before resting her head on his shoulders, cherishing the embrace they were in. There was a comfortable silence before Lucia spoke up once more.
"Does this make me the Girl-Who-Lived?"
"Are you kidding me?" Harry pulled away in arms length, deadpanning.
"I'm curious!" she defended.
Harry rolled his eyes. "Well, the public doesn't know that, so no." Lucia rolled her eyes at his tone. "However, you are the Girl-Who-lived to me, and I'm sure to Neville too."
"What about the rest of the Order?"
"You sound like you want to have this title!"
"I can't help but feel like I should shove you off your podium of being the only one to survive the Killing Curse!" Not that I survived the Killing Curse per se...
Harry scoffed.
"You are insufferable,"
"You love me. Don't deny that," she teased.
Harry blushed, gazing at her softly. "Unfortunately,"
Lucia shook her head. "I'll just drop dead again then," she said playfully. "It's a pretty easy job, and quite frankly, painless."
"Please don't joke around about that. I thought that everything in the world was just not worth living after you and Sirius died." Harry said quietly.
Lucia ran her fingers through his hair. "Speaking of death," Harry closed his eyes shut. "For a flicker of second... in there... I thought I saw my dad and my ah-ma and my a-kong,"
Immediately, he snapped his eyes open. "What?"
"Yeah..." she nodded slowly. "It was so weird, and I really did think that I was dead right there. But they didn't let me pass, instead they told me to think about it still. And that was when your voice came in, Harry." Lucia sighed. "I've finally met him, Harry. I met my dad."
Harry smiled sadly at her. "You did," he pushed away her hair to the side. "But I don't think you should do it again. Not now anyways."
"I know," she yawned. "I'm not leaving you anytime soon."
"Me neither," he said and before they knew it, the two drifted off to the land of slumber in each other's arms.
Dumbledore was about to tell Harry that it was time for them to leave but didn't think to interfere in their moment. Rather, he decided to come by the next time, for that would be the day Lucia will be discharge. For now, it was better to let them have their peace. All was well.
For now.
Lucia was welcomed back to the familiar surroundings of Hogwarts after one long week of being stuck in St. Mungo's without any visitation, for the Healers forbade it after Harry and Dumbledore left as they feared that it would only overexert herself. That one week was utterly boring, and she had never been so glad to see the familiar castle again. She would even be grateful to see the owl droppings in the Owlery after that. She was back at home.
The moment she stepped foot inside the hospital wing as Madam Pomfrey would be monitoring her health for the next few days due to Dumbledore's and the Healers' orders, she warmly greeted by the teary embraces of Neville, Ron, Ginny, Hermione, and Lucia. They couldn't part ways from her, only bombarded her with questions and even chastising her for even almost dying in the first place. Even Astoria came rushing into the wing with Bao Bao in her arms, crying.
"You're so mean!" wailed Astoria like a little girl as she refused to pull away from Lucia's embrace. "How could you even think of leaving me here in this terrible place alone?!"
Bao Bao squeaked as he scrambled from Astoria's suffocating arms and up to Lucia's shoulder, hiding his face in the crook of her neck, whimpering.
"I'm sorry... I must've scared you both," said Lucia lightheartedly, rubbing her back consolingly as she simultaneously petted Bao Bao. "Hey, at least in one piece and nothing serious hap —"
"Nothing serious? NOTHING SERIOUS?!" Astoria yelled shrilly, "You're deeming being charged into St. Mungo's for a week and half is nothing serious?! Lucia DiFiore, Bao Bao and I demand compensation for the emotional damages you've caused!" she cried in the older girl's arms.
Lucia wearily smiled as he looked over Astoria's shoulder to the rest of her friends. But instead of helping her, they shrugged and continued with their business. And Lucia couldn't help but see this as a form of punishment. She inwardly scoffed at them, before patting Astoria's head.
"Yes yes, I'll compensate you," she said, then a question of wonder popped into her mind. "But how did you get a hold of Bao Bao?" Lucia asked, tilting her head to the side, curious.
Astoria wiped her tears vigorously and disregarded her blotchy state, "H-Harry asked me if I could take care of him until you get better. H-He didn't think he was much in a right state of mind to take care of Bao Bao just yet... not until you come back anyway... But I took care of Bao Bao as much as I could! I even bought some clothes for him..."
