~Winston Whittaker~

Waking up the next morning, he sighed before he even rose from his bed. He didn't regret his actions from the previous day, but he really didn't expect her to be such a minx. He understood that part of her coquettish behaviour was inspired by the fact that he was the only one who had interacted positively with her over the past week. He also knew that if there wasn't some genuine interest, she'd never act this way.

Out of respect, he refrained from using legilimency on her. If someone was opposed to him, he didn't mind searching their noggin for relevant information. They defaulted their right to privacy by either being classicist little shits or by being buffoons. Most of the time those two traits went hand in hand. He didn't even think to mention extreme cases like Death Eaters. It was a matter of course that he'd scramble their brains thoroughly, should he have the time and knew that he'd get away with it. He refused to impugn on the privacy of his allies and friends like this, however.

This made judging their motives a bit more tricky but it was worth it, for the trust he'd cultivate with them would be more genuine from both sides. He knew it didn't make sense for the most part but it was how he felt and despite being mostly logical, he still had his emotional side too. Going through his morning ablutions after returning from his workout routine in the Room of Requirements, sans brushing his teeth since he'd do that after breakfast, he thought deeply about the way his newest future protégé behaved. Her interest was genuine, he decided. How would he act, though? He still felt she was a bit too young for him. But... 'I haven't sighed this much since the first week I arrived...' He thought with a wry smile as another one stole itself over his lips.

'Forget it. If something develops, I'll decide on it in the moment. No need to worry when we don't even know if we are compatible. You can't plan for such things. At least I can't.'

With that thought shelved, he went down to the common room, being greeted by dark and comfortable colours, soft light, and the unique smell of parchment and wood intermingling. Taking a deep breath, he let the familiar and welcome scent calm him down before searching the room for a certain fae-like creature. Soon he found her, or rather she found him, since she came at him from his blind spot.

He took the surprise hug with grace and managed to somewhat catch the blonde, giggling missile. She ducked out of his arms before he could exercise fair retribution on her and danced backwards out of his range as she crossed her hands behind her back and leaned forward slightly. A fond smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes appeared on his features, making them seem softer than normal.

"Good morning, Luna. How was your night's sleep?"

He asked her while casting a low-powered tickling charm at her. It wasn't the most creative revenge for her ambush, but it would have to do for now. Her eyes widened slightly when she felt it take hold and she squirmed and giggled in lieu of an answer. When it ran it's course a minute or two later, she pouted at him.

"Meanie..."

She whispered and crossed her arms in front of her chest as she turned slightly away from him. He could see the amusement glimmering in her eyes however and lightly laughed as he walked to her side and pulled her into a side-hug.They fell into a familiar trot to the Main Hall as the conversation flowed fluidly and weirdly between them. Until Luna asked with a mischievous little smirk hidden behind a serene mask of idle curiosity.

"You returned later than usual from yesterday's rounds. Did you finally pull some unsuspecting girl into a broom cupboard?"

Her serene mask faltered a bit when she met his deadpan.

"You stayed up to read again, didn't you? I really shouldn't have taught you the disillusionment charm..."

He shook his head with feigned disappointment while she avoided his eyes with a light pink dusting on her pale cheeks. She quickly regained her edge though.

"Don't avoid my interrogation. It's impolite. Is there something you want to tell me, mister?"

He looked at her challengingly with a raised eyebrow and she stubbornly stared back. Finally, he uttered, as if he was telling her the most terrible of secrets.

"You are adopted..."

She giggled and slapped his arm lightly.

"I know that, silly. It's the best thing that happened to me since my mom left this world behind. You were literally the only light on my path for a long time. I couldn't ever forget it."

His eyes softened and he stopped shortly to pull her into a full hug. She squeaked cutely before eagerly returning the affection. When he let her go a moment later, she looked at him curiously.

"Why did you do that, Winnie?"

