CXXXV. WELCOMING SPRING WITH AND WITHOUT YOU
21:79 ─❁────────── 31:80
◁ Ⅱ ▷
❝I want to go to the other side of Earth
Holding your hand, put and end to winter
How much should my longings fall like snow
Before days of spring return, friend?❞
༻───────────────༺
HER HEART RAMMED AGAINST HER ribcage as she blinked blankly, sitting absentmindedly by the marble staircase — or, what's left of it anyway. It was the first day since the end war ended with them taking the victory, yet it didn't felt all that much of a celebratory type of day if she had to say so herself.
Victory didn't meant much when you take in the losses that came to reach to the point where they stood now, and she had to learn that the hard way as she along with the other inhabitants of the ruined and battered castle lingered in the entrance hall, waiting for the door to the Great Hall to open once again. However, this time it wasn't for eating or partying, but instead it was so they could say goodbye and celebrate the dead before they part way from them for good.
Wizards all throughout the country came to pay their respect, but only those who were family and friends of the fallen heroes were able to enter the castle for the funeral alongside the survivors and fighters of the war. The Ministry weren't allowed in, but had to watch the funeral from outside as well — except for those whom Kingsley trusted. Even from the little crack of the door where she remembered sleeping against, waiting, she could see the candles that were lit and the hundreds and thousands of witches and wizards outside. She could also see the paparazzi waiting for everyone that were invited to come in and out of the castle, especially Harry.
Jokes on them, all of them had already been in here before the funeral began, having resting in the castle immediately after the war. And for those families and friends was were invited had entered through the fireplace in the headmaster's office that Professor McGonagall had set up along with the other staffs.
Finally, the doors to the Great Hall graciously opened and everyone began filling into the chairs as at the front of the hall sat fifty or so coffins, each with flowers and their respected wands laid on their chest. A show of light in a shape of wands against wands could be seen from even the furthest of where she stood, to commemorate the brave memories of them all. Even Professor Snape was there, but she knew it was requested by Harry for him to be there, after all he was partially the reason they had the Sword of Gryffindor the first time — though what she did wished was that he should've put it somewhere not so dangerous...
Lucia felt lightheaded as she took a seat in the back of the hall along with the students of Hogwarts. She didn't think she could handle sitting at the front where all the victim's family were sat; the Creeveys sat one another, not even blinking at the magic that surrounded them, grieving their son and brother they lost; the Weasleys were huddled up together, even Luna and Hermione joining them as they grieved for the lost of not only their son, but also their daughter-in-law that they were certain would've had a grand wedding as they planned a month from now if it weren't for the circumstances; surprisingly, the Malfoys also showed their faces, but they merely sat at the back in silence, too immersed by the fact that they, too, lost a family member despite where they stood in the war. At last, she saw Andromeda Tonks, Teddy Lupin, and Harry sitting at the very front.
Even from where she sat, she saw the blotchiness on Andromeda; her beautiful face was adorned with tears as she dabbed countlessly with her hanky. But Lucia was none a fool to not believe that she had broken down more than one time. And quite honestly, she didn't blamed the woman. Not only did she lost her husband, but a daughter and even her son-in-law and friend, leaving her with only her grandson whom she was to take care of, alone. A grandson who was barely three months in living.
Lucia watched as Harry offered to take Teddy from Andromeda's hand, in which the one gratefully let as she grieved on her own. Harry held Teddy with such care and gentleness, but with fear lacing in those anxious eyes of his, for he had never held a baby before. Yet the senseless fear diminished into guilt. He felt guilty for letting all of this happened, and despite what people said to him, the guilt would remain in him.
The guilt of a survivor.
It wasn't his fault, it never was. He never chose to be the Chosen One. He never chose to live a heinous life where everything he does could either lead him to his end or to other's. The universe hated him, and it was crystal clear that even a blind man could see it. Ironically.
The prophecy messed so many thing in him, but even when it was all over, it seemed to hit him more with a much more worse toll.
