Chapter 2: The Individual

Harry couldn't wait to tell Ron and Hermione the news. As soon as Flitwick and McGonagall left he ran up the crooked stairs as fast as he could.

Their meeting had continued for hours as McGonagall told him everything he needed to know. The day had long turned to night and Harry was just relieved when they finally left.

He was about to open the door to Ron's room before he stopped and thought better of it. A light bulb went off in his head and he put his wand to his throat, knocking on the door as his voice changed into the Weasley Matriarchs.

"RONALD WEASLEY! IF YOU ARE DOING WHAT I THINK YOU ARE, I SWEAR TO MERLIN, I WILL CASTRATE YOU!"

Harry waited 3 seconds before opening the door to a very startled (if not very pale) Ron and Hermione. Noticing who it was Harry caused Ron to burst out laughing as he punched Harry in the arm. Hermione just gave him a scowl but couldn't hide the smile creeping from her lips.

"Never do that again. You gave me a bloody heart attack," Ron gasped trying to get his breath back.

"Well I'm not just going to barge in," Harry joked. "Who knows what goes on in here while I'm gone?"

"You're both impossible." Hermione scolded causing Harry's face to turn into a playful smirk. "In that case, I won't tell you guys the big news," he said as he turned to the door, knowing he wouldn't make it out of the room.

"News? What is it? I'm sorry Harry. Please tell me!" Hermione said way too fast causing Ron to chuckle.

"I've decided to join you guys at Hogwarts after all," Harry said taking out the document McGonagall had him a sign. Hermione snatched it from him and read it out loud.

"By signing this magical document, you are accepting the position of Hogwarts DEFENSE AGAINST THE DARK ARTS TEACHER!" Hermione practically shouted the last part in the excitement.

"You're kidding" Ron gasped in amazement "That's bloody awesome."

"Harry I'm so proud of you," Hermione yelled hugging Harry.

"This is great!" Ron said, "You can give me good grades and I don't have to study...I'm joking Hermione only joking." Harry laughed questioning if Ron was really joking. Suddenly Ginny burst into the room with a bemused expression on her face.

"Luna is here to see Harry about something. She...she's on the roof of the house," Ginny said rolling her eyes.

"Why does Luna want to see Harry?" Ron asked. "Does this have to do with you being a teacher now and Luna being a loony...OW! why'd you kick me, Hermione?"

"You still going to call her a Loony! After everything we've been through together," Hermione scolded.

"Don't be like that, Luna's a great friend…but she's still loony…OW! STOP THAT!"

Harry left Ron and Hermione to their bickering. Ever since they had become a couple they had been fighting even more than they did before. Harry was worried at first but began to realize that fighting was just what they liked to do, whether they knew it or not. It made sense in away. Ron grew up with 5 other brothers and a sister. While Hermione always had a need to be proven right.

Harry apparated to the roof of the Burrow and nearly fell off right away. It was incredibly slanted and jagged. Once he regained his balance he looked up and saw her...

Luna Lovegood was sitting on the edge of the chimney staring up at the sky. She was swaying with her typical dreamy look on her face. "You should sit up here Harry. The roof is slanted, you could break your neck." Luna hummed not taking her eyes off the sky. Harry apparated up to the chimney sitting beside her. He was suddenly aware that she was dangerously close to swaying too hard and falling into the chimney.

"Hi Luna," Harry greeted "I didn't know you could apparate."

"I can but I choose not to as it is very uncomfortable. I climbed up here," Luna looked down from the sky for the first time. "I meant to talk to you about something, but, I saw the moon, and I always liked to see the moon."

"What did you want to talk to me about Luna?" Harry was now a holding a hand out ready to catch her should she fall into the chimney.

"Mr. Flitwick told me you were going to be my new tutor. I wanted to thank you. People tend to avoid me but Flitwick said you didn't even hesitate. Why did you accept?" Luna murmured looking back at the moon.

"You're my friend Luna and I always want to help my friends," Harry said seriously. "I remember how you helped me through my grieving of Sirius. I was in a really bad place and you helped me through it. You helped me through a lot of tough times. I will never forget that Luna."

"You were the only person to ever help me find my stuff whenever Nargles hid them. That took time and effort. I just said a couple of words." Luna then looked at Harry for the first time.

