Chapter Two – October 1995


It was to be the first Hogsmeade visit of the year at the start of October, and when the bell rang for the end of class at about three in the afternoon on the Friday beforehand, Luna made a beeline for the school grounds. She wanted to sit in her favourite spot under the beech tree by the lake, finish as much homework as she could today and have the entire of her Saturday free to enjoy the wonders the small village down the hill offered.

Half-way down the slope of the grounds, she noticed someone else was already sitting there and hesitated. Then the sun glinted off the sheen of the persons hair and she felt her spirits lift again. She quickened her pace down the slope in excitement and reached the tree slightly out of breath.

'Hi Luna,' Ginny Weasley said brightly, looking up from her Defence Against the Dark Arts essay as Luna put a hand up to her chest.

'Hi,' Luna said breathlessly, 'I'm not interrupting am I—?'

'Not at all,' Ginny said, smiling, 'please, sit.'

Luna heaved her bag off her shoulders and sat beside her friend.

'Did you have the same idea as me?' Luna asked curiously as she also took out her Defence Against the Dark Arts homework and went about setting herself up. 'I want to finish my homework and not worry about it whilst I'm in Hogsmeade tomorrow.'

'That was pretty much my thought, yes,' Ginny said in agreement, scribbling out something she wrote and trying again.

Luna fished in her bag for something.

'Would you like a Sugar Quill?' Luna asked politely, holding up the packet she'd been working through that week.

'Yes, please,' Ginny said, taking one without question.

'They are really nice,' Luna said casually, licking the tip of her own, 'they're Radish flavoured.'

She looked expectantly at Ginny. Her friend's nose had wrinkled, and she was staring down at it in disgust, like she had put the ink end in her mouth by mistake.

'Radish flavoured?' Ginny repeated, making a face. 'I thought it was Strawberry! Urgh, where did you even get these?'

Luna gave her friend a look. 'I happen to like them,' she said, putting the packet away.

'Oh Luna, I'm sorry,' Ginny said apologetically, 'I appreciate you offering me one and everything, but it tastes really awful!'

Luna didn't reply. She let the moment pass, began writing, and eventually they started helping each other with the essay. About an hour later, after only a little progress, they were distracted by the arrival of Hermione Granger, who had sought out Ginny for a matter of importance.

'Actually,' Hermione said, as Ginny went to collect up her things, 'Luna might be interested in hearing this as well.'

'Interested in what?' Ginny asked curiously, after snapping shut her copy of Defensive Magical Theory.

Hermione looked carefully around at the other students that occupied the grounds. There were some first years down by the lake, a good fifty metres away, who were skimming rocks across the surface of the water and were no chance of overhearing. Hermione flattened the back of her skirt and sat down cross-legged in front of the two younger girls.

'Well, it's concerning this awful Umbridge woman,' Hermione began to say, raising her eyebrows at them, 'Harry, Ron and I had this idea—'

'I'm in!' Ginny said as quick as a flash, putting her hand up.

'Let me explain first,' Hermione said bitterly, rolling her eyes. 'Umbridge is teaching us this rubbish textbook theory,' Hermione waved a hand over the textbook Ginny had just snapped shut, 'so I thought it might be good if anyone who wanted to study Defence Against the Dark Arts properly, should get the chance to learn from someone who actually knows what they are doing.'

'Learn from you?' Luna asked curiously, there was considerable doubt in her voice that Hermione identified immediately.

'No, not from me, from Harry,' Hermione said in return, and Ginny nodded understandably. 'Would you at least be willing to hear what he has to say?'

'Absolutely,' Ginny said enthusiastically, looking round at Luna who had a blank expression on her face.

'All right,' Luna agreed finally. 'When? Now?'

'Tomorrow,' Hermione said, carefully. 'We thought we'd do it outside the school, as far away from Umbridge as possible. We'll meet in the Hogs Head, much quieter in there.'

