Chapter 21: In the Library
To Luna's dismay, Harry steered clear of her the next, few days. While she had received
kindhearted glances from Hermione, Frances, and Lissa, Harry changed directions
whenever she appeared one hundred yards of him.
"It's not your fault." Hermione reassured whenever she had talked to Luna, but Luna
disagreed. She was sure that if it had not been her, Harry would had been extremely
jovial.
Luna would have had more time to worry about what was going on between Harry and
her if it weren't for finals. Yes, it was the time when finals were approaching and every
student (especially seventh years as they had to study for N.E.W.Ts) was preparing for
the day the finals arrived.
Luna almost broke down from all the stress. One day, as she and Frances were studying
Ancient Growth Potions, Luna had burst into tears and wouldn't stop crying. Frances and
Lissa had to take her to the Hospital Wing to get Madam Pomfrey, who gave her a
calming tonic.
It wasn't just Luna who was under stress either. Cho Chang was worse than ever to
Luna, as she made Luna work harder than ever to please her.
"What the hell do you think you are doing!?" Cho had screamed at Luna over a book called,
"Charms and Spells of the Eighteen Century Strike".
Luna looked at her in confusion.
"I'm making your bed, just like you told me to." Luna answered obediently.
"Did I tell you to fold the covers in?" Cho barked.
"Well......I guess not."
Cho slammed down the book and messed up her bed covers.
"Now do it RIGHT!!" she shouted.
====================================
"So when do we, you know, hatch our strategy?"
Liz sipped her pumpkin juice and glanced at Cho.
"When the time is suitable."
Cho scowled at her friend.
"That's what you said two weeks ago." She retorted, "I'm tired of waiting!"
Liz watched Harry get up from the Gryffindor table.
"You are right." She said quietly.
"Excuse me?" Cho was surprised by her friend's sudden words.
Liz got up. "You are right. It is time. Notice that his friends are still sitting at the table.
Now is the perfect time."
Cho smiled with enthusiasm as she got out of her seat.
"Now we have t- what are you doing?" Cho snapped.
Luna looked taken back.
"I just.....uh.......want....uh....want to know......if you um....want your laundry
washed?" Luna's face grew pale.
Cho's eyes searched Luna's face for a clue but could not find one.
"Oh OK." She sneered, "And while you are at it, refill my ink bottles too. They are
getting low on ink.
To Cho and Liz's surprise, Luna smiled.
"OK thanks," she grinned, "I need something to do."
Liz waited until Luna was out of ear sight to ask, "What was up with her?"
Cho stared angrily at Luna's receding body.
"I have no idea," she growled softly, "But I am going to find out."
==============================
Luna hurried to find Hermione at the Gryffindor table.
"They are going to do it," she whispered. "They are going to do it now!"
Hermione, who was listening to Neville converse about his toad as well as Luna,
immediately stood up.
"Sorry, Neville." She told a flabbergasted Neville. "I got to go!"
"With Loony?" Seamus asked.
Hermione glared at him. Luna pretended she didn't notice.
"Cmon." Hermione grabbed Luna's hand as she led her outside the Great Hall.
"Where did Harry go?" Luna asked once they were outside.
"I think the library, but I really am not sure." Hermione looked around. The corridor they
were in was empty except for the two girls.
"Now what?"
"We hide and wait for them. Once they come out, you follow them while I alert some
teachers. Got that?"
Luna nodded.
Hermione grinned a pathetic grin before grabbing Luna's arm once again.
"In here quick!" she said, pulling Luna into a massive cauldron.
"Now, shhhhh." Hermione pulled the cauldron lid over them and they waited, Hermione
with her ear pressed to the cauldron's surface, while Luna rubbed her arm tenderly.
Hermione pulled something out of her robe pocket.
"What is that?" Luna asked as she watched Hermione attach something that oddly looked
like an ear on a string.
"It's an Extendable Ear." Hermione whispered. "Ron's older brothers made it. Now
shhh."
Luna and Hermione waited. The few minutes that passed by felt like hours to Luna, but
they were worth it as Cho and Liz soon passed by.
"Right. I stole this from Harry's pocket a couple days ago when he was using it. Look,
he is up in the library, and it looks like he is alone. Perfect. Let's go."
Luna turned to Hermione. Her face was plastered into a scowl as she climbed out of the
cauldron. Luna didn't have any idea what the map that Liz and Cho talked about was,
but she was sure that Hermione did.
"Theives." Hermione muttered, "Oh how I am going to get them for this. Anyway, you
follow them Luna, and I will go get a teacher."
Luna and Hermione spilt. Climbing the stairs to the library passageway, Luna gripped
her wand angrily. Cho may have gotten away with loads of things in the past, but she
wasn't going to get away with this!
=================================
Cho and Liz crept into the library. Pleased to see that nobody but themselves and Harry
were there, Liz hid behind a bookshelf while Cho snuck up behind Harry.
"Hello Harry!" Cho said in a singsong voice.
Harry jumped. He had plainly not been expecting anybody.
"Good." Cho thought humorously as Harry whirled around.
"What the bloodly hell are you doing here Cho?" Harry asked angrily.
Cho watched as Liz tiptoed behind Harry and took his wand. Cho did not say anything.
"Well?"
"I thought that you might need help with your preparations for your N.E.W.Ts, since I
took them last year and know all about them and stuff. You know?" Cho quickly lied, amazed
with herself on how good she was at lying.
Harry glared at her.
"Thanks but no thanks." Harry snapped. "Now go away, I have work to do."
"I don't think so." Cho said softly.
Harry got out of his sit, his anger quickly rising to the boil point. "What did you say?"
"I really wish I didn't have to do this, but I have no choice." Cho continued, pulling her
wand out of her robe pocket.
Harry, thinking that Cho was going to attack him, whipped around for his, but did not
find it.
"What are you going to do?" Harry asked, his voice still strong, but Cho spotted fear
flickering in his eyes.
"This."
Cho raised her wand.
============================
Ok sorry if this and the other chapter stunk so far, but I think the rest of the story will be better. Hope you enjoyed it!!!! Please read and review!!!