Chapter 1: Consolation

It was late on a Tuesday evening. Neville was quietly exploring the castle in search of Luna. He had arranged to meet her in the room of requirement immediately after dinner. She wasn't there, nor had he seen her at dinner. He was worried. He had to be careful as it was past curfew time and, not only Argus Filch but some professors were patrolling. His hearing was attuned to the slightest sound. He was aware of all the hiding places he could use if he heard anyone. After about half an hour, he was climbing up towards the Astronomy Tower. He heard something unusual and found a small alcove behind a curtain where he could hide. After a while, he realised that the sound was coming from above him. It was a sort of whimpering. Clearly, someone was in distress. Checking that the coast was clear, and keeping a very sharp eye out for Mrs. Norris, he continued climbing silently up to the Astronomy Tower.

As he approached the open door of the tower, it was plain that what he was hearing was a girl, quietly and bitterly crying. He sensed her pain. He entered the tower. What he saw shocked and distressed him. Luna was crouched in a corner, almost rolled up into a ball. She was sobbing convulsively. He quietly approached her. She was startled when she sensed his presence, looked up and cowered away, putting her arms in front of her.

"Oh sweetness!" said Neville, quietly, "It's only me, Neville. I didn't mean to frighten you."

"Oh, thank Merlin," said the still crying Luna. "It's you. I - I thought you might be Latisha."

"Who is Latisha?" asked Neville.

"She's one of my so called 'friends'." said Luna.

"She doesn't sound much like a friend to me." observed Neville, "I've never seen you this upset."

Luna once again closed in on herself and resumed her crying. Neville, clearly concerned, crouched down beside her and put an arm across her shoulders. He gently caressed her arm and held her until her sobs started to subside. He was not sure what to do as he had never before been in the position of having to console a crying girl. The girl in question being Luna made the situation more acute.

"What's happened?" asked Neville, gently, as Luna became calmer, "It really breaks my heart to see you like this."

"N - nothing much." said Luna, her voice still tremulous.

"Oh my sweet one!" said Neville, still gently holding her, "I'm sure it's a lot more than 'nothing much'. It takes a lot to get you down."

"I came up here to think about things." said Luna, "And 'things' got the better of me. That's all."

It was clear that Neville did not buy this explanation. He knew Luna a lot better than that and knew that only something very serious would produce tears, let alone a complete breakdown. He was worried as he cared deeply about her. It was obvious to him that someone had hurt her profoundly.

"Sweet Luna," said Neville, gently, as Luna's sobs once again began to abate, "Someone's hurt you, badly; so badly that you missed our meeting in the room of requirement. I was worried about you when you didn't show."

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Neville." said Luna, feeling calmer, "I was so screwed up, I forgot all about it. I just wanted to hide away from everyone in a corner and cry. I don't like anyone to see me crying, so I came up here."

"Sweetness," said Neville, "You should have come straight to me. Anyway, who's hurt you?"

"It was only a couple of my fellow Ravenclaws." said Luna, "They started getting at me before dinnertime."

"What about?" asked Neville, gently.

"I don't mind them tormenting me about magical creatures, or calling me 'looney', or even hiding my things," said Luna, "But they started making nasty comments about my mother. That hurt me so much, I just had to escape. I didn't want them to see me cry."

"Are you telling me that you've been up here since the end of classes?" said Neville, "I didn't see you at dinner."

"I have been here since just before dinnertime." whimpered Luna, "I didn't go to the great hall. I couldn't stop crying, so I came up here."

"So you haven't had any dinner." said Neville.

"No." said Luna, "I came up here to get away from them. As I've already said, I thought you might be one of them when you came up here. I'm glad it was you. Oh Neville, please help me."

"Sweet Luna," said Neville, "You know I'll do anything for you, but first, we've got to get you some food."

"How are you going to do that at this time of the evening?" asked Luna, sounding slightly more cheerful.

"We're quite close to the Gryffindor common room here." said Neville, "I'll see if I can get Hermione to help. She's on very good terms with the house elves in the kitchens. They should still be clearing up after dinner."

"Are you sure that's OK?" asked Luna.

Neville and Luna quietly left the Astronomy Tower and, with due caution approached the Gryffindor common room. The fat lady asked for the password. Neville gave it and the two students entered. Hermione, Ron, Harry, Ginny and Parvati Patil were sitting round the fireplace. Ginny looked round and was shocked when she saw Luna. Parvati also had a worried expression.

"Oh Luna," said Ginny, "You look terrible. What's happened to you?"

The two girls embraced and held each other. Luna once again started crying. This time, the tears were an expression of relief. Ginny gently stroked her back and whispered words of consolation to her.

"I don't know what happened out there, but you're safe here." said Ginny, "We love you. You're a special person."

Neville, who was nearby, tried to explain.

"I had arranged to meet her in the room of requirement after dinner." said Neville, "When she didn't show, I went looking for her. I eventually found her in the Astronomy Tower, crying her heart out. She doesn't usually let anything get her down. Someone has really, really hurt her deeply."

"Why have you brought her here?" asked Hermione, "Shouldn't she be in the Ravenclaw dormitory?"

"Her tormentors are her fellow Ravenclaws." said Neville, "They insulted her mother. That's what hurt her so much. Anyway, one of the reasons I've come here, is to ask you a favour, Hermione."

"Oh?" said Hermione.

"Luna ran up to the astronomy tower before dinner." said Neville, "She's been up there ever since. I know you're on very good terms with the house elves. Would it be possible for us to creep down to the kitchens with Luna and get her something to eat?"

"Of course!" said Hermione, "I think we have about an hour before the house elves retire for the night. That should be long enough. We'll have to be quiet though."

