Harry Potter and the Secret of the Moon

Chapter Two

A Birthday Party and Diagon Alley

A month later, the Luna had settled in. Ron, Harry, and Hermione were the best friends she ever had, even though she had to repeat things slowly for them (her accent threw them off track). Harry and her had sparked up a bit of a flirtation, much to the teasing delight of Ron, not to mention Fred and George. Six days before Harry's birthday, the other three were planning a surprise party.

"So, we'll 'ave big balloons, all lime green?" Luna asked.

"Yeah. That's his favourite colour, I think," Ron said, looking down at his checklist.

"And a chocolate cake with blue and green icing?" Hermione said.

"Mmm-hmm," Ron mumbled.

"Well, I'm going to get a drink. Be right back," Hermione said as she bounded downstairs.

"Luna, you're not coming clean with Harry or Hermione," Ron said when Hermione was out or earshot. Luna jumped. Ron knew?

"About the - the thing?" she stammered.

"Yeah...on your parents' anniversary. You should tell them," Ron said.

"Oh, but then they'll be weird around me. I wouldn't be able to stand that from them," Luna said sadly.

"No they won't! They're different!" Ron shouted.

"What's different?" Harry popped his head into the room. Ron scrambled to cover the checklist.

"Er...er...my robes...Ron says they won't stand in Aunt Moll's washing detergent," Luna said hastily.

Harry raised an eyebrow, a trait he had picked up from Luna, and shrugged.

"Whatever."

Luna shot a dirty look at Ron that clearly said No.

* * *

Ron, Harry, Hermione, and Luna were sitting outside the day before Harry's surprise birthday party in the Weasley's garden. Each had a glass of pink lemonade, with a slice of orange on the side. They were discussing Quidditch, instead of playing it. Apparently, Luna was a die-hard fan of the game, too.

"Ron," she argued," The Cannons 'aven't won the League since 1892! Give up!"

"Yeah, Ron. Seriously. They're pathetic," Harry said.

"I really don't see what's so interesting," Hermione said looking up from Hogwarts: A Revised History. "It's just of bunch of nutters flying on brooms chasing after a bunch of balls."

"Oh, but its so much more than that!" Luna said. "It's feeling the wind in your 'air, squinting your eyes against the sun, the roar of the crowds, doing loops that almost make you sick--"

"Which is what I'm going to be if you don't shut up!" Ron said.

Harry grinned. "So what's your favourite team, Lu?" he asked.

"Kenmare Kestrels," was her firm reply.

Fred came out at that moment.

"Kestrels? Yeah they're good. I bet you could play for them when you're older, Lu," he said.

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe. I've always thought it'd be wicked to be an Auror like me mum and dad," Luna replied looking at the sun.

Then the group got into Hogwarts' Quidditch.

"Me and George are on Gryffindor's team. Beaters, you know," Fred said.

"Wait - Gryffindor? What's a Gryffindor?" Luna looked puzzled.

"Oh! I forgot to tell you," Ron said. "There are four houses, dormitories, where we sleep. We play Quidditch for them, too."

"So you lot are in Gryffindor? I'll pick that one, then," Luna said.

"You get sorted. By your personality," Hermione said. "And you don't want to be in Slytherin. But I guess Ravenclaw would be okay. No way are you getting into Hufflepuff. Too nuts for that." Hermione grinned. "But I hope you're in Gryffindor."

"Okay..."

"Kids? Dinner!" Mr. Weasley yelled from the house.

The seven of them scrambled inside and sat down to dinner. When they got inside, Luna took her usual place between Harry and Ginny, while Ron and Hermione sat across from her.

"So is there anyone I should know about in 'Ogwarts?" she asked.

The three others rolled their eyes.

"Draco Malfoy," Harry said. "He's a jerk. Ridiculously bigheaded."

"Mmmmpfmmp," Ron nodded, his mouth full of potatoes.

"Absolute idiot," Hermione replied. "I slapped him in third year," she said happily.

Luna looked at Hermione with a strange look on her face. Hermione hit someone? it seemed to say

"Yes, Luna, I slapped him," she said.

"I'll think twice before speaking now," Luna said, grinning.

Hermione smirked.

"But anyway, he'll...well, he might try to get you to go out with him," Ron smiled half-heartedly. "You're pretty enough, even from a cousin point of view. And he won't know you're my cousin...you don't look anything like a Weasley, by the way." Ron said.

