AN: Okay, so this came a little later than planned. However, I'm on a roll now, and since I have some time off school, the next few chapters should be on their way. Once again, please review.
Feeling slightly better, if not as much as she'd like, Larna went to breakfast in the belief that things could only get better. Though she could not summon an appetite, she nibbled at a slice of toast, the first thing she had eaten since yesterday morning. Those around her looked on in a mixture of concern and interest, but wisely, no one asked her about the events of the day before. Rather, people tiptoed around her with talk of Potions, Hogsmeade and homework (specifically avoiding, she noticed with gratitude, the topic of boys).
The Ravenclaw joined in as much as possible with the conversation, but beat a hasty retreat when a second-year Hufflepuff came to tell her that Professor Flitwick would like to see her.
'Good morning, Larna.' The tiny Charms professor, and Head of Ravenclaw house, was stood on his stool, and therefore at Larna's eye level.
'Good morning, sir. You wanted to see me?'
'Yes, I wanted to discuss your amended timetable, with regards to the new, hmm, situation. Why don't you have a seat?'
The Ravenclaw sat on a stool at the front of the class, and her teacher moved to sit on his desk, his legs barely off the surface.
'Now, I understand that you are returning to study at Hogwarts full-time. The first question, is whether you want to simply continue with the NEWTs you are currently doing, or whether you want to take on some more. So, what do you think?'
'Well, to be honest, Sir, I'm quite content with my current subjects, but I think that perhaps I may like to do one more.'
'Okay, that's fine; it just means you'll have considerably more free periods than your class mates. The question is, which other subject would you like to study?'
Larna thought for a second, before replying. 'I think, Professor, if it's okay with Professor McGonagall, that I'd like to do transfiguration. I understand that it's a difficult NEWT, and that I've missed quite a large section of the course, but I think with a little support, I could catch up.'
'Hmm; you're right, Transfiguration is tough. Is there nothing else you are interested in?' The girl shook her head. 'Very well. I will speak to Professor McGonagall, and we will hopefully have a new timetable ready for next week. However, I have a temporary schedule until you receive a permanent one, which should be okay for this week.' Handing her a small sheet of parchment, Flitwick jumped off his desk and led the Ravenclaw to the door.
'If you have any problems, just let me know.
'Okay; thank you, sir.' Larna left the room, looking at her timetable to discover that she had a free period first, one which she therefore decided to spend in the library, reading up on NEWT level Transfiguration.
As the end of January approached, Larna began to become more reserved than ever. It had taken a couple of weeks - and much wisdom and kindness from Luna - to help her begin to move on from Fred. Now that Valentine's Day was approaching, however, she became as reclusive, if not more so, than the first few days of her break-up, and Luna was unsure what the next step should be. Then, with a burst of incentive, after reading the noticeboard in Ravenclaw Tower, the blonde decided to invite the older Ravenclaw to the next Hogsmeade weekend with her. The trip would be taking place on February 14th, and it was Luna's intention that she would be able to distract her friend, if only a little, from what she should have been doing on that day.
'Well?'
'I don't know, I was gonna just...'
'Do what? Wallow in self-pity? Mope around, doing nothing? I know it's hard, and it will take time, but you really have to get over him. There's nothing else you can do - and besides, he's not worth it.'
A tear sprang to Larna's eye, and she fought to stop it falling. Luna squeezed her hand sympathetically, and smiled at the girl who had now become her closest friend, besides Ginny Weasley.
'Come on, we'll have fun!'
'Oh, I suppose we could go, just for a little while.'
The face of the younger girl lit up. 'That's the spirit!' And with a bounce in her step, she left the common room, leaving the sixteen-year-old shaking her head at her audacity.
Their feet made almost perfect prints in the snow as they walked through the main street in Hogsmeade. Luna marvelled at the white blanket which covered everything she could see, and squeezed Larna's hand gently.
'Have you anywhere you want to go?' the blonde asked, in an effort to make conversation; the older girl hadn't said a word since they'd left Hogwarts and though Luna knew why, she was still worried about her friend.
'Sorry? Oh, erm, no, not really.' Larna shrugged her shoulders and fell silent once again. But far from discouraged, the fifth-year grinned widely.
'Are you sure? Because I want to go into Honeydukes for some popping fudge balls, so if you need anything, then just-'
'I don't,' Larna snapped, then cringed in regret. 'I'm sorry. It's just... Well, I'm finding it hard to concentrate right now.'
As sympathetic as always, Luna smiled softly. 'It's okay; I understand. What you really need is a pick-me-up, so why don't we go into the Three Broomsticks and get a butterbeer each?'
Reluctantly, Larna agreed, and the pair began to trudge towards the pub.
