Anything But Ordinary

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Disclaimer: JKR owns the stuff and stuff. I own nothing, and Luna owns her thoughts. Must I say this again?

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Chapter Two: Thestrals

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The rest of the train ride didn't go as smoothly for the others in the compartment – Draco Malfoy came in and bullied them, but he was always a bully, so that didn't matter. Luna didn't really care, anyhow. Rubbish . .  .she'd show that Hermione Granger rubbish, wait and see. . . .

However cold her feelings were toward Hermione at the moment, Luna did not wish to show it, so she merely hid her face behind the magazine, taking in every word of every article and finishing a crossword in her head. But, after it became too dark to read in the dismal light of the lamps on the train, she rolled up her paper, put it in her bag, and merely sat, looking at everyone.

Ron was sitting, looking at the ceiling with his mouth slightly open. His eyes were glazed over, and Luna wondered fleetingly what he was thinking about. Finally, however, he looked down and began eating another Chocolate Frog, one of the last, and Luna was not interested in watching any longer.

Hermione was reading from one of her course books. This was not unusual – whenever one spotted Hermione Granger when she was idle, she was usually reading. But today she did not seem too interested in her book, strangely enough. Eventually she too adopted a glazed expression, and did not turn the page for nearly an hour after.

Harry was sitting in a rather novel posture: his forehead was pressed against the inky black window, and he seemed to be straining his eyes to see through the rain and darkness. His feet were both up on the seat, and he didn't look in the least uncomfortable about it. He wasn't giving Ginny much room to sit, though.

Neville and Ginny were doing nothing interesting. They were both sitting with their heads in their hands, looking bored and like they wished they were at Hogwarts already.

Finally, Hermione Granger seemed to think it was quite time enough to break the silence. Luna, who had been quite enjoying it, looked and almost glared at her. Hermione paid no heed. "We'd better change," she said, standing up on the pretense of opening her trunk. Luna, who had already changed ages before any of them had even come to her compartment, did not pay any attention to her, just stared around at everyone as they pulled their school robes, each bearing the crest of Gryffindor. Ron and Hermione pinned their shiny prefect badges to their chests, Ron looking mildly proud.

When the train came to a halt, everyone had gathered their trunks and pets, Ron and Hermione had gone to supervise the departures ("Prefect duties!" "Oh, honestly, Ron, you were all dismal about it a minute ago . . ." "Oh and you weren't excited about being made prefect at all. . . ." "Yes, well, it is an honor, but you don't have to get all worked up about it. . .") and left their pets behind.

"I'll carry that owl, if you like," Luna offered, watching as Harry attempted to carry his and Ron's owls while maintaining control over Hermione's cat.

"Oh – er – thanks," said Harry, handing her the tiny owl's cage. It gave out a high-pitched hoot, and Luna smiled at it. It was such a cute little thing. She made her way off the train at her own pace, ignoring the bustling of the other students as they attempted to be first into Hogsmeade Station. She finally emerged onto the train platform, laughing at Ron's little owl, which was hooting and flying around in small circles in its cage.

Luna looked around for Ron, so that she might be able to give his owl back. Finally, after a minute, she spotted his red hair over by the carriages. An unfamiliar voice, not the usual, called out to all the first years as she walked. She recognized the woman as the one who had taken Hagrid's job the year before. She had had such nice lessons, much better than that Professor Hagrid, who seemed a bit of a joke to her.

When she arrived at the carriages where Ron, Harry, Ginny and the others were standing, Harry seemed to be looking at the large, demonic-looking horses that pulled the carriages up to the school. It appeared as if he had never seen them before. I wonder who he saw die, Luna thought, almost pitying him. She supposed it must have been Cedric Diggory – he had brought his body back, hadn't he? Yes, that was it.

But then, she wondered, almost involuntarily, didn't he see his parents die? Why couldn't he see them before . . . ?

But then he had only been a baby . . . he wouldn't remember. . . . Luna suddenly felt a surge of sympathy towards Harry.

"Here you are," she said out loud, finally approaching them. She smiled at the small owl, who continued to hoot happily. "He's a sweet little owl, isn't he?"

Ron looked at her as if he didn't think much of this opinion. "Er . . . yeah . . . He's all right," he said gruffly. He turned to his friend. "Well, come on, then, let's get in . . . what were you saying, Harry?"

"I was saying, what are those horse things?"

So he really hadn't seen them before, Luna thought, following them to the carriage in which Ginny and Hermione Granger had already occupied.

Ron, however, appeared not to have seen them at all. It was likely, of course, Luna reflected, not many people could. Harry obviously didn't know about the Thestrals. He was looking at Ron in an almost worried, disbelieving way, as if he thought he himself was going mad.

"Can't . . . can't you see them?" he said.

"See what?"

"Can't you see what's pulling the carriages?"

Ron paused, staring at Harry, looking anxious. "Are you feeling all right, Harry?"

"I . . . yeah . . ."

Luna followed him and Ron up into the carriages, swinging the hand holding her wand back and forth. Harry looked extremely worried about his own sanity.

"It's all right," she said, as Ron vanished into the darkness of the coach. "You're not going mad or anything. I can see them too."

"Can you?" said Harry, but he did not look completely reassured. She began to climb up into the coach after Ron, and nodded.

"Oh, yes," she said, "I've been able to see them ever since my first day here. They've always pulled the carriages." She decided not to tell him the complete history of the beasts, or why he could see them. "Don't worry. You're just as sane as I am."

He really didn't look very reassured this time, but Luna didn't care. It was the truth, and that was all that mattered. She smiled, thinking how funny people thought she was. Another verse, rather more humorous this time, swam into her mind. "You laugh because I'm different. I laugh because you're all the same."

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A/N: There's chapter two!! It's not as long as the first chapter. I'll write the next one soon, I just didn't feel like writing Umbi*ch right now. I'll come up with another one either tomorrow or the next day. There you go!!

Oh, and just so you know, the words that were in the kumquat spell? I didn't make them up. Frugesco Surdus means 'fruitful ears' in Latin. I looked it all up. =D

That's it. Sorry for it being so long. The author's note, I mean. Please review!