"Moran to the core...but I do 'ave some freckles," Luna said tweaking her nose.

* * *

When Harry woke up the next morning, he vaguely wondered why Ron wasn't in his bed, and why he couldn't hear any noise. Shoot, he thought. I forgot to stay up for my birthday! Harry hit himself in the head. Oh well. This year I actually have people to celebrate it with.

He got up and headed downstairs. To his surprise, the kitchen was also empty. There was no breakfast on the table, no pots of oatmeal on the stove. The house was utterly deserted. So Harry walked outside. There wasn't anybody in the garden, except a gnome who apparently had been snoozing in a boot Harry kicked over. He rounded the corner of the house and...

"SURPRISE!" Harry stared in shock as the Weasleys and Hermione jumped out from behind the bushes. Mr. Weasley waved his wand and immediately tables, laden with breakfast and gifts, appeared on the lawn.

Hermione, Ron, Luna, and Ginny walked over to a stunned Harry.

"Surprised?" Luna said with a quick grin.

Harry swallowed heavily. "Mmmm hmmmm," he nodded.

"Great, now lets eat. Then you open your gifts," Ron said, pointing to a chair with the promised lime-green balloons tied to it. Harry couldn't believe his luck.

That night, after dinner, Mrs. Weasley brought out Harry's cake. The crowd sang 'Happy Birthday', Fred and George punctuating it with ''cha cha cha'' between the lines. Harry was beside himself with happiness. This can't be happening. This CAN'T be happening! He thought many times during the night. His birthday was topped off by Bill and Charlie storming in, singing 'Happy Birthday' at the top of their lungs.

That night, Mrs. Weasley went into the parlour to make sure their fire was out. An uncommonly cold chill had set in, so Mr. Weasley lit a roaring blaze in the grate. Mrs. Weasley was very surprised when she found Luna huddled up on the couch under a blanket. She smiled down at her niece and rearranged the blankets around Luna's shoulders. As she did so, a piece of paper fluttered to the floor. Mrs. Weasley stooped to pick it up and then turned it over. It was a photograph, taken about ten years before. A woman with light hair held a little girl, and a man with red hair and freckles held a little boy. In front of them stood a tall boy with dark hair and another, younger boy with reddish-gold hair. The four children looked very much alike. Mrs. Weasley's eyes brimmed and a single tear fell down her cheek.

"Poor dear. Poor, poor dear," she whispered as she tucked the picture of Luna's family back under her hand.

* * *

Ginny had gone to Quidditch camp the week before, and when she came back she wasn't any better at Quidditch then when she left. She also told stories of how many times she had fallen off her broomstick. The seven times she fell, she broke or sprained another body part.

"Oh well," she said, sighing. "I guess I'll just have to do good in Hogwarts."

"No worries, Red," Luna said. 'Red' was her pet name for Ginny.

Ginny smiled and went upstairs as Ron and Harry came into the kitchen.

"Ron, is there anywhere we can swim around 'ere?" Luna asked suddenly.

"Er...yeah. The Mottley's pond is down the road," he said, motioning out the window.

Luna whipped out her wand and was about to cast a spell when Harry grabbed her wrist. Luna looked surprised and raised an eyebrow at Harry.

"What?" she said.

"You can't do spells out of school! You might get expelled before you even see the place," he said, letting go of her wrist reluctantly. Luna smiled.

"Right, but that's only after I'm sorted. Technically I still go to Beauxbatons. We're allowed to do magic out of school there. They want us to brush up so we don't set the school on fire when we go back."

So Luna continued to spit out incantations in French. She ended up with swimsuits in her hands. She tossed the trunks to Ron and Harry, smiled, and went to find Hermione.

"Wow," Harry said stunned.

"Yeah," Ron, for once, was at a loss for words.

"Ron, I gotta tell you something," Harry said, getting red in the face.

Ron smiled. "You like her don't you?"

Harry got redder and nodded. "Yeah," he gulped. "A lot."

"Okay. Let's get some lunch to bring to the pond," was Ron's reply. He didn't want to make Harry uncomfortable. Harry breathed and his faced returned to a normal colour.

"Okay."

* * *

The swimming endeavor went over well, and Luna was coaxed into making two more pairs of swim trunks for Fred and George, just so they could see her do it. They had a relaxing lunch near the pond, but Luna had to wrestle a Grindylow off of her arm before she could sit and enjoy it.

