Chapter 29 - Moonlight and Purity (Prompts)
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Harry found himself walking back towards Hogwarts slowly; his steps unsteady. He felt the need to postpone the conversation he was about to have with his best mates for the simple reason that he wanted to be alone with his thoughts; at least for a while.
What Kingsley told him was a lot to take in, and the expressions of all those other Ministry Officials as they looked at him expectantly had been disconcerting. How is it that they all looked at him as if he was supposed to come up with a solution? When did he graduate from a child who got by due to sheer luck into a person who people rested their hopes on? And this was far from how it was last year. People had harboured a reluctant hope in his abilities, but that didn't mean that they didn't prepare themselves for his failure. He had, in his own way, embraced the way they had doubted his abilities because that was so close to how he felt about himself. But to have everyone look at him like some bloody hero who could do no wrong...
Harry was too busy musing over his own thoughts before he realized that he passed someone with blond hair; someone who had been watching him with mild curiosity as he entered the castle.
Startled by the realization, he turned around and smiled. "Sorry, Luna. Didn't see you there."
The girl who never failed to surprise him, smiled serenely, her mismatched moon and sun earrings dangling from side to side. "Don't worry. A lot of people don't quite see me."
His first impulse was to deny that fact vehemently. No one could ever accuse her of blending in. She was one of the few people who stood out splendidly when compared to others. Instead, his smile widened as he asked her, "Where's your dad?" He also made a conscious effort not to blatantly stare at her robes that seemed to change colour depending on how the light hit it. It was such an odd choice to wear to a funeral.
Luna looked around her slowly, almost as if she had forgotten that her father wasn't next to her. But when she spoke, her tone betrayed the knowledge that she did in fact know where her father was. "Father is speaking to a member of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. For you see, he recently discovered a disease that is plaguing the Western Gillibit and he wishes the Minister to give the matter his utmost attention."
Knowing fully well that he was going to regret it, Harry asked, "Disease?"
"Yes," she continued in that same dreamy tone. "It gives them boils that turn green when they go out in the moonlight."
Harry knew this was the moment that he had to stop his questions or else he would be spending the rest of the day trying to figure out exactly what she was going on about. He chose to smile at her, hoping that it wouldn't betray his confusion. Sometimes, he wondered if Luna was just so pure that she could see through everything else. Her tone was always light and floaty, and her eyes never really had the intensity as anyone else, but the words spoken by her always had the wisdom in them that he couldn't help but respect.
"Funny, isn't it?" Luna asked thoughtfully, her glance falling to where the service had been just a few moments ago.
Harry eyed her in confusion. "What is?"
"There were more people before the Service than after."
"What do you mean?" he asked her, a frown marring his features.
"Nothing, really," she continued in that thoughtful tone. "Normally there would always be more people when something exciting happens."
Harry wouldn't have willingly called what had happened terribly exciting, but he couldn't help but take note of her words. "You mean there were people who left just after the attack?" That wasn't out of the ordinary. People were bound to be scared and leave in order to get to some place safe.
Luna smiled patiently. "I'm talking about those who left before."
Harry stared at her for a moment, letting her words sink in before his mind could understand exactly what she was telling him. "You mean there were people who left just before the attack happened?" Her smile seemed to answer his question. "Did you see them? Do you know what they looked like?"
"Not really," Luna said smiling before she looked over her shoulder. "Father is ready." Harry followed her gaze until he spotted Xenophilius Lovegood as he gestured to his only daughter. Briefly Harry wondered how she knew that her father was there before even looking. "Goodbye, Harry."
Harry nodded, distracted. "Goodbye, Luna."
He waited until she turned her back to him before he started towards the Great Hall with quick steps. He really needed to speak to Hermione and Ron.
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