He cringed just slightly. Ever since he showed her some stories of the mundane world, she refused to stop calling him Winnie because he was 'as sweet as honey.' He shouldn't ever have shown her 'Winnie the Pooh'. Resigned to his fate since it was his own fault, he answered her question anyways.

"Just because. Do I need a reason to hug my cute little sister? I don't think so. If I was so inclined, I could simply kidnap you and leave behind all my worries. Maybe take some others with us and start anew somewhere else."

She lit up, taking his joke entirely too seriously as always.

"Oh, can we go to the Bermuda Triangle? I always wanted to know if those ships are disappearing because of Elusive Flaxcausts or if there is just another magical community hidden there."

While the thought of uncovering the secrets of the Bermuda Triangle was a tempting one, he still shook his head.

"It was a joke, my cute little pixie. Maybe we'll make a summer trip out of it, though."

He added the latter part to cheer her up and as expected, she bounced back immediately and held out her hand with her pinkie stretched out, looking at him expectantly. He rolled his eyes but still hooked his to hers. As always when he did this with her, magic acknowledged the oath and bound him to the promise. He never explicitly asked but he suspected that she didn't even know that this was unusual to say the least.

He was convinced that she was blessed by Mother Magic or something. The Flow of Magic never reacted as strongly to anyone else but her. Luckily she was an innocent soul who never wished harm on anyone, causing the punishments for broken Oaths to her to be fairly benign. Most didn't even recognise the signs of a sworn or broken Oath when she was involved. The worst he'd seen someone punished with was a light rash on the back of their hand. It disappeared two days later and the person to whom it happened was none the wiser.

He had yet to provoke a punishment, being careful to fulfill any and all promises he made to her. The reason wasn't the Oath but that he wouldn't be able to bear the disappointment in her eyes, which was far more potent a punishment. She was too precious to him to risk that.

While he was in thought, they had reached the main hall with Luna grabbing his hand and skipping and dancing around him while he followed in a sedate pace. They had time. He always rose before breakfast was even served. Most of the time, the two of them were the first to arrive. That wasn't the case this day, and who was there was a bit of a surprise, though not an unwelcome one, so he waved her over.

~Luna Lovegood~

She watched curiously as her dear brother waved over Harriet Potter, who hesitantly complied. A suspicion as to where he was the previous evening rose in her mind. She knew that he was watching her. Looking out for her. He always argued that he was just doing his job but she knew him better than that. How many bullied children had he saved in his time at Hogwarts even before he was a prefect? For how many of them had he become a beacon of hope?

He worried endlessly and tried to play it off. He 'tried' to keep himself out of it. But at the end of the day, he somehow always followed through and rescued them. Luna herself was a prime example.

Her thoughts were interrupted when their guest arrived. She looked a bit timid but not unhappy. Greeting them with a subdued 'Hullo.', she sat down on Winston's other side after he indicated for her to do so.

"Are you sure you want to be seen with me?..."

She asked into the short silence, causing him to snort. Luna watched the byplay curiously. The way Harriet Potter was looking at her brother... Oh, if she was right, this had so much teasing potential.

"When did I ever indicate that I wouldn't want to be seen with you in public?"

He asked her, only to fall into thought for a moment before realising something.

"Ah, I see. While I did say I shouldn't involve myself, I also stated I'll stand by you. I don't care what the public thinks of me. I won't shun you to make myself look better. If you are uncomfortable however..."

She quickly waved her hands in a rather panicky gesture, amusing Luna to no end.

"No, no! It's... nice to be welcome for once..."

She tried to smile but it came out as more of a grimace. 'She might also be trying to imitate a Distorted Subforter to some of them in. They are in season, though I wouldn't know why anyone would want to have them around. They smell terribly of rotten onions.' Still, that mood wouldn't do. Breakfast had to be a joyous affair. And if that wasn't in the realm of possibilities, then it should be at least embarrassing. 'That, I can do...' She smirked to herself in a very peculiar way.

