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1 Pairing, 1 Prompt Challenge – Dean/Luna (Glum)

Character Diversity Boot Camp Challenge - Befuddle

Glum

The one year of secret meetings during fifth year had introduced the different houses to think of the people of the other houses with a view that was separate from the common stereotype and despite the meetings only occurring maybe once a week, everyone had been able to get a general idea of the rest of the members of Dumbledore's army's personalities.

So when Dean had seen Luna walking around Hogwarts with a rather glum look on her face he had been forced to do a double take.

He had managed to have the distinct impression that Luna was always happy and whenever he thought of Luna in his mind, he always thought of her with a serene smile on her face looking like nothing in the world could touch her.

Since it had been nearing lunch, he had backtracked and dodged the crowds to follow her and try to find out what exactly had managed to break through her shell of invincibility that she seemed to always be surrounded by.

He had caught up to her near where there were rumours the Ravenclaw Common Room was.

"Luna!" He called out, stopping her.

She turned around to face him with a slightly surprised expression.

"Dean," she greeted him calmly.

"Are you okay? You looked rather gloomy," Dean asked her.

"Oh that," she glanced at him as if wondering if she really should tell him her reason before shrugging lightly.

"One of the baby thestrals died a little while ago. His mother is distraught. I tried to help but there was nothing to be done," Luna said, the glum look overtaking her features once again.

"Thestrals?" Dean asked looking a bit confused. He vaguely recognized the word, the name, from a lesson at some point that had probably been Care of Magical Creatures while Hagrid had taught them.

"It is a skeletal horse-like creature that can only be seen by those who have seen death," Luna told him when she noticed his blank expression. "They usually pull the carriages at the start of the term when we come from Hogsmeade."

Dean looked shocked for a minute. "You mean those things can die?"

Luna gave him a look that told him exactly how unimpressed she was with his question.

"Of course they can die. Everything can die, except some things take a lot longer than others to die. Death is a natural part of life, it means that you've gone all that you've come here to do," Luna trailed off with a thoughtful expression on her face.

Neither spoke for a moment then Luna smiled.

"Thank you Dean," she said and she skipped away back in the direction from which they had come.

"You should start going to the Great Hall, or all the pudding will be finished. I heard the house elves have outdone themselves today," she called back cheerfully.

Dean stood exactly where she had left him not knowing what had happened. He shook his head and walked back towards the Great Hall.

He doubted he would ever figure out what went on in that blonde's head. She befuddled everybody.