Even with the current state he was in, Lucia couldn't help but watch with a tender gaze as he strive to make Teddy feel better. He would no doubt be the greatest godfather to little Teddy Lupin, like his godfather was to him. She knew without a doubt that he would help Andromeda out with Teddy, whether it'll be financially or physically. He would, because that was just the person he always had been. And sometimes, she believed that it was both blessing and a curse.
Harry James Potter, he would prioritise anyone but himself.
Seemingly catching her gaze, Harry turned around from where he was seated. He frowned momentarily when he saw where she was sitting, she should've been sitting with the rest of them at the front, but from the look she held, it didn't look as though she thought she could do it or deserved it. And he wished he could tell her otherwise right there and then, and he would've if it weren't for the funeral. He casted a small soft smile as Teddy played with his finger, and she reciprocated with a half-hearted one.
Before Harry could further talk to her through the expressions they made, Professor McGonagall walked up to the podium, wearing her black robes instead of her greens. "Welcome and thank you all for being here today, to celebrate the life of these fifty brave heroes that fought valiantly with courage during the war that ensued only yesterday ago,"
Silence filled the Great Hall. No one dared to move a muscle.
"I will not lie, yesterday and the day before that and so on, it was terrible. It was also very painful for me, I have never thought that I would ever have to fight any of my students, however that became reality just yesterday. Each and every brave soul, I expected them to outlive me, yet it brought me so much displeasure to see that I, Professor McGonagall, stood in front of all of my students, outliving them all. No matter what House they were, I treated them as though they were my students as I am their teacher. But at the same time, I love them like they were my very own children," Professor McGonagall's voice shook, but she stood her ground, trying her best to not let those tears to fall. "Their memories will live on. Their legacy will continue, and not one children will forget their name as they will be written in our history books. They will go down in history as the brave ones. The heroes of the Wizarding world."
Sniffles filled the hall. Lucia watched intently, body quivering. Their names will go down in history, and she'll make sure of it if no one will. People will remember their names.
Professor Flitwick, Professor Sprout, and Professor Slughorn rose from their seat, joining Professor McGonagall on the podium. They stood in a line as they raise their wand in the air; they seem to conjure something up in the air together, and Lucia couldn't quite see what it was until the light of the sun shone directly on it.
Before she could comprehend what it was, Professor Flitwick and Professor Slughorn raised their wand and one by one cages and cages of doves that swiftly flew around the hall before flying through the opened windows. Professor McGonagall and Professor Sprout raised the bundle up in the air.
"Today, we celebrate the decease with the doves as a mean of their safe journey to the life after death peacefully, as well as the elegant beauty of lilies, symbolising the innocence that was restored to the souls of the departed," The aroma of lilies filled the Great Hall as they spun around above the guests, whom watch with awe. Professor McGonagall made a swift movement, "Goodbye and live on happily," And the bundle of lilies burst, flying around the Great Hall. Everyone reached for one.
Lucia reached her hand out for the one that was landing directly on her and took a quick whiff of the flower. Her shoulders slumped, the sweet scent taking over her body to the point of relaxation. For a moment there she had forgotten all about her worries, and she was sure the others also did as they took a brief whiff of the lilies in their hand.
At the front, she saw Harry twiddling with the flower in one hand while the other supported Teddy, who subconsciously changed his hair colour into the familiar bubblegum pink to the brown, reminding her and certainly, Andromeda and Harry, of his parents. It broke her heart to know that Teddy will never get the chance to meet him parents himself, he was an orphan.
And no one can change that.
Everyone rose from their seats and formed a long line — Lucia wasn't all that in the back, but she was still far away from her friends that were at the front of the line. She watched as families gave their respect for each one of the heroes before putting down their lilies on the ones that were the reason they were here in the first place; parents struggled to even put theirs, and Lucia was able to see that through Mr. and Mrs. Weasley.
They both stood in front of Fred and Erin's coffin, whose faces were looking mockingly up at the bewitched ceiling as though they were just asleep with their closed eyes that could never open willingly anymore. She could see from afar that it took Mrs. Weasley her every fibre of her body to not to break right there and then before she was pulled to continue with laying their respect to the other deceases by Mr. Weasley, who whispered soothingly, consolingly. The Weasley siblings were still comprehending of the fact that from seven they were now six. They lost one. Each one of them could not handle the thought of it even with that being their new reality.