"Y-You bought clothes for him?" snorted Lucia in amusement, and Bao Bao instantly scrambled away from her to hide underneath the blankets of her cot. Astoria nodded obliviously.
"But for some odd reason, he always run away before I could put it on him..."
Lucia laughed half-heartedly as she indirectly looked back to her friends. It seemed that they all had the same though: What kind of clothes did she bought him?
While being stuck in the hospital wing, her friends caught her up to date of what occurred while she was absent. But what they were telling her was not as heavy as what Harry told her; they told her about the second war, but it wasn't as detailed. And it seemed that none of them were aware of the prophecy that Harry was trying so hard to hide from them.
He tried to hide away from her too, but he gave up the moment she asked what happened to the prophecy and before they knew it, he went on a tangent about it and asked her to swear that she would keep it a secret. She did.
"Please, don't ever do that again to us, Lucia! When we heard that you were... you were..." Hermione said once Neville, Ginny, and Luna had left. She sported a grim look as she digressed.
Lucia smiled softly, "Sorry... But hey, I'm looking better than I did a week ago!" she chirped, mouthing a spoonful of porridge in her mouth. "You have no idea how much I missed Hogwarts' food," she cried.
"Then you better eat it up!" Ron told her, shoving a spoon in her mouth, feeding her.
"I can eat myself, Ginger snaps!"
"Don't test me DiFiore!"
"Don't yell or you're going to wake up Bao Bao!" Lucia beckoned at the sleeping babay champagne ferret on the pillow beside her.
"Oh, like I care about that ferret!"
"Oh, will you two stop!" scolded Hermione. "And Lucia! You just got back, don't overexert yourself!"
"I'm sorry, but Ron's just testing my patience!" whined Lucia.
"Me, testing your patience?!" scoffed Ron in disbelief.
"Ronald," warned Hermione, and Ron snapped his head at her, incredulous.
Lucia looked back at him smugly with a mocking expression as she tauntingly ate her porridge. Ron narrowed his eyes at her. "Why you little —"
Hermione shook her head, before she pointed out the obvious. "Harry hasn't come..."
Ron's slackened his shoulder and leaned back against his chair, "Leave him be, Hermione. A lot of things happened,"
"Yes, well, I'm just worried," she said quietly.
"Be it as it may, he wants some time alone," told Lucia, "He's still processing the fact that Sirius... he..."
There was no need for to say more. They knew what she meant, as they themselves still couldn't help but be in disbelief that Sirius Black was now gone.
When Lucia, Hermione, and Ron were discharged from the hospital wing, cured three days before the end of the term, Hermione would constantly show signs of wanting to talk about Sirius. And from the grieving state Harry was in even after Lucia returned, it was not such a bright idea. Ron tended to make hush noises every time she mentioned Sirius' name. And it didn't help that Harry would disappear off randomly.
Professor Umbridge left Hogwarts the day before the end of term. It seemed that she had crept out of the hospital wing during dinnertime, evidently hoping to depart undetected, but unfortunately for her, she met Peeves on the way, who seized his last chance to do as Fred had instructed and chased her gleefully from the premises, whacking her alternately with a walking stick and a sock full of chalk. Many students ran out into the entrance hall to watch her running away down the path, and the Heads of Houses tried only halfheartedly to restrain their pupils. Indeed, Professor McGonagall sank back into her chair at the staff table after a few feeble remonstrances and was clearly heard to express a regret that she could not run cheering after Umbridge herself, because Peeves had borrowed her walking stick.
It was finally their last evening in Hogwarts, and it was unreal just how fast yet so slow the year had gone by. So many revelations, heartbreaks, and sorrows happened in just one year... But in that one year, there was also acceptance. As she began packing for tomorrow, Lucia bumped into a small box along the way that she had long kept hidden.
MELATI
She opened the box and instantly a wave of nostalgia flooded into her body, mind, and heart. Her belongings from years ago were stuck in just one place. How come had she never thought of uncovering this before?
Oh yeah, she thought, it was because her past was something she love to be kept hidden all these years.
But not anymore.