"Damn--creatures! Ger'off--me!" she said, prying the grindylow's spindly fingers off her arm. She finally succeeded in detaching the wretch, but ended up with a bloody arm.

"Stupid thing bit me," she said grimacing. She tapped the cut with her wand and it healed instantly.

"Well, at least you can do that," Fred said, laying back in the sun.

"I suppose," she said.

The day grew late and the seven companions walked slowly back to the Burrow beneath a magnificent sunset. Harry walked near Luna and they dropped behind, their heads bowed together in quiet conversation. Luna's golden brown locks mingled with Harry's dark ones - it seemed as if Harry's head was half-covered in sunlight, and the rest in shadow. Ron and Hermione looked back at them.

"Good match," Hermione said.

"Yeah. They're perfect..." Ron trailed off, looking at Hermione. She turned to look at him and was surprised to see a funny look in Ron's eyes. The old comradeship was there, but something else was more prominent...

"Oy! Lovebirds! Let's get a move on! There are some hungry people over here!" Fred yelled back at the slowly moving forms and Ron and Hermione and Harry and Luna. All four of them snapped their heads up of hurried forward.

"Praise to God, they've moved their feet," George said, rolling his eyes.

* * *

The next week moved quickly enough and it was time to go to Diagon Alley. Luna, along with Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny, had received a letter saying what she needed for school. The letter for seventh-years read:

UNIFORM

Fifth-year students will require:

1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)

2. One plain pointed hat (black) for daywear

3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)

4. One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)

Please note all that pupils' clothes should carry nametags.

COURSE BOOKS

The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 7) by Miranda Goshawk

Magic's Amazing History by Harris Macree

Theories of Magic by Phillipa Gillis

The Many Breeds of Magical Fungi by Darwin McAlester

Potions, Potions, Everywhere, and not a Drop to Stir by Aloman Smipple

Transfiguration for Fifth-Years by Emeric Switch

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander

Against the Dark by Notill Banks

OTHER EQUIPMENT

1 wand

1 cauldron (pewter, standard size four)

1 telescope

1 set brass scales

Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad

Broomsticks are allowed to all students over first year. Also note that all students need dress robes for the Yule Ball.

Fifth year students are required to take TWO advanced course, starting in December, that will effect your work after your educational period is finished. The course will start in late November or early December. Those courses that you may choose from are:

Advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts

Advanced Muggle Studies

Preparation for Teaching

Advanced Recall (meaning that all classes are taken in depth as to prepare you for work in the Ministry of Magic)

Advanced Mysticism (Arithmancy, Divination, Astrology)

"And we get all this in Diagon Alley?" Luna asked. Ron nodded.

"Yes, and we leave tomorrow, so get your things packed. We'll stay over one night in the Leaky Cauldron. And don't forget your pyjamas," Mrs. Weasley said as she hurried past. "Last year Ron even forgot underwear... Poor Errol, our owl, almost died on that trip!"

Ron's ears turned a flaming scarlet. "How could I help it? You and Dad rushing me out like that..."

On that last night of summer, the gang of seven walked down to Mottley Pond for a swim. There was a forest some way off, and Luna was delighted when she found a moss-covered path, leading deep into the woods.

"Someone come with me. It's too creepy to go alone," she said shivering.

"Harry, you go...Hermione's all cramped, Fred and George are asleep, and I don't feel like getting a mosquito bite right now," Ron said lazily.

Harry quickly got up and joined Luna. She smiled alluringly at him and tripped off down the path.

"Luna, wait up!" he said, jogging to catch up with her.

He came to a clearing suddenly, and saw Luna sitting on a mossy rock near a brook running through the trees. She dipped her hand in the water and smiled down at her reflection. Harry walked over and sat down next to her. They talked again of nothing and everything, but were rudely interrupted by a bloodcurdling scream. Luna jumped and grabbed Harry's arm, pulling herself closer to him.

"What was that?" she said, wild eyed. Harry looked down and thought to himself how the scare had brought the pink into her cheeks, and how much prettier it made her look. Then a disturbing thought penetrated - the manticores?

"I--I don't know," he stammered. She looked up at him for some time. Their heads came close...they closed their eyes--

"There you are!" Ron yelled, dashing into the clearing, Hermione, Fred, and George close behind. "We heard someone scream. Did you?"

Harry and Luna jerked apart, embarrassed to have been found so close together.

"We 'eard it, all right, 'ow could we miss it?" she snapped, obviously annoyed.