Their brother was gone.
George Weasley stood in front of his other half and his other half's wife, who was ironically also his honorary best friend. His brother was his everything, they opened up a joke shop together, and he didn't actually knew whether he could continue it without him without them. Losing an ear was nothing to losing a brother. Let alone a twin. He could never heal from this, and no one can help him.
Then it was Andromeda Tonks turned. She took shaky steps when she approached the coffin where not only her daughter, but as well as her friend, behind her was Harry and Teddy, who took careful steps as well. Tears were shed as she laid the lilies and said a few words before finally she could move on. Harry, carrying Teddy in his arms, laid the lilies on Tonks and his old professor's body. A look of anguish and remorse etched his face for a moment before he looked away, moving on.
Harry was still fathoming of the fact that these people died because of him. Because he had to come to Hogwarts. Perhaps it would have been different if he hadn't come to Hogwarts, but at the same time it was vital for their victory in the war. Finding the diadem wasn't as easy as people would have thought, but in the end they did. And one led to another and he was now gone. Where there was war, there would always be casualties.
Somewhat, he felt that he didn't deserved to come back when in fact every one of these fifty people could not come back from the dead as he did. It's just wasn't fair.
But nothing could be change. No amount of magic could bring back the dead, he was just lucky enough to survive.
Lucia stepped foot on the platform, fiddling with the bouquet of lilies she was holding after having conjuring up more. She laid them all for each one of the heroes before halting at Collin Creevey. He was so young, yet he went too early. All the memories she was able to put on a paper was because of him, and despite being a little bit annoying at times, he was also such a wonderful person; Lucia moved on to Tonks and Lupin and all she could feel was the feeling of remorse as she laid the lilies. They deserved more time with their son, they deserved more time...
Each and every one of them did.
Finally she halted in front of Fred and Erin. They looked so peaceful that, to her, was mocking. Both died with a smile on their faces, it made her wanted to yell at them for no reason. She wished she could've done more. She wished both of them could've experienced a life much more tranquil with one another, having the wedding that either dreamt of with their families and friends. Perhaps have children to carry on their legacy even? All she knew was that the guilt of not having protecting Erin Malfoy — currently and will remain, Weasley, will always remain in her heart as a hole.
"She's gone, Mother..." Lucia heard Draco said blankly once it was the Malfoys turn to lay their respect to their fallen love ones. "Father, do you have anything to say? Have any remorse?" his voice was cool, but he also seem to try not to break down there like his mother already did.
Lucius Malfoy did not say anything, only staring at the lifeless body of his eldest daughter, as well as his supposed son-in-law.
Draco was angry at his parents, but most importantly himself. He regretted not being there for her the way she had been there for him. But one was for sure, he was just glad that she had found happiness before death... even if it was with someone like Fred Weasley.
"C'mon, Draco," He raised his eyes and saw Astoria seizing his hand gently before leading him and his family off the podium.
Erin was gone, and him and his parents would forever live with the guilt of leaving her behind. But, Draco, guessed, it was for the better that way.
Draco squeezed Astoria, his only friend, hand as he closed his eyes; they didn't deserve the closure.
After the service, many gathered in the entrance hall to remember those who were lost, commemorating them, but Lucia couldn't think. All she could remember was the seconds before all of the tragedy happened as she rubbed Bao Bao's belly. Tears welled her eyes. She was such a baby, how was she able to endure this before? How was she able to endure funerals?
Oh yeah, she never actually did until she had avenged them.
Until she had killed Rodolphus Lestrange for good.
Avenging them just proved that she never really did moved on...
