A/N: For all intent and proposes this is an AU, in every and any form you'd look at it. Everything you know about HP may or may not be true in this story. I won't tell you what I've changed, because is not my style to actually explain myself in Author Notes, but I will eventually explain what those changes are within the story.

However, this IS a Hermione/Luna story of hurt, comfort, friendship and love, with mild Ron Bashing, mild Clueless(Cute) Harry and several Professors Bashing, included but not limited to Sprout, Flitwick, Dumbledore, and Snape. With a McGonagall sort of motherly figure, well more than sort of…

I've shamelessly 'borrowed' some ideas to construct my story, so you've may or may not see things you've already seen before in this kind of stories, yet I hope to be unique enough that you like it. It is my wish to be read, but bear in mind that English is my second language and I'm yet to do a single chapter without a single grammar or spelling mistake, so please, please, tell me if I'm mistaken and why so I can improve my English and writing ability.

"Speak."

'Thoughts.'

Warnings: Bullying, Lesbianism, Adoption, Abandonment, Trust Issues, Childish Habits, Consumption of Elven Leaves, OOC, Overall Wizarding Stupidity, Use of Barely-Legal-by-Wizards-Standards Narcotics.

Disclaimer: Nope, I don't own them… I just simply play with them and give them back at the end of the day.

Chapter Four – No-Man's-Land

The air was toasty and warm enough for her to feel comfortable in her see-through camisole, yet she could not help but burrow into the soft and silky sheets. She sighed. This was the most comfortable she had been in a really long time. She scooted closer to the place her source of warmth was, only to find it gone. She frowned. That would not do.

Luna opened her eyes tiredly and blinked. The room she was in was not her room. Not at all. There were no blue canopies, nor a bronze comforter that covered her pale blue cotton sheets. No. The bed she was resting on had no tall post nor curtains. It was bigger than her twin sized one, and both the sheets and comforter were a soft lilac with deep purple little flowers.

The little Claw blinked again. There were no other beds in the somewhat big room, just a big wardrobe, a full size mirror and a beautiful dressing table, filled with bottles of all colors and shapes. The air smelt of roosted apples and cinnamon, something that immediately made her think of her mother, as it had been the smell that had always lingered in their house on chilly days. In the little fireplace, smaller than any other she could remember, hot ambers were still giving the room the needed heat to bear the December's cold days.

Frowning she looked at the empty space on the bed. Something warm had been resting there not so long ago, something warm enough that had kept her happily safe in Morpheus' Land. Slowly she got up, careful of stepping out of bed with her right foot, a foot that was instantly chilled in the carpeted, yet cold, floor. Once the covers were totally off her the rest of her body chilled as well. Looking around she spotted a thick nightgown and a pair of slippers in a matching mauve tone, and, without thinking, she instantly put them on.

She was not sure where she was, or why she was there, but there was only one door and that surely was the only way out. With a small knot in her stomach, out of hunger or apprehension she did not know, she took the handle and stepped outside.

XxXxX

"I don't understand. It's unfair."

The older woman sighed. "Miss Lovegood is a special case, Hermione. Not many really like her."

Hermione frowned. That was certainly true, she was not aware of any student that actively sought Luna, or that really talked to her, only about her. The Professors were of similar matter, only Professor McGonagall, who she was currently entertaining in her small living room, was nice to the girl. But there was just so much the Headmistress could do to help her.

"I know that." The brunette huffed and crossed her arms, yet she did not search the older woman's eyes. She knew the feeling that would cause her. "What I don't understand is the why." She was mad at the people in the school, of their pettiness and their lack of common sense.