'The Hogs Head?' Luna asked inquisitively, her eyes bulged excitedly. 'The owner owns a pet Chimaera, did you know? He keeps it in the basement and breeds it with his tribe of goats.'

'I don't think that's true,' Hermione said as Ginny suppressed a giggle. 'Anyway, can I leave it with you to spread the word, Ginny?'

Ginny, who was still biting her lip to stop from laughing at what Luna had said, nodded her head.

'And please,' Hermione said glancing briefly at Luna, 'try to be discreet. We don't want Umbridge finding out about this.'

Hermione waved goodbye and made her way back to the castle. Luna barely had time to process what had just happened, when Ginny started packing things into her bag.

'Did you finish your essay?' Luna asked as Ginny swung her bag over her shoulder.

'No. There's no point now is there?' Ginny asked in response. 'I'm going to go tell Michael about tomorrow. Hopefully he can bring some of his friends.'

'Michael? Michael Somerled, the Verwood Vampire?' Luna asked, gawping as her friend began to trot away. 'Why would you tell him about the meeting?'

'I'm sorry, Luna,' Ginny called out, waving, 'I'll see you later?'

Luna half-waved back and watched her friend rush back to the castle. She sighed and looked down at her books and parchment scattered around her. Suddenly, the likelihood of getting all her homework done by tomorrow so that she could enjoy Hogsmeade was no longer possible. She collected her things up, like Ginny had, stowed them away in her bag and then returned to the castle for dinner.


6th October 1995

Dearest Diary,

I think I joined a revolution this weekend.

If I did, I must be honest, I couldn't think of a better leader. A bunch of us students wrote our names on a list, declaring that we're to follow Harry Potter into an uprising against the corrupted Ministry of Magic and their private army of Heliopaths.

At least, I think that's what happened. I was a little distracted, I must admit, because for some reason it was necessary for a Mummy, a Banshee and two Dementors to be present at our meeting.

Perhaps I'll find out why later.

In the coming weeks, were to start learning defensive spells behind the back of that Umbridge woman. If what the others were saying about Harry is true, then I have a lot to learn about him and from him. I'm glad that I can already call him a friend and I hope over time we become best friends!

I'm going to try and sleep now. It's been a busy weekend. I only just finished my homework!

Kind Regards,

Luna Lovegood


Due to the poor weather in the days that followed, Luna missed being able to escape the walls of the castle and sit under her favourite tree by the lake. She found herself in a small classroom on the ground floor during break instead, along with groups of gossiping students who had all distanced themselves from her standing over by the window.

Luna was staring out of it, towards the edge of the lake, which she could just make out through the rain, when Daphne Greengrass struggled free of the cluster of students and wandered over to her.

'Hi Luna,' she said, once she'd leaned against the wall next to the window.

'Oh hello,' Luna said vaguely, looking up blankly at Daphne. 'Unfortunate day, isn't it?'

Daphne smirked. 'Indeed,' she said in agreement, 'what are you looking at?'

'My favourite place at Hogwarts,' said Luna cheerfully, looking back out the window, 'the beech tree, down by the edge of the lake.'

'I love that tree,' Daphne said elatedly, shifting sideways to look out the window towards it also.

There were some muffled giggles from across the room. Luna turned to see that a few sets of eyes were watching them and laughing at the fact that Daphne had joined the weirdo at the window.

'Are you sure you want to be seen with me?' Luna asked sceptically, glancing sideways.

'Of course,' Daphne said, a small smile etched on her face, 'why wouldn't I?'

'Because people think I'm Loony,' Luna said truthfully, peering at the students across from them out the corner of her eye, 'and now they'll think the same about you.'

'Let them think what they want,' Daphne said harshly, not bothering to look, 'I like being with you, Luna. It's peaceful. And you make me laugh.'

'Because I'm strange?' Luna asked inquisitively, looking confused.

'No,' Daphne said with a shake of her head. 'Because you're funny. Isn't it true that you once brought shampoo to a Potions class and presented it to Professor Snape?'

