𝑁𝑜𝑡 𝐴𝑛𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝐿𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑆𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑦 (𝐻𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑦 𝑃.)

Chapter 42: Brother?

I wake up screaming for the twentieth time this week but honestly, it's been likely more than that. Umbridge was suspended and Dumbledore was reinstated as Headmaster. Thankfully, no one has made me go to any of my classes.

After a few attempts and breaking down mid-way through potions, they haven't bothered finding me. Clenching the clothing around my chest I try to catch my breath, if it wasn't for that same bloody nightmare I wouldn't be here.

If we hadn't gone, dad would still be here, dad may even be alive right now. But he's not. He's gone. I don't remember how I got back here, just that when he first had died, I went after Bellatrix, then awoke here. Back at school, in Madam Pomfrey's clinic. 

They ended up having to sedate me, and I spent a few days in and out of it. Each time she would take me off of it, Ron told me I was lash out and try to go after Bellatrix again. Despite me being here. Rumors went about that I had lost my mind, although those aren't very new. 

I haven't spoken to anyone, every time Hermione tries, I pretend to sleep or to not listen to her. She's told me how Harry was doing, thankfully, and as awful as I feel about not being there for him. I can hardly remove myself from bed, what could I do for him? Yet, being the wonderful friend she is, she packed my stuff away for me, even feeding my Owl for me. 

But tonight's the final feast, and it's time to get up. 

Ignoring the mound of letters I've received, I run my fingers through my hair before tying it back, not wishing to do anything further. I dress in my proper attire, and as I go to exit the room, I'm met with my cousin standing in the door.

"Y/n! I just came to get you up, Hermione mentioned she's been having a struggle, so I thought I'd give it a go." Luna smiles softly at me and with my voice hoarse I thank her.

"It seems as though my missing a few things, would you like to help me hang a few posters before the feast?" I nod, knowing it's time to rejoin society anyway. As we walk through the castle several pitying looks are thrown my way, although with my slightly pointed teeth, they avert their gaze. 

After that day the fangs slowly crept their way back into my gums, but they're still sharper than normal. Nearly making me look as though I was a vampire, I nearly thought about shaving them down with a muggle file. Hermione would have talked me out of it or simply taken it away.

Before he speaks, I smell the scent of treacle tart and broomwood handle. 

Without turning to face him, I say, "Hello Harry."

"Hello, you two. Y/n, has your nose gotten keener?" That's an odd question, but now that he mentions it, I suppose it has. Every day it seems I'm more like a dog than a person, or a wolf rather than a dog. 

"Luna, what are you doing?" He asks, gently rubbing the back of my hand, nearly as if he's afraid to touch me. To make him feel better, I entangle my hand in his, squeezing gently. "My possessions seem to be missing, so Y/n was helping me hang a few parchments," Luna explains.

"That's awful," Harry tries comforting her. "Oh, it's all good fun. But as it's the last night, I really do need them back." 

"Do you need any help finding them?" Harry offers, but she shakes her head with a smile that quickly fades. "I'm sorry about your godfather, Harry." I stiffen at her words, but she only grasps my free hand rubbing a gentle circle on the back. 

She must know I can't bare to hear the words right now, because she says nothing. 

"Are you sure you need no help?" He offers her one last time, and she says, "That's alright. Anyways, my mum always said the things we lose have a way of coming back to us in the end." I look above our heads to find her shoes tied to the top of the archway by its laces. 

She continues, "If not in the way we expect." 

"I'm sure the nargles will return them," I say trying to comfort her, while Harry looks at me confused. "Likely so... I think I'll go have some pudding." She smiles before leaving the two of us alone. 

"Y/n..." His soft voice tugs at my heart, "How are you?" 

I shrug, forcing myself to face him. The marks adorning his face from the shattering glass at the Department of Mysteries are still there, but faint. He lifts his hand to my face, gently grazing over a few scratches of my own. 

"I don't know if they'll let me stay at Grimmuald place," He admits and I sigh, "Not sure they'll even allow me." 

"Darling, it's yours now. They've got hardly a say," I tense up at his words, knowing he's speaking the truth. All of Dad's possessions went to next of kin, which is me. The only and last. "Lupin mailed me, he asked me about you. And asked me if you've gotten his mail," I've gotten each letter, but haven't been able to open them. 

"I have but..." My voice trails off and he nods in understanding, "That's okay, we can open them together?" He says with a questioning tone, and I hesitantly agree. 

With my belongings in hand, the four of us walk to the train, except I'm not excited to return home this time. All I've got is Papa, just like it was before. 

"I've been thinking about something Dumbledore said to me," Harry chimes. When had he spoken to Dumbledore? I'll have to press him on that later. 

"What's that?" 'Mione asks, turning her attention to him. "That even though we've got a fight ahead of us, we've got one thing that Voldemort doesn't have." When Harry doesn't go on, Ron and I speak at the same time, "Yeah?" 

"Something worth fighting for," He wraps an arm around my shoulder, pulling my head closer to him, pressing a kiss on the top. I bite back a small grin at the gesture, thankful he isn't angry with me, even after everything that's happened. 

On the train Harry helps me open the seven letters Papa sent me, each one about something different. Turns out Dad and Papa had been going through an adoption agency to have another child but didn't want to tell me about it until things were more in stone.

But now, they had been accepted to adopt a baby boy. Except the mother is only a few weeks along, and well, dad's gone as well. Papa isn't sure whether or not to withdraw from the adoption and wishes to speak to me more on it when I arrive home, as well as a few other things. Such as dad's funeral. 

Since they weren't married in the eyes of the law, nearly everything has fallen to me, but papa has handled what he could without me. Thankfully Dumbledore allowed Harry to come visit for a few days; papa said it was so he could be watched by the Order, but I really think papa pulled some strings for me. 

And so, my birthday flies by. Papa and Harry respect my decision of not celebrating, they gifted me books and candy regardless of my wishes. 

__________

Sorry about the short chapter, but I'm double publishing to make up for it!

I also really wanted to find a way for Teddy to be included even with Sirius dying, I hope this is okay? I was really conflicted when writing it lol.

Word count: 1304
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