"Oh, how romantic of you. I didn't know it is mating season for amorous hornbees. They tend to inspire other species to try their luck too, you see. Should I leave to give you the space to dance around each other?"

She answered his annoyed glare with an innocent smile as if butter wouldn't melt in her mouth while their visitor sputtered with a healthy red spreading across her face. He sighed as he turned back to Harriet Potter.

"How rude of me. Please let me introduce you to one of the most special people you'll ever find, for better or for worse. My sister in everything but blood, Luna Lovegood. Luna? This is, as you most likely know, Harriet Azalea Potter. She could use some steadfast friends as opposed to her former 'friends', who collectively turned out to be fairweather ones."

Oh, he was more than a little rankled about that if the look in his eyes was anything to go by. As she turned to the girl who was looking a bit broken from the mention of her former friends, she had already decided to do her best to make a one out of her.

"Greetings, Harriet Azalea Potter. Since my first real friend turned out to be family, the spot inadvertently opened up again. It would be my pleasure to fill it with you. Also, may I compliment you for the surprisingly low number of wrackspurts in your vicinity? Just yesterday, the number was much higher, nearing an infestation. You have to teach me your secrets."

There. That was a solid attempt at befriending someone. She ignored the confused head tilt and turned to Winston for praise. She wasn't sure if she liked the indulgent smile he was wearing but the head pat was rather nice, so she chose to ignore it.

"Thank you... I think? I like your earrings?..."

Came the hesitant answer from Harriet Azalea Potter, who received a beaming smile for her compliment. She then added with more enthusiasm.

"And of course I'd like to be friends. I lack those too at the moment..."

And the mood was down again. She pouted and quickly flicked her wand, throwing a tickling charm at the surprised girl who squeaked before giggling away for some moments. Satisfied with her actions, she canceled the spell and took in the pouting visage of her newest friend.

"What was that for?"

She asked a bit indignantly. 'I could have warned her, I suppose. But it would be less fun that way.' Loudly, she proclaimed her earlier thoughts.

"Breakfast should be a joyous affair. There is no place for morosity at this table, Harriet Azalea Potter."

She nodded imperiously to finish off the sentiment before starting to build a Pudding Tent. She ignored the disbelieving sound from her new friend and the slightly amused comment from her brother.

"That's Luna for you."

The mildly befuddled girl then directly addressed her, pulling her attention. The topic was an important one, so she paid attention.

"Look. If we are going to be friends, and I certainly hope so, then you'll have to come to terms with not calling me my entire name each and every time. Call me Harriet or Azalea. I dislike being called Harry or anything close to that and Potter is for teachers and less than pleasant acquaintances."

She nodded seriously before thinking it over. Azalea sounded better in her mind, so that was what she chose.

"I will call you Azalea then. Thank you for allowing me that privilege. You may call me Luna, though I also listen to Lulu, pixie, 'that crazy one over there', and mooncalf."

With that topic off the table, she turned her attention back to building up a circus from nothing but pudding and her own imagination, only occasionally commenting on something to keep the conversation interesting. Until the topic of her first real meeting with her brother came up.

"I will tell that particular tale."

She stated, not leaving any room for arguments. Turning to her brother, she chastised him.

"You always diminish yourself when you tell it and I can not stand that."

He gave her an exasperated glance but she didn't back down. People needed to know just how good he was. And if he was allowed to tell those stories, all they'd get is a vaguely positive feeling. That was far from enough.

"It was one especially cold winter night in my first year when I found support where I had none before..."

As she narrated the tale, she sank into those memories. While they started in a way that might have traumatized her for life, they instead turned into her most treasured ones.

~Flashback~

In her first year, she was still reeling from the loss of her Mom. She tried to make friends but failed miserably.

