"The Grim? W-what are you talking about?" Seymour grabbed her shoulders to stop her bouncing on the spot and peered at her face.
"Honestly I have. You've got to come and see." She grabbed hold of his hand and pulled but turned round when he didn't move.
"Hang on, hang on. Where did you see it?" He fixed her with the look you'd give a delirious patient, he continued to search into her large grey eyes which were alive with excitement.
"Down by the lake, just now. I sneaked back out to go pick some of those Doxiebells. I was only going to take a few and then head to bed but then I saw it Seymour! I really did. It was over by the Forbidden Forest just prowling up and down at the entrance.I bet it's still there now, oh you've got to see it." she exclaimed making to pull his hand again.
"But Luna it's a Grim, a death omen. Why would I want to voluntarily go and seek out a death omen." He shifted his glance to the common room on the other side of the portrait where Alice, Lloyd and Ginny were watching them with silly grins plastered on their faces, clearly unable to hear what they were talking about.
"It didn't kill me did it? It was definitely a Grim though, it was big and black and it's eyes, oh it's eyes you should see them." Luna let go of his hand and took a step back. "If you don't want to see then that's ok. I'm going to go have one more look before I go to bed." She gave him a smile and rubbed her hands together gleefully before turning on foot only stopping when he grabbed her shoulder.
"Alright, alright. If you're going to go no matter what then I guess I'll come."
Luna clapped her hands happily then stood with them behind her back as he ventured back into the common room making his way over towards the chair by the fire. "Get off my scarf Ginny I need it." He grabbed hold of the end of it and pulled it out from under her. She simpered at him with a glint in her eye,
"Where are you off to Mr Turner at such a late hour hmm?" Alice and Lloyd also shifted closer to him with baited interest.
"Nowhere." He wrapped his scarf around his hand and turned to leave but then spun round when he felt a book hit him in the back. Alice was fixing him with a penetrating stare and folded her arms in front of her.
"Seymour where are you going?" she demanded in her usual tone.
"Just… out." he flashed her a smile but she didn't falter.
"Seymour we're not suppose to be out of the common room now. If you get caught-"
"Then I'll look pretty daft won't I? Come on Alice I'm just going to walk with Luna back to her common room and then I'll come back, ok?"
"I don't see why she can't walk back by herself." but the mention of Luna's name softened her voice somewhat.
"Oh you know Luna, I just want to make sure she doesn't get distracted by any Nargtruffles or Brillopods she might encounter along the way."
Alice smiled and rolled her eyes before going back to her homework. "Well if you get caught you've only got yourself to blame."
"Excellent." Seymour gave them a quick wave before trotting off back to the portrait where Luna was still waiting patiently. Even though he felt it unlikely Luna had actually seen a Grim he had to admit he still felt intrigued to find out what it was she had seen.
"Come on then Luna let's go find this Grim of yours but if I die I swear I'm coming back to haunt you."
Carefully the two of them crept down the hallways with one ear out for possible approaching footsteps of patrolling teachers. The moonlit windows lead the way as they kept close to the shadows not daring to talk until they finally breathed in the fresh air of the courtyard. The moon swelled high in the sky amongst the scattered stars peaking form behind the random stretches of grey cloud. Despite the relatively calm outlook a heavy atmosphere sunk into their skin as they felt the icy run of October wind bluster their arms and faces. Luna shuddered and pulled on a pair of bottle green coloured gloves she'd retrieved from her pocket.
"Oh that reminds me, here you go." Seymour pulled his house scarf from around his arm and handed it to Luna who looked down at it before asking,
"But won't you be cold? I can manage without one if you want to use it."
"Well I don't need it but if you don't want it I'll just take it back." he grinned and reached out for it only to have it snatched away quickly from his grasp.
"No I'll have it." Luna smirked back at him and began to wrap it snugly round her neck then tucking it down the front of her robes as they proceeded through the grounds making sure not to encounter any wandering teacher as they went.
"It's quiet." Seymour pointed out as they stood at the edge of the grounds over looking a seemingly never ending sea of black. The shadows of the trees from the Forbidden Forest remained eerily still in the distance and nothing bar the whistle of the wind could be heard in the night air.
"Something's got the place spooked." explained Luna as they tentatively wandered over the soft grass towards the black lake. "I bet it's the Grim, it's suppose to have that effect of the things around it. A sense of overwhelming fear that would render the grumpiest troll silent."
