Making Connections

Chapter 5: Making Connections

"The girls aren't in yet today."

"Maybe it's writers' block. It can happen to anyone."

"But it's time for some relationship stuff," complained Theo.

"We'll put on our sensitivity cloaks, lad, and divine the inner Luna. We're professionals. We'll unmask the essence of female."

Theo picked up the gauntlet.

Every day, she had been waiting for him at the breakfast table. She had a peeled orange for him, and she had instructed the kitchen staff to have his coffee ready. After all, he was from the continent and he had once mentioned that he had visited the Americas. She examined him for any signs of lack of sleep and watched Skippy's behavior for any signs of nervousness. She thought Skippy would be the best indicator and encouraged him by slipping him tidbits from her plate. Bacon went over well. She began working more and more closely with him until restoring and shelving a box of books became a joint enterprise.

"I like your hair," he said.

The next day, she showed him the Transformation book. She was stuck on Proposition Nineteen.

He flipped through the pages before saying, "That's a major result, but it depends on understanding Assertion Ten which is a favorite of Transformers everywhere, a subtle lemma."

Luna thought it was sad that the lemma had no purpose in life except to establish another proposition, but Jonathan replied that it could stand on its own and, in addition, it was crucial to other notable propositions. He said it reminded him of a certain witch who had value of her own besides being a source of support to those around her.

At this sign of appreciation of others, Luna decided that Jonathan was a sympathetic soul who could be relied on, and she asked if he could take some time in the future to show her more about this lemma. He replied that no lemma could lead a forlorn life if witches of her caliber found it interesting.

Later, they were taking their usual walk to the lake and back before tea.

"The lemma is on its way to something, isn't it," said Luna.

"Yes."

"I feel better now," said Luna. "It's the journey that's important."

"Aargh," went Theo, quitting the typewriter.

"Take a break, lad," said Biff, picking up the discarded gauntlet. "More than one adventure writer has burned out on this relationship stuff."

Like a raft floating over to a pair of sailors floundering in the ocean, Filius Flitwick sauntered over to the table were Ron and Harry were having a noon sandwich and beer.

"Wotcher Harry, Wotcher Ron. May I join you?"

He could and as Filius sipped his beer waiting for his fish and chips, they asked why he wasn't showing the new arrival around wizard Britain. He replied that the newcomer was being given the guided tour by Miss Lovegood. Ron and Harry said they had heard about that from Hermione and offered that was a big change on Luna's part. They ordered another beer to keep Filius company and idly wondered what type of wizard would attract a spacey witch.

"He seems an ordinary enough bloke," said Filius, "although he latched onto the standard story about the Founders quick enough, and he's certain there are old documents around that will establish a different version. Overall, I would say he's smarter and more powerful than he wants people to think he is."

The talk turned to his canine companion and his devotion to it. Harry and Ron thought that might be what attracted Luna. Filius thought there was more to it than that. The talk turned to what might develop with the couple.

"It all depends on Luna's emotions," said Filius.

"Then he can only get hurt," said Ron.

"He can only get hurt if he's a romantic wizard," corrected Filius.

To Ron's incredulous look, Filius said, "Not all wizards have romance in their soul."

"Then he would be a monster," said Ron.

"They do exist, as you well know," said Filius. "Isn't that why I'm undergoing this subtle interrogation?"

"I think I'm good for another round," said Theo.

"You should get out more," said Luna. "Just working in the library isn't good for you. There's a Midsummer Festival coming up."

"I've thought about it," said Jonathan, "But it's no fun going alone."

"That's true," said Luna. "It's always more fun with another person."

"Would you like to go to the Midsummer Festival?" he asked.

"I didn't plan to because I thought I would have to go alone," said Luna, "but I've been invited to go with Neville Longbottom and Ginny Weasley and her latest boyfriend."

"Ah," said Jonathan. "Yes, great fun."

The editor and Cho had found their inner strength, and lucky it was for them that their being was centered when they read the boys' morning effort.

Is it not always the way that the search for the true state of things depends on the superior faculties of those often regarded as having the weaker frame, and is it not a consequence of this prejudice against those whose constitution is not considered as robust that their insights are slighted and their warnings ignored even though the accumulated evidence of past experience should inform even those of the stouter but thicker skull that events would have a more favorable outcome were they merely to pay more attention to obviously insightful observations.

The editor passed the baton. "Carry the story forward, love, and remember, we need some contrast between our sweet Luna, even if she is peripheral, and that man beast."

"Oh, Jonathan would have loved to have seen that."

The four were at the Midsummer Festival, and Neville was concluding that Jonathan would love to see every sight under the sun, or moon for that matter, but Ginny seized another opportunity to query her friend.

"Does he like garish things?" asked Ginny.

"No, he has refined tastes, or at least, I think he does," said Luna, "but he can appreciate almost everything."

"We're almost at the plant exhibition," said Neville. "There's a lot I want to see, but the rest of you may prefer touring the animals. I can catch up with you later."

"Is Jonathan into plants?" asked Ginny. "Does he favor the toxic ones? What about animals? I hear he has a pet dog. How does he treat it? Is the dog mean?"

Luna, looking around the crowd and hoping to see Jonathan, barely heard the questions.

Jonathan spent Festival Day mastering the Spell of the Void he had found in the old scroll. He obliterated several boulders before walking deep into the forest. His senses were alert, and he whirled at the same time as Skippy to face a Jikininka swooping down upon them. There was a crack of imploding air where it used to be.