She knew she was odd. Her parents taught her that it was ok to be different. That one shouldn't discriminate based on peculiarities but learn from all the varying cultures and personal opinions. They taught her that magic was wondrous and that nothing was impossible. That everything had a chance to exist. And she refused to let others take that belief from her. She was desperate for friends. But if it meant to stain her mother's memory, to pretend to be someone she was not, she'd rather go without.

When the older Ravenclaws saw her persistently different worldview, they took..

Unkindly to it. It started rather harmlessly with some demeaning remarks and name-calling, which caused the first altercation with Winston Whittaker. He tore into them, viciously calling their intellect into question and doubting their manners.

She later learned that this was the first time anyone saw him this angry. He was formidable even back then. His aggressive defense shielded her for a while but she was still ostracized. Still alone. Then, one late evening some weeks later, she was stunned and thrown out of the Common Room. Not even her shoes did they let her keep. They bewitched the Door Knocker to be unable to understand her answers and left her there. She could still hear the cruel laughter echoing through the hallway on a bad day.

When the Stunner lost its grip on her, she immediately tried to enter again, but she failed time and time again. She remembered the fear and anxiety creep up on her. Her hands were shaking back then and soon her body followed. It was cold and she didn't even have her wand with her. Barefoot in thin clothing, she huddled into a nearby alcove to somehow survive the night.

It was the first time she cried since the day she witnessed her mother's failed experiment rip her out of her life. That was how he found her. Suddenly, she felt warmth invade her body and she was startled from her despair. She looked up and found kind and worried eyes looking at her.

'Winston Whittaker.' Her memory supplied for her back then. He was one of the few who still interacted with her after nearly the entire House started to avoid her like the plague. She was a bit closed off from the recent disappointments and didn't immediately let him in. Something she regretted in hindsight, because his hugs were nearly as warm as her mom's.

He didn't say anything. He just wordlessly conjured the most comfortable rabbit slippers for her and took her into his arms. The tears were still flowing rather freely and she thankfully took what comfort she could get. After she had a good cry, she felt more at ease with him. He had no reason to help her and yet, he did. This made him a good person in her mind.

"Can you give them crumbled horns?" She asked him curiously, instinctively donning the mask she inadvertently developed over the weeks before. Her eyes were slightly unfocused and she was looking at nothing in particular.

It wasn't always a mask. Sometimes, she simply saw things in the corners of her eyes. Things that others either couldn't see or ignored as a figment of their imagination. But those things, those beings, they existed. Magic was wondrous and it could be exceedingly dangerous. She always wondered how magicals could be as arrogant as this, claiming to have uncovered most of it's secrets, when they didn't even scratch it's surface.

This time, it was a mask, however. And he noticed immediately, frowning while pulling her a bit closer.

"Don't do that."

He grumbled and she knew what he meant. But he still gave the slippers their horns. She adored them before. But afterwards, she never wanted to part with them. Later, she was a bit heartbroken when he told her that they'd hold for a few days at most since he wasn't yet able to do permanent conjurations. As promised, she received permanent ones as soon as he was able to anchor them completely in this realm of existence. Secretly, she knew that she was the main reason he learned that particular skill at all and she delighted in that knowledge.

He lifted the bewitchment of the Knocker before mocking it for being useless in the face of such low grade magic. The long face it pulled was amusing. He accompanied her through the night in the common room since she didn't feel safe in the dorm room all alone after such an experience. She didn't remember falling asleep but the next day, she woke a bit disoriented, yet warm and huddled into a plushy blanket. At first she thought it was all just a nightmare but then, she noticed that she was in the Common Room and alone. Before disappointment had a chance to set in, she found a small note with a covered tray that presumably held some breakfast.

'I have something important to do. The chair we slept on is warded by me and as long as you are in it, you'll be completely unnoticed. I made the cocoa and the pudding myself. I noticed that you seem to have a liking for the latter, so I hope you'll enjoy it. I'll check in on you later. Have a good morn.'

