Chapter 3: A different opinion

Luna sat in the Ravenclaw common room flicking through the potions book Hermoine gave to her to borrow. Luna glanced up at the clock. She'd have to get ready for Slughorn's party shortly. She closed the book and approached the staircase. As she did so, someone taunted her from behind.

"Look! It's loony no good."

Luna frowned before she continued up the spiral staircase. As she did the girl called after her.

"What you going dressed as, a 'Nargal'?"

Luna felt something she'd never felt before. Her cheeks were flushed red, she clenched her fists and her eye's filled with tears. Deep inside she wanted to scream, but she kept silent. Luna ran quietly upstairs.

Hermoine stood infront of a mirror applying mascara to her eyes. Crookshanks ran inbetween her feet and under her dress purring madly as he chased scabbers on the floor. Picking up the rat she opened the door and yelled down the stair case.

"RONALD WEASLY!" She screamed.

Ronald looked up from where he was stood, his face dropped at once.

"Your bloody ferret was in MY dorm AGAIN!"

"He's not a ferret he is a rat proffesor dolittle..."

Hermoine poked her tounge out of her mouth at him before throwing scabbers down the stair case, Ron only just caught him. Hermoine slammed the wooden door.

"Why you dressed up anyway?" Ron shouted up the staircase.

Hermoine wrenched her door open angrily.

"Ron, tonights Slughorn's party!"

"Ah yes!" He was back in this world once more... "I remember your going with a mr cormac mclaggen are you not?"

"Mind you own bloody buisness" She hissed at Ron as she slammed the door behind her for a second time.

Harry came downstairs from the boys dorm with a confused look upon his face.

"You two lovers have another squabble?" He teased flashing Ron a grin.

"Shurrup!" replied Ron as he sat down and reached for a biscuit from the tin on the table.

"Whats that a ginger nut?" Taunted Harry jokingly.

Ron hearing this thew a book at his friend. Harry simply dodged it remaining laughing. Seconds later, Hermoine clip-clopped down the staircase in her dress and high heels. Rons mouth hung wide open.

"My eyes are up here!" Snapped Hermione seeing Ron stare at her.

"I'm sorry mione your just so..."

Hermoine raised an eyebrow.

"...wow."

Behind them Harry started to snigger.

"Come on Harry or we'll be late." Grumbled Hermoine as she grabbed Harry's arm like a Owl does to it's prey.

Shutting the door, the pair raced down the staircase. They headed towards the tent outside where the party was being held. As they entered the tent, they were greeted by Proffessor Slughorns voice.

"AAhhh Harry my boy and Miss Granger welcome!"

Cormac spotted Hermoine and ran over.

"There you are..."

Hermoines eye's widened in horror but she covered her disgust with a smile. Harry couldn't help but smirk.

He wandered over to the refreshments table to get some pumpkin juice when he spotted Neville Longbottom taking the Ginny. Why is he dressed as a waiter? He wondered over.

"Would you like some pumpkin juice sir?" Asked Neville in his best sophisticated voice.

"Neville? It's me Harry."

"Oh hello Harry!" Smiled Neville back in his normal tone. "Didn't recognise you."

"Nor I you." Grinned Harry. "Why are you dressed as a waiter?"

"Because I am one Harry, for tonight anyway..."

Harry nodded and took a glass of Pumpkin juice from the silver plater Neville held in the palm of his hand. As he engaged in a conversation with Ginny who was joined by Hermoine and Cormac, they failed to notice a slim figure enter the room. One by one the heads turned then Harry saw her.

Luna strolled in looking anxiously around her. The tips of her high heels pointed out from her blue dress, her long blonde hair was let loose and she wore dangly earrings which were in the shape of Swans. Her necklace was silver with a locket which hung loosely from it, and she wore not only mascara but blue eyeshadow and black eyeliner. Her side fringe covered half her pale pure face.

"Is that Luna?" Asked Ginny as she whispered into Hermoines ear.

Hermoine smiled and winked at Luna.

"I believe so." She whispered back quietly.

She walked over to Harry calmly.

