Story: Moira
Chapter Forty Five: Moira's Reward

It was the eleventh of August and Harry was walking down the stairs to the kitchen when he saw Ron, Sirius and Regulus gathered together in the drawing room, talking something heatedly. He knocked before walking in.

"What's it?" he asked in his usual tone. They looked at each other. "Is it about that secret?" Harry guessed. They nodded timidly: Sirius was looking down. Harry sighed. "Look, Sirius. This is the only way to rectify your past mistake. Ron must learn about his true, biological family and this is no good time than other. It will be a pleasant surprise to the Weasleys, especially Ginny who has been lamenting about how it was her fault that you have parted from them."

"It's true but –" Ron hesitated, looking at Sirius with pleading eyes. Sirius shook his head.

"Harry's right, pup. I-I think it's time you live with your. . . real family."

Ron ran to his father and embraced him in a tight hug. "You are my real father, dad. I can never forget you!" His voice shook with every word and Harry and Regulus exchanged looks before Regulus walked forward and hugged the two. He extended his arm for Harry to join him and Harry obliged.

It was safe to say that the four men had the most memorable hug in their lifetime.

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It was half past ten when Sirius and Ron Apparated to the Burrow. Harry had told them he would come a while later as he supposedly had some task to complete. Sirius and Ron had decided to break the truth after the party which was supposed to take place that evening.

When they stepped into the room, a delicious aroma greeted them and they quickly hustled to the Kitchen to find Mrs Weasley cooking a yummy looking stew. She welcome them with open arms and Ron left to join his friends in the living room. Neville, Luna, Draco and Hermione were the only ones present.

"Her-me-one!" Ron greeted with a mock accent. She frowned.

"It's Her-my-knee, Ronald! How many times do I – oh!" she started to correct but was interrupted by Ron's lips on hers, cutting her short. Their first kiss was short, nevertheless so passionate that Draco and Neville started to gag. Luna, however, was smiling dreamily. When they broke apart, they looked into each other's eyes, a smile plastered on their faces.

"Her-me-one is the reason why we interacted," Ron whispered in her ear. Hermione blushed.

"Well then, I like it," she replied back.

"Oi! Cut it lovebirds!" Draco interrupted. Hermione waved her wand and his mouth shut tight. "Umph!"

The couple shared a laugh and set out to the garden for a leisurely walk under the blue skies.

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Astoria was ready. She was Astoria, pretending to be Ginny.

"Ready?" Ginny whispered.

"Ready."

The two girls walked downstairs, the real Ginny under the invisibility cloak. Draco caught Astoria's eye and nodded stealthily before walking over to them and hugging her.

"Well, well, well! If it isn't the birthday girl herself! We have been waiting for you for hours, Ginny!" he said out loud, catching Neville, Luna, Ron and Hermione's attention (the latter two had just returned from their walk).

"Oi mate. I don't think Harry would fancy you holding Ginny for a long time," Ron snickered. Draco let go of Astoria immediately.

"What, I am holding my sister!" he argued and Astoria chuckled. Ginny rolled her eyes beneath the cloak. "Anyways, happy birthday Ginny!"

"Happy birthday!" The others chorused.

"Thank you guys!" Astoria thanked.

"Aren't you wondering where Harry is?" Draco acted, opening the door to look outside.

"Exactly! That prat can't even be punctual to my birthday!" Astoria shrieked, serving the distraction for Ginny to slip out. She kicked the door lightly to let Draco know that she was outside and he nodded to the thin air before closing it.

Walking forward for a few miles, she Disapparated to the Wizarding place of Diagon alley.

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When she opened her eyes, she was staring at the back of an hooded figure.

"Ssh. Be quiet and wear your hood. Let's get going," the magically enchanted voice spoke. She made no sound but removed the invisibility cloak and slipped her black hood on before slinging her arm into Harry's. They walked, side by side, to the huge stone building.

They walked through the golden doors and met a goblin.

"I wish to enter our vault," Harry specified. The goblin looked at them through its crooked nose and nodded before leading them to a dark room. The lone cart from before stood alone as it did earlier and the pair of teenagers prepared themselves for the incoming thrilling ride.

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After placing their wands and right hands on the golden doors, Harry and Ginny walked into the enormous hallway. The door shut behind them and they took off their hoods.

"Left or right?" Ginny asked.

"Right. It's an obvious choice and the answer might be there," Harry replied and they walked to treasury room.

There were displays of silk clothing, piles of golden money along with several silver ones too; to the other side of the room was a mini library and that was where Harry started his search.

Soon enough, he called out to Ginny.

"Ginny! Look!" She came hurrying to him and her eyes widened at the scroll in his hands. They scanned the old parchment.

Dear future reincarnations,
I s'pose I knowest why thou art here. 'Tis probably for the Deathly Hallows. Yes, tat's the word for the symbol:

The Deathly Hallows art three powerful objects created by Death, or so it is rumoured. They art the Destiny Wand, the Resurrection Stone and the Cloak of Invisibility.

One of my most formidable student, Merlin, wished to master them which would lead to him becoming the Master of Death himself. If I could say so, Merlin owned two of the three objects – the Destiny Wand and the Resurrection Stone. No matter how hard he attempted, he couldnst get a ahold of the cloak.

Our mission, way before Merlin's ambitions, were to destroy the three objects. Thou knowest one thing: Death is cruel. He hath his own ways to steal lives and when he doth not get to do that, 'tis what he doth: report to Her, the Entity of Destiny.

We tried to get rid of these evil things. Mayhaps we could not. I request thou to complete our task but in order to do so, listen to thy heart. It will lead thou.

