Disclaimer: I own nothing. J.K. Rowling owns Harry Potter.
A/N: This is a Wishlist fic from a prompt provided by moondansr.
A/N2: Reviews are Good. This has been a subtle hint from the author - Please return to your regularly scheduled reading
Spoilers:Spoilers: Hmmm, I suppose up to Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

part three: further knowledge

"Lovegood, Luna," the Deputy Headmistress calls out from the list and the little blonde girl in her, as of yet, unaffiliated school robes skipped up to stool. She showed no reaction to the people who murmured as she went by – pointing at her butterbeer cork necklace and colorful socks. (Trading whispered comments about her surname.)

She just calmly climbed upon the stool and waited for Professor McGonagall, who with a stern face but gentle eyes, placed the old Hat upon her head.

The two sat there quietly for a few moments, other than the occasional surprised hum from the Sorting Hat – Luna made no move to ask any question, least she interrupt the process. Finally though, it said to her, "You are a deeply observant and curious little girl. You can either use that ability to further knowledge or for your own personal gain."

"I am sorry to disagree with you, Mr. Hat. But if what I have seen while following my Father is any indication, knowledge and personal gain are rarely strictly separate things," Luna said kicking her feet against the stool's rungs.

The Hat twitched a bit in surprise at this response. "Oh, I do like you girl," it said chuckling.

"My name is, Luna," she corrected him again matter of factly. "And I think I'll call you Jeffery - if you don't mind of course. Only, it seems awfully impersonal to refer to the sentient magical construct you speak to as Mr. Hat - and Mr. Sorting Hat just sounds a tad pretentious."

"Most of the people I come into contact with call me the Sorting Hat," it said, well aware that Deputy Headmistress was giving him side glances for how long this was taking (and quite amused to let it go on for even longer exactly because of that).

"Well, that is just rude," she said her face scrunching up with indignation at just the idea of people treating him badly.

"Well Luna dear, I do have to Sort you," Jeffery, the Sorting Hat said with actual reluctance.

"Of course," she said fiddling with her necklace, "where do you think I would be most suited?" Luna asked her tone of voice making it seem as if she were inquiring about the weather.

"I shall pass that question back to you - for it is a choice," this bit of knowledge, that not many knew, was also said casually to the little girl who only hummed in response.

"Well…," she considered in her sing-song voice, pulling up her legs to sit cross legged on the stool in front of the school. "My mother was a Gryffindor and Daddy was a Hufflepuff – so, perhaps somewhere different? Either Ravenclaw or Slytherin?" her smile turned just a bit sly. "That was what you were implying before were you not, Jeffery?"

The Hat laughed loudly again. "Ah, a clever one – and you are right, of course. But, the more we talk I believe, out of the two, you would be suited to RAVENCLAW!" the last was bellowed.

And at the yell, McGonagall swiftly pulled the Hat off Luna's head and pointed her in the direction of her House – eager to get on to the next child. The Ravenclaws were looking a bit uncertain of this new addition, but were clapping politely, none the less.

But the two were not yet finished with their conversation. "Be sure to stop by for some tea," the Hat said, just loud enough for Luna to hear over the noise. The noise had quickly died down thought so it's next words were heard clearly by all. "I'll just tell the Headmaster to scram for half an hour so we can talk. It might be his office but it's my bedroom," the folds of leather scrunched up even more when it grumbled and at the head table Dumbledore had chosen the wrong moment to have a sip of pumpkin juice and snorted with laughter while drinking - causing him to cough while still giggling. (Which just made him look crazier than people rumored him to be at times.)

Luna, appeared utterly oblivious to all of this though. "Of course, Jeffery," she said. "Perhaps I can interview you for the Quibbler – I'm sure you've had a fascinating life. And those lovely songs you make up….."

"Ms. Lovegood, please sit with your House," the Deputy Headmistress said sternly, trying to bring order.

Luna turned her head a blinked up at the woman. "Of course," she said as if there had never been a question that she would, then turned curtseyed to Jeffery the Sorting Hat (who made an approximation of a bow in return), and demurely skipped over to her table.

"You are friends with those not of your species?"

The question was asked of her even before the previous scene was gone from Luna's mind. The voice is oddly melodic, like waves she thinks (then instantly wonders how much of that is her own assumptions influencing her minds impressions.)

"I am," she responded simply, still trying to blink away the candlelight.

"And I am sorry but you must be able to tell anyway that this is distracting me – but are you a male, female or genderless?" Luna burst out. "I have been referring to you mentally as male but I fear now that might be insulting," she bit her lip (at least mentally) as she waited for the answer.

But amusement was evident from her companion in both the connection to her mind and in the way the tentacles curled and shook.

"As I am the last of my kind, it hardly matters," was the response given.

"Well, I certainly think it does matter," Luna insisted crossing her legs and put her chin in her hand (again she marveled at the realness of the feeling. The way her body moved, how her hair tickled her neck; even knowing full well that this was all just in her mind). "If you do not wish to tell me – or are indeed genderless, I apologize for pushing. But if not, I do not understand. If you are the last, why not be yourself?" she asked earnestly.

There was a long pause, but Luna did not feel if she had said something out of turn – she would be able to tell if the Giant Squid was angry with their minds connected so, instead the being was contemplative and perhaps a bit hopeful.

"I am female," she said eventually.

"And do you have a name?" Luna asked patiently, noticing as she did that the words seemed to have a lag, that things were coming slower now. Looking down, she stretched her hand and watched it's movements with a distant worry burrowing inside of her.

"I forgot my original name long ago," many limbs moved unhappily at this admission, distracting Luna again. "So I named myself: Opalia," she murmured almost as if it was not worth saying, like she was a bit embarrassed.

"It is a good name to choose – it sounds like the gem," Luna said as strongly as possible while she was starting to feel so distant and vague, "as I am of the moon."

"Will you be my friend as well, Luna?" Opalia asked, and she could feel nervousness from the giant squid (mixed with such hope and sadness - heavy heavy loneliness. So many years of loneliness.)

"Of course I will," Luna replied - why ever would she not?

And this time the touch seemed accidental (she could feel Opalia's surprise as well), it was an absentminded sort of caress, like touching someone on the shoulder when you are heartfelt saying thanks.

But, it didn't matter, they still toppled into memory.