Chapter 3: The Forbidden Forest
Harry walked into the Great hall several moments later for lunch hearing the whispers of students talking as he passed. He knew that everyone heard about his and Luna's outburst in class and couldn't believe the drama he had started. It all started because he had a nightmare and now had escalated to him feeling like a complete jerk. He walked to his spot next to Ron as the talking continue and began to eat without looking at his friends. It was annoying him to hear people speak as if he wasn't there, it was if he were in Luna's shoes, like she had planned for this entire mess to end up like this. He knew one thing for sure: Luna's shoes sucked. In Charms class he noticed that Luna sat as far away from Harry as possible and raised her hand when Flitwick asked a question, scaring everyone but him, as no one saw her sit or come in. For once though, Harry was glad that he and Luna were not in close proximity; the talk already going on was enough.
By dinner time, the buzz was still making it's rounds to the students of Hogwarts and Harry decided that it would be best if he didn't go to dinner, hoping that by tomorrow all talk of him an Luna would go away. Instead of attending dinner like he usually did Harry sat in the common room, working on his potion's homework on the potion he and Luna never fimished. He got halfway through the paper when Ron came in with food in his hands.
"So what happened between you and Loony? I only heard bits and pieces," Ron asked and Harry continued to stare at his unfinished homework.
"Nothing Ron," Harry answered and tried to think of something more to say on his homework.
"Oh come on mate, something must have happened to make loony stop being loony," Ron laughed.
"Nothing happened Ron," Harry snapped.
"I know something happened," Ron mumbled.
"Look we got in a stupid argument and now she hates me okay? Can I go back to my work?" Harry replied frustrated.
"Yeah," Ron nodded and stood up.
"Hey do you--" Harry started to ask Ron when Ginny and Ron walked in.
"What are you two doing?" Hermione asked.
"Homework," Harry answered, putting his quill on his paper.
"Where is yours Ron?" Hermione asked Ron as Ginny pulled Harry away from the two.
"What Ginny?" Harry asked.
"Have you seen Luna?" Ginny wondered and Harry shook his head.
"Not since Charms, she was in class and gone before I saw her," Harry shrugged, "Why?"
"Cause I haven't seen Harry," Ginny answered worriedly, "I usually see her and we talk, but lately she comes late to dinner and now she wasn't there at all."
"I'm sure she is fine Gin," Harry smiled and pulled Ginny into a hug, "But we'll find her."
"She's been going into the forest a lot lately and with the recent attacks that Voldemort has been initiating I'm so worried for her," Ginny sighed.
"She's been going to the forest?" Harry asked, his smile fading.
"Yeah, she loves it in there, I told her it wasn't safe but she hasn't listened, she says I don't understand," Ginny explained.
"We'll find her," Harry nodded and walked away from her, grabbing his cloak.
"Where are you going?" Ginny asked, bringing Ron and Hermione's attention to the two.
"To the forest," Harry answered like it was obvious.
"You can't go there," Ginny interrupted.
"I have been in that forest too many times to count Ginny, I'll be fine," Harry smirked, leaving a small smile on Ginny's face, "You two coming?" Harry asked Ron and Hermione.
"Yeah," They answered and stood up.
"I want to come," Ginny protested but the three shook their heads.
"Just stay here with Neville and wait for us," Ron ordered, pulling Neville over to the group.
"Just cause Neville and I are dating Ron does not mean he is my keeper," Ginny argued.
"Just stay here," Harry ordered and the three left the common room.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione ran through the castle and down the grounds to the forest, stopping at the edge to catch their breath and form a plan.
"We'll split up, you two together," Harry replied, standing up straight, "I can cover more ground alone."
"You think she is really in here?" Hermione asked.
"Yes," Ginny answered.
"Ginny!" Ron sighed as Neville caught up with the four.
"I had to come Ron," Ginny replied, "Besides, Neville will protect me."
"They cover more ground," Hermione shrugged and Harry nodded.
"Okay, Ron and Hermione you two take the path behind Hagrid's hut, Ginny and Neville you take the path in front of Hagrid's hut and I will take another," Harry instructed and the group began to walk into the trees.
