Chapter #2
"The Eye-Cruncher has taken them all!"
That was all I could think as I burst into Platform 9 -only to find the whole place deserted. Well…perhaps deserted is an exaggeration, but it was empty-like a huge Vacuum Monster had flown in and left just a bit of Dusty Donkers behind…Quiet, gloomy, dark…
But no, this was no Eye Cruncher, I realized taking in the scared and nervous faces. It was a Fear Frudget, who had made nearly all the students not to return back to Hogwarts. Lucky neither my dad nor I were infested, but if Mondigoes didn't catch us, who would…huh?
Well…sorry for my rambling. Penning down all what happened all those years ago is not very easy, as no Memory Losignet has ever caught me, and I have no use for Remembrals…There is so much to say and so little time…
I am Luna Lovegood…or perhaps I was Luna Lovegood… The tale I am telling you is The Battle...The Battle that vanquished the Dark Lord-a Battle between good and evile…love and hate.,..
But all that in due time…
I looked around scanning for anyone I knew-glad to see even those people who think they have fun hiding my things. I had arrived all alone-my dad having to go for a sudden news story about the Eye Cruncher.
Hmm…it was really empty-just a scattering of Griffindors, some frowning Ravenclaws, a handful of Hufflepuffs and a pintful of Slytherins.
"Hey Luna…" .
"Why! Hi Ginny! I didn't recognize you!"
Well…nobody told me that Ginny Weasely was a Memthorphist or something like that-her bright red hair was really pale like she had used a Color-Off Lotion and her eyes were emerald.
"Congratulations. You are a Prefect!"
"And you too." I said squeezing her hand. Poor Ginny, I could see that she was badly shaken after all that had happened and also suffering from a bad attack of Fear Frudget.
Really, I don't understand why I had been made a Prefect. McGonagall's Head now and she was really irritated of my commentary at the last Quidditch match…Well, perhaps it was rude to say that big fat guy had Loser's Lurgy, but….
"Umm…Luna, let's go and find a seat."
"Why don't we have to go to the Prefect's Compartment?"
"Oh…yes, yes…come then…"
"Lunssss- A Prefect! Brilliant! Hey George-wish I was back at school! I'd have been made Head Boy!"
Well…it was Fred and George Weasely, Ginny's older brothers. They were dressed in brilliant red robes and emerald shoes with huge crimson feathers. They left on their broomsticks and Umbridge had a fit of Meany's Megintis, but they are funny.
"I think Professor McGonagall has got Memory Losignet." I declared. "She was very angry with me…"
"Because your commentary was brilliant! So McGonagall's come to her senses at last."
It was Ronald Weasely. Well I don't know whether p***les are a symptom of Fear Frudget or Love's Loopiness, but I decided he had both, seeing the number on his face.
"Ho, little bro! Prfect and Harry's Head and…"
"Let's gp and take a seat…" Ginny snapped and led the way.
"C'mon Luna. Let's find a place for us four Weaselys!"
"Four Weaselys? Have you decided to come back for your N.E.W.T.S.? Well…you are suffering from a serious attack of Miracle Goodness………….'
"Miracle Goodness? N.E.W.T.S.? He! Haha! We the doublet are the new Defense Against The Dark Arts …"
"PROFFESSORS…"
"Weasely and Weasely…"
"Unquenchable.."
"Unvanquishable…"
"No need to worry about You-Know-Who…"
"Or even You-Know-Phoo…"
"Don't make fun of me." I glared. This wasn't the time for any jokes. Something was wrong with Ginny and I don't want to listen to those jokes-of course they are very funny, I'm sure.
"No Luna. It's true. They are the new DADA pro-no helpers." Ginny had slowed down a little.
"Nobody was willing and we offered to help,m but guess we'll need Harry's help because…"
"Aren't you people coming?"
"Don't mind her. Ah Hermione!"
And I was right, Ronald's p***les weren't only because of Fear Frudget.
"Hello Fred, George and Luna…"
"Hi Hermione I'm glad to see…"
"I was reading about the Red and Purple Skinned Eye Cruncher in tour Quibbler…"
Well…Bless her! I wasn't going to speak of anything of that sort, but anyway…
"It says here that this Eye Snapper…"
"No, no- it is Eye-Cruncher…"
"Was the cause of the murders at Professor Lupin's wedding…"
"Oh…I forgot…I meant to ask but I had a rare fit of Memory Losignet. I am sorry about Nymphadora. I liked her hair."
"Luckily nothing worse happened. I knew those three murders were awful-but nothing happened to Lupin or Tonks. But on their wedding day itself…"
"What's that? Hermione!"
"Umm…Harry?"
"I TOLD YOU NOT TO TALK ABOUT THAT! WHY DON"T YOU LISTEN TO ME? I THOUGHT YOU WERE MY FRIEND>"
"Excuse me."I said stiffly. "I don't know whether you think of me as your friend, but I'm yours Harry. The Aurors tried their best to hide all what happened-and I thought the Ministry had discovered their conspiracy-but I want to know WHAT happened!"
"LUNA?"
Harry Potter stood in front of me and he looked…like he had got a Dead Eater passing through him-he looked really mad!
"Whoa Harry!"
"Oh, hello Neville.' Harry turned as if he had second thoughts about killing me.
"You guys, why don't you come to the Prefect's Compartment. You twins are teacher and Neville can be my guest."
"Well…if you say so…"
"We accept gracefully…"
"To enter on invitation the place…"
"We were usually dragged in for…"
"Throwing Stinkballs…"
I followed them. Gosh they are even better than Ron! But…oh gosh Ginny! Wherever can she be? She didn't go to the Prefect's compartment-she got into the carriage in the corner…
"You guys go on…" I muttered, hoping they wouldn't hear.
I scrambled in. the compartment was dark and chilly.
"Ginny…" I whispered.
No answer.
"Lumos"
The compartment glinted in the sparks from my wand. Nothing…except for some bundles in a corner.
Ginny couldn't be here. I turned to leave. Whatever could have happened to her?
But then a bundle in the corner heaved and gave a sob.
"Ginny…" I rushed over and knelt down beside her. Her face was streaked with tear-stains. Oh god whatever was the matter with her?
"Ginny what's the matter, dear? Please tell me. I'll help you. I'm always there for you…"
'Oh Luna…Oh…"
With a huge sob ginny leant against me.
"Its…its…. Harry……"
Cricket
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