(no subject)

[sees_them_too]

A vaporous silver hare is darting, in mid-air, through the bar.

Luna Lovegood, wand in hand, is seated at the bar, watching it with a bright smile. A patronus really is quite easy to conjure when you’re happy.

And she’s indeed happy today. It’s her fifteenth birthday (as evidenced by the silver paper crown that Bar has provided for her) and a good half of Dumbledore’s Army had even offered her many happy returns. But even better than that, Hermione Granger had taken her aside after the meeting to ask for her help with a quite brilliant scheme.

It’s become clear that the Daily Prophet has no interest in printing the truth about You-Know-Who or Harry Potter. But that’s why publications like The Quibbler exist—to print the stories that others won’t bother with. Luna just sent a letter off to Dad today, but she’s pretty sure he’ll be on board with running Harry Potter’s exclusive interview. It’s the first concrete thing she’s been able to do for Dumbledore’s Army.

Next weekend they’ll be meeting up in Hogsmeade to blackmail Rita Skeeter into writing it. Luna can’t wait.

Comments

[missginnytonic]

"Nice Patronus"

[sees_them_too]

"Thank you."

Luna leans forward to watch the hare leap around the bottom of her bar stool.

"It's rather pretty, I think."

[missginnytonic]

"Yes, it is are you practicing or have you seen Dementor around here?"

[sees_them_too]

"Just practicing," Luna confirms with a nod.

"I do hope there aren't any Dementors in Milliways. I would think that Security wouldn't be inclined to stand for it."

[missginnytonic]

Ginny nods.

"I know that but really with out a wizard or witch from our world I'm not sure that they could get them out you know?"

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

Steve watches the silver hare with the expression of a kid seeing his first fireworks display.

"Did you make that?" he asks the blonde girl.

[sees_them_too]

Luna looks up at the man with a bright smile.

"Yes," she says.

"It's my patronus. It's lovely, isn't it?"

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"It's beautiful," says Steve. "What's a patronus?"

[sees_them_too]

"Well, it's a charm, you see."

The silvery hare is starting to fade out. It had been a strong one, but they do only last for a certain span of time once they are cast.

"It's a sort of positive energy force. You use it as a shield."

"It can protect you from evil things. Like dementors."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"You do magic?" He looks delighted.

[sees_them_too]

Luna gives him a good-natured, Sir, please look.

"Of course. I'm a witch."

"Do you do magic? I can't decide if you sound exicited because you've never seen real magic, or if you do magic yourself and are excited to find someone like you."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"I don't do magic," Steve says. "I suppose I've never seen it, either--I've only seen card tricks and things. Hiding a coin behind someone's ears. That sort of thing.

"I'm starting to think there's a lot more magic in the world than I knew before.

"My name's Steve," he adds.

[sees_them_too]

"Oh, there is," Luna says, positively. "Lots and lots of magic. Everywhere."

It doesn't even matter if he's from a different world than hers, one of those worlds where it might seem like there's no magic whatsoever.

There's magic everywhere as far as Luna is concerned.

"My name's Luna Lovegood. It's nice to meet you, Steve."

She tucks her wand behind one ear and holds out her hand.

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Steve Rogers," he says as he shakes her hand. "That's a beautiful name, Luna.

"Does everybody in your world have magic like this?"

[sees_them_too]

"Thank you. My mother picked it out."

Well, her mother had thought of it. The naming had been a joint effort. Mr. and Mrs. Lovegood had been very fond of the moon.

"Not really," she said with a shake of her head. "There are far more Muggles in my world than there are witches and wizards."

"But there are still enough of us that company is never too hard to find."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Muggles? Is that people without magic?"

[sees_them_too]

Luna nods.

"Yes," she says.

She leans forward a bit and says, conspiratorially, "And they aren't supposed to know about us, you see."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Why is that?" Steve says, conspiratorially too. "To keep you safe?"

[sees_them_too]

Luna laughs.

"Oh, no. We don't have much at all to fear from Muggles."

Especially since so many of them seem to prefer to ignore magic.

"They tell us in school that it's so that Muggles won't be forever bothering witches and wizards to give them magical solutions to their problems."

"But keeping us mostly separate protects Muggles, too. At least that's what my dad says, and he's not the only one."

[thekidfrombrooklyn]

"Really? 'Cause in history class they talk about, um, imprisoning witches in the old days."

She's young, and if she doesn't know about witch burning, then he's not going to be the one to tell her.

"Protect Muggles from what?"

[sees_them_too]

Little need for worry. The Muggle witch hunts are covered in first year History of Magic classes.

"Oh, yes. But those weren't real witches. They were just poor Muggles that other Muggles picked on. Real witches and wizards are very hard to catch, and the few who would let themselves get caught would just freeze the flames at the stake and apparate away."

Some witches and wizards back in those days had found it to be great sport.

Luna's smile turns a little wry and regretful.

"From witches or wizards who would use their power to hurt and take advantage of them, mostly."

[needs_fern]

A small yellow pony is watching said hare, fascinated.

It's not an animal - being in midair and not breathing are good clues to that - but it looks like one. And it's not a picture, or even something like a filmstrip.

It's entirely possible the pony won't realize on her own that the hare is someone's spell.

[sees_them_too]

One might try watching as the hare returns to its source.

It hops around the base of Luna's bar stool before finally fading out.

Luna smiles in satisfaction. That had been quite a strong one!

[needs_fern]

That is certainly an option.

Now Fluttershy is watching Luna, though hopefully not in an invasive way. She doesn't look like she has a horn...

[sees_them_too]

Luna notices the pony's attention. She smiles and waves.

(Luna is a friendly soul at heart.)

"Hello."