springsmutfairy (springsmutfairy) wrote in hp_springsmut, @ 2008-03-07 08:05:00 |
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Entry tags: | fic, harry/luna, het, neville/luna |
Happy Springsmut, piratesword!
Author: ceria
Recipient: piratesword
Title: Fading
Rating: R
Pairing(s): Harry/Luna and Luna/Neville
Disclaimer: All Harry Potter characters herein are the property of J.K. Rowling and Bloomsbury/Scholastic. No copyright infringement is intended.
Summary: Using Godric's sword really wasn't a good idea.
Warnings: Character death
Word Count: @ 5,600
Author's Notes: Thank you to my betas for their help.
Frantic hands touched her, pulling her shirt loose. "Luna, Luna, I've missed you."
Gentle kisses for her from trembling lips. He'd never trembled before. He'd always been shy and reserved, hesitant. She missed that now. "Your flowers miss you," she murmured.
Long brown fringe flopped over his eyes, hiding the uncustomary coldness as he stared at her. His strong hands tracing her exposed hipbones, his lips pressed against her belly, moving lower. All the while he mumbled, "You're here now. I won't let you go again. You will stay with me, won't you?"
A sharp gasp from her as his fingers brushed against her hips, tickling her. "I'll stay, Neville, as long as you need me." Truth there, even if it was her truth and not his. He wouldn't like her truth right now.
Knickers ripped in his impatience, cast aside into the dirt, his cloak jumbled uncomfortably beneath her, not keeping her warm on the cold night. "And we won't have to worry about him any longer. I know you kissed him, Luna. I can smell Harry's lips upon your skin."
Hips arching up, lips parting, she moaned from his touch. Scorching heat, wanted heat. She trembled as tongue and finger penetrated her. It was easy to forget their plan as she was transfixed by Neville's touches. All she wanted was a chance to help him.
Another kiss, a second finger twisting, then he shifted, moving up, marking her as his property with teeth against her tender skin. "I love you, Luna."
Her palms slid over slick skin, trying to help him scramble up her torso. Her legs spread wide, hips angled up. Her body spoke for her and Luna smiled briefly at Neville, staring at the bridge of his nose, then looked over his shoulder.
Almost there… he bit her chin, licking the red marks his teeth left on her pale skin. Almost inside…
Wrapping her hands around his neck, Luna leaned closer to kiss him desperately.
Someone had found musical instruments and brought them into the Great Hall that morning. Pipes for sure, possibly a drum and a harp as well. The moment after she helped Harry escape the celebration, Luna went to scatter the crowd around Neville. Harry wasn't the only one who needed sleep and she could tell by Neville's wide-eyed stare that he was beginning to falter.
"Even Umgubular Slashkilters need a break, Neville. Come and dance with me." She waited several moments while he glanced between her outstretched hand and the sword on the table.
Finally Seamus volunteered to watch the sword and Dean pushed him away; Neville let Luna take his hand and pull him toward the center of the room. "What are you going to do now?" he asked her.
"You mean until I have to take this year over again."
"Again?" Neville asked, his hands around Luna's waist as they swayed to the soft music.
"Over again. You can't imagine they'd let you take your NEWTs under the tutelage of the Carrows, can you?"
"Considering they brought in Lockhart and Moody, then yeah, I can," Neville said and Luna wondered when he grew up. Maybe it was all the time he spent alone in the Room of Requirement? She moved closer as they danced, his hands tightening around her, pulling them together.
"I'm still deciding between helping father with the Quibbler and traveling through Germany searching for Erklings. They like children and I'm petite enough to fool one, I think." He didn't reply.
"What will you do?" she asked politely.
Neville looked way from the table. "I had thought about sticking with herbology, but now… I'm not sure."
"We should sleep soon," Luna said, stepping close, laying her head on Neville's shoulder. He finally focused on her and nodded. As soon as she could remove him from the room, Luna would ask McGonagall to put the sword away for safekeeping.
Fingers digging into skin, Neville pulled her legs up, his toes burying into the cool sand, his body too long to remain completely on the cloak like she could. "Luna," he said again, his voice desperate, shaking.
She clung to him, her lips pressed against his, she seemed to miss him after their long weeks. He knew she'd come find him. He hadn't expected her to bring Harry, but now that he was gone… she would understand. And accept. She pressed her hips up, silently asking for more, and Neville grinned, only thinking about being inside her once again.
