Unsure of what was happening Seymour dashed forward and grabbed Luna's arms, he ignored the blood that was covering his hands and searched desperately for the wound it was coming from.

"Seymour…", Luna grasped his hand and squeezed it tight, it shook as she looked down at the blood covering her front.

"Hahaha." Malfoy's snide laugh punctured the air as he watched on, only finally deciding to talk once Seymour glanced over at him. "Not so brave now are you?" Malfoy said calmly juggling the wand in one hand with the other in his robe pocket. "Zonko's outdone himself this time I must say." The cattle of Slytherins laughed heartily along with him as he glared back at Luna. "Brand new Bloodbuster wand, perfect for a deliciously devilish Halloween prank." he quoted throwing the wand at the pair of them before it clattered onto the floor. "Not bad for two knuts, even if it was just to see the look on your face." He nodded at Crabbe and Goyle to follow and strolled off away from the gathered crowd leaving Luna and Seymour watching after them stunned amongst the laughing Slytherins.

Luna grasped at her robes and pulled at them before bending down and picking up the wand that was lying at their feet. She rolled it in her hands and murmured to herself. "Joke wand…" She glanced up bemused at the staring passers by who now had decided it was ok to laugh along with the Slytherins.

Seymour could hear brief comments as they passed. "It's no harder on the eyes than Loony's usual get up." "The weirdo will probably claim Nargles did it or something."

He couldn't help the new wave of anger wash over him, pushing aside the shock he had just felt. "Why would Zonko's make something like that?" He ignored the fact that his voice shook violently as he snatched the wand from Luna's grasp and threw in as hard as he could. "The arrogant, rotten little bast… Luna what are you doing?"

Seymour focused on Luna who had started to laugh along with all the other students leaving Alice as the only one still looking mortified. "Luna?" Seymour frowned and grabbed onto her shoulder which was still shaking slightly under his fingers. "I… It's a-lright. Just a joke. I… can clean it up." With her shivering hands Luna waved her wand over her robes and slowly began filtering off the dripping blood.

"Luna it's not alright, look at you. We have to tell someone." Alice pushed her words out in a croaky voice before using her own wand to help drain off the red liquid.

"No… it's a-lright. I'm…" her quiet voice trailed off as she struggled to smile at the many laughing faces walking past.

"No it's not bloody alright Luna. Stop laughing it's not funny!" Seymour had no idea why he was losing his temper with her and hated himself for it but he couldn't shake the image of Malfoy's gloating smile from his head.

"Why are you shouting?" she questioned gazing back at him looking hurt at his raised voice.

"Luna you can't just laugh something like that off. People hiding your stuff is one thing but Malfoy doing something like this is going way too far. Stop laughing!"

"Why? They've done worse. It's alright Seymour I don't mind. It's only gotten on me anyway." Luna's smile was softer this time as she grabbed onto the arm of his robe looking encouragingly into his face.

Seymour wretched his arm away and instantly felt disgusted with himself but every part of him was still shaking with rage as he tore off down the hall away from his two friends in the direction he'd seen Malfoy leave. He pushed people out his way and didn't glance back once as he bolted down the steps of the entrance hall and out into the courtyard. His eyes instantly narrowed on the wave on silvery blonde hair that was walking only a few yards ahead of him.

"Did you see their faces. I thought Loony was going to throw up for a second there." Malfoy relished in his joy and strolled between Crabbe and Goyle still chuckling between themselves. "Shame that wasn't a real wand I used, could do with a few less freaks like that about."

Seymour steamed over the remaining space and wrench Malfoy around the neck before slamming him into the wall beside them. He latched his fingers around the boys throat.

"I'll kill you!" he spat at Malfoy who for a brief instant was frozen in shock against the stone wall before a large club of a hand swung over Seymour's shoulder and thumped him on the side of the head. He fell sideways and clattered onto the floor crashing his elbow into the cold ground. He squinted up through the twinkling lights in his eyes to see both Crabbe and Goyle staring menacingly back in front Malfoy who was gasping for air with his hands massaging his throat. Seymour heaved himself up and grunted heavily before launching himself between the two large boys grabbing at Malfoy but being thrown hard into the wall by Goyle who held him their as Crabbe struck him hard in the stomach with a fist that felt more akin to a cannonball. Seymour gasped for air as Malfoy stepped in front of him, his face a violent pink, his hair all over the front of his face.

