And Then There Were None

Falling. Falling. Falling. "Why am I falling? Am I dreaming?"

Darkness. "Darkness is my friend. I like dark. It's so peaceful," she giggled, "It almost looks like a real person."

A spotlight formed around the two bodies. Floating in the air were Ginny and Luna. Luna, who was unconscious, was hovering dead in the air. Ginny's secrets and any speck of information were being sucked out of her helpless body. Darkness was overcoming them. The two frail girls were floating in the air with no sense of care whatsoever.

Hours later Luna woke up and was scared out of her mind. She has had this kind of dream numerous times before, waking up in cold sweat. She couldn't move or breathe since she was hovering in the middle of nowhere, in darkness. Suddenly she heard a distant sound. It was familiar. She went closer and closer to it, trying to find out the source of that sound ...that sound...of alphabets?

"G, H, I, J ..." She faintly saw something moving. It was Ginny. She was making the shape of every letter with her entire body. Luna was confused and got closer. She soon found out that Ginny was not alone. Accompanying her was this stringy blob that looked very similar to a floating, bluish brain with tentacles. The blob made all sorts of mumbling noises that probably couldn't be understood by normal people. But strangely she understood what the blob was saying to Ginny.

"Yes, you see learning from the beginning all over again is much more fun and worthwhile than your silly little knowledge or your soul." While it was saying this, the brain was holding a fairly sized, transparent, pink bubble in its' tentacles and it seemed to be growing. "Why it's like reliving your childhood. Don't you want to be a child again Virginia?"

"Yeah, childhood is better," Ginny said lackadaisically.

Luna was shocked to see how this thing could control Ginny like that and how it already knew her name. It was as if he had been expecting her. Luna started to have shortness of breaths as she began to feel a bit dizzy. She tried to make sense of things.

So wait...I'm here because of Ginny, wherever this place is. And that blob is making Ginny do alphabet aerobics. And that... that pink bubble is her...her knowledge? But then what does that really d--- Oh no... that means that she'll have no sense of who she is since she's lost her sense of curiosity. So in other words, she's lost herself and just doesn't care anymore where she is.

"Very good. Ms. Lovegood is it?"

Luna was startled to see that this thing was coming towards her and was able to read her mind. "Wha--what? How did you know my name? You-- you can read what I'm thinking?" Luna stuttered.

"Of course. I can read anyone's mind in any language as a matter of fact. And it's only people like you and me that can see in the dark."

Luna was dumbfounded, "What do you mean you and me? I can't see in the dark."

"Why do you think it was at least visible in here? It's supposed to be pitch dark to normal people. It's because we have what we call a portion of the sixth sense. After all you can see the thestrals at Hogwarts can you not?"

"Yes, but then how do you know about the-- "

"--The thestrals? Or Hogwarts? It's pretty self-explanatory. I was actually one of the caretakers of Hogwarts and I used to load and unload luggage by the carriages all the time. That's where the thestrals come in."

"So wait, you must've known Filch or something right?"

"Ah, yes now that you mention him. I was what you call a best mate of his. Ah...we used to have such good times together. And although I came from a rich family of wizards and he came from a house of squibs, we still had some memorable times. He used to laugh like there's no tomorrow."

Luna stared at it incredibly, "Filch...used to be happy? But he's always so grouchy."

"Is he? Yes, he probably did take my death pretty hard. How clumsy was I to have tampered with Dumbledore's pensieve. I had fallen through the pensieve only to find myself back inside Dumbledore's and well, I just kept going inside the pensieve then inside his office over and over again until I just couldn't breathe anymore. I was a very curious lad back then."

"So, let me get this straight. Going inside and out of the pensieve lots of times turned you into a brain blob thing?"

"Not entirely. After I lost consciousness, I stayed there for a while I suppose and the next thing I knew I was in this dark pool craving for substance. For a body and a sense of knowledge, anything to make me feel half decent. I didn't even know I was a brain at first. Then later on I grew these tentacles by absorbing people's left over knowledge. They appeared out of nowhere. It was either accidental or on purpose."

"And I'm guessing Ginny and I are not here by accident are we?"

"You might have been. However, Ginny is certainly not here by accident. I knew this girl was coming days ago due to the many side effects I had received after the incident."

Luna scratched her head, "Well I did try to save her and got sucked in I guess by accident."

"Did you? Well, aside from you, I noticed Ginny had a lot of spunk when she came in here with you. Normally, people are unconscious, like you, when they first enter here. Another thing was the amount of knowledge that I've pulled out of her. She certainly must have had something stored in this bubble for a long time." The brain showed the pink bubble to Luna.

"So," Luna gulped, "you do this to every thing that comes in here?" Luna glimpsed at the thing.

"Yes, as a matter of fact I do. A lot of people come in here dead or alive and most are by accident. I remember this one man that was close to dying but then somehow he just disappeared. One minute I saw him then I didn't. Whoever he was, he's either still in the living world or fallen deeper into this pool."

"So this dark pool ... appears anywhere by chance?" Luna asked.

