Disclaimer: I am 99.9% sure that I have zero ownership of both Harry Potter AND Doctor Who...but that 0.1%...hold on I have to check something.
The rain had picked up by the time the Doctor left Ollivander's, and the now rampant drizzle made the once busy streets deserted. And besides the occasional witch or wizard with a rain shield charm above their heads (honestly, umbrellas did exist) the Doctor was alone.
He never much liked being alone, and found himself musing on the possibility of making school friends in the coming year.
He had seen some other kids around alley, mostly buying school supplies with their parents and unwilling, or unable, to talk to him. But maybe he could introduce himself and get an early start on the whole 'making friends' thing.
As he was thinking, he bumped into someone, sending himself and the unknown sprawling into the rain-filled street.
"S-sorry" he muttered, now sitting in a puddle as rain fell around him, making his clothes stick to his body.
"Oh, it's quite alright." A dreamy voice said through the sound of the rain. The Doctor was soon looking up at the girl he had knocked to the ground, she had stood, and was reaching out a hand to help the Doctor to his feet, "I was lost in thought. You were too I see." She observed.
"Um, yes." The Doctor stuttered, accepting her hand and standing up. It was somewhat dark, but in the flickering light of the street lanterns, he was able to get a good look at the girl. Her hair was faded blonde and she was wearing no rain coat, or boots, or anything to protect her from the weather at all. Her eyes were large and bright, and she also looked strangely soft, and spoke with a softness to match, like an image from a dream. "How could you tell?" He asked her.
"You have that look about you." She said simply. Her large eyes looked very distant yet in the present like she was seeing the world around her, but something else too. The Doctor imagined he himself looked like that to people when he was in thought.
"Oh, well, thank you for the help," He offered, getting only a smile in response, but the smile was sad like she knew something that troubled her. He decided to speak again, "why are you out in the rain? Shouldn't you be wearing a coat?" He asked.
The girl said, "not now, no, rain is good for the mind. It wakes people up and opens new thoughts that one would never dream of having on a sunny day."
The Doctor nodded, "That's very insightful." He said, "well then, I'm John Smith, what's your name?" He reached out his hand.
"Luna Lovegood." She said, shaking his hand lightly, "Your name isn't really John Smith. Or at least, it's not the title you prefer." Her words were not a question.
The Doctor blinked. "Um, no, but it's what I would like to go by." The girl only hummed in response, and the Doctor bit his lip, "but you can call me the Doctor if you would like, I think I'd prefer it."
At this Luna nodded, "it's nice to meet you Doctor. You look very rained on, and not too happy about it. I was just going to buy my school books, if you would like to come along."
The Doctor thought about this, he did need to make some friends, and the girl seemed to be a Hogwarts student, and a rather interesting one at that. He had all night to meditate, so just a bit more exploring couldn't hurt. "Sure." He decided. "But I warn you, I'm sort of a bookworm. I may be there for awhile."
Luna nodded "I could tell." She informed, before leading him away.
The two talked quietly as they walked in the rain, "so, you go to Hogwarts?" The Doctor asked, "I'm starting this year, what's it like?"
"It's very full of nargles, however, the amount of them heightens at Christmas." Luna said, her voice a hum, the Doctor noted the way the girl walked, almost like she was dancing with only the constant fall of the rain as her music.
"Nargles?" He asked at the unfamiliar word.
"Oh yes," Luna said calmly, the little smile never leaving her face "little trickster things, like fairies almost. They steal people's shoes and cause a lot of trouble. They live in mistletoe you know."
The Doctor felt he should be taking notes, but wasn't fully sure he believed her. "I see..." He trailed, "what else?"
"Well, I believe that there are tinsel mice in the defense against the dark arts classroom, they feed off misfortune. But despite their food choice, they are quite sweet in nature. There's been a recent article on them in the Quibbler."
The Doctor pursed his lips. "Is that a magazine?" He asked.
Luna only nodded, "I can get you a subscription if you'd like to know more. My father writes it, and I myself do occasional articles."
"I'll think about that." The Doctor agreed, intrigued by the idea.
It was then that the pair entered a warm bookshop, the Doctor, normally, would have grinned at the new place full of information, but he was too busy staring at a bin of books that seemed to be snapping and growling. The books were labeled simply 'the Monster book of Monsters'
"Hogwarts students?" A rather tired looking shop keeper asked.
The Doctor was still staring at the snapping books and Luna answered for him, "Yes." She said.
"Don't tell me you'll be needing one of those?" The shop keeper sighed, pointing at the vicious books and going for a pair of gloves.
"Oh, I will, yes," Luna said with a smile, she walked up to the books with the Doctor in tow, who only managed to stare at the things. He was considering whether or not he'd be able to sonic them without the notice of the book keeper, when Luna said, "I would like that one." She pointed to a particularly nasty looking book with a suspicious page hanging from its mouth, "I think I'll name it Harry." She informed.
The shop keeper raised his brow, but went for the monster book anyway. The Doctor considered buying one himself, even though it wasn't on the list, but decided that if he really wanted to examine the book, he could just borrow one.
Minutes later, he, Luna, and 'Harry the Monster book of Monsters' were browsing through the shop. The Doctor couldn't help but marvel at the dream-like girl as she pet and cooed at the once evil book as if it were no more then a simple house cat. And, somewhat disturbingly, the book was purring.
They stayed at the store for near two hours, and by the end of it, the Doctor had found all the books on the list, plus quite a few extra that Luna had insisted on. Including: 'The Mythical Magicals, Creatures that May or May not Exist', 'The Tales of Beedle the Bard', and a subscription to 'The Quibbler' which they were selling at the front desk.
He had also picked up quite a bit extra regarding magic theory, wand manufacture, and some higher level spell books.
Luna never questioned The Doctor on his high-level decisions, something he was thankful for, and Luna had even explained to the Doctor how to take the train from Kings Cross to the school.
He was rather sad when Luna's dad showed up at the store to pick her up. The eccentric looking man walked into the store and smiled at his daughter. She and the Doctor were finished shopping and sitting on a cushy looking couch with their noses in their books, occasionally talking back and forth about their own stories. 'Harry the Monster Book of Monsters' had claimed his spot cuddled up to the Doctor, lying on the time lords leg and snoring slightly in its sleep.
"Luna, darling," the voice made the two look up at the smiling man, "have you done your shopping? We need to go home."
Luna nodded, "coming father." She made sure she had her books, including her monster one, before standing, "I'll see you on the train Doctor." She said to him.
"Absolutely." The Doctor agreed, "save me a spot!"
"Of course." Luna said before following her father out the door of the shop.
The Doctor sighed and watched as Luna walked away. And then, with a new friend made, and the task of sorting through his now young mind in front of him, the Doctor made his own way back to the inn. He was happy when he walked outside and realized that it had stopped raining.
Yay! I wrote a thing! I was going to have the Doctor meet Harry in this chapter, but...Luna! She is so much fun to write, and I have plans for her later so it was easier to introduce her now.
Im sorry if this chapter seems a bit shaken, recently a friend of mine died and I just had to write to deal with it. I hope you all have a great day, and do me a favor, give everyone you know a hug for me, if for no other reason then you can.
Please review. Thank you for reading.
Answering my fan mail:
Notwritten, thank you, that means a lot right now.
Silent Song of Shadows, thank you, I was worried I over did that some. :)
As always, all reveiws will be responded to at the end of the next chapter. Thanks for reading.