1Chapter Two. I stuttered.
Our first night back at Hogwarts was nervous, anxious, and uncomfortable to say the least. All the girls were sorted into two rooms, plus Professor McGonagall's room across the hall from us. The boys were sorted into two rooms at the other end of the hall, with Severus across the hall and Lupin's room next to his. It wouldn't have been hard to sneak into someone else's room. Wouldn't have been hard... that is if the teachers hadn't placed safety spells on the rooms. I'd discover that not long after we got to Hogwarts, as would most of the other students who returned. It's probably not a bad thing that the teachers thought me may still sneak around eventually, even with all the sorrow and tragedy. I suppose. We discovered that all the ghosts had left, disappeared. All except for Moaning Myrtle. And that damn Peeves had made his way back to the school when nobody was there to kick him out. There were only two house elves left, I think their names were Dobby and -----, or something like that. There wasn't any food left, and transfigured food just doesn't do it. Professor McGonagall sent Draco, Lee, Hermione, and Myself to go with Professor Lupin into Hogsmeade. Everyone doubted that anything would be left in the town, but we had to try. I almost wish that was the last time I went to Hogsmeade.
"Oh dear, it's snowing." Professor Lupin said as he opened a door to outside that I'd never seen before. "I don't supposed any of you have cloaks or coats?" He asked, lowering his eyebrows.
"All I've got is what I have on, sir." Lee piped up, tugging his arms inside his light t-shirt. He had it worst. Nobody had anymore than what they were wearing, but at least most of us were wearing sweatshirts or sweaters. Poor Lee was stuck with a t-shirt and shorts. He and his family had supposedly been vacationing in South America when rumors of the war sprouted. By the time it actually started, they had just gotten off the plane in London.
"Here, take my coat..." Lupin said, handing Lee his long black overcoat that was much too big for the boy. "Hopefully there are still things left in the stores, even if there are no people left there with them."
"Professor, how do we know this is safe?" Draco asked, saying his first words for quite some time.
"We don't, but we don't have much of a choice." Professor Lupin said solemnly, walking out the door. We all followed, Hermione reluctantly, Lee falling behind because his coat was so heavy. I felt bad for him.
"Here, take this." I said, taking of my long sweater that tied around me. "It's not as warm, but at least you'll be able to walk." I smiled, exchanging my sweater for Lupin's coat. It was heavy, like a pile of wet blankets falling right on top of you from all the way up at the Astronomy tower, and I'm actually allowed to use that comparison by experience. But I'm taller than Lee, at least the coat was up off the ground.
"Thank you..." Lee said, apparently not knowing my name.
"Luna." I smiled, wrapping an arm around him to keep him a little warmer.
"Don't you have a boyfriend, Loon?" Draco asked, pulling off his lopsided grin.
The word boyfriend always made me uncomfortable, it still does. I shifted and let my arm fall to my side, all the while casting an evil glare at Malfoy. It hadn't even occurred to me that he called me Loon. I had gotten so used to it in prior years at school.
"Draco, that's quite enough." Lupin said sternly, not even needing to turn around.
Malfoy's smile disappeared, and fell back to walk beside me. I didn't know why. He had his arms crossed, and kept his eyes on his feet. I can't blame him. It was very cold.
"I didn't mean anything by it, you know?" He spoke quietly, still looking at his feet.
...whoa...Is Draco... apologizing? ... To ME?
"Uh... Yeah. It's ok, I'm-I'm used to it." I smiled, pulling Lupin's coat around me tighter as a gust of snow blew at out faces.
"Luna..." Draco started. I wish I hadn't found out later what he had planned on saying.
"Oh my god!" Hermione shouted as Hogsmeade came into sight.
I've never seen a place so empty, so deserted, so... dead. We stopped on the main road and looked around for a few moments, taking it all in. I could still see dried blood-stains on the ground underneath the light layer of snow. Snow, in September. The weather had gotten so messed up. Windows were broken, and doors were swinging open. There were no people, no animals, no noise except for the wind. The silence was deafening, and the sight was blinding. It didn't seem real. Hogsmeade had been so alive, it seemed like it couldn't possibly have been the same place we all visited so many times. But it was, sadly it was.
