Hey! Thanks for choosing to read this story, I hope you'll enjoy it enough to leave a review! I'd just like to say that I've only written one other story using Luna as a main character so I'm still working on my skills there! I hope you'll help by telling me what's good, bad or monstrously ugly about my work! Some of the weird creatures have been used in my other story but I see no need to invent some more when they weren't explained before!

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter! I have invented a few creatures but overall, I own nothing!

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Chapter 1: The search for the round-nosed speckled wereflies

After rejecting my theory on the rise of the Olmomortis, my fellow Ravenclaws wandered away and left me sitting in a cross-legged position n beneath the common room window, lost in contemplation of how I was to acquire a Ukrainian Pomegranate Pod to give to Ginny Weasley. It is common knowledge that the Olmomortis attacks only red-headed females during the spring season and only this uncommon fruit can repel it. I must write to dad tomorrow, and seek his aid. Perhaps he knows someone who grows them.

The sun had not quite set on the day yet and I still had an inch and a half to write on stunning spells for class tomorrow, so I decided a wander about the castle was the appropriate thing to do right now. There's still an hour until curfew, just enough time to investigate the portrait of Lady Demona on the second floor. I have reason to believe and infestation of round-nosed speckled wereflies is nesting behind the frame.

I skipped happily out of the common room and along the corridors to my destination, humming to myself in a minor key to ward off the finklewasps. I heard the nasty sneers of some Slytherins as I passed them but I chose to ignore it. Most people whispered, shouted, and taunted me as I passed them in corridors. It was nothing unusual, a little irritating at times, but certainly nothing unusual.

"Hey Luna" A familiar voice echoed down the corridor as I turned the last corner. I paused to greet the brown haired boy who was walking towards me

"Oh hello Neville. What brings you o the second floor this evening?"

"I was just on my way back to Gryffindor common room when I saw you skip by. I didn't see you at dinner so I though I'd say hi" a faint blush began to colour his cheeks. He was a sweet boy, always friendly and never referred to, or treated me, as "loony" He was one of the few I hoped to one day be lucky enough to call a friend.

"I chose not to sit around at dinner this evening as my shoes have once again vanished. I thought I should look for them." I watched his eyes drop to my feet, which were indeed, bare. He smiled in a sympathetic manner

"Is that what you're doing now? Would you like some help?"

"Oh no, I'm searching for wereflies at the moment. My shoes will turn up, but I do not know how long the wereflies will be around now that mating season is over and they are required to migrate to Alaska." I informed the rather confused looking Gryffindor. He may know a lot about plants but his knowledge of magical creatures was minimal. "You can come along if you like. You may be able to help me with my pomegranate problem" His face lit up with enthusiasm as plants were mentioned and we set off to find Lady Demona and her infestation together. It was a rare occurrence for me to walk side-by-side with another human being who chose to smile instead of laugh in my direction and so I treasured this moment dearly.

"Merlin's beard!" We finally arrived at the portrait of a rather odd looking witch, with an eye patch and a bright orange hat perched crookedly atop her bushy purple hair, but as I lifted the frame away from the wall gently to peer behind, I saw only grey stone. "Jupiter must be feeling rebellious again!" I concluded.

"Erm, sorry?" Neville gave me the most peculiar look of confusion that I was almost certain he had absolutely no idea what I was talking about!

"Planetary alignments determine the behaviour of round-nosed speckled wereflies. Usually there would be a week or so before their migration but every decade Jupiter chooses not to co-operate and they leave early to travel via Cape Town, Africa."

"So basically, we've missed them?" I nodded to the bemused boy. He really did intrigue me. He really was one of the few people who would set out to look for me simply to say hi, and then listen to every word I said without for a minute finding a way to jeer. He wasn't as magically challenged as his fellow class mates often believed, I had witnessed that during the DA meetings. He was certainly more socially accepted than I, but he was still misunderstood. I suppose that's why he take the time to converse with me. Perhaps, in loneliness, we are similar.

"So Luna, you have a pomegranate problem?"

"Yes. I was wondering if you'd know of anywhere I could get a Ukrainian Pomegranate Pod. I fear Ginny will need one in the coming weeks."

"Oh," He gave me a questioning look and didn't speak for a few seconds. I supposed he was thinking of a retailer as opposed to why I could want such a fruit. It was, of course, the only known use for the fruit other than as a food source for Tibetan monks on pilgrimage.

"I'm sorry Luna, I don't know. I could look it up for you. I have Herbology tomorrow; I'll ask Professor Sprout and let you know" I thanked him for this gesture. His kindness was truly heart warming, I hoped I could repay him for it one day. I said my goodbyes to Neville at the foot of the staircase to the seventh floor ad continued back to Ravenclaw common room alone.

"Password?"

"Wit beyond measure" I said clearly as a passage opened and I stepped out on the rich blue carpet of the common room. For so early in the evening, the common room was unusually quiet. I found this silence quite eerie and uncomfortable. I suspected the presence of Wrackspurt had driven everyone to have an early night. I decided I would finish my essay in the dormitory.

I changed into the pale blue nightdress dad had bought me for Christmas last year, drew the curtains around my bed and took out my essay. It did not take long to complete and it required minimal effort for the mind so trained in such a spell. Stunning spells were like second nature to all those who had attended the DA meetings. Though the meetings were now infrequent, due to the fact that Hogwarts was now receiving practical tuition during Defence Against the Dark Arts classes, they were still a much awaited part of my daily life. I missed that we did not meet weekly any more, but I suspected that if the DA was not required as it once was, that Harry would spend more of his time studying for his NEWTs. It was a shame, but I guess clinging to the memories of the joyful feeling which pulsed through me for an hour every week was all I had left now.

As I lay gazing at the roof of the hangings, I smiled at the fond memories. I had never realised how lonely it was to be me until I had known the feeling of joy that being with such friendly people had brought to me. It was not truly gone. Ginny and Neville still spoke to me frequently, but it had faded. Once, it was definite, set time and place, now it was as luck would bring it to me.

Perhaps The Quibbler's article on the lesser-spotted, double-headed, purple-horned, snorkack would cheer me up and put me in the mind for sleep, I though as I picked up today's edition and began to read. Snorkack's: fascinating creatures!

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Aww, Luna's lonely! Please help to cheer her up by leaving a comment so that I am encouraged to write more and help her to find friends and love and happiness and all those things that make you smile!!!

Thank you very much for reading! Take care, Adela xxx