"How dare you!" he growled striking Seymour in the mouth with a shaking fist.

"Say you're sorry!" Seymour screamed spitting out the blood that rimmed his mouth. Malfoy gave a high pitch laugh and hit him again.

"You're as mad as she is. When I'm finished with you you'll be fit for St. Mungo's with all the other nutters." he sneered and nodded at Crabbe who cracked his knuckles and walked forward.

"Say you're sorry." Seymour didn't take his eyes off Malfoy as he struggled to break free of Goyle's vice like grip around his neck.

"Let him go."

The voice was familiar but it took Seymour a few seconds to place it. He could just about see Robin standing behind Malfoy with his wand pointed directly at his face. "Now." Robin didn't hesitate as he rounded the group and stood next to Seymour, Goyle reluctantly relinquishing his hold on him and stepping back with Crabbe and Malfoy. "Reach for a wand and I'll make sure it won't have been worth the trouble." Robin pulled hard at Seymour's robes and dragged him away from the glaring trio who all looked poised for more trouble.

"Curse one of us and you'll have two more coming right back at you." warned Malfoy pushing the hair from his face.

"And Seymour here will be sending one your way too and considering I'll be using him as a shield I reckon I can get all three of you." Robin grinned looking at Seymour's questioning look. "Only joking."

"You'll both be sorry you even thought about taking me on." Malfoy went to reach for his wand but stopped instantly when footsteps emerged from the courtyard entrance and professor McGonagall came striding into view.

"What's going on?" she demanded glancing from one group to the other. She took one look at Seymour's bruised face and stared accusingly at Malfoy.

"...and let that be a lesson to you for calling me short." Robin grabbed Seymour in a headlock and walked away from the gathered group. "Just mucking about Professor. Got a bit out of hand. Malfoy here was going to split us up being the helpful soul he is but there was really no need." He flashed a grin at all four of them and marched off with Seymour still lodged firmly under his arm. Professor McGonagall looked as if she was about to call after them when Robin grabbed Seymour's arm and ran as fast as they could off in the other direction. When they were safely round the corner Robin let go and leaned up against the wall catching his breath.

"Phew, that was a bit too close Sey. You know full well she wouldn't have thought twice about given us detentions as well for fighting and I thought that a detention on top of getting your arse kicked wasn't something you'd want."

"Thanks." Seymour managed a grin toward his friend and sat down on the floor resting his back against the cold stone. He could feel the rush of anger and hate drain from his body as the chill from the floor filtered through him. "That was a bit daft wasn't it?" he admitted looking up smiling sheepishly.

Robin raised his eyebrows and walked around him. "A bit? More like suicide mate. I'm all for giving Malfoy a slap but how about doing it when his bodyguards aren't right next to him?" he shook his head and laughed.

"When are they not with him though?" Seymour pointed out.

"Fair point. So what was that all about? Here I am walking back from Muggle Studies and I find you being chucked about like a Fanged Frisbee." Robin stood in front of him and looked down with a smile on his face.

"Well it was Malfoy you see?" Seymour started still busy trying to stop his cheek bleeding.

"I gathered that much Sey thanks."

"Well you see Luna she…"

Robin's face dropped and all softness in his features froze up to leave him stony faced as he frowned back at him.

"Luna?" He took a step back and there was a moments silence before… "What did I tell you. Nothing but trouble you've got yourself there Sey." Robin rang out angrily as he paced back and forth in front of him.

"You weren't there Rob, you didn't see what happened he-"

"I don't care Seymour. That doesn't mean you have to leap into action every time she-"

"She didn't ask me to go after him I just couldn't stand…" Seymour trailed off and he felt a dull pain rest in his stomach as he remembered Luna's face just before he went after Malfoy. "She didn't ask me to-"

"So why are you getting involved? If I'd known it was over her I'd-"

"You'd what Rob, leave me to get my head kicked in?" Seymour scrambled to his feet and brushed off his torn robes.

"I didn't mean that I just-"

"Look can we just forget it. Please. Thanks for helping me." Seymour grabbed Robin by the shoulder and patted it heavily.

"You'd do the same right?" Robin smiled back and let the tense atmosphere fade.

"No." Seymour grinned back and they both walked towards the great hall.

