A/N: J.K. Rowling owns the characters.

Please review. I am trying to follow canon with this story and keep the characters in character. I would appreciate it if you would point out errors. Complements are nice too.

1. Memories are just where you laid them.

Curly blond hair made its appearance from around the corner just prior to one large blue eye. A held breath released itself from the young woman's lungs as she saw the empty hallway ahead. She knew this was the way out after walking with her visitor as he left three days ago. She just acted more "normal" and he didn't mind conversing with her as they went toward the room with the lifts. He said he couldn't let her down this passageway but she'd stood and watched him and waved goodbye as he stepped through that doorway at the end.

He had said "Had to use lifts, because they can't have fireplaces on this floor." She didn't really understand what he meant. She knew about lifts though; she could remember that.

She also knew she just had to go home. Perhaps this time the healers wouldn't get to her before she made it off the floor. She hadn't gotten down the stairwells, yet. Maybe the lifts would be different. This was the furthest she'd ever been since being placed here. Someone once said that doing the same thing over and over while expecting different results was the definition of insane. Perhaps she was.

Oddly, all those times she tried leaving, she never heard them running after her; just a popping noise and suddenly hands were grasping her arms.

Hurrying down the passageway to the opening, she forced deep breaths to quell the rising panic while hoping this was the place. So close now. There's the lifts and the button…pushing it! Her palm presses hard against her mouth to hold back the stuttering sobs that threatened to give her away. She'd taken to sudden outbursts when the fear rose up inside, and this place had terrifying moments.

Those people really were crazy. Not her…no.

Pounding on the doors with her free hand, she nervously shifted from foot to foot. Finally, with a ding, the doors opened. She scurried inside and pressed the ground floor button. More anxious minutes burned away while she shuffled back and forth touching all the walls in turn. She began to whisper along with the pacing. "How do I….go home…Mamaí…need Mam….Da…". When the doors finally opened again, she spun to face them. Upon stepping forward, she quickly reversed direction with a gasp, tripped over her own feet and fell on her bum. A sob slipped past her lips as she looked up with wide eyes.

"Hello Luna, the wards warned us you were on your way out."

"Healer O'Dwyer! Wards? How?" she exclaimed as the tears leaked onto her cheeks. She'd just left the ward.

"It's fine. We'll just go back up to the seventh floor."

Healer Beth O'Dwyer bent down and moved Luna's legs back into the lift. She straightened up while pushing the button with the seven. The doors slid shut sealing the portal and ending Luna's hopes with a barely audible whoosh. The planning, the remembering meal times and break times…and routines…all for nothing. Two weeks, waiting for an opening, convincing Lockhart his fan club was waiting for him at the bottom of the stairs, and getting Alice to throw her food all over her room. See? She's smart…she can plan…not crazy!…no!…she can remember...not the things they want her to, but she can remember.

It's just…all that work and she still couldn't go home.

She responded in the only way her tortured mind would let her. She wept. Pressing her fist against her mouth couldn't stop the gut wrenching sobs that poured forth. Her breaths came in ragged gasps that weren't enough. She started to panic, knowing she would hyperventilate and pass out. The lift lurched to a stop. Then arms were pulling her into a hug.

"Shush-shush my little witch. It's only Beth. I won't let anything happen. Be still and hold on to me. Breathe Luna, just breathe. We'll stay right here until you're ready to go." the healer crooned.

Luna's crying began to slow as she calmed at the presence of the gentle touch. It reminded her of the other woman who was quick to pull her close when the panic began. Hermione would stroke Luna's hair or brush light fingers on her face as she squeezed her tightly. She visited a lot, asking questions about a logbook, an experiment and a fire that Luna didn't understand. She remembered waking up with her clothes and some of her hair on fire, the burning on her legs and back, then a man with water coming from his hand. She touched her smooth legs and, again, doubted the reality of that memory. With Hermione, the pressure for an answer was always slight and removed completely when Luna's breathing quickened too much. Still, there remained a feeling of expectation from her that Luna couldn't quite decipher.

Drawing a shuddering breath, she spoke, "I-I-I'm n-not Luna, you know. I t-told y-you-u that. I was Luna for a short time. Not Luna now. Not now. No."

Beth's tone sharpened slightly. "I know, but you have to pretend for your visitors, or they can't see you."

"I'm not invisible when I'm not Luna. I can still see me."

The healer smiled and said brightly, "There's the Luna we know! I meant they wouldn't be allowed to visit you if you don't pretend you're Luna. You have visitors waiting for you now."