"That's no problem." said Neville, "We got here OK."

"Would this be helpful?" asked Harry, offering his invisibility cloak. The three of you should be able to get inside it."

"Thanks Harry," said Hermione, "You're a really good friend."

"Oh yes," said Harry, "I've just remembered something else you will find essential."

He got up, went up to the dormitory and returned with the Marauders map.

"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." intoned Hermione, with her wand touching the map.

It promptly displayed the plan of the castle. She checked that the coast was clear before opening the door. Finally, armed with the cloak and the map, Hermione and Neville escorted a recovering Luna down to the kitchens. The journey was not quite uneventful, as they nearly encountered Argus Filch and Mrs. Norris. They eventually reached the kitchens, to be greeted by Dobby.

"Dobby is honoured to greet Miss Granger and Master Longbottom." said Dobby, bowing very low, "Who is your melancholy friend?"

"This is Miss Luna Lovegood." said Neville, "She was stopped from attending Dinner by her so called 'friends'."

"Delighted to meet you, Miss Lovegood." said Dobby, once again bowing almost to the ground.

Luna was quite startled to be treated with such obsequious respect. She blushed scarlet. Neville explained to Dobby that he had found Luna nursing a broken heart in the Astronomy Tower and that she had been there since not long after the end of classes. He also mentioned that, as a result, she had had nothing to eat or drink since lunch.

"That is not good." said Dobby, "Dobby shall see to it that Miss Lovegood has dinner."

Dobby set three chairs round the table in the kitchen annexe and invited the three students to sit. Once again bowing low, he scuttled back into the main part of the kitchen and talked to some of the other house elves. He emerged a couple of minutes later with two other house elves carrying a full dinner for Luna together with snacks and drinks for Neville and Hermione.

"Thank you so much, Dobby." said Hermione, "We owe you a lot more than something."

"Dobby doesn't need thanks for helping his friends." said Dobby, yet again bowing, "Miss Granger has done so much for us house elves already."

The three young people settled down to enjoy the repast set out for them. Luna was particularly appreciative of what her true friends had done for her. Her sweet smile was once again present and her voice was brighter.

"You two, and Ginny have been so kind to me." said Luna, as she paused between delicious mouthfuls, "I don't know how I can thank you."

"You don't have to." said Hermione, "We're your friends, and a lot of people in Gryffindor and, yes Ravenclaw love you. You're a special person, Luna."

"Thank you," said Luna, "I've got better friends in Gryffindor than any in my own house. I know that's wrong. I suppose it's because I'm different."

"Yes, you are different, Luna," said Hermione, "Wonderfully different. Look what you've done for Neville. He is now a confident young wizard who knows his own mind. That's because of your love, Luna."

It was Neville's turn to blush. Other topics of conversation included discussions of a strategy to try to protect Luna from the worst of the Ravenclaw persecution. The friends agreed that the two Ravenclaws had gone too far when they tormented Luna about her dead mother.

"Even Malfoy would stop short of that." said Hermione, "The question is; how are we going to get the two perpetrators to feel ashamed of the way they've treated Luna?"

"Hermione, you're friendly with both the Patil twins. You're very close to Parvati." said Neville, "Padma is in Ravenclaw. She might be able to find out who did this to Luna."

"Once you have that information," said Luna, "What will you be able to do?"

"I think we'll cross that bridge when we come to it." said Hermione, "Padma and Cho Chang are good people. They can also be very subtle. Still we'll think about that in the morning."

After about half an hour, Luna had finished and was feeling satisfied, but apprehensive. Hermione thanked the House elves profusely, receiving more bows from Dobby. Luna thanked Neville and Hermione for what they had done for her. Obviously, despite her ordeal at the hands of two of her housemates, Luna would still have to sleep in the Ravenclaw dormitory. She was dreading this, but hoped that everyone else would be asleep when she entered. After checking the Marauders map, the trio quietly made their way to the Ravenclaw dormitory. When they reached it, Neville embraced and kissed Luna, wishing her luck. She entered the dormitory. Neville and Hermione returned to the Gryffindor common room, where Ron, Harry, Parvati and Ginny were still chatting round the dying embers of the fire.

"Mischief Managed!" said Hermione as she returned the map and the cloak to Harry.

"Thank you." said Harry, "We've been discussing Luna while you've been away. Parvati thinks she knows who hurt her."

"If it's any help," said Neville, "When I first approached Luna when she was crying in the Astronomy Tower, she cringed away from me. She thought I was someone called Latisha. She was absolutely terrified."

"Latisha Randle." observed Parvati, "She's tormented poor Luna from the first day she arrived. I guess that her friend Felicity Eastchurch was in this as well. You say they insulted her mother. Judging from your description of Luna's reaction when you walked in on her, they must have threatened her with more than verbal insults. I don't think even a Slytheryn would stoop that low. I'm almost ashamed that my twin is a Ravenclaw. I so wish she'd been sorted into Gryffindor. Poor Luna! She really needs help."

"But how can we help her?" asked Ginny.

"My twin, Padma is friendly with both Felicity and Latisha." said Parvati, "She also really likes Luna and would not want to see her hurt in any way. For the record, I feel the same way about Luna. I was really shocked by the state she was in when you brought her in here earlier."

"You think Padma could make those two aware of just how much they had hurt Luna?" asked Neville.

"Yes, I do." said Parvati, "Hopefully, she will enlist Cho Chang. She's also a gentle person who doesn't like to see people hurt. I also hope that Luna's absence from both dinner and the common room afterwards might make Felicity and Latisha realise they'd gone too far. Luna very rarely misses a meal. Anyway, I don't know about you, but it's late and I need sleep."

The remaining Gryffindors made their way to their bedrooms and went to bed.