Chapter Twenty Eight:

The Third Life Begins

Epilogue Version One:

In their hired bridal bedroom in the Three Broomsticks, next to Herne and Rohan's room, Harry took off his blue-stripped tie and neatly folded it on the dressing table on his side of the martial bed. Then he smiled and approached Luna from behind. She was admiring herself in the full-length mirror at the other side of the room, still dressed in her pale blue wedding dress, one hand pressed against her chest. She smiled as Harry slipped his arms around her and muzzled her cheek affectionately.

"What is my beloved new wife thinking?" asked Harry.

"I was thinking just how good I look in this dress," Luna answered in her dreamy-sounding voice.

"You look wonderful, whatever you wear, Mrs Lovegood Potter." Harry looked thoughtful. "I didn't use to care about my appearance that much. But we both know that true beauty comes from within, anyway, don't we?"

"We certainly do. Especially since we no longer have any problems seeing ourselves from the outside…"

Harry laughed. "What else is on your mind?" he asked.

"I'm glad you're still so perceptive, Harry." Luna beamed. "I was also reflecting on how perfect the day has been – as well as thinking about everything we've been through together. And what we've committed ourselves to – not just our marriage." She turned around in her husband's light embrace. "Do you have any regrets about us? Honestly?"

"None. My dream has come true, against all the odds that challenged us. We're married, and I couldn't be happier. Even if it wasn't in the way I originally envisioned! Just like Hermione and Ron, in fact. How about you, Harry?"

"You're forgetting what we agreed on… I'm Luna. You are Harry now. Even when it's just us together, in private." Luna – or rather Harry-as-Luna gently ran her slim left hand with its silver wedding ring through the dark mop of Luna-as-Harry. "And no. I have no regrets. I'm free from being the hounded famous Harry Potter – but I'm going to be there to support you, whatever life has in store. Even if it is just to shield you from autograph hunters. Or Eldred Worple, still desperate for the chance to write my biography." Luna kissed Harry repeatedly on the lips. "You have given me…(kiss) the best present ever – and now I also have your hand in marriage, for life (kiss)." She grinned. "I love you. I always will."

"Hmm…" Luna-as-Harry tilted his head. "Ditto."

"Harry… You're still acting as the old Luna, doing that," Harry-as-Luna rebuked him mildly.

"Sorry! I try my best to be you, when we're in public…"

"And you've been great at playing the old me. The outside world has been fooled."

"But I still like to be a little of the old me, in private." The green eyes of Luna-as-Harry twinkled with mischief. "Besides, don't married couples act a bit like each other after they've known each other for a while?"

"Ahh… Good thought. We'll save that as our excuse! But you still don't want your father to know the truth about us?" Harry-as-Luna tilted her head quizzically. After several months of living her third life, she was finding it easier to express the old Luna's mannerisms – and the original Luna was, in turn, adopting Harry's old habits. Such running his hand through his hair to get it to stay down. And coming out with the occasional 'Err' and 'Umm' when uncertain how to respond in given situations…

"No. You have had so little time being in the company of your parents, or your step-father. You deserve to have a father of your own. And this way, he will love you and fully make amends for almost getting you captured by the Death Eaters. Daddy – or Xeno, as I should say – is my step-father now. And that's good enough for me," Luna-as-Harry declared. His green eyes seemed to sparkle as he changed the subject. "I'm glad to see that Hermione's theory has been proven right. About the way we lose our virginity impacts on our sexual identity, after taking Slughorn's special potions to change our genders… Oh! Not now, Luna!"

Harry-as-Luna giggled and quickly removed her hand from its examination of her husband's stirring privates as she rubbed the crotch area of his black trousers. When she recovered, she turned serious. "I still can't get over the fact that you sacrificed your femininity for me…" The original Harry cast her mind back to their last night at Hogwarts – just over a year ago. With the knowledge of only Professors McGonagall and Slughorn – plus Hagrid, Remus, Dora, Lavender, Hermione, Rohan, Ginny, and Neville – Harry, in her guise as Celine Lovegood, had taken the binding Polyjuice Potion with Luna's hair in it. Then, with Hermione offering the last dark hair she had kept of Harry's, Luna had drunk the female-to-male potion in order to become Harry Potter in the eyes of the world. The next day, the pupils gossiped excitedly between themselves about seeing Harry and Luna on the homeward-bound journey of the Hogwarts Express. They had looked very comfortable in each other's company as they sat with Hermione, Rohan, Ginny, and Neville…

