Authors Note: Luna's reprieve is at hand, but at what cost? Thank you all for continuing to read and review. Special thanks to The Scribbler for betaing this for me and making it more readable.
Pursuant to the Berne Convention Implementation Act of 1988 and the Digital Millennium Copywrite Act of 1998, this work is copywrited 2007 with all rights expressly reserved by its author unless explicitly granted. No portion may be reproduced in any fashion without the express written and notarized permission of the author.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Harry Potter characters. All characters are creations of Joanne K Rowling, © 2007, to whom I am deeply indebted.
Standard Disclaimer: This story may contain sexually graphic and explicit material and it is not suitable for minors. If you are a minor, please leave now, as it is illegal for you to be here. If it is illegal for you to read or view sexually explicit material in the community you view such material, please leave now. This story and characters are purely fictional and any resemblance to events or persons (living or dead) is purely coincidental. If you are offended by sexually explicit stories, please read no further. These stories are just that, stories, and may or may not reflect the opinions of the author.
Chapter 9
He pulled his watch from one of the inner pockets of his robe, "I have an appointment with Minerva for tea, must be going now." He started walking towards the door but called out, "Practice, we will discuss this again tomorrow." Then he reached the door and hurried out.
Harry was grinning, "Think of the possibilities, we get this down and he won't stand a chance."
It killed her to be the devil's advocate but she had to. She uncoiled her arm and took one step away spinning to face them. "No Harry, don't start relying on one specific thing."
He looked confused.
He wasn't following her again, "What if we end up dueling somewhere with an anti-apparition ward in place? Our whole strategy would be nullified. Remember what Flitwick said during his demonstration, moving, was the key. Yes apparition is the most effective method but that cannot be our only way, we must have others."
Luna said, "Like brooms!"
Now that's something she wouldn't have thought of, "Yes. Like brooms, if the room was like this we could certainly use brooms to move around quicker. Not sure if either Luna or myself could dodge spells effectively though. It would be like dodging bludgers, you have a decent though not perfect record at that Harry." She shrugged, "We can practice it."
Harry said, "We'll need to go buy the two of you good brooms." He turned to Luna, "How well do you fly?"
She splayed her right hand in front of herself and rocked it back and forth, "I'm in no danger of falling and can get from here to there, never played Quidditch though I have done some gnome tossing from broomstick."
Gnome tossing? That sounded interesting, later Hermione later…
He turned back to Hermione, "I haven't seen you on a broom since our exam first year."
She flushed a little, "Well I don't own one and I can't go flying it around Kent when I'm at home now can I?" Ohh, That was a bit too defensive Hermione.
Harry had that knowing smile as he answered, "Well best get you one then. You were quite decent but that was five years ago. Now what I need to know is: Where is my Firebolt? Last I knew it was being held by security trolls in a dungeon here, with the twin's brooms. Now that gives me an idea, maybe I can get it the same way they got theirs?"
Hermione grabbed his arm as he headed for the door, "Ask McGonagall first. She probably has it in her office. I doubt the trolls have been allowed to stay in the dungeon for the last year."
He spun to face her, "Yea, I bet you're right."
Luna got them back on track, "So we need to practice apparirion, flying and avoiding bludgers. The other thing Filius mentioned was simply dodging the spells."
Harry looked at her curiously, "Like ducking and such?"
"Well yes, most spells have a small target area, avoid it and you avoid getting hit."
Hermione felt the need to make a list, "Come, we'll make a list of things we need to do and buy. Remember we only have a couple of weeks here, then we go back in time and go muggle for 18 months. Any spellwork practice needs to be done now, the physical training, dodging etcetera can wait until later." She strode to the door, they hesitated a moment then she heard their footsteps following her.
Half an hour later they had compiled the list. For now Occlumency and silent casting were at the top. Even Horcrux research could wait, that was just reading. Likely they could even use the pensieve as that required no spell casting. So their places in the books were marked and they were all put away.
