Chapter Four – Every Other Sunday

Despite a slight breeze, Sunday morning brought forth a brimming blue sky to Hogwarts and brilliant sunshine shone down upon the many students crossing the lawns at ground level. Luna Lovegood's scarf continued to tickle her face as she walked amongst the students – or rather those who were allowed to venture outside the castle – down the front lawn towards Hogsmeade. She had a few errands to run before she would inevitably end up at the Tree Boomticks, where she owed money to the owner.

'Luna!' came a voice as she was passing the large gates at the entrance to Hogwarts.

She turned to see a familiar red head running towards her, her hair tied up in a knot like Luna's, except for the fact that Ginny had a lot more hair to worry about and therefore she had twice as many ribbons.

Luna had longish hair also, but not the sort of length where it began to touch her waist – Ginny was lucky and considered one of the most beautiful girls in Hogwarts with that feature; Luna was happy for her. She never pointed that out to her, though.

'Oh hello,' Luna said, 'I like your skirt.'

Ginny blushed. 'Thanks,' she breathed, 'are you going to Hogsmeade alone?'

'Of course,' Luna said happily in return, 'no better way. You?'

'Meeting Harry in the Three Broomsticks,' Ginny said, smiling as she walked with Luna.

'You mean the Tree Boomsticks?' Luna queried.

'No,' Ginny eyed her. 'It's the Three Broomsticks, Luna.'

'Oh, of course,' Luna said, deliberating that Ginny was clearly wrong.

'So umm…' Ginny hesitated almost to ask, 'what are your plans?'

'I have a few errands,' Luna explained softly, 'you're welcome to come along if you'd like.'

'Not meeting Harry until later,' Ginny explained whilst nodding, 'so I'd love to.'

As the two girls wandered down the street and laughed as a bunch of headless sixth years went along in the opposite direction asking random students if they had something on their face, Draco Malfoy entered Hogsmeade himself, his goons on hiatus and no where to be seen. He had just thought to himself that it was nice Pansy Parkinson wasn't at his side kissing his arse either when she magically appeared, literally as if she'd apparated at his side from no where.

'Hello!' she shrieked, kissing him on the cheek, 'what's up?'

'Well I was just hanging with peace and quiet over here,' Draco told her, 'but they seem to have shrunk up and died.'

Pansy looked at him in confusion.

'Lovely day,' Draco added, winking.

'It's hideous,' Pansy hissed, patting her hair, 'did you see Ginny Weasley? With her length of hair I'm trying to figure out how she's not having problems! All those ribbons cannot constrict all that hair, surely.'

'Probably used magic, what do I care?' Draco hissed, 'besides she's a weasel, and they have a habit of weasling out of problems.'

Pansy shrieked with laughter, causing a few nearby fourth years to look over in shock.

'So where we going?' Pansy asked energetically, bouncing around Draco in excitement.

'I am going to Honeydukes,' Draco informed her, nodding towards a shop up ahead, 'no idea where you're going, and I have no intention to care.'

'Oh silly,' Pansy said, play slapping his arm, 'I'm coming with!'

Draco rolled his eyes. 'Shouldn't you go hang with your female friends?'

'No Draco, I'd rather hang with you,' Pansy said to him, 'besides with them it's all about sex, and I hate it.'

'I'm sure,' Draco sighed as they reached Honeydukes and saw that Harry Potter, along with weasel and mudblood, were inside.

Pansy made a sound of detest beside him.

'Look at them,' she said eerily, 'Potter is such a tool, Granger the mudblood is carrying a book around Hogsmeade nothing new there! And don't get me started on weasel-'

'Alright, I won't,' Draco replied, and with the hope that Pansy wouldn't follow him into Honeydukes because of Potter and his threesome, he readjusted the bag on his back and proceeded forward.

'You're not going in are you?' Pansy asked him, half shocked.

Draco stopped on the top step and looked back at her, blinking. 'Oh, no of course not,' he said to her, opening the door, 'I'm just observing.'