"When you decided you were going to stay as a young woman, the choice was easy for me," Luna-as-Harry pointed out. "Whereas poor Hermione decided she wanted to find her parents first, so that she could tell them what she was going to do about Rohan. Only after becoming Herne did he give up his virginity to Rohan." He rested his forehead against hers. "I'm glad to see you smiling so much – and we have now both given up our previous lives to make sure that we are happy together. I have no regrets…"

"…and neither do I, despite having periods and setting myself for the prospect of bearing our children," the former Harry announced. Her lips formed another grin. "You once said you weren't into girls…"

"I'm still not into girls. I've only got eyes for the one (kiss) beautiful lady – who has given me a new life, in turn…" Luna-as-Harry paused, holding his wife around her slim waist.

"I remember you also saying you didn't want me to become another you… Well, I am Luna now," Harry-as-Luna declared airily.

"That's true. But still, I'm very happy being you – and with you being me. Even now, I still love my original voice! It suits you, Luna. As does my old form."

"Thank you. My old form…suits you. And having swapped appearances, we do know how exactly to turn each other on, don't we?" Harry-as-Luna's silver-grey eyes twinkled with mischief.

"We certainly do." The new Harry chuckled. He appraised his wife. "So… Are you ready for me to prove how much of a gentleman I am?"

"What, again? We've done that countless times already, Mr Lovegood Potter," the new Luna smirked.

"Well… It is our wedding night, Luna."

"Alright. So long as I get to show you how much of a lady I am. Once more."

"I accept." Luna-as-Harry lovingly stroked Harry-as-Luna's long dirty blonde hair, then cupped her chin and drew her in for the first of a series of tender kisses that gradually grew more urgent, as their passions increased. Undressing each other with their hands, the newly-wed witch and wizard left a trail of clothing across the floor – and the new Harry lifted the new Mrs Lovegood Potter in his arms and carried her to the bed, where they soon got to exploring each other's sensitive spots. Then, when they were both fully naked and ready, the new Luna lowered herself onto the new Harry's member – her heart pounding with excitement as they worked away and started to drown together in the sea of passion. Still, they were mindful enough to work in tandem, and they managed to climax together. And, after resting for a while, they started to work up to a second round…

Some time later, as she flopped her head back on the pillow, a wide smile etched on her face, Harry-as-Luna curled up to Luna-as-Harry as her husband got his breath back.

The original Harry no longer had any hang-ups about her sexual identity, or that of Luna's new one. They had also provided each other with enough detail on their personal memories to pass themselves off as each other. Mr Lovegood and the Weasley family hadn't apparently noticed the deception. She had loved the process as she and Rohan had chosen their bridal wear together. And in general, both of the wizards-turned-witches had fully adapted to their female lives. In turn, the original Luna had slipped as comfortably into his new, male role as Herne had with his, after the transgendered Luna and Harry had lost their virginity to each other last summer. The experience had been wonderful, the original Harry considered.

Her hen night, shared with Rohan, had been fun too. The original Harry felt at ease being one of the girls, with Ginny and Lavender. Whilst the original Luna had his stag evening with Herne, Neville, Charlie and George.

She liked her present physical form. In fact, Harry had soon become completely comfortable with being Luna after their switch. True, having more clothes and accessories to buy took time and money, but she was enjoying dressing up in a style that was based on the original Luna's. She was also supple, graceful, and pretty, and yet more focused than the original Luna – whilst the witch she had swapped places with was now proving to be a calmer, wiser, wonderful (and gorgeous) Harry. Together, they were working to reduce each other's old faults and past regrets – whilst enhancing their personal strengths and laying the foundations for their futures. The two of them were planning to become naturalists – working together to track down the elusive creatures of the magical world, and find ways of protecting them. Over time, the original Harry was finding her husband's enthusiasm infectious – and she was looking forward to travelling abroad to help preserve the lives of endangered species…

Harry-as-Luna stirred in bed, as she started to hear the noises in the next room – where Herne and Rohan were. Energetic noises that matched those she and Harry had been making.

"I thought you and Herne had arranged to both cast soundproofing spells on the wall…," she muttered, smiling.

"Oh dear… I forgot!" Luna-as-Harry slipped out of bed briefly and snatched up Luna's wand, which had been bound with a permanent masking charm by Professor Flitwick to outwardly resemble the old Harry's.

"Silencio!" he cried out, aiming at the wall. Immediately, the animated sounds of their friends were blocked out. Luna-as-Harry collapsed onto his pillow, smiling widely as he rested. After a few moments, Harry-as-Luna, still reeling from their lovemaking, edged closer to her other half and began nibbling on his ear.