"Is that how you felt when you saw it?" Seymour cast his eyes forth desperately seeking any sign of movement in the vast space between them and the forest.
"Not at all but then I was a fair distance away. To be honest I was more surprised I didn't drop down dead more than anything."
"And then you thought let's go get Seymour and see if he drops down dead?"
Luna tried to look hurt but burst out laughing. "Well yes but also I can't conduct the first outing of the Wild and Weird Side of Wizarding club without having my vice chairman present could I?" she casually explained as they approached the edge of the lake.
"What do you mean vice chairman? Luna?" Seymour desperately tried to get her attention but she was too busy looking for the Grim.
"And as vice chairman I think you should be helping me find it don't you think? If two people have seen it then that makes it a lot more believable. People have a tendency to take what I say as either myth or pure superstition when it's all based on cold hard facts."
"Yeah well that may well be true but about this whole Vice Chairman thing I-"
"Shhh." Luna pressed her finger to her lips and lightly clamped her hand around his mouth. "Can you hear that?"
Seymour strained his ears as a slow crunching noise sounded somewhere in the distance. It sounded like a slow pacing, muffled by the fallen leaves.
"Keep your eyes peeled." she said as the sound drifted away. It had only occurred to Seymour now that if such a creature be it a Grim or any other type of hellish animal was to appear they weren't very well equipped to deal with it. Two fledgling wizards was barely a match for anything that could survive out in those woods and Seymour couldn't help feeling the back of his neck tingle as they paced along the edge of the black lake, it's water lapping silently only a few inches away.
"So where did you see it last time?" asked Seymour looking beside him to find Luna nowhere to be seen. "Luna?"
"Over here." Luna had managed to wander further afoot and was crouching down at the edge of the lake carefully transporting one of the Doxiebells into a small bell jar, bewitching it to hang suspended in the middle. "Doesn't it look cheerful?" she pointed out as the flower continued to dance serenely in the jar.
"Yeah it does but Luna what about the looming omen of death you happened to see the last time you were here. Where was it?"
Luna stood up and pointed off into the distance. They were still a good stretch away from the forest's entrance but now it was possible to make out the separate trees and the gaps between them. Nothing seemed to be stalking the outskirts, nor did any hunched beast appear to be prowling anywhere else in the vicinity. Luna frowned as she tucked the bell jar into her robes. "It was here Seymour I promise. It didn't seemed to have noticed me before and just kept pacing back and forth through the trees. I've never seen anything like it." They remained motionless in the midst of the stifling darkness peering out into the night.
"You do believe me don't you?" she asked looking up at his face.
Seymour sighed heavily and smiled, "Of course I do but are you certain it wasn't just Witherwings? I'm always seeing him chasing birds through the forest."
"No, it was too small to be a Hippogriff. It was about the same size as a young Crumple-Horned Snorkack."
"And how big's that?" Seymour asked taking his eyes off his search and copping Luna with a confused look.
"Well probably the size of a Grim I suppose." Luna explained as she continued to look on. Seymour shook his head and shrugged before freezing in place, he felt Luna stop still as well as a long low growl emanated from the lake behind them.
They both inched round on the spot, their eyes darting from left to right searching for the sound when a large four legged creature caped in shadow slinked towards them from the edge of the lake. It's feet paced slowly in the water not taking it's piercing eyes off them with every step. As it drew closer it was clear that the creature was indeed some kind of dog but it's size was larger than your average canine. It's sharp silver teeth glistened in the moonlight with long trails of saliva trailing off them into the lake. It long sleek black coat was soaking wet and matted to it's large frame, it's round hunched shoulders receded high up it's back as it gained on them with every inch.
Seymour could feel Luna clasp hold of his hand as they both slowly walked backwards not daring to take their eyes off the monstrous sight before them. "L-Luna." Seymour's mouth was completely dry as he reached into his robe for his wand. "Right don't panic. Have you got your wand?"
Luna clumsily grabbed it from behind her ear and squeezed his hand.
"When I say we both hit it with a stunning spell ok? Then run as fast as you can."
Luna fell stumbling backwards but Seymour kept a firm hold of her hand and kept her standing as the beast continued to slowly gain on them, snarling and growling, it's snout pinched high, it's eyes thirsty. "Ready-" They both slowly pointed their wands at the creature and took a deep breath.