"What on earth happened to you?" Lloyd asked in shock as Seymour slumped down into the seat opposite him at the Gryffindor table.

"Nothing… it's all right." he added noting Alice rising from her chair.

"Seymour you idiot!" she moaned grabbing a napkin and leaning over to wipe the blood from his mouth.

"How's Luna?" he asked using his wand to fix the tear in his robes.

"Oh you've remembered her now have you?" accused Alice shaking her head angrily. "I had to stop her chasing off after you. She thinks you're angry with her."

"It's obvious who I was angry with why does she think that?" asked Seymour glancing over at the Ravenclaw table to find Luna gazing vacantly into her soup.

"Well you did kind of shout at her didn't you? I think she thinks she embarrassed you or something. She went a bit quiet to be honest after I got her here."

"I didn't mean to be so… it's just I don't get her sometimes." Seymour leaned on his arm and began to half heartedly eat his chicken soup.

"Sometimes? That's less the rest of us Seymour, what did she do this time anyway?" Robin gave him a disgruntled look before shoving half a bread roll into his mouth. Seymour quietly explained what happened and when he had finished Robin gawped back in silence displaying a rather unpleasant sight of his half chewed roll in his open mouth. He swallowed hard and cast a quick look over at Luna.

"Well that was pretty rotten, I mean it would scare you half to death wouldn't it but…" he dared a furtive glance towards Seymour before adding, "It's not as if she does anything to help her situation though is it?"

Alice groaned and Lloyd decided it was better to concentrate heavily on his empty soup bowl. "Don't start this again Rob, I said drop it." Seymour dropped his spoon and looked away from his friends.

"All I'm saying is look at the girl, go on look." Seymour rolled his eyes but did as Robin asked and peered over the heads of the other students to where Luna was still sitting now half heartedly dipping her fork into her shepherds pie. "Take the way she dresses. Those earrings wouldn't look out of place on a Christmas tree and the wand behind her ear really tops them off I think you'll agree. She swans around in the weirdest combination of colours and wouldn't look out of place in the Weird Sisters half the time."

"But I've always liked the way she dresses. I mean it takes a bit of getting used to but it works for her don't you think?" Seymour remarked defensively as Robin let out a moan and carried on.

"Then what about all the rubbish she spouts about Nargles, Turnquelps and all that other stuff?"

"What about it?"

"Oh come on Sey, don't tell me you believe all that?" Robin focused hard on him as Seymour frowned back.

"Well not all of it but so what?"

"Well when is she not spouting on about something her Dad's told her exists or some weird breed of Cacklelump they've discovered in Romania."

"What's a Cacklelump?"

"That's precisely my point Seymour, I don't have a clue. It was something she was telling me about in Potions last Monday and she was completely oblivious to the fact I couldn't give a toads liver about them. They're a type of Imp that chews on frog spawn and turns into… anyway that's beside the point do you really think it helps that she spouts this stuff out loud when rotten gits like Malfoy can hear her?"

"Yeah but she's a laugh, a bit blunt some times but far more interesting than creeps like Malfoy."

"Oh yeah lots of fun, like that time in Potions when you were too busy discussing Wrackspurts with her to realise Snape was talking to you, how was that detention by the way?"

"Brilliant, Luna turned up in her bright yellow pyjamas because she said was going straight to bed afterwards. Snape looked like he was going to explode, he-"

"Oh I give up! If you want to skip around with her and receive another cut or two like the one above your eye then be my guest. But I'll be waiting for the day you turn up to dinner in a luminous green overcoat spouting some nonsense about a levitating self peeling banana to slap you with a nice I told you so, how about that?" Robin grabbed another pasty from the platter in the middle of the table and began chomping through it like a disgruntled toddler.

"Sounds great Rob. If you'll excuse me." Seymour rose from the table and walked off leaving Alice and Lloyd looking down like they'd just discovered how fascinating the pattern on the table was. Robin didn't look at him and continued to sit and stew over another helping of mash potato.

Seymour made to leave the hall but changed his mind and walked over to the Ravenclaw table. He approached Luna and settled down in the empty space next to her. She didn't say anything but studied the cuts on his face before going back to her dinner. "I thought you'd be happier all things considered." he said with a grin motioning towards her shepherds pie. She smiled and looked back up at his face, the typical far off look she often displayed was replaced with something more substantial as she once again glanced over his injuries. "Are you ok?" he asked casting a look at her robes which were now spotless.

