"What's that?" His eyes appraised the leather—or was it dragon hide—bound book she held out in front of him. Saw them follow as her finger caressed the spine.
"Let's add another element to the game shall we?"
Her lips tipped in a smile, one truthful in its presence rather than a simile. No pretense was needed. Not with Harry.
"Before I tell you what this is, and why it'll add to our little game, I think it best to take a wizard oath."
"Not to be redundant, but, what's that?"
Luna knew better than to tease him or call attention to his lack of knowledge. The fact he was comfortable enough to voice this lack soothed a part of her soul that had frayed years prior. She would lead him to magic, she'd give him what he wanted.
To be something to fear.
"A wizard oath is something that two Wiccan—magic born folk—can conduct, they don't need a bonder like an unbreakable vow. With the oath, we swear on our magic and our magic seals it. Bonds our word to actions. To consequences. It's magic most ancient."
"I'm in. What are we taking an oath on"
No hesitation. If anything, his eyes were alight with the fire she'd seen earlier.
"Brilliant." Her smile grew larger, showing teeth. His returning one was just as vicious, two predators exchanging pleasantries that would have had his two friends quaking in their robes.
"Our oath will be to keep whatever is discussed and discovered, now and whenever we discuss this book or play this game, to stay between those playing."
"So pretty much keep the secrets, ya?"
She nodded. She'd worded it in such a way that it would encompass Tom too. But Harry didn't seem to notice. Or, if he did, didn't seem to care about a loophole.
"And how does the magic bond us?"
"Watch me, the wand movement is such—" she showed him the swish and jab of the wand work, and then sat up straight. Ready to begin.
"Mother Hecate, on my magic, hear my oath. Whatever Harry Potter and I, Luna Lovegood, discuss or discover, that pertain to this diary or the owner, or the game that is played herein, will remain between those playing. That any knowledge of actions that arise due to our interactions with the diary will be kept between those playing. So mote it be."
A glow emanated from her, seeping from her pores before evaporating. The glow dissipating as if it had never existed. Harry was staring at her in awe, the look of hunger so vibrant and visceral she shuddered in delight.
'His soul is perfect. I'm never letting him go back to the light.'
"That was—" he cleared his throat, the sound loud in the quiet of their spot beside the lake. "That was incredible! I've never seen, or knew, magic could do that! I felt it, deep within." He frowned. "I wonder why Hermione hasn't told me about oaths yet."
Luna snorted, then looked quickly at Harry. She didn't want to alienate him by insulting his… friends, but she also couldn't stop herself the mirth that bubbled at the thought of a muggle, especially one as…Gryffindor, as Granger, knowing magic such as this.
Thankfully, he just raised an eyebrow. No censure or irritation dotted his brow. If anything, amusement sparkled in his gaze.
"Let me guess. She wouldn't know because she's a muggleborn. Right?"
"That and she's as Gryffindor as they come. Filled with righteous superiority and the belief that magic is divided into light and dark. Good and evil. And that paths fall into the realm of the dark and evil."
She pulled a thick blade of grass from the lawn and began to shred it down its length into thin slices with her fingernail.
"Fair." He shrugged. "But I imagine you'll enlighten me otherwise."
The smile he bestowed was akin to the sun breaking dawn after a blizzard. The brilliance of it took her breath away.
"My turn."
After he'd performed the oath—'impressive memory he has—' they settled down to look at the book she'd brought out of her bag.
The diary.
"This is a special book. One filled with magic that would send most here scurrying, looking over their shoulders in fear."
"And you said magic wasn't evil." He chuckled, rolling his eyes playfully, reaching out to touch the cover.
He drew back immediately upon his flesh connecting with the book cover.
"What— " his hand went to his scar. "My scar. Pain—brief, but still there, yet… not. Something different. Like I was shot a stunning hex but kissed gently at the same time when I touched that." He nodded toward the diary.
Luna frowned.
There were no spells or enchantments to hurt those who touched the diary. If anything, there were compulsion charms imbued within.
"Can I see… I mean, would you mind…"
"You can take a look at it if you want. My scar. I trust you."
The words detonated themselves within her, and Luna knew right then that she'd never be the same. No matter what, this boy, this scrawny, puzzle of a boy, had fundamentally impacted her beyond anything since her mother's passing.
Reaching up, her fingers shook as she brought them to his face. So gently, as if turning the lightest daisy petal toward the sun, she brushed his scar.
The feeling was instantaneous.
A groan escaped Harry, but instead of pulling away, he grabbed her hand, pressing her finger to the scar and holding her there.
'A stinging hex indeed!' The feelings that passed through her finger to her chest was akin to bathing in natural springs on the hottest of summer days, a bit of a crisp apple, the warmth of hot cocoa in front of a fire.
Home. It felt like home.
"Your touch is soothing. It's never felt like this before. Only pain."
His eyes held hers, and she could only trace down the line of the scar, relishing in the feeling she knew mirrored that which she'd experienced upon opening the diary and running her finger down the page.
She reared back and stared at him, wide eyed with wonder. Her chest heaved as if she'd run the length of the castle.
'No wonder he's kindred. That like calls to like. Him and the diary are one and the same. Their magic… it's the same.'
In the distance a bell tolled, and Harry jumped up.
"Shit, I mean, darn, oh…fuck it. I need to go meet Ron and Hermione or They'll come looking for me."
A bitter laugh flew from her lips before she even registered it.
"And how terrible it'd be to be seen with loopy looney lovegood. The great Harry Potter shan't be seen with the likes of her."
"Or how about, the great Harry Potter wants to keep that which actually matters safe? Away from the tedium that comes with being friends with Gryffindors. That he might want something that's his and his alone."
She nodded, placated.
"Ta Harry Potter. Until next time then."
"Would you…" Nervousness poured off him, replacing the cocky self assured humor of moments before. "Would you want to meet up later? Play our game and look at the diary together?"
"After dinner. Library, in the stacks between the salem witch trials and selective potions."
She began packing away the diary.
Nodding, he left without another word. None were needed. Not with them. Not now.
…—--o-—-…
"I've never been in this section of the library. Took me ages to find it. " He shook his head, a rueful smile flirting the edges. "That, and to also shake off Hermione."
She smirked, pulling them into a secluded corner tucked neatly behind the stacks in this rarely used section of the library.
No one gave a toss about salem, or the Americans even. Those damn Wiccan's were afraid of their own shadows, and weren't able to maintain that which kept magic alive as it needed to be.
Their magics were echos of their whole. Wisps of what could have been.
Not like here.
Mother magic still lent her blessings here; the old ways still honored. Even if in secret. Though here, in magical Britain, magic was so watered down it was laughable.
Or would be, if it wasn't so dire.
"I've been thinking of our game all day." She said, pulling out the diary. "And we only have this for one day, so we need to use it well while we have it."
"Whose diary is it? Ginny's?"
"In a way." She smirked, a 'kneazle who caught the golden snidgit' grin that had him blinking as his own face tentatively mirrored hers.
"Let's continue playing then." Was all he said, not pushing the subject.
She opened the diary and wrote.
"Well met Tom Riddle. I'm Luna Loovegood, daughter of Pandora Avery, heir to the Avery line, and here with me is Harry Potter. Heir to the Potter line, amongst others I'd presume. Want to join our game?"