A/N: Thanks for your review! I'm glad you liked it.
Disclaimer: Sorry, I don't own these characters. Too bad.
A while later, the carriage came to a jolting hault. I followed Ginny out into the cool night breeze. I couldn't wait to be back in the Great Hall again.
"Man I'm starving!" said Ron.
"You just ate five pumpkin pasties not too long ago," said Hermione. "I'm surprised we're not rolling you up to the castle!"
"Yeah, well, I know how to pack it!" said Ron, patting his stomach. Hermione rolled her eyes and turned as we followed her up the stone steps.
It was crowded in the entrance hall. Everyone was trying to make it inside for the start-of-term feast. We finally made it to the Great Hall where the four long house tables were lined with the usual golden plates and goblets. The ceiling was its usual starry night self with the floating candles hovering above. I turned to go to the Ravenclaw table.
"Bye you guys," I said to the rest when I turned back to them.
"Bye," they all said. Harry gave me one last smile and then turned away.
As I sat down at the Ravenclaw table, I thought about what Harry had been doing.
He's always smiling at me, I thought. And he asked me to sit with them on the train. He's being so different from last year.
After everyone at each table had sat down, the oak doors opened and Professor McGonagall walked through with the new first years following her. All of them looked a bit scared. Their curious eyes wondered all over the Hall. Especially the enchanted ceiling. They finally made their way to the front where the Sorting Hat, I didn't notice they had already brought that out, was waiting for them on the stool. The first years crowded around as McGonagall pulled out the parchment with names on it.
"When I call out your name," she said looking out to the first years, "you will come and sit on the stool while I place the Sorting Hat on your head. You will then be sorted into your house." She opened up her piece of parchment and read off the first name.
"Addams, Kent," said McGonagall. A small boy stepped up, looking frightened. He sat down on the stool and McGonagall put the Sorting Hat on his head. There was a moment's pause and then the Hat shouted, "GRYFFINDOR!" There was major clapping coming from the Gryffindor table. I looked over there and saw Harry sitting next to Neville and Ginny. Ron and Hermione were sitting across from them. Harry then looked over and stared right at me. I turned quickly so I wouldn't catch his eye. The next person was to be announced.
"Allison, Mary." A curly brown haired girl walked up and sat down. There a small pause as the Sorting Hat pondered.
"HUFFLEPUFF!" shouted the Sorting Hat. The Hufflepuffs cheered as Mary joined their table. It was time for the third person.
"Anderson, Michael." A blonde boy walked up and sat down. He didn't look frightened like the others. More confident. Suddenly the Sorting Hat shouted, "SLYTHERIN!"
I looked over at the Slytherin table across the Hall as Michael went to sit down. Everyone was cheering for him. But the strange thing I saw was that Draco Malfoy wasn't clapping. Instead, he was looking right at me. I figured he had been staring for a while because he had sort of a dazed look on his face. I turned away to see who was next, but after that, I couldn't stop thinking about him. Every now and then I would sneek a peek over at him. He would be looking at the person being sorted and then his attention would turn to me.
After the last person had been sorted, "Zink, Melody-Ravenclaw," Professor Dumbledore stood up.
"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts," he said looking into the crowd of students at their tables. "Before we begin the start-of-term feast, as I know we are all waiting for," his eyes twinkled in Ron's direction.
I smiled as Dumbledore continued.
"I would like to introduce to you yet another new professor. As you all know, we tend to keep going through Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers quickly. But please, show your appreciation for Professor Brown."
Applause broke out as a young man, about 25 or so, stood up on Dumbledore's left side. He was tall, had medium blonde hair that was semi shaggy, and bright blue eyes. He reminded me a little of Professor Lupin from my second year, though he wasn't dressed as poorly. Professor Brown was dressed in casual looking robes that were deep red with gold lining. He noded to the students and sat back down. The applause died down as Dumbledore began again.
