Why I'm Never Going to My Class Reunion

Chapter Three- What Would You Do?

Luna sat down in the Library. She pulled To Catch a Crumpled Horned Snorkack from her book bag. She hadn't gotten very far when Ginny slipped into the chair opposite of her.

"Hey, Luna, reading again?"

"Yes, I was," Luna said, putting down her book. She had a feeling Ginny wasn't here simply to shoot the breeze. "D'you want something?"

"Yeah, it's about Harry," Ginny idly toyed with Luna's quill. "I don't really know how to talk to him."

"Why is that? You've had boyfriends before," Luna said, putting her book away.

"Yeah, I know," Ginny sighed. "But Harry's just different. I mean I really, really, like him. And I don't want our relationship to get screwed up if I make a stupid mistake."

"I'm afraid I'm not the person to ask, Ginny. You know I've never had a boyfriend."

Ginny handed Luna's quill to her. "Well then, if you fancied Harry, would you tell him?"

"I suppose I would have to," said Luna, while she was putting her quill back. "Love is about two people."

"Thanks, Luna," Ginny stood up and left.

Luna sat there for a moment. She had basically told Ginny to ask Harry out. She finally stood and walked out.

She thought back to when she had first seen Harry; it had been three years ago during the Triwizard Tournament. Luna had seen Harry before then, but she had never looked at him.

She had been in the corridors by Professor Moody's office. She didn't like competitions very much, and preferred to not watch. She remembered seeing Harry, more precisely the look in his eyes. Luna guessed it was how she had looked when she had seen her mother die. From then on Luna had felt some odd connection with Harry, it was hard to explain just what.

Perhaps it was the fact she could relate to him about losing a parent, or maybe because they could both see the threstrals. But it was there, ever since that day.

Luna climbed the long stairway to her tower. Should she let Harry know how she felt? There were too many uncertainties. She was too unsure of herself.

She had had her heart broken before. It was in her third year as well. She had fancied a boy named Roy O'Brien; he had fancied her as well.

"Will you go to Hogsmeade with me this weekend?" Luna had asked him shyly.

"Let me think about it," he had replied uncomfortably.

The day passed without an answer from Roy. Luna approached him the next day. "Roy, have you decided yet?"

"I still don't know," he had snapped.

So Luna waited another day.

"Please Roy, the trip is tomorrow, I need to know."

"I'm still thinking."

Her eyes had filled with tears. "Then I take it back."

Not even a week later she had seen Roy and Padma Patil holding hands. But she couldn't love someone who wasn't sure about her.

But in her fourth year things looked better. Ginny had sort of befriended her, and she had even talked to Harry a few times. Her fifth year had been horrible. Both her grandparents had died, both who she was very close to.

The only thing Luna knew for sure about her life was that she was going to teach. She had always loved children; they were so adorable and innocent.

Luna sighed. Ah, I'm being far too melodramatic. I have nothing to mope about. 'Those who never complain are never pitied'.

She smiled. Her mother had taught her a phrase for about every situation.

Luna lurched forward, landing on her chin. The contents of her bag spilled in all directions. She looked down at her feet. She had gotten her foot caught in the vanishing step again.

"D'you need some help?"

Luna looked up. It was Harry, who was offering his hand to help her back on her feet. She took his hand.

"Thank you," Luna said, placing her items back in her bag.

"No problem, just watch for that step. See you around."

Luna turned in time to see him go. She smiled a little to herself. "Don't worry, Harry, you'll see Sirius again someday."

I walked across an empty land

I knew the pathway like the back of my hand

I felt the earth beneath my feet

Sat by the river and it made me complete

Oh simple thing, why have you gone?

I'm getting old and I need something to rely on

So tell me when you're gonna let me in

I'm getting tired and I need somewhere to begin

I came across a fallen tree

I felt the branches of it looking at me

Is this the place we used to love?

Is this the place I've been dreaming of?

Chapter Four-Undone

"Good morning, Ginerva," Luna greeted Ginny brightly the following morning on their way to Charms.

