"...And so, I think that Luna is at least half-veela!" Hermione finished with a air of satisfaction.

"Don't be silly, Hermione! You said it yourself, everyone avoids her, " Harry replied. "Besides, you can't just disregard my feelings for her like that!"

"That's not what I'm doing! It's just... Look at the evidence. She has blonde hair, blue eyes, she is beautiful - nobody is denying that." Hermione persisted.

"That's hardly evidence, other wizards and even muggles can have blonde hair and blue eyes, it doesn't mean they're Veela!"

"Okay then... Just be careful, Harry. I feel like she's fogging your judgement, being what she is..." the bushy haired girl said with genuine concern.

"I'm sure I can handle myself, but thank you for your concern." Harry retorted, rolling his eyes.

Hermione collected up her things and shrugged. "Don't say I didn't warn you."

The next day was a Monday meaning that once again Harry got to spend some time with Luna. He hurried to his last lesson of the day and sat in his usual seat waiting for her to arrive. Unbeknownst to Harry the room was filling quickly with Ravenclaws and Gryffindors until there were only two seats vacated: Ron's, Luna's and his own.

"Luna sits there," Harry said hastily as Ron sat down in front of him.

"Not anymore she doesn't," replied Ron with a grin before turning away.

Harry was intending to prod the ginger head in front of him before he realised what Ron had done: the room was full and the only seat left for Luna was right next to him. Harry made a mental note to thank him later.

Luna walked into the doorway, gave a small, exasperated sigh and strode gracefully to Harry's side before sitting down.

"Hello," said Harry enthusiastically when the lesson got underway. "Sorry, could you pass me one of those frogs legs please?" he continued when she didn't reply. Luna slid the box towards him with one finger and continued cutting her own frog's legs.

"So what's your deal?" she asked him after a moment without looking away from her work.

"I don't understand," Harry replied, surprised.

"You were looking for information on thestrals, why?"

Harry had never had anyone ask him something so abruptly before, not afraid to pry but still so innocent. He loved how different she was from everyone else. After a moment thinking about this he realised he hadn't answered her question and said "It's just I've never seen them before but after Cedric..."

"Yeah, I understand," she replied, her blue eyes glittering. "It's difficult witnessing a death." Harry nodded, remembering the awful moment from the year before when Cedric Diggory had died before him at the hands of Voldemort.

"It was my mother." Luna said after a while.

"Excuse me?" spluttered Harry, accidentally slicing his finger.

"My mum, I saw her die." she said slowly. "I know you were wondering, you're just too polite to ask."

Harry had no idea what else to do other than try to hide his injured hand within his robes. After a couple more moments he said "You don't need to talk about it if you don't want to..."

"I want to... If that's okay." Luna said, gently taking Harry's hand from his robes and healing it quickly with her wand. "I wouldn't like to bring back any bad memories or emotions for you but I feel like you'd understand." She looked up at him, her beautiful face tragically saddened once more. Harry got the feeling she hadn't really had anybody to talk to about her mother so Harry nodded, not knowing what to say.

"Well," she began."Mum and dad had these friends, another couple, Evelyn and Rufus. Evelyn was like an aunt to me, a second mother even. She'd known my mother since they themselves were here at Hogwarts. My mother and Evelyn were very close and would usually spend a lot of time together without the company of dad and Rufus, who'd go hippogriff-watching as often as they could. On the odd occasion they were, all four of them, together Rufus would show a strange interest in mum, he tried to hide it but wasn't very successful, even I noticed it. Mum had always got more attention from guys, even when she was in school and because of this Evelyn was always jealous." She paused for a moment to gauge Harry's expression, saw that he was listening intently and continued. "I saw Evelyn murder my mother."

Nobody had ever confided in him in such a way before, Harry was very shocked but still slightly confused, . After seeing Harry was not completely following Luna continued. "Evelyn was under the impression that mum and Rufus were having an affair but I know they weren't, she drove herself mad thinking about it and one day she just snapped," she shrugged. "She killed Rufus and then came for mum. She didn't know I had came downstairs when I heard the shouting. I got into the room just as Curse hit my mothers chest." She looked at Harry again and said "I was nine."

"I'm so sorry," was all Harry could say. Luna nodded.

"What Evelyn didn't know was Rufus couldn't help but be lured in, my mum had kept something from her and everyone else other than me and dad. She was killed for not being able to control who she was..." she said as she looked Harry directly in the eyes. "I can trust you, can't I Harry?"

Harry felt the need to say something but all he could do was nod, it was the most honest reply he could give.

Luna smiled at him sadly and took a deep breath before getting as close to Harry's ear as she could without touching it. Harry's heart began to beat faster and harder until he was sure she could hear it.

"My mother..." Luna whispered. "She was a Veela."