Luna listened patiently as Ginny told her the entire story, everything from when she just woke up inside the chamber to overhearing Ron and Hermione talking about staying at Hogwarts to help Harry. She also told Luna how it seemed like everyone wanted to keep her in the dark about what was going on with Harry. After Ginny finished retelling everything Luna sat there quietly for a minute collecting her thoughts.
"So, what do you think Luna?" "How do I get back to Hogwarts without being noticed and how do I help Harry?" Luna thought for a moment before she spoke.
"Are you sure that you are well enough to help?" "From what you told me it seems that you are not well yet either, especially since Madam Pomfrey had to enter your nightmare to figure out what was wrong since you refused to tell them anything," Luna said with her normal dreamy way of speaking, laced with an undertone of seriousness.
"Luna, you are my best friend. I won't lie to you, I still get my nightmares and they terrify me. Ginny began. "Even with that though, it is more important to me to be there for Harry, he saved me Luna, and now that he is in trouble, I want to be there to save him," Ginny said with an expression of determination. Luna once again thought for a minute before responding.
"If you indeed go, you will be forgoing any comfort your family will be able to give you to help you recover...are you sure you are mentally prepared to handle your nightmares by yourself?" Luna asked, in a more serious tone. Luna cared deeply for Ginny and did not want to see her hurting, but at the same time, she was also proud of her friend for displaying such selflessness... Ginny looked Luna right in the eyes before saying.
"Yes Luna, I understand the consequences that my actions will have and I still want to go through with this," Ginny stated. Luna looked at her long friend and after a few more seconds of thought made up her mind.
"Ok, I will help you figure a way to get back into the school, and a way for you to help Harry," Luna said with a smile crossing her face.
"Thank you Luna but I only need help to get into Hogwarts. I want to help Harry on my own." Ginny said in a light voice hoping she didn't offend her friend. Luna simply smiled at Ginny.
"That wasn't exactly what I meant" Luna began, "you said that Madam Pomfrey, Ron, and Hermione entered your nightmare to figure out what was bothering you right?" Ginny nodded at this so Luna continued. "I am assuming that they used the pensive inside of Headmaster Dumbldores office and while you were having the nightmare, extracted the nightmare with a wand and put it into the pensive, to where they put their heads inside and entered your dream. Does that sound accurate to you?" Luna asked
"Umm, I believe so, ya...I did see a weird bowl with liquid inside of it in the hospital wing, that was probably the pensive." Ginny said, the gears in her head turning to try and figure out the point Luna was trying to make.
"You see, entering a live dream or nightmare is different than entering a memory. In a memory, the event has already taken place and nothing you do can change that, you are merely watching. The same can not be said about a live dream or nightmare, if it is live, you are literally transported into the dream or nightmare and it is real, the person whose dream or nightmare you have entered will be able to see you and interact with you. Also" Luna leaned in now, all notes of her dreamy talk gone, "Since their mind preserves you as part of the dream, the dream can interact with you...meaning if you are in a nightmare and let's say a creature is attacking the dreamer if the dreamer sees you, so will the creature and might attack you as well." There was silence in the room for a few minutes while Ginny wrapped her head around the news that she had just heard.
"But...But it's only a dream or nightmare, it can't actually hurt me...can it?" Ginny asked with worry building inside her.
"That is what I am trying to say. Anything that causes you harm in the dream, it will be so real that your brain won't be able to tell the difference, so it will harm your real body as well." Luna said slowly making sure Ginny understood. Ginny's mind was working in overdrive as she processed everything until something clicked in her mind.
"Wait! Is that why Harry seemed to have broken his rib out of nowhere?" Ginny said, looking alarmed and frightened. "But...But that can't be...because it's only a nightmare, it shouldn't be able to hurt him!" Ginny clambered. Luna simply waited for Ginny to regain her breathing before she continued her explanation.