Ginny shuddered. "Luna, don't call me that! You know I hate it."

"I'm sorry, it's such a pretty name," Luna said.

"Yeah, well, it's fine," Ginny said rather insincerely.

Ron passed by with Harry. Ron kind of waved as did Harry, but giving no further notice of the girls. Luna nodded politely. Ginny ushered Luna over to Charms.

"Why didn't you say hello?" Luna asked.

"It's kind of embarrassing," Ginny admitted.

"For you? Come now, Ginny. You're one of the most effervescent people I know."

"I'd take that as a compliment except I have no idea what you mean."

"It means youthful or full of life."

"Thanks, then."

Charms went fairly well, if you don't count the fact Luna almost set the room on fire when she pronounced the spell incorrectly.

"That was certainly an interesting lesson," Luna said conversationally as she attempted to put out the small flame on her quill.

Ginny snorted. "Yeah, if you call almost killing everyone in the room interesting."

The two girls quickly left the class before Professor Flitwick came after them.

"Hey, Luna," Ginny said at lunch. "Study session, tonight in the library. We could work on our essays for Potions."

"Sounds fine to me," Luna went back to spreading the butter on her bread.

Did we have an essay in Potions? Oh, wait, yes we did. I should write these things down. I certainly do space out a bit. What is the essay on? I'll ask Ginerva. I mean Ginny. Oh, bother!

Luna walked down the long corridor to the library later that evening. "I'm going to be late, Ginerva, I mean Ginny will have already started." She rounded the corner.

"C'mon, Harry, we're wasting time," Hermione said impatiently.

"We'll meet you there, Hermione," Ron said.

Luna pulled back behind the corner as Hermione walked briskly past. It was natural curiosity that kept Luna pressed against the wall. I shouldn't be doing this...it's so rude.

"Did you hear about Loony Lovegood today, Harry? She nearly burnt the whole school down."

"Yeah, I heard. Don't call her 'Loony' anymore."

"Why not? She is."

"Luna's not that bad, Ron."

"You sound like Hermione."

"Ron, when you're annoyed everyone sounds like Hermione."

Harry and Ron walked right past Luna without noticing her. She held her breath until they passed. Her heart was racing. Harry didn't think she was crazy! Did he feel the same as she did? Or was Harry simply trying to be polite?

Luna smiled broadly at Ginny. "Hello, Ginny!"

Ginny looked up. "You sure look happy. What is it?"

"Nothing, I just feel elated."

"Stop using words I don't know, please."

"Sorry Ginerva. Ginny! I mean Ginny!"

Ginny rolled her eyes as Luna took a seat beside her. "Now let's get to work on our essays."

The sun was shining brightly on the lake two days later as Luna headed to Gryffindor Tower to meet Ginny. It was the day of a Hogsmeade trip and everyone was in high spirits.

"Hey, Loony Luna," Ginny said, falling into stride beside Luna.

"Hello, Ginny. There, I got it," Luna said.

"Yeah, guess so. Oh, guess what happened to me," Ginny said in what she hoped was a casual tone.

"What has happened now, Ginny?"

"I asked Harry out, like you told me to. He said yes!"

Luna stopped walking. People moved her aside so they could walk.

"Luna? What is it?" Ginny asked, looking worried.

"Nothing, I'll see you in Hogsmeade, I forgot something."

"Okay," Ginny shrugged and left.

Luna sighed and leaned against the wall. How could she have been so foolish? Harry could never love her. He had just been polite that night. No one would ever love her.

"I'm just Loony," she whispered softly.

You say you wander your own land

But when I think about it I don't see how you can

You're aching, you're breaking

And I can see the pain in your eyes

Says everybody's changing and I don't know why

Try to understand that I

Tried to make a move just to stay in the game

Tried to stay awake and remember my name

Oh everybody's changing and I don't feel the same

You're gone from here

Soon you will disappear

Fading into beautiful light

Everybody's changing and I don't feel right