Intro
A/N: This is something that's been running around in my head for a while and I finally decided to get it out. Admittedly, I can't claim full credit for the idea. This was inspired by TheDivineDemon at Twisting The Hellmouth and his fic idea Stand By Me in a Field of Blue. Let me know what you guys think about this idea.
~~~
"You all right, Harry?" Ron asked.
"I'm fine." This was the typical response.
Of course, Harry was anything but fine. The strange dreams he'd always had were becoming more frequent... More vivid. Ever since the incident with the dementors at the end of the previous year; when the vision shifted from his parents being engulfed in green light, his mother begging Voldemort to spare his life to visions of a beautiful blonde girl whose last moments were spent ensuring his survival in a different way against another type of unstoppable monster; his mysterious dreams had become much more real.
Not the dreams with mysterious green light or a vague sense of flying. But dreams where he wasn't himself, but the Prince of a far off land, similar, but much different from everything Harry had ever known.
Looking to his friends, Harry wondered when and how he'd tell them about these strange dreams. Dreams where he had friends similar and yet very different from his own. Hermione, who's book eating brain was without peer and whose cooking skills would more than likely burn a house down while simply attempting to boil water. Neville, whose seemingly cowardly exterior hid a nerve of steel that would allow the boy have Harry's back no matter the circumstance. Whose way with plants had helped them survive once before. Ron, who never let his friends take themselves too seriously. Who would pull Hermione from her books, who wouldn't let Neville focus too long on his insecurities, who wouldn't let Harry be bogged down by his destiny... Who couldn't take a decent picture if his life depended on it.
How could he tell his friends that he only chose them to be his friends because they reminded him so much of people he'd only known in dreams?
As they boarded, helping each other load on their trunks, Harry caught a flash of color. He did a double take and tried not to be disappointed. The hair was the same color, but the girl who was sitting alone in the compartment was not her. He tried not to let the slight breaking his heart show as his heartbeat slowed to normal levels.
"That's Loony Lovegood," Ron said tactlessly.
"Who?" Harry inquired, welcome for the distraction.
"Luna Lovegood, who some people call 'Loony'," Ron replied. Harry was both startled and annoyed by this statement. Startled because of her name, annoyed because he knew what it was liked to be bullied and called names. Something must have shown on his face, as Ron became concerned. "Harry, you sure you're all right?"
Harry didn't reply, instead opting to open the compartment while knocking on the door. He tried not to be nervous as he addressed the mysterious Luna. "D-Do... Would you mind if we joined you?"
Ron, Neville and Hermione looked at each other in confusion, not knowing what to think. Harry couldn't blame them. He was a fairly closed off person. Between his dreams and the Dursleys, he perferred to keep to himself, letting precious few people in. The three of them were on a very exclusive list. And while he'd made an effort for Ron's family, moreso for Ginny than the others, since she too reminded him of one of the dream people, he still kept himself slightly apart. Despite his social shortcomings, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley never let his distance bother them, nor did they ever give him any indication that he was being bothersome or a burden- making him feel as welcome as he'd allow himself to feel.
He'd made it a point to tell them how much he appreciated all that they'd done for him.
Harry didn't think it was possible, but it seemed as if the almost perpetual look of surprise on Luna's face became even moreso. She smiled at him. It was a nice smile, he'd easily decided. "Sure. It will almost be like having friends."
Harry hated that the statement was so matter of fact and was determined to have a chat with Ron about it later. While Luna didn't quite feel like one of the dream people, not really, he felt the same sense of protectiveness over her than he did for Ron's sister. He wasn't entirely sure how someone like her could feel such unending optimism.
"Thank you," Harry said gratefully.
"You're Harry Potter," Luna stated the obvious. "I thought you'd be taller."
Harry smiled, which only got wider when he heard Hermione let out a snort.
"You're Hermione Granger," Luna said as Hermione brought the stranger girl's attention to herself. "Most Ravenclaws don't like you. They hate being considered second best, academically. Especially to a Gryffindor."
"I'm sorry?" Hermione replied somewhat confused as to whether she should be feeling guilty, concerned or smug.
"That's our Hermione for ya," Ron replied proudly with a grin, nudging the bushy haired bookworm playfully.
"Ronald Weasley. You're more handsome when you're not being rude," Luna replied, not pulling any punches.
