Harry soon recognised a feeling in this space space. He had only associated it with one being and, before his eyes, a figure appeared quickly from the nothingness. Death.
"Master, I am surprised to see you here in my realm. You've never before crossed on Samhain."
"Hello, Death," Harry greeted. "And no, I've never been part of a traditional Samhain ritual. I never knew how to do one or even what one was. They're illegal now thanks to Dumbledore."
"The number who partake each year is dwindling," Death said.
Harry nodded, not surprised. "I see. Do you mind? I mean, you have no problem with the ritual?"
Death stared at Harry from beneath his shadowed cloak. "No, the walls between these realms are at their weakest tonight. The ritual is my gift to Magic. For your people to know peace and love is eternal in the afterlife."
"Then I thank you," Harry said, surprised that the being that invoked such fear would be even slightly sentimental.
Death seemed to growth, the shadows increasing. "I shall leave you, Master, to your family."
As quickly as Death had appeared, He disappeared and Harry once again found himself surrounded by warmth and protection. He imagined that this was what children felt like when in the arms of their parents.
Eventually Harry felt himself falling back into his body and, after Merlin knows how long, he was able to open his eyes.
"You've been gone the longest, my lord," Luna said. The rest of Harry's friends were all sitting on a table that had appeared and seemed to be eating a selection of sweets and cakes. The room must have provided them a snack as Harry guessed they had missed the feast.
"I see," Harry said. He felt light and happy, like the love from his experience was still with him.
"I only just got back, myself. My mother was very happy to speak to me," Luna said.
Harry tilted his head. "You were able to actually speak to your mother?" he asked.
"Oh, yes," Luna said. "She always has so much to say. She can only talk once a year and has to cram to get it all said."
Harry nodded. "Was she like you, your mother?" Harry asked.
"Like me, my lord?"
"Able to see beyond the scopes of us lesser beings?" he said, smiling cheekily.
Luna giggled. "She was," she admitted.
"Then I'm sure she was a remarkable woman and I am sorry I never got the chance to meet her."
"Oh, she likes you. She told me as much. She also likes how you did my hair today, she's happy that we're friends." The words made Harry smile. Luna's hair was up in a bun today, with plaits wrapping the bun to her head, it was the fanciest thing he could do, and he personally thought his hair dressing skills were improving.
"Let's join the others before they eat all of the food," he said, offering Luna his arm.
~
After the success of the Samhain ritual, Harry found his friends seemed to blend and integrate easier than before. Now Harry wouldn't be shocked to see Draco talking to Hannah and Susan, Neville and Pansy studying together, or even Blaise and Luna gossiping. They all seemed to really relax and accept each other in a way they hadn't before. Even Pansy seemed more willing to listen to Luna; she was still sceptical, but now she at least listened.
It was while they were sitting out in the courtyard, enjoying what would probably be the last sunny day of the year, when Harry felt eyes on him.
Looking up from plating Luna's hair, Harry saw Dumbledore staring at him, his blue eyes boring into his emerald.
Albus knew that Harry had done something - his magic and that of his little friends all seemed to suddenly grow and they radiated with power. It wasn't great power like himself, but a calm power that was mature for their young age. It was like they had performed that damned ritual, but Albus knew they couldn't have. He would have felt it if they had performed any Olde Blood magic within the wards of Hogwarts.
Harry watched the twinkling eyes and withheld his sneer.
"Hello, Harry."
Harry groaned. His eye battle with Dumbledore had distracted him from Ginny's approach.
"Ginevra," he said, tying off a plat and pulling his hands away. He didn't want to hurt Luna by accident if he got angry and distracted. "Honestly Harry, why must you insist on this formality? Call me Ginny," the redhead said, rolling her eyes. However, Harry noticed how her brown eyes stared hatefully at the small blonde in front of him.
"What do you want this time, Ginevra?" Harry asked.
"I was wondering where you were the other day during the feast. You and your friends all missed it." Her eyes held a gleam that Harry recognised.
"I tend not to like celebrating the day I was made an orphan. My friends joined me and we spent the night together away from the crowd," Harry said.
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