All the wrong choices

Brain-picking

The cottage caught Harry by surprise as he flooed in. After seeing Xenophilius's ramshackle cottage he expected something similar but the inside was neat, filled to the brim with books and interesting specimens gathered from around the world, however, it gave off a sense of scholastic importance and interest, not one of disorderly, esoteric curios. The kitchen was large and bright with a large brick fireplace. For how homely the place felt, Harry felt like he was back in the burrow. Luna appeared from the doorway, dreamy smile on her face as she carried one of her children on her hip.

"Good to see you, Harry" She stepped forward and gave Harry a hug and Harry could smell earth and herbs in her hair. He smiled as she pulled back.

"Hi Luna, How are you?"

"Okay actually, the Auguries are calling so we've had to move our mud pies inside."

"Okay?" Harry said confused. Even after all these years Luna never failed to confuse.

"The Augurey predicts rain and storms." She gurgled to the infant at her hip. "Did you want to see them, Harry?" Harry nodded. Not sure whether he actually did want to see them or not. Luna turned and left the room as he followed. The rest of the house was much the same and the only words Harry could find to describe the place were words like 'homey' and 'cosy'. She led him out some patio doors and out onto a small terrace overlooking a small babbling stream. When she didn't stop he jumped, chasing after her. She guided him down a winding overgrown path to a patch of garden which looked like it was being tilled ready for planting. Surrounding the plot of land there were hedgerows of brambles and thorns. Harry noticed the noise straight away. "Can you hear them?" Luna asked in her dreamy way.

"Where are they?" Asked Harry looking around at the trees surrounding the hedges.

"We've got a nest of them, in the hedge." She pointed to a greenish-grey bird. It sat on the hedge like a hungry looking thing and Harry almost felt the urge to feed it. It seemed to have sorrowful eyes.

"Unusual looking bird," Harry said.

"They're supposed to predict a person's death," Luna said absently, and Harry felt fear fill his heart as the creature cawed at him.

"What?"

"Oh, don't worry Harry. That was disproven. They only predict rain" Harry clutched his heart and shook his head.

"Luna!" He chided. She smiled as she began walking back to the house.

"The rain is coming, Harry, let's go and get some Gurdyroot tea" Harry almost gagged at the memory.

"Do you have any regular tea Luna? The healers have told me to cut back on Gurdyroot" Harry lied.

"I thought you looked a bit purple" She added as they neared the cottage.

The exterior of the cottage was a thatched dream cottage set into the dense flora. Flowers and bushes seemed to rise up on both sides as though hiding the cottage from muggles.

Once they were back indoors Luna began making the tea after settling the infant on a blanket with some toys.

"Don't you have two children Luna?" Harry asked as he took a seat.

"Yes Harry, they're twins" Luna smiled.

"What are their names again?" Harry asked.

"Lorcan and Lysander," She said as she turned away from him to pour the tea.

"Where is his brother?" Harry asked.

"Oh, Lysander? He's around. He was playing with the Nargles earlier, they seem to enjoy each other's company." Harry worried slightly as he looked around for the second child but was relieved to see the twins now together on the blanket. Both were blond like their mother but seemed to have the colouring of their father, they're darker skin tone looking shocking against the blond.