It was another day of trying to listen to the news any way he could, which ended with Uncle Vernon screaming incessantly. And so Harry trudged up to his bedroom, hungry and frustrated. As he laid in bed, staring at the ceiling, he heard tapping at the window. "Go away," he groaned to no one in particular, not wanting to read yet another letter containing nothing.

The tapping continued, as he could have expected, so he slowly got up and walked to the window. Instead of the expected owl, there was a strange sort of bird. It reminded him a bit of the tropical birds Sirius used, and so he opened the window a bit faster than he had planned.

"Hello there," Harry greeted the bird politely. He tried to open the letter, but the bird was a bit of a spaz, trading off between flying about the room and pecking him. Hedwig looked rather irritated at the new arrival, so Harry gave the other bird a quick snack before he flew away.

Finally, he was able to open the letter, surprised to find different handwriting than he had anticipated.

Harry,

Dad told me everything that happened with You-Know-Who at the end of term. I left early to catch the Snorkacks during mating season, and we didn't hear until we got back. How are you?

-Luna

The letter was incredibly brief, yet still, Harry sat on his bed, reading and re-reading it multiple times. The end of last term had been the worst week of his life, and he had looked desperately for Luna. Unsurprisingly, she had disappeared without telling anyone—including him—where she had gone. And less surprising, Harry had been incredibly worried about her. He was also pleased that someone, at least, was willing to mention Voldemort, even if not by name. It didn't take him long to write back, even though he did agonize over wording unnecessarily.

Luna,

Thanks for your letter. I'm glad you're alright. I haven't been able to receive the news, though, and I'm a bit worried. Would you mind sending me the paper?

-Harry

Harry thought about telling Luna more about what was happening with him, but he barely knew her, really, and he didn't want to bother her with his anxieties. She had mythical creatures to catch, after all.

Two days later and the pink-and-white bird was back with a vengeance, pecking even more excitedly than before, carrying a letter and what appeared to be a magazine.

Harry knew the drill, and so fed Luna's mysterious bird before diving in Luna's note.

Hi Harry,

I've attached the paper. How are you? You didn't say.

-Luna

Harry couldn't help but break out into a smile at another of Luna's short letters. Although he would never admit it out loud, he was happy that she seemed to really want to know how he was. It was a far cry from the perfunctory letters of his friends that made him feel as though he were annoying them.

He picked up what looked like a magazine. The front said The Quibbler and had all sorts of moving headlines. One of them jumped out at him: "Fudge fudges again. Harry NOT lying." Harry thumbed through the glossy and colorful pages until he landed at the article.

Harry was growing increasingly concerned as he read the strange article. It was no wonder no one wanted him to see the Prophet, but he needed to know what was being said about him.

Luna,

Thanks for sending. Would you mind sending the Prophet, as well?

As for me, things haven't been great. I'm stuck with my aunt and uncle, who are rather put out that I'm here at all. I haven't been able to get any news, and I've just been in the dark all summer.

How did the Snorkack hunt go?

-Harry

And the bird was back, this time bearing the Prophet.

Harry,

Dad says he doesn't know what you want with the Prophet, but I attached it anyway. Don't worry. We don't believe anything they're saying about you.

I'm sorry you've been in the dark. I asked Dad and he said muggles have some way of making light without wands. Perhaps you can ask your aunt and uncle about it for now. I also asked him if you could stay with us if you would prefer. He says we can pick you up whenever. I would love to have you here. There's a lake by my house that we can swim in without me being unconscious.

-Luna

Harry scribbled out his reply immediately. It probably wasn't safe to travel with You-Know-Who on the loose, but it had to be safer than having only the Dursleys for protection. He would just write to Ron and Hermione and tell them where he was going so they wouldn't worry.

Luna,

Can we meet in Little Whinging? It's probably best not to meet at my aunt and uncle's, but I can meet you somewhere nearby.

-Harry

He wrote his letters to Ron and Hermione, but they would have to wait to be sent out. Hedwig was otherwise occupied.

One week later and Harry had begrudgingly agreed not to write Luna. Nearly immediately after he sent his letters to Ron and Hermione, Dumbledore showed up at his doorstep and dragged him to the Order of the Phoenix headquarters, chastising him for agreeing to stay with Luna.

He wished he were staying at Luna's, swimming in the lake.

"We have to go the Prefects' compartment, mate," Ron said apologetically after Harry, him, and Hermione had walked onto the train.

"It's okay. I get it," Harry replied, trying to project disappointment. Really, he was ready to go off and find Luna. He felt terribly about the cursory letter he had written her, saying only that he couldn't stay with her, giving her no information. Nothing.

Unfortunately, Ginny was following behind him. He didn't mind Ginny or anything, but he would have rather talked to Luna alone.

He didn't get his wish. Two minutes later and he was crammed in a compartment with Luna, Neville, and Ginny. Luna was sitting in the corner, reading the strange magazine she had sent him upside-down. Harry had taken the seat across from her, trying to catch her attention and failing, while Neville was sitting next to him and Ginny diagonal.

"Er, Luna?"

"Oh, hello Harry," she replied, not bothering to look up from underneath her magazine.

"So what is that magazine you're reading? The articles were very interesting," Harry finished diplomatically, not sure how high her opinion was considering that she had sent it to him and was currently reading it.

"It's called The Quibbler." She slowly lowered the magazine to reveal half her face. "Dad is the editor."

Harry refrained from saying out loud how much sense that made. "I really enjoyed the edition you sent me."

Luna visibly brightened. "I thought that was a good one, too. I helped write the article about flobberworms. What did you think of it?"

Luckily, Harry had been so desperate for anything to do that he had managed to read The Quibbler cover to cover, and had found it rather entertaining, if not accurate. "I had no idea they had their own secret societies, or that Fudge was involved with them."

Ginny was openly giving Harry an incredulous look, but didn't say anything.

"Harry!" A familiar voice called out at an unfamiliar volume. He didn't think he had heard Luna shout before. He stopped walking to let her catch up with him in the hallway.

"Luna. Is everything alright?"

"I heard about what happened in class today," she replied, her blue eyes somehow opened wider than usual. They had crammed against the wall of the hallway to get out of the way of passing students, and Harry swallowed nervously. He had never been this close to Luna before. Her nose was just a couple inches away from his nose, and he could see faint freckles on the bridge of it.

"You mean with Umbridge?"

"Yes."

"She was trying to tell everyone that Voldemort never came back, and I can't let everyone believe that. We need to be prepared," Harry said, frustrated.

"I know. Dad thinks he's raising an army of dragons."

Harry smiled slightly. "You really believe me?"

"Of course. I already told you that."

"But why?"

"Dad said he believes you because he trusts Dumbledore."

Harry deflated a bit. "But I believe you because I trust you," she finished.

"I really wish I could have stayed with you this summer." Now it was Luna who looked disappointed, probably at the reminder. "I'm serious. I didn't have an option."

Luna nodded sadly. "Okay."

"I wanted to go in the lake with you."

"Maybe next summer?"

Harry knew that next summer probably wouldn't be safe, either, but found himself agreeing: "Maybe next summer." Luna's huge smile filled him with a mixture of contentment and guilt.