She nodded back. "It was only fake blood, no lasting damage. It was a nice colour though wasn't it?" she added forcing a small laugh.

"I think yellow's more your colour personally." he smiled back. "Could I talk to you outside for a second?" he asked motioning towards the hall entrance. "If you don't mind me taking you away from your dinner that is?"

She nodded and pushed her plate away. "Of course." They both got up and walked outside the hall. Seymour ignored all the staring eyes that followed them and continued to walk until they were outside in the empty courtyard. He led them over towards one of the tall trees that sat in the corner and stood staring up at the last of the evening sun filtering through the gaps in the branches.

"Luna I'm really sorry." he began turning to face her. She looked up at him with her eyes open wide. "I'm sorry for shouting at you like that and running off like a stupid prat when you were still covered in that stuff." He leaned up against the tree and fidgeted with his arms awkwardly.

"Why are you sorry?" she asked walking over and running her hand over the bark of the tree. "I should be the one to apologise." She smiled and leaned next to him looking out over towards the distant hills on the other side of the black lake.

"What for?" Seymour frowned and looked down at her. "Well sometimes I forget that you're probably not used to stuff like this happening all the time. I sometimes have so much fun that I can forget that to most people things like that would be rather embarrassing. I do know that some people think I'm abit on the odd side so of course you'd feel embarrassed to be around-"

"You don't embarrass me." Seymour cut in as she continued to look out into the grounds.

"That very nice of you to say that Seymour but I don't think that's-"

"Luna." he gave her a nudge with his shoulder forcing her to look up into his face, he smiled but kept looking straight at her, "You don't embarrass me." Luna stood there in silence for a while looking at him. "Well at least not in a bad way." he grinned, "All friends are suppose to be embarrassing sometimes, it would hardly be any fun if they weren't don't you agree?"

Luna still hadn't said anything but the look on her face was a complete contrast to that when she was sitting at the dinner table. She smiled and nodded eagerly before finally speaking, "Ok, I'll accept your apology if you promise me one thing then?"

"What's that?"

"Never do something like that again." She fixed him with a serious stare and pointed to the cuts on his face. Seymour rubbed his hand over them and looked away.

"Oh these I just forgot about the stupid vanishing step on my way back down to dinner. Peeves wouldn't stop laughing."

"No you didn't." She shook her head and smiled slightly but nudged him back and stared at him. "I'd be lying if I said you doing something like that didn't make me slightly happy but… promise me you won't do it again." she stepped in front of him and crossed her arms. "Please. I don't want you to get hurt because of me."

"Ok Luna I promise." He smiled and itched his nose, "But to be honest at least now I know fighting is not one of my talents, I'm clearly rubbish at it."

"Well your hearts in the right place. You might just have a case of Loser's Lurgy" Luna poked him in the chest and stifled a laugh to spare his feelings.

"Are you still hungry?" he asked motioning back to the busy dinner hall.

"Not really." She shook her head and turned to watch the sun hover just above the large hills on it's dissent underneath the sky line.

"Come on then." Without another word he grabbed hold of her hand and pulled her along out of the courtyard and towards Hagrid's cabin.

"Where to?" she asked as she willingly followed.

"Just come, trust me you'll like it." They carried on walking down the slightly wet grassy slope and were passing Hagrid's pumpkin patch when a small voice appeared from behind them.

"Hi Luna, Seymour." Marie the first year Hufflepuff girl they had met earlier was sitting on a tree stump near by with her robe rapped tightly around her.

"Marie." called Luna walking over to her dragging Seymour along with her. "What are you doing out here?" she asked stopping in front of her with a warm smile on her face.

"I love it out here. All the weird creatures they've got at Hogwarts are fascinating. Did you know Hagrid the gamekeeper's got his very own Hippogriff?" Marie smiled back and motioned towards the giant's tiny cabin which was billowing a soft plume of smoke from it's chimney.

"Yeah it's lovely isn't it. It's nice he's got one to replace Buckbeak. Hagrid's great with animals." Luna knelt down next to her and also wrapped her robes tightly around her knees.

"Hagrid was saying he'd seen men killed by Hippogriffs before but this one was really gentle, it let me pat him and everything." Marie beamed at them both but shivered slightly against the wind. "Where are you two going?"