"Andromeda, you don't have to worry about Teddy alone," Lucia heard Harry said she walked pass him, wanting to escape from the entrance hall. From everyone. Harry saw this and felt concern for the girl, but he continued. "I'll help in any shape or form. Be it financially? Done, I'll help. Physically? I'm there the moment you call for me. You and Teddy are not alone,"
"I know," breathed Andromeda as she caressed her sleeping grandson in her arms. "I-It's just that I wished at least, Ted was here, you know? Now I'm not only a widow, but as well a grieving mother and a grieving aunt..."
Harry looked at her in a melancholic way. Seemingly noticing this, she held her hand up.
"Do not start with you constant apologies, Harry," said Andromeda sternly. "None of this was your fault — it wasn't your fault that you had to be the Boy-Who-Lived, the boy who vanquished the Dark Lord. Please, remind yourself that you never had the choice."
"I could've done better to prevent this though," said Harry bitterly, clenching his jaw. "If I wasn't so reckless, than the war would have never started yesterday."
"The battle was supposed to happen one way or another. It was destined to be held at Hogwarts, and it was better sooner than later that it happened," Andromeda spoke to him, voice tender. "Each one of them — Dora... Remus... Erin... everyone that fought in the battle, they fought for their freedom and the freedom of others. You did well, Harry, and I hope you could remind yourself that and give credit where credit is due," she propped Teddy in her arms, "Well, I best be talking to my sister. We have something to discuss that's been put off for decades..."
"Narcissa Malfoy, you mean? She's here?" Harry looked astonished by this new information.
Andromeda nodded and beckoned over to the three familiar pale blondes that were talking in hush tones. "I got word from Kingsley that Lucius would be able to attend today's service to say goodbye to his daughter, and that meant that my sister and my nephew also can get out of house arrest just for today. A good man Kingsley is, he would be a great Minister,"
Harry nodded distractedly. "Yeah, he would be a good Minister... Are you going to talk to her?"
"I was thinking of reconciling," said Andromeda truthfully with a sad smile. "She's my little sister, you know? By the time I became a 'Bloodtraitor', she was still young and very easily influenced. And recently, she too lost her own daughter. Now, with Lucius off to Azkaban and me without Ted and Dora, all we have is each other. Of course, along with Draco and Teddy,"
"Looks like they're taking him already," pointed Harry, and people in the watch as the Aurors took Lucius Malfoy away from his family, who kept their head high. From what Harry could see, they must've had exchanged a few words before as he tears was welling Narcissa's face and Draco's expression of indifference as he held his mother's hand.
"Now's go time," said Andromeda. In all her life after Hogwarts, she never truly thought she would be able to reconcile with her sisters — albeit sister. Bellatrix was dead to her the moment she joined the Death Eaters and not to mention targeting her daughter and niece. Narcissa was a different story, for she thought there was still time for a second chance. All they needed was time. "Say, Harry,"
"Yeah?" Harry turned to Andromeda.
"I'll see you on Wednesday, yeah?" Andromeda smiled hopefully. "For Teddy,"
Harry stared at the sleeping Teddy's before smiling, nodding. "I'll see you then. Also, Mrs. Weasley is going to invite you for dinner tonight."
"Count us in." said Andromeda. And with that, she turned her heel to approach her sister, who, at the sight of Andromeda, widened her eyes. He wasn't sure what the future was instore for Andromeda and the Malfoys, but he hoped that it was good. For the sake of the woman.
He looked around the entrance hall and saw Ron and Hermione in each other's arms as they and the other Weasleys still stood in front of their fallen kin, not bearing to let them go just yet. Harry thought it would be best to leave them alone and turned to see Neville was with his grandmother as he, Seamus, and Dean talked to her; Harry saw the pride that etched Mrs. Longbottom's face, and he didn't blamed her. Neville was indeed spectacular during the war, slewing Nagini.
He stood aimlessly in the centre of the entrance hall. he didn't know what to do now. It wasn't as though he wanted to go out through the front door where he would immediately be bombarded by journalist of what happened during the battle and how it ended. Quite frankly, for now, he wanted to forget all about the past year. He wanted to escape,'
"Hello, Harry," Astoria Greengrass approached him with her arms linked with her sister Daphne. Harry quirked a brow at her sudden appearance, but she merely shrugged. "How are you doing?"
