Thanks to your many reviews I found the will to write down another chapter. Next one is scheduled for either next Friday or Saturday though.

Please enjoy!

Chapter 4: Headaches

Monday was always a dreadful day for Harry, having COMC with the slytherins and a double block of Divination in the afternoon. This one might prove different, but Harry didn't have very high hopes. He did have Herbology first thing in the morning with the hufflepuffs after all. In the double block after lunch he would take the placement tests for Ancient Runes and Arithmancy. He had said nothing to Hermione about them being so soon as he knew she would freak out.

Ever since Hermione had started the subjects, Harry had secretly studied them from her books and the library. Fearing Ron's reaction to two studious friends he had feigned study problems since his first week. Now the air was cleared between them, he could let his inner ravenclaw reign free. In his childhood the library had proved a respite from Dudley's bullying and had nursed the intellect he had been forced to hide. He wasn't quite on Hermione's level, but could certainly rank in the top tier of his year. Hell, he was sure that if Ron actually focused on his studies he would get at least EE's on everything.

Looking over at his friend, who had been shovelling food like it was going out of style, he made a promise to help Hermione with getting Ron to do his own quality homework. Noting the time, he gave Hermione a nudge and hit Ron with a foot. "Time to go to the greenhouses. We don't want professor Sprout to be angry at us." Ron swallowed his last (enormous) bite of food and Hermione put the book away. Really, why did his friends have such atrocious table manners? Hermione may nag at Ron to eat slower and not to speak with a full mouth, but reading while eating was just as bad in Harry's opinion. An exception could be made for the morning post and paper, but nothing else.

At the greenhouses the hufflepuffs were already waiting and Harry steeled himself for accusations and glares. He had stolen their grand moment after all. None of these things happened however and Justin, Harry's usual partner, even came over while nodding amiably. "Hello Harry. Just wanted to tell you that nobody blames you for the fiasco Saturday night. Cedric explained to the younger years the importance of the oath you made and we have decided that you have our full support and protection." Harry could only stare at Justin with wet eyes. "Cedric claimed you last night as an honorary little brother, thus making you an honorary badger. We badgers take care of our own." Still utterly shocked Harry stammered a thank you, immensely grateful that professor Sprout chose that moment to invite the class in.

"Welcome class. Today we are going to re-pot young Bouncing Bulbs. Be careful with how you handle them as a strong grip can make them feel threatened and they will hit you in that case. Now can anyone tell me what use Bouncing Bulbs have?" Most of the hands raised were hufflepuffs, Hermione and Neville being the usual responses from the gryffindor side. Harry however had read up on today's lesson and therefore was confident he would preform adequately. He also raised his hand and professor Sprout shot him a small smile.

"Yes Mr Potter."

"Bouncing Bulbs are used in the Pompion Potion, professor."

"Excellent, five points to gryffindor. Perhaps you can also tell me in what state they have to be added?"

"The Bulbs have to be grounded professor." Awarding another five points, professor Sprout turned back to the class to explain further about the procedure for re-potting.

Looking around Harry's eye fell on Neville and he couldn't but wonder why his aptitude in Herbology didn't carry over into Potions. He resolved to speak with Neville about it and offer his help if it was wanted.

Soon they were elbow deep in potting compost and trying to keep a hold on the wriggling Bulbs. Most people kept a tight grip, which didn't work and only resulted in them getting hit in the face or other more painful places. Harry hadn't tried this approach at all, keeping the professor's words in mind. Instead he whispered sweet nothings to the plants, as if trying to calm a frightened animal. The Bouncing Bulbs liked it much more and kept reasonably still as he careful handled them in between pots. Justin had quickly changed approach after observing Harry's success, and when Harry looked around he saw that Neville's plants bounced from their original pot to the new one on their own. A faint green light seemed to surround him, but as Harry blinked it disappeared.

"Marvellous approach Mr Potter. I must say that I'm pleasantly surprised by the changes you made. Do keep up the good work."

"Thank you, professor."

