Happy Holidays significantowl
Title: Speculative Future
Author: AN Other
Recipient: significantowl
Fandom: Harry Potter
Rating: PG
Summary: Harry Potter returns home to find Luna on his doorstep with a strange book and an offer that might be even stranger.
Notes: I hope you like the not-quite-crossover *g* Thank you to B for the beta.
Rounding the corner into the corridor he took a deep breath and imagined the Butterbeer he knew he had in the fridge before stopping suddenly.
Sitting on his doorstep was a figure, a witch he thought, completely engrossed in a book so that their face couldn’t be seen. Just as Harry thought perhaps he ought to reach for his wand the book dropped and a smiling face looked up at him.
“Luna?”
“Harry,” Luna smiled, “I think you ought to make them block up the draft around that window to stop the wrackspurts getting in. It’s no wonder your lift doesn’t work!”
Harry stared at her blankly for a moment.
“Are we going to go inside?”
Luna looked at him curiously and Harry shook himself and unlocked the door with his key and a charm.
Inside Harry hung his coat on a peg and motioned for Luna to do the same.
“Um, would you like a drink or something?” he said moving into the kitchen. “I’ve got most things. Make yourself at home.”
“Whatever you’re having.” Luna smiled at him again and, kicking of her shoes, curled up on the sofa still holding her book.
Harry clattered about in the kitchen putting away the few bits of shopping he’d done and grabbing a couple of Butterbeers and, after remembering a previous pointed comment of Hermione’s, a glass for Luna.
“Here you go.”
Luna took the bottle and ignored the glass making Harry grin to himself as he settled at the opposite end of the sofa.
“You know it’s no wonder there are wrackspurts getting in if you leave your decorations lying around like that.”
Harry looked at the pile of tinsel and decorations by his bin and sighed.
“Well I haven’t really had time to sort them properly and it’s not really been that long.”
“It’s nearly the middle of January Harry,” Luna looked concerned. “I know people think it’s silly but they will attract…”
“Wrackspurts. I know.”
Harry took a gulp of his Butterbeer and relaxed back into the cushions of the sofa closing his eyes for a moment. He hadn’t seen Luna since Christmas a few weeks ago but that wasn’t unusual and he couldn’t really think why she was here.
“So” Harry started uncertainly looking across at her. “Was there something you wanted or…”
He stopped abruptly as the cover of the book Luna was holding flashed suddenly from a vivid red to a deep green.
“Merlin! What on earth is that book?”
“Yes.” Luna looked down at it with a slight smile. “That’s right.”
“What’s right?”
“It’s about Merlin.” Luna touched the cover of the book gently and looked back at Harry. “It’s a work of speculative history, Daddy’s thinking of printing a whole range and this is one of his prototypes.”
“Speculative history?” Harry looked warily at the cover of the book, which seemed to be rippling and, now he looked closer, the pages of the book seemed to be coming and going too. “What is that book doing?”
“It’s changing as the story changes.”
Luna opened the book to a page in the middle that was covered mostly by a picture of a dragon around which words seemed to swirl.
“Daddy’s been trying to find a way to publish books about some of the most confusing parts of wizarding history so that the reader can see all the options and the book doesn’t stop being true. Of course it only works if the writer keeps researching and thinking about the topic and doesn’t switch off the charm but Madame Trefynwy is very dedicated, she can trace her family back to Geoffrey of Monmouth himself and she says it’s her destiny to tell the truth about Merlin.”
Harry opened his mouth to ask a question but he realised he didn’t even know where he should start.
“Of course she’s found it very difficult to make people publish her findings because they all think they know about Merlin from what they read on the Chocolate Frog cards but of course that isn’t the whole story or even the right story.”
“No, Harry said faintly, “Hermione complains about that a lot but…”
“I don’t think Hermione would read Madame Trefynwy’s work either. She isn’t very good at keeping an open mind about research I think and she told me everyone knows Merlin was older than Arthur but then everyone knows you used the Hallows to defeat Lord Voldemort and that doesn’t make it true.”
Luna frowned for a moment.
“You’d think she’d want to learn about how the Lady Morgana grew up in Camelot with Arthur and about how she learned of her powers with Merlin’s help, she’s always so keen on making sure “witches gain proper recognition for their work.””
Luna did a very good impression of Hermione these days and Harry couldn’t stop himself from smiling.
“But I thought Morgana…” Harry shook himself. “Never mind Morgana for a moment Luna why are you here?” He paused. “Apart from to save me from wrackspurts of course.”
“Would you like to come to a party?”
“A party?” Harry stared at her confused.
“Daddy’s having a big party to launch his Speculative History series and I thought you might like to come.” Luna looked uncertain for a moment. “You took me to that party at Hogwarts and I thought maybe this time you could come with me.”
“Well I’d,” Harry started uncertainly before he met Luna’s eyes and saw her eagerness. “I’d love to come if I can.”