"Not sure," Harry said in a tired manner.
"Well, she didn't came here to actually ask how you're doing, Potter," sighed Daphne exasperatedly, nudging her little sister, "Tell him,"
"Fine," huffed Astoria. "I just want to tell you that I saw a particular dark hair girl running up the marble stairs. Not sure where she was going, but she looks like she feeling 'Not sure' either," she said, her expression serious.
Harry's eyes furrowed as he registered her words.
"What do you mean?"
"Who knows?" shrugged Daphne. "But I think you should go see how she's doing. She's been sitting, standing and doing everything alone today. Go and find her,"
Harry did not need to be told twice as he his legs began moving by itself up the marble staircase, dodging the many rubbles that have yet to be cleaned. He wasn't particularly sure where she was, but he needed to find her. He needed to talk to her. He lost many people in his life, but he wasn't going to lose her. He took a couple of turns, jumping over rubbles of stones. He wasn't thinking of where he was going, but only her. She was everything to him, and in no way was he about to let her go.
Not again.
Running up the stairs, he heard faintly of the sound of frustrated sniffles and weeps. Harry walked up slowly when he finally reached the top, where he found her: Lucia DiFiore, swished around her wands without anything but a simple silver mist coming out of it; Lucia's once glimmering night eyes were nothing but dull and watered with tears of frustration. The black gown that hugged her figure from before seemingly loosen as the ribbon belt around her waist was took off and thrown at the side of the Astronomy Tower.
This place brought horrendous memories, yet he could not think of it right now, for his priority currently was her. In all his life of knowing her, he had never seen her so... so... distraught. All he wanted was to pull her in his embrace, but he was well aware that he couldn't just do that outright.
She swished her wand in motion, crying out, "Expecto... Expecto Patronum!" But nothing.
Nothing but silver mist. It then dawned on Harry that she was having a hard time in conjuring her Patronus... because she couldn't think of any happy memory currently.
"How long have you been up here?"
Lucia jolted in startlement, whirling around to meet Harry. The person she had been, not avoiding per se, but had a hard time looking at without feeling her heart clenching at the memory of his dead body laying still in Hagrid's arms. She immediately looked away to the view.
"A few minutes or so," said Lucia, quickly combing through her hair and wiping off the tears from her face. But it was useless since it was all blotchy and red. "P-Pretty isn't it?"
"Yeah..." Harry came to her side and noticed her fidgeting. "Lucia,"
"Yeah?"
"Look at me,"
"What?" she said hoarsely, as though there was a lump in her throat. She blinked profusely, not tearing her eyes away from the green view of the mountains. They were at the highest point of Hogwarts that remained in one piece through the destructive battle that had went on. The cold wind blowing through her hair.
"Look at me," said Harry.
"Oh, no worries," Lucia's voice came out as a crack, "I think I'm good,"
"Lucia," spoke Harry once more, but now, she could sense the desperation in his voice as he looked at her. She closed her eyes. "Please, why aren't you looking at me?"
She trembled dangerously, clenching her wand in her hand as her lips wobbled. She felt as though her legs were about to give out on her, but she stood her ground, gasping a cry. She fluttered her eyes open and turned to him. "Because all I can see is that dead body in Hagrid's arms..."
Harry was speechless at this revelation. He never actually thought of what others think when he emerged out of nowhere after being claimed dead.
"All... All I can see when I look at you, Harry, is your lifeless body..." Serafina turned away and walked up to the edge. "You have no idea, the moment I saw you not moving when I called you — when we called you — all I felt was nothing but pain. I lost you, I had no hope anymore..."
"But I wasn't dead —"
"But I didn't know that, did I?" she snapped. "None of us did. We didn't know you were pretending because, well, you're very good at acting dead! And then, you somehow came out of nowhere? You expect me to feel that everything in the world is okay now?"
