After classes end, Luna links her arm through mine and guides me toward the tree line. The sun is low, spilling gold between the trunks. Our cat companion trots behind us, tail flicking with curiosity.
"We should check on the fluffbear again," Luna says softly. "It must feel terribly lonely."
The forest is cooler now, smelling of moss and damp leaves. When we reach the small hollow where the creature hides, the tiny fluff of brown fur peeks out, ears twitching. Luna kneels instantly, moving slowly so she doesn't scare it. I hand her the sliced apples I brought, and she offers them on her open palm.
"It still remembers you," I whisper.
"It remembers kindness," she corrects, voice airy but sure. The fluffbear inches closer until its round nose bumps her fingers. She smiles, bright enough to warm the whole forest.
I sit beside her. "You're good with creatures. And spells. And honestly… everything."
She tilts her head, studying the fluffbear nibbling its apple. "People don't usually say that. They think I'm scattered. Or strange."
"I don't think that," I say quickly.
She gives a tiny smile—one of those smiles that feels like a reward.
For a moment we feed the creature in silence, listening to the gentle crunching. Then Luna speaks again, softer now:
"You were very tense today. When Professor Snape came close."
My shoulders stiffen at the memory. "His voice is… sharper than in the books. Like it cuts through your spine."
Luna nods, petting the fluffbear as it edges against her knee. "He can seem terribly frightening. But he carries a heavy heart. Heavy hearts make sharp voices."
"I felt like he could see right through me," I mumble. "Like he knows I don't belong here."
She looks at me, eyes strangely clear and calm. "You belong wherever you choose to stand, Dionida. Don't let someone's shadows decide that."
Her words settle warm inside my chest. I watch her hand brush against mine as she reaches for another apple slice, and for a breath, our fingers stay touching. Neither of us moves.
The fluffbear snorts softly, as if approving.
Luna giggles. "See? Even he agrees."
We stay there a while longer, feeding the little creature until it curls up, full and sleepy, safely tucked into the moss. Then Luna rises and dusts off her skirt.
"Let's come again tomorrow," she says. "Creatures grow best when they're loved often."
She offers me her hand. I take it. Her fingers are warm, the forest quiet around us, and for the first time all day, I feel safe.
We leave the forest hand-in-hand, our cat darting ahead and circling back again as if guarding us. By the time we reach the stone corridor of the castle, the torches are already lit, flickering gold against the walls.
As we turn the corner, three familiar figures rush past us—Harry, Hermione, and Ron—moving so quickly Hermione nearly drops his books. They barely notice anyone, whispering urgently to each other, eyes focused straight ahead.
Ron mutters something about "we don't have time," Hermione shushes him sharply, and Harry's jaw is set like he's heading straight into trouble.
They disappear around the next corner in a whirl of frantic footsteps.
Luna watches them with a gentle, dreamy blink. "They're always in such a hurry," she sighs. "Adventures… mysteries… catastrophes…" She tilts her head. "I wonder if they ever stop long enough to notice the bowtruckles nesting in the east trees. They've been weaving new patterns lately—quite beautiful."
I laugh softly. "I think they're too busy saving the world."
"Hmm." She taps her lip thoughtfully. "Saving the world is very important… but so is noticing it."
We continue walking, our steps slow and peaceful compared to the chaos that just rushed by. Luna's shoulder brushes mine every few steps, warm and light like a drifting feather. I slip my books to my other arm, just so I can stay closer to her.
"You'd choose creatures over adventures?" I ask.
"Oh, yes," she answers without hesitation. "Creatures tell the truth far more often than people do. And they rarely run past you in hallways without saying hello."
I grin. "That's fair."
She gives me a sideways look, soft and glowing. "Besides… I think exploring life with you is quite adventurous enough."
My heart skips a beat.
We walk on together, slow and quiet, while the sound of distant rushing footsteps fades completely behind us.
The spiral staircase to Ravenclaw Tower feels endless, but Luna climbs it like it's nothing—light, airy steps as if her feet barely touch the stone. I follow behind her, clutching my books, my cat weaving between our legs.
At the top, the bronze eagle knocker waits.
It speaks with a gentle chime:
"What grows lighter the more you take away?"
I blink. "Uh… air?"
Luna whispers, "A hole."
The knocker glows approvingly and swings open.
Inside, the Ravenclaw common room looks like something pulled from a painting—blue silks, star-shaped lamps, shelves full of books, the wide arched windows looking out over the moonlit mountains. Quiet, peaceful, almost humming with thought.
We step inside. A few students lounge by the fireplace, but no one bothers us. Ravenclaws never stare too long—they're too busy thinking.
Luna touches my arm. "Come. Our room is this way."
I feel warmth creep into my cheeks at the sound of our.
She leads me up another half-circle of stairs into the dormitory. There are four beds, all draped with blue curtains, but she walks straight to the two side-by-side.
Her bed is unmistakably hers—
charms hanging like wind chimes, little sketches of creatures pinned above the headboard, a pair of radish earrings resting in a tiny bowl shaped like a moon. Her trunk is half-open, full of colorful socks and gentle chaos.
My bed is neatly made beside hers, my books stacked by the pillow, my cat curled in the center like he's claimed it already.
Luna sits on her bed and pats the blanket beside her. "Come look. I've been sketching today."
I sit, close enough that our shoulders brush. She opens a notebook filled with soft pencil drawings: bowtruckles, nargles, and the baby fluffbear from today—its fur wild, its eyes sweet.
"You captured it perfectly," I whisper.
"Mmm." She leans closer, her hair brushing my cheek. "Creatures always show their heart, even when frightened. You only need to look gently."
Her words settle into me like warm tea.
My cat suddenly hops over and curls onto Luna's lap as if she's been his human his whole life. Luna smiles, stroking him softly.
"He likes you," I say.
"He likes your magic," she answers softly. "It feels like… home energy. Not this world, not Hogwarts… just you. Gentle and glowing."
Her fingers brush mine.
Accidental or not, she doesn't pull away.
"Luna," I say quietly, "do you miss anything? From before?"
She tilts her head, thinking. "Sometimes. But now… I'm quite glad you're here."
My heart flips.
The dorm lights dim slowly, enchanted to match the night sky. In the fading blue glow, Luna looks almost ethereal—silver, soft, and close enough to touch.
"Will tomorrow be difficult?" I ask.
"Oh, probably," she whispers. "Teachers, spells, strange accidents."
Then she smiles faintly.
"But tonight feels very peaceful."
She leans her head lightly against my shoulder.
I sit still, breath catching, letting the moment settle softly between us—two girls in the quiet heart of Ravenclaw Tower, sharing warmth under the moon.