"NOW!" In a blinding flash of red both their wands shot a spell at the creature which rose up ready to pounce before being hit in the face with one of the spells, the other missed by inches and disappeared into the water. "Run!" without waiting to see if the monster and fallen he pulled Luna's arm and ran as fast as he could towards the bright lights of the castle. They'd only gotten a few yards across the lawn when a pounding of paws approached from behind them. Obviously the one spell wasn't enough to stop the beast. In a sudden wave of panic he felt Luna's hand slip from his grasp and he desperately reached out to catch it again but she'd already turned and began to run back towards the darkness of the Forbidden Forest.
"LUNA!" Seymour cried turning and chasing after her.
"We can't lead it towards the school!" she shouted with a heavy breath and span round pointing her wand over his shoulder. The spell she cast whistled past his ear and from the angry grunt it had apparently been successful in hitting the pursing animal hot on their heels. Every part of Seymour's body shook and ached but he forced his limbs to continue their erratic motion as they ran towards the Forbidden Forest not knowing exactly where the creature was.
"We need to lose it in the trees!" she continued grasping her wand tight but froze in motion when she glanced behind Seymour her eyes wide open in fear. Seymour turned just in time to see a large set of razor sharp teeth leap towards him out of the darkness. He fell backwards and watched as the creature launched itself over him and hit Luna with both paws, pushing her out of sight.
"No…" Seymour scrabbled to his feet with his head spinning searching for her. He turned round to find the beast pinning her to the ground with it's huge paws on top of her, it's viscous looking claws tearing into the front of her robes. It raised it's head and opened it's mouth wide before lowering it's head to sink into her neck.
Wandless Seymour ran at the beast and grabbed it round it's neck knocking it to the ground. He rolled over on top of it before smashing his head into the floor and rolling away from it. The pain was only just bearable as he felt a hot lick of blood roll down his cheek. He turned onto his back and watched as the creature pushed itself to it's feet and rounded on him, it's eyes narrowed with only one victim in mind. It began to bound over to him and was only yards away when he heard Luna scream at the top of her lungs. "Stupefy!"
The spell coursed like fire through the air and slammed into the creature knocking it onto it's back. Luna came running over and grabbed Seymour by the collar wrenching him up to his knees. "Take it." she stuffed his wand into his hand and they both sent another two spells towards the beast as it struggled to get to it's feet. Without thinking they both were running again. This time towards the castle. In the ruckus the only possible option available now was the castle no matter how admirable Luna's original intentions might have been. They bolted over the grounds without looking back, willing the beast to have given up. He could hear Luna's sharp intakes of breath beside him and grabbed hold of her hand once more as they scrambled over the remaining space with the beckoning lights from the castle windows growing ever closer.
When they were within throwing distance of the courtyard Seymour stole a glance behind his back and felt a huge jolt of relief to find nothing but darkness trailing them. There was no sign of anything in pursuit and as they clambered into the courtyard they both broke down onto the stone floor taking huge gulps of air. His chest felt fit to burst but Seymour forced himself up and pointed his wand in the direction they had come. He scanned desperately for any sign of life but realise that what ever it was that had chased them across the grounds had once again relinquished into the night.
"Luna?" he turned and crouched down beside her putting his hand on her heaving shoulder. "Luna are you ok, did it get you?"
He struggled to speak through lack of breath but relaxed slightly when she shook her head and panted. "No it's all right. Just tore my robes." She showed him before rolling onto her back taking in huge lungful of cold air. Seymour collapsed next to her and grasped his forehead. He was cut somewhere on the top of his head but it didn't feel too serious. He checked the rest of his body and felt his shakes that ruptured through his body simmer as he realise he too was ok. Seymour didn't know how long the two of them must have laid their in silence before Luna sat up and looked down at him with her face white as a sheet but with a nervous smile playing on her lips.
"Did you see it's eyes?"
Maybe it was the nerves that still juggled in his brain or the sheer panic he had just gone through but he burst out laughing and placed a shaking hand on hers. "You weren't kidding were you?" They pulled each other up and stood their for a while longer before Luna spoke again.
"We have to tell someone." she pulled out a orange handkerchief from her pocket and wiped the blood off his face.
"You're right but how do we explain being out after hours?"
"That's exactly what I would like to know?" Professor Snape's voice pounded off the stone pillars in the yard and rang in their ears. He strode over to the pair of them with a livid sneer on his face.
"Professor we need to talk to you. It's important." Seymour tried to explain but Snape just held up his hand to silence him and glared at the pair of them.