Harry and Hermione were sitting comfortably on the couch, eyes closed, they had settled into their happy place and Luna was talking softly to them. "Now, build a wall or shield around you, you must believe it to be impenetrable, nothing can penetrate it, no spell or object, no light or sound. Make it solid in your mind. My voice should fade away and stop all together once you reach that point.
Hermione was in a library so she closed the shutters on the windows, then filled them with brick. The doors were also bricked up, then a spell shield appeared just behind the stacks of books, protecting the books as well as herself of course. Then the spell shield turned grey as she made it block light, finally it was pitch black and looked like obsidian.
She didn't know if Luna was still talking or not but she couldn't hear her. She could only hear herself breathing and that was calm and even. She knew the Harry here was not the real thing but merely her vision of him. He looked up from the book he was reading on defense and grinned at her. His arm reached out, beckoning her to join him on the couch. She smiled and did, curling up into his embrace. His arm wrapped around her and even the library vanished. This was her true haven; In Harry's arms nothing could ever harm her. Her belief in that was so absolute she could no longer even hear her own breathing. Now her world shrunk until it was just the warmth of Harry and his steady heartbeat. Her eyes were closed and nothing could intrude.
She drifted then gradually became aware of another presence, small and faint. It wasn't her own, she focused on it more, it grew just a little as though her attention had made it stronger. It wasn't in the library that no longer existed to her. Where could it be, ah, her son? She focused inside herself and reached down, there. It was fleeting, barely capable of any brain activity but it was there. She gave it love; this was Harry's son, instantly her most precious possession. He stirred as she felt him responding to her affection.
She had never really thought of having her own children or being a mother. The reality of it suddenly hit her; this was not just some object to keep Harry alive if she died. This was her flesh and his combined in the absolute miracle of life. Luna had told her, she had even cast the detection spell; neither was as real as this was. She had to tell Harry!
She felt strong arms around her, she settled into them. Why had she been flailing around? Harry was talking to her, "It's alright love, I'm here, you're safe." It was a continuous litany; she wiped her tears and took several deep breaths. Another hand was solidly in the middle of her back, rubbing small circles, Luna.
Finally she looked up to him; he was so concerned it was painful. Her voice was a mess but she shoved the words out, "I'm pregnant."
He pulled back and focused on her, slowly he grinned. In a very hushed voice he said, "I'm going to be a father?"
She nodded, "I- When I was at peace I could feel another presence. I found it." She reached down and rubbed herself, "Here."
He slid back and looked down at her, "No, he's still too small to see, it hasn't even been a week yet."
He was smiling, he was happy and he wasn't upset. Relief flashed through her and she grinned at him.
Luna spoke softly, just beside her ear, "Congratulations, I will help all I can."
She saw Harry glance at Luna sharply then seemed to remember something and gave a brief nod. He had just accepted that Luna would be with them through the whole process. She was so proud of him. She kissed him and then relaxed into his embrace; her own arms went around his shoulders. Luna kept her hand on Hermione's back, pressing gently.
She heard Harry announce softly, "I'm going to be a dad." She looked at Luna, tightly tucked into Harry as she was she couldn't look at her properly. She gave Luna a small nod and saw her take a calming breath.
"Well, if you want to try for another, just let me know." Luna didn't wait for a reply, instead she patted Hermione's back once and walked back to her own chair to sit and try to meditate.
She felt Harry go stiff and he hugged her convulsively. He didn't say anything though or move.
Hermione at last moved to stand; she was filled with restless energy. She stood; maybe she should go for a run or swim some laps?
Harry finally said something, "Let Luna out of her oath."
She turned to him, focused entirely upon his presence, he meant it. It wasn't a request; he was ordering her to release Luna. She answered simply, "No."
He leapt to his feet, not used to her denial of anything.
He yelled at her, "DO IT!"
She refused to back away; she could and would stand up to Harry bloody Potter. "No, I will not."
He spun in frustration, his hand twitched for his wand. "Violence will get you nowhere, Harry."
He pulled his wand out and dropped it on the table before turning back to her. "Please Hermione. I don't want her forced to be here. I don't want her forced to make offers like that."
Luna was sitting, she hadn't moved, she was focused intently on their argument though.
