A/N: Here you go all 5 of my dedicated readers, only one of which has actually read the third chapter and she only does because I nag her if she doesn't. Oh well, my story sucks, but I like it anyway and will continue to post! Ha!
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Chapter 4
"Hi, Ronald," a voice hissed in my ear, breaking the silence of the library. I jumped in my chair and turned around to see Luna Lovegood standing behind me. She gave me a strange smile. "What are you doing here?"
I let out a breath that I had been holding and tried to calm myself. "It's a library. Aren't I allowed to be in a library?"
"Yes, but you don't have any books." She gracefully took the seat next to me, and still managed to look as though she could care less about being here. "Libraries are usually used for studying and reading... I think. It would be fitting for you to be doing one of them. But then maybe you're here for something else. Like Pif-hunting."
I did not bother to ask what "Pif-hunting" was. It was true that I didn't have any books. I was waiting for Hermione to show up, as we had planned. We were going to go to Hogsmede together, but she was no where in sight. "Mind your own business," I said, trying to sound angrier then I really was. Hermione would just talk about her silly essay for Arithmancy, anyways.
"I do, but I mind other people's as well," she said, softly. "So? Are you Pif-hunting?"
"No," I said sharply, but then curiosity got the better of me. "What the hell is a Pif, anyway."
"Oh, they're this small creature that lives books. Muggles call them bookworms, but wizards know that they can really burrow into human skill and control people's brains."
Yeah, like I was going to believe this. "What do you want?" I asked, knowing that I should probably get back to the common room to bother Hermione.
Luna began to play with one of her large, orange-shaped, earrings. "I want the next copy of my father's magazine, but it isn't out yet."
"What does that have to do with anything?" I almost shouted, but controlled my voice in the end.
"Nothing," she said. She placed her hand on my upper arm for a second and stared into my eyes, as if searching for something. She stares a lot; it's quite frightening sometimes.
I stared back, attempting to be intimidating, but ended up merely admiring how blue her eyes were. My mum's eyes are blue, a warm oceany type eye that comforts you. Luna's eyes were colder, but still reminded me of an ocean. They were lighter I guess which gave me a colder type feeling. Like the ocean was in the winter...
Luna cocked her head to one side. "You don't like Hermione," she told me simply, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"What?" I blinked, breaking our long staring contest. Her eyes suddenly seemed a lot less fascinating. I was about to argue with her, but decided not to. "Why do I bother with you? You don't understand anything."
She smiled a strange little smile, as if she knew a secret. "Yes I do. I understand a lot." Luna got up and took a few steps away from me, then stopped and turned. "She's not coming, you know," she said in a low voice before breezing around a bookshelf and out of sight.
I got up quickly and practically ran back to the common room. I didn't want to stay in case Luna came back and started another strange conversation.
I told the Fat Lady the password, which was "Quibbles," which I found slightly ironic as it was the name of Luna Lovegood's favorite magazine and an action that Hermione had the tendency to do.
Hermione was on the sofa, her books spread out on the coffee table in front of her, writing that essay for Professor Vector.
I folded my arms and stared at her for a while. I guess she eventually got curious about who just entered the common room and looked up. She opened her mouth when she saw it was me, but didn't say anything.
I raised an eyebrow, a skill it took my years to master. "Well?" I asked.
"I...uh... lost track of time. Sorry?" She apologized like a question, as if asking me if I would forget it if she just said that.
I let out an exasperated sigh, nodded, then headed upstairs. She likes her homework so much, she can do it all afternoon, for all I care.
I tossed myself on my bed and stared up at the ceiling. How did Luna know I was waiting for Hermione? And how did Luna know that Hermione wasn't coming? Why did Luna think I didn't like Hermione?
And the worst question of all: If Luna was right about all of the first two questions, what will make her wrong about the last one?
A/N: Please review. I will love you forever if you review. Really, I will. Please?