Chapter Six

Luna was standing, cold, gently petting a fully-grown Thestral behind its horse-like ears. Harry was standing with her. They had actually just had a fantastic talk. "Well," he said. "I think I'll be going now."

"Wait, Harry," Luna said, putting her hand on his arm. "I…" Hm. A perplexing concept for Luna was admitting her feelings. Since it was usually dull here, there was usually really nothing to feel for her. Nothing to see, nothing really to do. The excitement had faded. But now that she had these friends, these companions, Harry, Neville, Hermione, Ginny, Ron! Everything was different. "I… um… I'm here, if you need me."

He smiled awkwardly. "Thanks, Luna…" he said, patting her hand in a polite fashion. "I'll really have to be going now." He began to walk away.

"Okay," she said. "Goodbye, then. Tell Ronald I said hi… No!—I—no, I mean… Ronald and Hermione, I mean…" Harry stopped to give her an odd look, yet pleasant, and then kept walking, continuing to look back at her like she had killed his unicorn.

She shook her head. "Oh, what a mess I am, Tiny…" she said, sitting on a stump next to the large Thestral. He looked down at her, and she smiled. "Oh, Tiny… I think… I think maybe Daddy's right. Maybe I should leave here. I do get teased enough. I could go work for Daddy at the Quibbler… I know everything I need… Don't I?"

The proud Thestral bucked and neighed. This probably meant a solid no.

She sighed. "Yes, I supposed you're right… I won't get out of anything the quitter's way." She pet the Thestral again, and gave him another clump of food. "Besides, I have friends here. I can't leave them. … Friends... Never really had them before, did I? Crazy, huh? Hm… I'm freezing. I've got to go. I'll see you later, Tiny."

Luna grabbed her things, put them in her bag, and set off, without another word.

"Neville, are you going to Hogsmeade?" Luna asked Neville, looking at a slip of paper that had been passed under her door that morning.

"Dunno," he said. "Rather nice invitation though, innit?" Luna shrugged. "Anyway, what do you think they'll call it, this "club" of sorts?"

"Don't know," she sighed.

"Loons," he said, "You okay?"

She shrugged. "Just… mixed up. Tired. Confused… all these words in one…" He smiled at her.

"Well, maybe an after school activity'll help! Come on, then. Let's go together!"

Luna smiled grimly. Neville's blind optimism didn't help, but it didn't hurt, either. "Okay, Neville," she sighed. "You've got me. We'll go."

He grinned. "Brilliant! I'll see you then—I've gotta go!"

She sighed. Maybe this was what she needed. It was Neville, after all… Maybe this would help.