With sincerest wishes,
Lord and Lady Gryffindor

Harry looked up at her.

"The Deathly Hallows," she breathed. He nodded and took out the box.

"The Deathly Hallows!" he said in a clear voice to the box. It did a strange noise before clicking open as if it was something it did everyday. He grinned at her when he saw the wand – a dark brown wand which looked magnificent. Beside the wand was another note with Dumbledore's handwriting. He read it out loud. "'The Cunning's jewellery has your final answer'. The cunning?"

"Slytherin!" Ginny exclaimed. "It's the house of cunning and ambitious people! Just like Merlin! The Slytherin's ring, Harry!"

Harry fiddled with the pouch before taking the ring out and muttering complex charms at it. The gemstone broke open, revealing a black stone which floated into his palm. At that instant, a bright flash obscured their vision and seconds later, they heard a laugh.

"Ah! I see you finally found them. Destroy it." Harry and Ginny looked up to see a figure in a dark black hood standing before them, a scythe in its bony, long fingers. They could not see its face.

"Who are you?" Ginny asked, pointing her wand at the figure.

"Who am I? I am the entity you are helping. I am Death."

Their eyes widened and they heard a scoff from behind them. They turned around to face a beautiful woman with blonde, long hair.

"Seriously? Just do it fast!" she said in a high pitched voice. Death nodded.

"Go ahead Mortals. Destroy it."

"But why?" Ginny asked bravely before Harry could even move a muscle.

"Why? Because no one and I mean it, no one can be the Master of Death. You two are the only ones capable of destroying it. That's why I entwined your destinies," the lady answered as if it was the most obvious thing. "I am Moira; the entity of Fate. I have the power to allow Death to kill the whole world, if you were to disobey our orders."

They gasped.

"W-what if we destroy it?" Ginny probed.

"Girl, just do it!" Death urged.

"No. Answer me!" she resisted.

"Your life's time is up. I have let you live until you destroy it. You–" Death pointed to Harry. "are the one I am talking about. No Entity of Destruction can live any longer than the teenage. Soon enough, the Entity of Creation, unable to bear the loss of their other half, will serve as my dinner," Death told simply. Ginny gasped and put a protective arm in front of Harry.

"No way you are doing that! Harry won't destroy it. We are the rightful Masters of you!" Ginny argued and Death clicked his tongue. Unexpectedly, Harry shook her arm off.

"Ginny, this has been prophesied years ago. I was born to die and I am no longer afraid of death. I-I can understand it; I was destined to die. I'll destroy them and then –" Harry was interrupted.

"Are you mad? You can't do that Harry! Not to m-me!" she stuttered, tears forming in her brown eyes.

"I have to. I am sorry." Harry made to produce the black Power of Destruction but Ginny snatched the wand from him. The stone fell down from his palm, cutting it and letting blood flow. "Give that back!"

"No!" she shouted and glass walls formed between them, trapping Ginny inside. Harry took the stone and destroyed it with a touch of his hand. He looked at Ginny with pleading eyes as he placed his free hand on the wall facing her.

"This is it, Ginny. You can't do anything about it. I can't do anything about it. We can do nothing. I must die for the good of the world. For your good. Please, give it to me."

"Harry, no. . ."

"This wall between us," he continued. "is nothing when compared to my love for you. It will live on even if I don't. Move on, Ginny. Move on. You have proved yourself time and time again that you are the most wonderful girl I have ever met. I'm lucky to have met you let alone kiss you. Thank you, Ginny." Ginny was crying by this point. Harry swiped his hand at the walls which broke down into ashes. He walked to her and extended his free hand to her. She took it reluctantly and got up.

Looking into her eyes, he slowly took out the wand from her hand. Without even glancing at Death, he touched the wand and it fell down as ashes. Leaning in closer, he pressed his lips against hers knowing that it would be their last shared kiss. She returned it, albeit stiffly. Pulling away, he proceeded to remove the invisibility cloak from her pocket but he was interrupted.

"Stop!"

Finally, their eyes moved away from the other's, meeting Moira's figure.

"You don't have to destroy the cloak," she said, pointing at Harry.

"What?" Death and Harry asked at once, their voice filled with shock.

"You heard me, Blackie. Just the cloak alone won't make anyone the Master of Death and yes before you tell that the Masters of Death are still alive, I am sure that these mortals won't use it to their advantage. Harry James Potter just told that and I quote, 'I was born to die and I am no longer afraid of death. I-I can understand it.'

"This shows how modest the mortal is and being the daughter of Amour, I don't think I can break a love as pure as this," Moira explained, her brilliant pink eyes softening at the humans. Harry and Ginny looked at each other as Death facepalmed.

"You are seriously bringing Mother in?" he asked. Moira nodded.

"We are a family of entities, Death and I believe we can connect to each other in every way possible; something that mortals cannot." The pair of teenagers watched in confused amusement at Moira who was defending them against her supposed brother.

"Alright, fine! But I won't hesitate to steal a chance when you are nearing –" Death made a slicing motion to his bony neck. "death."

Harry and Ginny nodded and a bright flash blinded them again.

"You have proved yourself in the test; you are free to live. Death allows it and Moira rewards it," Moira's voice said in a sweet voice as the flash thickened before dissipating completely. Breathing heavily and blinking hard, their pupils finally adjusted and without any word, Ginny stormed out, leaving a guilty looking Harry behind.

Moira finally showed up in reality (rather than a dream). So, yeah. The story is named after her because she is the one who puts our dear protagonists in trouble as well as the one to rescue them. Hope it makes sense.

What do you think of this chapter? Comment!

A little bit more left to the end. . .

Thank you for reading!

Miyoko x