"You really want to be my friend? You must be a strange person to want to be my friend. No one really wants to be my friend. Most people try and avoid me. Even people from the D.A. They say I make them uncomfortable. You say that I do the opposite. That I comfort you in hard times. I guess that makes you strange but being who you are I suppose you ought to be." Luna sighed into the moon.

"We are both individuals you know," Luna said her voice sounded the slightest bit more focused than before.

"What do you mean?" Harry asked curiously.

"I'm different. I get told that every day. You're different. You're told that every day." Luna sang in a weird melody that didn't seem connected. "To be different makes you an individual. It can be very liberating but it can also be quite lonely. My mother once told me."

"The individual stands alone, be proud to be an individual but be prepared to be alone." Luna quoted.

"I'm sorry," Harry said. He had never realized how hard it was to be Luna.

"It's ok you helped me to Harry. You taught me that individuals like ourselves should stand together." Luna spoke and for a moment, Harry thought he saw a faint smile on her face.

Luna then flung herself backward into the chimney. Only Harry's already outstretched arm prevented her from falling in. Harry helped her up with a shocked expression on his face but before he could say anything to her, Luna continued.

"It's always nice to know someone is there to catch you if you fall," Luna hummed. "Even if they don't need it."

Harry should've seen it coming. Luna threw herself back into the chimney and this time Harry didn't catch her. Like she said it did not matter for her legs were now holding her to the chimney. Luna then started to whistle a melody into the echoing darkness.

"Great reverb down here Harry," Luna whistled as Harry again helped her up.

He was seeing Luna in a new light after the information he had been told by Flitwick. Luna had always seemed weird but content and happy but now he saw something more. He saw a girl who in some shape or form needed help. Not because of her eccentricities but in a way far deeper. He didn't know what it was or how, yet he was going to help make Luna happy.

"We should stick together because we are friends. That is the only reason that matters." Harry said taking her hand.

Luna nodded looking back up at the moon. "I think this year at Hogwarts is going to be very interesting."

Neither of them knew just how right she was.

Harry couldn't sleep.

It had been a problem that had cursed Harry for many years but since the defeat of Voldemort, he slept like a baby...except for tonight. He supposed it was only natural since it had been an eventful day and he did just become the new DADA teacher. That was a perfect excuse for insomnia but Harry knew that wasn't the cause.

His mind kept drifting back to Luna. He didn't know what it was about that night but Harry felt a connection to her that he hadn't before. It made him wonder if they ever were friends before. What is a friend? She was no Ron or Hermione yet they were always friendly and kind to each over.

Maybe they hadn't been friends though. He remembered how uncomfortable he often felt around Luna. It was true that she was a comfort to him in rough times but Luna's blunt honesty could really hit home for someone like Harry. He couldn't help but feel guilty for not being kinder. He may treat her better than others but was that really enough. Luna should be treated how she deserves, this poor girl who lost her mother...just like Harry had.

It seemed Luna struggled every day. Flitwick had made her out to be a danger to herself but Harry didn't think that was it. One thing was certain. Luna was an enigma.

Harry looked at the clock...4:00 AM!

This was doing him no good. Sleep was impossible so why fight it? Harry decided to take advantage of his newfound freedom and take a walk outside. He didn't have to worry about death eaters anymore...for the most part.

Harry walked outside enjoying the fresh air when something caught his eye. In the corner of the garden was a small path. He hadn't seen it before and now he was stricken with curiosity. Before he knew it he was walking down the unknown path with the Burrow long out of sight.

He must have been waking for over an hour before he heard a faint sound. It was a piano...

He didn't know the song being played but it was the most beautiful and haunting song he had ever heard. It was such a sad and lonely melody that it actually brought tears to Harry's eyes. He continued forwards like a moth drawn to a flame. Soon he came upon a strange house he remembered vividly.

The Lovegood house...and sure enough there in the living room window, lit by moonlight was Luna herself. She was playing on a piano that was painted pitch black except for the silver keys. Luna's eyes remained closed as she played but there was a passion from her playing Harry had never seen from the girl before. Luna continued to play before the song slowly came to a close.

