Okay, so I'm going to change 2 things... Hogwarts has an annual ball every second year, after Christmas, so really, there isn't going to be a Yule Ball. And, Sirius Black attacks the Fat Lady in January, on Luna's birthday :) Enjoy, R&R! (I'll reply to all reviews in a PM)

Luna sobbed quietly to herself. She had never been more insulted in her life. Of course, she had been at Hogwarts for one year already. She was finally getting used to the torment of people who thought she was loony. But this time the Slytherins really went heartless, and insulted her family, he fathers magazine, her appearance, and the way she thought.

Luna was harmlessly sitting in the courtyard, reading, and looking at the clouds.

'Hey, Loony!' called some strange third year Slytherin girl, Pansy Parkinson.

Luna blocked her out. She was getting used to this by now.

'LOONY! Don't ignore me!' Pansy yelled a bit this time.

Luna turned her head to Pansy, who was getting on her nerves now. 'What?' she snapped hotly.

'Ooh!' all the Slytherins around Pansy made that irritating noise that people make when someone is in deep trouble or if there is a fight.

'Loony's got attitude!' Pansy laughed. 'Too bad... her brainless father must be so disappointed. She mustn't be an airhead like him!' The Slytherins cackled.

Luna put her book away in her book bag and got up.

'Where are you going, Loony?' teased Pansy, blocking Luna's way.

'If you'll kindly get your pug face out of my way, it'll be very much appreciated.' Luna snapped again, her temper rising.

They all made the "ooh!" noise again.

'What did you just call me?' Pansy said, walking towards Luna in a menacing fashion.

'I said you had a pug-face.' said Luna bluntly. 'I never lie.'

Some Hufflepuff's and Gryffindor's snorted nearby.

'Well, you can say I have a pug-face. But pugs are cute. Unlike some people, who looks as if they haven't heard of a hairbrush in their life. Or, what do muggles call it? Plastic surgery? It never makes the muggles look good, but it sure would improve Loony's face!' Pansy just went on.

Luna walked away, refusing to lash out in anger.

'Oh well,' Pansy said to her fellow Slytherins, but loud enough for Luna to hear. 'I guess she gets it from her mother. Or her father. Neither would've been very attractive.'

Luna stopped in her tracks. 'Don't you dare insult my mother.' she said harshly.

Pansy laughed. 'And what're you going to do? Give me the crazy disease?'

Luna was about to comeback with something witty, but decided not to. All Pansy wanted was a reaction.

'Just don't do it again.' she said, sounding more serious than usual.

'What happened to your mother, Lovegood?' Pansy realised she had found a weak spot. 'Is she dead?'

Luna glared, but nodded stiffly. 'Yes. Now, will you leave me alone?' she began to think she sounded hysterical.

'What did she die from? Death by Nargles? Poor thing must've waited under the mistletoe all year... I bet nobody would kiss her.' Pansy said, cackling. She knew so much about Nargles because Luna often threatened to push her under the mistletoe to let the nargles take all of her things (not that she believed her; Pansy still thought Luna was mental).

Luna didn't hold it back anymore. She burst into tears, sobbing her heart out. Pansy knew nothing... why would she be so mean?

'Stop it!' a Gryffindor third year put her arm around Luna. 'Stop it right now! Leave her alone! You have absolutely no reason to bully her!'

Pansy and her gang of Slytherins walked away, snickering as they went.

'Are you alright?' the girl said gently. Luna looked up at her. She recognised her as Hermione Granger.

'Yes, thank you.' Luna said gratefully. 'They're so mean.' Luna added, wiping her eyes.

'They are, they're really awful. Don't listen to them. I'm sure your mother was a beautiful, noble lady, just like you will be one day.' Hermione gently stroked Luna's hair, as Luna smiled up at her. 'Are you sure you're alright?' Hermione went up to her full height.

'Yes, I'm sure. Thank you very much.' Luna smiled. 'You're very nice. It must be the lack of wrackspurts around your head.'

Hermione nodded slowly, and walked away.

Luna waved a bit. Then the thoughts of what Pansy said returned to her. So, she ran off, determined for nobody to see her cry.

She found a private place in the grounds, right on the edge of the forest. That's when she began to sob quietly to herself.

She had only been sobbing for about a minute when she felt a gentle hand on her shoulder. She jumped and turned around.

'What's up?' this time it was a boy. He was older than her, and he had flaming ginger hair and brown eyes. He was uncomfortably close.

'Just the (hiccup) Slytherins (sniff).' Luna said through her sobbing. 'Who are (hiccup) you?'

'I'm Fred Weasley,' said Fred. 'You're Luna Lovegood.' he grinned. 'I already know who you are.'

'How come you (sniff) didn't call me Loony?' Luna asked.

'Because I think it's mean.' He sat down next to her.

'I do too,' agreed Luna, slightly awkwardly. Then she began to full blown cry again.

To her surprise, Fred put his arm around her, and pulled her into a brotherly hug.

'Hey,' he said, with a shockingly gentle tone. 'What did they say?'

'T-they insulted m-my...' Luna stopped to hiccup. 'M-mother.'

Fred looked at her. 'Is she sick?' he asked.

'She's d-dead.' answered Luna.

'Oh,' said Fred lamely. 'I'm so sorry. What happened?'

'She liked to experiment... one day, when I was 9, one of her experiments went terribly wrong.' Luna explained. 'It still hurts, but I'm getting stronger every day.'

'You were nine...' he seemed to be haunted by that fact. 'That's terrible.' he said.

'It is,' agreed Luna.

'Do you want me to walk you back to the castle?' he asked kindly.

'Yes, please.' smiled Luna.

He walked her back to the castle, his arm still around her.

'You're a very nice person, Fred Weasley.' Luna said, as they reached the courtyard.

'Oh yeah?' Fred chuckled. 'Why so, Luna Lovegood?'

'Well you have been nice to me when I was sad. And you have your arm around me now, in a very protective manner.' Luna smiled.

Fred blushed and took his arm off her, putting his hands in his pockets.

'Sorry,' he mumbled.

'That's okay,' said Luna brightly. 'It was a nice thing. But wrackspurts do make your brain go fuzzy, and you have plenty of them around your head.'

'Right...' said Fred slowly.

They went inside. They walked in silence until they reached the Ravenclaw common room door.

'Good bye, Fred.' Luna said happily.

'See you, Luna.' Fred gave Luna a little pat on her shoulder, and he walked away.

Luna sensed a new friendship starting.