"Basically, every year or so in the most unpredictable places inside Hogwarts. I think I've almost become like a myth of some sort. Other people might have already found out the patterns of the dark pool's movements. Anyhow, I've never seen it open up any earlier than that for as long as I was here.

The brain checked on Ginny who was still making alphabet shapes; she was up to P now.

"But as you know I forbid anyone from getting out alive once their foot sets on my territory. I do feel the utmost sorrow for your condition but I don't have a choice. I do want to at least feel like I'm living. And who knows when the next batch will come?"

Luna was beginning to panic." So you're just going to leave us here?!!"

"I'm afraid so. But don't worry I'll come back later after I've stored this piece of information. I can't give up an extra opportunity for one more person."

The brain looked at Luna as if she were a morsel. "Now if you'll excuse me I want to get this all in while it's fresh."

With that a door appeared out of nowhere and the brain-like blob disappeared with the door.

Breathing hard, Luna tried to calm down. On the verge of doing that she thought it'd be best to knock some sense into Ginny and get the heck out of there. After all she's the only one that's sane to help her.

Luna rushed over to her, "Ginny! We need to get out of here fast!"

"We have to find that information of yours and get it back."

Ginny who was hesitating, didn't seem to respond to anything she was saying.

"Ginny! Ginny?"

Luna waved her hand in front of her face.

Ginny didn't seem to react to anything at all. And then it hit her. Ginny couldn't see in the dark like her. So then she grabbed her shoulders and shook her.

Huh? Hey, who's there?

"Ginny, don't worry it's me--" Luna hesitated, "Wait. Ginny why are you talking to me inside my head?"

Hello?

Luna looked puzzled, "Ginny, can you hear me?"

Why is it so dark in here?

Luna didn't understand why she was not responding. Ginny was only speaking with her mind, so Luna decided to speak inside her mind too. It was worth a try.

Ginny? Can you hear me? It's me Luna.

Hello? Yes? I'm here whoever you are. Ginny said as she waved her hands around.

Luna took the hint and realized Ginny probably lost her sense of speech along with her except her mind power and some parts of her memory. Then she remembered that the brain had talked to her in her mind but still was able to understand her when she spoke out loud since it stole Ginny's sense of speech.

Ginny? Ok. Do you have any idea where you are?

No. But it sure is dark. Darkness...that sounds familiar.

Oh! Ok. That's good! Can you think of anything else that sounds familiar? Your friends?

Yeah but they never cared for me anyway so I think those aren't my real friends.

Oh that's not true!

I don't really give a crap if that's true or not.

But Ginny what about second year? I think it was Hermione who told me about the Chamber of Secrets and your near death experience. I mean didn't Harry--

Ginny interrupted, Harry only happened to save me because--

Ginny stopped and felt somewhat of a gap inside her head, like something's blocking what she was just about to say.

Ginny? Ginny, what's the matter?

Ginny looked as if she struck a cord or was just baffled.

Ginny sighed, I don't know. This is weird.

What?

Just drop it. Bugger off.

But Ginny... why? What did I say?

Look if you're only going to lecture about my friends then you might as well go away.

But--

Just leave me alone. I'm bloody tired of this conversation.

With that Ginny passed Luna swiftly and fiddled with her alphabet book that was floating abut in midair.

Luna was confused and just decided to pretend that the conversation had never happened.

So, Ginny you do know that we have to eventually get out of here right? We can't hold out like this forever.

Hold out? What's there to hold out? I think this is a place I can get used to. No damn peer pressure that's for sure. And its good to get away from the messed up reality anyhow.

Yeah, but would you like to live in the darkness forever and die in just a few hours more or less?

Ginny scoffed. It's bloody better than living up there and then dying, eventually.

And it's all fake up there. We're constantly living a total lie in this so-called reality. It's pretty damn clear that we're all playing a pointless game. Ginny flipped through the book some more as she resumed.

Then people go and get themselves married and lay about a hundred different kids that they don't even see half the time.

Luna was starting to lose patience. She became a bit agitated as Ginny continued talking.

Learn, learn, learn. It's like they have a bloody leash on us or something. We all go to school and come back every single freaking day and when we don't do what we are expected, they go and pull the guilt trip on us. It's always work, work, work, and for what? It's just so we can damn near prevent ourselves from starving to death along with the fact that they need to present themselves to others nicely; going to jobs and all. It's total nonsense if you ask me. They don't even notice me at all and I'm glad that I'm not noticed and go through all that crap. But that doesn't make me happy either and change my mind about life.

Luna couldn't believe the trash she was hearing, and from Ginny! Most of those facts were the hard truth but she didn't have to say it so raw. It was the way of life and life was a bit unfair at times. It's so that you will learn your lessons and gain more knowledge. But then again, Ginny didn't have her life's knowledge so she didn't mention all the other stuff that happens in life, like about friends, family, and just plain happiness being around those people that keep you moving in life. Luna couldn't hear this kind of trash anymore and just broke out.

Ginny, it's NOT like I enjoy everything about life ok?

Then why don't you stay here too, away from the chaos of life?

But life doesn't have to be like that! You could be different and live outside of the whole reality game and be happy.

Yeah, but I much prefer living here learning what I already know rather than being stuck with all of you.

