DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter.
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A/N: Thanks for the wonderful reviews! I can't reply to all of you, but I really appreciate it.
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Chapter 37: Luna Lovegood
"The girl beside the window looked up. She had straggly, waist-length, dirty blonde hair, very pale eyebrows and protuberant eyes that gave her a permanently surprised look. Harry knew at once why Neville had chosen to pass this compartment by. The girl gave off an aura of distinct dottiness. Perhaps it was the fact that she had stuck her wand behind her left ear for safekeeping, or that she had chosen to wear a necklace of Butterbeer corks, or that she was reading a magazine upside-down."
-J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
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1994
(Cedric and Hermione's past)
"What are we doing here, Ron?"
"Shh... Harry, look! It's him! Viktor Krum!"
Hermione rolled her eyes, hearing the hushed tones of Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley.
The delegates from Beauxbatons Academy of Magic and Durmstrang Institute arrived yesterday and one of them was the famous Bulgarian Seeker, Viktor Krum.
Ced, Ian, and Terrence all looked surprised and pleased at the same time, seeing their favourite athlete, but didn't make any irritating noise. Unlike Ronald Weasley. Hufflepuff girls have also swooned at the sight of the Bulgarian Seeker but made sure that they were in their best behaviour. Unlike the Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin girls. Hermione became even prouder of her house.
Right now, she was in the library with Susan while most of their year-mates were in Divination. And that reminded her...
Why are Potter and Weasley here if it's time for Divination?
"Looks like Professor Trelawney is under the weather," whispered Susan, but her eyes were on the entrance of the library. Hermione followed her eyes and saw Justin, Ernie, Neville, and Hannah with their bags, looking very pleased.
"Oh. That explains why Potter and Weasley are here," she replied and continued reading her Charms book, still ignoring Potter and Weasley who were hiding behind the bookshelf beside her table. Susan returned her attention to her own book as well.
"Hey, Hermione," her friend whispered after a while, "where did you find that book again, about Animagus healing?"
She glanced at her friend. "The last shelf of the Transfiguration area, near the Legal Section," she replied.
Susan pouted. "Damn, that's far. I'm too lazy to walk there. Maybe next time."
Hermione chuckled and got up on her feet. "I'll go get it for you. Anyway, I'm planning to borrow a transfiguration book."
Susan grinned. "You're an angel, Mione! And you know, Professor McGonagall will be more pleased with you."
She laughed softly. "Don't leave our things," she told her before walking away, still feeling pleased with herself, remembering Professor McGonagall's words the other day.
Hufflepuffs shared Transfiguration with Gryffindors. Professor McGonagall told the class she was increasing the amount of work they were required to do this term. The Gryffindors groaned and then she gave her own lions a stern look and told them how disappointed she was because, given the fact that they were now at the most important phase of their magical education (their O.W.L.s next year), only Hermione Granger could perform a spellwork satisfactorily at the first attempt.
When she reached the shelf near the Legal Section, she saw a girl reading a book on the floor. Hermione froze for a moment. The girl appeared to be younger than her. She was wearing a Ravenclaw necktie (no school robe, just her Oxford shirt, jumper, and skirt). She had dirty-blonde hair that was reaching her waist, and her wand was tucked behind her left ear. Hermione was about to turn around and leave the girl be, but she realized that she wasn't wearing socks and shoes.
"Sorry," she started in a manner of greeting.
The younger girl looked up. She had silvery eyes and faint eyebrows. "You're Hermione Granger."
Hermione frowned curiously. "How did you know?"
"Some of my housemates talk about you," she replied casually. "They said you dosed Cedric Diggory a love potion, that's why he's dating you, but I don't believe them."
"Why, because it's illegal and Professor Snape will eventually catch me if I did?" she asked, amused at what she heard.
She wasn't blind. She wasn't deaf either. She knew that half of the Ravenclaw, Slytherin, and Gryffindor girls' population hated her for simply being around Cedric Diggory - the most handsome and kind and nicest boy. But the Hufflepuffs always defend her. Her house indeed valued loyalty and fairness. They weren't all friends, but they defend their fellow badgers. And if they had negative opinions about someone, they wouldn't spread them around. Either they tell their closest friends or keep it to themselves.
Her house was the reason why Hermione never bothered to dwell on other people's opinions about her.
"No," the girl answered. "You're a good person, I've seen and I've heard. It's no wonder Anthony Goldstein was smitten with you."