"Now as first years need to know, the Forbidden Forrest is out of bounds to all, all Hogsmeade trips are for years 3rd and above, and if there are any other questions about rules and boundaries, please see Mr. Filch." He gestured towards the back of the Hall where everyone turned to see Filch, the caretaker and his cat, Mrs. Norris. I never really liked Filch, nor did anyone else, but at times I felt sorry for him.
"Well," Dumbledore continued, directing everyone's attention back to himself, "now that that's out of the way, let the feast begin!" He sat back down next to McGonagall and Brown. I looked down at my table to find the once empty dishes filled to the brim with delicious looking foods.
As I filled my plate, I cought parts of conversations from people. Most of the girls were talking about Professor Brown.
"Oh he's so cute!" some would say. "Just his eyes make you want to melt!"
I chuckled a little at some of these. I agreed he was good looking, but girls were funny when they started saying stuff like that.
I tore away from the conversations to gaze around the Hall a bit. Everyone seemed to be having a great time. But then I saw something else that surprised me yet again. Not only was Malfoy staring at me, but so was Harry. I stared back at them and then waved a little. They both waved back. I put my head down and pretended to eat while I thought about this.
Why are they acting like this? They can't possibly like me! It was mad, absurd! I mean, people call me Loony Lovegood, so who could like me?
After dessert had been cleared, it was time to go to the dormitories for bed. I was in a big crowd of people at the door trying to get out when I bumped into someone.
"Oh sorry," I said looking up to see who it was.
"That's ok, Luna," said Harry. I didn't really feel like talking to him right now. The mess had finally cleared and I was free to leave.
"Well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow," I said to Harry as I started to walk away.
"Oh, ok. See you," he said. He looked kind of hurt, but I didn't care at the moment. I wanted to get out of there before I ran into Malfoy. I hurried to the staircases to get to the Ravenclaw Common Room. Why am I running from them? I thought. They might like me. That's a good thing, right?
But that's just it , said a voice in the back of my head. They might like me. I've never had a boyfriend and I don't think a boy has every really liked me. I'm scared of them.
I finally reached the common room. I must have been one of the last ones there because there were a lot of people already there. I decided I would go ahead and go to bed.
I crossed the room to the staircase and then heard someone call out my name. I turned to see who it was. Padma Patil and a group of her friends came over to me. Padma was a year older and had a twin sister, Parvati, in Gryffindor. I had never really talked to Padma before. Only a few times.
"Yes?" I said, wondering what she wanted.
"I just have to say congratulations!" said Padma.
"What?" I asked confused.
"Oh come on, you know," she said smiling. "Although if I were you, I would want better ones."
"Better what?" I asked. What is she talking about?
"Boys!" said Padma, irritated that I hadn't figured it out. "I know you have two boys after you now, and all I can say is well done! Too bad it has to be Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy. Not to be mean or anything. Harry wasn't very nice to my sister at the ball two years ago and Malfoy is just plain mean."
"Wait," I said. "How do you know they like me?"
"Well, Harry just couldn't keep his eyes off you at dinner," said Padma smiling, "and I heard Malfoy talking about you in the entrance hall before dinner."
"You did?"
"Yeah," she continued. "Apparently he's liked you since last year."
How can that be, though, I thought. I only met him today. But wait, no I didn't. I probably only just met him today, but last year he came into our compartment on the train. And him and his friends held us hostage for Professor Umbridge.
"Oh, well," I said looking around, "I'd better be going to bed. It's getting late."
"Ok. See you later then," said Padma and her and her friends went over to talk with some boys.
I went up the staircase to my dormitory. The sign now read 5th year. I went in, got undressed, and climbed into bed. I layed there for a few minutes, thinking about Harry and Malfoy.
It all just seems so weird, I thought. If I had to choose between them, who would I pick? I didn't know what to do. I rolled over and in 5 minutes I was lost in a dreamless sleep.
A/N: You know what to do! Review!