She rummaged through the box, finding an odd blue bejeweled tiara that she set aside until she got to the baby clothes, to the ones she wore when she was six were all in the box. There was even a toddler sized golden kebaya with floral embroideries and a batik skirt, as well as a small ruby brooch that came with it. Frankly, she didn't remember wearing this before, but it seemed that she did as next to it was a photo of toddler Lucia wearing it while playing with a parasol.
Lucia smiled at herself. How weird was it to see a picture of yourself when you barely had a mind? She rummaged through the box more when she stopped at a shattered photo frame; it was a family picture. There was her mum and dad holding her when she was a baby, and beside them was her ah-ma and a-kong...
How she regretted ever not looking through her memories. She didn't think it would bring her so much joy — of course, there was a slight hint of bittersweet coming with it, but it didn't erase the fact that once upon a time, she was happy. She was content and her family was whole.
One day, she vowed, she will get those lost time back.
She walked down the steps to the common room with Bao Bao in arms, still in deep thoughts of her family when she caught sight of a familiar figure sitting along in front of the fire. It was Harry. He was staring aimlessly at the flickering fireplace aimlessly with exhaustion. He was holding something.
"Bao Bao, go and play with Crookshanks," said Lucia, setting the ferret down.
Before Bao Bao could hiss in response of defiance, Lucia had already given him a stern look that made him scurry away. Lucia shook her head, before turning to the boy.
"Fifth year was a rollercoaster, wasn't it?" said Lucia as she plopped herself beside him, crossing her legs together with a small smile on her lip. "So many things happened..."
Harry looked at his significant other with a weak smile. "Yeah," but it came out more like a croak. Like he hadn't spoke for days... which he hadn't. "We built a rebellion against the Ministry and Umbridge when it was illegal..."
"...and then we had Grawp..."
"... and don't forget your spectacular moves during the last Quidditch match. We got the cup."
She smiled. "The spectacular moves that you and Hermione didn't even get to see..."
"I wish I did though," Harry said quietly, still guilty from not being able to see his bestfriends' achievement on that day.
"And guess what?" Lucia grinned at him.
"What?"
"Your wish just came true!" she declared, causing Harry to look at her oddly.
"What d'you mean?"
"Collin came up to me a few days ago when I was still in the hospital wing, and he bore gifts!"
Before Harry could question more, Lucia went back up to her dormitory before coming back down with a brown bag. She plopped herself back beside Harry and thrusted her hand into the bad before slowly pulling out a photo album that had been decorated like a scrapbook.
"I asked for Collin to give me the photos he took of us over the years, and I made it into this," she said. Harry looked at it and his heart softened tremendously: the covers were coloured in gradient of the Hogwarts houses as the emblems of Hogwarts stood at the center whilst the House mascots were stood in the corners. "I asked Dean to draw these for me, since he's a really talented artist than I am — he also does a pretty good lion. When I do it, the lion just looks like a worm."
Harry chuckled.
"Anyway," She flipped through the pages fast, but harry could see a couple of photographs with him, Ron, and Hermione and some with the Gryffindors in their years. There were also of the Yule Ball — him with the other Champions from last year — but he couldn't quite see the others from the fast pace she was going through. "Here it is!"
Harry peered over her and he couldn't quite point out what his heart was feeling, but he knew that he was proud to see the two pages and the photos that consisted in them; the page on the right was the Gryffindor Quidditch team photo and for the first time, Harry was looking at Lucia instead of himself in the middle of the front row, along with Andrew Kirke and Ginny Weasley in Fred and George's place, while Ron was standing in Wood's place. Below the photo was much brighter even with the same placement, however each one of the held bright and joyous smiles as Lucia held the Quidditch cup over her head excitedly.
Moving to the page beside it, his eyes first stopped at the moving picture in which Ron had stopped a Quaffle from going through their goal. And the stories that were told about that day truly was not as exaggerated as he had thought, for Ron did look like a phoenix as he stopped more goals from going through. There were also of Ginny, who knocked a Bludger from her teammates way like the shining sun she was and then there was Lucia's photo. The capturing of it was magical; she dashed from the sky, causing a thunderous pulse through the clouds. She was like an ardent flame as she snatched the Snitch from under Cho Chang's nose.
"You were amazing," breathed Harry in amazement.
"Right?" she said smugly. "But my time has come to an end as Gryffindor Seeker."
