Disclaimer: Everything (characters, settings...just everything) belongs to and was created by the wonderful J.K. Rowling. Not me. Additionally, the books (or spoof titles of books) mentioned (Wuthering Heights, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and Great Expectations) are not my creation. They belong to the authors who wrote them who, unfortunately, are all dead now. But I still don't own their books.

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CHAPTER ONE: EERIE ENCOUNTERS AND HEAVY HEARTS

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Luna packed all of her favourite classics into the suitcase: "Wuthering Flights", "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde - When Squibs Turn Bad" and "Great Hexations". Sighing to herself, she closed up the worn suitcase (the initials "S.R.Lovegood" on the side in a swirly, elegant hand), took a deep breath, and drifted into the hallway. The walls were now barren; she had taken all of the photos of herself and her parents down, and placed them into one of her many bags. The once warm, well-lit passage was now devoid of any cheeriness or hominess.

"That's the last piece of luggage, Professor," Luna announced dreamily, staring unblinkingly at Minerva McGonagall.

"Well... that's good," McGonagall quavered. She had never realised quite how eerie Luna was until now. After having assisted her with packing for over three hours, she was startled at the fact that even Luna's most cheerful, quaint comments had melancholy and somewhat sinister undertones.

"Where are we going, Professor?" Luna enquired in a distant tone.

"A road named Grimmauld Place. I doubt you will have heard of it. One of the houses along the street is the headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix. Now that your father has...passed away, it will be your home," McGonagall explained. "I did not know where you were going to stay until I mentioned you to Remus Lupin. He said he remembered you from when he taught you in your second year, and that everyone would like it if you were to stay at the headquarters. To be frank, it hadn't even crossed my mind, so I'm glad he suggested it."

"How lovely of Professor Lupin," Luna mused.

"Yes. And Professor Dumbledore would've wanted it," McGonagall assured Luna.

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"Your hair is lovely," Luna noted by way of introduction, gazing at Tonks's vivid pink mop of hair. "It's the exact colour of what was my father's favourite raincoat."

"And you," Luna gasped, "are Ronald Weasley!" With this, she threw her arms around the gangly, red-headed boy and sighed, "Oh, it's been too long since we saw each other last!"

Ron woodenly patted Luna on the back and choked, "It's only been a week or two, Loon—uh, Luna."

"Which is one or two weeks too long a time!" Luna shrilled, her eyes trailing off to the other people standing in the kitchen of 12, Grimmauld Place. "More Weasleys," she marvelled, noticing various people with shocks of red hair. "This is delightful!"

"Has the grief done this to her?" Bill asked Harry, stammering.

"You!" Luna screeched in Fleur's direction. "One of the four Triwizard competitors in my third year! How lovely to see you again!"

"Who iz zis girl, Bill?" Fleur huffed. "She iz terrifying."

"Leave her alone, Phlegm," Ginny chided, uttering the last word under her breath. "Hi Luna! Harry and Hermione are here too! Why don't we all head upstairs to unpack your stuff?"

"Why yes," Luna uttered, her enormous grey-blue eyes surveying everyone else in the room. "That would be magnificent!" With this, she swept past everyone else in the kitchen to follow Ginny, who was heading upstairs. "It has been lovely meeting you," Luna assured everyone.

Once Luna had left the room everyone simply stood, speechless for a moment or two. Remus was chuckling slightly at the bewildered expression on Tonks's heart-shaped face, and Molly was sobbing silently into her apron, her husband's comforting arm round her. It was she who eventually broke the silence.

"The poor girl," she wept. "Her father, the only remaining family she had, has just died, and yet she still puts on a brave face and exercises beautiful manners. I dread to think what she is going through."

"There there, Molly. She's among excellent people now. I'm sure she'll be fine," McGonagall announced sympathetically.

"I promise I'll look after her, Minerva," Molly vowed, her sobbing showing no signs of subsiding.

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Luna learnt from Ginny that the entire Weasley family, Fleur, Remus, Tonks, Harry and Hermione were all staying at 12 Grimmauld Place over the summer holidays, which made her feel considerably better than she had felt earlier on in the day. As Ginny assisted her unpacking, her mind was swarmed with thoughts of her father. It was one thing losing one parent, but losing both of them was another matter entirely. Though she feigned optimism, she actually felt extremely gloomy, vulnerable, and lonely.

"Luna, I don't mind if you don't want to tell me, but I was wondering...how did your father die?" Ginny blurted, kicking herself for the bluntness of the question.

"No, it's quite alright," Luna dreamily insisted. Her eyes, startlingly similar to full, silver moons, widened slightly, and she confessed, "Some Death Eaters tortured him, apparently. Knowing my father, I bet he put up a fight though!"

Ginny found it quite disturbing that Luna could speak of her father's death so cheerfully. It's probably just her way of dealing with things, Ginny guessed. Acting as though nothing is different.

At that moment, Harry, Hermione and Ron all shuffled into the room. Ron stared at his feet, Hermione watched Luna with concern, and Harry stood forward and sat down next to Luna on her new bed.

"Luna, do you remember what you told me after Sirius died? You mentioned people "just lurking out of sight," and you also said that it's not as if we'd never seen them again. You'll see your parents again, Luna," Harry insisted. Luna felt a twinge in her heart.

"Thank you, Harry," Luna nodded. "I will, won't I?" she added cheerfully.

"Of course," Harry beamed.


If this chapter gets good reviews, I'll continue the fanfic. I do love writing about Luna. She's one of my favourite characters, and I think one of the finest minor (well, she's not minor, but you know what I mean) characters.

Please review! Every little review brightens up my day.