Now, she was frowning even more. Anthony Goldstein was a Ravenclaw in her year and they had Arithmancy and Ancient Runes together. "No, he isn't," she replied.
"Oh, he is. I know because he's the only one nice to me in our house." But the girl spoke very casually.
That made her curious. She sat on the floor near the girl. "Now, that is weird. Who wouldn't be nice to you?"
The other girl's silvery orbs bore into hers. "My name is Luna Lovegood. But they call me 'Loony'." Then, she shrugged.
"That's not nice!" she gasped.
Luna gave her a sad smile.
"Are your housemates the reason why you're barefooted?" she asked softly.
Luna shifted, sitting on her heels. "They always steal my things that's why I don't bother to wear shoes anymore. And school robes."
"But didn't you tell Professor Flitwick about it?" In Hufflepuff, whatever problems they had, they always told Professor Sprout.
Luna shook her head. "They will just mess with my things even more if I do. We're six girls sharing the third-year dormitory."
"These five girls in your dormitory are the ones stealing your stuff?"
To her horror, Luna shook her head. "Even the girls in other years."
"Like?" she pressed.
"Cho Chang and her group of giggling girls."
"But you have to tell your Head of House," she encouraged.
Luna shook her head again. "I might wake up with my trunk gone."
She bit her lip and started to think. There must be a solution to this conundrum...
"Hogwarts always provide help to those who ask for it..." She repeated the words she read in "Hogwarts: A History".
"Is that your favourite line from the book 'Hogwarts: A History'?" asked Luna, sounding interested. "Mine are: 'Wit beyond measure is a man's greatest treasure', and 'So sweet Helga Hufflepuff would take the lot and treat all the same.'
"That's it!" she exclaimed, thankful that they were alone in that part of the library, else Madam Prince would throw her out. "Hufflepuff! You can stay in our dormitory!"
"I'm not sure that's acceptable," reasoned Luna. "Students can't visit other houses."
She grinned. "Yeah, maybe for Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and especially Slytherin. But our house is different. We value Helga Hufflepuff's words too much. Do you even know that we don't appoint the Quidditch captain? The team vote... So, Luna Lovegood, why don't we pack your things and go to Professor Sprout, then we can finally tell Professor Flitwick about your horrible roommates, hmn?"
Hermione at least expected Luna to smile and stand up, but she wasn't prepared for her response: her silvery eyes became glassy and pulled her to a hug.
For the second time that day, Hermione froze again.
"I was right. You're a good person, Hermione Granger."
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Turns out, Professor Flitwick had a better solution for Luna's predicament. He had cast anti-theft charms on Luna's things after retrieving everything that was stolen from her. Professor Sprout was dismayed when Hermione and Luna first came to her. Her head of house comforted the third-year witch first before calling in for Professor Flitwick and told Luna that she would be welcome to visit the Hufflepuff house anytime.
Luna returned to her dormitory happily, but not before hugging and thanking her again.
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"Hey, where have you been?"
"We've been looking for you for an hour now!"
On her way back to the common room, Hermione bumped into Ian and Terrence who both held her by the arm as if arresting her.
"What's going on? I was just helping a Ravenclaw - "
"Ced's going to enter his name in the Goblet of Fire, but wants you to be around," Ian said urgently.
They were taking her to the Entrance Hall, instead of the basement.
"Oh, sorry, I forgot!" she exclaimed.
"Oi, Ced, we found her," called Terrence when they were nearing the Great Hall.
Cedric looked worried and at the same time annoyed, but his demeanour changed when he saw her. With just a few strides, he made it to her side when Ian and Terrence released her. Ced caught her wrist and hurried to the nearest unused classroom. When he shut the door, he instantly hugged her and buried his face to her hair.
"I've been looking for you. Where have you been?"
Hermione hugged him back. "I'm sorry, I met a young Ravenclaw who needs help."
Ced pulled away gently to meet her eyes. "It's all right. I just want you to be there when I enter my name. I'm nervous."
"You'll be fine," she assured him. "Don't expect too much, but I think Professor Snape was certain you'll be picked by the impartial judge."
Ced flashed his crooked smile. "That would be nice, but really, I'm fine. I guess I'm just doing this for our house."
She grinned back. "I guess I should thank you, then." She stood on her tiptoes, placed her arms around his neck, and yanked him gently for a chaste kiss."
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A/N: In canon, do you think Harry ever realized that maybe, just maybe, Cho is one of the girls who stole Luna's stuff? Read about this in Hufflepuff Pride FB page.