Chapter 246: Chapter 243
The dinner was something Mrs. Weasley had organized because she wanted to celebrate Hermione finally getting out of the hospital. The entire Weasley family; except for Charlie and Bill; were all there, along with all of the Grangers and now all the Potters.
They had all gathered up nice and cozy around the dining table, Perenelle and Nicholas fitting in surprisingly well with a group that was young enough to be their great-grandkids and great-great-grandkids. They talked about this and that, and every time the topic strayed into any uncomfortable territory, the Weasley twins either pulled out some new nifty toy or acted all goofy, diffusing the tension. Ron was feeling more like his usual self, scarfing down his chunk of the huge meat pie Mrs. Weasley had cooked up so fast that Harry was afraid he'd barf, Hermione was cracking smiles left and right as she admonished Ron, and even Ginny had come out of her shell a bit as she joked around with Fred and George.
It was like a little happy bubble that Harry found himself in, insulated from all the bad things that had been happening. He did his best to enjoy it as much as he could.
After the dinner wrapped up, Hermione and Mrs. Granger found themselves in a conversation with Perenelle about how medicine differed in the magical and muggle worlds with Mrs. Weasley joining in for good measure, Fred and George decided to pick on Percy, Ron headed off to the bathroom to take a much-needed dump, and Harry was left with Mr. Weasley and Nicholas.
"So you are telling me that everything is made up of infinitely tiny little balls and that Muggles managed to break up those little balls into even tinier little balls? Unbelievable!" Mr. Weasley disbelievingly exclaimed.
"To put it very basically, yes," Nicholas replied with a sigh as he rubbed his temple.
Deciding to drop the subject of how batteries worked, no doubt due to Nicholas's overly complicated explanations involving theories about gaseous state and molecular composition, Mr. Weasley changed the topic of conversation, "I heard from people around the DMLE that the trial got a bit heated today."
"It did, but I think that the good Professor managed to save us quite well. There were a few rough moments here and there…"
Harry sighed. A discussion on the proceedings of today's trial was coming, and he wanted no part of it.
"I'll just be outside in the yard if that's alright Mr. Weasley."
Getting a nod, Harry headed around the kitchen and out of the back door, stepping out into the moonlit yard which opened up into the massive orchard behind the Burrow.
Closing the door behind him, Harry stepped down to sit on the steps.
The thoughts that he had been suppressing all evening started to rise up in him, seemingly unaffected by Gamer's Mind as they mocked and chided him.
'…All those families lost people because of your decision…'
'…Lisa is suffering in a Ministry cell, cold and alone, what right do you have to make merry…'
'…Forgotten about your dead friend already have you…'
"Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeee"
A shrill and distant noise suddenly rang out, snapping Harry right out of his thoughts.
His eyes snapped to where the sound had come from, watching with wide eyes as the silhouette of a girl wearing an abnormally tall witch's hat riding a broom flashed across the moon.
The back door of the Burrow slammed open behind him, and Ginny's voice rang out loud and clear, "MUM! Floo call Mr. Lovegood! Luna stole his broom! Again!"
Harry looked over his shoulder. Ginny, who had been the one to open the door, hadn't noticed him yet. She turned around, looked up at what was apparently the flying Luna with a tired smile, looked down, saw him, and promptly decided to vocally impersonate a dying rat.
Before she could run away, or worse, squeak, even more, Harry decided to speak up, "Is that actually Luna Lovegood?"
The focus of replying to a question was apparently enough to snap Ginny partly out of whatever tizzy she went into every time she saw Harry.
"Y-yes," she replied, "Sh-she lives nearby, and does that sometimes."
"Fly around squealing in the dead of night with a really large hat on?" Harry asked, unable to keep some of his incredulity from slipping into his voice.
"She's just a bit different," Ginny said, her stutter vanishing as her tone became defensive.
"I didn't mean anything by that," Harry said, backtracking, "I know she's…different is indeed the word I suppose. I've met her after all. I was just asking if she does this often."
The redhead weighed his words carefully, before she hesitantly nodded, "Her dad keeps forgetting to lock their broom cupboard, and she likes to fly at night, so…"
"Helloooooooooooo Mr. Tooooaaaaadingeeeer" came the distant voice, this time clearly distinguishable as Luna's as her flying silhouette did a large loop in the sky, her witch's hat almost falling off. Harry's mouth fell open, and his left eye decided that it needed a good twitch.
"What is she saying?" Ginny muttered incredulously.
"No idea. None. Absolutely none."
She looked at him strangely for a second, probably wondering why he had suddenly developed sweat, before asking, "Are you alright? Why are you sitting out here?"
Harry looked at her, and for a fleeting moment debated telling her about all that plagued his mind. Of all the secrets and dilemmas he was dealing with. To let her know that the Harry Potter she idolized never made it to Hogwarts. That he wasn't someone who deserved to be looked up to.
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