"Do you think that the rules of this school are just put in place so that students like you can break them at your leisure?" he narrowed his eyes onto Luna and then back at Seymour.
"But sir back there we were attacked. Something near the Forbidden Forest it chased us and nearly tore our heads off." Seymour didn't care if Snape looked murderous at this point and it appeared neither did Luna as she piped up beside him.
"It was a dog sir but it had huge fangs and it-"
"Near the Forbidden Forest you say?" He burned his eyes into them and crossed the arms of his long black robe around him. "Has the headmaster not made it clear enough as to why you should not go wandering off alone into that very forest. Did you take Professor Dumbledore's dire warnings to be some kind of joke." Nothing about Snape's face looked reasonable now as he poisoned them both with a look of utmost contempt.
"But sir we wasn't in the forest, it came from behind us. We were on the grounds at the time and-"
"Which is precisely why students are asked to keep to the curfew that has been put in place. A curfew you two appear to have no respect for in the least."
"You think this is a joke?" Seymour balled his hands into fists before pointing to the dry blood on his brow. "Does this look like a joke sir. Fair enough we broke the rules but there's something out there right now that just tried to kill both of us and your going to do nothing?"
Snape smiled and looked almost amused at Seymour's outburst. "I don't doubt you and Miss Lovegood have probably been falling out of trees again." He gave a brief sneering glance at Luna. "I will be checking the grounds none the less Mr Turner, I do not hold the school regulations on such a loose rope as you do. If something has indeed attacked the both of you I will take the matter in hand. You two mean while will both be receiving detentions. Let's say a month shall we? And if I find nothing out on those grounds except the black lake and the Whomping Willow you will both be receiving a further two weeks just for the absurdity of your desperate attempt of a cover story."
Seymour shook with rage but Luna grabbed his arm and shook her head. They both stared at the professor as he looked out over the grounds. "And if either of you is caught out of bed after hours again I will make sure to it personally that you will never gain the option to visit these grounds again. Do I make myself clear?" He didn't wait for an answer and with a flair of his cape he strode off into the black of the night lighting his wand and walking towards the black lake. "Get to bed now!" he stormed as he disappeared.
Seymour was furious but Luna merely watched the professor leave with a worried frown. "We can't let him go on his own can we? We know it's real and if he does find-"
"Good I hope it eats him." raged Seymour balling his fists up before catching Luna's expression and cooling down, "I don't mean it. He'll be fine. What can we do anyway?"
"Luna shrugged but didn't take her eyes off the grounds where Snape had disappeared.
"I think we scared it away with those last spells anyway. It was probably on it's way to the Forbidden Forest before it found us. I bet it's already back in there." Seymour placed a hand on her shoulder before turning towards the castle doors. "What was that anyway. It was no dog… a werewolf maybe?" he asked Luna as they slowly walked up the castle steps.
"Well I still think it was a Grim, it would make sense after seeing one in Divination." Luna looked thoughtful as she straightened her robes.
"Luna I really don't think it was the Grim, I mean we didn't die and I'm not even sure they exist." he closed his eyes and bit down on his tongue but it was too late.
"Of course it exists Seymour, not to say that everything written down in books is true but most myths no matter how old are always based on some form of truth. The Quibbler did a whole article on the Grim a few years back and there are some people that believe it doesn't have the ability to kill from sight at all. For all we know the first person to see it might have just happened to die at that very moment. Things like this happen all the time Seymour."
At least the mere suggestion that the Grim might not be real had managed to take Luna's mind away from the grounds for some time as she continued to lecture him all the way back to the Ravenclaw tower.
"No one believed in the Crumple-Horned Snorkack before the Quibbler did a full issue on them but now more people have claimed to have seen one than ever."
They both came to a halt at the door to her common room as she turned towards the large eagle door knocker. "Feed me I live, give me drink and I die. What am I?"
"Ooh that's a good one." Luna turned to Seymour with an encouraging look on her face.
Seymour frowned and shrugged his shoulders, "Err a fish?" he answered hopefully clutching at straws.
Luna smiled and patted his arm. "Well you tried." She turned round to face the eagle and answered, "I believe you would be fire."
"Correct" the knocker boomed and then the door swung open revealing the common room behind it. Luna turned back to Seymour, "I do hope Professor Snape is alright."
"He'll be fine, you can't kill someone with no heart anyway."