"Aww… Not now, sweety! Us boys need longer to recharge…"

Harry-as-Luna giggled and snuggled herself against Luna-as-Harry. "All right. Let's rest, then." She gave her husband a dreamy smile and laid her head against his, feeling blissfully content.

After some minutes, Luna-as-Harry stirred and started to rub his hand around the new Luna's slender breasts, making the nipples erect – before getting to work on her sensitive areas, lower down…

He was halted by Harry-as-Luna's dreamy voice. "I'll have to compare our wedding night with Rohan and Herne's in the morning, you know! After all, Rohan's my best female friend – in the same special club as Herne and ourselves."

Luna-as-Harry gave a groan of pretence. "Oh! Don't kill the mood now, sweety! If you girls are going to compare, then I'll have to do the same with Herne and enjoy some man-to-man talk. See who had the greater stamina, for example."

"Boys…" Harry-as-Luna gave a mock roll of her beguiling wide eyes. Then she gave a coy smile. "I've just thought of another advantage that Rohan and I have gained in staying female."

"Hmm? What's that?"

"You and Herne will start losing your hair before us ladies do…"

"Well, I'd rather lose my hair through being your husband – than be without you now!" Luna-as-Harry pulled the giggling Harry-as-Luna in for another passionate kiss.

Smiling widely, the couple together resumed the latest round of their lovemaking…

Later tomorrow, the four of them would Apparate over to Sweden to help the new Harry to hunt down a family of Crumple-Horned Snorkacks, as part of their honeymoon. There had been a recent sighting near Lake Tjeggel-vas on the Arctic Circle, and the new Luna was eager to see the Midnight Sun amongst new horizons. She hoped that the little creatures would prove to be as cute-looking and adorable as her toy Snorkack, Timothy…

Epilogue Version Two – Separate Timeline

July 2003

Harry and Luna kissed passionately as they nuzzled and kissed, teasing each other's ticklish areas. Then, after minutes of building themselves up, they locked their bodies together and took their love further.

Three years of being happily married had given them time for practice. The couple managed to climax together. Then, after resting, they changed positions and were soon eagerly kissing again…

Some time later, Harry stared at the ceiling of their bedroom at Number 12 Grimmauld Place. Luna had suggested painting the walls and ceiling a cheery yellow, which they had done – and Harry had to admit that the shade they had decided upon did make the room look and feel brighter. In fact, the redecorated house was much improved. Kreacher was not keen on the changes, and his own quarters were still gloomy-looking. However, the house elf, recovered from the fire of over four years previously, was loyal to his Master Harry and Mistress Luna. He was also even respectful to Herne and all Muggle visitors that he had came into contact with, thanks to Harry, Luna, Rohan, and Herne managing to change his old attitudes.

Harry saw the first hand reach the figure six on the mantelpiece clock.

"It's time, Luna."

"Right. See you shortly."

In the bathroom, the gas lamp was turned on, to reveal Luna approaching the mirror over the sink. She gazed at himself and looked over her naked form, pleased that she was in good condition.

Their session had been fun. But something niggled her…

Any moment now…

And within the next minute the tingling started. Her form started to shift, the soft lips narrowing slightly. She grew nearly a head taller, her hips contracted, whilst her face and jaw altered, and her waist and shoulders widened. The slim breasts shrank; the flesh and muscles underneath being rearranged into a flatter, broader chest – and the long, dirty-blonde hair receded, turning darker. Her internal reproductive system shrank and sealed up – then her labia drew together and reformed into a descending scrotum, as his male genitalia formed.

Moments later, with the metamorphosis complete, Harry slipped on his glasses that he held in one hand. Checking himself over, he gave his true, masculine form a wash over. Then he returned to the bedroom to see Luna in mid-transformation with the blankets covering up his wife's reforming, slender bosom. The dark hair lightened and grew to Luna's now-usual length, draping over her narrowing shoulders. The green eyes changed to their beguiling silver-grey, twinkling with impish mischief, as Luna's giggling voice altered from Harry's masculine tones to Luna's airy manner.

Now herself once more, Luna dashed into the bathroom to wash. Then she returned. With the Polyjuice Potions they had taken having run their hourly course, the couple settled down in bed and snuggled against each other, smiling.