She read through the note thrice before turning to the tray curiously. Taking of the lid, she found still-hot cocoa with marshmallows and a big serving of caramel pudding beneath it. Both smelled divine. With a delighted squeal she dived into the pudding and she certainly didn't find it lacking. It was weekend so there were no classes. After enjoying the scrumptious pudding and the delightful hot beverage, she decided to read a bit. That didn't last long as she heard the whispers of the other students in the room.

"Did you hear? Whittaker asked around for two Fifth Years to confront them about something. He sounded quite angry."

Her eyes widened and she quickly scrambled up into her room to clean herself up and throw on a change of clothes. She had an inkling why he was after them. There were two Fifth Years among those who threw her out of the dorm. She didn't know how he learned which ones participated in the bullying but he later told her that he scanned through the surface thoughts of all Ravenclaw students in the upper years except for a select few. He went after the oldest responsible ones to make an example out of them.

As she left the dorm after asking those two where exactly he was sent, she hurried out hoping that she'd be quick enough to stop him. After arriving where they were supposed to be, she despaired a bit because she heard voices and they weren't friendly.

"You won't tell anyone anything, little man. Why do you even care? It's just little Loony Lovegood! She went crazy after her mother blew herself up! No need to...-"

He was interrupted by the emotionless voice of Winston. Somehow, despite lacking any inflection in his voice, he sounded angry to her.

"I really wonder which higher power decided that giving creatures with less braincells than a sponge the ability to talk was a good idea. Whoever they were, they have a strange sense of humour indeed."

Despite the seriousness of the situation, she found that funny. Instead of giving in to the rising giggles, she chose to spy around the corner to watch the confrontation. She should have gone to call a teacher but she feared she'd implicate Winston too.

Two older boys, she recognised them as Emanuel Wilkins and Frank Potts, the two who bewitched the Knocker and sealed the entrance shut under cruel laughter.

All three of them had their wands drawn but while the two older ones kept theirs pointed at Winston, he had his loosely in his wand hand. He looked relaxed and ready to react but he didn't threaten them in any way.

"Put those wands away. I will tell Prof. Flitwick anything I know anyways. No need to embarrass yourself even further."

The eyebrows of Wilkins drew together into a stormy expression. Clearly he didn't appreciate the insinuation. Potts was a tad slower but didn't look happy either. Why was Winston so relaxed? He looked as if he could take them on without a doubt.

Once they started casting, she understood. It was two on one, both were older than him and their casting speed wasn't slow, but nothing they did hit him. He dodged the first spell with a lunge slightly to the left and backwards, allowing him more space to maneuver. From then on it seemed more like a dance than a fight as he avoided everything. After watching them for a while, he had determined their patterns and timed a low shot Jellylegs Jinx in combination with a Tarantallegra Spell to take out Wilkins.

When he went to the ground in a cursing heap, he threw an almost negligent Incarcerous at him, binding him tightly while his strangely pliable legs were still dancing around if one could even call the uncoordinated flailing that. The leftover Potts didn't manage to defend himself much longer and suffered a similar fate. With both opponents defeated, he revealed something that must have been a secret to most. He cast a Messenger Patronus to call over Prof. Flitwick. The two of them blanched at seeing him cast a spell that even most adults lacked the ability to use.

She hurried over from her hiding place, much to his surprise, and hugged the stuffing out of him. The gentle way he held her calmed her quickly but she still wanted to know why he did it. He sighed and smiled before explaining himself. He didn't cast any privacy spells or anything even though he looked at the two of them before he talked. Clearly he wanted them to listen in.

"Bullies don't react well to threats without backing them up. I provoked them, defeated them and now I am going to report them. This will show that my position on this matter is uncompromising. If they still try to make problems, I'll be more vicious than simply humiliating them a bit and reporting them to a teacher. But this is a message that should be understood by those in the lower years as well. Bullying under my eyes is a not acceptable."

He glanced to them, causing them to shudder under his glare.