"Ah so you think he's not human too do you?" Luna's eyes sparked once again at the hint of a conspiracy. "Remind me to tell you my theory during Darks Arts tomorrow." She hopped over door step before fixing him with one final stare. "I really thought that thing had got me for a second back there." She cast him a look of gratitude before adding. "Thanks for pushing it off me."
Seymour blushed and dropped his wand. "That's alright Luna. Anyone would do the same right?"
"Maybe…" Luna didn't look like she agreed but smiled back at him, "But I knew you would. Goodnight." She waved at him before disappearing into the common room. Seymour watched the door swing closed before turning on foot and making his way back to his common room already his thoughts lingered on the gruelling two months worth of detentions he had to look forward to.
To Seymour's guilty disappointment Snape had not been eaten by the savage beast and was on fine form during his potions lesson the next day. Not only did he decide that Luna and Seymour should be seated at opposite ends of the room but that they would have to work in absolute silence and that no one would be allowed to speak to them for the whole two hours, which not only made the lesson a particularly boring affair but also meant that having slept late and missed breakfast Seymour had yet to discuss last nights events further with Luna nor had he told Alice, Lloyd or Robin all of whom constantly cast questioning looks his way during the lesson from the other side of the room.
Under Snape's ever watchful eye Seymour could only shrug in reply and try his best to stop the violently bubbling contents of his cauldron from turning anymore the wrong colour of red as he could. Of course unsuccessful his potion designed to boost ones memory was about as useful as a lesson spent in Robin's company. Snape took great pleasure in explaining to the class how Seymour's potion was the worst he had seen in all his years of teaching and there was a particularly joyful smirk on his face when he ordered Seymour to tip the entire contents down the sink.
It seemed that Luna had to Snape's displeasure been more successful in her own attempts but he didn't dwell on this and merely passed her efforts off as average before moving on to Robin's cauldron which was jumping up and down of the table emitting a high pitch whistle and billowing thick black rings of smoke from the top.
"Miss Lovegood you can take your first detention with me Wednesday afternoon and Mr. Turner hmmm shall we say Saturday just before supper?" Snape smiled greasily as he dismissed the class and turned towards his office.
Seymour muttered a few choice words as he stuffed his books back into his bag and was greeted by the broad grin of Robin as he strolled over to his desk. "Did you and Snape have a falling out or something? You used to be such good friends." He slung his bag onto his shoulder and laughed as Seymour glared back under his messy hair.
"What a slimy git." Lloyd helped Seymour put away his cauldron and was joined by Alice who remained quiet and continued to peer hard into his face. She was clearly still angry about the fact that Seymour hadn't returned to the common room last night until after they had gone to bed. She folded her arms and shook her head before begrudgingly handing him his wand.
"Where's Luna?" Seymour asked peering round the emptying classroom.
"She went on ahead to Defence. Said she'd meet you there." Lloyd explained as they exited the lab and made their way towards their next lesson.
"When did you get a detention with Snape?" Alice asked. Seymour didn't want to discuss it walking through the corridors but knew Alice was unlikely to let it lie until he did so he quickly described last nights events in a hushed tone as they walked. Lloyd became increasingly pale and Robin's eyebrows became more and more knitted but it was only when Alice came to a stand still causing the surge of students to edge round her that he ushered them off into an empty classroom to find some privacy.
"The Grim?" Alice squeaked with both her hands on her face. Lloyd merely swallowed heavily and Robin remained silent.
"Well no I doubt it was the Grim, after all I'm not dead… yet." he added trying not to look worried.
"But even so, to think something like that would be roaming the grounds at night. If anyone was to be out there when it attacked." Alice had discarded her agitated mood and looked clearly shaken from the news.
"Lucky me and Luna were together really, I don't think we would have stood a chance on our own."
"Must have been from the forest whatever it was. No wonder they don't want us going in there. From the things I've heard that live in there I'm not surprised." Lloyd looked thoughtful before shuddering involuntarily.
"What do you think Rob?" asked Seymour who fixed his eyes on Robin who had yet to voice any opinion. He didn't answer instantly and merely scratched his chin for a while.
"Are you sure you defiantly saw something?" he asked flitting his eyes away from Seymour for a split second.
Seymour merely gawped back before spluttering. "You aren't serious? It chased us Robin. Knocked Luna off her feet and then went for me. I didn't get this cut on my head from a trick of the moonlight." He pointed at his injury.
"Yeah fair enough but you're sounding more and more like Luna every day you know mate. I mean going off in the middle of the night to pick flowers-"
"Luna wanted them, I didn't go for that-"
"But why go in the first place. Why entertain her crazy stories at all."