In the morning, after waking up, Harry and Luna were enjoying intercourse again. Only this time as their real selves. With their memories of the night's fun still fresh in their minds, both of them knew exactly where and how to physically tease and stimulate each other. Eventually, Harry laid his head back on the pillow, getting his breath back after his second climax. Grinning, Luna nuzzled him.

"Ahh… I can't give you any more, right now, Luna," said Harry.

"I know, Harry. I'm just showing my appreciation for what we have shared together. In both forms." She held his green-eyed gaze. "Which way did you prefer it?"

Harry considered that. "Honestly? Being the lady in our sexual relationship once in a while, as I've tried, is fun. It's made the bond between us really strong, since we get to see ourselves from each other's eyes. But I prefer being your husband in the bedroom. How about you?"

"I agree with you, Harry. I know it was my idea that you agreed to – us swapping places in bed once or twice a year. And becoming a man for just an hour each time is…interesting." Luna beamed. Then she turned sober. "But, yes, I think we don't need to spice up our playtime so much now. I'd rather be your wife in all matters, Mr Lovegood-Potter."

Harry lovingly stroked Luna's cheek with his thumb. "That's fine by me. I'm no longer tired of being Harry anymore. I know a slight change to my surname won't shake off the autograph hunters or detractors – but at least the war really is over now. And this way I get to wear the trousers in our relationship, I guess. Always."

"But I still get to wear the lycra leggings Hermione got for you…" Luna smirked.

"And you look very sexy in them, Luna. And in the lycra top I got you for your birthday, as well," Harry happily pointed out. "Anyhow, either way we make out, we live up to our first surnames…"

"Hmm… You wanted to be both a Potter and a Lovegood – and I was happy to oblige. And the world knows we are both lovingly committed to each other for life now. Anyway - happy anniversary, sweety."

"Happy anniversary, dear."

"Is the meal tonight with Herne and Rohan at Godric's Hollow booked?"

"It is. And Herne's got used to travelling in the Weasley's Ford Anglia so much that he's even allowing Rohan to drive them over."

Mrs Lovegood-Potter smiled. "I still prefer to fly by Thestral, myself. Or on broomstick with you."

"We'll go by broomstick tonight, then."

Harry and Luna eventually stopped kissing, and got washed and dressed for the day. Harry wanted to meet up with his father-in-law, in order to tell more about his past experiences at Hogwarts, so that in due course the world would learn about Harry's true story, via a special run of the Quibbler. As much as Harry wanted to say, anyway. To set the record straight once and for all. And for those issues, as he, Luna, and Xeno had agreed, the sale proceeds would go to the families of those who suffered most from the war…

*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*

November 2003

Arthur and Molly Weasley, along with Ginny and Neville, happily greeted Harry and Luna as the party of four came out of the private room at St. Mungo's. After their conversation, the Lovegood-Potters then entered the ward room. Herne beamed and got up from his seat. The two young men shook hands, before Herne gave Luna an affectionate peck on the cheek. Next, he took the flowers, grapes, and card from them – placing their gifts on the bedside table which was already crowded with different floral displays and congratulation cards.

"More visitors, Rohan!" Herne called out cheeringly.

"I hope you're not too worn out yet." Harry smiled as he walked over to the hospital bed and kissed Rohan Granger on the forehead. "Well done!"

"I guess I'll catch up on sleep later…," Rohan groaned. Her lips parted into a grin, and she sat up in bed to kiss Luna, who then placed a small brown bag on the blankets.

Ron pulled out the contents. It was a miniature Crumple-Horned Snorkack toy. She shook her head, smiling.

"One day, you guys will have to show us and our little girl where you saw living Snorkacks in Sweden!"

"I'll be up for that too. I'm glad that your joint field work, along with Xeno's research, finally paid off!" Herne declared.

"Yes, it's wonderful – but now that we have finally proved their existence thanks to Harry's use of Muggle jigging cameras…"

"Digital cameras, Luna," Harry interrupted.

"Thanks to Harry's digital camera and his photos of the Snorkacks that we found, we have to be careful not to let too many people know where they are – especially whilst we work out how many actually exist." Luna smiled and waved at Herne and Rohan's new baby daughter. "Hullo there! What's your name?"

Rohan grinned, and picked up her pride and joy to pass to the Lovegood-Potters. Harry and Luna took in turns to hold and tickle her nose, whilst little Miss Granger wiggled her hands and smiled at them.

"Well, at one stage I wanted to give her our middle names. Erm, I mean Herne's old middle name of Jean, and my new one…"

"Billie, instead of Bilius..." Harry's eyes widened and he looked across to Herne. "Billie Jean?"