"Yes, you are right, under normal circumstances the nightmares Harry is having should not be affecting his body...but they are, so why isn't this a normal circumstance?" Luna asked. Some hated that Luna made people figure things out for themselves instead of telling them the answer, but Luna understood that people remember things better and more clearly if they are simply guided to the answer instead of being directly told. Ginny understood this and was thinking rapidly trying to figure out why this situation was different until it clicked.
Ginny spoke barely over a whisper "The Basilisk venom." Luna simply nodded.
"Basilisk venom is very rare and most people who are bit usually die, so we didn't know the effects of the poison besides its fatality...until now," Luna told Ginny.
"So...why is Harry still...alive?" Ginny asked with a lump in her throat as she began to look up. Luna simply shook her head.
"As far as I'm aware, he is the first one to survive, I guess we'll just have to chalk that up to him being "The Boy Who Lived," Luna replied.
"So...in your opinion, what do you think the venom is doing besides the obvious?" Ginny asked, pleading with Luna to give her her opinion. Luna let out a sigh before she began.
"I believe that the venom is altering Harry's perception of reality, it's bringing up the darkest, scariest memories Harry has and is forcing him to relive them." Luna stopped and looked up at Ginny who looked horrified, but she continued with her explanation. "With that being said, I also believe that since the venom is altering his perception, Harry believes that whatever nightmare he is living in is real. This means that anything that happens to Harry in the nightmare will also damage his body." Luna said cautiously looking over at Ginny who now had tears running down her cheeks, her hands covering her mouth. It took Ginny a while to be able to speak again and regain some composure.
"So this...this is why you asked me if I was truly prepared to help Harry, and to neglect my nightmares," Ginny said through a very shaky voice. Luna simply nodded once more. Reaching over and holding Ginny's hand.
"Ginny I don't want you to get hurt more than you already are, I don't know much about Harry but… there is no way of knowing how bad his nightmares truly are...you could end up dying." said a choked-up Luna, tears now rolling down her cheeks. Ginny and Luna both held each other in a comforting embrace while letting the tears run down their cheeks. After a few minutes they broke apart, Ginny took a deep breath and steadied her emotions. "I fully understand the risks and I still want to do this. Harry risked his life for me, it's only fair I do the same for him." Ginny said, trying to keep her voice steady while trying to outwardly show an aura of confidence while on the inside she was shaken up. Luna looked at Ginny, whipping the remaining tear that lingered on her face.
"Alright Ginny, I am here to help however I can," Luna said back with a smile. "First things first, we will simply owl your mother and ask her if you can stay here with us for the summer since you spent so much time here with us before we went to Hogwarts, I am sure she will say yes." Luna began. Ginny simply looked at Luna while Luna was figuring out the best plan. She is simply amazing, I am so happy we are friends. Ginny thought to herself. Smiling slightly to herself, she asked.
"Hey, Luna, how did you know about the pensive, and all that stuff... I don't remember ever learning about any of that at school." Ginny said looking at Luna half in awe and half in wonder.
"Well…" Luna began, her lips beginning to form a smile. "You see, I am a Ravenclaw," Luna said smiling back at Ginny. "Even though people think I am an airhead, I am sharper than most people think," Luna said with a wink which made Ginny smile even bigger. "Alright, we are going to have to think of a way for you to sneak back into Hogwarts, as well as find a way for you to exit Harry's nightmares," Ginny said gazing at the sky.
"Wait hold on...what do you mean "A way for me to get out of the nightmare?" Ginny asked, getting nervous once again. Luna tore her gaze away from the skies and rested them back on Ginny.
"Normally, you exit the pensive once the memory is done, so why won't you be able to do that now?" Luna asked eyeing Ginny as she watched the gears turn in Ginny's head. Suddenly a look of realization dawned on Ginny.
"Since it's a live nightmare, it won't end until the nightmare is over, so I don't have a way out unless I wait for that," Ginny said.
"Exactly, now why don't we head over to the Library in the basement, we have collected hundreds of books on potions making, theories behind them, and much much more," Luna said beginning to stand up from her chair and leading Ginny out of the room towards the basement of her house.
