- 26 - Interesting Fact of the Day

Harry walked across the grounds of Hogwarts on his way back from a morning Quidditch practice back towards the castle. He had a few hours till lunch and was distracted with his own thoughts until a familiar voice rang in his ears.

"Hey Harry." Luna Lovegood greeted him, joining him in his walk back towards the castle. Harry immediately slowed his pace and gave her a smile.

"Hi Luna." he greeted as part of his thoughts wondered what kind of a conversation they were going to have today. It was becoming a patterned thing with Luna these days, she'd always find him and share some random fact she had either learned or made up. Most of the time it was difficult for Harry to distinguish which was which.

“Harry, did you know yew tree needles are poisonous?” Luna spoke up as if on cue, though it wasn't as if Harry was going to be leading the conversation between them any time soon.

“Now I do." Harry replied as he thought about what she said. "That’s quite helpful. Thanks Luna.”

Luna tilted her head at him. “Helpful how? Not that I’m disagreeing that it’s very useful knowledge but why-”

“Well basically," Harry cut in, "it let’s me know not to let Voldemort poke me with his wand.”

“Oh, is it made of yew?” Luna asked, her large eyes growing wider as the conversation continued.

“Yeah." Harry nodded. He opened the door to the castle and held it for her to go in first. "Let’s hope he hasn’t learned your interesting fact of the day or I could be in loads more trouble.” Harry added as they passed by the entrance to the Great Hall.

“I’ll say, being poisoned by yew is a rather unpleasant experience.” Luna replied as they began heading up the Grand Staircase.

“ugh… right… wait, what?” Harry stopped on the staircase and watched, in his slight confusion, as Luna continued making her way up the stairs. He let out a small laugh and then jogged up the stairs to catch up with her. He couldn't help but wonder just what kind of a fact Luna would tell him tomorrow. And it was a slightly strange feeling, however pleasant, that he found himself actually looking forward to it.

- 27 - How They Figured it Out

“I told you already, he said he already finished his Astronomy homework and wants to be left alone to finish up the rest of his make-up work.” James replied to the inquiry about Remus both Sirius and Peter had just thrown his way.

He was finishing getting his telescope set up at the table the three of them had moved over towards a window in the Gryffindor Common room. It was late a night and they were the only ones left in the room. It was just the first week of their second school year and since they didn't have much homework yet, James had agreed for all of them with Remus to do their work in the Common Room to give him a peaceful night on the account of his feeling unwell.

James's reply seemed to be enough for the other two. They set about their self made work area for their Astronomy work. James was going to do the star charts, Sirius was going to fill out the Moon charts and the work with Peter on answering the twenty lunar and stellar questions they had been given.

“Hey did you know that every month as a different names for it’s full moons?” Peter randomly asked as he scanned through his book. He had found something he thought was interesting and hoped the others would think so too. James continued to fiddle with his telescope.

“Give me that," Sirius reached across the table and took the book from Peter's hands. He began to scan the page Peter had been looking at with his finger. "Okay… let me see, November, November, Ah! Yes, okay. Dark, white, ... what could people not make up their minds?” James turned his head as Sirius began to read aloud knowing why November interested him so much, it was Sirius's birth month.

“Sirius keep going.” James interrupted.
“Fine. Dark, white, oak, hunter’s, I like that one, snow and tree. Eh."
“What’s it say for March?” James asked curiously, now fully drawn in to the new distraction.
“Wind, sleepy, storm... no wonder your hair’s a mess, and death.”
“That’s not very pleasant.” Peter commented looking at James with a slightly sorrow filled expression.
“Shouldn’t read too much into it mate." Sirius said in a rather casual tone. Clearly the moon names for James's birth month didn't bother him.

“Give me my book back Sirius, I want to read mine!” Peter squeaked trying to reach for the book across the table but his arms were a few inches to short.
“Your born in the same month I am nimwit.” Sirius retorted at him, finding his feeble attempts to get the book back pathetic.
“Oh, Yeah. Right, sorry.” Peter replied sheepishly backing back down in his seat. “Okay then, what about Remus’s”

James and Sirius exchange glances then slowly turned their heads to Peter.

“I’m sorry are you the same Peter Pettigrew we bunk up with? How do you not remember finding out last year that both you and I are born in November and James and Remus are born in March?!” Sirius wasn't even trying to hide the smirk on his face.

“Go on finish the list.” James suggested towards Sirius to change the subject.

“October’s Moons are the hunter’s, harvest, raven, blood, and blood again apparently. For December there’s winter, cold, wolf, peach, and bitter. January’s are quiet, winter, storm, wolf, cold, wolf, ice, wolf.”

“There sure are a lot Wolf Moons.” Peter commented as Sirius finished January's list.

“Probably relates to Lycanthropy.” James replied.

Silence surrounded the boys. Sirius looked down at the work he had done on the Lunar Chart, ignoring the book still in his hands. Slowly James pulled the Lunar Chart towards himself. They looked up from the parchment on the table at one another.
"You don't think-" James began.
"Only one way to be sure." Sirius cut him off. Peter looked between the two of them, his confusion increasing by the second. After a few moments of silence Sirius suddenly spoke up again.