'Yes,' Luna said blinking, 'is that funny?'

'Absolutely,' Daphne said, and she began giggling again at the thought.

'Oh— good,' Luna said, turning to stare back out of the window.

Luna didn't correct Daphne. In truth, Luna had been concerned with how greasy Professor Snape's hair had become and was hoping, for the sake of others, he fixed it. But she kept her silence, and after a few minutes, someone else emerged from the group of students and wandered over.

'What's going on here?'

Luna and Daphne turned around to find Ginny Weasley standing there with her arms crossed.

'Hello Ginny,' Luna said sweetly, as the other two girls glared at each other.

'Is this one bothering you, Luna?' Ginny asked, pointing a judgemental finger at the Slytherin.

'Oh, I'm sorry, you two aren't acquainted,' Luna said, horrified at herself for being so rude. 'Daphne, this is my friend Ginny. Ginny, this is my other friend, Daphne.'

The girls did not shake hands.

'You're in Malfoy's crew,' Ginny said with a huff, narrowing her eyes.

'I am not in his crew,' Daphne said defensively through clenched teeth. 'I am in Slytherin, and in his year level, but that's all. I have nothing to do with him.'

'Is that so?' Ginny asked with raised eyebrows.

'Yes,' Daphne said proudly. 'Also, I don't like you insinuating that I would be a bother to Luna. We're friends!'

'I have a hard time believing a Slytherin could be just friends with Luna without a hidden agenda,' Ginny said, turning her back on Daphne. 'Luna, I actually wanted to have a private word—'

'Forget you then, I'll just go,' Daphne said bitterly, fastening the catch on her bag, 'bye Luna.'

'Okay, bye!' Luna said brightly, slightly oblivious to the tension growing between her two friends.

Ginny watched Daphne go with venomous eyes. She waited until she was sure the Slytherin had pushed her way through the groups of students and exited out of the classroom, before turning to Luna.

'You're not really friends with her, are you Luna?' Ginny asked curiously.

'Oh, yes,' Luna said nodding without hesitation. 'She's nice to me. She helped me get some of my possessions back last year, just like you did!'

Ginny made a face but didn't follow it up.

'Anyway, I come bearing news,' Ginny said, pausing to ensure no one could overhear them. 'Harry's found a place for our first meeting. It's tonight, at eight o'clock, seventh floor opposite that tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy being clubbed by those trolls. Do you know it?'

'Ooh,' Luna's face lit up with joy, 'I love that one! I always stop and watch them fight. They put on such a good performance.'

'Okay,' Ginny said, the sides of her mouth twitching. 'So, I'll see you then, yes?'

Luna half-nodded.

She was now staring into space, picturing the tapestry, and it was like she forgot that Ginny was there. By the time the bell for the start of next class rang, and brought Luna out of her trance, she looked around and found herself alone in the classroom. She frowned, glanced one more time out of the foggy window towards the lake, and then made her way to Transfiguration.


10th October 1995

Dearest Diary,

I had the most fun last night. It was the first meeting of our anti-Ministry club, and we started with basic defensive spells. I wish we could have started with something a bit more interesting, like defending against Dabberlimps. Regardless, I was impressed at how well it went, Harry is very nice, and his teaching skills are very polite.

I'm so glad to be able to call him my friend!

We voted him as our leader, and rightly so, there isn't anyone else in the school (except for maybe Ginny and Daphne) that I'd trust to sit the right way on a Crumple-Horned Snorkack, let alone lead our group. I can't wait for next week's meeting, hopefully we do move on to the next thing fairly quickly, and I will make sure to practice Expelliarmus in the meantime.

Also, in the meantime, I finally started working on my Lion Hat idea I had for the first Quidditch match of the season between Gryffindor and Slytherin. I'm still waiting on more materials to come in the post before it takes shape, but I can almost guarantee that I'll be the hit of the school when it's finally ready to sit upon my head!

I can't wait!

Kindest of Regards,

Luna Lovegood