[a/n]Another of my occasional Someone Else does Different. This time to fanfiction s/2439208/1/Dried-Tears It's a 1shot too, so I'm only quoting key moments. Do read/review that one too.
Harry Does Different DXIX
DTbymichelle-31a
"Look Hermione, you have no idea what she did!" Harry muttered with as much patience as he could manage.
The witch countered "Well, why don't you tell me."
"SHE STABBED ME IN THE BACK! ALRIGHT? HAPPY NOW?" he lashed out, face flush with anger "I TOLD HER! ONLY HER! AND A DAY LATER I'M CUPBOARD BOY!"
Abcij
Later, Harry confronted Luna "Why did you do it? I thought we were friends."
"Has that changed?" asked Luna after a single silvery blink.
He snarled back "You tell me, Luna! How'd they find out if YOU didn't tell?"
"Well, you only have my word to go on I suppose." She said calmly, as if that was the only explanation he needed.
And Harry retorted "I don't believe you!"
"As you like." Said Luna in a strange tone, hand waving dismissively and she skipped away.
Abcij
Ginny stopped him as he stormed out, some minutes after Luna …sobbing… had. Nor was she subtle "You're a right prick, you know that?"
"Butt out. You don't know anything." Harry snapped back.
She spun him around and pushed him against the wall "I heard every word and I can disprove it with real evidence. But you should not even need it."
**Hmpf!**
"You told her in the owlery, right?" it wasn't a question.
Starting to walk away, he froze "How did you know?"
"The walls have ears, you idiot." Tone cold. "Everyone knows Ignatia Wildsmith's painting is there, biggest blabbermouth painting in school. Is that why you've been in a funk all week?"
Conflicting emotions warred on his face, finally "I didn't think of that. Why didn't Luna say anything?"
"She shouldn't have to." Voice dripping with scorn, Ginny contemptuously released his elbow and walked away.
Abcij
It was a day before Harry saw the blonde Ravenclaw sitting by a tree on the way to Hogsmeade. After some uncomfortable small talk, he offered earnestly "Luna, I'm real sorry. I was a total prat."
"I'll agree with that." She replied, not looking at him "The truth is easy to believe when you have more than someone's word. Is it not?"
Harry hesitated, then "Will you? Can you? Forgive me?"
"An apology is nice." She said after an interminable pause "But rather insufficient, I believe."
He looked at her forlorn "Is there anything I can do to make this better?"
"I said nice." She still did not look at him "Just insufficient. I would like friends again. You took that away. I deserve that apology in the Great Hall. At breakfast." There was nothing of Loony in her demand, then walked off with no indication she heard his answer.
Abcij
Harry did exactly as required the next morning "Only a moment before we eat please? Everyone's aware of the Cupboard Boy gag running around about me. Well it's true. Mr. Boy-Who-Lived didn't live in a mansion and kill dragons between learning to walk and growing his teeth. But, this is about something I did wrong. I accused Luna Lovegood of revealing the story I told her. Turned out it was the painting in the owlery that overheard us talking. I treated her very badly the last two weeks for that reason. I should have believed her, I was wrong, I apologize."
"Great. There goes my appetite." Came from the Slytherin table. He made a show of dropping his silverware.
Few paid attention to that, except Hermione who commanded sharply "Shut up, Malfoy." The focus was on the blonde Ravenclaw approaching the Gryffindor.
"A nice speech, Harry." Said Luna as she closed the distance between them. The Loony persona was in full evidence as she snuggled into his chest. She had palmed a small, not especially sharp, butterknife when she got up. Not missing a beat, the point was pushed into the boy's flesh. Speaking calmly, but loud enough for all to hear, concluded "The walls have ears, Harry. Hermione told you that when you accused me of stabbing you in the back. As you must not be sorry for that, I feel no compunction against being guilty of said offense."
Harry's tolerance for pain was something of a legend, so when he cried out everyone's gaze flashed to him. As if in slow motion, he reached behind and found the barb. Instinctively, he yanked, pulling it out with little effort. He looked at the blood dripping down and onto his hand. Falling to his knees, and subsequently his face, all he muttered was **Ow**
"Out of the way! Out of the way! Out of the way!" this was the demanding voice of Madam Pomfrey. The spells leaping from her wand barely outpaced the mediwitch. Within a minute she had him floating and was starting to the Hospital Wing. She reported brusquely "The wound is small. Potter will sleep for an hour. He should be on his feet by lunch and able to attend afternoon class."
It was only after her departure, and the realization he could be of no help, Ron snarled "I'm gonna murder that bitch!" Luna was nowhere to be seen.