Luna Lovegood's compartment on the journey to Hogwarts was usually unoccupied, apart, of course, from Luna herself. Even on the trip First Year, the voyage was made in solitude after two girls spent five minutes sitting across from her, exchanged a pregnant look, and departed. Luna did not mind; she merely smoothed out her skirt over her colorful leggings and watched the countryside drag along. It was all very beautiful. She was even certain that she saw a pale blue car wobbling through the sky...

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Luna turned her head slowly and found that the compartment was now furnished with a large, blue box.

"Hullo!" a man yelled as he sprang from the box, teetering on his feet as though making sure his thoughts wouldn't slide out of his ears.

"Hmm," Luna sighed. "You've changed your bowtie this go. How was it that we left my mind, Mr. The Doctor?"

Without answering, the strange cartoony man gazed around the compartment, then looked thrilled. "Don't tell me...Is this the Hogwarts Express?"

"Why would you ask a question after telling me not to answer it?"

"Oh!" The Doctor's grin broadened. "You are clever! Still mad as ever. Brilliant."

Luna stood and proceeded to stroke the TARDIS's side.

"She's been missing you," the Doctor said, and Luna was unsure whether he was talking to her or the TARDIS. "Now! Off to Hogwarts! Or...from Hogwarts. Is it to or from?"

"To."

"And what year is this? For you, I mean."

"It's my first year," she answered.

"Oh! Oh. Chamber of Secrets. This is going to be interesting." His nose wrinkled a bit.

Luna was briefly confused, but then remembered that Mr. The Doctor had, of course, seen the future. "The Chamber of Secrets?" Luna's gaze brightened. "So I was right; It's real!"

"You're looking a bit cheerful, to be finding out that every Muggle-born in the school is in grave danger."

"I never knew whether the Chamber was real," she answered, unabashed.

"You weren't sure? You? I thought you believed every story."

"Not every story is true," Luna said.

"You're one to talk," the Doctor muttered, then suddenly shouted: "So! Has the trolley come by yet?" He plopped onto the seat, and she followed.

"Not yet," she answered.

"And you. Why're you sitting all alone?" His voice has lowered, and he suddenly seemed concerned for her.

"There were two other girls, but they chose to leave. I think they found my presence disconcerting. Do you know I saw a flying car moments ago?"

"Was it pale blue?" the Doctor asked gleefully.

"Yes," Luna replied. "How did you know?"

"No reason. Oh! So you've got your own wand, now, haven't you?"

Luna nodded, drawing the long, slender object from a skirt pocket. "My father gave it to me yesterday," she said breathily. "It's quite lovely."

"Yes, it is."

"You never answered. How did we leave my mind?"

"You, of course. You stopped trying to instill order. In the chaos that followed, the strongest force present would be the one that controlled our fates." He looked at her expectantly.

"You don't mean that force was me," Luna said knowingly.

"Of course not. That force was the TARDIS. Whipped us out in a jiffy; I took you right along home."

Luna stood to touch the TARDIS again. "Thank you," she whispered.

The train stopped, suddenly.

"Ooooooh!" The Doctor rubbed his hands together. "This is going to be brilliant! Hogwarts castle! The Sorting! Albus Dumbledore! Oh, and Gilderoy Lockhart will be there."

"Father told me that Gilderoy Lockhart doesn't know anything," Luna said, as though the memory has just floated to mind.

"And what do you think?"

"I don't believe I've ever met someone who didn't know anything before."

The Doctor grinned. "I've got to go, but I'll be back."

"Where are you going?"

"There's a tree that I want to see."

"A tree?"

"Yes. A brilliant, fantastic tree." He spun her around, then vanished into the TARDIS, which then vanished entirely. Luna was left alone.

She shook her head and started humming to herself. She continued the song until she had reached the doors of Hogwarts. But once there, she had a peculiar feeling that someone was watching her, somewhere near the corner where the winged statues loomed.

Luna blinked.