Chapter Four – December 1995

Christmas was fast approaching.

This was the first year since her time started at Hogwarts that Luna was going to miss people when she went home. Thanks to Dumbledore's Army, there were actually students who would go out of their way to say hello to her in the corridors between classes, instead of the rest of the school, who would cross entire courtyards just to avoid her.

It was rather like having friends, except they couldn't discuss the details of the meetings in public, in case someone they didn't want overhearing them, overheard them. So, there was a lot of skirting around the truth and as a result, Luna was often left confused about what was being said:

'Hi Luna! How's your Defence Against the Dark Arts study going? Ready for the next class? Fourth-years have Professor Umbridge on Wednesdays, right?'

'Oh, no, I have her class on Thursdays,' Luna said, correcting Ernie Macmillan, who smirked back at her in amusement as he walked away.

Luna also spent less time studying alone than ever before. Instead of seeking solace in the grounds, especially now that everything was snowed over, she took part in the study sessions held on the weekends in the Great Hall. The four long tables, usually separated by their houses, did not abide by such rules whilst students studied.

Neville Longbottom had taken to sitting next to her on these days, they were sometimes joined by other DA members like Ginny Weasley or the Creevey brothers. But today, it was just them, and they were distracted by the sight of some teachers and Prefects supervising students putting up Christmas decorations.

Hagrid had already hauled in the usual twelve Christmas trees; Professor Flitwick had just finished levitating them onto the pedestals around the hall; and the students volunteering to decorate them were all split into groups and put to work.

'Are you staying at Hogwarts or going home for Christmas?' Luna asked curiously, she was watching in amusement as Ron Weasley, being one of the Prefects supervising, was struggling with Peeves, who kept trying to strangle him as he put up tinsel.

'Gran wants me home this year,' Neville said automatically, 'it's been a couple of years since we've had Christmas dinner with Auntie Enid and Uncle Algie.'

'That sounds like fun,' she said, turning her attention back to her Herbology homework.

Neville sighed. 'My Aunt and Uncle argue a lot, but I guess it could be worse,' he said, looking up towards the front of the Great Hall. 'Hogwarts isn't going to be a nice place to spend at Christmas this year.'

Luna followed her friends gaze to the front where Professor Umbridge sat, in a toad-like position, watching sternly over the students studying.

'Still,' Neville went on, trying to look on the bright side, 'I am going to miss the DA, and our little studying sessions together, of course.'

Luna smiled. 'Me too!' she said sadly. 'At least there's something to look forward too when we get back!'

Neville nodded. They watched the decorating of the Christmas trees in silence for a moment, before Neville looked down at the essay that Luna was writing on Gillyweed and frowned.

'Luna,' he said, a small smirk etched on the corner of his mouth.

'Yes?' she asked curiously, looking up at him with raised eyebrows.

'Gillyweed is not related to the Tibetan Turnip,' he said with a laugh, pointing to a paragraph that Luna had just spent thirty minutes writing in complex details, outlining the origins of both and how they were clearly linked.

'Yes, it is,' Luna said defensively.

'I'm not even sure the Tibetan Turnip is a magical plant,' Neville scrunched up his face and started flipping through Magical Water Plants of the Mediterranean which he had lent to Luna for her essay.

'Yes, it is,' Luna said, repeating herself and rolling her eyes. 'My dad's seen them.'

'Even if it was,' Neville said, he was so familiar with Luna's oddities by now, that he allowed himself to be flexible, 'how're they even linked? Gillyweed is native to the Mediterranean Sea, which is nowhere near Tibet.'

'They're both fertilised by Dabberblimps,' Luna said firmly, as if that settled it.

'What are—?' Neville stopped. He looked sideways at Luna, who was staring at him unblinkingly with raised eyebrows. He could ask what Dabberblimps were, but he probably didn't want to know, so he just shook his head. 'Never mind.'

He slid Magical Water Plants of the Mediterranean back to her and returned to his own homework.

10th December 1995

Dearest Diary,

I must first apologise for how long it's been between entries. I have been terribly busy, as I knew I would be, and this is the first Sunday in weeks that I've had to myself. There's only a couple of weeks left until Christmas, I find myself on top of my homework, and I shouldn't think there would be much more handed out before the holidays.

Because of this fact, yesterday I was able to join those old enough in Hogsmeade, which was to be the final visit until the new year. I went shopping for presents for all of my new friends in Dumbledore's Army! I used a lot of the money I'd saved working with daddy over the summer, but it was worth it, simply for the fun I had buying things from all of the different shops there!

I'm sure it'll be even more worth it, when I get to see the faces of the friends, I'll be giving my presents too. I'll be sure to report back with how it goes, I'm confident everyone will be pleased with what I've bought for them.

However, I wanted Harry Potter's present to be extra special. So I'm going to give him something I made. I really hope he likes it.

Looking forward to our next conversation,

Luna Lovegood

'That's it for this lesson,' Harry said, he stood at the front in the Room of Requirement and was addressing the members of the DA.

They had just spent the past hour practicing the Impediment Jinx and it had gone relatively smoothly.