"Sorry I'm late." That same dreamy voice.

"Tttthhats okkay" Stuttered Harry as he held out his hand.

Luna gently took it and smiled at him. Neville offered her a drink and wandered off. Heads turned back around. Harry and Luna were talking to Slughorn when He spotted Hermoine sneak outside. He left her side to see what she was up to.

"Hermoine?" He asked poking his head out of the tent.

Hermoine instantly grabbed him.

"Shhh be quiet!"

"Why are you out here?"

"uggh its Cormac, he won't leave me alone. I left him under the mistletoe..."

Harry smiled at the comment.

Suddenly a waiter walked out from underneath the tent and offered them food.

"Not for me thanks, they make your breath smell bad." Said Hermoine as she dismissed the offer with her hand. "On second thoughts, they might keep Cormac at bay..." She said this as she grabbed as many as she could in her hands then as she stuffed them into her mouth, she then dissappeared back within the tent.

Suddenly Cormac came from inside the tent and stood by the waiter. "You haven't by any chance seen Granger have you?"

Harry shook his head.

"That friend of yours sure is a wiley minx." Smirked Mclaggen as her took the balls of food.

"What are these anyway?"

"Dragonballs..." Joked Harry

Harry looked up to find Snape coming out of the tent making hand gestures for the waiter to move. Suddenly without warning, Cormac threw up on Snapes shoes...

"You've just brought yourself one months detention Mclaggen..."

Luna sat at her table quietly sipping everynow and then from her glass. She gazed over to where Harry was just re-entering the tent. When he looked over at her she allowed herself to smile. She stood up and headed towards him flicking back her hair as she did so. She held out a pale hand and Harry took it, as they walked over to where Hermoine was hiding behind some curtains, Filch came in grasping a tall blonde boy...

Everyone turned to look at a very annoyed Draco malfoy. Slughorn looked almost confused.

"Professor, I found this boy sneaking around the outside of the tent."

"All right I was gate crashing okay!" Draco spat trying to wriggle his self away from Filches strong grip.

Mrs Norris stood obediantly by her masters feet and let out a meow.

"I'll escort Mr Malfoy away." Said Snape in a tired tone.

"As you wish, professor..." Replied Draco dryly as he finally shook his arm lose from Filches grip.

"Carry on everyone!" Slughorn suddenly said.

People turned back around and re-started their previous conversations. Harry watched Snape drag Draco from the tent. He had to follow. He knew both Draco and Snape were up to something but he couldn't quite think what it was. He had to know. As he speed off towards the exit from the tent, Luna's hand touched his shouder. It sent a shiver down Harry's spine.

"Harry?"

Harry felt as if she'd frozen his heart on the spot. He turned to face her; she stared at him with her grey lively eye's. She took her pale hand away from his shoulder.

"Where are you going?" She asked.

Harry smiled at her.

"To the lavatory. I'll be back soon."

Harry turned from his date and after exiting the tent, he ran up the corridor. Luna was not stupid; she knew that he was lying. She left the tent, her heels clattered in the gravel outside. She tip toed up the steps which led to the entrance to the court yard.

Harry heard something as he reached the end of the corridor. It was coming from arund the corner, he stopped by the wall and listened.

"I swore to protect you!" Snape hissed. "I made the unbreakable vow!"

"I don't want your help!" Cried Draco.

"The dark lord choose ME!" He said this as if his life depended on it.

Harry's suspisions were confirmed. He had accused him some nights ago in front of professor McGonagall and the headmaster Albus Dumbledore. They simply told him they were very serious accusations and he was being absurd. As he turned he saw Luna standing silently by him.

"Did you know your a terrible liar Harry?" She smiled at him and took his hand and started playing with his fingers.

Harry chuckled. Luna's eyes met harry's. She could feel her pale skin turning red. Harry was burning up, he hadn't felt this awkward since he walked in to the common room to find he was surrounded by girls only. He had kept his head lowered and then stomped up the staircase up to his dorm. Moments past until Luna leaned foward and pressed her lips gently to his.