AN: Good afternoon everyone and happy Wednesday. I am very sorry for not updating sooner but I have been reading a lot more and when that happens my writing usually takes a back seat. I'll try to find a better balance so that I'll be able to update all of my stories more. So today is June 8, 2016 and this is the first chapter today. Once again anything you recognize is JK Rowling's and anything you don't is mine.

Luna POV

I was just about to crack one of the Ancient Runes when the compartment door opened for a third time. More than anything I wanted to continue with my reading but I knew I couldn't, not with all these interruptions. I sighed and slowly lowered the Quibbler.

A mean looking blond fifth year with two big burly cronies stood in the doorway. I only knew him in passing, never having spoken to him, but I knew the other girls from my house had sighed and simpered over Draco Malfoy more than once. The mean girl from two years ahead me, what had Harry called her? Cho, she had sighed and simpered over the boy like a cat in heat.

"What?" Harry asked aggressively, before Draco Malfoy could open his mouth. I flinched back at the sharp tone of his voice.

"Manners, Potter, or I'll have to give you a detention," Draco Malfoy, whose sleek blond hair and pointed chin looked rather disturbing on a teenager. "You see, I, unlike you, have been made a prefect, which means that I, unlike you, have the power to hand out punishments."

"Yeah," Harry said his eyes flashing, "but you, unlike me, are a git, so get out and leave us alone."

Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville and I laughed. Draco Malfoy's lip curled.

"Tell me, how does it feel being second-best to Weasley, Potter?" he asked.

"Shut up, Malfoy," Hermione snapped her eyes flashing. Draco Malfoy's eyes slowly perused her and she flushed.

"I seem to have touched a nerve," Draco Malfoy said, smirking. "Well, just watch yourself, Potter, because I'll be dogging your footsteps in case you step out of line."

"Get out!" Hermione all but shrieked standing up and pointed towards the door.

Sniggering, Draco Malfoy gave Harry a last malicious look and departed, with the two large Slytherins lumbering along in his wake. Hermione slammed the compartment door behind them and turned to look at Harry. I frowned at the look they exchanged and saw that it hadn't escaped Neville's eyes either. He was frowning and started to open his mouth but I quickly shook my head. He frowned but stayed silent.

"Chuck us another Frog," Ron said, who had clearly noticed nothing.

Harry threw a Chocolate Frog at Ron, exchanged another nervous look with Hermione, and then stared out of the window.

I blinked slowly and pulled out the Quibbler once more.

The weather remained undecided as they travelled further and further north. Rain spattered the windows in a half-hearted way, then the sun put in a feeble appearance before clouds drifted over it once more. When darkness fell and lamps came on inside the carriages, I rolled up The Quibbler, put it carefully away in my bright yellow bag and took to staring at everyone in the compartment instead.

Harry was sitting with his forehead pressed against the train window, Neville was staring at his plant, Ron was eating another Frog, Hermione was hidden behind a large tome and Ginny was leaning back in her seat frowning slightly. Hmmm something was bothering her.

"We'd better change," Hermione said ten minutes later, and we each opened our trunks in turn and pulled on our school robes. Hermione and Ron pinned their prefect badges carefully to their chests.

At last, the train began to slow down and they heard the usual racket up and down it as everybody scrambled to get their luggage and pets assembled, ready to get off. As Ron and Hermione were supposed to supervise all this, they disappeared from the carriage again, leaving Harry, myself and the others to look after Crookshanks and Pigwidgeon.

"I'll carry that owl, if you like," I said to Harry, reaching out for Pigwidgeon as Neville stowed Trevor carefully in an inside pocket.

"Oh thanks Luna," he said smiling brightly, handing me the cage and hoisting the beautiful snowy owl more securely into his arms.

We shuffled out of the compartment feeling the first sting of the night air on their faces as they joined the crowd in the corridor. Slowly, we moved towards the doors. I could smell the pine trees that lined the path down to the lake. I stepped down on to the platform and looked around, listening for the familiar call of "firs'-years over 'ere… firs'-years…"

But it did not come. Instead, a quite different voice, a brisk female one, was calling out, "First years line up over here, please! All first-years to me!"

A lantern came swinging towards Harry and by its light he saw the prominent chin and severe haircut of Professor Grubbly-Plank, the witch who had taken over Professor Hagrid's Care of Magical Creatures lessons for a while the previous year. I had loved her classes and enjoyed them immensely.

"Where's Hagrid?' Harry said loudly looking around quickly his face pale.

"I don't know," Ginny said, "but we'd better get out of the way, we're blocking the door."

"Oh, yeah…" Harry muttered not moving. I lightly slipped my hand into his and he started, jumping so hard a few passing third years sniggered. Harry's green eyes locked on mine for one long moment before turning towards the Thestral-pulled carriage his hand still twined with mine.

AN: Please Review! It helps so much more than you realize. Reviews help me create a story that everyone loves. And the only way to make sure I know you all like it is with reviews telling me what you think, what you love and hate about it. Also any ideas you have would be greatly appreciated and I would give you credit if I used your idea in the Author's Note. Seriously guys every little bit helps.