For
The Ultimate Doctor Who Competition (Seventh Doctor: Write about a friendship featuring Luna Lovegood)
Honeycomb Challenge (splendid)
554 words
Ginny frowns when she sees the figure sitting on the stairs. As she gets closer, she recognizes the messy mop of blonde waves, and her frown deepens. "Luna? Are you okay?"
She knows how cruel people can be to the strange Ravenclaw. They call her names, hide her belongings. Now, she can't help but worry that someone might have actually hurt her.
Luna glances up, the smallest of smiles on her lips. "Oh, hello, Ginny," she says warmly, her eyes wide. Ginny doesn't know if she's startled the other girl or not. It's always so hard to read Luna. "Lovely evening, isn't it?"
"Splendid," Ginny says absently, climbing down the steps until she reaches the halfway point where Luna rests. "What are you doing?"
"The staircases move."
Ginny blinks in confusion. She opens her mouth to reply, but her words seem to fail her. They've been at Hogwarts for four years now. Surely Luna has realized by now that the staircases move. "Did you get displaced?" she manages to ask after several moments. "You can always just walk."
Luna shakes her head, a small laugh bubbling from her lips. "I'm waiting."
"For what?"
"The staircases move," Luna says again, as though it can somehow explain everything.
Ginny nods, trying to fight her frustration. "I know. They've always moved," she says impatiently.
Luna pats the spot beside her. Ginny hesitates. She has things to do, homework to finish. And yet she finds herself pulled closer, almost like Luna is a magnet.
"What are we waiting for?" she asks.
The Ravenclaw grins, her eyes brightening. "Shh," she says, pressing a slender finger to her lips before dropping her hand. "It's starting."
Before Ginny can question her, there's a faint rumble. The ground trembles beneath them as the staircase pulls away from its location, swinging slowly to the left. Ginny feels a strange tickle in her stomach, and she laughs.
"You ride the stairs?" she asks, though the answer is clear.
Luna nods, lifting her arms as they glide along. She almost looks like a bird in flight. "I've never had anyone ride with me," she says softly. "I always wanted a friend to share this with."
It amazes Ginny that there's no bitterness in Luna's words. She says it like it's a simple fact, something that might not even be important; it breaks the Gryffindor's heart. "Well, you have one now," she says.
Luna giggles as the staircase comes to a stop. She lowers her arms, beaming. "I thought it would feel lovely to have a friend do this," she muses, climbing to her feet. "I was right."
Ginny stands, a smile still on her lips. She's heard people complain about the staircases moving. Admittedly, she's always found it to be a bit inconvenient. And then there's Luna. Strange, brilliant Luna sees something that bothers so many people, and she finds a way to make it enjoyable.
"If we hurry, the one on the fourth floor will be moving soon," Luna says walking down the stairs with an excited spring in her step.
Ginny glances over her shoulder, frowning. She really does have several things left to do. She doesn't have time to treat the stairs like toys for her entertainment.
And yet she finds herself following Luna, a grin on her lips. "Wait for me!"