Inspired by xo-DancinDarlin-xo and her story!!!

NO COPYRIGHT INTENDED!!!

362. That many tally marks were engraved in the cold hard wall. But there was so much more to these lines then the number of day that Luna has been stuck in this cell. The lines carried hope, long lost hope that now was a mere fairytale. She had been in here way longer than she could count, way more than the number of short, uneven strokes on the wall. She sat here, darkness all around her and the suffocating feeling of loneliness.

Luna had stopped hopping long ago, three days before her first year in this cage was up. She had been tortured and hurt, starved to near death and almost always dehydrated but never did she give up. Until the day when they killed Ginny Weasley. Yes, they killed her without a second thought, without caring. The dark lord wanted no one to escape, and that included Harry Potter's girl. She watched them all die, one by one. She saw their life slipping away. They were destroyed on her very eyes; Fred, Cho, Neville, Ron, some younger muggle born students and finally Ginny.

And after every death, Luna cried, knowing that she should be next, that it was her turn. But they never came for her, at least not to destroy her. Yes they tortured her, yes they hurt her in many ways but that never dimmed her hope of something better. But that hope died the day they came for Ginny, the day of her seventeenth birthday. She stopped fighting, stopped hoping, stopped wanting to live.

Though in the beginning Luna was scared of death, now she embraced it, called it. She wanted to slip away into the sweet eternity of nothingness, follow her friends and escape this prison. The death eaters didn't disturb her any longer, only the old wizard sometimes coming in to bring her food and water. She would almost always huddle in a corner, cover her eyes with her hands and cry.

She was looking half dead already; her frame was too skinny, her pale skin seeming almost white, her fair locks tangled and knotted in a way that it was almost impossible to tell that they had once been long and silky. Her blue eyes, usually dreamy and vivid were flat, lifeless. Her clothes were ripped in so many places; it was surprising how they stayed on her.

Luna reached out tentatively, her fingers barely brushing past the marks. Her breath froze. The warm air came out as a small white cloud, and she slowly closed her eyes. She wanted to sleep, to ignore the thirst and hunger and pain and to just sleep. She wanted to sleep forever. What else could she do? If she slept perhaps they would forget about her, perhaps they would forget her and leave her be…

Her thoughts were interrupted as she heard a key in the door. Ignore it, she thought as she froze. The door slowly creaked open and the old wizard limped in, carrying food, water and a cloth. Luna didn't even look up, silently starting to count the number of days that were scribbled on the stone. The old man huffed and puffed as he carried his load to the center of the room where he coughed rather violently.

"Hey ya girly," he wheezed out in his old, cracking voice. Luna made no response and no acknowledgment that she heard him. He shook his head and continued shuffling around the small area of the cell, waving his wand to form a small sphere of light that bobbed over his head like a lost puppy.

"Now girly," he continued not expecting the answer anyway as he hobbled towards her carrying the food. Luna cringed as the light hit her closed eyes. It was rather dim but for the young woman it shone brighter than the sun ever could. "We better get ya cleaned up. Ya know, someone going to check the prisons today. Ya wouldn't want ol' Rudy here to get in trouble would ya?"

He started whistling a merry tune as he dabbed the towel into some water and came to sit beside the limp form. Luna tried hard to appear indifferent but she had to admit she was scared, terrified of some pureblood coming to "see the prison" as they called it. The high wizard would be walking around, looking at the captures, and perhaps buying a few that he liked for a good couple of galleons. The harsh part was that there were few people left in the wizarding world who were neither perverts nor death eaters.

"Here girly, let's get ya cleaned up," Rudy was saying, roughly dabbing the towel all over Luna's face. She ignored him, thinking rather who would come. She didn't want to look nice- especially when her future was at stake from looking strong and healthy. What if she was chosen and what if that master would be torturing her?

"Girly, why don't ya speak?" Rudy asked his regular question. "Why must ya make poor Rudy's life so difficult? Were ya hurt? Why do ya cry all the time? Perhaps if you seemed happier, ol' Rudy would get s few extra coins in his pocket. Girly, come on…Help poor Rudy out!" he continued this senseless babble as he continued to clean the girl. Luna wanted to murder him right now, despite all of her human loving qualities.