"I won't sugarcoat it, because Umbridge is my finally gone and I'm taking back that role," Harry said. "But you could tryout for others of course..."
Lucia shook her head with a smile still on her lips, "My time with competitive Quidditch has come to a great end. The only reason why I played in the first place, albeit fun, was because of Angelina. I don't think I'm fit for any other than Seeker honestly."
"You're great at catching,"
"Not when under pressure," said Lucia. "Face it Harry, this was a one-time thing."
Harry didn't reply to that. It was unfortunate, but he didn't want to pressure her into something she didn't want to do.
"I'm content with winning the Quidditch cup," said Lucia, smiling. "But I'm up for playing as a last-minute replacement though. I just don't think I can go through the religious practice of Quidditch anymore — Angelina practically broke me."
"At least you weren't in the team when Wood was in it," said Harry humouressly.
"That, I do not regret," she chuckled. "He wanted to drown himself when you guys lost against Hufflepuff. I remember."
"Wood was wild," Harry sighed.
"Indeed, he was," she then noticed Harry staring at her. "What?"
"I was just wondering if you're going to give me that?" he gestured to the photo album she had closed and stowed back into the bag.
"It was supposed to a birthday present, you dumbo," said Lucia. "I only let you have a sneak peek; you just have to wait for the end of July to get this."
"Unbelievable," Harry scoffed.
"You're going to go to the Weasleys, right? I would send the stuff on my own, but since I have no idea where the Weasleys live, I'll have to send it via owl..." Lucia went on a ramble, but Harry knew the truth, and he didn't quite have the heart to tell her the news just yet.
Would she explode on his behalf?
"I appreciate it, but you really don't have to give me anything and you can just let Hedwig do all the job,"
She shook her head. "That's where you're wrong," she smiled warmly, however it soon diminished when she saw the look of disappointment that painted his face.
"Harry, you are staying with the Weasleys, right?"
Harry didn't speak, and that was enough to tell Lucia that her words were false. Her face twisted, firm.
"Harry, where are you staying?"
"At the Dursleys," he said quietly.
"That's preposterous!"
"I can't do anything about it even if I want to," said Harry, clenching his jaw. "Dumbledore says —"
"To hell with him!" Lucia yelled. "You shouldn't be going back to that horrid place after —"
"I know," said Harry at once. "But it's for my protection."
"Protection?" scoffed Lucia. "I'm not sure if he even knows what protection means...
"Well, he does. I think. Unfortunately..." Harry said sharply.
Lucia's eyes went to the pouch Harry was holding. Noticing this, Harry spoke.
"It's from Sirius." Lucia's eyes gentled at the tone of Harry's voice. Never had it been so quiet; "He gave it to me back in Grimmauld... I haven't opened it after months, and now I regret it."
"What's in it?" she asked softly.
Harry took a sharp inhale. "It's a two-way mirror, and he got the other..." He trailed. "I — I could've used it when we went to the Ministry. I could've — why was I so bloody stupid? Why?"
"You're not stupid, Harry,"
"Oh yeah?" he looked at her as though she was the funniest person in the world. Harry let out a low and hysterical laugh. "If I wasn't stupid, then why did it all happen? Why?"
Lucia made to pull him into her embrace, but he beat her to it as she was instead pulled into his arms. His trembled uncontrollably, and she felt the shoulder pads of her dress soaking from the tears that had been released by Harry. She pulled him close to her, cradling his head.
"Stop blaming yourself so much, love." Lucia caressed the back of his head with a sharp intake of breath, "It's not all your fault, everyone had a play in it. Even us."
"But you're not denying it. I was the reason Sirius is gone now," he said blankly.
Lucia pulled his away slightly before pressing a comforting kiss on his forehead, tracing her thumb over his cheeks, wiping away his tears.
"I —"
"Shh," Lucia started. "You don't have to talk, Harry. Just let it all out."
Harry stared at her for a moment. Let it all out she says... how was he supposed to let it all out?... did he even have the right to grieve for Sirius when it was his fault?
But he lost the fight. He couldn't fight back the urge to do it, and before he knew it, he let those tears out. He was in pain. He wanted this to end.
