War is Over

16.

"Can I tell you something?" Pandora asked as we watched Luna and Harry play. I nodded.

"Anything."

"My prophecies change sometimes." I looked at her.

"How do you mean?" I asked. She bit her lip.

"In school, I knew the war was coming, I was cold to you for a plethora of reasons but the biggest one was I saw Reg and Evan dying. I didn't want you to get attached to someone you couldn't have." I gulped.

"How do you know you were wrong?" She cocked her head.

"They're alive, aren't they?" She retorted. She watched my face before hers softened. "They were young. Reggie still had the mark, no wedding ring. Evan had the mark, he still had that ugly haircut he hates now. They both had a different aura about them, younger, scared, they knew no good." I nodded.

"So are you telling me you may have been wrong about a daughter?" I joked. She smiled.

"I'm telling you a lot of things, mainly that, but I also saw Barty on your doorstep in a dream not long ago. The calendar read yesterday's date. Is it real?" I nodded slowly. I saw the tears fill her eyes. She grasped my hand.

"He's at the house, Reg wanted to tell Evan first." She nodded.

"He's really back. He's alive." She began to cry. "He really didn't do those things." I nodded as I held her hand.

"He's gonna need a lot of help to clear his name, P." She nodded.

"Whatever he needs," She paused as she wiped her tears. She looked at Luna. "She gets to know her uncle Barty."

🗡️🗡️🗡️

After a quick call to Reggie, Pandora and I decided to take Luna to meet Barty. I dropped Harry back off with Lily and James telling them Reg needed me home.

"Is he the same?" Pandora asked me as we walked. I shrugged.

"He's scared, but he's Barty nonetheless." She smiled as she rearranged Luna on her hip.

"I might have been wrong about you having a daughter, you know." I nodded.

"As long as they're happy and healthy." I replied.

"You mean that, but you don't." I looked at her confused.

"Excuse me?"

"I mean yes, you want them to be healthy and happy, but you also want a girl." I smiled.

"Reg wants a boy." Pandora snorted.

"Course he does." She kissed Lina's head. "What do you think Lulu? Girl or boy?" Luna examined me for a moment.

"Girl." She cheered. I clapped along with her as we walked up the steps to the house.

"Reg? Barty?" I called out as we entered. I closed the door behind Pandora and Luna and led them upstairs. The two of them popped out of a room, paint splattered on their clothes.

"Pandora?" Barty's voice broke. She nodded. "Who is- is that your?"

"Luna, this is your uncle Barty." She set Luna down, she examined Barty before she decided to stay put where she was. Barty knelt down.

"Hi Luna." She waved. "I'm sorry we didn't meet sooner." Luna stepped closer to him. She pulled at a strand of his hair.

"You're covered in paint." She told him. He nodded with a grin.

"Yeah, not a very good first impression huh?" She giggled.

"Uncle Reggie? This your friend?" She asked, Reg nodded as he leaned against the doorframe.