RANDOM HARRY POTTER

the one that got away

Your surroundings were peaceful and disturbingly silent. Even the infant twins hadn't made a sound, as it somehow they knew that this was a time for respect and understanding. The only things you could hear were the water from the river behind you and the low murmur of the vicar.

"Ashes to ashes, dust to dust."

She had insisted on having a muggle funeral in her will, so there you were, standing in the graveyard of a little village church, overcome with the grief that comes with losing an old friend.

You hadn't spoken for such a long time - in fact, there were very few people you really kept in contact with after the battle of Hogwarts: only meeting up every few years at weddings and christenings. This was the first funeral, though. The last time you saw her was at a wedding, Neville and Hannah's. Papa got drunk and you were mad at him. I had only just started existing, you didn't even know about me then.

Just then you heard a strangled wail from the other side of the grave, and saw her father breaking down in sobs, his long, lank hair covering his face. No one comforted him. No one knew him well enough to comfort him, apart from her, of course, but she's gone now. He was her only blood relative, and only two members of the Scamander family bothered to come over from New York - apart from Rolf. Poor Rolf.

Despite the depressingly small amount of family that had turned, up, the funeral was packed. It seemed that all of Hogwarts must have turned up, even the people that had called her Loony Lovegood, and hid her possessions because she was 'different'.

Then Rolf was crying too, but silently, tears dripping off his face and onto the grass at his feet. Then the twins joined in, simultaneously picking up on their fathers grief. As soon as their crying echoed around the silent graveyard, an unbearable wave of sadness fell upon the gathering.

So many people cried, but you held off until after the service, until after my brothers were tucked into their beds and you and Papa were left alone. He took you in his arms and you sobbed, because of grief and sadness that such a bright flame was blown out so early, but also the guilt of how easily you let her drift away from you, how much more time you could have had with this amazing person that you missed out on because you just didn't try.

I wanted to comfort you too, so I pushed out as hard as I could.

And a chuckle broke through your sobs, choked and dying it sounded sadder than your cries, but a chuckle all the same.

"what is it?" Papa asked you, and you replied:

"Lily, it's Lily, she's kicking."

And he touched your tummy, looked up at your eyes and said, "Lily Luna."