"Alright..." Lupin sighed, It was easy to tell that he had been wishing for something other than what we were seeing. "Lets-lets round up supplies. I don't want to have to come back here anytime soon, it's safer to stay inside the school. Wands at the ready, head into shops in pairs, and get anything you think we can use at school. Food, Clothes, anything. There isn't too much, we can find a use for anything." Lupin said, starting to sound like an army leader.
"Sir, what do we put the things in? How do we get everything back to the school?" Hermione asked. Good old Hermione, she was always the thoughtful one.
"Ah, yes. Good question, Hermione..." I could tell he was thinking. He hadn't thought yet of how they would get supplies back to the school, especially since they couldn't use magic. "Well, let's all head to The Witches Closet and see if they have any traveling cases or bags we might be able to use. That way we can all get some warmer jackets as well." Lupin nodded, heading the way to the clothing store. I remember thinking how nice it would be to get some new clothes on. I had been wearing the same thing for over a week, and I knew everyone else was thinking pretty much the same thing.
The door of The Witches Closet was laying on the ground in front of the building, next to the wooden sign. It was colder inside the store than it was outside, I don't know how. Lupin walked in the door, wand held out straight in front of him, to make sure it was safe. Even though he waved us in with relief, we were all at least a little scared while our eyes adjusted to the sudden darkness.
"Alright. Luna, Draco, you two start here. Focus on clothing, and medical supplies..." Lupin said hurriedly as he tossed myself and Draco at least five blue duffle bags from a high up shelf off to the side of where the door should have been.
"Medical supplies? What are we going to need those for?" Lee squealed, eyes wide.
"Just a precaution." Lupin's voice was incredibly calming. "One can't be too safe. Hermione, Lee - you two focus on food and drink. Don't feel bad about going to Honeydukes, as well as the three broomsticks and the small grocery store on the road next to the Hogs Head. It wont hurt to have some sweets as well as regular food." Lupin winked as he tossed Lee and Hermione even more bags than Draco and me. Probably because we'd be starting in the store and could easily get more bags if we needed to.
"Professor, where will you be?" Hermione asked, tossing the straps to her five bags over her shoulder.
"Here and there." Lupin said carefully. "Lets all meet at the gates of the shrieking shack in an hour. There's no sense to be walking back up to the school with this snow pouring down on us. And be careful. No magic, unless absolutely necessary." Lupin said, pointing a finger at everyone as he spoke. "Keep safe." And he left us to our own. Hermione and Lee nodded a couple short goodbyes before they left right after Lupin. Then it was me and Draco. We stood for a few moments, looking at each other with our bags in hand, and then around the shop. It was so dark, we could only see the outlines of the clothing racks.
"Well don't just stand there Loon..." Draco said quickly as he started to walk towards a rack that looked like it had cloaks on it, then he stopped and turned around slowly. "Sorry... Sometimes-. I just got so used to-" He stuttered, I laughed.
"Don't worry, Malfoy. You can call me Loon if it makes you feel better, it's all the same to me." I said, shoving a bundle of throw blankets into one of the duffle bags. I looked back up at him and smiled when he didn't say anything. He just stared at me. "Are... Are you going to-to help?" I asked, finding a stand with sweaters and dumping them all into the same bag as the blankets.
"Oh, oh yeah. Sorry." Draco nearly tripped as he rushed to the rack with cloaks.
"You apologize a lot lately. Half the time you don't have a reason. Why?" I asked, turning my head sideways. I didn't understand then.
"I..." Draco thought. His eyes seemed to burn into mine, I thought he was just thinking. I know differently now. "I don't really know. I guess maybe I think I should try to make up for the past." He said seriously.
"No offense, but words don't usually make up for much." I said. I thought I was being helpful. I was wrong.
We had gotten nearly everything that could keep one warm, including furry boots and socks. Surprisingly, nothing took up much room in the duffle bags. Draco pointed out that they were bottomless duffle bags, and wouldn't ever get full. I remember thinking that professor Lupin must not have noticed. I suggest we put the remaining bags inside the ones we had used, in case we needed them at school.
"Good idea. Luna." Draco smiled. A real smile, not one of those sarcastic half-smiles. I remember thinking 'I must have died. We all must have died. Draco doesn't smile...He doesn't give compliments either... When did we die? I hope Ginny turned her hair-curler off. Oh, she doesn't use one...'
"Th-thanks." I stuttered. I never stuttered. I was too accepting to stutter. I knew that everything was inevitable and would happen eventually. I had never stuttered before. And I've only stuttered twice since.