"I think it's fairly obvious this wasn't one of her crazy stories Robin. What are you getting at exactly?" Seymour could feel his patience begin to ebb away as the prospect of discussing this already well worn topic began to rear it's head.
"Nothing mate. Just saying you weren't being attacked by savaged beasts of the night before you met Luna. I mean the girl's a magnet for trouble."
Seymour rolled his eyes and bit back his reply. He opened the classroom door and motioned towards the crowd of students. "Come on let's get to class."
They walked in silence until they finally approached the corridor to their Dark Arts class. Seymour was about to greet Luna when he realised she was in the middle of a rather heated discussion with a blonde haired Hufflepuff boy called Steven Parks.
"Professor Goodwin has actually been in danger, of course he's the better teacher. Harry says he's done all this stuff but what do we know. He could be lying." The boy crossed his arms and continued to stare back at Luna who shook her head.
"He's not a liar. He faced Voldermort in his first year and cast a Patronus to fend off a hoard of Dementors. He faced a group of Death Eaters at the Ministry. I was there so there's your proof of that." she replied with a determined look that bordered on anger, or as angry as Luna was able to look.
"Yeah but it's easy to say all this when he's tucked away nice and cosy at Hogwarts. You-know-who would never touch him while he's here. I heard about that thing at the Ministry, didn't know you were there though. Sounds like a load of old rubbish to me. He probably just ran around for a bit before getting lost and coming back out again claiming he'd fought twenty Death Eaters at once or something." Steven chuckled smugly and looked back at his friends all of whom didn't seem to be finding it quite as funny.
"He lost his Godfather that day. Harry never wanted all this chosen one business he's… he's-" Luna balled up her fists but didn't move, she merely glared back at the boy with a look Seymour hardly recognised. "The people he's lost just so that you can stand there and say that. How could you?"
Steven looked a little uncomfortable on these words and tried his best to laugh it off. "Well I'm only saying at least we don't have to sneak around anymore if we want to learn of proper defence."
With that the classroom door opened and Professor Goodwin poked his tired looking face round the door. "Come in, come in. Books out today I'm afraid."
There was a groan from the row of students as they snaked into the classroom all clattering down onto their seats. Seymour ignored Robin's obvious stares and followed Luna to the back of the classroom where she sat looking out of the window, her grey orb like eyes staring out over the muddy grounds. Seymour grabbed the chair next to her.
"Do you mind Luna?" he asked in a quieter voice than he'd intended.
She turned round and greeted him with her usual smile. "Not at all."
He took his seat and began to pull out his books whilst casting glances at Luna who had yet to move. "Are you alright?" he asked finally turning to face her. She remained silent for a while before finally turning in her seat and banging her bag on the table.
"I just wish people were as quick to support Harry as they are to speak out against him. I mean he's the one who's going to save us all after all." She pulled out her things and tucked her bag under her chair.
"He is?" asked Seymour in what he hoped was the least sceptical voice he could muster.
"Oh yes. Daddy thinks so to. He devoted a whole article to him in the Quibbler last year. Yet still people don't believe in him." Her anger had waned and she merely looked confused as she pondered on this thought.
"Well more and more people believe now don't they. Now that you-know-who's been seen. But you can't convince everyone can you? A lot of people still don't want to believe he's back even though the Ministry's confirmed it. Some people just feel safer that way. But as long as he's got people like you who are willing to stand by him then he'll be fine won't he?" He smiled at her as she nodded thoughtfully.
"You're right Seymour. I shouldn't let things like that get to me." Her shoulders loosened up and she sat back in her chair looking far happier than when she came in.
Seymour laughed and shook his head. "Why don't you get that angry when people say similar things about you?" he asked.
"Oh I don't care what they say about me. Call me mad they may but as long as I know the truth then that's all that matters." she rattled off cheerfully, "But I'm not going to let them say things about Harry when he isn't even here to defend himself." she added looking serious and nodded once again to herself.
"I didn't know you knew Harry that well?" Seymour asked, idly pulling feathers off his quill.
"Oh yes Harry's a really good friend. He's much nicer than most people I've met." she stated matter-of-factly in her usual serene tone. Seymour couldn't help feeling slightly inadequate next to a friend like Harry Potter but didn't have too much time to feel sorry for himself as professor Goodwin cleared his throat loudly to begin the lesson.
