The Odd Exception

The Odd Exception

Chapter 1

Author: Madonnalal

Rating: PG-13, for now at least.

Pairing: Luna/Harry

"You know, the Chudley Cannons probably have a decent chance this season," Ron remarked. "If they can beat Puddlemere United by seventy points they'll be able to move on to the semi-finals."

Harry sat in the courtyard with his Transfiguration book on his lap. Ron sat next to him flipping absently though a two-month-old volume of Quidditch Illustrated. They had just had a rough day of classes which included a rather nasty bought of double Potions with especially foul-tempered Snape.

"I wouldn't get too cocky. Puddlemere United is on the rise," Harry replied. "Especially now they have Wood as their primary Keeper, their defense is almost impenetrable."

Ron shrugged and leaned back against the stone column. "That's true, but the Cannons' offensive line has really improved this year, especially when you consider their new Chaser Gloria Bones. She's one of the most solid rookies in the division."

Harry closed his book and shoved it into his bag. He was tired of pretending to study. He would ask to look at Hermione's class notes later, anyway. Hopefully today's pop quiz in Charms put her into a good enough mood to let him get a quick peak at her extensive and immaculate notes.

"I can understand where you're coming from but you still need to keep in consideration PU's record last year. It was an almost perfect season."

Ron was about to refute Harry's argument but at that moment Draco Malfoy's pretentious sneer drifted over to their corner of the courtyard from a gaggle of students across the yard.

"You call that a hat? I've seen more respectable clothing on Muggle farmers. It makes your head look like an egg."

Harry and Ron looked over to see who Malfoy was tormenting now. Malfoy was standing in a group of Slytherins flanked by Crabbe and Goyle, both of whom were chuckling stupidly at Malfoy's remark. His victim was standing alone by the water fountain, completely surrounded by ugly bulky Slytherins. Much to Harry's distress it was no other than Luna Lovegood, who was unsurprisingly wearing a rather ridiculous contraption on her head.

To say that her head looked like an egg was grossly inaccurate. It was true that Luna's choice of headwear was rather unfortunate but it was hardly uncomely. It was more of a turban that a hat, with many differently colored ribbons wrapped around in an intricate weave. Heavy gold beads were embedded into the weave in a way that almost looked elegant. The hat was without a brim and was pulled over her head like a sock. Harry had seen similar hats during his summerly visit to the Dursleys' on some teenagers in their neighborhood. Admittedly, it was a very Muggle look and Harry wasn't surprised it had attracted Malfoy's attention.

However with Luna's angular features, Harry thought the hat looked rather nice.

"My head isn't an egg. Though you have to watch out for Snitchy Bawlger-Snatches on warm summer nights, otherwise they lay their eggs in your ears. That would be horrible, wouldn't it?"

Harry heard Ron snicker under his breath and restrained himself from doing the same. Luna always did have a way of turning the most serious situations into ridiculous ones instead.

Malfoy's eyes narrowed in annoyance. "Quit your stupid rambling. There is no such thing as Snitchy Bawlger-Snatches. They're just made up stories to scare little babies."

"Oh, no," Luna said, her eyes widening. "They are quite real. Plenty people have seen them. I've read their letters they sent to my father."

"Shut up, you stupid girl," Malfoy snapped. "Your father is an idiot for believing such senseless nonsense. The Lovegood's have been a long affected line, riddled with Muggle-lovers and loonies."

Harry's eyes narrowed in annoyance and started to move forward, pulling out his wand from his pocket as he walked towards Malfoy. Several nasty hexes ran through his mind, it was hard to chose which one Malfoy deserved more. Perhaps a pair of antlers would do Malfoy good, Harry thought to himself with a smile.

Luna's answer stopped everyone in their tracks. She cocked her head to the side and said, "You're a very sad boy, aren't you? It must be very hard to have a father like yours. That would make me miserable too."

Malfoy stared at her before replying, "What the bloody hell are you talking about, you daft loon?"

"Your father," Luna said. "He's a much tormented man. He craves power but no amount of power he obtains can satisfy him. It makes him both mad and miserable. It must really hurt you to see him so sad. I feel sorry for you."

Malfoy's face was completely slacked in shock. Even Goyle and Crabbe managed to look more stupid than usual. Finally the blood began to rise to his face and Malfoy started to pull out his wand. "You loony bint! No one speaks about my father that way!"

Before Malfoy could get a spell off Harry and Ron both hit him with twin Jelly-Legs Cruses. The combination of the twin curses seemed to double the effect of the spell and Malfoy was down on the ground, everything from the waist down in a puddle around his torso. Malfoy screamed in indignation and the rest of the Slytherins turned on the two Gryffindors with their wands out. The lone Ravenclaw was forgotten. Hex, curses, and jinxes filled the air for several minutes. No participate was left unscathed. The assault probably would have continued a long time had Professor McGonagall not come along and broken up the battling teams. Everyone involved was given a week of detention and sent to the Hospital Wing. Ron was only hit with a Full-Body Bind and was easily cured and sent back up to the room. He tried to stay with Harry in the Hospital Wing, who had a rather bad case of giggly fits from a well placed Tickling Charm but was cast out rather violently by a disgruntled Madam Pomfrey. Harry was released a few hours later no longer laughing but still unpleasantly smiley.

On his was back to the Gryffindor Tower he ran into no one but the very catalyst of the whole episode. Luna had removed the hat but was still wearing a necklace of butterbeer bottle caps. Harry was vaguely amused by her simple refusal to ever appear completely normal.

Luna looked surprisingly subdued. "Hey Luna, are you okay," Harry asked, concerned.

Luna hesitated before answering. "I wanted to apologize for earlier. You shouldn't have had to save me from Malfoy and his goonies."

Harry smiled at her, finally feeling more sober after Madam Pomfrey's careful treatment. "Don't worry about it. Malfoy's a slimy bigoted git who got what was coming to him. From what I can tell he still can't walk without holding on to walls along the way."

Luna didn't smile and Harry started to feel there was something more that was bothering Luna. He didn't want to pry but he couldn't help but feel that there was something that Luna wasn't saying.

"I know that I say some very blunt things," Luna said, "and it gets me into trouble but I can't help it. I just say things as I see them." Luna was staring at the floor. Her eyes were fastened on the ornate rug they were standing on. Harry couldn't tell if she was mesmerized with the design or she just didn't want to look at him.

Finally Luna did look him in the face. When she did he could see her usual cheerfulness was back, lighting up her eyes with intelligence and dazzling alertness. "Maybe a German Gobgicker got a hold of me last week during the full moon and made me careless with my tongue."

Harry smiled weakly at her. "Sure, okay. Well, I'll see you around, okay?"

Luna nodded happily. "Good night, Harry! Match sure to tie some rags over your ears while you sleep in case a Snitchy Bawlger-Snatches comes by tonight."

Harry nodded and smiled again before leaving. Luna always was an interesting person to talk to.

As he lay down to sleep he thought about what Luna said about Malfoy's father. No doubt there was an element of truth to what she said, especially since Malfoy's reaction was so violent. He wondered what else Luna saw with those alert blue eyes. Perhaps she could be useful in his mission to kill Voldemort. If only she didn't believe in silly made-up monsters and theories in her father's magazine, she would be even smarter than Hermione.

Harry put it from his mind and went to sleep. He dreamed about flying over an active volcano with Professor Flickwick on a magic carpet. They had magical umbrellas that repelled the lava, but it was still a very disturbing dream.