Hey everyone. It's nice to have this story going again, even if no one's reading (I hope you are). Once again, reviews are appreciated and as always, I don't own HP.


Moonchild

Chapter 23

Luna

After she got Seleneo back to Ravenclaw Tower that evening, she decided that she wouldn't mention again what had transpired between them. It had taken a lot, she reasoned, for him to even say what he did, and to affect him like that…it was better left alone.

The following Monday, Luna headed down to the dungeons for potions with the rest of the Ravenclaws and the Slytherins. Breakfast had been uncomfortable between her and Seleneo, but not like it had been at the beginning of term when he finally had decided to start showing himself again. She had been sure not to mention the events at the clock tower.

"I hope none of you are squeamish," said Professor Slughorn once he'd shut the door. "Today we will be discussing the magical properties of various insects." He opened a cabinet where they found myriad types of creepy-crawlies in jars. One Slytherin immediately fainted.

"Oh dear," Slughorn sighed. "Well, carry him off to the side, will you? We'll see what we can do when he comes to. In the meantime, if you would all come and get a jar, any kind you like. There should be plenty for everyone to have their own." Everyone's insect jar contained a wide assortment of bugs, and each had a number on the lid. Slughorn made a note of who had taken which jar, which then became that student's responsibility until the end of the unit on insects. Their task for the remainder of the class was to use their books to identify each insect in their jar.

After the bell rang, Luna hung back for a moment. "Professor," she said hesitantly.

"Yes, Ms. Lovegood," Slughorn answered amiably. "What can I help you with?"

"I wanted to ask you, when did those belladonna berries that you had go missing, exactly?"

"Let me think…" Slughorn sat at his desk and shuffled papers as he thought. "Well, I suppose it was about a week and a half ago, sometime in that area. Right around the time your friend Mr. Moonchild was taken to the hospital wing, I'd guess."

"That's what I thought," Luna said pensively. "Professor, I know I probably shouldn't ask, but Seleneo didn't take those berries, did he?"

"Not to my knowledge," said Slughorn. "He didn't even go near where I keep the poisonous plants, as far I know. You don't think he poisoned himself, do you?"

"No," said Luna, "but I also couldn't rule it out. I shouldn't ask this either, but which houses did you have for class the day they went missing?"

"Hmm…" Slughorn thought some more. "You're right, you really shouldn't be asking me that, and I shouldn't be telling you, but I understand your concern. If memory serves, I had Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs that day."

"Interesting," Luna said again. Her eyes widened a bit as her mind raced.

"You don't think someone from one of those houses poisoned him, do you?"

"I can't rule that out either," she said. "Thank you, Professor." Then she turned and left.


"Luna," Seleneo said later that day in the Ravenclaw common room. They both had plenty of work to be doing, so they might as well do it together. That was Luna's thought on the matter, at least. She was glad Seleneo seemed to share it.

"Yes?"

"What have you got going on tonight?"

"Probably just homework," she said. "Why, is there something I should know about?"

"I think there is," he said. The way he said it brought back the memory of that night on the Astronomy tower. "Something I wanted to show you down by the lake later. If you have time, I mean. Or if you even want to."

"Of course," she said. She couldn't help but be excited, but she played it nonchalant just like he did.

"Something else," he went on. "Completely unrelated, have you ever heard of a band called Nightwish?"

"No," she answered. The name intrigued her, though. "Who are they?"

"Well, they're sort of like The Weird Sisters," he explained, "except…alright, so they're not at all like The Weird Sisters. At their very basic, they're a metal band, but they aren't like what you would expect out of a metal band because, for one thing, they've got a woman singer, and they also use an orchestra on their albums in addition to the guitars and all that."

"Sounds interesting," Luna said, and she was serious. "Why do they do that?"

"Their leader, Tuomas Holopainen – I guess I should mention they're Finnish, also – is a huge fan of film music, and he also has the attitude that the song is always more important than the genre. I have to say, I agree with him. I can copy you one of their albums, if you want."

"I'd like that." She gave him that familiar smile that looked less like happiness and more like understanding.

"So…" he said over the scratching of quills. "We good?"

"I've been waiting for you," she said, her grin spread. "Of course."


As Luna walked down the stairs to the entrance hall, she wondered what on Earth it was that Seleneo wanted to show her outside at night at the end of January. She would much rather have stayed inside, but curiosity had overcome her, and she wanted to spend time with again like they used to, besides.

The grounds were covered in snow, and the powder that silently fell glistened in the light of the full moon like tiny diamonds. She could see the black mass of the lake down below, but there was no sign of Seleneo. As she walked, something peculiar happened. She could hear a faint music, growing louder and louder. It seemed to emanate from everything around her, and she was certain that she was the only one who could hear it. She reached the lake, and waited. Surely Seleneo would be here soon.

Arrive he did, and he certainly knew how to make an entrance. Before she knew what was happening, a series of pounding footsteps sounded behind her. She turned her head as a spray of snow was thrown towards her face, and when she turned back she found Seleneo mounted on one of Hagrid's pegasi.

"Are you ready?"

"Seleneo, what -"

"Are you ready?" he repeated.

"Yes," she said breathlessly, and she took his hand.

"You need to be in front," said Seleneo, as he helped her mount the Pegasus. "It's safer with your knees tucked under the wing joint." She did as instructed, the music she heard becoming louder all the while.

"Do you hear that?" she asked him.

"Of course," he said. "I planned it. Now, hold on!" He kicked and spurred the Pegasus to action. It darted forward, and soon they were off the ground. Then she heard the voice that entered over the music:

"Enchantress came to me and said:
Meet me at the lake tonight I hummed this song to the white

Through the shroud of snow I saw
Paradise
Peace
No more lies.

Crestfallen soul
Rest for this night
Love is here
Right here under my wings.

I dream of wolves with them I run
For me she lengthened the night
I am home
I am in peace.

Crestfallen soul
Rest for this night
Love is here
Right here under my wings."*


*I also don't own this song. That was "White Night Fantasy", by Nightwish. I'd also like to say, even though I know they aren't reading this, to wish Tuomas, Emppu, Marco, and Jukka the best as they begin the next chapter of their story with Floor Jansen and Troy Donockley!