"Now, has Mr Finch-Fletchley informed you of your status in our House? Good. It means that you can always approach me if you have a problem or are in need of a pleasant talk. The Common Room is near the kitchens. You may have seen the large stack of barrels there, if not you can always ask a Hufflepuff student. On barrel two from the bottom, middle of the second row, you have to knock in the rhythm of Helga Hufflepuff. Feel free to come by with your friends, though you understand we prefer our secrets to be kept." Another smile and she went on to the next pair of students.

Care of Magical Creatures was just plain horrible. Harry considered Hagrid a good friend, but his taste in animals was queer to say the least. Today they had to walk the Blast-Ended Skrewts, because they had been killing each other as a result of pent-up energy. At this point they measured 3 feet and were far too strong to be controlled by a single student. The frequent explosions they caused and their poisonous stingers and suckers made for extra complications.

For once Harry, Ron and Hermione were in complete agreement with Malfoy as he loudly made his displeasure known. Although they had been happy with Hagrid for getting this post, it was clear that he had no idea whatsoever when it came to appropriate class material. Malfoy telling his father however would undoubtedly result in Hagrid's immediate dismissal, perhaps even removal from the school grounds and Harry asked Ron to speak with professor McGonagall and Hermione with professor Flitwick as soon as possible. He would inform professor Snape and professor Sprout. It made them sad to take away Hagrid's dream, but they preferred their classmates with all limbs attached.

Soon the lesson ended, thank Merlin, and they trudged back to the school for lunch. Malfoy walked behind them, for once without his bookends, and was whispering with Parkinson and Zabini. As Hermione threw a look at them, she noticed Parkinson and Zabini gesturing in their direction, while Malfoy had the look of an obstinate child. Hmm had she found some co-conspirators by accident? Zabini was often to be found in the library, she would approach him there. Malfoy seemed as stubborn as a donkey in this matter and she knew that Harry would be no better. She wondered if Harry's new status would make a difference and what they would have to do about Lord Malfoy. Claims about the Imperius curse or not, he had been a Death Eater and had nearly caused a lot of deaths with the diary of Voldemort in second year.

Groaning Harry stretched his arms above his head. The two placement tests had taken up most of his afternoon, but he felt he had done well on them. Arithmancy employed a lot of maths, most of which had been taught in primary. Later on it would get harder of course but for now Harry had been able to keep up splendidly with only self-study. Ancient Runes had at this point only covered the properties of singular runes and would only start linking them after Christmas.

Harry had found he had a special aptitude for Ancient Runes. The meanings of them came to him easily after studying them only once, as did their activation verses. He had begun to link two runes already and had started on a trinity though it still needed a lot of work. Harry was fascinated by the possibilities runes offered. There was nothing that could be done with a wand that runes couldn't do as well, if not better. Warding for example could be done with protective enchantments, but if one carved the right rune-chains in a building and powered them once in a decade, they would last until the building was completely destroyed. The enchantments had a much shorter lifespan and were far more vulnerable.

Shaking himself from his musings, Harry headed towards the library to prepare for Potions tomorrow. A corridor away from the entrance he heard raised voices. Approaching the origin of the noise he saw the pretty ravenclaw seeker, Cho Chang, and her friends. They were pushing a young girl around and were saying horrible things in that awful singing voice that bullies so often used.

"Hey Loony where are your shoes."

"Did those imaginary creatures of yours steal them?"

"Or is your crazy father too poor to pay for them? Be careful who you spout your nonsense to or they will put you in the Janus Thickey Ward."

"What is going on here?"

"Harry! This is…"

"Yes Cho, this is? Bullying is awful and so are you it seems. Go away and don't even think about ever doing this again. I'll inform professor Flitwick tonight. If you behave yourself I won't tell Cedric, but don't think that I'll hesitate next time." The girls ran away and Harry kneeled before the little girl. She was dressed in Ravenclaw colours, but missed her shoes and in her ears she wore radishes. Her hair, nearly white, fell in long curls to her waist and her big silvery eyes looked at Harry with hope and gratefulness. She carried her aura of dottiness with such ease that Harry was reminded of Alice in wonderland. He was certain she believed four impossible things before breakfast.

"Hey, I'm Harry Potter."

"Hello Harry Potter. I'm Luna Lovegood. It seems the wrackspurts have left your brain. You do appear a lot less muddled."