"Oh, ok. I can be Luna, for now."

The lift jerked into motion as she hoped that it wasn't the long-haired man with the funny eye. He had been foolish enough to show the way to the lifts but she might just decide to not be Luna if it was him. He says he's her father. She remembered seeing him doing a weird dance in an odd yellow suit and, strangely enough, she also recalled seeing him standing in front of a blue door wearing only skimpy underpants. That's all she remembered about him. Da didn't look like that. She called this guy "Mr Underpants"; not to his face.

The doors opened and Beth led her out of the lift. She followed without making a fuss. Cooperating made everything easier. It kept them from restraining her like they did the first time. Another chance would come along. Luna can bide her time.

"It's Miss Granger again. Like clockwork, every week"

"I know. Hermione's nice…. but she's afraid of something too. Afraid and sad. I know she cries sometimes when she leaves. I see it building up when we talk. She doesn't want to cry around me, but I know. I know but pretend that I don't."

"You're nice to others, Luna, even the other patients. You're a good person. You just have to let us help."

"Not Luna, just pretending. Pretending for Hermione."

"Her two friends are with her, Harry Potter and Ron Weasley."

Luna stopped. "They make it harder to talk. I can't look at their faces. There's something wrong with their faces and I get confused. Then…then… I can't remember right."

"I've looked and I can't see anything wrong."

"There is. There is! I see….their eyes…not right…Hermione's, yes…theirs...no, no, no. Don't look…don't see."

Beth spoke soothingly, "It's all right. You'll be just fine. You don't have to look at their faces. I'm sure Hermione remembers. She'll help."

Luna started moving forward again. "Erm…yes, she will."

She strode deliberately toward the door to her room. She could manage as long as she didn't look at the men. They are nice too and they don't talk down to her. It's not their fault she remembers them wrong. As she neared the open door, she heard Harry's voice and stopped.

"…..ting worse, Hermione. That's the healers, not me. Five months, you've run yourself ragged trying to piece this mess together. Anyway, you can't keep working on it when we go south and you can't visit. Don't give me that look. I didn't assign Ron and me as escorts; that was Robards. Two missing Death Eaters might be at McMurdo. Not a sure thing since the wizard who reported it only caught a glimpse in Christchurch. So you get second-year trainees as bodyguards along with one full Auror. We are also spying at the American's station. We will be disguised, but you won't. Regardless, I've gotten off topic. Maybe you should start backing away from this.

"Wait one minute, mate. Luna's been there for us, no matter what. I'm sticking with this until we sort it out or we realize there's no way to fix it. I don't have much time off work, but it's my time and you can't tell me how to use it. I choose to help Hermione with this."

"Ron, I didn't mean drop it completely. I just…"

Hermione interrupted, "Good evening, Healer O'Dwyer. Luna! Are you all right? You look like you've been upset."

Luna shuffled into the room, looking down at their feet. "Been crying. Hello Harry…Ron. I'm happy you came to visit, Hermione. I was trying to go home, but they wouldn't let me."

"Which home? Near Ottery St. Catchpole?"

Luna shook her head, whispering, "No. My real home."

Hermione sighed. "I'm sorry. We told you we went there and no one knew who you were."

"I know. They're not remembering what they should."

To ease the tension, Beth spoke up. "Hermione, did I hear right that you're taking a trip?"

"Yes, to Antarctica. Newt and Rolf Scamander claim to have discovered a species of bird that has some of the abilities of fire salamanders and live inside Mount Erebus. That's a volcano on Ross Island. They think these may be related to the phoenix. Since I'm the newest employee in the DRCMC, I have to go verify the Scamanders' report and evaluate how we can minimize the possibility of Muggles discovering them. A representative from the United States office is also going to witness the verification. The UK office gets credit since Newt is a citizen of Australia. Exciting, isn't it?"

"Certainly sounds like it.", said Beth. "Well, I'll leave you to your visit."

"Australia", Luna piped up as she looked at Hermione's smiling face. "Your parents, in Australia."

"Yes, they were. Ron and I went to get them, last year before school. They are home now after some time here at St. Mungos."

"I don't know them."

Hermione's smile faltered, "You met them, at Christmas at Hogwarts. And here. I brought them on your birthday."

"They were different. Scary. I remembered but couldn't remember them right."

"I know and I won't bring them back, until you feel better. They really like you, though, and want you to get well so you can visit."

"I am well…just not your well."

"So, Luna, what do you think of our trip to Antarctica?" Ron stated awkwardly changing the subject.