The Headmistress smiled softly at who she considered her favorite student, marveling at how the stoic girl was being so moved by a tiny Claw. Hearing that the fifth year Prefect had actually gone to bed at around four in the morning talking with someone was quite a shock. In the last year or so Hermione Granger was often by herself, only occasionally talking with her friends Mister Potter and Mister Weasley. The Triwizard Tournament had effectively distanced Gryffindor's Golden Trio and Ron and Harry had taken great offense in Hermione when she refused to celebrate with them the joy of being chosen to compete. Never mind that Harry Potter was underage, or that his magic ability was not at par with the rest to the Champions, or that he was simply so unfocused his life was in danger even without trying. No. They were upset because she was worried for her friend and that made her an enemy for the two proud Gryffindors.

"Me neither." Confessed the older witch. "Unfortunately, I'm afraid I'll make things worse if I intercede for her."

"Why?" Hermione blushed as she heard herself. She had not just whined… she had simply asked an intelligent question in a high pitched voice.

"The same reason I didn't send you home." She answered calmly.

Minerva McGonagall could still remember the little first year girl that had come to see her no long before her first Halloween Feast, asking to be sent home. Young Hermione was tired of always learning her magic and being teased because of it. She was hurt, out of her element, far away from home and in a place she was mostly hated. It had taken her then Head of House hours to calm her and made her understand that things would be better, that she would be making friends soon enough and that she needed to learn and grow in the world she was now part of.

It was hard, true, but Hogwarts was not only a place to learn magic, but a place where the children learnt the necessary skills to survive in the adult world. No child in the school left without learning something, be it academically or socially, and that was the reason why House Unity was so enforced. There were always pariahs, but in McGonagall's experience, those pariahs were always the best Wizards and Witches that ever graced Earth.

Hermione had understood her Professor's reasoning and had tried to be the better person. It had worked well up until the day Harry became Hogwarts' Champion. After that she had simply realized that she truly did not need to be accepted by her peers. They were no longer mean and they finally understood she was the most brilliant witch in the century, so she was let alone and she was fine with it.

"Still," The young brunette said. "There is got to be something we could do. Something I could do."

McGonagall nodded. She was about to speak when the door that led to the bedroom opened slowly. Both women turned and see a little blonde head peeking out, nervous blue eyes searching for some form of comfort and recognition.

"Good afternoon, Miss Lovegood." The Headmistress spoke softly, trying not to scare the skittish Ravenclaw.

Luna's already pale complexion whitened more. In a flash what had happened to her the previous night came rushing to the front of her mind. How she had been found by her Head of House, how Hermione had given her her cloak, how she had burnt her tongue with hot chocolate, how she had fallen asleep resting her head onto the brunette's comfy shoulder.

Sheer will force stopped her from bursting into tears at seeing their Headmistress sitting in the armchair that had been such a lovely low table the night before. She liked Hermione, and now here she was, the highest authority in school, ready to deliver punishment. It didn't crossed her mind that said authority was nursing a hot cup of tea, siting in robes way too casual for her, nor that the Gryffindor Prefect was still in her pajamas, her hair tussled and with a half-eaten sandwich in her hand.

Luna's head bowed. "Sorry."

Hermione flinched. There it was that voice again, the same one that had broken her heart when she hear it in the South Hallway the night before. It bothered her that she still did not know why the Claw has been out of bed so late at night. No matter how much she pushed, the girl simply would not say. Still, that voice, that scarred sound, made her heart bleed and she vowed silently to do everything in her power to ensure Luna would never, ever, sound like that again.

"What are you sorry for, child?" Minerva asked truly confused. She had only greeted her!

Luna looked panicked to Hermione, then back to the oldest witch. Surely it was now too late to try and spare Hermione of any punishment, but perhaps she could convince the Headmistress that she could do both of their detentions. Maybe she would be stuck with Hagrid, he was a nice man, soft and funny. Yes, maybe she would be lucky enough to serve detention with him.

The Gryffindor looked at Luna and it took her a second to understand why she was apologizing. Before Luna could answer McGonagall, she did. "Luna here thinks that we'll be in trouble because she's a Claw and I'm a Cub, and going to each other Houses is against the rules."