"Which we were not going to do!" Herne scowled. "We settled on Charlotte. Charlotte Themis Granger. She'll be a beacon for truth and justice."

"Welcome to the world, Charlotte. A world which your parents have shaped for the better…" Harry tickled her face, making her smile even more. He turned to Rohan. "What was it like, giving birth?"

"Horrible and icky…" Rohan grimaced – but then her lips arched upwards as she took her baby daughter back and rocked her. "But it's worth it! I'm proud to be a mother…"

Herne rested his hand on his wife's shoulder. "And I'm a proud father."

"You two still don't want to switch permanently?" Rohan asked Harry and Luna, smirking. "You and me, Harry… We could've become Best Friends Forever, as Herne tells me the Muggle expression goes."

Harry had been looking at the cards, smiling at the brightly-coloured animated dragons on the one addressed to Charlotte from Charlie and Lavender – whilst the card next to it was a more tasteful design from Aunt Ginny and Uncle Neville. Both of them welcoming her into the world.

There were plenty of others – including those from Arthur and Molly Weasley. Another noticeable card had a picture of a cartoon teddy bear that kept changing colour. Harry was not surprised to see that it had been sent by Great Uncle Remus and Great Auntie Dora…

Harry turned to Rohan and shook his head, grinning. "We only experimented with the Polyjuice now and then to keep our love life…interesting. But we've stopped that now… Since Luna and I have become an item, I've become a lot happier in myself and in my life as Harry. My third life, as I think of it."

"As Harry? Your third life being a return to your first one?" Rohan put to him.

"No, Rohan. Physically, yes. But in other ways… My current life is not the same as my first one, at all." He glanced at Luna, who shared a coy smile with him. "And, sorry to disappoint you, but I'm not planning to live as a woman again, Rohan. I'm definitely a man now. On the outside - and inside."

Still holding baby Charlotte, Rohan sat up further in her bed. She took in the matching Butterbeer cork necklaces that Harry and Luna still often wore. Then she read the expressions of her friends – something that she was better at than the old Ron had been. "Wow…!"

Herne raised his eyebrows. His intuition wasn't as good as when he had been Hermione – but he was now proving himself to be the brightest wizard of their generation, instead. And he was now Harry's best male friend too, of course. "You've got…something to tell us?" he asked, already sensing precisely what the news was.

"I'm pregnant. Harry and I will be parents too! We've found out this morning," Luna happily declared. "With luck, the birth will be in June or July – meaning that Charlotte will have a friend to go to Hogwarts with!" She paused. "That's hoping that they don't fight as children, of course."

"That's wonderful!" Herne hugged Luna, and slapped Harry's shoulder – before Rohan placed Charlotte back on her bed next to her own, and hugged the parents-to-be.

"We wanted you pair to be the first to know!" Harry announced. "Now we'll tell your parents and Xeno, too…"

"Thanks Harry." Rohan's blue eyes twinkled. "So… In which Hogwarts house do think they'll end up?"

"Rohan…," Herne cautioned her.

Rohan squeezed his hand. "Just kidding, love."

"Well, I missed out upon becoming a Ravenclaw – so maybe it would be good if Charlotte has my thirst for knowledge, and Luna's perception and wit." Herne shared a grin with Luna.

"Thanks to Slughorn, Snape, and Theodore and Daphne…I won't even mind if a child of mine was placed in Slytherin," confessed Harry. "It would be good to make sure that the house of the snake was changing for the better."

"Wherever our child goes, they will be a good witch or wizard. We will make sure of that, Harry. And they will have our love to help them." Beaming, Luna took Harry's hand and placed it on the stomach area of her blue sweater, which she was wearing above the black lycra leggings that Harry had passed onto her when his life as Celine Lovegood had ended, paving the way for his third life. A life that was free at last from the shadows and trauma of the Death Eater war, and where he was no longer persecuted by other hazards, such as Rita Skeeter. He was free to forge a worthy life of his own choice, and have a family of his own…

"Yes, they will, Luna," Harry agreed. And smiling back at his wife, he reached out with his other arm and drew her into a mutual tender embrace as they lost themselves in another long, exquisite kiss.

THE END!

Author's notes:

A big thank you to those who gave positive, or well-rounded, helpful feedback. This story was a tough one to write, and it's good to know that there are people who liked it. Also many thanks to IamMegumi - whose story inspired me to write this one.

The Dauntless was based on a combination of enemy bases from two of the Fighting Fantasy game books, with a dash of the film 'The Assassination Bureau' thrown in!