Lucia had never seen him so in pain. She was sure that if she had not cast a spell, his wrenching voice would be heard all throughout the castle. She couldn't help but think if this was how he was when she was supposedly dead? If so, then all she wanted to do was to turn back the time so that never happened. Harry had been through so much ever since he was born, and all she wanted to do was to protect him. Protect him until her last breath.
They weren't sure whether anyone could hear him, but Lucia assured Harry that he didn't need to care about that and instead care for himself. He needed it. And he did. He continued to scream and yell at the world with all the tears that had been stored from inside of him for hours.
As each memory of Sirius he had ran through his mind torturously, he was reminded of Nearly Headless Nick's words: "Only people who are afraid of death lingered, but those who didn't passed."
Sirius wasn't afraid of death.
That's why he can never come back.
༻❁༺
The journey back home felt oddly unusual for Lucia. It felt as though she had left Hogwarts as a different person entirely, as if she had just learnt more about herself in this past year. Though she was stuck in a very crowded compartment, she didn't feel as anxious anymore, however she still needed to get used to the fact that her friends were very much permanent now.
Lucia watched soundlessly as everyone around her were minding their own business; Hermione was reading the Daily Prophet again. Ginny was doing a quiz in The Quibbler, Neville was stroking his Mimbulus mimbletonia, that had grown a great deal over the year and now made odd crooning noises when touched whilst Lucia was playing with Bao Bao; her new champagne ferret, and Crookshanks; Hermione's half-Kneazle ginger cat, on her lap. Both were needy for her attention.
She cooed at them, holding Bao Bao as if he was a human baby in her arms while Crookshanks pawed at her. Once Harry and Ron arrived back at the compartment, Harry sat by Lucia, smiling at her fondly before moving onto playing wizard chess against Ron, and as like always, Harry would lose.
Ron's domain had always been in strategies and frankly, Lucia believed that Ron could perhaps be one of the youngest chess master that could ever live in the UK and Scotland, especially after having learnt from Ginny of how young the youngest Weasley son had begun to become the master he was now.
Hermione read out snippets from the Prophet. It was now full of articles about how to repel dementors, attempts by the Ministry to track down Death Eaters, and hysterical letters claiming that the writer had seen Lord Voldemort walking past their house that very morning
"It hasn't really started yet," sighed Hermione gloomily, folding up the newspaper again. "But it won't be long now..."
"Hey, Harry," said Ron, nodding toward the glass window onto the corridor.
As Lucia put Bao Bao down, she saw Cho passing by their compartment. She wanted to smile at the girl, however, knew of the slight resentment the Ravenclaw held toward her. So rather than staring at her, she turned to her friend, Mariette Edgecombe, who was wearing a balaclava. Harry's eyes met with Cho, much to Lucia's dismay.
Cho blushed for a moment and kept walking, but Harry remained indifferent as he gazed back down at the chessboard just in time to see one of his pawns chased off its square by Ron's knight.
"What's — er — going on with you and her anyway?" Ron asked quietly.
"Nothing," said Harry truthfully.
"I — er — heard she's going out with someone else now," said Hermione tentatively.
Lucia rose her head and stared at Harry, trying to find any reaction from him, but he merely shrugged, not having any care in the world. It didn't seem to hurt him one bit, especially since this was the first time after awhile they were mentioning Cho in front of him. Yet, somehow, he looked more bored than interested.
"You're well out of it, mate," said Ron forcefully. "I mean, she's quite good-looking and all that, but you want someone a bit more cheerful."
"She still loves Cedric," said Lucia, feeling the need to defend Cho. "You can't expect someone to get over their dead ex, do you? Mind you, I may not agree of her using Harry as a rebound, but that doesn't mean we should disregard her feelings entirely."
They turned to Lucia, who was immediately put under pressure from their deafening gaze.
"And maybe... maybe Harry's just n-not her type — no offence," save Lucia, flustered.
"None taken," Harry snorted.
"All I'm saying is that perhaps she's happier with someone else, and Harry was just not the right person."
"I get it. She's probably cheerful enough with someone else," said Harry, shrugging.
"Who's she with now anyway?" Ron asked Hermione, but it was Ginny who answered.
"Michael Corner," she said.
Lucia saw from the corner of her eyes the look Ginny casted to Harry, who casted her back with a roll of an eye. Ron seemed to be bewildered by this too.