Looking down at his knees, Luna spoke quietly, "I think you will be cold. Volcanos are very hot. Dangerous. You need to keep my friend safe."

"I'm your friend too. You know that, right?"

"You say so and I saw the ceiling picture. You weren't nice at the beach house. Said I should be thinner."

"I don't remember that and I have apologized. You said you forgive me."

"Forgive is not being friends. You are being nice….want to help me…so….keep Hermione….safe…..then, yes…friends." Luna mumbled as she sat down in the chair across from Harry.

Ron remained serious, "Of course. She can take care of herself, but I will always be there for her."

"I know. I see that you love her." She smiled. "Strong love that makes me happy for her."

Luna saw Hermione's face get that slightly sad look that happened when they talked alone.

She turned her eyes to Harry's knees. "You keep my friend safe too. And yourself."

She saw Harry's smile in her peripheral vision and watch his hand pat her knee.

"Thanks Luna; you have always been a good friend. We'll be careful, but we will look around some, maybe walk on a glacier. You don't go to Antarctica every day."

"When will Hermione have to stop visiting me?"

"We go down in six weeks, August, with the crew getting the station ready for the summer. Those suspects did a winter-over and should still be there. The next flight out won't be until October.

Oh…right, Ron, I forgot to tell you who our new junior team member is. Draco Malfoy will be coming into McMurdo on the first October flight."

Ron was instantly livid, "Malfoy! Oh, fuck that!"

"Ron!" hissed Hermione.

"He's top of his Auror class; so far ahead that no one can catch him. He gets his choice of field team and wanted ours. So, unless something changes between now and graduation…"

Wiping his hand across his face Ron moaned, "Why us? What could…ya know, never mind. We can just hope something does happen."

Luna looked over at Hermione. "I remember you said Draco didn't like you. Is he going to cause you problems? Will you be ok?"

Quietly, Hermione answered, "Probably. I heard he changed since his father accepted full responsibility for the tortures at his mansion. He was different our last year at Hogwarts. Became a bit of a loner, though. The word around the Ministry is that Draco pushed hard to get into the Aurors."

Luna's eyes grew unfocused. "He was funny at first. Then he ignored me. When the pink lady was there, he talked to Harry, and the twins a lot…they played jokes on you and Ron. Did you know he colors his hair?"

Hermione looked confused. Harry and Ron took great interest in the minimal activity in the passageway and the ceiling tiles respectively.

"I'm not remembering right, am I?" Luna whispered as she brought a shaky hand to her chest.

"I don't understand what you're talking about. They weren't friends in fifth year. Are you feeling all right, Luna?"

Luna shook her head and breathed out, "How do I feel? Like the song." Then she put on a thin smile as a tear rolled down one cheek. She hummed a few bars before starting to sing.

"How do you feel?

That is the question.

But I forget you don't expect an easy answer.

When something like a soul becomes

Initialized and folded up

Like paper dolls and little notes

You can't expect a bit of hope.

And while you're outside looking in

Describing what you see

Remember what you're staring at is me.

'Cause I'm looking at you through the glass.

Don't know how much time has passed.

All I know is that it feels like forever.

When no one ever tells you

That forever feels like home

Sitting all alone

Inside your head."

She finished and quietly let a few tears fall before speaking again.

"I remembered that song, last Sunday. Stone Sour released it 3 or 4 years ago. This part seemed to speak to how I feel now; how I'm a study subject. In this cage, you watch me and ask questions. I t-tell you what I know and you tell m-me it's wrong! The fire…good. Da…not g-good! Harry last week….good. D-d-uh-Harry last year….not good! Mirrors! I saw hundreds of mirrors in a black room j-just before I fell asleep; then the fire. Lots of…of me looking back at me. Is it real? I d-don't know. I can't….can't find me, anymore. I want me back."

Her tears were falling freely as Harry reached out to touch her knee. She flinched away, shifting toward Hermione. Gathering Luna up into her arms, Hermione pulled her to the bed.

Ron's voice: "Is there anything we can do to…"

"No…not!"

"Shhh, Luna. Thanks Ron, but it looks like you boys have to cut your visit short, this time."

Harry shrugged, "Good night, Luna. I'll come back next week." Then he gave Hermione a look that said, 'See what I mean?' She glared back at him.

Ron touched Hermione's shoulder and she reached up to squeeze his hand.

"Tomorrow; see you for lunch, love?"

"Yes, 12:30. I have a meeting before that."

"Sorted. 'Night, Luna."

The two men left the room.