"This is the warning by the way. Spread it among like-minded individuals. Next time I won't be gentle."

He really did sound quite firm while saying that. And to Prof. Flitwick, who arrived some minutes later, he narrated the exact happenings. When those two tried to argue and deny, he offered up both, his memories and interrogation under Veritaserum to confirm the truth of his statement. They were suddenly way more quiet than before after hearing that and facing his dispassionate eyes.

~Flashback end~

"... And that's how I met my brother."

She finished cheerfully with her arms spread. Reliving that memory always put a smile on her face. She smiled impishly at Winston, who looked faintly embarrassed.

"God, I was such an edgy idiot back then..."

He murmured while Azalea was looking at her with a strange mix of sympathy, bemusement and compassion. She could see why he wanted to help her. She was definitely a good person. Well, if she wasn't in leagues with the heliopaths. They did hide themselves well and might have taught her some tricks.

Still, she reacted a bit different than most others. When she usually told this story, there was definitely some disbelief at Winston being able to outduel two older students, though his apparent prowess in case counteracted that doubt nicely. Even more people straight up denied the possibility of him knowing the Patronus Charm at that age, however. Azalea must have felt her suspicious gaze because she returned a confused one.

"What? Do I have something on my face?"

She considered the question for a moment before she nodded. She did indeed have something on her face.

"If I'm not wrong, there are several Invisible Glumpses stuck to your eyelids. You also seem to have a very light dusting of makeup. Otherwise, I can't find anything else of importance."

She received one of those wry smiles that Winston gifted her every once in a while. She was rather good at those as well.

"You are a very literal person, right?"

Now that was just silly.

"Of course I am a literal person. Is there another way to be a person? Though, you could argue that we all exist on a metaphysical plane as well and since that is the case, we have another state of being that isn't quite as literal as this one. If you want to discuss that school of thought with me, you will have to let me read up on it. I dislike entering a fruitful discourse without foreknowledge."

All she received for that was silence. She was used to that so she went back to building and animating the circus animals. Curiosity still drove Azalea to ask a question she had an answer to, though.

"Sooo... Why did you stare at me like that earlier?"

She turned to her and drew herself up to her full height. Which admittedly wasn't all that impressive, but neither was hers so it was fair.

"Your lack of reaction to Winston's feat of summoning a Patronus in his fourth year was suspicious."

She answered simply. Her answer was a blink and a headtilt before Azalea made a surprised 'Ah!' sound. She then gave an answer that was entirely satisfactory and a little sad. 'Ok, it is very sad.' She corrected herself inwardly.

"That's a rare feat, right? I just thought it was normal since I can do it too. But thinking on it, I learned out of desperation. I didn't want to relive my mother's death every time those soul-sucking demons were close."

Her smile was so bittersweet that it nearly broke Luna's heart. She felt it crack at her next admission.

"Ironically, that very memory and the idea of what could have been is the fuel for my Patronus, making me relive it every single time I cast it."

Without commenting, she stood up and sat down on Azalea's other side much to her confusion. That state didn't last long however since she quickly fulfilled the purpose of her relocation and pulled her into a hug. The girl stiffened slightly but relaxed soon and they shared a moment of grief and remembrance over two formidable women who would have done anything for their daughters. She waited until Winston put her breakfast into stasis and placed it in front of her before grabbing his arm around Azalea's back and pulling him into the hug, causing a definite rise of the sandwiched girl's body temperature.

"I guess I'll have to start my search for my first real friend anew once again."

She mused much to Azalea's confusion. There was also a bit of disappointment and she had to lay that to rest immediately.

"Well, since you'll be my sister-in-law, you'll be family. Family is family and friends are friends."

An impish grin answered an exasperated frown over a spluttering girl in denial and everything was alright again. The rest of breakfast was a delight of conversation and playing the part of a giant monstrous Being that decided to feast on an entire magical circus. It was what she would call a nice start in the day.