Standing Alone.

Chapter 15 - Memories and a Dance.

A/N: I am sorry that I haven't been posting as of late. I have been sick, and school is kind of stressful. But here is another chapter, and I hope to post another soon.

"Retract a memory and place it in the fountain." Severus said and everyone did as asked. "It is difficult to choose a specific one, so just let magic decide for now." He nodded to the students and Harry sighed, he needed to make it seem like he was also, just, learning about this, and therefore he didn't pick which one was retracted.

Everyone had to show the memory, and some were give slips to either detention or slips to a mind-healer. But then it was Harry's turn. He swirled the tip of his wand in the liquid and the picture flowed upwards in the steam, showing as a movie for the others.

It was dark, with green accents all around him and Harry's face fell when he realised what memory this was.  "Shit..." He cursed under his breath, making everyone look at him weirdly. "Mr. Po-" Severus was cut off as the memory began to speak.

"It's me, Pandora! I know how to help you now!" The image of a woman, who looked an awful lot like Luna, but significantly older, showed. Her face wet with tears and her skin a green colour due to whatever was in the background. The picture shifted to that of a boy, who looked just like Harry, but yet again, Older.

"Find me in the future!" Her voice faded away and Harry, in the potions classroom, stood with tears streaming down his cheeks. He turned his face away, everyone else looking with confusion as the image began to blur and wave as if under water, and then light shone through and they were showed Luna and their Harry.

"There you are Sweetheart, sorry I'm late." It was Harry's voice and the image showed Harry bringing Luna into a tight hug, smiling softly. "I was looking everywhere for you." The memory showed different snippets of Luna and Harry, how Harry always seemed to be right there beside her, even as she slept, looking out for her in every way. "My mum always said, things we lose have a way of coming back to us in the end..." Luna's dreamy voice sounded and Harry looked sad for a split second, a faded image of the two previous ones showed and then it was back to memories of Luna and Harry, ending with Harry holding Luna, but she was tiny, almost like a
baby.

The steam drifted apart, out into the room and Harry stood there, staring at it with wide eyes. "Mr. Potter... Would you like to tell us about the memory..?" Harry didn't answer, he couldn't... He couldn't even find the words. He faintly heard Draco say something and the next second, he felt strong arms around him.

"Harry, you okay?" Luna said and as if with the flip of a switch, Harry's face was ridden of any tears and he looked at the girl, seeing her hair messy and face red from the cold, he grew worried. "Luna, what did I say about going outside without your jacket?" He asked and a warming spell surrounded the younger girl, who let out a small giggle, shaking her head.

"You're so silly. I'm fine. I was in the Greenhouse, Draco came and said that something was wrong and that you needed me." Harry smiled. "Just saw your mother, is all." Luna's eyes widened. "Oh how lovely. Did she say something interesting?" Harry chuckled. "Oh yes, your mother always said quite interesting things." Luna nodded slowly, a smile on her lips.

"I still don't understand, how you know of Pandora." Severus said, and Harry looked at him, smiling softly, he hugged Luna close to his side. "Pandora took me in... When I was little. The first time I ran away from my  relatives, she found me. I was, three or so years old. She and Xeno introduced me to ice skating, and they  helped me learn how to write and read. I of course, had to return to my relatives every now and then, but generally speaking, Pandora and Xeno raised me and Luna together, until Pandora died... And Xeno became distant, I took up the part of being Luna's main caregiver." He said and smiled down at the young girl.