"If we find her?" Someone hissed, making five heads stick their head out of the forest
"Send up green lights."
"Trouble?" Ron squeaked.
"Red," Harry answered and the five split up, taking different paths into the forest.
Twenty minutes later, after seeing five spiders and no sign of Luna, Harry started a new path, seeing the moon get hidden by more trees. Harry stepped over more roots and adjusted his glasses trying to find any sign of Luna but was beginning to lose hope. Maybe he had missed where she was or someone had already found her.
"What are you doing here?" Luna asked and Harry stumbled into a clearing.
"Luna?" Harry asked, pushing his glasses up.
"Yes," Luna nodded and Harry saw her sitting on a rock, fireflies flying around her.
"We have been looking everywhere for you," Harry smiled.
"I don't understand why," Luna answered and Harry walked toward her, noticing the tall grass he was walking on was smooth, even through his shoes.
"Ginny was worried," Harry continued, "This part of the forest is really nice."
"Not many creatures run this far, the forest may be big but the creatures like to stay somewhat close to Hogwarts," Luna nodded, "My mother found this place when she was a third year."
"It's nice," Harry answered and watched the fireflies fly around.
"I read about it in my mother's diary, she said that coming here all those years at Hogwarts gave her the inspiration for my name," Luna replied.
"How?" Harry asked and Luna tilted his head back showing him the moon, "Wow."
"Well you have found me, now could you be kind and leave?" Luna asked and Harry turned his head to face her.
"Luna I have said this so many times today but I really sorry," Harry apologized.
"You meant what you said Harry, I heard you say it," Luna replied.
"I did, but I was mad and frustrated and with the death of Sirius I'm just screwed up, but that didn't give me the right to judge who are and what you believe," Harry continued.
"But it all came from somewhere," Luna replied.
"Hatred Luna, I hate that he is gone, but if you just forgive me I can make it up to you and not judge you," Harry answered hopeful, "Please?"
"Is the only way to make you go away is to forgive you?" Luna asked.
"And mean it, I know that you wont mean it if I don't tell you that you have to mean it," Harry replied, "I know you like that."
"No one knows me Harry, not even Ginny and she talks to me the most," Luna sighed, "Everyone expects me to be Loony everyday that they can expect that loony will always be around to be loony, but no one really knows who Luna is."
"That's a lot of talk for a girl who judge me," Harry retaliated, "You don't know me either Luna and yet you can pass judgment on other people without letting them pass judgment? No one knows anything about me, Ron and Hermione know what I tell them. And yet you have the authority to judge me?" Harry argued then laughed, "You think that you know everyone because of how they act, that they are all judging somehow-"
"And they aren't?" Luna argued, "I'm judged more every moment," Luna replied.
"That's just it Luna, everyone is going to judge everyone but it's the people that be remorseful, and the people that want to try to get to know everyone, that make a difference."
They stayed silent for a moment and Luna looked away from him before getting off the rock and to his level, "What do you want from me?"
"I want your forgiveness," Harry answered.
"You meant what you said," Luna replied.
"And I am sorry for everything, I was blind last night to who you were and now I am asking you to let me have a second chance," Harry asked and Luna looked away.
"I forgive you Harry, I see that you are sorry and I get it, I'm different," Luna smiled, "And I'm sorry for what I said to you." Luna apologized and sat on the grass.
Harry smiled and sat next to Luna, "I guess we get the idiot award today."
"I suppose," Luna nodded and smiled dreamily.
"So I guess we get to start over," Harry replied and stuck out his hand, "Harry Potter, marked for death."
"Luna Lovegood, Loony by the rest of Hogwarts," Luna replied and took Harry's hand.
They laughed as their hands shook and Harry was glad that he made things right and had found a new friend in Luna.
"Well I guess we better head back," Harry suggested.
"Yes you should," Luna replied.
"I'm not leaving without you, you are the whole reason I'm out here," Harry laughed.
"If your going to be a prickle puss about it the okay," Luna answered with a dreamy smile and Harry smiled.
"I will," Harry nodded and Luna walked beside him as they retraced Harry's steps through the forest.
