Effects of Life and Death

Notes: If you mix certain topics that have little to do with each other, you get another confusing R/Lu story from me. Isn't that awesome?
This is semi-AU, so some characters will react differently than in canon due to different upbringing situations.

Warnings: Very AU, with OOC-ness. Contains "soul stuff" science-fiction mumbo-jumbo. The story is told from Luna or Ron's points of view, so if a character is described in a negative manner, it's not me speaking!

Pairings: Ron/Luna, maybe Neville/Ginny, some Harry/Hermione.

Chapter One - Sight

Some believe that when a child is born, they get a glimpse at their whole life. They see when they die. The infant will instantly forget all his life, and will go on as if nothing had happened. Parents rejoice when their child is born. They ignore their fate, their child's fate, and the fate of their parents.

However, this ideal method, thought out by whatever powerful force exists, seems to have been flawed. Otherwise, why would some believe or know this happens?

It is basically because some people have episodes called déjà vu. These are quite confusing sensations of having already lived a particular situation. However, it is quite rare that these glimpses are ever useful. Yet, in the exceptional occurrences that it was helpful, this theory or belief has surged.

Are humans given a life that has no other alternative? Are their lives driven by a powerful force, which they cannot ignore? Does anyone actually want to rewrite their own life? And how would they do it?

March, 1990...

Moria Lovegood stirred the potion carefully, humming to herself. A book was opened next to the large cauldron before her, which was over a small rounded and hot structure. A quill and an ink bottle next to the book. She would occasionally write down something, and would look at her nine-year-old daughter, Luna, making sure she was entertained.

They were in the basement of the Lovegood household. A large room filled with jars, shelves, books, and strange objects. It was a large collection of experiments that Moria had made in the last decade, and some she conserved from her childhood.

The young blonde girl never got bored of watching her mother brew her experimental potions. Some of them exploded from time to time, but it was never a dangerous thing. Moria and Luna would often laugh after such accidents.

This time, the potion seemed relatively passive. And Moria wasn't worried of any imminent explosion. "Luna, dear, it's almost time for bed," she said after looking at the wooden clock on the wall. Although she didn't mind her daughter's company, she didn't want her to have an erratic sleeping schedule.

Luna smiled sweetly. "Ten more minutes?"

Her mother smiled, rolled her eyes and nodded. "All right, but after ten minutes, you're off to bed." Moria wasn't done saying it, when the potion puffed a bit. "Oh! It's done!" she said happily, levitating the cauldron away from the hollow structure and placing it next to a table. With a large spoon, she took some of it and placed it in a thick tube.

"What does it do, Mum?" Luna asked, curiously. Her mother rarely told her of any experiments, but this time, she could feel that her mother was quite excited about this. Moria was looking at the tube in her hand with anxiety and happiness.

"Well, I'm not entirely sure if it'll work..." the woman said. "But I'll find out. If anything happens, give me this." Moria gave her daughter a goblet with a transparent liquid. "It's an antidote for poisoning, but I doubt I'll need it."

Luna nodded obediently, clutching the goblet in her small hands. She watched as her mother stood in the center of the room and drank from the tube. The tube fell from Moria's hands, as her face went blank. It crashed on the floor, startling Luna. The goblet with the antidote slipped from her hands, and she watched helplessly as it fell and it spilled its contents on the floor.

The little girl looked up at her mother, who was still staring off to space, standing still. She could hear her breathing beginning to quicken, her hands and lower lip trembling. Moria suddenly seemed very frightened by something. But she couldn't speak, she was in a trance.

"Mum! Mum, wake up!" Luna exclaimed, tugging at her mother's hand. But Moria fell on the floor, on her back. She screamed like a terrified person could only manage, and instantly died. Her eyes and mouth wide open, in a permanent state of terror.

"Mum! Mum! Wake up! MUM!"

September 1st, 1992...

Luna Lovegood had turned eleven in January that year. It meant she was old enough to attend Hogwarts, a school for wizards and witches, located in Scotland. The train that would take her to school was almost ready to go when she and her father arrived to the magical side of King's Cross station.

A lot of students of all seven years were in various stages of readiness. Some already gotten a compartment. Others were still boarding the train, struggling with their trunks. Some others were quickly saying goodbye to their families, rushing towards the large transport.

Her father helped her to enter the trunk on the train, leaving the rest up to her. "I'll see you soon, little moon," he said to her, hugging her tightly. She hugged him back, pushing back the anxious feelings of living away from her home, replacing them with a smile and positive feelings.

"I'll see you soon, daddy," she said, as she took a handle of her trunk and dragged it away. Her father stepped back from the train, watching as she rushed to a window to wave at him. The Hogwarts Express started moving slowly, and many other young children waved at their parents.

Luna's father suddenly remembered something important. He took a magazine from one of his pockets, and hurried to an open window. "Here, so you can read it on the way!" he said cheerfully, as his daughter quickly took it, smiling gratefully at him. "Have fun!" he called out, as the train finally sped up and was soon out of reach. With a heavy sigh, he turned around, completely misinterpreting the amused and perplexed stares of the other families. "My daughter starts this year," he said needlessly, but proudly. Some nodded knowingly, with smiles on their faces.

