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Ch. XLVII: Promises Part III

Harry was acutely aware of Hermione's growing discontent with Luna.

"What exactly are nargles and whrackspurts?" The young wizard asked the blonde, focusing his striking eyes on her as he escorted her through the corridors. He did his best to ignore the louder whispers of his name and 'Loony Lovegood.' Harry made a point to move closer to her if only to distract his temper.

"A Wrackspurt…they're invisible. They float in through your ears and make your brain go fuzzy." The young Ravenclaw answered dreamily. "They can be dispelled by thinking positively…and Nargles—you can see them if you wear Spectrespecs along with. They're in mistletoe."*

The brunette witch snorted at that. Harry's lips thinned.

"Oh." Harry said by way of covering up Hermione's rudeness. "So they can't exist in the Muggle world, then." He stated, trying to keep up with the young witch. "I am Muggle-raised and never heard of them. But," Harry deliberately shrugged, hoping to clue Hermione in to her behavior. "I don't know much about the Magical world as of all yet."

"They don't exist." Hermione said flatly, annoyed Harry ignored her. I guess blondes really are bimbos. She thought contemptuously. "There's nothing in the Monster Book of Monsters, or Hogwarts, A History or any of the magizoology books. Nor have the professors commented on it during classes."

Harry's jaw had a tick in it. He noted Luna's eyes widened infinitesimally and hidden beneath a dreamy exterior. The boy felt her pain. It was too familiar for when he was bullied. He could not understand Hermione's animosity toward the harmlessly eccentric younger witch.

"Where do you find Spectrespecs?" Harry asked, making a point to gentle his tone to her. He saw Luna's heart in her throat. Please don't cry. He silently begged. They made their way to the Great Hall and Harry did not veer off toward the Gryffindor table. He was determined to escort Luna to Ravenclaw.

The blonde straightened slightly. Her silvery eyes beginning to sparkle. "They're in The Quibbler—."She began.

Hermione laughed.

"The Quibbler?" She queried imperiously. "Who reads that rubbish?"

"Excuse me," Luna said quietly, her voice lost its dreamy quality. "My father's the editor."*

This time Harry did look at his best friend.

"I—oh," said Hermione, looking embarrassed. "Well…It's got some interesting…I mean, it's quite…"*

Harry immediately took Luna's elbow and led her away from Hermione, heading toward Ravenclaw's table.

He was absolutely furious with her.

"I'm really sorry about that, Luna." He told her earnestly. "I don't know what's gotten into her."

Luna remained silent, but smiled shyly at him.

"Thank you, Harry Potter." She said softly, those silvery eyes clear before her dreamy mask in place.

Feeling guilty, he frowned as her housemates snickered when Harry brought her over to the table.

"What're you doing with Loony?" A fifth-year Ravenclaw snubbed.

Harry turned very slowly toward the fifth-year.

There must have been something genuinely frightening in Harry's expression. He felt Luna moved closer and the other Ravenclaws backed away in their seats.

"Her name," the emerald-eyed boy stated coldly. "Is Luna."

With a final glare at the Ravenclaws, he turned over to Luna and gave her a self-deprecating smile.

"I hope to see you at the library sometime, Luna." Harry told her sincerely. "Please bring the Spectrespecs, will you?"

Luna swallowed and nodded, smiling back.

Harry took his cue and made his way toward Gryffindor Table.

He did not look at Hermione as they ate in awkward silence.

Sirius sighed and rubbed his face with his hand. He perused his missive to the Goblins for the umpteenth time.

"That should do it, I think." Sirius muttered. He did not bother with Kreacher since he assumed the House-Elf was busy doing something important, like making breakfast. Instead, he had purchased a rare owl, Blackiston's Fish Owl, to carry all his important papers whenever he felt the need to pass as Lord Black.

Besides, he thought mildly, I cannot rely on Séraphine anymore to swirl into action.

Speaking of the witch, he occurred to Sirius she had taken an unusually long time to ready for her day.

A window opened by the House indicated the owl make its way toward Gringotts.

Stretching, the wizard stood from his desk and walked slowly toward the Formal Drawing Room.

No doubt, he thought firmly. Our guest will need some attention as well.

Dainty footsteps paused behind him.

Turning, his breath caught in his throat as he saw his wife.

Despite her vain attempt at hiding her tears, he noted her high color, her lovely figure and her guarded demeanor.

"Have you sent anything to the Goblins?" Séraphine asked, hoping to mask her distress.

"Y-yes," Sirius stammered, cursing himself. "Just now, in fact…would you like to grab breakfast in the Dining Room today?" He ventured.

The witch blinked before nodding and the tall wizard side-stepped in order to allow her to precede him.

He blushed as ne noted her figure.

Come on, man! He self-chastised. Leave her alone, already.

The witch blushed, but managed to make her way gracefully to the Dining Room where their breakfast awaited them. Their guest, Sparkles, was sitting beside Malthus. It was an amusing sight to see snakes politely hissing to each other seated at a dining table, eating off the fine Black China, a delicacy of mice.

Lord and Lady Black acted with Pureblood grace and aplomb.

As if this happened every day.

What have we gotten into, Pup? Sirius wondered.

He absolutely knew he had to get to speaking with Séraphine today about the awkwardness.

This cannot go on. The mercury-eyed wizard thought resolutely.

"Lady Sparkles," Sirius greeted, as the she-snake in question inclined her head.

"Lord and Lady Black," Sparkles hissed, her transposed Scaled Warrior appearance melded over her Smooth snake disguise. "I thank you for the fine hossspitality and magical ressservesss boosssst."

"Of course, Lady Sparkles," Séraphine assured. "Anything we can do to help you in our quest to safeguarding Harry, just name it."

The Smooth silvery-black eyes glinted coldly.

"I wasss hoping you'd sssay that," Sparkles said. "Thank you."

References:

Nargles & Wrackspurts: taken entirely from Harry Potter Wikia.

The Quibbler: paraphrased from Harry Potter Lexicon and Ch. 10 Luna Lovegood from OOTP. Hermione's response as well.