Luna led Dionida down a winding path through the castle grounds. The smell of baked bread and roasting pumpkins grew stronger with every step. The warm golden light spilling from the kitchens made Dionida's chest tighten with comfort — it smelled like home, even though it wasn't hers.
As they stepped inside, a giant of a man sat at a long table, surrounded by plates piled high with food. Hagrid. His cheeks were rosy, and crumbs clung to the edges of his coat.
"I'm sorry," Hagrid mumbled, his mouth so full Dionida could barely understand him. "I jus'… can't help myself."
Dionida blinked. Somehow, his apology sounded both earnest and utterly adorable, like the world had grown gentler around him.
Luna smiled at Hagrid, calm as ever. "It's alright," she said softly. "Just leave some for the brownies. We'll take some too."
Hagrid's mouth formed a sheepish grin under the mound of mashed potatoes. "Ah… right… brownies."
They each filled plates, careful not to disturb the enormous piles already on the table. Dionida took a bit of pumpkin pasty, some roasted vegetables, and a slice of honeyed bread, while Luna gathered a small pile of treats and offered Dionida a shiny, golden Moon Frog from a jar she'd been holding.
"You should try it," Luna said with a soft smile. "It tastes like a little bit of night sky."
Dionida hesitated, then popped it into her mouth. It was sweet, with a faint shimmer of something sparkling on her tongue. She laughed quietly. "You weren't kidding."
They sat together at a smaller table, eating in companionable silence. Hagrid chomped loudly nearby, sending crumbs scattering across the floor, and Dionida couldn't help but smile at the simple joy of it all. The warmth, the smell, the quiet acceptance — it felt like she had always belonged here.
When they finished, Luna brushed off her hands and stood, her silver hair catching the candlelight. "Come," she said. "There's someone you should meet. Someone who'll help you understand the magic that brought you here."
Dionida followed, heart still fluttering, full not just of food but of the small, undeniable magic of kindness and welcome.
Luna led Dionida out through a small gate at the edge of the castle grounds. The moonlight spilled silver over the forest floor, and the air smelled of damp earth and pine. Dionida's heart thrummed with excitement and a hint of fear — anything could be waiting here, anything magical.
"Be quiet," Luna whispered, stepping lightly over twisted roots. "I think something is nearby."
Ahead, nestled in a hollow beneath an old oak, was a tiny creature. Fluffy, round, with soft brown fur and enormous glimmering eyes, it trembled as it peeked out from the shadows. Its ears twitched nervously at every sound.
Luna knelt gently on the forest floor, pulling from her pocket a small bundle of roasted potatoes she had saved from the kitchens. She extended her hand toward the creature.
"Here," she said softly. "It's alright. We won't hurt you."
The little creature flinched, its tiny paws clutching the mossy ground.
"Seems its mother left it here… or something happened," Luna murmured, more to herself than to Dionida. "We call them Fluffbears. Cute now, but as they grow… they become immense."
Dionida felt her chest squeeze with a mix of awe and delight. She watched the little Fluffbear sniff at Luna's hand, hesitant. Luna's patience, her quiet calm, seemed to reach into the creature's fear, and slowly — it edged closer, nibbling a small piece of potato from her palm.
She observed Luna carefully. Wow, Dionida thought. She's… amazing.
She had read about Luna in passing, in books that barely mentioned her, a quirky side character in other stories. But now, seeing her here, watching her coax a frightened creature with nothing but kindness and gentle confidence, Dionida felt a warmth she hadn't expected. Something shone about her — calm, radiant, and full of unspoken strength.
The Fluffbear finished its bite and pressed its soft head against Luna's hand. She whispered, "See? Trust can grow slowly, just like magic."
Dionida couldn't tear her eyes away. Every gesture, every word, every soft smile Luna offered — it felt like she was witnessing magic in its purest form, the kind that healed, nurtured, and belonged entirely to the heart.
The forest was quiet except for the tiny sounds of the creature's breathing and the rustle of leaves. Dionida's own pulse seemed to slow, synced with the gentle rhythm of the world Luna moved through so effortlessly.
And in that moment, Dionida realized something — she didn't just want to watch this world. She wanted to be part of it. With Luna. With these creatures. With all the magic that still lingered in the shadows of Hogwarts.
The little Fluffbear nestled in the crook of Luna's arm as they walked deeper into the forest. Dionida followed, her own hands full of small roasted potatoes, ready to coax the creature closer if needed.
Luna hummed softly, a tune that sounded like wind through silver leaves, and Dionida felt herself relaxing.
"You know," Dionida said, her voice barely above a whisper, "I've read about you in the books… but I never imagined you'd be this… amazing."
Luna glanced at her, tilting her head with a small, mysterious smile. "Most people only see what they want to see. Or what the world allows them to see. You… you're different. You notice."
Dionida's heart fluttered. She wasn't sure if it was the forest, the moonlight, or Luna herself, but something warm and soft spread through her chest.
They moved carefully, stepping over roots and patches of glowing mushrooms. A faint rustle made Dionida freeze — a pair of figures dashed past in the shadows, moving far too fast to stop and talk.
"Harry and Ginny, I think," Luna murmured. "Always rushing somewhere… it's exhausting, really." She chuckled softly, brushing a strand of silver hair from her face. "Let them run. We have our own pace."
Dionida watched them disappear into the distance, laughing silently at their endless errands, feeling oddly content. Here, in the quiet with Luna, the world felt expansive and full of possibility.
They stopped near a small clearing where the trees arched high, forming a natural dome. Luna knelt and set the Fluffbear on the soft moss.
"Go on," she encouraged it. "It's safe here."
The creature hopped a few steps, sniffed the air, and then turned to nuzzle Luna's hand. Dionida's heart melted. She couldn't stop staring at Luna — the way her eyes softened, the gentleness in every movement.
"Luna…" Dionida said softly.
"Yes?" Luna's voice was calm, but there was a flicker of curiosity in her gaze.
"I… I think I could follow you anywhere."
Luna smiled — a real, quiet smile that seemed to light the forest itself. "I hope you do," she said. "We're only just beginning."
The moonlight fell over them, silver and gentle. Dionida realized that in this world, amid magical creatures and whispered spells, she had found more than adventure. She had found a person worth following — and maybe, slowly, something more.