"No Harry. I will not give a fraction on this."
He whispered, "Why?"
"Have you heard of Achilles and his heel?" He gave a brief nod. "I am your one vulnerable place Harry. Nothing Voldemort or anyone else can do will break you. I can!"
He dropped to his knees, "no."
Luna moved. She leapt across the room to kneel beside Harry. Her arms went around his waist. He didn't move or react to her, his entire being was focused on what Hermione said next.
She pointed at Luna, "That is why I cannot release her. She will support you and defend you, even from me." She stepped back, locked her eyes with his. She burned her next words into his soul. "I am yours Harry, body and soul. I-will-never-hurt-you!"
She knelt with them, not touching Harry, "Do you understand? I cannot permit anything to stop you. If there is the slightest chance that you learn to trust her it is because you know without doubt she must help you."
Harry took several slow breaths and then spoke softly and clearly, "Modify her oath so she is not required to offer herself to me. I cannot accept her as a friend if I know she is a slave."
Their eyes were still locked; she would concede that point to him. It made perfect sense but presented great risks as well. He was barely holding it together; just the threat of breaking him had come close to doing it. She stood, "Come with me Luna." She turned and walked into Luna's bedroom.
Once they were alone in Luna's room she turned to her and pulled a parchment from her pocket. Luna's blood-oath was inscribed upon it. "I have argued with my husband over this. Logic dictates that I am a fool for what I am about to do. But I nearly broke him there and I cannot allow anything to cause that. Luna Lillian Lovegood, I hereby release you from your oath to me. You will remain with us at all times until Tom Riddle is confirmed dead for the last time. You are free to pursue anyone you so choose from this point forward." The parchment crumbled to dust in her hand.
Luna started crying and launched herself at Hermione, hugging her desperately. Hermione matched the intensity of the hug. Several minutes later Luna said carefully, "Thank you for trusting me."
Hermione gave her a crooked smile, "I've trusted you since our trip to the DoM. Now, I'm trusting you, with Harry. This is between us, I ask you to never tell a soul." Luna nodded, "Put your bikini top on, that will prove to Harry you are no longer compelled."
Luna smiled, "Sure."
Hermione stepped past her so she was facing the door but did not open it. Luna moved across the room and she heard her shuffling things around for a moment. Then Luna said, "Ready."
Hermione didn't look back but opened the door she had been looking at and walked out into the common room. Harry was pacing near the door. He stopped when the door opened and looked at them expectantly. His eyes went wide when Luna walked out behind Hermione. Hermione stepped near Harry and spun to face Luna. "Test her, stare, she is no longer compelled."
He looked bewildered but then focused on Luna's barely concealed breasts. He looked for a full minute, Luna didn't flinch. Harry finally looked away and met Hermione's eyes again. He said, "Thank you."
Luna turned and went back into her room, closing the door.
Hermione took another step closer to Harry. "I never meant for it to come to this. Your nobility has overridden my logic. You mean more than life itself but, as I am your weakness you are mine."
He nodded, seemingly unable to speak. He took the last two steps between them and engulfed her in a hug. "I know you had solid, logical, unassailable reasons for it but: Thank you."
Hermione felt hot salty tears falling as she whispered in his ear, "I never wanted to share you anyway, it was killing me."
He pulled back, his mouth was slack and his eyes were wide.
She said softly, "You can make it up to me in bed tonight."
He wiped her cheeks dry and said solemnly, "I shall try."
* * *
When Luna came back into the room, suitably dressed again, she saw them hugging. The compulsion was gone to join in that hug. Instead she felt relief. Though she had followed Hermione's directions to the letter she still had felt like an intruder. They were one soul, his yin to her yang. She knew now she was not meant to belong to Harry. But she would stick to her non-existent oath. Should Hermione be killed before Tom Riddle was dead she would try to keep him functioning, whatever that took. It was a promise she made to herself. Hermione trusted her; she would uphold that trust, no matter the cost to herself. Hermione was right, this was too big, Voldemort had to be destroyed and Harry was the one who had to do it.