"Michael — but —" said Ron, craning around in his seat to stare at her. "But you were going out with him!"
"Not anymore," said Ginny resolutely. "He flirted with Cho, I saw it happened. And plus, I wouldn't want to be in a relationship with a guy that that badmouth my friend just because he's a sore loser. And no one talks bad about Lucia in front of me," she growled. "And so, I ditched him. He ran off to comfort Cho instead." She scratched her nose absently with the end of her quill, turned The Quibbler upside down, and began marking her answers. Ron looked highly delighted.
"What a sourpuss," mumbled Lucia, remembering the day they won the Quidditch cup very vividly. "Good for you, Ginny! Someone with a wealthy heart like you should never be with someone like that..."
" I always thought he was a bit of an idiot," Ron nodded, prodding his queen forward toward Harry's quivering castle. "Good for you. Just choose someone — better — next time."
"Well, I've chosen Dean Thomas, would you say he's better?" asked Ginny vaguely.
Lucia's softened. "Aw —"
"WHAT?" shouted Ron, upending the chessboard. Crookshanks went plunging after the pieces and Hedwig and Pigwidgeon twittered and hooted angrily from overhead.
"I like Dean. He's very sweet," said Lucia absentmindedly as she gathered the fallen chess pieces.
Harry cocked a brow, "Dean is far from a sweetheart," he grumbled.
"It's good that you moved away from Michael Corner; he's a foul git to me once back in third year," said Lucia. "Never liked him."
Ginny laughed. "It's good you don't like him, puts my mind in ease."
"How so?"
"He won't become your boyfriend." said Ginny abruptly, causing Lucia to stare at her amusingly whilst Harry choked on his own spit. Did he hear her right?
"Since the D.A. became a thing, you've no idea how many times he've been talking about you —"
Ron grimaced all the while Harry glared out of the window, imagining Corner violently...
"— always asking for you and such. Even having the audacity to ask me to ask you to go to Hogsmeade with us!"
Lucia gagged, "What. A. Cockroach."
"Well, that cockroach's about to get stepped on," Harry mumbled.
"What was that?" Lucia glanced at Harry.
He looked away, whistling. "Nothing."
As the train slowed down in the approach to King's Cross, Lucia blew a raspberry in dismay that she will be returning to the Beaumont household. The only good thing about Little Whinging was the fact that Hugo and Leon was around, and not to mention Harry also being in the same area as her...
But she doubted she could ever have peace when she returns, especially with the upcoming gymnastic championships that she was sure she was going to be forced to participate to satisfy the greed of the Beaumont couple.
When the ticket inspector signaled to her, Harry, Ron, and Hermione that it was safe to walk through the magical barrier between platforms nine and ten, however, Lucia did not expect a large group waiting for them on the other side.
There was Mad-Eye Moody, looking quite as sinister with his bowler hat pulled low over his magical eye as he would have done without it, his gnarled hands clutching a long staff, his body wrapped in a voluminous traveling cloak. Tonks stood just behind him, her bright bubble-gum-pink hair gleaming in the sunlight filtering through the dirty glass station ceiling, wearing heavily patched jeans and a bright purple T-shirt bearing the legend THE WEIRD SISTERS. Next to Tonks was Lupin, his face pale, his hair graying, a long and threadbare overcoat covering shabby jumper and trousers. At the front of the group stood Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, dressed in their Muggle best, and Fred and George, who were both wearing brand-new jackets in some lurid green, scaly material.
"Ron, Ginny!" called Mrs. Weasley, hurrying forward and hugging her children tightly. "How are you, Lucia?"
"Better," she beamed in her embrace.
"That's wonderful dear," said Mrs. Weasley lovingly before turning to Harry, "Oh, and Harry dear — how are you?"
"Fine," lied Harry, as she pulled him into a tight embrace. Over her shoulder he saw Ron goggling at the twins' new clothes.
"What are they supposed to be?" he asked, pointing at the jackets.
"Finest dragon skin, little bro," said Fred, giving his zip a little tweak. "Business is booming and we thought we'd treat ourselves."
Before anyone could speak, a figure ran pass them with a squeal as they made their way to Fred and George, pouncing on them.
"Oh, I missed you two!" Erin Malfoy cried dramatically at them. "Hogwarts without you two was simply boring!"
