Luna was early tonight. She thought someone would catch her slipping by a friendly eagle that guarded the common room and give her an earful, but sometimes it seemed as if she was invisible. Sometimes it was useful and sometimes it was not. Tonight, she decided, it was. It was only fair that she came early for once.

With a satisfied sigh, she tossed her shoes aside, next to the gargoyle statue who had assured her that he'd guard them with his life, and wiggled her bare toes against the warm tiles. She had expected the floor to be cold and damp the first time she tried it, the way castles were in the stories, but it pleasantly surprised her.

A long, uncertain moment passed, and then she gave a small cheer of delight when she heard him coming. Sir William had promised he'd be there, but she wasn't sure. Her housemates promised she could study with them too, and yet… But that didn't matter. Not now.

A faint creaking became more prominent, louder, and then she saw him. Sir William's armor plates squeaked and piped as he strode towards her, much to the annoyment of the portraits that grumbled under their voices. She winced even though she didn't feel that bad. They'd sleep soon enough. They had all the time in the world.

"My lady," he said with a bow. "What vermin shall we hunt down tonight?"

"Umgubular Slashkilters," she replied and he gave her a serious nod. He was always serious when it came to the safety of Hogwarts. "I've spotted them near the dungeon."

"Lead the way, then, and let us bathe in the glory!"

She beamed up at him, and started hopping down the hall, following the route she knew well by now, and then she remembered. "Oh, and we should stop by Pontiff Linus. I promised I'd teach him how to protect himself from paint-eating grumpkings."

"It's important to keep promises," the old knight said with sadness in his voice. "Many of my brothers forgot theirs, and now lie stiff and magicless, no more than mere decorations. I hope they regain their honor in the afterlife."

She nodded, silently wishing her classmates wouldn't have to share the same grim fate. They didn't deserve it.

They found the Pontiff quick enough and he tipped his silly pink hat in greetings. She had once asked him about it, but he chuckled it away, claiming he wore even sillier one back in his time. "Marvelous evening, isn't it child?" He frowned at her feet. "Barefoot again? You really ought to take better care of your lady, Sir."

His steely face gained darker gray color to it, and his shoulders fell. "I tried. The lady insisted."

"I really did. This way it feels like home. It's like daddy is here, and dirigible plums and… And I rather like it this way."

The Pontiff scratched his chin, shaking his head. His hat wrinkled in the middle, imitating his posture. "Hogwarts ought to be your home as well, child. Its founders meant it so."

"I know that. I like it here." Her shoulders fell against her will so she rushed the answer, the same one she had given the day before. "Hagrid and Ginny are nice and so are most of you."

He gave another sigh so she quickly started explaining about grumpkins, before he could work on his rant. So what if he and Sir William weren't strictly alive? She liked them well enough just the way they were.

Once she finished, and once he promised her he'd take care of himself and be on guard for cunning little creatures, they continued toward dungeons, and she firmly ignored prickles in her neck that told her the Pontiff was looking at her with that soft expression of pity. She shook head, clearing her thoughts. There were more important matters to worry about.

When she turned around the corner, though, she blinked in surprise. There she was, Ginny, darting down the corridor as if the angry horde of Hippogriffs was after her, and a single feather floated behind her, zig-zagging its way towards the floor.

Her robes were a mess. It seemed she tried to make some sort of a costume by gluing a plumage to her robes with red paint. It didn't work well far as Luna was concerned but it would have been a rude thing to comment on.

"Ginny," she called and once the girl froze and turned towards her, Luna gave her a small wave. Ginny just narrowed her eyes, tilting her head in hesitation. She gave back a small nod, and disappeared the moment later.

"Strange," Sir William muttered, his hand at the hilt of his sword. "Very strange indeed."

"She could at least say hi back," Luna said.

Sir William nodded. "Manners are important too, with a rare few lapses excusable."

"Like what?"

The knight took a moment to think about it. "Noble work precedes all, and so does duty. Sometimes bad manners are a lesser evil, repentable one."

She gave a small, uncertain nood. Perhaps Ginny was after the quest of her own, all for the safety of Hogwarts. After all, Gryffindor house was where the noble dwell. The feather finally made its way to the floor, and she picked it, and examined it. It was about the most common feather she had ever held. Strange indeed.

"I just wished she said hi."

"Me too, child," the grave voice of Sir William came, as if miles distant, "me too. Fret little, my lady. I'm certain you will cross your paths again."

Luna thought for a moment about it and then nodded. It was likely that they would. She was sure Ginny would explain her latest quirkiness the next time, and it made her feel a little lighter, the strange tightness in her chest half-way gone. Humming, she continued down the hall, sounds of Sir William following just behind her.

The dungeons, despite their dreadiness, were just as warm as the rest of the castle. Its long halls were faintly lit and the portraits spookier, darker, and Baron dragged his chains after himself, adding the never-stopping sound to the atmosphere, but she wasn't scared.

"I found no intruders, my lady," Sir William said as he looked around, his eyes narrowed, his sword drawn. "They must've heard us coming."

"Yes. I think so too. We should say hi to Madam Savine since we're already here."

"Might as well," he agreed with a sigh. "She's been lonely lately, ever since her husband decided to visit his cousins up on the seventh floor."

"Let's go then!" She started walking, but stopped once the sounds of the knight moving hadn't followed her. "What is it?"

He cleared his throat. "Tobey told me you weren't at breakfast. Again."

"I just forgot the way," she lied. "And Slashkilters sidetracked me besides. I had to find their clutch."

"Perhaps I could show you the way next time? Escort you?"

She shook her head. "You mustn't abandon your daily duties."

He stood silent for a long moment, still and tall. "Would you do this old knight a kindness?" he asked gently. "Have breakfast with your peers. Perhaps tell them about our adventures. I'll even put a word with Tobey to make sure he doesn't forget pudding this time. You know how he is."

She bit her lip, looking down at the floor. "I have other plans for tomorrow."

She felt his strong, cold arm on her shoulder, but it felt warm to her. It made her warm all the way to her belly. She ignored that it felt heavy too. "Another time, then? The day after, if your schedule allows for it?"

She looked up at him, and met his smile with one of her own, blinking the tears away from her eyes. "Alright," she said, not sure if she really meant it. It was far easier to just go along with it.

He then ruffled her hair the way he did sometimes, and she felt horrible for lying to him. He deserved better. Her stomach felt heavy as she gathered the courage to utter the words. It was silly of her, really, but she couldn't control how her stomach feels, could she?

"Tomorrow," she said, this time certain. "I promise."

The way back to Ravenclaw tower was something less adventurous and yet Luna was content, beaming from ear to ear. Even though Slashkilters still haunted the halls, somewhere, at least she managed to get rid of Wrackspurts that had infested her brain.