"Of course I don't —"
"We made a promise to each other, but you still went to the Forbidden Forest without even a simple goodbye. You could've said goodbye, Harry. You could've gave us a heads up —"
"But if I did, I would've never had the courage to go walk to my death, Lucia! I needed to die — Voldemort would still be alive if I didn't die for a brief second! I knew if I went to say goodbye to you and Ron and Hermione and to everyone, I couldn't do it." Harry confessed, chest heaving up and down as his own tears shed. "Not once when I walked to my death did I not think of all of you. At that time, I thought it was the best way to make sure we win. My death was vital! It pained me to know, at that time, that I can never be the person to wait for you at the end of the aisle. That I can never be the last person you love, because you would life would go on without me. And the only thing that could make me brave for the inevitable was you."
Lucia stared at him with tearful shock. "W-What?"
"I thought of you when I died, and I thought when I came back to life," said Harry breathlessly, voice tender as he took her hand in his, caressing the back of her hand, not tearing his eyes away from her. "You might've thought you lost me then, but I'm not going anywhere now. Lucia, you'll be getting rid of me by the time we're old and grey. And even then, we're not going to get rid of each other even after death. You're stuck with me."
Lucia felt an unknown rush through her body, as she stared at him intently. Was it true?
"And you promise that?" she croaked, hopefully. "You promise that you're not going to leave me like how my dad had to leave my mum? Like how my family had to leave me?"
Harry's eyes softened.
"Never," he said, cupping her face in his hands, tracing his thumb over the tears that had shed. "I'm not going anywhere. Not today, not in a million years. Even if the universe decided that us being together is wrong, we'll show prove them wrong. Even if our fates had already been written in the stars, then we'll just rewrite it to the way we wanted. Because I'm done following them now."
Lucia breathed out a soft and hoarse chuckle, staring at the reflection of herself in those emerald green eyes that she loved so much, reminding her where there was the darkness there would always be light at the end of a tunnel. The eyes that reminded her so much of spring, connecting to the beauty of life that was just so earthly and ethereal.
She clutched his arm, trembling. He wasn't going to go anywhere... It was all fine now...
Swiftly, she wrapped her arms around him as he did not waste a breath to reciprocate the loving act, taking each other's warmth, welcoming them like they hadn't see each other for centuries. "I'm not going to let anyone take you from me anytime soon. Not again..."
"And I don't mind that. Keep clinging onto me, because I'll be sure cling onto you," said Harry truthfully, pressing a soft kiss on her forehead. "By the way, were you practicing the Patronus Charm before I got here?"
"O-Oh yeah," said Lucia, suddenly embarrassed, pulling herself away from him, much to his dismay. She leant against the railing, hiding her blushing face, though Harry was quite sure that no one except him would detect that she was flustered instead of crying thanks to the blotchiness of her face. "I just um... I just wanted to see if I'm still able to do it, you know? Because I haven't done it for months —"
Harry went to lean his back beside her. "But you couldn't?"
Lucia lips went thin and shook her head.
"Probably because you're acting like a dementor?"
She scoffed.
"Nicely put, Professor," Lucia applauded sarcastically. "So charming, it's not like everyone is being a dementor right now because today's a funeral."
"I feel like my sarcasm finally been rubbing on you," said Harry.
"No, really?"
"Insufferable," Harry scowled playfully
"You say that, but I know you love me," Lucia mustered out a half-hearted smile that was just exhausting.
"Fortunately," Harry then dragged her to the centre and raised her wand slightly in the air. "Try again,"
"Nothing's going to change, Harry. I'm a miserable sod now, not even your smile can change that," said Lucia sadly.
"Then you just need a therapist,"
"Says you," Lucia rolled her eyes.
"Just... listen, okay?" Harry asked, and she nodded though quite reluctantly.
Lucia wasn't all that sure that anything Harry would do could get her to conjure her Patronus once again, it just seem impossible now. But she let him, it somewhat reminded her of their first year when the Dumbledore Army was first founded and when he thought them Defence Against the Dark Arts since the Ministry had been incompetent. It brought back so many memories...