Luna just sat there in silence with her eyes closed for what felt like hours. Then she spoke. "Music should strike fire from the hearts of men, and bring tears from the eyes of women...yet it is you who cries, Harry Potter."

Harry was startled to be discovered he had been so amazed by the music he had forgotten where he was. "Sorry...I was just walking and...I heard music."

"Don't apologize Harry. It's nice to have an audience, and I've never played in front of someone before except my parents." Luna said as she climbed out the window and lowered herself onto the grass, landing perfectly on her bare feet. "Did you like it?"

"It was brilliant," Harry said immediately and for a second Harry thought he saw Luna blush. "You were brilliant Luna I never knew you could play."

"My mother taught me when I was 5 and I kept playing ever since. She would say that Music is the most powerful form of magic...Did you really like it, Harry?" Luna asked looking straight into Harry's eyes.

"It was the most beautiful thing I ever heard. Did you write that?" Harry asked.

Luna laughed in reply. It was a strange laugh only Luna could make but there was something genuine and pure about it that made Harry's heart soar.

"I could never write something like that. It was written by Beethoven of course," Luna said looking confused. "You never heard of him? I thought you grew up with Muggles?"

"They never bothered to let me listen to music...hell for the first 10 years with them, they barely even let me out the clos..." Harry paused realizing he had said too much. Now he knew how Hagrid felt.

Luna seemed to piece it together. "They locked you up in a closet. Why would they do something like that?"

Harry sighed in defeat. "They hated me, they hated that I was a wizard. They drove me across the country to try and escape those Hogwarts letters. They later said they were determined to stamp out the magic in me. I never even found out I was a wizard until Hagrid showed up on my 11th birthday. THEY MADE MY LIFE A LIVING HELL!"

Harry felt the levee break and the flood came pouring out as Harry vented all his sager and rage he had been suppressing from his loveless childhood.

Luna looked down clearly upset. "That's terrible...I never knew,"

"No one does. You know more about my past than anyone now Luna." Harry said suddenly feeling drained.

"You look tired. Come inside I will make you a cup of tea." Luna offered, taking Harry's hand and pulling him into the house.

It was as strange as it had been when Harry had last been there. Full of strange artifacts that were most likely rubbish. Luna sat him down on a couch and brought out already made tea. Harry took a sip and already felt better as he looked at Luna who was sitting beside him.

"I'm sorry about everything you've had to go through Harry. Thank you for sharing with me though. No one has ever shared anything with me before." Luna whispered quietly taking a sip from her own cup.

"No, I'm sorry Luna," Harry replied. "I don't think I've been a very good friend to you."

"You're the best friend I've ever had Harry," Luna said sincerely,

"That's not good enough Luna. You deserve a true friend. You have done so much for me. You've fought beside me on countless occasions. I guess what I'm trying to say is, thank you for being a true friend Luna. I just want to be a true friend to you too. If you ever need anything at all just tell me, OK?"

Luna nodded finishing her tea and carefully putting it down. Then she was hugging Harry so hard he thought he was going to suffocate. He couldn't remember the last time Luna had hugged anyone. Harry felt her let go and saw she had a big warm smile on her face, Luna had finally realized that she had a real friend.

"If anything ever bothers you I want you to tell me to Harry". Luna said seriously before giving him a thoughtful look. "You're just like him you know."

"Like who?" Harry asked.

"Beethoven, you're like him in so many ways. An unhappy childhood, abusive home, messy hair, quick temper, but most of all you're both selfless. You know that song I was playing? He wrote that when he first began to realize he was losing his hearing. In a couple of years, he had gone completely deaf and he lost the only thing in his life that made him happy." Luna hummed sadly.

"That's horrible," Harry whispered the idea was just heartbreaking but then he saw Luna smile.

"You know what he did Harry. He kept writing music even though he couldn't hear it. He knew music so well he could still write the greatest music known to mankind and never heard it? He believed that music made the world a better place and I too believe this." Luna looked out the window and back at the moon.

"That is the type of person I want to be Harry. Someone who can make the world a better place no matter what. Just like my mom, just like you Harry."

Luna looked back to him and patted his head. She then got up and returned to the piano. She began to play the same sad song while Harry listened in deep thought. With a clean conscience, he felt his eyes close and he succumbed to sleep.

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