Harry held back his surprise, not wanting to hurt her feelings. "I'm not entirely sure what wrackspurts are, but thank you I suppose. Where are your shoes?"

"The nargles have taken them. They often make away with my personal things, so I've kept a list and hang it up at the end of each year."

"That won't do at all. Accio Luna Lovegood's stolen belongings!" While they waited Harry and Luna talked about the creatures she could see. Harry had quickly figured that everything Luna talked about was true. She just gave things a different name and was rather perceptive when you got to know her. He resolved to take her into his group and make sure the others would look after her too.

"Luna, how much of your belongings do you get back at the end of the year?"

"Not many. Daddy usually has to buy everything anew, except my wand of course." Pinching his nose, Harry felt a headache coming up. Before them lay a veritable mountain of things that people had stolen from Luna. There was no way he was going to let this continue. Taking Luna's hand he spelled her things to fly behind them and marched to professor Flitwick's office.

"Good afternoon Mr Potter, Miss Lovegood. What can I do for you?" The professor looked blankly between Harry, Luna and Luna's stuff; he had had his suspicions about bullying in his House, but was unable to act as long as Miss Lovegood didn't speak up. It seemed like Mr Potter, who looked rather angry, was going to hand him the solution on a silver platter.

"This afternoon I came upon Cho Chang and two friends of her while they were assaulting Luna. I sent them away, warning them you would be informed Sir. Then I summoned Luna's things, although I hadn't expected this amount. It cannot go on, Sir. This blatant bullying is a direct breach of the school rules and I won't stand for it."

"I must thank you Mr Potter. I knew that something was going on, but had nothing to act on. You have brought me exactly what I needed. Ravenclaw will suffer the consequences of their transgressions dearly, starting tonight. Now dear, do you wish for a separate room? I will of course enchant your belongings against further theft and you will always be welcome here to talk." Luna nodded, overcome by her gratefulness that her hope had not proved to be in vain. Even she had been unable to see this outcome, but how she had hoped for it. Harry had proved to be more she had thought. Perhaps her cursed family would finally get fate on their side.

"Harry, what are you doing with Loony?"

"Her name is Luna, Ron, and you better remember it, because she is going to join us from now on. After the discussion with Flitwick Harry had dragged Luna over to his friends at the Gryffindor table. The girl had reminded him of his own childhood and he discovered once he started talking to her that her peculiar insights were rather interesting. Hence why he inducted her into the Golden Trio. Ron and Hermione quickly became protective when he explained what had happened, though Hermione's logic tended to clash with Luna's odd statements.

"So how come you didn't go to Divination Harry?"

"You didn't skip, did you Harry? I know Trelawney is a horrible teacher, but skipping will only get you into trouble."

Harry stopped Hermione's frantic speech. "I didn't skip, Hermione, I had my placement tests for Arithmancy and Ancient Runes, and before you start worrying, I was more than ready for them. They went really well."

"Oh I'm so glad Harry. I do wish you had told us beforehand, but you're forgiven. When will you get your results?"

"Both professors said that they would give me my results after dinner." Naturally the rest of dinner consisted of calming Hermione down, with Luna having most luck oddly enough.

By the time dessert appeared they were involved in a heated discussion about the reality of Divination. Hermione argued that looking in crystal balls and tea leafs was all nonsense, while Luna brought up famous prophetess throughout mythology. Hermione responded that mythology rarely consisted of facts, but Luna responded that if one could believe in magic almost anything was possible. The Sight was simply a rare gift that appeared in certain families.

They were so engaged that the coming of professor Vector and professor Babbling went unnoticed. It was only when the Hall began to empty and they had agreed to disagree on the topic that Hermione remembered the promised marks and turned to Harry. He showed her his O's on both tests and his new schedule.

"Oh Harry this is amazing! Now we'll have most lessons together!"

"I'm still considering to drop COMC, but I'll wait with that decision until after our talks with the professors. Come on, it's time to sleep. See you tomorrow Luna."

"See you tomorrow Harry, Ron, Hermione."

In my story it suits better if Luna doesn't meet Harry on the train. So yes I noticed the inconsistency with the original timeline and I don't care. Hope you liked it and let me know what you think.