In the Melancholy Moonlight, Part 4: Nebula

Chapter 193: Countin' on You to Carry Me Through

LUCY:

I knew Harry.

I knew four truths about Harry.

One. He thought far too little of himself and his abilities.

Two. He was avoidant at heart and if he could get away with ignoring a problem for a certain amount of time, he would.

Three. He loved sparingly, but deeply.

Four. He loved so deeply that he would sooner go into a burning room alone and lock himself inside than let anyone he loves even know there was a fire.

Surely that was what he was doing. Surely that was why he'd remained on the sofa, surely that was his guard was up even with me, surely that was why he'd expressed so much interest in what was happening with me and offered me so little detail when I wanted to know what was happening with him.

He was afraid.

Not only had he gone into a burning room alone and locked the door behind him, he was building a wall between us and the flames.

Between me and the flames, I realized with a jolt.

For better or for worse, we'd endured the fires of the past together. I'd followed him into danger as willingly our first year as I had our fifth.

Surely he knew that would never change. Surely he knew I'd always follow him, anywhere, no matter what.

I'd proven it. Over and over and over and over and over again, I'd proven it.

And just like that, I knew a fifth truth.

Harry James Potter loved me more than anyone.

And in turn, I knew five truths about myself.

One. I loved Harry James Potter more than anyone.

Two. It was for that reason I would demolish the wall he was building and run through the flames with him again, and again, and again, and again, and again, as many times as he needed me.

Three. I cast a wide net with my love, but only special people were allowed to love me back. Harry was one of those people, the most consistent of the people I still had with me.

Four. I was anxious at heart, always ready to jump headfirst into a problem and not come up for air until it was resolved.

Five. I thought little of myself and my abilities, but I was determined to show Harry James Potter the same love he'd always shown me.

To convince him he was worth it. To convince him he didn't have to avoid me. To show him our love was reciprocal. To show him we were in the burning room together, whether he liked it or not, and I preferred it that way to him braving the flames alone.

To give him something he could hold in his hands and in his heart, something he could wield as a weapon against his doubts and insecurities whenever they started to creep into his mind.

I was going to bring Harry James back to me. And I was going to do it on his birthday.

🩵💛❤️💜

"Hello?" Fred was waving his hand in front of my face. "Earth to Lucy! You said something about Harry's birthday?"

I nodded, only distantly aware of the outside world. My inside world was much more vivid at that moment, exploding with color and emotion and light and life and love.

I blinked hard and forced myself to focus. "Yeah. I think I figured out what was bothering him. I think I know how to fix it."

Fred swatted George. "I told you it was about Harry!"