Disclaimer: Do I look like JK Rowling? No? Then I don't own anything you recognise. I own my ocs who will be in the next chapter though.

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Secrets of Moonlight Told

Chapter One: Of Diamonds, Conspiracies and Thestrals.

It was the first of September, and Kings Cross station was bustling with students and their families heading towards the illicit platform of nine and three-quarters.

For Luna Lovegood, and her friend Ginny Weasley, it was the beginning of their fifth year at the prestigious school.

"Hey Luna!" Ginny cried happily upon seeing her friend.

"Oh, hello there Ginevra." Luna smiled dreamily. She was wearing a long, floaty, bottle-green dress, and her favourite radish earrings. Her dirty blonde hair cascaded down her back freely.

"So, how was your summer?" Ginny was wearing a bright blue cropped t-shirt, a pale denim skirt, and pink platform trainers. Her vivid orange hair was up in bunches on either side of her head.

"Oh, it was marvellous. Daddy and I went to Sweden to see if we could see any Crumpled-Horn Snorkacks. They're very rare, you know," she added.

"I expect they would be," humoured Ginny.

As the clock struck eleven, the guard blew his whistle sharply, and the remaining students boarded the Hogwarts Express, in anticipation of the long ride north.

"Let's go find Harry, Ron and Hermione," Ginny suggested.

They found them in the very last compartment. Ron had already tucked into a large bag of bright purple toffees, and had his feet up on the seat opposite him.

"Ron, don't put your feet on the seats," Ginny chastised her older brother.

"I've already told him three times; he won't listen." Hermione sighed in irritation.

Ron returned his feet to the floor of the train. "I'm not putting up with this nagging all the way to Hogwarts."

"Honestly, Ron, it's a perfectly reasonable request," said Hermione. "There's no need to complain."

"I've done it now, haven't I?" snapped Ron. "And I'm not the one complaining."

"Hiya, Luna," Harry said, ignoring the bickering that was going on around him.

"Hello, Harry. That's a nice jumper you're wearing," she replied, eyeing the diamond pattern.

"Really? It's just an old one of Dudley's," Harry said surprised.

"The diamonds bring out your aura," she said simply.

The five of them spent the journey chatting, playing card games and eating. The good atmosphere was only disrupted for a short while when Draco Malfoy and his cronies turned up to taunt them.

"Nice jumper, Potter." Malfoy sneered sarcastically. "Diamonds are a girl's best friend after all, aren't they?"

"Are you calling me a girl, Malfoy?"

"What are you going to do if I am?"

"Make custard come out of your nose."

"Oooh! I'm so scared!" Malfoy put on a shrill voice.

"Actually, Draco, I quite think the diamonds bring out Harry's aura," Luna suddenly spoke up.

Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle burst into peels of laughter.

"Oh, oh that's a good one! Brings out his aura! Ha!" Malfoy chortled. "Never change, Loony Lovegood, never change."

They laughed for a good few minutes before leaving.

Harry was very red-faced. "Thanks for that, Luna."

"You're welcome, Harry," she replied, not detecting his sarcasm.

After they got to Hogwarts and the sorting was over, Dumbledore stood up to make his annual speech.

"Welcome." His eyes sparkled. "Before we can begin the feast, I have a very important announcement to make. Would Luna Lovegood of Ravenclaw, please make her way to over to Professor Flitwick by the entrance."

Every head in the hall swivelled in Luna's direction, as she stood up and galloped to met Flitwick at the door.

"Come with me, Miss Lovegood," he squeaked, as he turned and headed towards his office.

She followed.

"Now, Miss Lovegood, you may want to sit down, for what I am about to say may be deeply distressing," Flitwick squeaked gravely, readying his student for the bad news he had to impart. "While you were travelling here, we received an emergency owl from your father. He says he has had to go into hiding immediately as - well - as he states in his letter, the Aurors involved in the Rotfang Conspiracy are on to him."

"Oh dear," said Luna. "Think of the Gingivitis if they catch him!"

"Yes," said Flitwick, somewhat confused. "Well, he's instructed the school to have full responsibility for you until it's safe for him to come out of hiding, however long that may be. He also sent a private letter that he instructed us to give to you."

Luna took the letter the Professor held out for her. She opened it, and began to read it.

Dear Luna, it said

Don't worry about me, I know what I am doing.

However, in case I never see you again, I have to ensure you know the truth about your mother.

Luna, dear, this will come as a huge shock to you, but you have never met your mother.

Any memories you think you have of your mother are false.

I'm so sorry, but I had to plant false memories - such as the death of your "mother" - in your mind before you went to Hogwarts, as you would see the Thestrals, but I didn't want you to wonder why.

You were not old enough to know then.

For you see, you are able to see the Thestrals, not because you have witnessed a death, but because you yourself are half-Thestral.

Your mother, Thanatassia, is a Thestral.

After you were born, due to the social stigma, it was agreed that you would be brought up by me as a human witch.

I put a spell on you so you would only begin to exhibit the traits of your Thestral side once you knew the truth.

Luna put down the letter and looked into the spherical mirror that hung over Professor Flitwick's desk.

The tiny Professor gasped.

Luna didn't recognise herself as she peered at her own reflection. For now, her face had elongated; her eyes shone bright white; instead of dirty blonde, her hair was jet black; and metre-long, leathery, ebony wings had sprouted from between her shoulder blades.

"Oh my," she whispered in shock.

"Mi-miss Lovegood! What ha-has happened to you?" The professor gaped in awe, shock and wonderment.

"I'm half-Thestral," she stated simply and evenly. She continued to read.

Your mother still resides in the Forbidden Forest, and is part of Hagrid's herd.

I'm sure she'd love to see you if you went down for a visit.

Good luck, and lots of love.

Your father,

Xenophilius Lovegood.

"Thank you, Sir," she said as she got up to leave and go to bed.

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