She went back to the lounge chair and quietly sat down. Maybe she could get past step 35 and finally move on.
It was nearly two hours later, shortly before dinner when another knock came at their door. Luna had been deep in her Occlumency and hadn't noticed the time passing. Harry was already halfway across the room, wand in hand. Hermione was standing, wand drawn as well. Luna pulled her wand out as the prudent thing to do.
Harry reached the door and said, "Who's there?"
Bill's voice answered, "Bill and Ron. Can we come in?"
Harry glanced at Luna, she nodded, then he looked at Hermione who also nodded. Only then did he open the door. He stood out of the way as the brothers walked into the room. Suddenly the common room was slightly larger, another couch and two more doors had appeared. Both doors were on the same side of the common room as hers. Harry shoved the door closed and threw the latch.
Bill and Ronald were looking at her, Harry said, "Bill, Ron, meet the real Luna Lovegood. She's helping us."
Ronald looked stupefied, poor boy. Bill reacted calmly and walked over to her. He gently took her hand and looked into her eyes. "I still miss your mother's cakes."
Damn why did he have to bring up those days? She started crying instantly. Bill didn't hesitate and pulled her into a warm hug. "Sorry Luna, I know it's hard and no I've never lost my parents, almost lost dad last year to that damned snake and I almost lost Gin."
Bill stood there until she made the first move to stand on her own again. He had always been so understanding and helpful. Why couldn't Ronald have been like him instead of so bitter all the time? But again Bill had been Head-Boy when she first met him, chatting with Ginny by the stream near her house.
He stepped back, dropping his arms to his sides again. Luna could see Harry and Hermione again; they were looking on sympathetically, holding hands. Ronald still looked stupefied but had managed to sit in one of the chairs and close his mouth. She turned back to Bill. "Thanks, I shouldn't have been so surprised; I knew you were coming since breakfast."
He smiled at her, "Anytime you need a hug just, holler. Fleur won't mind."
She nodded, Ronald leapt to his feet. "Luna, can we talk?"
She pointed at Harry, Hermione, and Bill, "Only if they are not going to discuss Horcruxes or the mission while we're gone. I need to be involved in that conversation."
Bill looked at Ronald briefly, "We'll talk about weddings, so long as you two come back in a few minutes."
Hermione nodded, Luna noticed her left hand was suspiciously hidden; it likely had been the entire time. She also noted that Bill had used the plural form of wedding so he had noticed the ring. Ronald's lack of reaction to that told her he had missed it. "Very well Ronald, let's walk in the exercise room." She strode to the door and walked through; she waited for him to follow then closed the door.
Ronald looked around curiously then started walking in the general direction of the pool. Luna quickly matched is stride, two feet to his left. He glanced at her a few times before he said, "So the whole loony thing was an act?"
She nodded, "Call it a disguise. I can't hide anymore, Harry needs my brain focused on this, not distracted by something that is no longer necessary."
He chuckled, "Now you sound like Hermione."
That was an unexpected compliment, "Thank you." She said honestly.
He sputtered a minute.
She continued, "I am an awful lot like her. I am not her however. She is well ahead of me in virtually everything but I will help them none the less."
They passed the pool and continued around the perimeter of the room. He had grown silent so she continued. "Why are you always so bitter Ronald? What did Harry or Hermione ever do to deserve it?"
He stopped walking; she stopped and faced him, "I have been with them for two days now. I have seen their nobility and felt their love embrace me, a virtual stranger."
He finally looked up and met her eyes. She said, "They deserve nothing less than our full support. If you can't be more like Bill then it would be best if you left now, before you distract us from the mission and get someone killed by being pig headed."
He still seemed unable to speak, she backed away, towards the door, "Run laps or go hit something. We need to figure something meaningful out. If you can't think then you are merely a liability." She turned and started walking at her normal pace towards the door.
She had gone perhaps half way to the door; she was now approximately where she had learned to apparated earlier in the day. He let out a strangled noise then called out, "Wait!" She kept walking; he was running after her now. He said, "Please Luna, wait?"
She stopped and turned to face him, face neutral. So he had something to say after all?