“Well it’s next weekend and I think you must be free because your Auror training schedule is the same as Neville’s and he’s coming as well, I checked.”
“Neville’s coming too?”
“Oh yes,” Luna smiled. “Susan asked him, she’s been helping with the picture charms she’s really very good.”
Harry’s smile faltered for a moment.
“Neville and Susan, they’ve been…” he paused and rearranged his words. “Has she finally asked him as a date then?”
“Oh yes.”
Luna smiled happily and flicked the pages of the book past more moving words till the book came to rest on a picture of a dark haired wizard and witch staring into each other’s eyes.
“She was terribly nervous about asking but I don’t really know why because it seems to be quite easy.”
Harry suddenly stilled at her words.
“It does?”
“Oh no, it’s really been quite easy and you said yes straight away and I’m sure Neville did too because he wanted to ask her.”
Harry stared at Luna for a moment and said quietly, “A date.”
Luna grinned at him happily.
“Ginny said at Christmas you really ought to see people.” She paused for a moment. “I think she didn’t like the way you kept glaring at poor Justin and though I don’t think they’re really quite right for each other it’s quite important to try new things sometimes isn’t it?”
“Yes,” said Harry faintly and took another swig from his bottle.
“Well I’d better go,” Luna slipped her feet into her shoes and stood up. “There’s still some work to do on the books and I have to find a dress.” She looked at the Butterbeer bottle in her hand. “Perhaps I can find my Butterbeer cork earrings again.”
“I…” Harry opened his mouth again uncertain of exactly what had just happened.
Long hours of Hermione’s lessons in politeness kicked in though and he stood to help Luna on with her coat.
“It’s going to be so much fun.”
Luna pulled her coat tight, smiled at Harry and looked down at a tiny sprig of mistletoe by her feet.
“Much safer down there than up but you really ought to get rid of it you know.
“I will.” Harry smiled at Luna’s concern. “I promise.”
“Good,” Luna nodded as Harry opened the door for him and then paused for a moment on the doorstep with a half smile on her face.
Suddenly Harry realised he was still holding the arm of Luna’s coat as well as the door and he felt himself blush.
“Well goodbye then,” he said with an attempt at a smile. “I’ll see you next week.”
“Goodbye.” Luna grinned suddenly and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek. “Who knows what’ll happen when you’re free of those wrackspurts.”
Before Harry could reply she had vanished along the corridor and he could hear her walking down the stairs humming. He pressed his hand to his cheek and thought about his week ahead full of nothing but work and study.
“Who knows what could happen.”
Author: AN Other
Recipient: significantowl
Fandom: Harry Potter
Rating: PG
Summary: Harry Potter returns home to find Luna on his doorstep with a strange book and an offer that might be even stranger.
Notes: I hope you like the not-quite-crossover *g* Thank you to B for the beta.
Rounding the corner into the corridor he took a deep breath and imagined the Butterbeer he knew he had in the fridge before stopping suddenly.
Sitting on his doorstep was a figure, a witch he thought, completely engrossed in a book so that their face couldn’t be seen. Just as Harry thought perhaps he ought to reach for his wand the book dropped and a smiling face looked up at him.
“Luna?”
“Harry,” Luna smiled, “I think you ought to make them block up the draft around that window to stop the wrackspurts getting in. It’s no wonder your lift doesn’t work!”
Harry stared at her blankly for a moment.
“Are we going to go inside?”
Luna looked at him curiously and Harry shook himself and unlocked the door with his key and a charm.
Inside Harry hung his coat on a peg and motioned for Luna to do the same.
“Um, would you like a drink or something?” he said moving into the kitchen. “I’ve got most things. Make yourself at home.”
“Whatever you’re having.” Luna smiled at him again and, kicking of her shoes, curled up on the sofa still holding her book.
Harry clattered about in the kitchen putting away the few bits of shopping he’d done and grabbing a couple of Butterbeers and, after remembering a previous pointed comment of Hermione’s, a glass for Luna.
“Here you go.”
Luna took the bottle and ignored the glass making Harry grin to himself as he settled at the opposite end of the sofa.
“You know it’s no wonder there are wrackspurts getting in if you leave your decorations lying around like that.”
Harry looked at the pile of tinsel and decorations by his bin and sighed.
“Well I haven’t really had time to sort them properly and it’s not really been that long.”
“It’s nearly the middle of January Harry,” Luna looked concerned. “I know people think it’s silly but they will attract…”
“Wrackspurts. I know.”
Harry took a gulp of his Butterbeer and relaxed back into the cushions of the sofa closing his eyes for a moment. He hadn’t seen Luna since Christmas a few weeks ago but that wasn’t unusual and he couldn’t really think why she was here.
“So” Harry started uncertainly looking across at her. “Was there something you wanted or…”
He stopped abruptly as the cover of the book Luna was holding flashed suddenly from a vivid red to a deep green.
“Merlin! What on earth is that book?”
“Yes.” Luna looked down at it with a slight smile. “That’s right.”