And with the befuddled look on Pansy's face the last thing he saw, Draco turned and moved over the threshold into the shop. Immediately the scent of sugar and flavouring met his nose, the hustle and bustle of a tiny crowd met his eyes and all the conversations conversing within the crowd met his ears.

To his left, Potter, Granger and Weasley seemed to spot Draco coming in. He looked sideways at them once before moving further into the shop without a word. Whether they continued to look at him afterwards, he didn't know, but he focused on browsing the many items on sale, pushing past many excited third years, who all looked as if Christmas had come early.

Draco had just found something he was in need of restocking when, lo-and-behold as he reached out for it, another hand was in the process of doing so and when they collided he looked sideways to meet the persons gaze; Draco almost felt his temper rise.

'You're joking,' Draco hissed as the dreamy face of Luna Lovegood looked back at him, her arm still outstretched.

'Oh hi,' she said happily, seemingly oblivious of his anger, 'good morning isn't it?'

Draco fumed and turned to go when he saw Pansy Parkinson through the crowd, fighting her way through some Hufflepuffs in order to reach Draco – she was literally pushing them away with her palm against their face, her other arm in the air almost indicating something at Draco; a movement that if she were in the muggle world, some might suggest she was hailing a taxi.

Draco spun back around; Luna was still there with her hand out stretched for the item, but now Ginny Weasley was standing beside her with a furrow look on her face.

'What's going on here?' Ginny asked, looking from Draco to Luna.

'Oh you know,' Luna said with a brim smile, 'Draco and I just ran into each other again, happening quite a lot actually isn't it?'

Ginny stared blankly at Luna, her face turned shallow and her eyebrows rose in a sort of disbelief manner as she repeated what Luna just said. 'Draco?'

'I have to go,' announced Draco as Pansy Parkinson grew nearer.

Draco passed the two girls and headed towards the back of the shop. Pansy came scooting towards them, keeping one eye on Draco but as well as on Ginny.

'Nice playmate weasel,' Pansy mocked at Ginny, indicating Luna.

Ginny gave her a blank look. 'Keep walking dragon.'

Pansy screwed up her face in a sort of taunt gesture, but continued on walking anyway, leaving Ginny and Luna to watch her go and disappear into the crowd.

'What fun,' Luna said as she grabbed the item she and Draco had simultaneously just reached for.

'Fun indeed,' Ginny agreed, 'but anyway, Luna what's with you calling Malfoy by his first name? And by what do you mean you ran into each other again? Wait, should I be asking? Do I want to know?'

'Oh it's all a bit funny, really,' Luna said to her as they made their way to the counter, she held the item out to the shop owner, 'how much do I owe?'

'Three galleons,' he replied.

Luna smiled and coughed up the money and before long they were back out onto the street. Ginny had waved at Harry as she left with Luna, mouthing something which Luna had not been able to make out, and now Ginny was looking behind herself with a huge smug look on her face as they walked.

'Pole,' Luna said bluntly.

'Huh?' Ginny asked, turning around; but it was too late.

Ginny met the lamp post head on, making her topple over backwards and making many passer-bys point and laugh.

'Pole,' Luna repeated lazily as she stood over Ginny and smiled. 'Got to watch out for those, I've been reading about these creatures called Hairy Hasbeens, they sometimes nest in them.'

'Good to know,' Ginny said, getting to her feet and rubbing her forehead, 'where're we going next anyway?'

'Oh I'm done,' Luna said, 'well at least I assume I am – I can't remember what else I was suppose to do so I may as well pay this Rosmerta witch.'

'OK,' Ginny said with a shrug, still rubbing her head.

As they headed towards the Three Broomsticks (Luna was shocked that the name had been changed) it was no secret that almost every student that travelled to Hogsmeade finished up in this famous pub.

When Luna and Ginny entered it was rather noisy and crowded, as you'd expect. Ginny instantly pointed out the large figure of Rubeus Hagrid, the Gamekeeper, who gave her a little wave before continuing his conversation with Professor Flitwick, who looked very much the opposite end of the scale. Ginny also pointed out guys that had either briefly dated her or had asked too, and even though Luna couldn't begin to comprehend interest in Ginny's personal life, she had an errand to do. Ginny nodded and followed her through the crowd.