“Hey, I think I left something I need up in the dorm. Want to go with me to get it Peter?”
“Ugh, why?”
“I’ll go too, come on Peter.” James piped up giving Sirius a wink to show his understanding.
“Erm... okay...” Peter replied. Together the three of them headed up to their dorm room.

- 28 - N.E.W.T.S. Break for Tonks and Charlie Weasley

"It's a strange feeling, knowing in a few months we'll never be coming back here. This place has been home for seven years, you know." Tonks sighed from her perch a top a large rock along the lake edge.

"I think I'm going to miss the sight of the castle the most." Charlie replied relaxing back against the boulder. He was admiring the view of Hogwarts from where they were sitting. Tonks looked down at him.

"Hey, you ever wonder why the castle doesn't have a moat?" she asked him. Charlie leaned forward and looked up over his shoulder at her as he burst out laughing. "I'm serious." she spouted defensively, her face becoming rather flushed. Charlie just continued laughing, but managed to get a brief reply out.

"No Tonks, can't say I ever have." Tonks turned her head to try and hide her red face from Charlie as his laughter continued on.

- 29 - Communication Confusion

"So what do you think I should write for Tuesday?" Ron asked Harry. They were collaborating on yet another Divination assignment to pass time before they go watch the Quidditch match between Hufflepuff and Slytherin.

"An unexpected encounter with someone from your past?" Harry suggested unsurely.
"That works. How's your week looking?" Ron asked as he scribbled in Harry's suggestion on his prediction chart.
"The usual, disastrous, chance my life will be in peril." Harry replied casually.
"Must be nice." Ron retorted just as a Hermione walked up to the table they were working at in the common room. Ron and Harry looked up from their work at her. She smiled at them and then focused on Harry.

"Harry I finally figured out how to help you with that one thing," Harry gave her a puzzled look. "You know you brought it up back after we finished with that other thing. It shouldn't take too long to explain so just come and find me when your done with your work. You know where I'll be." At that Hermione turned and left rather quickly. Harry looked on after her for a few minutes then finally turned to Ron.

"Why does Hermione always seem to think I know what she's talking about?" Harry asked him, the two of them sharing puzzled looks.
"Beats me mate," Ron replied, "Maybe you should make a prediction about understanding Hermione for the first time. Though I doubt Trewlany would believe it. I know I wouldn't. On second thought, maybe you should write it."
"Yeah, maybe. I'll tell you one prediction I won't be getting wrong," Harry sighed as he began gathering his things together. "We won't get to watch today's Quidditch match."
Ron joined him in another sigh.
"To bad you can't get any credit for that one." Ron joked following Harry's lead of gathering his things.
"Hermione sure knows how to ruin a nice day. We didn't get to finish the last of our homework and you watch it, she'll never let us blame it on her. Even though it is all her fault. And we don't even know what she wants us to do."

- 30 - Between Nargles and Kisses

Harry had just finished removing the embarrassing decorations he knew were all Dobby's doing when the door creaked open behind him. The room of requirement had been kept a secret so far, but that didn't prevent Harry from being slightly jumpy about who entered, especially when they entered when he wasn't expecting anyone just yet. He turned around quickly, but his moment of being startled instantly dissipated with the entrance of Luna Lovegood, looking dreamy as always.

Harry smiled her way. His awarness of this came only a second later and then he was thankful she was too busy looking round the room to notice.
"Hello," she vaguely greeted him, still distracted by the decoration it seemed. "These are nice, did you put them up?"
"No." Harry replied quick to have a normal conversation with Luna, it was a rare occurrence after all. "It was Dobby the house-elf."

Luna turned to face him nodding at him, then she pointed upwards about his head.
"Mistletoe." she said dreamily. Harry followed her eye and finger line and sure enough he was practically standing directly underneath the clumpy white berries. "It's okay, I don't see any signs of a nargle infestation though."

Before Harry could think to move out of the way or ask what a nargle is he felt a soft, warm press against his right cheek. Luna pulled away from the kiss quickly and hoped away, leaving Harry standing there stunned, watching her hair bounce and sway behind her. Harry slowly reached up and touched his cheek where Luna had kissed him and another smile crept across his face.

Harry wondered if he should say something to her, but lost his chance as the door opened behind him and Angelina, Katie, and Alicia walked in with 'hellos' and their own compliments on the decorations. Harry was thankful no one mentioned the redness that he was sure was present on his face.

disclaimer: The characters and realm of Harry Potter belong to J. K. Rowling. beginning of scene 30's dialogue credit to J. K. Rowling as well.

I hope you've enjoyed reading this collection of scenes as much as I have been enjoying writing them. Thanks you Matelia Legwll for the helpful inspiration and to you and Boo for all the encouraging support, I hope you two like this chapter.

thanks for reading everyone - umi.