"Got any news from your dear old family?" George asked.
A melancholic look painted on her primadonna's face. "I tried to write to them after my dad's arrest, but nothing was budging... Draco told me to not worry about it anymore since it's him and Mother's responsibility with me being disowned now... but... but I wished that I could at least attend his hearing and support my family..." Her tone continuously dimmed, barely managing to speak of her family's situation without showing her crestfallen attitude.
Despite her little brother telling her to not worry about them anymore, how could she not? Sure, she was disowned, but that didn't mean she didn't acknowledge her family. She still loved them. She never once hated them as her family, but only as people.
She hated her father for his choices in life, but in the end, he was still her father; he expected so much of her only for her to disappoint him, but there was still moment in her life where he fulfilled his task as a father. Her mother wanted nothing more but the best for her, suiting her with every man that fit her standard, but they were not what she wanted. It was what her mother wanted, yet she still loved her warm embrace despite that. Draco had always bought a sense of disappointment from within her, but was it actually his fault? She blamed the decisions that were made by their parents. But even then, she believed that Draco can chose his own choices if he were to try with a little bit of a push by someone or himself in general...
She hated how things ended between them, and she wished that things were different. All she wanted was for her family to be happy...
"Fred, George, dears," Mrs. Weasley cleared her throat, gaining the attention of the three eighteen-year-olds. "Are you going to leave your parents waiting?"
The three took a moment to comprehend the Weasley matriarch's words before Erin's pale face went red, Fred and George winced at the sickly-sweet tone their mother was using. Neither Fred or George had talked about Erin being Fred's girlfriend and knew that was an initial mistake. Though, in their defence, the thought never came up.
But sure enough, they knew very well that would not end good...
"Hello, Harry, Lucia," said Lupin, as Mrs. Weasley went to greet Erin formally along with Mr. Weasley.
"Hi," said Harry.
"Professor," nodded Lucia.
"I'm not your professor anymore, Lucia." Lupin said, amused.
"You'll always be the best professor in my heart," she said smilingly.
Harry blinked as he examined his surroundings. "I didn't expect... what are you all doing here?"
"Well," said Lupin with a slight smile, "we thought we might have a little chat with your aunt and uncle before letting them take you home."
"I dunno if that's a good idea," said Harry at once.
"Why not? It's not like they would cause a scene in front of hundreds..." Lucia then snapped at them, "Would they?"
"They can if they want to," huffed Harry. "I just don't think it's a good idea."
"Oh, I think it is," growled Moody, who had limped a little closer. "That'll be them, will it, Potter?"
He pointed with his thumb over his shoulder; his magical eye was evidently peering through the back of his head and his bowler hat. Lucia leaned against Harry's left and saw where Mad-Eye was pointing and there, sure enough, she assumed was the three Dursleys, who looked positively appalled to see Harry's reception committee.
"Ah, Harry!" said Mr. Weasley, turning from Hermione's parents, whom he had been greeting enthusiastically, and who were taking it in turns to hug Hermione. "Well — shall we do it, then?"
"Yeah, I reckon so, Arthur," said Moody.
He and Mr. Weasley took the lead across the station toward the place where the Dursleys stood, apparently rooted to the floor. Hermione disengaged herself gently from her mother to join the group.
"Good afternoon," said Mr. Weasley pleasantly to Uncle Vernon, coming to a halt right in front of him. "You might remember me, my name's Arthur Weasley."
Mr. Dursley turned a deeper shade of puce and glared at Mr. Weasley, but chose not to say anything, partly, perhaps, because the Dursleys were outnumbered two to one. Mrs. Dursley looked both frightened and embarrassed. She kept glancing around, as though terrified somebody she knew would see her in such company. Finally, the cousin she had heard many complaints about, Dudley, seemed to be trying to look small and insignificant, a feat at which he was failing extravagantly.
"We thought we'd just have a few words with you about Harry," said Mr. Weasley, still smiling.
"Yeah," growled Moody. "About how he's treated when he's at your place."
Mr. Dursley's mustache seemed to bristle with indignation. Possibly because the bowler hat gave him the entirely mistaken impression that he was dealing with a kindred spirit, he addressed himself to Moody.