Ron looked like he didn't know how to respond, but Harry was certain it would be in a negative way. Catching the red head's eye, Harry nonverbally warned his friend off. Ron merely shrugged, as he hadn't been certain what he was going to say to her anyway.
"And you're Neville Longbottom," Luna continued. "I overheard Hannah Abbott tell Susan Bones last year that she was disappointed you never asked her to Hogsmeade."
Neville blushed in embarassment.
"Go, Nev!" Ron nudged Neville, who promptly shoved him away.
"I'm Luna Cidrella Lovegood. But you can call me 'Loony'. Lots of people do," Luna replied.
Harry was glad to see Luna's blunt honesty made Ron uncomfortable. Of course, it had the same effect on him, Hermione and Neville as well.
"I think we'll just stick with calling you 'Luna', if it's all the same to you," Harry replied.
"If you wish," Luna acknowledged as she went back to reading her magazine.
It didn't take long for the quartet to settle into Luna's compartment. Ron, Hermione and Neville were chatting about innocuous topics, while Luna continued to read her magazine in silence, as the train got underway. Harry, meanwhile, was silent, trying to think of a way to broach the subject on his mind without sounding too crazy.
"What did you want to talk to me about, Your Highness?" Luna asked, directly addressing him.
The inquiry was so unexpected that he jumped slightly. "Pardon?"
"I was asking about what you wanted to talk to me about... Do you prefer 'Your Highness' or 'Your Majesty'?" Luna replied, completely lacking in selfconsciousness. "Do you feel more like a prince or a king?"
Harry could see Ron giving him an 'I Told You So' look.
Harry ignored it.
"I'm not either of those things," Harry responded.
"Not anymore, I suppose," Luna said in agreement.
"How...?" Harry started to ask, but couldn't figure out a way to coherently ask any of all he wanted to ask about.
"The Eidolons told me," Luna stated as if talking about the weather.
"Harry?" Hermione asked in concern. Neville and Ron simply looked confused. It was no surprise that Hermione was the first to pick-up that something was off about this conversation. This was not how he wanted to introduce the topic of his vision-like dreams to his friends.
"I'm not her, I'm afraid," Luna replied. Her smile shifted from being enigmatic to comiserating and compassionate. Harry looked away in an attempt to not show Luna just how much her words disappointed him. Instinctively, he'd known already who she wasn't, but he'd hoped.
"Not who?" Hermione asked Luna.
"His Oracle," Luna replied. Harry's friends were now looking back and forth between them, each of them wondering what she knew about their reclusive friend and how she knew it.
"Harry?" This time it was Neville who spoke up.
Harry continued to look out the window. This was not how he had wanted this to go. He was not in the slightest bit prepared for the conversation he was going to have to have with his friends. Despite himself, he couldn't bring himself to be mad at Luna. He wanted to be, but he just couldn't do it.
Pushing aside Neville's and the other's concern, he addressed Luna, though couldn't bring himself to look at her. He was hoping his feigned nonchalance would put his friends at ease. He highly doubted it would work, but tried anyway. "Those... What did you call them?"
"Eidolons."
"Those Eidolons... What all have they told you?" Harry inquired, trying to keep the hope out of his voice.
Luna's expression became regretful. Harry pretended not to notice. "I don't know who she is. They wouldn't say. But they have said that you'll be reunited with her soon. The Eidolons are hoping the two of you have a much happier ending this time."
"Harry, what's going on?" Ron asked, his tone equal parts worried and irritated.
"It's... Complicated..." Harry replied with a nonanswer in an attempt to stall for time. As much as he trusted his friends, and he trusted them absolutely, he didn't want to share this with them. Not yet. It was just too personal.
It was Luna who answered for him. As much as he felt like he should be irritated at her for doing so, he was more relieved that he wouldn't have to talk about... Her...
"He has memories of a past life."
Ron and Neville looked sceptical. Hermione, however, was more intrigued. "Like reincarnation?"
Luna shook her head. "More like transmigration. Reincarnation would be simply moving along the 'X' axis. In this case, the memories have moved along the 'Y' and the 'Z' axis as well."
Hermione looked like she had a thousand and one questions she wanted to ask. Harry, however, had other concerns. "The Eidolons... What are they?"