"Tell me honestly what was all that Weasley is my King business?"
Oh, so he did have courage. "I fancied you Ronald. But you failed my test, the Loony test."
He was baffled by that statement of course.
"Ronald, I do not believe we could be compatible now. I know you and Hermione barely tolerate one another and as you said, I am like her. I over-analyze things and am about six sentences ahead of you in this conversation. Hermione scared you too much for you to ask her out, I scared you because I was so odd that no one liked me. That didn't stop Harry from becoming my friend; or Hermione for that matter. Ginny and Bill are my friends. The twins never once played a prank on me. They may have just felt pity for me though since everyone else was pranking me. Why are you so dense? Did something happen to stunt your brain from developing? How long must I insult you before you start talking?"
Merlin! What did she ever see in him? Yes, he looked a little like Bill, but the brain and compassion simply wasn't there. "You know I fell in love with Bill when I was seven. I thought you were just like him. I was wrong, I hate being wrong Ronald. You had better start using what's inside that head, instead of just scratching it."
She strode quickly from the room, imagining the door silenced and with a lock on the other side of it. When she pulled it open there was a levered lock just like the one on the outside door. She pulled the door closed on Ronald and threw the lever.
Bill was looking at Hermione's ring; well actually he was looking up at her from looking at Hermione's ring. She said brightly, "Ronald needs to spend some time alone to think. Bill did he have an accident when he was a baby? Something to cause brain damage?"
Bill shook his head and finished standing; Harry was halfway to the door behind Luna, a murderous look on his face. She held her hand up to stop him. "He barely said anything the entire time. I have had more intelligent conversations with Nargles and they do not exist."
Harry stopped and looked at her then broke into a smile which quickly turned into laughter. She joined him and soon Hermione and Bill were also laughing.
Bill asked, "So what did you do to him?"
"I gave him a solid talking to. I told him that if he couldn't use his brain he might as well leave before he gets someone killed. We will leave him in there until our conversation is completed and it is time to go down for dinner. If by chance he manages to remember this is the Room of Requirement and can think that lock off then maybe he deserves to join us."
Hermione nodded, "Well done Luna. He would never believe that from me."
Bill stood straight and got serious, "Almost lost Gin lastnight."
That got everyone looking at him, smiles wiped from their faces. He slid into the nearest chair at the large table, the horcruxes and Godric's sword in front of him. Luna came around and sat beside him while Harry and Hermione sat together with the Pensieve and memory vials in front of them.
Bill continued, "She has had a fragment of Voldmeort's soul for nearly five years, growing and twisting inside of her. She is free now. I severed its connection to her and she kicked it out. I then destroyed the disembodied spirit before it could possess me. Never thought I would have to do that to my little sis. One of the interesting side affects though seems to be she is no longer obsessed with Harry here. She invited Neville Longbottom for dinner and I think they hit it off."
Hermione nearly leapt from her seat, "Wait, backup, you destroyed the fragment after what?"
Bill scooted his chair back and looked at the floor for a minute then started talking without looking up at them. "It was my first year in Egypt. I got possessed by a soul piece from a horcrux; we accidentally broke it with a ten ton block of stone. My partner immediately told me I had to fight it and throw it out of my body. He cast the soul splitting spell on me and I had to argue with it until I drove it out. Then he destroyed it before it could possess him and try again." He looked up at them finally, "That's basically what I did with Gin lastnight. I had only been possessed for an hour at most. Though this was merely a fragment of the soul piece it had a long time to feed on her magic and learn her fears."
Harry jumped to his feet, his chair slamming into the smaller table behind them. Hermione had her wand in her hand before he had finished standing and was looking around for a target. He put his hand on her shoulder to calm her then looked at Bill. "You know how to destroy a horcrux!"
Bill grinned, crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair then put his dragon hide boots on the table. "Course, its part of my job mate."
Ohh this was something. "Bill, we have three right here."
He twisted his head around to look at her, when he had twisted to put his legs on the table he had turned his back to her. She was pointing right where his boots were on the table. When he looked back at his boots she said, "How do we get rid of them?"