“What’s right?”
“It’s about Merlin.” Luna touched the cover of the book gently and looked back at Harry. “It’s a work of speculative history, Daddy’s thinking of printing a whole range and this is one of his prototypes.”
“Speculative history?” Harry looked warily at the cover of the book, which seemed to be rippling and, now he looked closer, the pages of the book seemed to be coming and going too. “What is that book doing?”
“It’s changing as the story changes.”
Luna opened the book to a page in the middle that was covered mostly by a picture of a dragon around which words seemed to swirl.
“Daddy’s been trying to find a way to publish books about some of the most confusing parts of wizarding history so that the reader can see all the options and the book doesn’t stop being true. Of course it only works if the writer keeps researching and thinking about the topic and doesn’t switch off the charm but Madame Trefynwy is very dedicated, she can trace her family back to Geoffrey of Monmouth himself and she says it’s her destiny to tell the truth about Merlin.”
Harry opened his mouth to ask a question but he realised he didn’t even know where he should start.
“Of course she’s found it very difficult to make people publish her findings because they all think they know about Merlin from what they read on the Chocolate Frog cards but of course that isn’t the whole story or even the right story.”
“No, Harry said faintly, “Hermione complains about that a lot but…”
“I don’t think Hermione would read Madame Trefynwy’s work either. She isn’t very good at keeping an open mind about research I think and she told me everyone knows Merlin was older than Arthur but then everyone knows you used the Hallows to defeat Lord Voldemort and that doesn’t make it true.”
Luna frowned for a moment.
“You’d think she’d want to learn about how the Lady Morgana grew up in Camelot with Arthur and about how she learned of her powers with Merlin’s help, she’s always so keen on making sure “witches gain proper recognition for their work.””
Luna did a very good impression of Hermione these days and Harry couldn’t stop himself from smiling.
“But I thought Morgana…” Harry shook himself. “Never mind Morgana for a moment Luna why are you here?” He paused. “Apart from to save me from wrackspurts of course.”
“Would you like to come to a party?”
“A party?” Harry stared at her confused.
“Daddy’s having a big party to launch his Speculative History series and I thought you might like to come.” Luna looked uncertain for a moment. “You took me to that party at Hogwarts and I thought maybe this time you could come with me.”
“Well I’d,” Harry started uncertainly before he met Luna’s eyes and saw her eagerness. “I’d love to come if I can.”
“Well it’s next weekend and I think you must be free because your Auror training schedule is the same as Neville’s and he’s coming as well, I checked.”
“Neville’s coming too?”
“Oh yes,” Luna smiled. “Susan asked him, she’s been helping with the picture charms she’s really very good.”
Harry’s smile faltered for a moment.
“Neville and Susan, they’ve been…” he paused and rearranged his words. “Has she finally asked him as a date then?”
“Oh yes.”
Luna smiled happily and flicked the pages of the book past more moving words till the book came to rest on a picture of a dark haired wizard and witch staring into each other’s eyes.
“She was terribly nervous about asking but I don’t really know why because it seems to be quite easy.”
Harry suddenly stilled at her words.
“It does?”
“Oh no, it’s really been quite easy and you said yes straight away and I’m sure Neville did too because he wanted to ask her.”
Harry stared at Luna for a moment and said quietly, “A date.”
Luna grinned at him happily.
“Ginny said at Christmas you really ought to see people.” She paused for a moment. “I think she didn’t like the way you kept glaring at poor Justin and though I don’t think they’re really quite right for each other it’s quite important to try new things sometimes isn’t it?”
“Yes,” said Harry faintly and took another swig from his bottle.
“Well I’d better go,” Luna slipped her feet into her shoes and stood up. “There’s still some work to do on the books and I have to find a dress.” She looked at the Butterbeer bottle in her hand. “Perhaps I can find my Butterbeer cork earrings again.”
“I…” Harry opened his mouth again uncertain of exactly what had just happened.
Long hours of Hermione’s lessons in politeness kicked in though and he stood to help Luna on with her coat.
“It’s going to be so much fun.”
Luna pulled her coat tight, smiled at Harry and looked down at a tiny sprig of mistletoe by her feet.
“Much safer down there than up but you really ought to get rid of it you know.
“I will.” Harry smiled at Luna’s concern. “I promise.”
“Good,” Luna nodded as Harry opened the door for him and then paused for a moment on the doorstep with a half smile on her face.
Suddenly Harry realised he was still holding the arm of Luna’s coat as well as the door and he felt himself blush.
“Well goodbye then,” he said with an attempt at a smile. “I’ll see you next week.”
“Goodbye.” Luna grinned suddenly and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek. “Who knows what’ll happen when you’re free of those wrackspurts.”
Before Harry could reply she had vanished along the corridor and he could hear her walking down the stairs humming. He pressed his hand to his cheek and thought about his week ahead full of nothing but work and study.
“Who knows what could happen.”