Minerva frowned. The blonde girl was intelligent, not many know of that particular rule, not even most of the Prefects did. It was not a rule that was frequently broken, though, House rivalry helped to enforce it, and inter-House dating was rare, and the actual couples from different Houses preferred developing their relationships out of them. So there was not real need to know a rule that was not easily enforced. "And surely you've told Miss Lovegood that your chambers are basically No-Man's-Land?"

Hermione blushed. She knew she had missed something last night. She had been so occupied comforting the blonde and distracting her that she had forgotten to explain her current living arrangements. "Er…"

The Headmistress simply shook her head, fully knowing her star pupil was prone to forget the smallest details. She was good at puzzles and riddles, but she was sometimes as dense as a first year Hufflepuff. She turned to the youngest girl. "Miss Lovegood," she said softly, trying to convey a safe feeling to the girl. "This is no the Gryffindor House. You are not in trouble." She motioned at the seat next to Hermione. "Please come sit with us."

Luna eyed them, not entirely sure to know what to expect. Yet she was cold, even though there was a nice fire going and the nightgown was warm, so she simply followed the command and sat pressed to the older teen, trying to rob her of her body heat. She was promptly presented with a sandwich from a small bag that rested in Hermione's lap. Her tummy rumbled and she blushed, silently accepting the more than wanted food.

"Sorry about that, I kinda forgot to tell you." Hermione took a bite from her chicken salad sandwich as Luna sniffed at hers, looking at her curiously.

"All the houses allow their best students their own chambers as a reward for their efforts and great marks. They have to be the best for two years in a row to be considered for this privilege, though." McGonagall supplied, seeing that the brunette had no intention of explaining the situation. "Hermione is the best student in her house. She had been for the last four years. As such, she was given the choice to have her own quarters in her third year, but only accepted last year."

Hermione swallowed and shrugged. "I thought the full on House experience and shared dormitories would do me more good than my own rooms, where I surely would end occupying all the space with homework and clothes." She did not mention that she also feared that having such a privilege would make the displeasure in her Housemates grow and alienate her further form them. She was now as alienated as she could possibly be, so it did not matter anymore. And not having to share sure made living in the castle for nine months more comfortable.

The Headmistress rolled her eyes, knowing full well the reason why the brunette had declined the first time. She turned to Luna. "As she doesn't live in Gryffindor Rooms, you two are not violating any rule. So don't worry."

Luna nodded, relieved that she had not gotten the older girl in trouble. She was grateful for the comfort she had been given, and she knew it was not a nice way to pay to have the other girl punished. "Thank you." She said softly, thought the other women were not sure if she was thankful of the knowledge or the food.

Minerva smiled. "You are very welcome."

That stirred something in Luna and she decided that she was calm enough to try and eat. Gingerly she bit her sandwich, only to wince as pain sprout in her tongue. She took the food out, not having really tearing the piece from it, and pouted.

Hermione cursed silently. Putting her own sandwich down, she gently cupped Luna's chin, just as she had done the night before. "Show me." She requested softly.

The blonde didn't hesitated and opened her mouth, she loved the way she was pampered by the woman she thought was truly the smarter witch of all times. She did not need to talk much for her to understand what was running through her head, and she understood when she actually talked. It did not take long before the same cooling effect she had previously experimented returned, chasing the pain away.

"Better?" The brunette asked her.

Luna nodded and leaned forward, gently resting her forehead just above the older girl's breast. She was both silently thanking her and asking her for a little more pampering, not caring on the interested stare they were receiving from their Headmistress.

XxXxX

A/N: Are you liking this? I'm not sure if you do or if my writing is not as good as it should, but I guess I'm just a little disappointed that I have almost none recognition to this story... that hadn't happened to me before. I won't ask for a certain number of reviews, nor I will stop writing this, but I'm really curious to know why you don't like (or like) the story.

I've already written up until chapter 22, all of them more or less the same length as the ones I've been posting, and I know I'm no where near done, so your input would be appreciated, as I could start changing things you don't like now rather than later.

Sorry for the long rant and thanks for reading.

~Charis-chan~