"Seymour's going to show me something, don't know what it is but he say's it'll be good." Luna stood up and grabbed hold of his hand again.

"Do you want to come too?" Seymour asked noting Marie's curious look.

"Can I?" Marie looked delighted and rose to her feet.

"Of course you can." Luna replied happily and Seymour felt her give his hand a soft squeeze.

"As long as you don't mind going in there a little way." Seymour nodded towards the thick trees of the forbidden forest.

"In there?" Marie noted with a shudder. "But we're not supposed to."

"That's what makes it fun." pointed out Seymour with a grin. Marie took a further glance into the deeply shadowed growth of the forest before nodding.

"Ok as long as it's not too far."

Seymour nodded back and looked at Luna who stared back with a frown. "How come you didn't ask me If I was alright with going in there?" she asked with a begrudging smile.

"I knew you'd be alright, a place like that isn't going to scare you is it?" Seymour explained with a grin to which Luna nodded in agreement and looked rather pleased. "But stick together, I know the way in and the path's safe but it's still the Forbidden Forest." The two girls nodded and they edged their way into the overgrown edge of the forest's entrance. They didn't have any problem on the way as Seymour had walked the path many times before but the three of them still huddled together closely as the remaining sunlight lit their way between the long branches and heavily grown plants. When they had reached a large clearing in the path Seymour put up his hand and motioned for them to follow him around the outskirts. He led them over towards a large rock in the distance and pointed towards it.

"Take a look." Seymour whispered keeping out of sight behind an over turned tree root.

"At what?" Luna asked but froze when the huge boulder sat up and scratched it's hairy head giving out a massive yawn that shuddered the soil beneath them. "Oh my…" Luna gazed at the creature amazed as it stood up and grabbed a near by branch to scratch it's back with. "It's a giant." She noted with an amazed grin.

"Hagrid's half brother to be exact." Seymour added watching the two girls stare at the huge person in awe.

"Really?" asked Marie looking just as interested as Luna.

"I think so, I heard Harry talking about him with Ron and Hermione in the library last year. They were talking about having to go and visit him that night. I told Robin about it and he thought it would be a good idea to try and find him." Seymour watched the giant wrap his massive chubby fingers around a nearby tree trunk and wrench it from the ground before throwing it back down. "I mean me and Rob had gone wandering in here before, thought we were being big and clever. Which proves how stupid we both are… but when we finally found Grawp here we both screamed and ran for it."

"Is that his name, Grawp?" Luna asked still transfixed.

"I think so, he says it a lot anyway. But we can't tell anyone about him being here, I don't think Hagrid wants people to know… although it's not exactly easy to keep the presence of a giant secret."

"This is amazing Seymour. Daddy says Giants are some of the most misunderstood people in the wizarding world." said Luna stepping out from the massive root.

"Err Luna where are you going?" Seymour made to pull her back but she was too far out as she continued to walk towards the giant. "Luna." Seymour tried to keep his voice low but began to edge out himself before being pulled back by Marie.

"What's she doing, is she crazy?" Marie was biting her lip and watched nervously as Luna continued to approached Grawp.

"Well I wouldn't say crazy but this is a new one." Seymour watched with baited breath.

"It's alright." noted Luna looking back at them smiling. Grawp span round and looked towards the ground for the source of the disturbance. He spotted Luna and advanced on her only stopping when the rope tied to his leg pulled at the largest tree in the clearing. "Hello." Luna greeted him with a tiny wave and stared up at his towering frame.

"GRAHHHHH!" the sound was ear splitting as the giant groaned in her direction grasping his hands out at her.

"GRAWWWWW!" Luna let out straight back at him lifting her head high and her arms up in the air. The giant shuffled backwards and stared at the girl in confusion. "That sounded like a hello didn't it?" she asked looking back at her two dumbstruck companions.

"How would we know? Come back." hissed Seymour edging out once again towards her.

"He's alright Seymour. Just bored I assume. I would be if I was left here all day with nothing to do." She took another step forward and waved once again at Grawp who stared back in interest. He shuffled over and sat down only a few yards away with an almighty thud.

"HAGGER!" he said cocking his head to the side.

"Don't be daft do I look like Hagrid?" she pointed out waving her finger. "No I'm Luna." she pointed at her self and spoke slowly. "L-u-n-a."

