I wrote this for SkyeElf's challenge, which had the prompt 'If what I believe in makes me a fool, then I'll happily be the jester'. For some reason I decided to use the pairing Luna/Theodore Nott when it should have been Luna/Blaise Zabini. No idea why. Still, waste not want not and all that.

Luna Lovegood skipped along the corridors of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy. She was late for dinner. Again. It wasn't her fault, though it seldom was. She had been locked in a cupboard somewhere on the third floor. She didn't know who had done it, nor did she care, but she hoped she got to the Great Hall in time for pudding.

Theodore Nott was standing in the Entrance Hall, beside the staircase, his back to Luna as she entered. He was lost in thought, his eyes staring at no particular place on the wall. His face was wet with tears, which he made no effort to remove. He turned around sharply when he heard Luna come closer and quickly rubbed at his swollen eyes with the sleeve of his robes.

He glared at her, not because of any particular hatred, but because not even his friends were allowed to see him this vulnerable.

"Keep walking, Loony," he said harshly when her feet began to slow.

She looked at him as if she hadn't seen him standing there and he found himself wishing he had never said anything. Her expression remained the same though and she simply stopped still where she stood.

"Sometimes, when I'm feeling upset, I find that pudding cheers me up," she said in that ridiculously airy voice of hers.

He gritted his teeth, jabbing a finger in her direction. "Don't you dare tell anyone!" he hissed. "They wouldn't believe you anyway. You're just Loony Lovegood, you're a complete nutcase!"

She blinked at him but she didn't seem hurt. More surprised, he thought. She opened her mouth to say something and left it there, not making a sound. She stood there with her mouth hanging open slightly for a while before Theodore rudely told her to go away.

She shrugged a shoulder. "The pudding might be finished by now."

He stared at her, his face softening out of its glare. He didn't hate her. He couldn't. He didn't know her, but that wasn't the reason. She just seemed so incredibly innocent. It was impossible to hate her.

He sat down on the steps beside him. "I went to see my father in Azkaban today," he suddenly said. He felt Luna's presence on the step beside him but refused to look at her. "It's the anniversary of my mother's death."

"My mum died," said Luna casually. "But my father isn't in Azkaban."

"I told him he was an idiot," continued Theodore. "A complete clown. If he'd just renounce the Dark Lord..." He stopped, running a hand through already messy hair. "I need him. All I have is my aunt and she's as mad as a box of chocolate frogs."

"I always found chocolate frogs to be quite strange," Luna said softly.

Theodore almost smiled. "He won't do it. He isn't even frightened. He actually believes that the Dark Lord is right."

"A lot of people do."

"He said that Azkaban was a sacrifice for the 'Greater good'."

"Even with the Dementors?"

"He told me you should fight for what you believe in."

"He's got a point there."

"He said, 'If what I believe in makes me a fool, then I'll happily be the jester'."

"I never liked clowns."

"I might never see him again."

"I think it's the paint."

"Excuse me?"

"The paint," said Luna patiently. "My mum showed me a picture once. Muggles have the strangest ideas..."

Theodore shook his head. "You really are loony, Luna."

Luna smiled and looked up at the doors to the Great Hall. "There doesn't seem to be anyone coming out of the Great Hall."

"So?"

"So it means that pudding's still available."

Theodore stood up and offered her his hand. She let it go as soon as she was upright.

"We won't mention this again, right?" he asked.

"Mention what?" asked Luna.