"Jeez, what's your--" Ron looked at Luna's flushed face and Harry's downcast gaze. "Oh...oh jeez, I'm sorry guys...I--I didn't think..." Ron blushed to rival Luna.

The group walked quickly back to the Burrow, lest they hear the scream again. Or worse, see what caused it.

* * *

The next morning, hurried apologies were passed between certain members of the Weasley household, but all was forgotten in the fervour to get into the Anglia. As before, Mr. Weasley had bewitched the car to be much roomier that it should have been, and everyone fit in comfortably, Hermione, Harry, Ron and Luna in the rather large backseat. They were accompanied by Luna's owl, Talon, Harry's owl Hedwig and a small cage for Ron's owl, Pigwidgeon. Not to mention Crookshanks, Hermione's ginger cat, who was curled up between Hermione and Luna, purring loudly.

As they drove to London, several Volkswagen 'Beetles' passed the Anglia. Luna, who sat by the window, saw these and seemed to be thinking hard about something. Finally, when a black Beetle passed, Luna turned to Ron and said, "Punch buggy black, no punch back!" And punched Ron six times. Ron looked at her with a horrified look on his face. He put his hand on her forehead.

"How many fingers?" he said, holding up his hand.

"Three, and get your 'and off me. I'm fine. You've never seen anyone do that before?" Luna asked, pushing Ron's hand off her. Harry and Hermione smiled, but Ron shook his head. Luna, helped by Harry and Hermione, explained the game of 'punch-buggy' to Ron. By the end of the journey to London, everyone in the backseat, except for Ron, was sufficiently black and blue. Ron had gotten the punching part down, but he still had to figure out just which car to punch for.

When they reached the Leaky Cauldron, Mr. Weasley led them over to Tom, the old bartender and manager of the boarding rooms upstairs.

"Of course, Arthur, of course. Come on upstairs. We've got four rooms for you..."

Tom led the group up the stairs to four rooms, marked twelve, fourteen, sixteen and eighteen.

"This one's got one bed, this one's got three, and the last two have two beds each," he said, motioning to each in turn. The group separated - Mr. and Mrs., Weasley in twelve, Hermione, Luna, and Ginny in fourteen, Harry and Ron in sixteen, and Fred and George in eighteen - and put their things away. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Luna set off to buy their school supplies. Once that was done (which took a while), they hurried to Flourean Flourtisque's ice cream parlour, where he gave them free ice cream sundaes each hour. Luna stopped short outside Quality Quidditch Supplies.

"I've just realized...I need a broom, don't I?" she said.

"You don't have one?" Harry asked, surprised. "I thought you played Quidditch for Beauxbatons."

"I did...they 'ad brooms for us. I'm guessin' 'Ogwarts doesn't," she said opening the door.

A bell clanged above them and a woman dressed in bright green robes came out from behind the counter. "Can I help you?" she asked.

"I need a racing broom..." Luna said looking around the shop. Then she looked at the lady in green. "Do you 'ave any Sliverstars?"

The woman nodded. "I'll be back in a flash, dearie." She disappeared into the back room.

"Sliverstars? There's such a broom?" Ron asked.

"Best in France, they are. But not many's 'eard of them as yet," Luna said. "That's what I flew in Beauxbatons, so I'm guessing I'll do just as well on one 'ere." Just then the woman came out with a long, sliver box. Harry noticed the stars on one end.

"You're not from around here, are you? No one's asked for a Silverstar," she said.

"France," Luna mumbled as she opened the box, which the woman had placed on the counter. She reached in and pulled out the most beautiful broom Harry had ever seen. It was long, and thin, with silver stars scattered around the tip. The bristles were softly silver, wrapped with silver twine, and the handle was made out of deep mahogany. Everything about it seemed to say 'flight'. Luna threw it up, then caught it. She mounted it and with the slightest push of her feet she was in the air, hovering about a foot from the ground.

"Perfect," she said getting off. "'Ow much?"

"Well...it's supposed to be twenty-four Galleons," Ron choked, and Luna looked crestfallen. "But since no one's bought them, I'll can let you have it for...oh, say...ten?" Luna brightened up again and opened her money pouch. She paid the nice woman and left the shop with the other three.

"Ten galleons for a broom? That's scandalous," Ron said. "How much were those in France? Twenty-four?"

"Two 'undred, actually. Ten was quite a steal, I should say," Luna said. Ron's mouth hung open. "T--two hundred? Jeez..."