Luna Lovegood by beaweasley2

beaweasley 2 – Luna Lovegood

I look around the hall at all the festive decorations and smile. They are all gathered in groups, everyone I know, friends, old classmates, the famous, and the survivors as well as many new faces. They are mingling with those whom they know, laughing and smiling in orange and purple robes, yellow, magenta, chartreuse, and in every shade of red, green, and blue imaginable. I really love it when our kind gets together for festive events—the colors we can create, the fabrics, the stitching, the baubles and lace. The room is so different from the last time I stood in this exact spot. Has it already been five years since I helped Madam Pomfrey with the injured and dying in this very hall? Hogwarts, my second home. The Great Hall still looks the same as I remember from my youth—only it’s bigger—breathtakingly majestic, beautiful, and awe inspiring. This year is different though; this year is special. Oh, I know, ever since the war we’ve all tried to get along better: witches, wizards, and goblins—all magical beings really. Even the house-elves are allowed to wear baubles on tea cozies and uniforms now days. Like little coveralls with monograms and crests on the front pocket.

But this year, Rolf is here with me—somewhere. I turn around, hoping, and see him talking to a boy with blue hair. We’ve just finished our first book, Fantastic Creatures and Magical Beasts: Discovering the Magical and Mysterious. Rolf came up with the title. We’ve even proven the existence of Plickie-wallies and Humdingers, but the Crumple-Horned Snorkack still remains elusive.

I think I want some punch.

“Happy New Year, Luna,” Draco says as I pass him.

I stop and turn to face him. He’s gotten taller and much nicer since school, and I like the difference. “And to you, Astoria, and your new baby,” I reply. His eyes widen, his mouth drops open, and he shakes his head quickly that I know. Either that or he’s dispelling Wrackspurts from is ears? Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything, but I gave Astoria my Dirigible Plum necklace earlier to enhance the infant’s magical abilities and broaden his mind to accept the extraordinary. “I hope it’s a boy with Astoria’s eyes and your smile. I’ll make you a wreath for over the crib to keep away the Blibbering Humdingers.”

“Er… thanks,” he says, smiling at me, still looking rather befuddled from the Wrackspurts. He does have such a nice smile. I know he doesn’t believe me, but I’ll make the wreath really pretty and Astoria will hang it up. I turned and saw the Minister talking with two members of Dumbledore’s Order of the Phoenix.

“Happy New Year’s Eve, Luna,” the Minister of Magic says to me while lifting his glass.

“And to you, too, Kingsley,” I reply, nodding politely to the other two men, still in awe that I am on a first name basis with the Minister of Magic. His dark brown eyes reflect his warm smile as I shake his hand. Mr. Weasley approaches him, so I turn away, fiddling with my moonstone pearls, and admire the new windows—so much prettier than when I was a student. A house-elf hands me a lead crystal goblet of elf-made sparkling wine, and I walk over to the table where my friends are.

My friends are all here: Neville, Ginny and Harry, Hermione and Severus, Ron… He’s sitting next to Trinity, a Hufflepuff girl from my year who had joined the DA when Severus was Headmaster—the first time. Severus is Deputy Headmaster now. Dean and Seamus are sitting with their girlfriends, Fred, Angelina, and George talking about jokes stuff, I presume. Dean is working with Fred and George in their shop now. I was so sorry that Fred had lost his leg and George had lost his ear—but few of us came through this war unscathed. I have a scar on my arm and shoulder. I used to have five friends, true friends, now I feel exceptionally blessed to be friends with so many exceptional people.

“Hiya, Luna,” Dennis says as he moves over so I can sit next to Severus and Hermione.

“I miss your brother,” I tell him as I wiggle in. “He took a lovely picture of me and my friends when I was in school. He was a very nice boy.”

“Thanks,” Dennis replies. He tells me that he is doing photographs now, too, as I look at the people at the table while listening to him.

Professor Bill Weasley, Professor Sprout, and my old Head of House, Professor Flitwick, are sitting across from me talking with Headmistress McGonagall; the Headmistress will retire this year, I think. I hope they promote Severus; he was a good Headmaster.

“I’m surprised you thought so,” Severus replies, his voice finally recovered from that awful snake Neville had killed. “Considering what a pest you were that year.”

I didn’t realize I’d said that aloud. “It wasn’t you I was standing up against,” I reply, my gaze traveling up the soaring rib-vaults to the magical night sky that hides the roof from view. “I’m glad they removed the mistletoe. Nargles and sparkling wine are not a good combination. Did Hermione say yes when you gave her the ring?”

He raises an eyebrow at me and scowls, a look that used to frighten me until I got to know him better, and I smile dreamily at him hoping she did. They make such a nice couple.

“So, Luna, what is your New Year’s resolution this year?” Headmistress McGonagall asks me when Hermione turns her head to gape wide-eyed at Severus and me.

“To all be happy, healthy, and wise. Wit without measure is man’s greatest treasure,” I say, raising my glass to the sky before I take a sip. I smile against the rim of my goblet as I realize all my friends have toasted with me.

“I couldn’t have said it better, love,” Rolf says behind me. I smile up at him, conveying love in my eyes. I really love his rugged looks and deep timbre voice.

“And you, Severus, what is your New Year’s resolution this year?” I ask him, turning to face the man I both respected and feared all through school and now felt doubly lucky to call a friend.

Note from potterbrat: Check out beaweasley2's other stories at: http://thepetulantpoetess.com/viewuser.php?uid=6317