Closest To Heaven That I'll Ever Be

6. What Was Made For?

By the time the battle was over, I was exhausted beyond anything I'd ever experienced. The Great Hall had become something between a hospital, a reunion point and a morgue. There were people everywhere. Some were crying. Some were laughing because the people they loved had survived. Others sat in stunned silence.

Bodies lay beneath sheets.

Families clung to each other.

The air smelled of smoke, blood, dust and healing potions. I kept busy. Busy was easier. If I was healing someone, I didn't have to think about the people underneath the sheets. I didn't have to think about my uncle. Or Fred. Or Remus. Or Tonks. Or how close we'd all come to dying.

Neville sat on one of the benches while I crouched in front of him, finishing the healing charm on a nasty cut along his arm. His face was bruised. His clothes were filthy. His ankle had swollen to almost twice its normal size.

But he was alive.

That was enough.

"Alright." I sat back and inspected my work. "I think you'll survive now."

Neville laughed tiredly. "High praise."

"Don't get too excited. You're still an idiot."

"Thanks." He chuckled.

"You're welcome." I pointed towards his ankle. "You need to get that properly looked at if the swelling doesn't go down, though. I'm serious, Neville. Promise me?"

"I promise."

"Actually promise."

"I promise, Addi."

"Good."

He leaned forward and wrapped his arms around me. I froze for a second before hugging him back.

"Thanks, Addi," he murmured.

I squeezed him. "My pleasure." When he pulled away, I nodded towards the far end of the Great Hall. "Now go find your girl."

His face immediately turned red. "My—what?"

I grinned. "Luna."

"I don't—"

"Neville."

He glanced across the hall. Luna was sitting alone on a bench, looking remarkably serene considering we'd just survived a war. Neville smiled.

There it was.

"Oh, shut up," he muttered.

"I didn't say anything."

"You didn't have to."

I winked. "Go."

He shook his head but headed towards her anyway. I smiled after him. For the first time in what felt like months, something inside my chest loosened slightly.

"Addi?"

Shit.

I closed my eyes. Of course. Apparently the universe had decided I'd experienced enough peace for one lifetime.

I turned around. Harry stood behind me. For a second, neither of us spoke. He looked awful. His face was dirty and bruised. His glasses were crooked. There was dried blood near his hairline and his clothes looked like they'd survived several explosions.

Which, knowing Harry, they probably had.

My healer instincts took over before my anger could stop them. "Can I help you?" My eyes automatically travelled over him, checking for obvious injuries.

Harry noticed. Of course he did. His mouth twitched slightly. Then he sniffed and reached into his clothing. "I have something of yours."

My heart stopped when I saw it.
My wand.