'I think we should be able to meet one more time before Christmas,' Harry said smiling at them all, 'I can't say for certain of course,' (there was an audible groan of despair), 'but Hermione and I will try to think up a date that's free for everyone next week.'

Harry looked sideways at Hermione who nodded in agreement.

'But otherwise, keep practicing those wrist movements,' Harry went on, making the motion with his own hand, 'and great, great work!'

There was a small round of applause. Then, just when it looked like they were all about to collect their bags and disperse, Luna put her hand up in the air and got the attention of not just Harry, but of everyone.

'Yes Luna?' Harry asked curiously, raising his eyebrows.

'Are you sure there'll be one more lesson?' she asked, keeping her hand raised.

Everyone laughed. 'Listen, I know you're all excited about these meetings and I appreciate that,' Harry said, also chuckling, 'it's just, juggling everyone's responsibilities like homework, Prefect duties, Quidditch— there's no guarantee we can find another night that's free.'

'Oh, well, it's just,' Luna kept her arm in the air whilst she was talking, 'I bought everyone Christmas presents and I was wondering if I should hand them out now or next week?'

There was a murmur of excitement that spread through the room. Luna didn't put her hand down, she kept staring blankly at Harry, who looked quite shocked at this piece of news.

'You bought presents?' Harry asked in disbelief. 'For everybody?'

Luna smiled as she put her hand down. 'Yes.'

'Brilliant,' Fred said, he and George were rubbing their hands together expectantly.

'Wait a second, Luna,' Harry said, he looked somewhat concerned, 'buying that many presents must have cost a lot of Galleons—'

'Oh, that's quite all right,' she said brightly, smiling at Harry. 'I had some money saved and I wasn't doing anything with it.'

'Harry Potter, why are you trying to ruin Christmas?' Ginny asked, narrowing her eyes and giving him a vicious stare. 'Let Luna hand out the presents.'

Luna heaved her bag off her shoulders and unsnapped the clasps.

'Are all of them in there?' Ron asked, he was looking sourly at Luna's bag, as if expecting his present to be a handful of cat litter.

'Yes,' Luna said happily, not noting his disappointment, and reaching into her bag, 'oh, and look, here's yours Harry.'

To everyone's amazement, Luna withdrew from the depths of her bag the very large Lion Hat that she'd worn during the Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Slytherin. Harry gawped at it as she presented it to him, he took it from her very slowly, before turning it in his hands to stare at it.

'Err… thanks,' Harry said, blinking down at the hat.

Luna beamed. She then began to pull more presents from her bag and started handing them out.

Ron was given an entirely edible Chess set; Hermione was handed a book called Magical Conspiracy Theories; Ginny was handed a fresh packet of Strawberry Sugar Quills; Cho got a Tutshill Tornados beanie; and Neville was surprised when she handed him a bright purple Turnip, that had a small label pinned to it with the words: Tibetan Turnip.

'How did you fit all of that in there?' Dean asked in amazement, as Luna rummaged around for more presents.

'Extension Charm,' she said brightly with a shrug. 'My father taught it to me, when we would deliver copies of The Quibbler in large numbers.'

The rest of her presents, however, were a little less well thought out. Fred, George and Lee were all passed muggle joke products; Dean got a sky-blue and maroon scarf; Lavender, Parvati and Padma each got a coupon for a free drink at Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop; Katie, Alicia and Angelina were all handed a small figure of a Quidditch player from the Hollyhead Harpies; and Colin and Dennis got a collection of Hogsmeade postcards.

The rest were given an assortment of Honeydukes sweets: Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans, Cauldron Cakes, Chocolate Frogs, Fizzing Whizbees, Liquorice Wands and Pumpkin Pasties.

However, despite this, no one seemed to complain about the presents. Luna thought Hermione Granger gave her the longest look after handing out her present, but otherwise they all kept thanking her again and again as they disbanded for the night.

23rd December 1995

Dearest Diary,

I'm on the train ride home for the holidays now.

The euphoria I've gone through over the past week, after handing out presents to my friends in Dumbledore's Army, is beginning to wear off a little. I've never had such positive feedback after handing out presents to people in all my life. Everyone seems to have enjoyed what I got them, with the exception of Hermione Granger, who seemed reluctant to tell me what I already know.

Hermione's parents, I learned, are dentists. Apparently, dentists are muggle healers who look after your teeth and gum disease; well, naturally all I can think of is the Rotfang Conspiracy, and that her whole family must be in on it. I haven't been able to link any of the Aurors in the Ministry of Magic to Hermione yet, but I had hoped, by giving her that book, she might let slip something.

I'll try again in the new year.

The only regret I have of leaving Hogwarts, was not being able to find Harry Potter and say Merry Christmas to him. He must have taken the Knight Bus home with the Weasley's, because I couldn't find any of them either and Ginny had said something about giving me a present.

I'm not worried. I'll see them all again soon.

Okay we're pulling into Kings Cross Station now. I won't be writing again until after the holidays.

Happy Holidays,

Luna Lovegood