It was a rather dry fall day, and most of the students were inside the castle. Luna, though, was out in the Forbidden Forest with the thestrals. She brought her hand-made cross body bag full of raw meat to feed them, and some fruit for herself. She was very interesting in the sounds they made: howl-like noises that carried far. While feeding the outsider of the pack, she sensed someone walking up behind her.
"Hello Harry Potter." She said knowingly.
"Your feet," He said, pointing to them. "Aren't they cold?"
"Bit. Unfortunately all of my shoes have mysteriously disappeared." She then leaned in to Harry. "I suspect nargles are behind it."
They watched the thestral she had just been feeding walk away, then Harry said, "What are they?"
"They're called thestrals." Luna said. "They're quite gentle, really, but people avoid them because they're a bit…"
"Different." Harry finished quietly.
"Why can't the others see them?" Harry asked as Luna began walking towards a calf.
"They can only be seen by people who have seen death." Luna studied his face for emotion, but couldn't find any hints.
"So you've known someone who's died?"
Luna nodded, "My mum. She was quite an extraordinary witch, but she did like to experiment, and one day one of her spells went badly wrong. I was nine."
"I'm sorry." Harry said, and she knew he partly understood how she felt.
"Yes, it's rather horrible. I do feel very sad about it sometimes, but I've got dad. We both believe you, by the way." She said, taking an apple from her bag, then looking straight at Harry. "That He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is back, and you fought him, and the Ministry and the Prophet are conspiring against you and Dumbledore."
"Thanks. Seems that you're about the only ones who do." Harry frowned.
"Don't think that's true." She tossed the calf an apple. "I suppose that how he wants you to feel."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, if I were You-Know-Who, I'd want you to feel cut off from everyone else. Because if it's just you alone, you're not as much as a threat." She smiled.
"Thanks, Luna." Harry gave a small smile, and walked back.
The next day, Luna was sitting in the Ravenclaw common room, cross-legged on the table when Michael Corner, a fifth year, gave her a small piece of parchment.
Miss Lovegood,
I request your presence in my office at eight o'clock tonight.
Headmaster Dumbledore
"Thank you Michael." She didn't look up from the note. "Would you mind telling me what time it is?"
"Er, nearly six." He checked his watch.
"Oh alright. Thank you, again." She said, putting Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix back into her rucksack, and then skipping to the Great Hall.
As she entered the large doors of the Hall, she spotted Ginny sitting with Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville. She skipped, once more, to the open seat next to Ginny.
"Hello Ginny." She said, picking up a small chicken leg.
"Hi Luna. What's up?" Ginny said, a bit upset.
"Nothing, what did I just interrupt. I can't help but notice that I've walked in on an important conversation." She frowned.
"Luna," Harry spoke up bravely. "Hermi-I mean we are putting together a small Defense Against the Dark Arts class. Would you be interested?"
"Yes! Oh that sounds most lovely!" She grinned.
"We'll be having an official meeting Sunday at the Hog's Head. Could you invite some other Ravenclaws also?" Hermione asked, but a little set back. "Or some friends in your year."
"Yes, but I must tell you upfront, I do not have a lot of friends, but I can tell some classmates." She said, without the tone others would when talking about such an awkward topic.
"Wait!" Ginny exclaimed, as Luna began to leave. "This is very secretive. Make sure the people you tell are trusted."
"Of course." Luna was extremely excited with this new class. She could closer to her classmates, maybe even make a few friends!
"Acid pops." She said quietly, then running up the staircase that led to Dumbledore's office.
"Miss Lovegood. And not a moment late. Come sit." He smiled, motioning towards the chair.
"You asked to see me, sir?"
"Yes. Well I have read the books, and your suspicions are correct. These books tell the past correctly, but I only have one question. Do they tell the future?" His eyes gleamed curious.
"As far as I know, yes. Daddy told me not to read ahead of the present in the books, so I'm not positive." She pulled OOTP out of her bag, and placed it on the desk.
"Then I must ask of you, a task so very uncertain, it might change everything. Do I have your trust?" He asked.
"All of it." Luna said very seriously.
"Would you be able to read the last 3 books in two weeks time?" He said, his voice a little indecisive.
"Yes, but sir, I do have a lot of school work." She looked at the other headmasters' portraits. "Is it such a major concern if it's three weeks? I'm very sorry, I don't mean to be-"
"Miss Lovegood," He raised his hand. "It is fine. I just want these done as soon as possible. Alas, I cannot ask you to stop your schoolwork; it could jeopardize your OWLs. Yet, it would be most satisfactory if it done within two weeks time."
"I'll try my best, sir."
"Goodnight, Miss Lovegood."