The giant didn't take his eyes off her as she stood only a few metres from his grasp. He scratched his chest and leaned forward. "LUNY?"

"Close enough… have you been talking to Malfoy?" She took another step closer and smiled at him holding out her hand towards his club like fingers.

"Luna don't. Marie if I die can you tell them I went in a far more heroic way than this." Seymour cried as he dashed into the clearing making his way over to Luna when Grawp reached out his hand and grasped Luna's arm, lifting her up off the ground. "This isn't good." Seymour ran as fast as he could and grabbed onto Luna's waist but Grawp lifted the two of them easily, higher and higher off the ground. "Luna what are you doing?" Seymour shouted grasping onto her with all his might.

"It's alright Seymour he just doesn't know his own strength that's all." Luna spoke calmly even though they were now dangling from the hand of a twenty foot giant man. "Let go Grawp, let go." she said it loudly but in as soft a tone as always while they swung over a particularly high patch of weeds.

"Err Luna hang on don't say that." but it was too late. Grawp obeyed and released the two of them, instantly plummeting them both deep into the towering weeds. They both rolled down the hill they were on until coming to a crashing halt at the base of a large oak tree. Seymour lay on his back and blinked hard trying to clear his blurred vision and was greeted by the sight of Luna's large grey eyes staring down at him.

"You alright?" he asked as she pushed back her tangled mass of hair from her face.

"Yes perfectly fine. I landed on something soft."

"That's me." he groaned as she pushed herself up and sat up on top of him.

"Thank you." she smiled patting his chest. "That was a bit unexpected wasn't it?"

"Yeah well we got down didn't we, mind you couldn't you have said put us down instead of let us go?" he asked pulling bits of twig from her hair.

"Well to be honest I might have panicked just a tiny bit." she smiled sheepishly.

"You panic? Never."

"Well he is still a giant Seymour and I was dangling from his hand at the time." They both started laughing and only stopped when Marie appeared from the top of the clearing.

"Are you alright?" she called making her way down the hill and coming to a halt to help Luna up.

"Perfectly fine. A few bumps but nothing out of the ordinary." chimed Luna offering a hand to Seymour who was still tangled in the long weeds.

"For you maybe." he grimaced taking her hand and hauling himself to his feet. "I've had more cuts and bruises this year than all the rest combined. I wonder why that is?" he said with a grin before walking back up the hill to where Grawp was now lying on his back, letting out a massive yawn and scratching his large belly.

"You were right though Seymour, this is amazing." Luna stood next to him and watched the Giant drift back off to sleep in wonderment.

"The sun's almost down, I think we had better be heading back." Seymour looked up but had little chance of seeing anything through the heavy trees. The last of the days light was struggling to make any impact as the forest grew steadily darker. The three of them carefully wove their way back through the rough terrain until the fresh breeze from the open grounds began to run across their faces. The distant talk and laughter from the students still outside rattled off in the distance as they stood at the edge of the forest.

"We'd better take the long way back just in case we run into anyone." suggested Seymour as he turned towards the distant black lake.

"Wait, I've left my bag at Hagrid's. I'll run on ahead before it gets dark." Marie cast a worried look towards the sky as the sun was taking a final peak at them on the horizon.

"You're not scared of the dark are you?" asked Seymour noting her troubled expression.

"Of course not." even in the dim light he could see Marie's cheeks flush red but didn't say anything.

"Do you want us to come with you?" asked Luna burying her neck into her robe.

"No that's ok, like you said if we all get caught we'll be in big trouble, I'll just say I was visiting Hagrid, he can back me up." Marie waved and trotted off towards the distant light of the gamekeepers cabin before spinning around and smiling. "Thanks for bringing me along. It was fun, a bit scary… but fun."

"Anytime." They both watched her leave before turning round to make towards the black lake.

"She seems to be feeling better?" Seymour noted as they slowly walked across the grounds.

"She does doesn't she? I know what she means when she talks about loving it out here." Luna smiled and skipped in front of Seymour with her hands in her pockets. "I'd take every lesson outside if they'd let me."

"Oh I could just imagine Snape conducting a potions lesson whilst sunbathing near the black lake."

Luna laughed but came to halt as they approached the edge of the water. "Ooh Doxiebells." Luna purred with affection as she knelt by a small patch of flowers peaking from the grass. The vivid blue and red flower swayed lazily in the wind, it's large petals rippling and dancing as if to a silent tune. "It was my mum's favourite." Luna grinned up at Seymour as he knelt down next to her to examine the plant.