Need was a sharp tingle in his stomach, a pull of flesh and lust as he shifted his body between her legs. Then, the sensation gave way to pain. Not even the pleasurable kind as something slid through the back of his ribs and pierced muscle. A sharp, burning sensation like… a sword. Neville howled with pain and tried to move his shoulder blades, but his body wasn't obeying his commands. His fingers began to tingle, as if they had fallen asleep. He couldn't feel the sand any longer, his feet felt as though they disintegrated, becoming part of it.
Beneath him, Luna stared, her hands still wrapped around his neck, her eyes meeting his. She wasn't even trembling though he was sure he could see pity in the corners of her expression.
His ability to move was fading. Luna's bright blond hair began to dull. "Luna?" he whispered. "Why?"
She gave no verbal answer, but her sad eyes, normally distant, focused solely on him.
They slept like the dead. The sun had set before the survivors from the Battle of Hogwarts woke. Kreacher led the House Elves while inside as he had during the battle, raising his voice as they prepared dinner for all of them while Winky visited the Houses, rousing those who still dreamed. Together, the survivors gathered in the Great Hall one more time, mostly family this time. So many had gone home during the day, but Neville remained, Luna by his side, Harry, Ron, Hermione, several of the Weasleys, and the surviving Professors.
It was impossible to stay close to one person. They clung to each other, they cried still, and she produced more tissues than she thought possible. Harry was calm and the wrinkles between his eyebrows had faded with some sleep.
Apparently the battle meant their school year was finished and she sang softly as she wandered around, setting up notes for some of her things. None of her shoes had disappeared that year, surprisingly enough. Maybe the Carrows had kept the most worrisome creatures out of Hogwarts.
She managed to find time to hug Harry and sit by his side through dinner, distracting him while Ron and Hermione conversed in a dark corner. She could tell by his expression that he didn't want to follow Ginny into another.
That cold expression, so foreign except for lately, finally faded from Neville's eyes. Luna kept her hands pressed against the sides of his neck as his pulse slowed, fading beneath her touch. Possibly she hoped to see a glimpse of warmth, of the boy she knew before his eyes closed.
The thought made her cry as Harry picked her up and he dressed her awkwardly like some giant toy he didn't know how to play with. He squeezed her around her waist, then patted her shoulder as if she were a puppy, but she didn't shrug him away, didn't ask him to stop. She and Harry had discussed much on their way to find Neville. He'd explained a little about Tom Riddle and his ability to hide part of his soul in different objects.
So many people were sitting around Neville and she grinned as Harry watched him from his seat on the floor next to her. No one deserved the accolades more – Neville had destroyed something important that made it possible for Harry to win, she knew that much at least. "I can't believe Neville did it," Harry said, turning toward her. "I never could have gotten near Nagini. Without Neville, we wouldn't have won." He'd wandered close to her as she at on the outer edges of the Weasley family, listening to Mrs Weasley's stories. Bill alone was old enough to remember meeting Frank and Alice before the Lestranges and she hoped to overhear something new to tell Neville later. Bill's comments were leading Arthur and Molly into a conversation about the past and the original members of the Order of the Phoenix.
Mrs Weasley began to cry as she talked about her brothers, even though Mr Weasley was clinging to her. Luna wondered how she could be sad if Fred was with them. At least he had family there. Even some of Arthur's family. Luna was happy that Fred wouldn't be alone. Maybe he took George's ear with him, just so part of his twin would always be by his side, listening to his ideas. Because he was Fred Weasley, and ideas wouldn't stop just because he was dead.
Neville smiled widely as soon as he glanced up and saw her and she waved. Though, the moment Harry leaned closer to say something to her, Luna was sure Neville flinched when his eyes slid right and caught Harry. He didn't leave his seat right away, but he apologised as soon as there was a lull in the conversation and stood, heading the other direction.
Frowning, she and Harry glanced at each other. Luna realised they were all busy, except that Neville avoiding anyone was out of character. One more glance, and they stood, parting to walk around the circle of Weasleys, Harry motioning for a moment when Bill asked him to join them again; Luna wiggling her fingers at Ginny, telling her to stay there, that she'd be right back. Hopefully Ginny understood finger language.
