A Loony Love

The Hogwarts dungeon held a foul and gloomy mood it always had. The stony pedestals protruding from the walls, clearly aged, bore candles that dimly lit the dungeon hallways. It was not exactly a pleasant sight, what with the walls decorated with depictions of skulls and fiendish creatures that has chipped over the years. Nooks and crannys that could actually be lighted up by the faint glow of candles were filled with weird smelling plants or discarded vials. Apart from all that, the dungeon itself already portrayed the fact that not even a speck of dust could have been cleaned since the last decade.

Sounds of footsteps echoed throughout the hall as students stormed to get to their designated class. The only class that was mad enough to be held in such a place. Or at least that was what a particular student was thinking. He heaved a big sigh, as his scar prickled uncomfortably. Harry had been dreading Potions class since the start of the new term. Not that things were all that bad, he appreciated the thought that he was back to the place he loved the most, Hogwarts. Yet, Potions again meant meeting Snape as well. And that was something Harry was not looking forward to at all.

Ron and Hermione, who were beside him, on the other hand, were having a heated discussion about whether Bertie's Bott's Every Flavour Beans really comprised of every flavour or not.

"I don't think anyones ever gotten cow dung before," said Ron, whom Harry had never seen so confident before. For once, Ron looked as if he knew what he was talking about.

He was still trapped in his own deep thoughts as they passed a room with potion ingredients, in which he tried his best to ignore the foul odour. Out of the corner of his ear, he could hear Hermione protesting that someone had indeed tasted a cow dung flavoured bean before. That would have normally grabbed his attention, but his mind was too filled with last weeks happenings that he pushed away that thought. The mysterious door, Snape's absence and Malfoy's weird behaviour. It was all too fishy. And Harry couldn't help but ponder on that matter ever since it all happened. After figuring that he was getting nowhere, he decided to join Ron and Hermione's conversation which, much to his relief, was not about Bertie Bott's or his every flavour beans.

They talked about their summer. Much to Harry's surprise, he wondered why they didn't have this conversation sooner, considering school had started for at least a week. The walk to the classroom was a long one, and he was thankful for it. With a chance to catch up with his friends, and more time before he would meet Snape, how could he not?

After the talk about their summer, Harry was sure that both Ron and Hermione's summer were twice as fun as his summer was. His was basically more imprisonment in the Dursley household. How he wished that he could return to the Burrow for a visit earlier during the summer. To see Mr. and Mrs. Weasly, taste her cooking, listen to ramblings about things at the ministry, or his obsession about muggle artefacts that caused him to ask Harry about them every so often. He even misses Fred and George, whose crazy antics and inventions had always managed to put a smile on his face.

"Harry, It's not that we didn't want you to come," said Hermione, who could feel Harry's anger and disappointment building up.

"Yeah mate, Dumbledore made sure that you were to stay at the Dursleys for the summer," Ron added.

"And I'm sure he has a very reasonable explanation of why he is doing so," snarled Harry sarcastically. Living with the Dursleys was getting worse each passing year. His temper was about ready to go off as he remembered about life at Privet Drive this summer. The Burrow would have certainly held more memorable events for him. But no, Dumbledore just had to made sure that he would be at the Dursley, playing the role of a slave.

Hermione opened her mouth to protest but she immediately stopped when they had reached the Potions classroom, where Snape gave her a stern and glaring look. They ignored him and shuffled hurrily to their seats.

"Welcome back to Potions," Snape said grimly. "Though I must say that there are some I rather not... welcome," His eyes staring at Harry menacingly, which stirred laughter from the Slytherins. "Class was not held last week as I had matters.. to attend to."

"What matters?"

Snape recognised the voice instantly. "Firstly, Potter. What am I doing is none of your business. And when you are talking to me, you will address me as sir."

"I believe we all have a right to know why Potion classes was postponed a week after," said Harry. "sir," he added through clenched teeth.

"That is enough!" growled Snape. "Ten points from Gryfindor, hopefully that, Potter, will teach you some manners."

Hermione eyed him a look which Harry recognised as the thanks-for-losing-my-hard-earned-points look. He half heartedly apologised . This was what he had been dreading. Lessons haven't even started, and he was already taking nothing but flake from Snape. He tried his hardest to endure the rest of Potions. It was hard, with Snape making snide remarks about him every so often, and even more so when he had mistaken a Gillyweed for a Sleeping Herb.

He was glad that it was over, as Snape dismissed them. He parted with Ron and Hermione upon exiting the dungeon. They had prefect duties. Still in a bad mood, he walked miserably alone towards the Gryfindor common room. He met familiar people on the way back. Dean, Seamus to whom he greeted quite dully.

"Hello, Harry," called a dreamy voice from behind him.

He turned around, only to be greeted by Luna Lovegood. He barely uttered a hello that sounded much like a grunt. This was great, just great. The last thing he could ever want now was to have a friendly conversation with 'Loony' Lovegood.

"You seem down, anything wrong?" asked Luna.

At first, Harry answered her quite half heartedly. He didn't know what came over him after a while, but he felt that he could confide in everything with her. He told her of his dissatisfaction of being left out from the Burrow, where he had to endure a hard summer with the Dursley. He told her of Snape, whose classes he absolutely despise. And Luna just walked beside him, gazing dreamily into space. Harry wondered whether she had heard anything that he had been talking about. He was about to ask her that question when she spoke:

"It is rather common to mix up a Gillyweed and a Sleeping Herb, actually," said Luna, matter of factly. "I do it all the time,"

Harry was at a loss for words. Here he was telling Luna about his hatred for almost everything, and she had responded to him with the fact the mattered the least. Him mixing up his ingredients in Potions. He couldn't help but smile, which was his first in days. There was also something in her blunt honesty that was rather amusing, but comforting all the same.

"Thanks," said Harry, his voice sounding more cheerful than usual.

"You're welcome," she said cheerfully. As though she had thought that the comforting words were the answer to the more serious of Harry's problems.

She said goodbye to him as she climbed through the Ravenclaw portrait hole after she presented the password and disappeared out of sight. Luna really is something, Harry thought to himself as he made his way back to his four-poster bed, before drifting off to sleep.