Luna bit her lip in worry, shooting a brief glance at Harry. "They are guardians."
"Guardians of what?" Ron bluntly asked.
"Life." Luna answered.
"Astrals," Harry said with a small amount of distaste.
While his past self hadn't blamed them for the destiny that befell him and the Oracle, he'd been too preoccupied by his duty to do so, Harry had no such distractions. He didn't hate them- at least he didn't think so- but they definitely weren't on his Christmas card list. They'd done what they'd done for the greater good and, admittedly, on some level, Harry understood. But that didn't mean he liked being manipulated into paying the price for saving the world, even if he'd have taken those actions anyway if it meant his friends could live happily ever after. That they were manipulating this life, like they had his previous one, did not sit well with him.
"Yes, but no. Mostly no," Luna replied.
Hermione looked like she wanted to ask, but Harry cut her off. "I... I don't want to talk about it. I will, just... Not right now..."
Wary of Harry's reaction, Neville decided to bite the bullet and ask Luna one of the questions that was no doubt on all of their minds. "What are Astrals?"
"They are similar to Eidolons, but not of this world. Similar, but not the same," Luna replied smoothly. "Like Eidolons, Aeons or Guardian Forces, they are beings of great power. Their primary purpose is to protect, but sometimes that power can be perverted or even misused or they can lose their way."
Harry closed his eyes, remembering the heat of the flames generated by one such Astral who'd lost his way. He wasn't certain he wanted the help of the Eidolons, but for now, he decided, he'd withhold judgement. If Luna was right, the Eidolons were not Astrals and thus could not be blamed for the actions of their counterparts, even if they were cut from the same cloth.
He'd had enough of that sort of thing at the Dursleys.
That didn't mean he'd trust them.
If not for their stubborness, The Oracle might not have needed to die. If not for their manipulations to ensure that the Oracle, the King of Light and the Founder-King followed their plans, perhaps so many people who had died, might not have needed to. He didn't even want to think about the ten years his other self had spent trapped inside a crystal while the whole world was plunged into an endless night and overrun by demons.
Despite the fact that he couldn't think of one, Harry couldn't help but think that there had to have been a different way to save the world... A better way. He shook off the feeling. There could be nothing gained by dealing in 'What ifs'. His past self had learned that the hard way after what happened in Altissia when she...
Whe She died.
~~~
"You all right, Harry?" Ron asked.
"I'm fine." This was the typical response.
Of course, Harry was anything but fine. The strange dreams he'd always had were becoming more frequent... More vivid. Ever since the incident with the dementors at the end of the previous year; when the vision shifted from his parents being engulfed in green light, his mother begging Voldemort to spare his life to visions of a beautiful blonde girl whose last moments were spent ensuring his survival in a different way against another type of unstoppable monster; his mysterious dreams had become much more real.
Not the dreams with mysterious green light or a vague sense of flying. But dreams where he wasn't himself, but the Prince of a far off land, similar, but much different from everything Harry had ever known.
Looking to his friends, Harry wondered when and how he'd tell them about these strange dreams. Dreams where he had friends similar and yet very different from his own. Hermione, who's book eating brain was without peer and whose cooking skills would more than likely burn a house down while simply attempting to boil water. Neville, whose seemingly cowardly exterior hid a nerve of steel that would allow the boy have Harry's back no matter the circumstance. Whose way with plants had helped them survive once before. Ron, who never let his friends take themselves too seriously. Who would pull Hermione from her books, who wouldn't let Neville focus too long on his insecurities, who wouldn't let Harry be bogged down by his destiny... Who couldn't take a decent picture if his life depended on it.
How could he tell his friends that he only chose them to be his friends because they reminded him so much of people he'd only known in dreams?
As they boarded, helping each other load on their trunks, Harry caught a flash of color. He did a double take and tried not to be disappointed. The hair was the same color, but the girl who was sitting alone in the compartment was not her. He tried not to let the slight breaking his heart show as his heartbeat slowed to normal levels.
"That's Loony Lovegood," Ron said tactlessly.
"Who?" Harry inquired, welcome for the distraction.
"Luna Lovegood, who some people call 'Loony'," Ron replied. Harry was both startled and annoyed by this statement. Startled because of her name, annoyed because he knew what it was liked to be bullied and called names. Something must have shown on his face, as Ron became concerned. "Harry, you sure you're all right?"