Arrgghh! It doesn't have ANYTHING to do with all that! You're missing the point! Look, all this conversation started because I just wanted for us to get out of here and for you to get your stupid knowledge back!

Luna yelled as the lump in her throat was getting harder to swallow.

Ginny said carelessly, But I don't need my knowledge. I know the truth now that I don't have any of that. I know now the true raw facts about life and my friends. I know now that Harry is just a stupid replica of the knight coming to save any damsel in distress just so he can get credit and hold his "boy who lived title". Hermione is just a stupid know it all; and my family, who were nothing but a bunch of gits that didn't even for a second look twice at me. So, why should I even bother to get that useless thing back?

Ginny closed her book and looked right at her as if she could see her in the darkness.

And you, not only are you only caring about yourself, but you're also just using me to get out of this place and save yourself from getting your knowledge or total lies taken away from you. Isn't that right? Ginny glared at her menacingly.

Ginny, you know that isn't true! Of course I care about you. I just want us to get out of this place safely. And you don't know how hard it is for me to talk in my mind and cope with you at the same time. Luna said as she tried to fight the tears back until she eventually couldn't take it anymore.

I mean I'm not just some self-absorbed git ok? I mean look what's happened to you Ginny! Look what that thing's done to you. This isn't you Ginny, it never was! You're Ginny Weasley! The Ginny Weasley that accompanied me all throughout fifth year and befriended me when I was all alone on the Hogwarts express.

Tears fell from Luna's cheek as she continued. And you're the Ginny Weasley that helped us in battle and was part of Dumbledore's Army!

Ginny, who was listening to Luna's outburst, suddenly watched astonishingly as the place began to fill with numerous sounds and voices. Luna's tears were forming gigantic bubbles that she later on found out to be full of memories. Ginny saw herself aboard the Hogwarts express and heard her talking and meeting Luna in one bubble, then saw all the events that happened during the meetings in Dumbledore's Army, then after that, she saw herself traveling with Neville, Luna, and the trio inside the many doors of the Department of Mysteries.

Meanwhile it was beginning to get harder and harder to breathe for Luna. More tears fell down. And I'm Luna Lovegood! The person who fought with you in the battle with Harry and everyone else, the person who'd do anything for my friends, the person who cheered Gryffindor on and had a lot of school spirit! Luna croaked. And the person who had a whole article posted for a dear friend! Luna burst out in tears and sobbed. I mean what would our friends say if they saw you now?

Again the many tears of Luna formed numerous huge bubbles that carried many memories filled with joyful voices. Ginny saw and heard Luna cheering on Gryffindor with her large lion hat. Then in another, she saw herself talking to Harry and bringing in a quibbler article with the true story of the rumors on it. In many other bubbles she saw Luna helping her and her friends during the battle. Luna was guiding Ginny to the thestrals and Luna was struggling to get up when both her and Neville were down.

Then Luna scoffed, while dropping some more tears. Too bad our friends can't see us right now, our true selves. Because they were picked to go to that Island, they wouldn't see us for another two weeks or so.

This time Ginny didn't see Luna's memories inside the bubbles but glimpsed the truth, what appeared to be her memories. She saw herself getting the mysterious letter, heard herself talking with someone inside a bathroom, finally she saw Luna yelling out to save her. The bubble popped right in front of her, ending with Luna's scream.

Ginny jumped as if something snapped inside her mind. Luna? Luna is that you?

Luna who was wiping her tears looked at Ginny surprisingly.

G- Ginny?

Oh Luna!

Luna rushed over to Ginny and held her in a big embrace. Then she started to cry again. Ginny burst out in tears and sobbed. "Luna! I'm so, so sorry..."Ginny sobbed. "I wasn't myself... I'm so stupid Luna! If I didn't have such great friends then I wouldn't have known what to do!! Ginny wailed. I DON'T EVEN DESERVE TO LIVE!!!!

Tears fell from Luna's eyes. Oh! Ginny...it's going to be all right. It's okay... You're not stupid I mean anyone would have gone crazy if they were in your position! Luna swallowed painfully. But you know what? You're gonna be ok now... you're going to be ok now Ginny do you hear me! Luna croaked.

Ginny sniffled and wiped her tears. I know, Luna...it's just that I don't want to die, Ginny said in a whisper.

Luna sniffled. None of us are going to die anytime soon in here. We'll have to be strong and help each other along the way until we escape. Furthermore we have to get your knowledge back.

Oh that's right! There's something in there that I don't want anyone to know. I don't remember what it is but we've got to get it back quickly! But how? I can't even see my hands in front of my face.

Luna looked triumphantly, But I can Ginny, because I learned that I could see through any forms of darkness, like those thestrals remember? Only Harry and I saw them. So just hold my hand and sit close. I saw that thing carry your knowledge through a door. We just need to find it.

Luna searched around everywhere, feeling around as she went. Then at the very end she saw a stream of light shining out of nowhere and went closer to it. Ginny was right behind her. As soon as Luna began to feel around that area, a door magically appeared. Luna turned the knob and opened it as a tremendous amount of light shone through. Then the door was shut and Ginny and Luna disappeared from sight.