"Why do you have so many books on potion-making, and how is that going to help me?" Ginny asked completely at a loss.
"Oh, I believe potions is the answer to both of your problems," Luna said with a wink as she began to walk down the spiral staircase that led to the basement. The basement was very large and was obviously under the influence of a few space enlargement spells. In the basement lay bookshelves as that spanned the entire length of the basement, saving room for the brilliant gardens that lay on either side of the walls.
"Wow Luna, this is incredible!' Ginny began "Why is this the first time I am seeing this!" Ginny asked, her eyes scanning over the room taking everything in.
"Well, that's a simple question. It's because when we hang out, we usually are outside on our brooms flying around." Luna said with a smile.
"Well… I can't argue with that.' Ginny said slightly red in the cheeks. "So why does your family have so many books on potion making and potions?" Ginny asked.
"Well that's because daddy finds potions extremely useful and fun to study, I'm sure you've seen our outdoor gardens as well as the ones in here, they are all for potion making," Luna said dreamily.
"So… what did you mean by "Potions will solve both of my problems?" asked Ginny as she watched Luna begin to stroll through the isles looking at names of books as she went.
"Exactly as I said, I believe that we can find potions to solve both of your problems...in fact, I think I have found one that will help you with getting you back into school," Luna said as she pulled out a book from a shelf, dusting the cover of the book off with her hand. She quickly opened up the book and turned to the table of context, she read down the list until finding the one she was looking for and flipped to the said page walking back over to Ginny as she smiled and handed her the book open to the page.
"Say Ginny… have you ever heard of a Polyjuice potion? Asked Luna with a mischievous smile. Ginny looked at Luna with a questioning look on her face, slowly she reached out and took the book and read the page Luna had brought for her. She read The Polyjuice potion allows a Witch or Wizard to assume the appearance of someone else for a limited time, replicating said person perfectly. Ginny gasped and looked at Luna.
"Luna this is brilliant! Exclaimed Ginny reading over the page.
"Now all we must do is find someone who can enter Hogwarts without raising suspicion and then take one of their hairs and you will be in!" Luna said excitedly.
"Wait...what did you just say?" Ginny asked, some color draining from her face, but not a lot.
"Well, we need DNA from the person for the polyjuice potion to work." Explained Luna.
"Oh...ok that sounds gross but… I can do it.' Ginny said, trying to convince herself as well.
"So let's think, who do we know that would not raise suspicion if they entered Hogwarts during the summer?" Luna asked, pondering her own question she had just asked. After a few minutes of thinking, Luna's eyes sparkled. "I got it!" she said looking over at Ginny.
"Perfect!" "Who is it?" Ginny asked slightly worried about the answer.
"It was so simple it was staring us in the face the whole time!" Luna exclaimed while giggling slightly.
"What do you mean, who is it?" Ginny asked again, getting more nervous. Luna looked over at Ginny and smiled. "It's obvious, wouldn't you say… Mrs. Weasly?" Luna said looking at Ginny while continuing to giggle.
"Mrs. Weasley?" "Nobody calls me that Luna, that's my…oh," Ginny said as realization struck. "You want me to go as my mom?"
Luna began "Of course, she is perfect, nobody would be suspicious of her entering Hogwarts right now to check on Ron, Hermione, and Harry.' Luna said again with a smile.
"I know, you are right but….wow this is going to be really REALLY weird Luna," Ginny said with her head in her hands trying to wrap her mind around this.
"This will be fun Ginny!" Luna said, "Alright so here is the plan for problem number one, I will make the polyjuice potion and you, my dear Ginny, will find one of your mother's hairs." Luna said while smirking.
"Oh, merlin I am not looking forward to this," Ginny said, shaking her head in disbelief.
Scrappy8: Thank you for your review and continued support! I really appreciate it!
H1dd3nRush: Thank you for proofreading this chapter
