Luna Lovegood had always looked forward to the annual train ride to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. From the time she was eleven, the dimunuitive dirty haired blonde had been eager to make friends that first train ride, and her excitement had been insurmountable.
She had been sorely disappointed that first ride. After telling Amelia Edgecomb, Marietta's Edgecomb's cousin, about her summer with her father hunting for Nargles and searching for ways to rid themselves of infestations, the brunette girl had pointed her finger to the side of her head, twirled her finger in circles saying, "You're name isn't Luna Lovegood..It's Looney! You're mad!"
The whispers spread through the first years rather quickly, Amelia proving herself to be a first-rate gossiper. By the time the sorting was over, the entire first year class was aware of "Looney Lovegood's odd notions". Luna herself had felt sorry for Amelia. The nargles were sure to steal her stuff for not believing in them.
The second and third year at Hogwarts, Luna had adjusted to the whispers, the teasing and the name-calling behind her back. She was prepared for the train ride; always bringing a copy of The Quibbler with her on the train to read and ignore the others. She had gotten quite used to sitting alone in her own little compartment with the magazine for company. So it had therefore been a surprise in her fourth year at Hogwarts when three students had decided to join her.
For Luna, that had been a turning point in her life when Harry Potter, Ginny Weasley and Neville Longbottom had entered that compartment. For the next three years she had been engulfed in their own world, fighting against Lord Voldemort, being kidnapped by Death Eaters and in the end, triumphing over the darkest wizard ever known to the entire world. It had been the craziest time in her entire life, so perhaps she had finally earned her nickname Looney.
And yet, Luna found herself standing once again on Platform 9 and 3/4 the September following the last battle at Hogwarts. She would love to have said she was looking forward to the year ahead, but something inside her admitted it would not be the same. For one thing, she was repeating her sixth year.
Since she was kidnapped last Christmas by Death Eaters off the very train she was getting ready to board, Luna was required to repeat her sixth year. There had been oppportunities over the summer, once Hogwarts had been rebuilt, to finish out ones prior year. Luna had actually wanted to do that, but at her father's insistence they had taken a summer trip abroad. Her father had proclaimed it was just what he needed after being released from Azkaban after the war, but in truth, Luna suspected he wanted to be away from the gossip and stories she heard regarding his behavior while she was kidnapped. She had heard the story from Ron, Harry and Hermoine at the shell cottage. She still felt a mild disappointment at not having seen the Crumpled Snorkak horn repair itself yet. Perhaps it still needed some time to heal itself.
"Did a wrackspurt get you my dear?" Xenophilius Lovegood asked his daughter noticing the distant look in her large silver eyes.
Luna looked up at her father, shaking her head, lifting her hand to wave away the pest. "Yes I think so Dad." The thought of the Snorkak horn left her head, and she gripped her trunk's handle tighter. "Thank you for spotting it."
Xenophilius reached out to hug his daughter saying, "You be careful. I suspect the school will be infested with Wrackspurts. They love infesting buildings that have been torn down and rebuilt."
Luna smiled up at her father, the corners of her lips turning upward even as her gaze passed over him to reach up and stare into his eyes. Some people didn't like his eyes, because one of them turned inward, giving him a 'mad look' of his own. Others fidgeted, not sure which 'eye' to look at, as if he had one eye that had gone bad. Luna herself knew her father was an extremely smart man, had clear vision and possessed a faith in the impossible that none could match. "You be careful too Dad." She returned his hug once more and said, "Don't worry about me. I've got everything I need to keep the Wrackspurts away. You take care of yourself and remember that you are as strong as you need to be." She squeezed his hand.
Letting go of his daughter Xenophilius smiled and pushed her dirty blond hair back off her face and said, "You're more and more like your mother every day. Smartest witch ever." He was trying to change the subject.
"Dad, don't listen to any gossip. When I return at Christmas time I want to see the house at its best and I expect to see the annual special Happy Christmas Quibbler." Luna said, lifting both her eyebrows which made her large eyes seem even more protruding than normal. It was how she was stressing the seriousness of his happiness was to her.
