Written for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy (Challenges and Assignments)
~ Mindfulness and Meditation: Basic Practices of Mindfulness ~
Task #3: Let Your Judgements Roll By: Write about someone feeling judged by others, but choosing not to care
She heard the whispers in the hall, she wasn't deaf after all. She was also familiar with the stares, the name calling, and her things going "mysteriously missing". Just the other day she found her sneakers hanging from the rafters.
She was used to all the hiding spots now. Her favorite earrings went missing? Check Hagrid's garden as the half giant encouraged her to go to Dumbledore. Her shoes are nowhere to be found? Time to scour the support beams. By the end of second year, Luna knew every nook and cranny of the castle better than any other student, something she wouldn't exactly share.
Luna supposed she could report this to Professor Flitwick, but what if it just made everyone more aggressive?
"What did I do to deserve this?" Luna asked herself as she fished one of her robes out of the lake, a new low even for the most ruthless bully. "All I did was try to make friends."
Though maybe talking about Blibbering Humdingers wasn't the best introduction. The only person who cared to talk to her about magical creatures was Hagrid, the epitome of gentle giant.
"They could be jealous," Hagrid tried to offer. "Yer dad has a magazine and ye get to travel."
Fang barked as if he was agreeing. Luna gave a half smile as she scratched the gentle dog behind the ears.
The whispers… sometimes they could be brutal.
"Hey Loony, I'm surprised you're not in a mental ward yet."
"You know, she'd lose her head if it wasn't attached."
"Did you see her socks are mismatched? What a weirdo."
Did no one ever stop to get to know her? Or think maybe they were being too harsh? No, of course not. Despite the brave facade she tried to throw out there, it hurt Luna a lot.
The blonde pondered this as she finally got a good grip of the sleeve of her robe and pulled it in.
"You know you could always go to Professor Flitwick," a voice spoke up behind her. "I'll even go with you if you want."
"I could," Luna agreed as she glanced over her shoulder at Padma Patil, her only friend in Ravenclaw. "But," She started wringing her robe. "That might make everyone angier. I really don't want that."
The water rippled as Padma waded in to join her friend. "But at least someone with authority could help."
The blonde considered this as her fingers started growing cold.
But Luna never did talk to her head of house. She decided to just tough it out, there was only three years left after all.
One day, she was talking to Harry, someone she found herself becoming friendly with.
Two of Harry's housemates, Parvati and Lavender, were standing nearby. They were pointing at Luna's radish earring and cackling. How someone like Padma could be Parvati's twin baffled the blonde to no end.
"What a freak," Lavender howled.
Harry was starting to grit his teeth in anger. Having been picked and tormented on by his cousin Dudley, Luna knew he hated bullying more than anything.
At that moment, Luna took a huge step in her life. She decided she didn't care anymore, she was who she was and wouldn't change for anyone.
Spinning on her heels, she looked the giggling duo in the eyes and said, "Say what you want but at least my head won't get invaded by Wrackspurts."
Parvati and Lavender looked at each other, this time in confusion.
Smiling, Luna turned back to Harry. "You were saying?" She prompted.
Grinning, Harry continued his story.
A/N: Thanks for reading. Hope you enjoyed.