"Okay, well girly, this gentleman should be arrivin' soon so don't ya give Rudy any trouble," he picked up the cloth and the bucket of water, stood up whistling to himself and hobbled out the door, the light fallowing him. The room became dark again. Silence, darkness, misery, loneliness. Luna hugged her knees closer to her chest and closed her eyes, falling into an uneasy sleep.

****

She was awaken way too soon, with footsteps from down the hallways, raised voices and the opening of each door. She didn't open her eyes, just listened to what was happening outside.

"Open this door too old man," a forceful voice ordered and Rudy, muttering to himself fiddled with the great amount of keys, also whispering a magic word.

"Must the young sir trouble himself with every prisoner?" Rudy whined as the door swung open and the strong voice whispered something under his breath.

"Yes, the young man must see every prisoner you have," the voice ordered as Rudy hobbled on to open the next door with the huge amount of keys that hung from his side. "You try moving to a new house and then you want to start shopping for new slaves. Besides, the mistress of the house is picky about which ones get to serve her. That's why I must trouble myself with EVERY slave."

"Well, if that means ol' Rudy gets more coins..." silence and then the counting of coins out. The old man gasped and you could almost hear the happiness in his old terrible voice. "Thank you, thank you young sir. Here, let me open up all the doors for ya! Well, ya made Rudy's day so much better! Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

"Just get the door open," the hard voice of the young man was agitated and with a more babbling, Rudy headed off to open the next door. Whistling slightly under his breath, the stranger wandered over to the cell on his right, slightly gazing in. On the first glance he saw nothing important or no one. Just a dark shape of a girl, skinny and nearly dead. The young man was about to just move on when the figure stirred. He stopped and as the girl turned her face towards him, he let out a small gasp.

He knew her, maybe not well and he didn't always like her but he knew her! Those eyes, those deep blue eyes that were always dreamy and that pale skin and that fair hair. He knew it all and he could not believe it. They all though she was dead.

"Sir, will ya take this one? A bit skinny but he'll do," Rudy's voice interrupted him. The young man turned to the old wizard.

"Keys," he whispered urgently.

"Keys? What ya take me for? Pay first!" Rudy gasped as the stranger pulled him closer by the collar of the shirt.

"I. Need. The. Keys. Now!" the foreigner let go and the old wizard tumbled back, tripping over his feet and ending up on the floor. No more patience left, the juvenile guy summoned the keys with one short spell and raced back to the door. He didn't see which piece of metal he was fitting into the hole, his eyes remained glued onto the girl in the cell.

Finally, after what seemed like forever, the lock creaked and pushing the door open, the fair hared stranger ran inside, falling to his knees beside the girl, bringing her close to him and talking soft comforting words.

"Ya don't want that one Sir," the old man wheezed out softly behind them, "she's sick, nearly dead. You will spend more on reviving her than she will ever earn you. Better leave 'er."

"What did you say?" the metallic grey eyes focused once more on the speaker. The wizard shrugged and coughed.

"I said, she ain't worth ya money Sir. Perhaps you'd like to see the more newer girls. There's one in particular that I might-"

"NO! I want this one! The mistress of my house, she is picky about her servants," the young man stood up and helped the girl up. She didn't resist. There was just not enough strength. She could barely stand without support, swaying slightly from side to side. Her head dropped down onto the young gentleman's shoulder and she closed her eyes.

"Yeah, well Sir, ol' Rudy ain't letting this one go for the same amount! She's a special one, yeah she is. So ya better pay a few more coins." The old man crossed his arms staying a safe distance away from his customer. The young man sighed, reached with his free arm into his pocket and threw the wizard a bag of shiny new galleons. Rudy's jaw dropped open as he stared at the bag in his hands.