Bill reached out and picked up Godric's sword. "This isn't one right?"
Hermione answered before they could, "No the other three are."
He inspected the shining blade, "You killed a basilisk with this?"
Harry said, "Yes, I ran it through its brain-pan when it tried to bite me."
Bill nodded, still inspecting the length of the blade. He looked up, "No corrosion from the blood." He held the sword up as though proclaiming himself some ancient monarch, "This will do."
Hermione said breathlessly, "What?"
Bill put his feet on the ground. "Destroying a horcrux is a two step process. First you destroy the object containing the soul fragment. Second you cast, Exsequor Spiritus on the now disembodied spirit before it possesses someone." He put the sword on the table, "This is a very magical blade, and some even think this blade is Excalibur. I doubt that as Godric would never have altered it to put his name on such a blade. Whatever magic protects the horcruxes physically, this should be able to overcome."
Harry was grinning broadly; Luna could hear his thoughts from here, got to teach him Occlumency!
He said, "So you're saying I just hit them with Godric's sword?"
Bill answered quite seriously, "I would hit them VERY hard."
Harry looked triumphantly at first Hermione then Luna, "I… me… was right. Put it in the books. I'm sure one of you is keeping track of my guesses."
Hermione looked guiltily at the floor.
Luna defended their position, "But we didn't know how to destroy the fragment once it was disembodied; until now."
Hermione perked up, "So we were right to not let you do that before Bill arrived."
Harry thought for only a second and looked around brightly, "So you're saying I can do it now?" He reached across the table and picked up the blade.
Bill looked around, "Let's go visit Ron and do it in there. That room looked pretty big and maybe we can get a tree stump or something to rest them on instead of this nice table."
Hermione and Luna both said, "Thanks Bill."
He grinned at them, "Anytime ladies, anytime."
Harry marched to the door and threw the lever; she heard Ronald squawk in protest but ignored him. Bill scooped up the three horcruxes and hurried after him. Hermione stood but waited for Luna to stand and join her. She still held her wand, "You want me to run interference on Ron?"
Luna shook her head, "I have another few sentences to stupefy him with if he gets annoying."
Hermione shared a grin with her as they walked to the open door. She said, "Those work better than spells sometimes."
Luna vanished the lock and silence spell from the door as she walked through. Ron was in the middle of the room with Harry and Bill. A thick black tree stump had grown there. Luna swung the door closed and walked calmly with Hermione to join the boys. She also pulled out her wand, what was that spell Bill had said? Exsequor Spiritus popped into her head, what was the wand motion though and did you need a particular thought to make it work?
Bill had set the plaque on the stump and handed Ronald the brooch and locket to hold. That would keep him from causing mischief. Why did Bill keep going up on the scale and Ronald down? Had she expected him to be Bill? Hmm that was a disturbing possibility. Bill had been eighteen when she had met him, with his baby sister in tow, a girl her own age. He had treated them both with respect and yet had kept them continually laughing.
She had been wrong to try and make Ronald into Bill. He was his own person, he- Oh. She had treated him badly to; feeding his insecurities about not being able to live up to his most impressive sibling; for Bill had an impressive academic and professional career. Gringotts curse breakers were just a small step below Unspeakables in the job requirements. And now he had captured the heart of the most elusive of females, a Veela. Granted partial but Luna had seen how all of the boys at school had fallen over themselves for her. Harry hadn't but then his heart was already well guarded in the care of the most brilliant of witches beside him.
Harry looked anxious to swing. She lurched back to the present. "Wait? What do I do? Is there a thought behind the soul destroying spell, what's the wand movement?"
Everyone looked at her, Merlin! She had done it again.
Harry stepped back from the stump and lowered the sword. Hermione and Bill turned to her, their wands ready. Bill said, "Here is the wand motion, up, diagonal left, slash to point at the cloud. No thought is necessary, though I was thinking how mad I was at it for hurting my sis."
She nodded, testing out the motion. She moved to stand between Hermione and Bill; they were all in a quadrant with the exercise equipment in the background. Harry was off to the right, facing the pool, Ron a dozen paces behind him, holding the other two horcruxes, his wand safely stowed.