"Now," Harry raised his own wand that he was happy to be back in his possession, "Just think of your happiest memory and... Expecto Patronum,"
And out of the end of his wand burst, not a shapeless cloud of mist like how hers was, but a blinding, dazzling, silver stag. Lucia stared at it enviously.
"That may or may be too vague, Harry. You don't think I've tried?"
"I know you tried, but sometimes desperation can cause your mind to block some of the most happiest memories,"
"Wise words," said Lucia half-heartedly. But Harry was quite serious and she heaved out a sigh. "Fine."
She took a deep breath as she concentrated on her wand and every memory, unlocking them. She racked through them thoroughly, wondering, did she have any happy memories left? All year long, all she felt was that she had been the dementor. All year long, she had only been greeted by countless of tortures and unfortunately, she had relived the night her father was killed. Was there a possibility that she still had the chance find a happy memory? If she could, then why couldn't she find it.
Unbeknownst to her, she was shaking. Shaking from the overwhelming thought that she could never conjure a Patronus ever again. It was terrifying.
"Breathe, Luce," she heard Harry said faintly, resting his hands on her shoulder. "Just think of the most happiest memory you could — or even, create a scenario that you find yourself the happiest in..."
She calmed at the sound of his soothing voice, closing her eyes. Just trying to find her memories or the many scenarios she had created from before, but nothing was coming up until all she could see in the abyss of darkness in her mind. She was about to lose hope at ever conjuring the snowy owl once again when she saw it: It was such a calming sight to behold.
Lucia snapped her eyes open, greeting the familiar surroundings of the Astronomy Tower before uttering the spells she never thought she could utter again. "Expecto Patronus,"
And out of the end of her wand burst, not the shapeless cloud of mist that she had been doing before, but a blinding, dazzling, silver animal. She squinted her eyes, wanting to see the familiar snow owl that would soar through the sky with graceful hoots, but something else made itself known. Both Harry and Lucia watched in shock as it galloped around them silently, joining the stag to fill the once solemn room with joy.
"I-It's not a snowy owl anymore," said Lucia, astonished.
"It's a doe..." breathed Harry, watching as the doe Patronus galloped as though playing with the stag.
"I-It changed?" Lucia looked around at Harry, alarmed. Was that normal?
But Harry's heart soared through the sky. It was doe. Hers was a doe. It changed, just like Tonks's did before. "Yeah, it changed..."
"Why a doe though?"
"Dunno..." smiled Harry, sighing as he wrapped an arm around her waist, watching the two deer Patronuses galloped. "What did you think of?"
Lucia turned to him and an endearing smile crept to her lips. "Oh, you'll find out sooner or later,"
"What, why?"
"Because by then, you'll probably know my name too,"
Harry didn't understand what she meant, but whatever it was, he reckoned it would be something he would quite enjoy.
"I guess I should ask you out on a date now, shouldn't I?" Harry quirked a brow at her.
"If you aren't then I know I will," said Lucia, simpering.
"I love you,"
"I know you do,"
Harry let out a soft laugh, cupping her face, admiring every little thing about her; from the dazzling night eyes of her that reminded him so much of nature, to the plump rosy cheeks, to the ebony hair she possessed, and last but not least, the smile she held. He was hers, and she was his. Nothing was going to change that.
Let him be the last to kiss her, love her, and cherish her.
Let her be the last to love him, hug him, and relish him.
"Everything's going to change now... but in a good way, right?" said Harry.
"I hope," she interlaced their fingers together, walking up to the edge of the tower, looking at the vast and beautiful view of the mountain and forest ahead of them. Lucia laid her head on his shoulders. "But we'll be together right?"
Harry smiled down at her.
"Until the end,"
So, this book has finally come to an end. thank you all so much for reading this long ass book and all and all, supporting me through writing Lucia's journey, as well as her and Harry's journey.
I never thought i would actually have to sign this book off and its really sad since this is my first ever fanfiction i've written and published. but if there was one thing I learn when writing this book, is that it gave me the confidence to write more. in the near future, i hope i can write more.
Thank you everyone <3
- Winnie.
P.S. I will be writing a few extra chapters to commemorate the end of Lurry!!