Oh dear, another multi-chap…and I still haven't finished the other ones… One day, I swear, Anarchy will be finished. As will Mirror Image.

Disclaimer: I have no claim to any of the characters here; all credit goes where credit is due – JK Rowling. However, I have exercised them to ensure they don't become indolent. That is to say, many characters are going to spontaneously meet up with other characters because, after all, Hogwarts is a castle full of children and teachers, there's bound to be some interesting conversations and unexpected meetings.

"Spinning Between Constellations & Dreams"
- In and out of the crowd like a glance -
(So She Dances, Josh Groban)
I
Adrian Pucey/Luna Lovegood
-:-

The hallways of Hogwarts were dark even during the midmorning when a warm light had encompassed the rest of the grounds. Stained glass windows painted eerie colours along the stone corridors as Luna Lovegood skipped along them, merrily making her way to the fourth floor. Her feet were bare and her steps silent – her shoes misplaced by one of her Housemates earlier in the week – but she was carefree, enjoying the feel of smooth stone beneath her toes.

The ethereal first year slowed to a halt in front of a large portrait with an elaborate gold frame which hung opposite an open archway, entry to it barred by a wrought iron trellis.

"Hello," she said dreamily, and sat down in front of it, tucking her legs beneath her dress.

The occupant of the portrait smiled from her perch on the grassy knoll, running slender fingers through wispy blonde hair carefully so as not to knock her coronet of daisies, and replied: "Good morning, Miss Luna. How do you fare today?"

"Well enough, though I think the Nargles must be breeding heavily at the moment because a sixth year mislaid my red shoes."

Witch and painting spoke quietly, sharing stories for an hour or so, until careful footsteps echoed down the hall and brought their conversation to a close.

A figure appeared behind Luna, stepping through the archway – the staircases must have changed their routes at some point during the conversation. A seventh year Slytherin, bright blue eyes showing through the fringe of dark brown hair, gazed down at her and then glanced curiously at the portrait. His brow furrowed.

"What does a first year accomplish that earns a portrait among the Hogwarts frames?" he asked slowly, his voice confident and smooth as it carried the question.

Luna smiled her vacant smile. "It's not me. Not really. Elvira is a Changeling."

As if in response, the portrait morphed to depict the Slytherin, standing in robes identical to the casual ones he currently sported.

"Impressive," he murmured, reaching out a hand to gently caress the paintwork. He added more loudly: "I never knew that such talents could be caught in Wizarding portraiture."

"Most people don't know because they don't bother to find out," Luna told him frankly as the image changed back to her own doppelganger in a pretty white dress with yellow ribbons tied around her waist. "Photography has made the art redundant."

The boy, who tiptoed along the cusp of adulthood himself, was astounded. This child – a little witchling – was so perceptive; eleven years old and more in tune with the world and the people in it than most of the students in Seventh year, he thought privately.

"How does an eleven year old become so observant?" the Slytherin wondered aloud.

"I'm a Ravenclaw." Luna's tone was honest. "But I'm also very small, and quiet, and people don't seem to bother lowering their voices around me. I've heard a lot of things that way; sometimes things about me, sometimes about other people."

The boy's gaze was turned sharply upon her, but she was content to leave it at that, either blissfully unaware of any misdemeanours acted out by others, or unbothered by their opinions.

"Elvira likes to change into me because of my hair," she continued. "She says it's soft and nice to brush – much better than some of the other students she's met. Once, I came by and she changed into Dumbledore, only he was very young because she says his beard tickles her face otherwise."

When she paused to take a breath, the Slytherin took the opportunity to speak. "What do they call you, little Raven?"

The little blonde looked up, directly into his eyes, and the older student had the unnerving feeling that she was looking into his mind rather than his face.

"My name is Luna."

She tilted her head innocently, hair falling from its flimsy constraints, and he smiled handsomely at her, dropping his chin in a careful nod of amity.

"Adrian Pucey."

"It's nice to meet you," she said politely from her seat on the stone floor. "I've seen you at dinner sometimes. You're kinder than the younger Slytherins. Especially the second years; sometimes I wonder if they've been scratched by adolescent griphals, they're so often unfriendly and hurtful to the students of other Houses."

She stood up in a surprisingly fluid movement, exposing her bare feet. The Slytherin felt a strange twinge when he saw their state of uncover.

"Luna, where are your shoes?" Adrian questioned softly.

"Hmm? Oh, one of the older Ravenclaws mislaid them," she explained distractedly.

His face hardened, and for a moment it looked as if Adrian was going to say something rude, but he calmed himself and contented himself with an unemotional 'Ah'.

"Nargles can be so hard to guard against," Luna said by way of explanation.

Adrian masked his expression of bewilderment.

"They infest the brain and make one forgetful," Luna went on to inform him seriously. She looked at a strange contraption strapped to her wrist; it could be a watch, if you strained your imagination to the limits. "Oh, I should probably be on my way. I'm supposed to meet Professor Flitwick soon."

Adrian nodded dumbly. What a curious creature; little Luna the Ravenclaw, with her head in the clouds, and a heart of gold. It was refreshing; neither were very common traits in Slytherin House. It wasn't conducive to a successful school career.

"Maybe we'll see each other in the hallways," Luna theorised in her quiet voice. "But you don't have to say hello if you don't want to. Most people are very distracted in the halls, I've noticed."

The suspicions Adrian had felt when she'd explained her missing shoes became more solidified.

"I'm not most people, Luna," he responded firmly.

She looked at him with her large blue eyes, head tilted characteristically to the side. "No, I don't think you are." Astuteness floated across her irises.

After several seconds of silent appraisal, she moved to the staircase. And just before she began the climb down to Flitwick's office, Adrian called out to her: "I hope your shoes turn up soon."

"Oh, they will," she answered optimistically. And with that she skipped away, leaving only the fading echoes of their conversation.

"They will," repeated Adrian under his breath, with only the stone walls of Hogwarts and Elvira the Changeling to hear him. The latter broke into a gentle, knowing smile.

The following morning, though there was an obvious berth around the little blonde Ravenclaw at their House table, Luna's feet were encased in a pair of bright red shoes with silver laces, smiling in her vague manner, humming quite happily to herself.

Adrian's gaze moved to settle directly on a sixth year (specifically the one that had 'misplaced' Luna's shoes after 'borrowing' them without permission). He smiled malevolently, offering a curt nod as he saluted her with his goblet of pumpkin juice. The Ravenclaw blushed profusely in embarrassment and looked determinedly down at her plate.

Luna wouldn't be bothered for a while. He'd made sure of that.

She was a very special kind of innocent in a sceptical, unfriendly world; he'd do his best to keep an eye out for her. At that moment, the unique first year turned to smile beatifically at him; Adrian's expression softened immediately.

He smiled back.

End.

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