Restoration

Chapter 34

***

Luna Lovegood had many hidden talents. One of them was the ability to sneak up on people or remain hidden in the shadows, listening to their conversations. She never intended to spy for anyone else or cause them harm, but she did enjoy being in the loop with what was happening in and outside school walls. Every time Anthony surprised her with a fresh batch of gossip he heard in the morning, she smiled and nodded, saying "Oh, yeah, I've heard about it."

And another talent she had since childhood, as a slightly morbid one, was smelling when something bad was going to happen. It was the way her skin began to tingle or the way her heartbeat pulsed in unknown patterns at night, or sometimes the way her toes didn't quite fit inside her shoes she'd worn for years. But every time she recognized the signs - perhaps from the universe, or within. And she dreaded them most of all.

Hours before her mother died in a horrible accident, Luna's nose kept itching, no matter how hard she scratched it. Right before the final trial of the Triwizard Tournament began, her fingernails turned purple, as if she was holding ice. And then the moment Harry appeared with Cedric at his side, the crowds erupted with cheer, but her nose began to bleed, and she knew something bad had happened.

Days before Togrus arrested Elara, a migraine set in Luna's head. She knew all would be well on the day of the trial, as she couldn't feel a thing, and her friend's worries didn't get to her.

It had been months since Elara's arrest and that horrible, sickly feeling that something terrible was about to occur. And as she began to forget about it completely, it happened again. She couldn't stop sneezing, and eventually, her cheeks burnt with crimson red, although she didn't have a fever. But this time was different - she didn't have a clue as to what bad could happen next. Similar to the first occasion, where she witnessed her mother's death in complete surprise, Luna began to panic.

She wandered around Hogwarts for a bit, but her senses quickly guided her outside Dumbledore's office. Was it his forgetfulness, or perhaps an intention for Luna to hear it, Dumbledore didn't place a protective wall this time, allowing everything that was discussed behind his doors to be heard outside.

Luna carefully leaned against the doors and used her wand to make sure she wouldn't miss a word. She recognized Professor Lupin's voice as he had returned to Hogwarts on Dumbledore's request. Bickering back and forth about "How could this have happened," and "I can't believe I couldn't remember her," Luna realized they were speaking about Elara. She hadn't known much about Lupin's involvement in her life, but she put the pieces of the puzzle together quite quickly.

"What a sight for my eyes, Miss Lovegood!" Blaise clapped as he approached Luna.

And with the flick of her wand, she zipped his mouth shut. Unable to speak, he lifted his eyebrow at her, slightly confused. Upon inspecting her bent and very still posture, and most of all, the fact that she was leaning right against Dumbledore's doors, he nodded in understanding. He cast a deafening bubble around the two of them, which allowed them to speak freely without having the fear of being heard.

"Move aside, you little spy," he leaned his against the doors, standing directly in front of Luna.

"Remus Lupin is back. Dumbledore gave him his memories back and he remembers Elara...from before," Luna summarised what had already been saying.

"Is he...crying?"

"Remus, you have to collect yourself. Promise me, should anything happen to me, you'll watch over her. Promise me."

-"I can't...I've failed her before. She must despise me. Hell, if Bellatrix raised her, she'll want me dead."

"Time heals everything. And an impressionable young soul like her will realize why certain decisions were made. Perhaps for the better."