After a moment of looking into her silver eyes, Xenophilius nodded his head and sighed, "Alright. I will see you at Christmas." Reaching to her shoulder he gave her a tiny push saying, "Now go. I'll be alright I promise."
Luna inclined her head once in affirment of keeping him to that promise and turned to board the train. Finding a compartment was easy since she usually picked the last. After stowing her trunk up top, she pulled out a copy of The Quibbler. It was going to be difficult to return this year considering she would ride the train alone again, something she hadn't done since her third year.
Or was she?
Luna had been reading an article published about muggles who aren't true witches and how they create spells, when the door to her compartment opened. The surprise on her face was likely hard to read since most people said she looked 'surprised' all the time. Filing into the compartment rather noisily were the last people she had expected to see.
"Honestly Ron," Hermoine Grainger was the first in, quickly tugging her trunk behind her. "I'm so tired of hearing you complain about this!"
Behind her, Ron Weasley, red hair and all was fussing, "In the same year as my sister. Bloody hell! I'm never gonna live this down!" He tugged his own trunk in as Hermoine said, "Hello Luna! Nice summer was it?"
Behind Ron and Hermoine, was Harry Potter. There was a round of "Hello Luna," followed by Hermoine saying, "I want my final year to be perfect! I'm planning on passing all my NEWTS with nothing but the top level." Luna lowered her magazine to watch as each person loaded their trunk overhead, Once they were all seated she blurted out, "What are you three doing here?" She had expected Ginny Weasley might pop by, but had never expected to see the three in front of her.
"Oh!" Hermoine gave Luna a look that said 'oh right you don't know', before explaining, "Well even though they had some sessions this summer to finish out those who didn't finish last term, we missed the entire year." She looked at Harry and Ron, the latter of which had crossed his arms sulking, "Since the few months in summer wasn't long enough to actually get an entire year's worth of teaching into us, we're here to start and finish," she emphasized the words towards Ron, "our final year of Hogwarts."
Luna felt a thrill of happiness well up in her. The second reason she hadn't been looking forward to the train, was the reminder her friends would be gone. Except Ginny, who was in her year, they were all older than she was. Her lips broke out in a smile and before she could stop herself she said, "I'm so glad that you guys missed last year and will be here this year!" Entirely inappropriate to say, considering why they had missed the year.
Her exclamation of happiness earned her a scowl from Ron who said, "Bloody hell. Glad someone was happy that we were hunting down horocruxes and putting ourselves in massive danger!"
"Oh give it up Ron," Hermoine cuffed him on the shoulder and said, "She didn't mean it that way. You're just sore because your Mum agreed with me that we needed to complete our education."
Luna turned her eyes to Harry, who had been surprisingly quiet during this. He was staring at the door as if expecting someone to walk through. "Ginny coming?" she asked quietly. Though she had spoken the name softly, Harry's head whipped towards her and he shook his head, "Not likely." At that statement he looked somewhat miserable.
"Is she angry with you Harry?" Luna peered at him closer, once again causing someone to fidget under her unnerving stare. "Yeah," he admitted. "We've been fighting."
Ron stopped complaining for a moment to say, "Well you're a right git aren't you Harry? You haven't even given one look at-"
"Ron!" Hermoine cut him off just as Harry bellowed, "You know why! We talked about this!"
Luna, sometimes..rarely but sometimes, she could sense when something was not to be spoken of. In this case, whatever had Harry fighting with Ginny, it must be something not spoken of at this time. So she chose to focus on the fact that her friends would be there again. She flashed a smile at them and then opened her magazine again.
During the ride, she counted nearly thirty times that Ron complained about going back to a final year of school. Of the thirty times she could swear he blamed Hermoine for about 18 of those complaints. That only served to make Hermoine crosser each passing moment.