"I see she had the same taste for bright colours." He studied Luna's content face as she gazed at the flower longingly.

"I used to always wander off when I was little so the first thing she did was stick me in this luminous yellow jumper with red flashing moons on it. I stood out like a sore thumb but she said at least I'd look pretty and be easy to find at the same time." she laughed to herself and rose to her feet.

"Luna, Seymour?"

The voice approached from a distance as Professor Goodwin's dragon skin boots crunched across the grass. "What are you two doing out here this late?" he asked throwing a questioning look between the two of them. Seymour avoided his piercing stare as he answered,

"Just out walking Professor, didn't realise it was getting so late."

The professor cast his eyes over the fading grounds before looking back at the two of them with a sceptical look. "Do you normally go for walks covered in grass and dirt?" he asked. Seymour looked at Luna beside him. It was true she was indeed covered in grass from her previous handshake with Grawp and she still had a few twigs and leaves poking from her long locks of tangled hair.

"Oh… er, we were just… you see-"

"So we are." exclaimed Luna looking at Seymour with a dismayed look. "That was probably from when we were on the ground wasn't it." She reached out and plucked a stray twig from Seymour's hair and cast it onto the floor smiling serenely back at the professor.

"Thanks Luna. Professor she doesn't mean-"

"Look I remember what it was like to be young, just about." the professor began with a telling smile, "But don't you think it best to conduct these "walks" somewhere more private?" He narrowed his eyes and focused more on Seymour than Luna the latter remained oblivious and was taking more notice of the Giant squid's waving tentacle in the lake than she was of her teacher. She waved back at it as Seymour tried desperately not to laugh whilst wrestling with the task of not casting further suspicion on them both.

"Anyway." Professor Goodwin once again looked out towards the Forbidden Forest and brought his long cloak around himself as the wind began to pick up. "Back to the castle with you. I've got something great planned for our next lesson I just have to catch it first." The professor smiled weakly, nodding towards the forest. He seemed in a hurry and was already walking away from them as he called back. "See you in class, I hope you've done that essay on the Furnunculus curse like I asked you?"

Seymour had in fact failed to even make a start on it so didn't answer as he quickly walked off towards the welcoming castle. "What do you reckon he's going in there for? Something for class… you don't think he knows about Grawp do you?" Seymour asked Luna as she walked alongside him.

"I doubt it Seymour, he'd have trouble fitting someone like Grawp into the classroom wouldn't he?"

"Oh yeah." They strolled into the courtyard as the last few students filtered into the warmth of the great hall.

"Why was he so concerned about us walking down by the lake do you think? And why did he want us to walk in private? Maybe he saw us coming out of the forest and was trying to trick us into telling the truth." Luna pondered thoughtfully.

"No I don't think that's what he meant Luna." he said casting an awkward look in her direction.

"Oh you don't think he thought that we were going out together do you?" she asked with an amused look on her face.

"Well maybe… yeah I suppose that's what he meant."

"Why on earth would he think that?" Luna laughed and shook her head as they walked up the large steps into the entrance hall.

"Well you know it's just that-"

"He couldn't of picked a more unlikely pair could he?" she smiled back still chuckling. Seymour frowned and shoved his hands in his pockets.

"Well it's not that far fetched is it?" He tried with little success to hide the aggrievement in his tone.

"Most people seem to think me and Neville go together well. It must have something to do with us both being into plants I suppose, then again-"

"Yeah well let's both get up to bed before we get slapped with a weeks detention." Seymour stalked up the stairs with Luna following behind him, feeling his good mood slowly fading with every step he took.

"Don't burn, don't burn."

Seymour slumped into the free armchair by the fire in the Gryffindor common room and loosened the neck of his robes. Robin who was busy toasting crumpets by the fire looked up and greeted him with an uneven smile. "Alright mate?" he asked shovelling the slightly burnt crumpets onto a plate and jumping into the chair opposite him. Seymour hadn't forgotten their little disagreement in the great hall but wasn't keen to bring it up when every part of his body was crying out for sleep.

"Alright." he mumbled frowning as he gazed lazily into the fire.

"What's got up your nose?" he asked as he smothered one of his crumpets with jam.

