CW: bullying, bruises, discussion of trauma, friendship

:FIFTY-ONE:

"What could she possibly mean, Luna?" Harry felt like his brain had turned to jelly.

It was early February, and it was raining so hard outside that Luna and Harry had decided to stay inside. So they'd found an empty classroom to brainstorm and also to help Luna with her DADA homework. Luna was both clever and creative, but she struggled in the practical application. She never said as much, but Harry knew it was because no one would partner with her in classes.

"It's a riddle, I think." Luna mused, waving her wand and casting a hex for Harry to block.

He caught it by seconds, making an impressed sound. "Well done, Luna."

"Thank you." She smiled brightly, getting ready to cast another one. "To get inside of our common room, we have to answer a riddle."

"That sounds...complicated." Harry replied. "We just have a password."

"That sounds rather boring." Luna responded, casting the hex again. "But it must be easier to go to bed that way."

Harry laughed, grinning as he blocked the hex again. "Maybe I'll ask Hermione later then."

And he did ask Hermione at dinner, even though she looked absolutely exhausted. He'd already told her the riddle in full, so he just asked her if she had any ideas.

"There's lots of places in Hogwarts." Hermione shrugged. "The word 'all' implies that there is a variety of items in this place though. It needs to be a place where the diadem wouldn't stand out."

"Yeah," Ron agreed. "Could be anywhere - they managed to fit a whole obstacle course in the third corridor our first year. I wouldn't be surprised."

Harry nodded thoughtfully. He was about to respond when Ginny knocked into his shoulder while sitting down.

"Hey!" Harry yelled, rubbing his shoulder. "That hurt, Ginny."

"Good." She said defiantly, glaring at Harry. "Have you not seen Luna today?"

Harry's brows knit together in confusion. "No? We don't usually run into each other during the week."

"Some girls ripped up all her robes and hexed her in the hallway!" Ginny stormed. "And it's because you two have been spending time together - they were jealous of her."

She continued to rage at him, but Harry couldn't hear her over the pouding in his ears. He got up and immediately ran out of the Great Hall and down to the Hospital Wing, unaware of his destination until he was standing in front of Madam Pomfrey.

"Is Luna here?" He asked hollowly.

Madam Pomfrey said something, then led him to Luna's bedside. And there she was, reading The Quibbler as if her face wasn't covered in bruises and the robes next to her bed weren't in tatters. Harry clenched his hands so they wouldn't shake, taking a seat by her bedside.

"It looks worse than it feels." Luna said casually, as though commenting on the weather. "Madam Pomfrey put a poultice that will help it heal faster."

"Luna." Harry grit out. "Stop minimizing this, please."

She looked up at the please, her face taking on a worried expression.

"Oh, Harry." She set down the magazine and smoothed out his clenched fist. "I'm alright, you don't need to be angry. It's thoughtful that you are though."

"Luna, who did this to you?" Harry said harshly, breathing through his nose in an attempt to calm down.

But Luna shook her head slightly, smiling at him. "No, Harry."

"Luna!" Harry yelled. "Look at yourself!"

He looked down at his hands, shame crawling to the surface. "I had no idea it was this bad. I didn't know this was happening because you were spending time with me."

"Harry." Luna started, sounding so vulnerable that Harry looked up again. She was still smiling, but her eyes were bright. "Remember when I told you about the nargles taking my shoes?"

Harry nodded, staring at her without speaking.

"While nargles are very much real," Luna's lower lip trembled slightly. "It seems my roommates are behind it - they've been hiding my belongings all year."

She reached out and took his hand. "This has nothing to do with either of us, Harry, but especially not you."

Harry shook his head in disbelief. Of course Luna was trying to make him feel better about all this. It was so like himself that it was painful - he now understood why Remus would get so frustrated with him sometimes. But he wasn't Remus, who always seemed to know what to say when Harry got like this.

"Luna..." He started, trying to find the right words as he went.

"I know we haven't known each other very long, and I don't know if you feel the same way, but I feel like we have a lot in common. Like we're both different, and we've both been through some things that shouldn't have happened."

Harry looked down at their hands. He'd never shared this with anyone, not even Ron and Hermione.

"I told you before how Papa saved me." He murmured. "But I didn't tell you what he saved me from."

And he told Luna everything - all about Mr. Dursley, his punishments, the cupboard. He hadn't really talked about it since Sirius came home, so it felt strange even as he shared. Harry had been so happy, so present in his current life, that he'd almost forgotten how miserable his childhood was and could have been if Remus hadn't shown up when he did.

"So," Harry finished. "I can't stand to see when people I care about get hurt, Luna."

There was silence after he finished talking. Not the kind of silence that made Harry feel awkward or uncomfortable, but the kind of silence that meant Luna was processing the information she'd been given before saying anything.

"You like me?" She asked softly.

"Of course I do!" Harry retorted, looking back up at her.

"That's nice." Luna smiled, putting her other hand over his. "I care about you too."

And she told him who bullied her, with the promise that he wouldn't do anything rash. Because what other response really was there? Luna had never really had friends before - Ginny found her towards the end of their first year, but they really only spent time together in classes. But Harry shared similarities with her that made her feel understood in a world that never even tried to understand her.

"Thank you." Harry said, standing back up. "Do you want me to sneak you in some pudding?"

Luna beamed at him, nodding. She watched as he walked back out of the Hospital Wing - her first real friend.

Notes:
Oh this chapter was hard to write.

But ALSO - we have over 100 favorites?! I am constantly in shock that even one persons reads my writing, let alone 100. So thank you for letting this story into your lives, it means a lot to me.

Happy Reading!