Harry got back in position.
He looked at Hermione first, she nodded instantly. Luna nodded when he looked at her. At Bill's nod he brought the magical blade down onto the plaque as hard as he possibly could. There was a flicker of light, not an explosion but an absence of light for just a moment then a deafening crack of sound. Luna went flying backwards. She landed hard on her back; she twisted to look at what had happened. Ron was dragging Harry away; he looked stunned but was still holding the sword.
Bill and Hermione had cast a shield spell apparently, she saw it fading out in front of them and a thick green mist pouring out of the split plaque. Luna scrambled to her feet and back to her position. She couldn't hear anything but a continuous ringing in her ears. She was watching Bill; he was watching the smoke continue to come out. It was getting denser and moving in Hermione's general direction. Finally the smoke stopped coming out. Bill made the wand movement, she saw his mouth move, couldn't hear a thing though. She tried to cast it as well, Hermione was also casting.
The cloud shrank upon itself rapidly and vanished. Everyone was cheering; well they were bouncing around looking happy. She still couldn't hear anything. She grabbed Bill's arm, he crushed her into a quick hug. She staggered but held onto him. Finally he looked at her; she pointed at her ears and tried to say, "Can't hear."
He pointed his wand at her and cast something, the ringing vanished and she could hear again. He asked, "Better?"
She said, "Definitely, did I miss a protection spell?"
Bill looked apologetic, "Sorry, yes you need to cast Protego to shield yourself from the effects of the blast. Harry had a silence spell on his head so he couldn't hear anything but we had to let him take the blast."
Hermione had gone up to the stump and kicked the shattered plaque onto the floor. Harry was now standing on his own. She motioned for Ronald to come over. He probably had a silence on his head as well.
He came over and handed Slytherin's locket to her, dangling from its chain.
She draped it onto the stump, locket in the middle, chain loosely around it. She looked at Harry. Their eyes locked and Luna knew she was checking to see if he was ok enough to do another. He lifted the sword and smiled back.
Everyone went back to their positions; Protego Luna!
Harry again went down the line checking to see if each of them was ready. She nodded when it was her turn. When the blade flashed down she cast, "Protego!"
The brief absence of light and the explosion followed. This time she was ready and saw Harry fly back. He landed on his rear, a few feet away. Ron moved as soon as the sword was no longer swinging wildly to pull him further away. She saw movement to her left and looked back; the cloud was almost out of the locket. Now she knew what to wait for, the smoke to stop.
As one the three of them cast "Exsequor Spiritus!" The disembodied soul vanished. This time she joined in the cheering.
Harry was rubbing his butt but looked ready for the last one. Hermione had gone up to the stump again and kicked the blackened locket onto the plaque then turned and took the delicate looking brooch from Ronald. The light sparkled from the gemstones that made the raven's black eyes.
She looked at Harry who was rubbing his shoulder and butt alternately. He noticed her looking though and smiled and lifted the sword.
She nodded and went back to her position; Protego, ready; Watch Harry, nod, look at the sword, swinging, "Protego!" Look at the brooch, Harry flying, Ronald almost too close, the sword just missed his leg. Look back at the brooch, smoke, ready… ready, "Exsequor Spiritus."
The green smoke imploded and vanished.
Harry sat on the ground; he dropped the sword and pulled his wand out, after pointing it at himself and then Ronald he said, "One more to go. Merlin that felt good!"
Hermione helped him stand and they hugged quite passionately, before anyone knew it they were kissing like no one else was present. Ronald was staring at the back of Harry's head; oops that's where Hermione's left hand was.
She said, "Ronald! Come here now!"
He jerked and looked at her then staggered a bit on his way to them.
Before he could say anything Bill had wrapped his arm over his brother's shoulder and was guiding him towards the door. She heard him say, "Maybe you have some seer in you bro, you predicted this one. Maybe you should tell mum?"
Luna started laughing and followed them out the door. She closed it behind herself; they deserved their triumph in private.