"So why did you come to find me?" Luna asked and Harry remembered the sparks he needed to send out and did that before turning to answer Luna, "Ginny was worried you had died, and I have to admit I was too," Harry replied.
"Well the jillors will protect me," Luna replied and Harry smiled.
"So are we friends now?"
"I believe so," Luna nodded
"Good," Harry smiled and they walked in a comfortable silence.
They walked for a good 15 minutes before Harry saw the edge of the forest, "It's good to see light," Harry grinned.
"It is nice," Luna answered and they exited the forest, noticing Ginny and Neville waiting for them a few feet away.
"Hey guys where is Ron and Hermione?" Harry greeted.
"We lost them," Ginny answered, "We saw them looking for Luna and joined them when we saw your sparks and a spider attacked Neville. Well Ron freaked out and ran as fast as he could, making Hermione to follow him and me to get the spider off Neville," Ginny answered.
"So he ran away?" Luna asked.
"And that's the last you saw them?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, they haven't come out yet," Ginny nodded.
"Okay, you two go back to where you lost them and we will look for them deeper in the forest," Harry planned, "In five minutes, if you find nothing, wait outside Hagrid's cabin but don't let him see or hear you okay?" Harry asked Ginny and Neville who nodded but Luna was off in space and spoke of the moon.
"Did you know that people in old time said that if you slept under a full moon you would go insane, now I tried it and look at me…am I insane?" Luna asked and Harry took her hand, leading her into the forest.
Harry looked everywhere for his two best friends but there was no sign of them no matter which way he turned. He kept thinking of the worst case scenario which involved Aragog having a satisfying meal but kept shaking it out of his mind. Luna tried to get Harry's attention several times but Harry was too deep in thought to notice. It wasn't until Harry completely gave up that Luna spoke.
"I know where they are."
"You do?" Harry smiled, "Well then why didn't you say anything?"
"I did, you didn't hear me," Luna answered.
"Oh," Harry replied, "Well where are they?"
"This way," Luna answered and pulled on Harry's hand.
Luna led them to a spot that they had passed twice on their search and pointed to two distant shadows.
"I don't see them."
Luna turned his head in the direction she had been pointing and Harry finally noticed, "Oh I see now, come on," Harry nodded and started forward but Luna stopped him, "What?"
"Harry, I don't know if you know but Hermione and Ron want some alone time," Luna explained.
"What do you mean?" Harry asked.
"Well, they have been dating for a some time now and have had a hard time telling you because of Sirius or so Ginny has told me. So they have been sneaking away many times to be alone, so lets give them some privacy," Luna explained and pulled on Harry's hand once again.
Harry walked in silence for several moments before suddenly shouting, "So they have been keeping this from me because they don't want to interrupt my grieving??! What kind of stupid excuse is that! I'm sorry but you don't use your best friends' godfathers' death as an excuse Luna, I mean how can they been like that!! How many people know?" Harry ranted.
"The Weasley's, me, most of Griffindor house, the teachers-" Luna started listing and Harry covered her mouth.
"I don't need any more people Luna," Harry sighed, "So everyone knows but me, well I'll tell you Luna, I am not talking to them, I will show them grieving," Harry replied and continued walking hand in hand with Luna.
Luna watched Harry a moment before they walked out of the forest and met up with Ginny and Neville.
"Did you find them?" Neville asked but Harry kept his mouth shut.
"Yes, but they needed privacy," Luna answered.
"Well at least they are okay," Neville smiled and grabbed Ginny's hand.
"I see two other people got privacy as well," Ginny smirked and turned around.
"What does that mean?" Harry asked.
"Nothing,, you two just look alright together," Ginny smiled and walked away with Neville.
"Do you want to wait for Ron and Hermione or go back to the castle?" Luna asked, facing Harry.
"I don't want to wait for them," Harry huffed and let go of Luna's hand.
He hadn't noticed that he had been holding Luna's hand the entire time they were in the forest and felt cold numbness hit his hand as soon as his hand left Luna's. Harry looked at Luna who was staring up at the sky again, her head out in space once more.
"Come on," Harry yawned and grabbed her hand, "Let's go to the kitchens."
"I do love cider at night," Luna answered and they walked back hand in hand silently.