Neville wiped his forehead with the cuff of his robe and stepped backwards as Harry stopped. "Harry," he said. "I did what you asked."
"I know. I saw. I wanted to say thank you. I couldn't have done it without you, mate."
Neville wiped his forehead again and Luna wondered why he was warm. Actually, the Hall felt chilly to her. Of course, that could be the fault of the wrackspurts. She hoped they were not infesting the dead bodies lain out in the far corner.
Neville looked uncomfortable, glancing between them and Luna smiled at him, then said to Harry, "If you go see Bill, everyone else might give you a moment alone with him. He should be able to deter the rest of the crowd from bothering you."
He hesitated, but Luna knew he'd leave. Harry was still exhausted no matter how long he slept, and he needed his family. Just like Neville did.
"I'm surprised your grandmother hasn't arrived yet," Luna said, holding out her hand, waiting patiently for him to take it. "Would you like to go to Saint Mungos? We could meet her there."
Eventually he took it, relieving some of her worry.
"I know you didn't kill him," Luna said, unable to keep the accusation from her voice as she ran her fingers through her hair, trying to brush it out of her eyes.
"That was the plan," Harry replied, sighing, hovering over Neville as he straightened him. "Wasn't it?"
She didn't speak as she laid Neville out on his back, the jagged hole from the sword hidden that way. She'd healed the wound of course, because she didn't want his blood absorbed by the sands and left here. No part of Neville should be left behind, no matter what. Crossing his arms on his chest, Luna whispered goodbye and kissed his fingers. Silly to cry over his passing, but she couldn't help thinking it was even sillier to leave his side in order to lean against Harry. He wrapped one arm around her, the other compulsively clutching and releasing the hilt of Godric's sword.
"It's over now, Luna."
"No. It's only mostly over." She smoothed her torn robes, covering her bare feet, without moving away from Harry.
"What if…"
"No what ifs, Luna. Remember? This had to be done."
"What ifs and done are the end of the road. This isn't an end, Harry."
"We did what we had to do," he repeated.
"Not for Neville."
He sighed and fidgeted as he sat by her and Luna pulled away to turn and look at him.
Ron had been in and out of Godric's Hollow, Hermione as well, though at different times, according to Harry. Maybe after the last several months they had spent together, they just needed time to find themselves again. Either way, Harry hadn't told Luna to leave when she had appeared with Muggle tools. She liked the hoe; it reminded her of the equipment needed to catch a Snorkack. Maybe that was why she was able to do yard work so easily.
Sometimes she went into the house, but typically she remained outside. Harry didn't seem to want anyone inside with him.
"How's Neville?" Harry asked as they sipped butterbeers in the shade of a small tree one afternoon.
"I see him in the evenings."
"Is he still nervous?"
"Yes," but she had found ways to distract him. Or he her, possibly. She smiled and Harry blushed. Silly boy.
"Are you two dating?" he asked when she arrived for the fifth day in a row.
"I think so," she said, and Harry frowned. "That doesn't mean…" he stopped her from finishing that sentence.
Harry nodded furiously, "Of course that's what it means," and he wouldn't discuss it further with her. However, he didn't he ask her to stop coming by Godric's Hollow.
"You know not to touch the sword."
"I'll hide it beneath his cloak."
Harry flinched at that comment, glancing at Neville's still form on the other side of the fire, but nodded. "Good idea. "
"I'm not worried, Harry. It's just a memory."
He glanced at Neville and she shook her head. "Neville had no idea. None of us did at the time. This is different now."
No matter what, she touched the back of his hand, her fingers curling around his wrist and Harry twisted enough to face her, his other hand covering hers as he stared into her eyes.
"I'll be back, Luna. I promise. Don't use the sword."
"I know," she said, leaning close to kiss his cheek.
Luna hadn't appeared in Godric's Hollow for two days and even though they rarely spoke while she did yard work, Harry missed her. A frantic barn owl tapped on his window. Luna's bird fluttered about outside until Harry opened the newly installed glass pane and held out his hand for the parchment.
He'd always had a hard time reading her curvy writing, but this time she had ignored the curled letters in her haste.
HARRY,
Mrs Longbottom's home, the greenhouse.
LUNA