"Today class I want you all to read chapter twelve "The Behemoth of Bradley Bay." please note before we continue the large fangs on the upper and lower jaw, it's prey would be tenderised before consumption, between these teeth it's tongue razor sharp to skewer any leftovers for later-"
Seymour leaned in close to Luna and whispered under his breath, "I thought he was going into the woods last night to find something to show today's class?"
Luna nodded and pointed as the professor continued his lecture, "I thought that to but look at his hands. They're all cut up and scratched. Maybe he ran into trouble with it or something." It was true that the Professor's hands did indeed look in rather bad condition and on closer inspection Seymour also noticed that a lot of the cuts on the teachers face were not the old ones he already possessed but freshly made ones that ran over the top of them. It only occurred to Seymour now how badly injured Professor Goodwin actually looked. People had taken on the Whomping Willow and come out looking prettier.
"You don't think-" Seymour paused as the professor glanced their way, "that he met that thing last night too do you?"
Luna's eyes sparked to life as she pondered on this possibility. "Maybe that's why he wasn't at breakfast this morning."
"Mind you why wouldn't he tell someone if he had?" Seymour added before Luna could get too excited.
"Maybe that's was what he was looking for. I doubt Dumbledore would be too happy about him trying to bring something like that into class so he kept quiet. Maybe that's why it was on the grounds last night. Maybe he'd chased it out." Luna spoke fast in her hushed voice looking more excited by the second. Even though it was he who brought it up Seymour wasn't as convinced.
"Hagrid's reared worse creatures but maybe he just didn't want to admit he couldn't handle it on his own. I mean the man's got a lot of pride in him being a great Auror and all."
"Why don't we just ask him then." Luna shot her hand into the air and waved frantically before Seymour yanked it back down.
"After class yeah? He's a bit busy right now" he suggested with pleading eyes as the rest of the class peered over at the two of them, the professor was too engrossed in his explanations to notice.
Luna grinned back. "Good plan."
The rather uneventful class rolled by slowly until finally the students began to pack up their bags and spill out the classroom, stomachs empty and the thought of a succulent dinner heavy on their minds.
"Coming to Dinner Sey?" Robin asked as he passed his table. Seymour stuffed the last of his things into his bag and shook his head.
"I'll be there in a minute. I've just got this thing to do with Luna." he explained noting Robins aggrieved expression.
"Oh well when your finished running around the forest please feel free to grace us with your presence." Robin turned on his heel and sulked out of the room with Alice and Lloyd following behind him.
"Idiot." Seymour mumbled under his breath before being tapped lightly on the head by Luna.
"You shouldn't call him that Seymour. Robin's your best friend." Luna smiled and waved a finger in his face before standing up from her desk.
"Well I just wish he'd let it go once in a while."
"Let what go?"
"Never mind, come on Luna quick before he leaves." They both walked to the head of the class where Professor Goodwin was busy wiping the board clean. He looked deep in thought and hardly noticed Luna and Seymour standing at his desk.
"Professor?" Luna prompted causing him to turn round to seek out the voice.
"Ah Luna, Seymour. What can I do for you? If it's about the homework then I believe I told you last night-"
"That's what we've come to ask you about sir." Seymour interrupted. "You said last night that you were going to find something for the class to study today but-" he motioned to the empty classroom. The professor ran his hand of the back of his neck and closed his eyes nodding. He looked positively exhausted.
"Yes that's true. I had intended for the class to study the effects of a real live River Troll." Upon mention of this Seymour could feel Luna start up beside him and had to grab her arm to stop her bombarding the professor with questions as he continued to speak, "but… I'm not as young as I used to be Seymour. I managed to find one but unfortunately it proved a bit of a handful." He presented his damaged hands and arms. "I dare say I could have done with your help last night." he smiled and began to pack away his things.
"So you didn't see anything else then sir? On your way back I mean?" Seymour asked.
Professor Goodwin frowned at looked at the two of them. "No, nothing out of the ordinary. Why do you ask?" He forced the last large book into his already stuffed desk and sat back down.
"Well sir you see me and Luna we were att-"
"Oh nothing Professor. We were just wondering that's all." Luna grasped hold of Seymour's arm and yanked him along with her as she walked out of the classroom. She rounded the corner and stopped turning round to stare back at Seymour, her eyes dancing with excitement.
"Any chance you could explain what that was all about?" he asked her rubbing his arm.
"He's lying." she declared biting her lip. Seymour could almost see the endless theories racing through her mind.