When the trolley stopped by to offer the usual sweets, Luna folded her magazine in half, keeping it in hand and said, "Hermoine, I'm thirsty. Would you like a drink as well?"
Looking rather eager to leave Ron behind, Hermoine bounded up out of her sat, her flyaway curls bouncing around her shoulders as she said, "Yes!" nearly shouting in relief.
Luna and Hermoine left the compartment. As they made their way along the corrider they passed Stewart Ackerly and Orla Quirke locked in an embrace. Luna eyed them a moment, in curiosity. As her fellow Ravenclaws, she knew she was going to be faced with that on a daily basis if it continued.
Part of her realized distantly that Hermoine was behind her and that what she was saying about Ron, was not very nice. Not that Luna minded because she herself knew that Ron could be rather unkind about others. Of course he had been the only one who liked her commentary in the quidditch games.
"He just doesn't get it!" Hermoine looked near to tears. "Last year was supposed to have been my final year of Hogwarts and now.." she nearly whispered the last, "Now, it looks to the world as though I'm repeating a year."
Realizing she was supposed to respond to this with comforting words, Luna turned around and said, "It's not so bad Hermoine. You're really a very bright witch and everyone knows what you, Harry and Ron did to defeat You Know Who."
She had obviously said the right thing because Hermoine threw her arms around Luna and said, "Thank you."
Patting her on the arm, Luna said, "You're welcome." And then followed with, "I'm repeating my sixth year because Nargles stole my last term." She was joking really but the horrified look Hermoine gave her said that the joke must not have been that funny.
"I forgot since Ginny finished out her last months this summer, I thought you-" Hermoine made a finishing motion with her hands.
Luna shook her head. "No. I'm just like you, Ron and Harry. 6th year again!" Her musical voice sounded almost proud of this in that subtle way of making the three of them seem like heroes. Hermoine's cheeks pinked at that.
"Well uh.." the bushy haired Gryffindor stuttered only slightly before her eyes drifted just left of Luna's shoulder, "Ginny! There you are!"
Luna turned to face Ginny. "Hello Ginny. Congratulations on passing to seventh year." She smiled at the redhead. Ginny returned the smile, but her smile was tight and didn't reach her eyes. "Thanks," her words of appreciation were rather dull sounding.
Ginny's eyes flickered past Luna and Hermoined to the corridor behind them. "Harry and Ron back there?" she asked.
Hermoine nodded and Luna said straightforwardly, "Yes. Hermoine needs a break from your brother or else he will miss the feast to see Madame Pomfrey tonight."
Ginny looked at Luna incredulously for a second before a laugh burst from her lips. She clapped a hand over her mouth, but her eyes which had been lacking luster, suddenly looked a bit merrier. Hermoine tried to look offended by the idea she would bodily harm Ron, but even she smiled at the clever image it brought to mind.
"My compartment is empty. Come sit with me a while," Ginny offered and turned leading them into the second to the last car of the train. They passed the treat trolley once again, and the girls stopped to pick up a feast of chocolate, every flavor beans, pumpkin juice and water. Once at Ginny's compartment they shut the door and immediately Hermoine said, "I know he's your brother Ginny but even you know he can be a complete arse at times."
Ginny nodded her head while opening a chocolate frog. "Oh absolutely but not as much as Harry." Luna swung shocked eyes to look at Ginny and her words popped out before she could stop it, "He said you were angry with him." She dropped an every flavor bean into her mouth and then twisted her lips together. Sour grapes.
"Oh did he?" Ginny turned to Luna, her brown eyes blazing with fury. "Did he tell you why?" Luna shook her head, her lips still pursed and puckered. Hermoine looked as if she knew the story, a very sympathetic look on her face as she watched Ginny tell the story.
"He said," Ginny stated through clenched teeth, "As long as there are still Death Eaters out there being hunted down" She waggled her middle and pointer fingers in air quotes which told Luna they must have had this discussion quite frequently "that I wasn't safe and therefore a target if he associates with me." Giving a disgusted scowl and a noise of frustration Ginny said, "Right like I can't take care of myself! I fought at the castle too you know!"
