Chapter eighteen: found

When Harry and his companions reached Mayapore, two days later, it was a completely different village. The ground around it was still burned and blighted, but the sound of laughter rang clear. The children of the village had returned. Though some of them would not be coming back, most of the children had survived and recovered of the Thuggee's abuse. Harry could see the difference in the adults as well; they all carried themselves differently, smiled more often. Harry had no doubt that if he had turned around right then and never returned the villages shivalinga, it would have hardly made a difference. Despite its symbolic and physical power, the lose of the children was what had really defeated Mayapore, not the lose of their sacred rock.

Harry, Ron and Luna were greeted as heroes. They were cheered on by all, as they were led to the hut where Harry had first learned of the villager's plight. Inside, the Village Elder was waiting for them. Harry took out a cloth bag, and took from it the Sankara stone. Though none of its sister stones were nearby, it had the wisdom to glow appropriately, with an inner red light.

The village elder took the stone, tears running down his cheeks. He insisted that Harry deposited it in the village's shrine. Though he felt a bit odd about doing so, Harry obliged. Then the celebrations began in earnest.

Though there was no immediate effect, over time the Sankara stone would scour the Thuggee's curse from the land around. It would become green, plants would grow, animals would roam, and all would be as it had been. Better, in fact.

There was dancing and singing that lasted into the night. Huge bonfires keeping the darkness at bay. There was eating as well. Harry was offered a generous portion, but he respectfully declined. He felt he had gained the right.

But for Harry, there was one more thing he needed to do. He felt that after the whole ordeal in the temple of doom, he was brave enough.

Harry found Ron in the sidelines, leaning against a hut, he was watching the bonfire.

"I've been meaning to talk to you," said Harry.

"Go on."

"It's, well, it's about your sister."

"Oh."

"Yes. Well, I want to ask her to marry me. I just wondered if that would be fine…with you."

Ron nodded, "I know."

"What?"

"She told me about a month ago, and I'll tell you the same thing I told her."

"Okay."

"Go ahead. As long as you, well, want to, and you love each other, it's. As long as you do everything you can to keep my sister happy, it's fine with me. Also, like I always told myself when you were dating back in school, better you than someone else."

Harry felt as though a weight had been lifted of his shoulders. "Great, thanks. I'll be over there."

Harry walked into the darkness. He realized, after a moment, that this was the same place where he and Luna had found the child who had escaped the Thuggee, and gotten the clue about the Sankara stones. It seemed like so long ago.

"I like looking up at the stars," said Luna Lovegood. "It makes me feel as though everything I don't like matters a great deal less."

Harry hadn't noticed her before, though he had seen her leave the party. She was laying on her back, staring upwards, her hands knitted behind her head. With her dark clothing, she blended in rather well with the darkened ground.

"So you know," she said. "The ministry sent you a letter. They'll be here to pick us up tomorrow. We have to hold out until then, their exact words."

Harry smiled, whatever he had felt back there in the village, it was something the ministry would never understand. And then…

"You read my mail?"

"Yes. Isn't that what you're supposed to do with it?"

"Well, not other people's, usually."

"My apologies, it got torn open in flight anyway. Oh and they say that while you did rather fumble things, they consider your assignment in Shanghai a success. Apparently, Lao Che went just a little to far by attacking Harry Potter himself in front of so many people. He should be in Azkaban within the year."

"Oh, okay then." Harry sat down beside Luna.

"You know," said Luna. "I think that I'll have to postpone that article on the mink hippogriffs of Shanghai. I'm planning on devoting the next Quibbler to the Thuggee cult, and the Sankara stones. Leave out Mayapore, but give people a good idea what happened."

"You'll have to send me a copy. I can give you an interview. Exclusive."

"Would you really."

"Sure, I bet Ron would too."

"Thanks Harry. With you in it, I think more people will believe it. You know, some people think everything I publish is just a load of superstitious nonsense, they can get very rude about it too."

"Their loss."

"That's what I keep telling myself. It's still annoying though." Luna rolled over onto her stomach, so she could look up at Harry.

"Congratulations about you and Ginny, by the way. I approve, you are both very nice, and so you should make a nice couple."

"Er, thanks. I haven't even asked her yet, though."

"I know, but she'll say yes. I would. Anyway, any other plans? I'm guessing you won't be moving to India straight off."

Harry shook his head and grinned. He answered quetely, with three familiar words.

"Fortune and glory."