"Lying? How do you know?"
"I take Care of Magical Creatures on Wednesdays? Hagrid told us last year that the last River Troll died out years ago. How could Professor Goodwin have found one if they no longer exist?"
Semour had a vague recollection of Lloyd saying something similar last year. "Maybe Hagrid was wrong, the forest is pretty big you know?"
Luna shook her head and explained. "Hagrid knows the forest better than anybody at this school. If he says something like that then it's defiantly true."
Seymour frowned as they began to make their way towards the main hall. "Then why would he lie?"
"I don't know." Luna replied shaking her head. "Maybe as you said he didn't want to admit being bested by that creature or maybe…" Luna trailed off as they trudged up the stairs into the dinning hall where the rest of the school was already tucking into a sumptuous looking feast. "I'll have to think about it." she finally decided looking over to her house table and eyeing a partially tasty platter of tender steaks.
Seymour gave up and decided it was probably best to ask questions when food wasn't fogging up her attention so he decided to move on to another topic he'd been meaning to bring up. "Tomorrows the first trip into Hogsmeade. Are you going?"
Luna nodded and smiled back, "Probably." her eyes already moving on to the large bowl of spaghetti bolognese.
"Well do you want to go together? We might have to put up with Robin, Alice and Lloyd but it could be fun don't you think?"
Only now did Luna give Seymour her full attention as she beamed up at him, "Oh yes I'd love to. We could go have a look at the Shrieking Shack while we're there, that's always worth a look."
Seymour rolled his eyes but smiled back, glad that she seemed so taken with the idea. "Great, well I'll meet you in the courtyard then, bright and early."
Luna smiled and waved as they departed to their separate tables.
As Seymour sank into place next to Lloyd he felt the eyes of Robin on him immediately. "Come on then Sey, what were you attacked by this time?" he grinned through a mouthful of mash potato.
Ignoring Robin Seymour grabbed a few roast potatoes before turning to the three of them. "How would you three feel if Luna joined us tomorrow in Hogsmeade?" He thought it best to get it over with quickly and was ready to argue his case with anything that Robin was going to throw at him.
"I knew it, I bloody knew it." Robin threw his hands in the air and dropped his fork onto his plate with a clatter. "She'll be everywhere I look soon. Do you two come as a set of is there any chance you aren't actually joined at the hip."
Seymour folded his arms in agitation and shot back, "Don't be dramatic Rob, it's only a trip into town."
"Well I'll give it to you Sey you sure know how to impress a girl. I used to think when you asked a girl on a date you'd want to be left alone, not with half your friends to keep you company." Robin smirked and enjoyed the fact that this statement got the reaction he was hoping for as Seymour went red in the face, looking lost for words.
"W-what are you on about. It's not a date you idiot. I just thought it would be a laugh if we all went that's all. You're off your head." Seymour hated the fact Robin had got to him and tried his best to look unfazed.
"Well that's alright then because I think she's got a thing for Harry. When she isn't going on about a two toed hover lizard then you can bet it's probably going to be about Harry Potter." Robin waved his spoon about before scooping up the last of his baked beans and shoving them into his mouth.
"So what if she likes Harry, it's got nothing to do with me mate. We can't all be saviours, some of us have to settle for being boring." Seymour had no idea where the last words had come from but wanted to pass over them as quickly as possible. "So what about you two?" he rounded on Alice and Lloyd who both looked back and forth between Seymour and Robin before Alice finally spoke.
"I think it would be quite fun if Luna came." she ignored Robin's flabbergasted face and looked over at Lloyd prompting him to speak.
"I'm fine with it." he added quickly going back to his bowl of soup.
"She's turning the lot of you. You'll all be members of her stupid club soon." Robin couldn't contain his dismay as he surveyed the three of them with pitiful looks.
"Oi I happen to be vice chairman of that club, it's not stupid." Seymour snapped glaring back at Robin.
"You're the what?" he asked a huge smile breaking onto his face.
"No hang on forget that, forget I said anything." Seymour waved his hands and quickly went back to his dinner trying desperately to block out Robins sniggers.
"Come on Robin, Luna's alright if you give her a chance. You'll probably wander off on your own once we get there anyway, you usually do." Alice reasoned as she pushed her empty plate away.
Robin sighed heavily and gave a reluctant grin, "Yeah all right but if she starts dancing or trying to make me assistant to the vice chairman here then I'm off."