What happened over the next hour turned into what men fear most. When women get together to rant about their men, their wrong-doings and whatnots, it isn't pretty. Luna was silent through most of this having nobody herself to complain about. Well she could complain about Stewart and Orla, since they were obliviously happy in their own snogging, but she didn't think her complaint would be valid. It was sad actually. Some part of her wished she had someone to complain about. Or not. Because neither Hermoine nor Ginny looked happy at the moment and a boyfriend was supposed to make you happy...right? He was supposed to be perfect for you..right? How could she get the perfect man for her?
Her gaze took on a far off look that most said made Luna look 'mad' and completely out of it. In truth, an idea was turning over in her head, something that was utterly clever to her.
"I just wish that Harry would recognize me as an adult completely capable of making her own decisions," Ginny was saying, "Bloody hell even the ministry recognizes I've come of age this past year"
"At least you will make decisions, and good ones," Hermoine said to Ginny, "Ron drags his feet on making a decision so when I er..we..er..well when a decision is made, he complains about it!' She harumphed quietly over this.
That nearly started the list of what was wrong with Harry and Ron again, but Luna suddenly asked, "What if you had the perfect man?"
"What?" Hermoine looked at Luna first as if not comprehending the possibility and Ginny followed with a "Huh?" Both girls seemed bewildered and Ginny questioned, "What do you mean Luna?"
"Well," Luna unfolded the magazine she was holding and said, "Both of you are talking about what your boyfriend- "
"Harry and I aren't together," Ginny interjected.
"-lacks." Luna finished. "But how do you find the perfect man? One who has everything you require on your list and you just mix it up together." When she put it that way, it nearly sounded like a potions project Luna was planning. A hint of mandrake root, a dash of flobberworm guts, a pinch of unicorn hair...
Hermoine looked at Luna in that pitying 'I'm gonna have to explain reality to you' way before saying, "That's not even possible Luna."
"Actually it is." Luna said. She opened up her Quibbler and pointed to the article inside. Hermoine leaned over it to read, "Muggles and the spells they use. Fact or Fake?" She looked up at Luna and said, "Luna, true muggles don't use real magic. Only muggle born witches."
"Ginny may have a bit of parchment and quill please?" Luna asked. Ginny looked almost amused in anticipation of Hermoines logic versus Luna's logic. She got up to rummage in her trunks to find the necessary items. Luna pointed at part of the article saying, "The muggles have made up spells that they use themselves. See here?" She tapped the words on the page saying, "This is a muggle love spell guaranteed to work." Hermoine looked like she was going to object but Luna beat her to the talking.
"Each of us," Luna explained looking down at the artcile before looking back up to the girls, "We shall write down the requirements of the perfect man for us." She handed Ginny a quill and parchment. "Then it says here that we burn the pages and recite the spell three times." She smiled, "And it will bring us the perfect man."
"That's not going to work," Hermoine said in her sing song know it all voice. She crossed her arms and shook her head, "Muggles without real magic cannot come up with spells that work."
"Oh come on Hermoine," Ginny was already writing on the parchment. She looked at Hermoine and her eyes were sparkling as she said, "It can't hurt to try. At the very least you'll know what to improve in my brother." She grinned and waggled her eyebrows in encouragement.
Luna held out a quill and parchment to Hermoine. Ginny threw Hermoine a look that said, 'Humor Luna'.
"Oh!" Hermoine grabbed the items from Luna's hand saying, "When this turns into a big load of rubbish people will think I'm just as mad as -" her words cut off before she finished them but the glance in Luna's direction spoke volumes.
Luna didn't mind. Hermoine was a highly logical person whose faith was in the tangible world. Luna believed even when others didn't. She was positive this spell would work somehow. She didn't want to mess it up at all so she began to think very hard about what would make her a perfect boyfriend.