Luna walked aimlessly through the corridors of the long train, looking for a compartment. So far, they were all filled, some with people saving seats for others, or so they said. She must have been looking for a place to stay for half an hour, when she found herself in the middle of a small commotion.

Three boys, not a year older than herself, were standing at the door of a compartment, taunting its occupants. Two large boys, and a thin blond boy in the middle. "Leave us alone, Malfoy!" a young girl screeched, from inside.

The blond, apparently 'the leader' of the trio, sneered and laughed coldly. "Or what? Your older weasel brothers are nowhere near to help you. And I doubt Wacko the weasel here can do anything against me!"

Luna frowned slightly. That boy was a bully, hiding behind those two troll-like boys. He had yet to step into the compartment and do anything. Her father had taught her that bullies would always bother you as long as you acknowledged them.

Apparently, the blond had had enough of bothering those kids, for he turned around and walked away, his cronies following him instantly, luckily opposite to where Luna was coming from. With a small sigh of relief, she reached the compartment and looked inside.

There were only two kids inside. Both redheads with freckles. One was a young girl, and the other was a boy. Both seemed to be frustrated, which was a bit understandable. "Hello," Luna said, making them look at her. "Can I sit here?"

The boy shrugged and went back to staring at his hands on his lap, while the girl moved aside, to let her some space to seat. "My name is Ginny Weasley," the girl said. "I'm starting my first year. And you?"

"I'm Luna Lovegood, also a First Year," she replied with a small smile. She placed her trunk next to the boy, and sat next to Ginny. "Who's him?" she asked, nodding towards the boy.

Ginny glanced at the boy, then back at Luna with an odd look on her face. "That's Ronald, my older brother. He's starting his second year."

"I doubt Wacko the weasel here can do anything against me!" Those words came to Luna's mind as she looked at the older boy, who was visibly bored but remained looking at his hands. What could be his problem? Could he not talk? Or hear? "Is he deaf or mute?" she asked suddenly.

Ron looked up at her, frowning. "No, I'm not," he said slightly annoyed.

Ginny seemed pretty uncomfortable all of a sudden, yet the other girl seemed unfazed by being snapped at. "Um, so... Do you have any siblings?" she asked, trying to be conversational.

"No, I'm an only child," the blonde replied casually. "You have more siblings?"

Ginny's face lit up. "Oh, yes. There's Bill, he's the oldest. He works at Gringotts. And then comes Charlie, he graduated two years ago. Then, Percy, he's a Fifth Year, and was made Prefect. Fred and George are in their third year, they're twins, very funny, those two. Then Ron, and then me. We're seven, in total," she explained enthusiastically.

Luna nodded. "Must be fun to have so many brothers," she said. Ginny nodded.

The blonde girl finally remembered about the newest edition of The Quibbler that her father had given her. He was the owner of the magazine, and it was always interesting to know about the strange creatures that existed in the world. She wanted to document them with her father, that is why she considered important to study at Hogwarts.

She placed her magazine upside-down, like she always did at home. She didn't notice the bewildered look on Ginny's face or Ron's snickering. Or she chose to ignore them.

When the train finally stopped, they exited their compartment. Luna followed the redheaded siblings silently. Once outside the train she could see a large crowd of students of all years. "Firs' years!" called a booming voice. "Firs' years! Over here!"

A large man was standing out just a few feet away from the students. A few small and scared-looking kids were already standing near him. Some seemed excited, others looked up at the large man in awe. "That's Hagrid. You have to ride the boats now," Ron said suddenly, startling Luna out of her daze. Ginny nodded, looking worriedly at her future classmates. "But you'll use the carriages when you leave for Christmas or at the end of the school year. Don't worry, Ginny, it'll be okay."

Ginny nodded again, and smiled slightly at her brother. Luna looked around, but there were so many students that she couldn't see the carriages Ron mentioned.

Ginny turned to Luna. "Come on!" she said cheerfully. Luna smiled back and followed after her, temporarily forgetting about the carriages.

Ron shook his head and sighed. He walked along with all the others who weren't First Years. Neville Longbottom, a fellow Gryffindor of his same year, looked at the coaches, gasped slightly, and then followed after his two friends, Harry Potter and Hermione Granger, who had no trouble looking at the transports.

Ron, on the other hand, looked at the creatures that pulled the carriages with apprehension. According to Hagrid, the gamekeeper of Hogwarts, only people who saw someone die could see the winged horse-like creatures. The Thestrals.

He slowly made his way to the same coach where Neville had climbed. He didn't like to be around Harry Potter, but the other kids were worse to him. Harry only limited himself to ignore Ron, never making fun of others.

The wizarding world's hero frowned at him when he sat next to Neville. The chubby boy looked nervously at him, but said nothing. Ron knew he was a good bloke, wouldn't say anything about him being there.

The redhead wasn't sure why Harry or Hermione ignored him. It had started right in the train, after meeting Harry the previous year. Since then, they only hanged around with Neville. That boy, bless his soul, was a very neutral person, so Ron also hanged around with him, when the other two were not around. He was the only friend Ron had.

Notes: This is an odd story, so you'll have to be patient to see what's going on. :) Only thing I can promise is that it's hopefully not as corny as AToDP, and it'll be a bit longer.