"I am not aware that it is any of your business what goes on in my house —"
"I expect what you're not aware of would fill several books, Dursley," growled Moody.
"Anyway, that's not the point," interjected Tonks, whose pink hair seemed to offend Mrs. Dursley more than all the rest put together, for she closed her eyes rather than look at her. "The point is, if we find out you've been horrible to Harry —"
"— and make no mistake, we'll hear about it," added Lupin pleasantly.
"Yes," said Mr. Weasley, "even if you won't let Harry use the fellytone —"
"Telephone," whispered Hermione.
"Yeah, if we get any hint that Potter's been mistreated in any way, you'll have us to answer to," said Moody.
Mr. Dursley swelled ominously. His sense of outrage seemed to outweigh even his fear of this bunch of oddballs.
"Are you threatening me, sir?" he said, so loudly that passersby actually turned to stare.
"Yes, I am," said Mad-Eye, who seemed rather pleased that Mr. Dursley had grasped this fact so quickly.
Lucia blew a low whistle. Damn...
"And do I look like the kind of man who can be intimidated?" barked Mr. Dursley.
"Well..." said Moody, pushing back his bowler hat to reveal his sinisterly revolving magical eye. Mr. Dursley leapt backward in horror and collided painfully with a luggage trolley. "Yes, I'd have to say you do, Dursley."
She knew Moody was cool, but the wickedness has just doubled in Lucia's opinion.
He turned from Mr. Dursley to Harry. "So, Potter... give us a shout if you need us. If we don't hear from you for three days in a row, we'll send someone along..."
Mrs. Dursley whimpered piteously.
"'Bye, then, Potter," said Moody, grasping Harry's shoulder for a moment with a gnarled hand.
"Take care, Harry," said Lupin quietly. "Keep in touch."
"Harry, we'll have you away from there as soon as we can," Mrs. Weasley whispered, hugging him again.
"We'll see you soon, mate," said Ron anxiously, shaking Harry's hand.
"Really soon, Harry," said Hermione earnestly. "We promise."
Once he was done with the rest, Harry stopped in front of the ebony-haired girl; Lucia's lips wavered. He couldn't help but think of how dramatic she was being that it was even amusing to him, but he understood why. Without warning, she jumped on him, her arms wrapping around his neck.
"I'm really going to miss you... and... and I know we already had that talk, but I better see you in that playground again... and I expect dozens and dozens and dozens of letters from you,"
Harry laughed loud enough for only her to here as he gripped her waist. "No doubt am I going to send you letters —"
"Make sure to feed Hedwig, because she'll be doing a lot of delivering over the summer."
"What exactly are you going to have her send to me aside from that photo album?" Harry asked weakly.
"Loads and loads of things..."
Harry both shuddered and was eager at the thought.
Before he was able to speak, Lucia pressed her lips against his. A series of audible gasps could be heard all around them as Harry reciprocate the kiss, cherishing every moment, knowing that he would not be getting any over the summer.
They broke apart, smiling with each other — that was until Lucia realised one tiny thing.
"I'm going to be late!" Lucia yelped, pressing a quick kiss before running to get her trunk. She then ran to Ginny, Hermione, and Ron, who were still shocked of the sight that they had saw as she gave them all a hug. "Hugo's going to kill me!"
Lucia proceeded to run, before stopping in front of Harry kissing him once more, then breaking apart, running in Harry's dismay.
"See you again, Harry! All of you!"
With that, they watched as the redheaded girl disappeared into the crowd of hundreds and thousands of Muggles. Harry smiled softly before he felt a nudge on his ribs.
"What the bloody hell just happened?!" Ron bombarded.
"I feel like we've missed a chapter in Lucia and Harry's love story..." gasped Hermione.
"Potter!" Ginny snarled.
Harry shrugged his shoulder. "I don't know what you all are talking about,"
"You do know!" Ron declared.
"Oh, well," Harry shrugged before turning to his relatives.
Harry breathed out sharply and turned back to the group behind him. He couldn't find anymore words to tell them of how it meant to him seeing them all there, instead he smiled, raised a hand in farewell, turned around, and led the way out of the station toward the sunlit street, with Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia, and Dudley hurrying along in his wake.
The two, though going their separate for only a short period of time, couldn't wait to meet each other again.