Each girl was busy scribbling over the next half hour, once in a while muttering something or popping a candy in their mouth. When each finished they looked each other in the eye asking, "What did you write?" in unison.
That brought around giggles and Hermoine spoke first saying, "Someone who is intelligent. Someone who is a natural leader. Good in magic of course." she smiled, "Someone who isn't afraid of a challenge."
Ginny spoke next saying, "Someone good looking." When Hermoine and Luna both looked at her she said defensively, "What? He has to be good looking at least." Then she followed by saying, "Someone who won't treat me like I'm a little girl in need of protection." Her lower lip started to protrude slightly on that requirement. "Someone who appreciates strong women and encourages that." She looked up and said, "And he has to be a good snogger."
Hermoine's lips quirked up as she teased, "Yes he'll have to compete with all those past boyfriends you snogged eh?" Ginny stuck her tongue out at Hermoine.
Luna lifted her own parchment. Her voice lilted as she said softly, "Someone who likes animals. Someone that won't call me Looney." Her requirements seemed rather different than the other girls. "Someone who quotes poetry."
"Poetry?" Ginny made a face. Hermoine said, "Actually that's quite nice. If he's intelligent he'll quote poetry."
"You need someone strong," Ginny objected. "Like a quidditch player. Much better than poetry reading."
Hermoine rolled her eyes, still doubting this would work. They finished reading off their lists of requirements and then all three of them pulled out their wands.
Luna looked at the magazine and then at the other girls. "So now we read the incantation and set our pages on fire," she instructed.
"Ready?" Luna asked. Ginny and Hermoine nodded their heads.
In unison the three of them spoke the words from the magazine.
I call thee beloved one
to love me more than anyone
I'm the one you want
Burnt in the flame I let it be
To bind your heart and soul to me
After the incantation was finished, still in harmony, Luna, Hermoine and Ginny each said, "Incendio!" causing a small spurt of flame from the tips of their wands. The parchments burned rather quickly until they were nothing but ashes on the floor.
Luna waited for a moment, her eyes searching the compartment with an expectant look on her face. She had thought that when they cast this particular spell, that somehow, he, her perfect man, whomever he was, would end up right by her side. And yet, as the seconds ticked by nobody appeared nor did anything happen.
"Must be that the spell takes time," Luna, ever the believer in the ridiculous and impossible, had a reason for everything.
"Right," Hermoine had this smug look on her face that she knew this would fail. After all, logic states that muggles without magic cannot create spells that would work. Ginny didn't seem to share Luna's disappointed look. "Oh don't tell me that wasn't just a bit of fun," the redhead huffed at Hermoine.
The train whistle blew off, signalling that the ride to Hogwarts was nearly over. A glance out the windows showed that night had fallen and it was pitch black. "Well it was fun," Hermoine amended her smug look with a smile and said, "I always have fun with you." She stood up, "But we need to get changed into our robes and our trunks," she indicated Luna and herself, " and those are back in the other compartment."
Luna stood up tucking her magazine under her arm. "I can't wait to have pudding," Her favorite part was the dessert. She tried to make pudding at home herself but the result wasn't as good. "The elves really do make the best food." She wandered out of the compartment waving her hand in front of her face to keep a wrackspurt at bay. Hermoine following just shook her head.
Ginny stood up and retrieved her luggage from overhead. Taking her trunk with her, she went to go find a place to change.
A few minutes after the redheaded Weasley girl left the compartment, the ash left by the papers on the floor began to glow an eerie red color. As if some unseen wind had swept through the compartment, the ashes were picked up into the air, swirling in a cyclonic circle of smoke and dust. Each piece of ash lost its red glow as it touched another, the beginning of a solid shape taking form. As the red glow finally faded, a black shape emerged.
Stretching slowly, the dark form looked around the compartment taking in the surroundings. Clothes began to form around the shadow as did a wand. Once finished the figure spoke. "Thank you girls," a soft male voice called into the darkness. "I'm here."