"Will that do?" the man asked politely as he slowly started to lead the girl out of the dark cell. Rudy nodded, shook his messy head and rushed as fast as he could over to help. Together the two men led the girl out into the dim lighted corridor. Rudy was unaware of the rock and stumbled falling to the ground and nearly pulling the girl down with him.

"Are you blind?!" the old man hissed as he steadied both girl and wizard. Shaking off Rudy, he fixed his grip and scooped the girl up into his arms. "Here's a port key. It will activate in 15 minutes. Get the ones I bought there with no trouble." The young man nudged an old briefcase towards the man with his heel and turning, left the prison, the girl falling unconscious in his arms, the warmth of his body smoothening her into a nice deep sleep.

****

"Luna, can we talk?" Harry's voice slightly surprised Luna as she was pinning yet another notice that related to her shoes. She lost them not so long ago. Turning slightly, she smiled. Harry Potter was her friend, and a good one at that. He helped her many times and though he sometimes thought she was crazy (like most people seemed to think these days) he trusted her.

"Why Harry! "she called, her wavy hair bouncing around her face, framing her elegant cheeks. Harry stood in front of her, dressed in his black robe, his hair messy just as if he had been running his hand through it a bit too often. His green eyes sparkled from behind his glasses, but there was also fear and hope in them.

"Um, so Luna, can we talk?" Harry asked once more. Luna smiled and walked up to him with her light walk.

"What's up Harry? You look like you just came out of the maze all over again," she asked as she continued down the corridor with her companion. He gave her a rather dark look but Luna ignored it, pinning up yet another poster.

"Look Luna, this is serious," he said as they turned the corner. "I, err, well I need you to keep an eye on Ginny for me. Keep her out of too much trouble, would you?" His green eyes pleaded Luna's with intensity and love.

"Harry, you can watch over her yourself. That is, unless you are going to look for another basilisk. That snake of a Lord he is." She smiled as she shook her head and skipped down the hallway, Harry jogging to keep up.

"How did you- Oi, never mind. Luna, you are right. I am going to look for someone or rather something. I don't want Ginny to know of this favor and the odds of me ever seeing her are low. Please, can you do this for me?"

"Harry, you know that Ginny is smart enough to watch out for herself. Besides, there's Hermione and Ron and Neville who will be staying here as well. No need to trouble your pretty head. And on top of that, McGonagall will take care of us all."

"That's the thing Luna," Harry ran his hand once again through his dark hair and sighed not meeting the younger girl's gaze. "I think that they are coming with me, Ron and Hermione that is. I would ask Neville but he would only help Ginny fight the new Headmaster. Please, promise me. Promise me you will keep my Ginny safe."

"Harry, what makes you think that you will parish?" Luna asked now turning to face the older student. "All things return, people too. That's the way the world works. See," she pointed to a pair of high top converse hanging from the ceiling, "that's what was lost after someone trashed my suitcase. But they came back and so will you. We all will believe in you and you will return. I can promise you so much."

"What about Ginny? Luna, what if anything happens to her?" Harry had tears in his eyes. Luna bit her lower lip but it was from concentration because jump as high as she may, she could not reach her shoes.

"Look," she said lightly after a couple of minutes, ignoring her shoes and watching his face as he wiped away a small tear with his sleeve, "what will change if I said I would watch over Ginny? Nothing except me taking an oath. How can I keep her safe Harry? I know you probably think I am giving up or not giving myself enough credit-"

"That you are," Harry muttered under his breath. Luna ignored him and continued.

"- but whatever I can I will do. No promises but from the looks of things, she would be the one to take care of me Harry." Her gaze travelled back to the shoes. "But as you can see, even she can't help me."

"Luna, but you will at least keep her less rebellious? Please?" Harry jumped up and grabbing hold of the shoes pulled them down. Handing them back to Luna, he looked at her once more. Her elegant frame and soft, dreamy eyes were attractive, making her look helpless. But perhaps that was why so many people laughed at her in her face.

"Harry, I'll do all I can." Luna smiled down at her converse.

"You'll make a fine witch someday..." Harry's voice faded away as Luna's mind switched to another memory.