Harry didn't reply, instead opting to open the compartment while knocking on the door. He tried not to be nervous as he addressed the mysterious Luna. "D-Do... Would you mind if we joined you?"
Ron, Neville and Hermione looked at each other in confusion, not knowing what to think. Harry couldn't blame them. He was a fairly closed off person. Between his dreams and the Dursleys, he perferred to keep to himself, letting precious few people in. The three of them were on a very exclusive list. And while he'd made an effort for Ron's family, moreso for Ginny than the others, since she too reminded him of one of the dream people, he still kept himself slightly apart. Despite his social shortcomings, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley never let his distance bother them, nor did they ever give him any indication that he was being bothersome or a burden- making him feel as welcome as he'd allow himself to feel.
He'd made it a point to tell them how much he appreciated all that they'd done for him.
Harry didn't think it was possible, but it seemed as if the almost perpetual look of surprise on Luna's face became even moreso. She smiled at him. It was a nice smile, he'd easily decided. "Sure. It will almost be like having friends."
Harry hated that the statement was so matter of fact and was determined to have a chat with Ron about it later. While Luna didn't quite feel like one of the dream people, not really, he felt the same sense of protectiveness over her than he did for Ron's sister. He wasn't entirely sure how someone like her could feel such unending optimism.
"Thank you," Harry said gratefully.
"You're Harry Potter," Luna stated the obvious. "I thought you'd be taller."
Harry smiled, which only got wider when he heard Hermione let out a snort.
"You're Hermione Granger," Luna said as Hermione brought the stranger girl's attention to herself. "Most Ravenclaws don't like you. They hate being considered second best, academically. Especially to a Gryffindor."
"I'm sorry?" Hermione replied somewhat confused as to whether she should be feeling guilty, concerned or smug.
"That's our Hermione for ya," Ron replied proudly with a grin, nudging the bushy haired bookworm playfully.
"Ronald Weasley. You're more handsome when you're not being rude," Luna replied, not pulling any punches.
Ron looked like he didn't know how to respond, but Harry was certain it would be in a negative way. Catching the red head's eye, Harry nonverbally warned his friend off. Ron merely shrugged, as he hadn't been certain what he was going to say to her anyway.
"And you're Neville Longbottom," Luna continued. "I overheard Hannah Abbott tell Susan Bones last year that she was disappointed you never asked her to Hogsmeade."
Neville blushed in embarassment.
"Go, Nev!" Ron nudged Neville, who promptly shoved him away.
"I'm Luna Cidrella Lovegood. But you can call me 'Loony'. Lots of people do," Luna replied.
Harry was glad to see Luna's blunt honesty made Ron uncomfortable. Of course, it had the same effect on him, Hermione and Neville as well.
"I think we'll just stick with calling you 'Luna', if it's all the same to you," Harry replied.
"If you wish," Luna acknowledged as she went back to reading her magazine.
It didn't take long for the quartet to settle into Luna's compartment. Ron, Hermione and Neville were chatting about innocuous topics, while Luna continued to read her magazine in silence, as the train got underway. Harry, meanwhile, was silent, trying to think of a way to broach the subject on his mind without sounding too crazy.
"What did you want to talk to me about, Your Highness?" Luna asked, directly addressing him.
The inquiry was so unexpected that he jumped slightly. "Pardon?"
"I was asking about what you wanted to talk to me about... Do you prefer 'Your Highness' or 'Your Majesty'?" Luna replied, completely lacking in selfconsciousness. "Do you feel more like a prince or a king?"
Harry could see Ron giving him an 'I Told You So' look.
Harry ignored it.
"I'm not either of those things," Harry responded.
"Not anymore, I suppose," Luna said in agreement.
"How...?" Harry started to ask, but couldn't figure out a way to coherently ask any of all he wanted to ask about.
"The Eidolons told me," Luna stated as if talking about the weather.
"Harry?" Hermione asked in concern. Neville and Ron simply looked confused. It was no surprise that Hermione was the first to pick-up that something was off about this conversation. This was not how he wanted to introduce the topic of his vision-like dreams to his friends.
"I'm not her, I'm afraid," Luna replied. Her smile shifted from being enigmatic to comiserating and compassionate. Harry looked away in an attempt to not show Luna just how much her words disappointed him. Instinctively, he'd known already who she wasn't, but he'd hoped.