'You what?' Madam Rosmerta asked after Luna and Ginny had made it to the bar and Luna had queried Rosmerta on the subject of her owing money.

'I owe two sickles I believe,' Luna said, holding out the said payment.

'Look, I don't know what you're on about,' Rosmerta replied, flipping through her notepad, 'I haven't got anything written down saying someone owes me money.'

Luna looked rather baffled and taken aback.

'But I'm sure…' Luna started, but Madam Rosmerta shook her head.

'Listen I've got a busy pub going here,' Rosmerta explained, 'so unless you intend to buy something with that, you'll have to excuse me.'

Luna looked blankly down at her sickles, letting her mind wander as if she was thinking about something; then she looked back at Rosmerta and smiled.

'How about one Butterbeer and a Gillywater?' Luna asked.

Rosmerta nodded and took the sickles and began to work on the drinks.

'Gillywater?' Ginny asked in a repulsive manner.

Luna blinked at her. 'Yes.'

Ginny rose an eyebrow, rather bemused.

When Rosmerta returned with the drinks, Luna took the Butterbeer and happily turned to Ginny, holding it out and smiling broadly. Ginny blinked again before reaching out and taking it.

'Thanks, I suppose' Ginny said, as Luna reached back around for her drink and took a sip, 'you know I actually think it's quite funny, that you're paying for my drink when those sickles were originally mine.'

Luna looked at her. 'I suppose I can see how that would be funny.'

Ginny gave her a stare.

'Quick, their going!' Luna said, pointing to a couple of Ravenclaws who were getting up to leave.

Luna and Ginny raced over to take a seat, shoving past some third years whom had just walked in and were looking for a table.

'Scram,' Ginny snapped, grabbing a chocolate frog that was producing out of one of their bags.

They didn't seem to notice.

'Want half?' Ginny asked, smiling evilly as she held it up; Luna shook her head.

They sat chatting for a while, the pub thinned a bit but not much, students were still coming in and out at random intervals, and it was not too much longer after that that Harry Potter arrived at their table, brimming with self confidence and moving with a kick in his step.

'Hello,' he said happily, kissing Ginny on the cheek. 'Hi Luna.'

'Hello Harry,' she replied dreamily, 'lovely day.'

Harry looked bemused. 'Indeed it is.'

'Why are you so happy?' Ginny asked him curiously.

'No reason,' Harry said with a shrug.

Ginny looked around behind him. 'Where are Ron and Hermione?'

Harry snorted. 'At Maddam Puddifoot's,' he said blankly with a wink at Luna.

Ginny laughed. 'Why?'

Harry shrugged.

'I've heard it's a nice place,' Luna said dreamily, 'although couples that go there usually break up within a few weeks.'

'Yeah,' Harry agreed, 'but I reckon with them they'll just fight for a fortnight and not talk.'

Ginny wholeheartedly agreed.

'Well Luna, I hope you don't mind if I steal Ginny from you?' Harry queried.

'Nope' Luna said smiling, 'by all means. You know I believe I have homework to do back at the castle anyway, so here have my chair if you like.'

'Are you sure?' Ginny asked her.

Luna smiled. 'Oh yes, quite.'

'Because you know, I don't want to feel as if we've abandoned you,' Ginny added.

'It's fine,' Luna said dreamily, 'I will see you later.'

As Luna emerged from the pub - the main street of Hogsmeade now less full - the deep evening sun was barely peeking above the horizon and many students could been seen making the rather unfortunate and treacherous journey back up the slopes to Hogwarts. Luna herself was just about to be one of them, when out of the corner of her eye she spotted movement; her head span around faster than a fleeing Snitch.

And for a moment, she could have sworn something silvery had just disappeared behind a wall that was beyond the Hogs Head. She looked back behind her, no one else seemed interested in what she was doing – so she threw caution to the wind and began to walk.