"Nothing." Seymour tried his best to grin and wasn't prepared to tell him the real reason for his bad mood.

"Well cheer up. Look, I grabbed these from the kitchen, go on have one." He offered him half an eaten crumpet, the jam slopping off onto the floor as he did so.

"I'm good thanks." Seymour waved his hand and cast his attention to the floor where Lloyd was busy explaining to Alice where she had gone wrong on her potions homework. Alice nodded vaguely but her eyes wandered hazily until they rested on Seymour.

"When did you get here?" she asked cutting Lloyd off mid sentence. He rolled his eyes and sat back shaking his head before also looking in Seymour's direction.

"I've been here for hours. Don't tell me you were so involved in your homework that you didn't hear me come in."

"Oh shut up, you know I don't like potions. I mean I just can't be bothered to even try sometimes." she answered before casting an apologetic look towards Lloyd who was mumbling something that sounded a lot like "I don't know why I bother" under his breath.

"I'm here for moral support… and sustenance." Robin added waving a crumpet under Alice's nose before having his hand slapped away. "So where did you and Luna go after your dramatic exit from the hall?" Robin enquired sniggering under his breath.

"What do you mean dramatic?" Seymour asked looking over at Alice and Lloyd who also looked intrigue as to where he'd gone.

"Well you didn't come back did you? I suggested that maybe she'd turned you into a radish to keep in her pocket but here you are so I guess I was wrong." Robin grinned.
Seymour chose to ignore this comment and explained about the meeting with Grawp in a hushed whisper.

"Oh you didn't Seymour? I swear you're going to get yourself squashed one of these days." Alice admonished him with a stern look.

"Do you remember when we found him Seymour? I swear I almost wet myself, we must have ran all the way back to castle." Robin chuckled merrily, leaning back in his chair. "Alice nearly cried when she got to see him didn't she, ah good times."

Alice went red and glared at Robin for a good few second before rounding on Seymour, "You're behind on your Dark Arts homework as well, don't you think time spent needlessly risking your life at the hands of Grawp would be better spent actually contributing to your education?"

Seymour forced himself not to smile and nodded solemnly. "Sorry Alice but I'm sure Lloyd will give us a hand won't you Llo-"

"Oh no he won't. Lloyd isn't just here as a portable professor we can use when we can't be bothered to do the work ourselves." Alice cut in before Lloyd could answer. Seymour thought this was a bit rich considering she was in the process of using the portable professor at that very moment but didn't say anything and was put at ease when Lloyd nodded back at his questioning look behind Alice's back not daring to let her see.

"I didn't know we were telling other people about Grawp?" Robin grumbled from his chair munching on the last piece of his snack.

"You wanted to show Ginny the day after we found him." Seymour reminded him with an annoyed frown.

"Well at least I didn't do it just to impress a girl."

"Yes you did."

"Well alright I did but Ginny wouldn't have told anyone would she?" Robin pointed out chucking his paper plate into the fire.

"What and Luna will?" Seymour asked defensively.

"Well I just didn't think we were telling anyone about him that's all. I'm going to bed." Robin jumped off his chair and stomped off towards the boys dormitory without a glance back. Seymour was too tired to care and instead sat in front the comforting glow of the fire watching Lloyd rewrite over half of Alice's essay. He was broken from his mind melt when Ginny called his name from across the common room. She'd just come through the Fat Ladie's portrait and sat on the arm of his chair holding her hands towards the heat of the flames.

"You've got a visitor." she said with a small smile floating on her lips. She then hummed merrily to herself casting quick glances at his face.

"Are you going to tell me who?" he asked sitting up in his seat and peering over at the closed portrait.

"Who else would pay you a visit just before lights out at the risk of getting a months worth of detentions?" Ginny continued to smile but frowned in dismay as Seymour continued to look questioningly at her. "Oh just go talk to Luna will you, then I can have your chair." She pushed him off and sunk into his place wrapping her arms around her legs looking like a cat.

"Luna? Why's she here?" he asked no one in particular and wandered over towards the common room entrance. The portrait swung open as he approached and he was greeted by the eagerly smiling face of Luna still wrapped in her winter robe as she beamed up at him. "Luna what are you do-"

"Seymour I've found it!" she announced grabbing his hand and shaking it up and down.

"Found what?" he asked with a worried look.

"The grim Seymour, I've found it, I really have."