A true friend forgotten
Chapter 1
Harry marvelled as he got off the Hogwarts express and saw a strange black creature a bit like a black skeletal horse with wings, attached to the Hogwarts carriages. "Do you see those!" Harry said gaping.
"See what?" Hermione asked.
"Those! The black horse things!" Harry said pointing.
"There's nothing there, mate." Ron said looking confused.
"Have you lost the plot or something?" Hermione laughed.
"I can see them." a blond girl said from behind her upside-down magazine.
"Really?" Harry asked.
The girl nodded. "My names Luna by the way. I know you. You're Harry Potter. You're very good at Quidditch. I always cheer for Gryffindor whenever Ravenclaw aren't playing. You're a fair wizard too."
"Thanks." said Harry smiling.
"Looks like you've found an admirer." Ron whispered in Harry's ear. Harry frowned.
"Yeah, she's loony." Hermione whispered in Harry's other ear.
"But she seems nice. She doesn't seem crazy at all." Harry said.
"I sure hope there's pudding. I think I spotted a nargle!" Luna exclaimed happily pointing to a bush.
As Harry, Ron and Hermione got off the carriage and headed inside to the Gryffindor table Luna waved and yelled, "See you around Harry!"
Harry waved back, smiling. "Don't wave! She'll think you're her friend!" Hermione said pulling Harry's hand down.
"She's nice, what if I actually am her friend." Harry said.
"Don't be silly mate, she'll just ramble on about nargles." Ron said dragging Harry across to the table.
Soon enough the sorting began.
"Flora, Jasmine!" barked professor McGonagall.
"Hufflepuff!" called the sorting hat. The Hufflepuff table clapped and cheered as the girl went and sat down.
"Joan, Harold." professor McGonagall called.
"Hufflepuff!" the sorting hat yelled.
"A lot of Hufflepuffs this year." Harry said as he watched May Jones skip over to the yellow and black crowd.
"Who cares, they're getting me one step closer to food." Ron said licking his lips at the thought of the famous Hogwarts feast.
"Menos, Rosa!" professor McGonagall called over the racket of the hungry students anticipating the feast.
"That name sounds Spanish." Hermione said.
"Gryffindor!" the sorting hat announced. At the the Gryffindors rose to their feet to cheer as the Spanish girl sat near what was most likely her sister.
"'Bout time we got another Gryffindor." Ron said sitting down again.
"I can tell all of you have been anticipating the time when I would announce the feast." Dumbledore said. Ron's head lifted. "I am sorry that the sorting has taken so long and I am sorry I am keeping you waiting now, so, by all means, let the feast begin!"
Ron picked up his knife and fork as soon as it appeared and picked up three of everything he could reach, apart from the broccoli.
"There is pudding!" Harry heard from the Ravenclaw table as soon the main courses disappeared.
Harry laughed. Hermione and Ron just looked at him.
Harry, Ron and Hermione walked back up to the Gryffindor common room when they had finished eating.
"I really don't see what you guys think is so bad about Luna, she seems nice." Harry said.
"How about. . . she's nuts!" Hermione said.
"Anyway, we have more important things to think about-" Ron said, but Harry was gone Seamus was having a go at Harry.
"Why don't you read the Prophet like your stupid mother, it'll tell you everything you need to know!" Harry snarled.
Ron walked up. "You don't honestly believe him, do you?" Seamus asked.
"Yeah, actually. I do." Ron said.
Ron followed Harry up to their dormitory. "There's no need to follow me everywhere!" Harry said slamming shut his trunk taking out some clean robes for the next day.
"Sorry mate. Seamus was totally out of order just then-"
"Leave me alone please!" Harry shouted throwing himself on his bed with more force than was necessary.
As Ron walked back down to the common room. On the stairs he met Hermione. "If you were planning on seeing Harry, I would turn around." Ron advised.
"Oh." said Hermione turning around and heading back with Ron.
The next day Harry sat under a tree by the lake on his own. He was sick of nobody believing him. He grabbed a rock and threw it towards the lake. Someone caught it. Harry saw a glimpse of blond and prepared himself for Malfoy's usual insults, but when he looked up, he saw a kind face. It was Luna. "Good catch." Harry said looking at the rock and thinking of all the force he had used throwing it. "You would make a good seeker if you were interested in Quidditch."
"Oh, thank you, but I don' think I could handle that. I've never had an interest in playing sport, but it's all very well watching it." Luna said, sitting down beside Harry. "You're very good at Quidditch though."
"You said that yesterday" Harry said, smiling.
"Oh, did I?" Luna laughed.
Then another flash of blond and Malfoy was there. "Oh look! It's Potter and his girlfriend, Loony!" Malfoy laughed.
Harry just sat there and ignored it, though inside he wanted to punch Malfoy's face until it was flat. Luna sensed that, got up, and punched Malfoy hard in the face. Malfoy, bleeding and shocked, said nothing and staggered away.
"Woah." said Harry staring.
"They'll never believe him when he says it was me." Luna said cooly.
"With strength like that, why do you put up with being called crazy?" Harry asked.
"Well, I don't want people to actually hate me, I mean, in good time I'll have a friend who likes me for who I am, and anyway, I think it's good when people have a laugh, but I still wish it wasn't at my expense." Luna sighed. "Come on, I want to show you something." Luna grabbed Harry's hand and dragged him along into a small clearing on the edge of the forest. There Harry saw a few of the skeletal, black, winged horses. "They're called thestrals;" Luna said noticing Harry's confusion. "And they can only be seen by those who have seen death."
"You lost someone?" Harry asked.
"Yes, my mother. She was quite an extraordinary witch. She liked to experiment, but one day one of her spells went terribly wrong. I was nine when it happened, but I've still got dad." Luna said looking at her reflection in a small puddle and picturing her mother through her own face.
"I'm sorry to hear that." Harry said.
"Don't worry. You've been through worse. I couldn't possibly imagine. That's why if you ever need a hug, my arms are open wide!" Luna said smiling. Harry laughed.
"There you are, Harry!" Hermione said pushing a branch out of the way to get through. Ron emerged a few seconds later.
"Hello!" Luna said waving. She patted a thestral.
"Sorry Luna, maybe we can talk some other time." Harry said walking off with his friends.
"Why were you talking to her?" Hermione whispered when Luna was out of earshot.
"She's nice!" Harry said for the third time in the last few days.
"She's loony! She just patted thin air!" Ron hissed.
"No, she patted a thestral. They can only be seen by those who have seen death." Harry said.
"Oh I suppose now you believe in nargles and you're going to make a special charm to keep them away." Hermione said sarcastically.
"No, but I actually saw the thestrals! They're like black, skeletal, winged horses!" Harry said, not giving up.
"There's no such thing! I would know if there was!" Hermione insisted.
"Whatever you say doesn't change the truth." Harry said.
Luna, who had actually been listening the whole time, smiled. She had a friend.