Luna was jogging down a hallway, following the girl with the dark red hair, hoping that they would make it. The two death Eaters were almost upon them when both sixth years made a sharp turn left, and...disappeared. Or that is what the two hall mentors thought.

"Come 'ere kitties!" the man called, his dark black eyes searching all over the hallway. Luna and Ginny hugged each other tighter, hiding behind their invisible cloak. They prayed silently that the guy won't find them. They knew exactly what he would do to them- and it was not a simple detention. Neither girl wanted to end up in his chamber, tied down and slowly stripped naked. They knew that happened to many of their friends. He usually went for the older ones but now he didn't care.

"Are they there brother?" the second death eater asked as she pocked her head over his shoulder. The first one, bigger one looked back at her and shook his head.

"Nay, they aren't," he called and looked around. "But I can smell them."

"My dear me!" McGonagall's voice sounded from behind both death eaters and they slowly turned. The Head of the Giffindor house was dressed in her nightgown, a red shawl covering her shoulders. The grey hair was hastily put into a bun and her glasses were nearly falling off her nose. "Must you two be disturbing the whole castle? Some of us have work to do tomorrow."

"Give it a break Minerva," the man took a step towards the old witch. "A few girls givin' us some trouble. Nothing that we can't handle and soon there will be no need for us to keep you up all night. Now, can you go and leave us to do our job?"

"I am positive that whatever it is, it can wait. If you know who you are looking for, you will find them tomorrow. Now, leave the castle to be. Even the paintings are complaining about the racket you two are causing. And," Professor McGonagall glared at both death eaters in turn, "and I still have the right and power to take off any punishments you give the kids. Now scatter!"

"You will repay for this old hag!" hissed the female death eater, spitting at the floor in front of the teacher. Calm as stone, Minerva McGonagall waved it away and stared at the backs of the two retreating death eaters.

"You can come out now girls," the professor turned and looked exactly where the girls were hiding. No movement. Sighing, McGonagall closed her eyes and rubbed her temple. "Look girls, you may have fooled those idiots but you will not fool me. Now, you can come out yourself or I will come and get you."

"No, we're coming," Ginny's voice echoed as she appeared from behind the tapestry. Luna followed her best friend, her eyes calm and dreamy once more. Both girls were slightly shaking but neither one needed to tell their teacher about what just happened.

"Ginny! Luna! What were you doing out after hours?" McGonagall shook her head and tiered, sank down into a nearby chair. Luna and Ginny both plopped silently to the floor in front of the old witch, both still scared to death and not believing that they got saved. "Girls what did you do this time? I mean, they were so mad! I thought that only the twins could ever get anyone that mad."

"Well, um, let's just say..."Ginny flushed a deep red.

"Oh, we went back down to the Chamber of Secrets," Luna replied flipping back some of her hair. The old witch gasped, Ginny blushed more and only Luna remained undisturbed.

"Luna," Minerva McGonagall eyed the girl with terror, "you do realize you were where Tom Riddle's spirit roams? Or rather roamed. That boy was always down there."

"We know Professor," Ginny whispered clutching at the side of her stomach. She knew a bit too well, a bit too much for her own comfort. Luna gazed at both ladies with her thoughtful eyes, her face relaxed but at the same time deep in concentration.

"Professor, why exactly would anyone stay down there with that Basilisk? I mean, wasn't Riddle a decent student, a perfect?"

"Well Luna," Minerva sighed and rubbed her temple once more, "that is true. Tom Riddle promised to be the greatest wizard of his time and so that was proved but not in the way we all hoped. Albus took a great risk when he admitted Tom into Hogwarts. The boy was a descendant of Salazar Slytherin himself and the evil was passed down generation to generation. Tom grew and so did the hate that was born long ago. He learned the Dark Magic and then, he was gone, his soul disappeared because of a prophesy. Now, enough with the tales of what has been. We need to figure out where to hide you two..." Minerva McGonagall's voice disappeared as well, leaving Luna in darkness, warm and for once, feeling safe.