A/N:

So this is based off of one of the stories I co-wrote with Bea writes over on AO3 (my first AO3 fic, too! :D ). This is kind of how I envisioned Hermione and Luna's friendship to start in that universe, and thought that this prompt would fit perfectly for it!

Also, everyone who's been reviewing: I see you. I love you. I don't have the spoons to reply to nearly anyone, but I truly do love you. Thank you for enjoying my writing 3

Summary: Luna hides from bullies in the Astronomy Tower, and is saved by the most unlikely person; warning- active bullying

Words: 1334

Prompts:

Ministry of Magic Discord Group: Who Dunnit?

Suspect: Hermione Granger

Crime Scene: Astronomy Tower

Weapon: Candles

"Start of a Beautiful Friendship"

Luna tried to stifle her heaving breaths as she hid behind a crate in the top of the Astronomy tower. Bullies from Ravenclaw had chased her up here, and were now prowling the tower to try to find her. Stubs of long burnt out candlesticks laid scattered around her, her hiding spot apparently used as the dumping ground of refuse before the elves could come and clean anything up. Idly, Luna wondered why the Great Hall would use everlasting candlesticks but the Astronomy Tower didn't.

"Stop being so buddy buddy with my boyfriend, Looney!" one of them called out. "He's only being nice to you because he pities you. After all, who would actually like you?"

Luna kept herself as silent as she could, curling up into the tiniest ball she could. Her movement, to her horror, shifted a few of the candlesticks, making them fall over and causing a small clattering sound.

"Found you!" a voice declared by her ear in a singsong tone. Luna jerked back as a hand clamped down on her arm. Her eyes wide, Luna took in the three Fourth Year Ravenclaws before her. One pushed her down near the opening in the wall that was usually used to point telescopes at the sky for Astronomy. With a feeling of dread, Luna stood resolutely, her jaw set, tears streaming down her face.

"What do you want with me? I'm just a First Year," Luna stated and one of the girls harshly laughed.

"You're crazy, you know that? All of those creatures that you talk about? Not real. We would have left you alone had you just kept to yourself, but you just had to talk to Cedric, didn't you?" she asked.

"He approached me! Am I not allowed to have friends?" Luna bit back, swiping angrily at her eyes. "And Cedric hasn't even asked you out yet! Pretty presumptuous of you to call him your boyfriend!" Curse these girls and curse Ron Weasley too for starting that stupid Looney Lovegood nickname before she even came to Hogwarts.

"Of course you're not allowed to have friends! It would just be better if you disappeared!" another snarked. She pushed Luna hard in the chest, making her stumble back. Her heel dipped off of the edge, and Luna chanced a fearful look behind her. One more push like that, and she would be flung off the tower…

Luna looked back to the girls but saw movement further back in the darkness near the door to the stairs.

"Do your worst," Luna intoned, resigned to the fact that no one was coming.

"And we'll make it look like an accident, too!" the last one crowed, reaching out to push Luna again.

"Accio Luna's lapels!" came a voice from the doorway. Luna felt a strong tug on her robes and she held on tightly, letting herself be dragged through the group of girls to the person by the stairs. She stumbled the last few feet, falling into the arms of Second Year Gryffindor, Hermione Granger. The bushy haired girl was glaring heatedly at the trio of Fourth Year students, and didn't spare Luna a second glance as she righted herself. "Avis!" Granger than intoned, flicking her wand. A flock of birds appeared around her, four, eight, ten, thirteen appeared, circling around them. With another flick of her wrist, the birds attacked the trio.

Shrieks spilled from their lips, hunching down with their hands covering their heads to avoid the avian onslaught. The ringleader of the group staggered back, reminiscent of Luna's own plight only moments before. With a shriek, she toppled out of the large floor to ceiling window, her arms windmilling.

"Cho!"

"No!" the other two called out.

From beside her, Hermione's voice was strong and calm as she swished and flicked her wand.

"Wingardium Leviosa!" There was no struggle as the Second Year lifted the fallen Fourth Year back up, pulling her back into the tower and within the grasp of her friends. The older girls took the opportunity to pull Cho back the rest of the way as the birds dispersed, scurrying to put their backs to the stairs.

"You're crazy!" Cho spat at the two girls as her friends pulled at her to follow them down the stairs.

"And you're bullies," Hermione replied flatly, turning her back on the girl as if dismissing her. Her hair sparked wildly in anger, a glare burning in her gaze at the Ravenclaws. "Next time, I'll miss…so make sure there isn't a next time," Hermione then threatened. Neither Hermione nor Luna cared that the door to the stairs slammed shut following the trio's retreat. Hermione turned to Luna, checking her over. "Did they hurt you?" Luna paused for a moment before answering.

"Not at all. Just scared me a little," she replied, shuffling a bit to hide her shoeless toes. Thankfully it looked like Hermione hadn't noticed.

"Come on, then. Let's go, Luna," Hermione then said, wrapping her arm around the First Year's shoulders to guide her down the stairs. Luna clung to her and her warmth, glad to finally have someone to stand up for her.

As they exited the tower, a thin lipped Professor McGonagall met the duo.

"Miss Granger, Miss Lovegood. I suppose you have a good explanation for why you attacked Miss Chang, Miss Edgecomb, and Miss Caine?"

"Of course, Professor," Hermione stated, staring down their Transfiguration teacher. "They had cornered Luna atop the Astronomy tower and nearly pushed her off. I actually had overheard them planning this before lunch today while in the library. I had gone to a teacher, you in fact, Professor McGonagall, but you brushed aside my concerns. I had to summon Luna from the edge where they had cornered her, and I only used an avis spell to keep them away. I did not push anyone, and in fact pulled one of them up after she had fallen over the edge. You can even check my wand on what spells were last used, ma'am." Hermione was respectful but derisive in her retelling, obviously not pleased with how the teachers reacted to reported threats of bullying and violence. "It is not my goal to kill students, Professor. It is my goal to keep them safe and to stop the bullying. After all, it seems like no one else here is interested in the students' safety, someone ought to."

Luna was nearly delirious at the exchange as Professor McGonagall checked Hermione's wand for the spells she said. She shuffled unpleasantly, her socked feet cold on the stone floor.

"Ma'am, can you summon Luna's shoes for her? Bullies have taken them again," Hermione then said, casting a glance at Luna, who pinkened. Professor McGonagall's lips thinned even more, if possible, before returning Hermione's wand and pulling her own. A quick accio saw Luna's shoes flying out of Marietta Edgecomb's robe pockets, and the three girls paled at the fury on Professor McGonagall's face.

"You two are dismissed. Twenty points to Gryffindor for saving more than one classmate," Professor McGonagall stated before she whirled around to face the trio who thought they could get away with it.

Hermione pulled Luna away and started her down the path to Gryffindor tower, waiting long enough for Luna to put her shoes back on. As they turned the corner, the sound of Professor McGonagall yelling at her bullies put a smile on Luna's face. Her smile only grew larger as she walked with Hermione.

"Does this mean we are friends now?" Luna asked. Hermione faltered in her steps before slowing, coming to a complete stop. She faced Luna.

"Would you like that?" Hermione asked. "You would be…my first friend. I warn you now, I'm not very good at it," she then warned. Luna brightened, however.

"Then we can learn together!" Luna chirped in reply with a giant grin. "We'll be great friends!" Luna saw Hermione's face brighten at the thought.

"Yes, two best friends," Hermione agreed and Luna's smile only got wider.