"Not who?" Hermione asked Luna.
"His Oracle," Luna replied. Harry's friends were now looking back and forth between them, each of them wondering what she knew about their reclusive friend and how she knew it.
"Harry?" This time it was Neville who spoke up.
Harry continued to look out the window. This was not how he had wanted this to go. He was not in the slightest bit prepared for the conversation he was going to have to have with his friends. Despite himself, he couldn't bring himself to be mad at Luna. He wanted to be, but he just couldn't do it.
Pushing aside Neville's and the other's concern, he addressed Luna, though couldn't bring himself to look at her. He was hoping his feigned nonchalance would put his friends at ease. He highly doubted it would work, but tried anyway. "Those... What did you call them?"
"Eidolons."
"Those Eidolons... What all have they told you?" Harry inquired, trying to keep the hope out of his voice.
Luna's expression became regretful. Harry pretended not to notice. "I don't know who she is. They wouldn't say. But they have said that you'll be reunited with her soon. The Eidolons are hoping the two of you have a much happier ending this time."
"Harry, what's going on?" Ron asked, his tone equal parts worried and irritated.
"It's... Complicated..." Harry replied with a nonanswer in an attempt to stall for time. As much as he trusted his friends, and he trusted them absolutely, he didn't want to share this with them. Not yet. It was just too personal.
It was Luna who answered for him. As much as he felt like he should be irritated at her for doing so, he was more relieved that he wouldn't have to talk about... Her...
"He has memories of a past life."
Ron and Neville looked sceptical. Hermione, however, was more intrigued. "Like reincarnation?"
Luna shook her head. "More like transmigration. Reincarnation would be simply moving along the 'X' axis. In this case, the memories have moved along the 'Y' and the 'Z' axis as well."
Hermione looked like she had a thousand and one questions she wanted to ask. Harry, however, had other concerns. "The Eidolons... What are they?"
Luna bit her lip in worry, shooting a brief glance at Harry. "They are guardians."
"Guardians of what?" Ron bluntly asked.
"Life." Luna answered.
"Astrals," Harry said with a small amount of distaste.
While his past self hadn't blamed them for the destiny that befell him and the Oracle, he'd been too preoccupied by his duty to do so, Harry had no such distractions. He didn't hate them- at least he didn't think so- but they definitely weren't on his Christmas card list. They'd done what they'd done for the greater good and, admittedly, on some level, Harry understood. But that didn't mean he liked being manipulated into paying the price for saving the world, even if he'd have taken those actions anyway if it meant his friends could live happily ever after. That they were manipulating this life, like they had his previous one, did not sit well with him.
"Yes, but no. Mostly no," Luna replied.
Hermione looked like she wanted to ask, but Harry cut her off. "I... I don't want to talk about it. I will, just... Not right now..."
Wary of Harry's reaction, Neville decided to bite the bullet and ask Luna one of the questions that was no doubt on all of their minds. "What are Astrals?"
"They are similar to Eidolons, but not of this world. Similar, but not the same," Luna replied smoothly. "Like Eidolons, Aeons or Guardian Forces, they are beings of great power. Their primary purpose is to protect, but sometimes that power can be perverted or even misused or they can lose their way."
Harry closed his eyes, remembering the heat of the flames generated by one such Astral who'd lost his way. He wasn't certain he wanted the help of the Eidolons, but for now, he decided, he'd withhold judgement. If Luna was right, the Eidolons were not Astrals and thus could not be blamed for the actions of their counterparts, even if they were cut from the same cloth.
He'd had enough of that sort of thing at the Dursleys.
That didn't mean he'd trust them.
If not for their stubborness, The Oracle might not have needed to die. If not for their manipulations to ensure that the Oracle, the King of Light and the Founder-King followed their plans, perhaps so many people who had died, might not have needed to. He didn't even want to think about the ten years his other self had spent trapped inside a crystal while the whole world was plunged into an endless night and overrun by demons.
Despite the fact that he couldn't think of one, Harry couldn't help but think that there had to have been a different way to save the world... A better way. He shook off the feeling. There could be nothing gained by dealing in 'What ifs'. His past self had learned that the hard way after what happened in Altissia when she...
Whe She died.
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