"It was only a predator," said Jonathan. "We need to face real ferocity: herbivores protecting their young."

They came upon a herd of Leshy, and the two largest came at him in a thundering rush. There were two more cracks of imploding air where the Leshy used to be. The herd stampeded in the other direction. Not bad, thought Jonathan as he headed back for lunch, still wondering how the ancient Celts came by the idea of being utterly extinguished.

"The girls aren't providing a balanced portrait," said Biff. "It's time for a little playfulness and depth."

"Do Brit witches ever provide a strip tease," he asked as Alastor was pouring a spot of noon sherry. "I need a diversion."

As semi-clad images of the witches on the faculty passed before his special eye, Alastor almost dropped the decanter.

Despite his risqué inquiry, Jonathan was lost in a different reverie. He imagined he had been giving Luna gentle touches: a squeeze of the shoulder in encouragement, a caress of the shoulder in admiration, a hand on her back in comradeship. He imagined he had coaxed her into his lap and she had put her arms around him. He imagined he had found the nerve to say she was a lovely lady and he wanted to begin her day by convincing her she was wonderful.

He realized that he was being foolish and that Alastor was asking him a question.

"We need to show that Jonathan is social too," said Biff. "We can't do that if he's stuck in the library."

"I know," said Theo. "I'll show him acting graciously in the most formidable company."

"That will endear him to everyone if nothing else will," said Biff.

That afternoon, after lunch, Jonathan was looking for a shirt, and he had given up on the cheaper shops. For the conservative style he preferred, he would have to pay. He was choosing one when a lady approached him.

"I'm hope I'm not being too forward, but my husband and I have heard there's a visiting scholar at the castle."

"That might be me although I'm a wondering scholar earning his keep for the summer by helping in the library."

A wizard came over and introduced himself as Lucius Malfoy. The lady was his wife, Narcissa. Did he have time for a coffee before returning to the castle?

After ordering, Narcissa remarked that they had heard he was skeptical about the accepted story of the founders. Jonathan replied he had no evidence to the contrary, but the story didn't seem right to him. Lucius and Narcissa admitted they had been in the house most affected by the story. When they were young, it aided the conceit they were different, even superior, but in retrospect, they were thinking it had been detrimental. Being regarded as ruthless schemers was alienating, and it was twisting the students in that house. Jonathan said his search wasn't organized and, after all these years, the chance of finding the old documents were slim. Nevertheless, it was encouraging that others were interested. The Malfoys said that tomorrow was Sunday and why didn't he visit them for afternoon tea.

Jonathan thanked them and mentioned he might spend the rest of the day searching for old manuscripts in the local shops, the dodgier the better. Lucius and Narcissa agreed there was no better way to spend time; they had some suggestions; and if it was agreeable, they would join him.

"I think we've demonstrated he's a splendid fellow," said Biff, "and we're ready to complete the romance by reconciling him with Luna, but the girls introduced this extraneous element."

"It might be extraneous, but now that it's there, it would be artistically incorrect not to develop it," replied Theo, "even though it detracts from the story, and it's going to be challenging maintaining proper narrative perspective."

"I can but try," said Biff.

Is the surface of the Earth naught but a two-dimensional space where random particles will collide, and collide sooner rather than later if various spaces offer attraction? Thus it was that Hermione joined Filius and Alastor when they motioned her over and ordered a drink for herself. They asked if she had spent the day at the Midsummer Festival. She said she hadn't but people she knew had.

Ginny had been furious. "All Looney did was look around for Jonathan. Neville escaped to the botany displays, and my boyfriend was annoyed because he thought I was trying to play matchmaker between two incompatible people. You can spy on him yourself after this."

Ginny had breath for one last plaint. "And you and Looney and Jonathan can take your quest for a subtle lemma, whatever that is, and stick it where the sun doesn't shine."

Recovering from this setback and drawing from the depths of her steely determination, she asked Filius and Alastor why Jonathan wasn't with them. They informed her that he was resting after he and the Malfoys had spent a strenuous afternoon alternating between high-end purveyors of attire and low-end purveyors of old manuscripts.

"Clothes? Manuscripts?" asked Hermione. "What are they trying to hide?"

Alastor shrugged. "Lucius was always a well-turned-out bloke, and they're only going to hide what they've found until they can show it to Andromeda tomorrow."

"Andromeda?" asked Hermione.

"The Malfoys thought it would be fun to host a fancy tea. Narcissa hardly ever gets a chance to show off her inherited china."

"But those dodgy manuscripts?" asked Hermione.

"Narcissa's good with those too," said Filius whereupon he became lost in melancholy reverie. He had always considered the Black sisters as first-rate magical scholars lost to wealth and unfortunate circumstances."

"One last bit," said Theo.

Miss Granger visited Miss Lovegood the next morning.

"If you wanted to see Jonathan, he left earlier. He didn't say where he was going," said Luna. "I wanted to tell him about the Festival."

"I have to tell you," said Hermione. "The Malfoys invited him for tea."

The Malfoys? thought Luna. He turned down my invitation to go to the festival, but accepted their invitation for tea?

"I can see you're shocked, but you have to see Jonathan for what he is," said Hermione. "And it's even worse. They're bringing Andromeda into their circle."

"Andromeda is a lovely and gracious lady," said Luna.

"And really smart, too," said Hermione. "She was the star of her house when she was in school."

"Everything," breathed Luna. "Everything to attract exceptional wizards."

"Well, yes," said Hermione, wondering what Looney was on about, "but don't you see how serious this is if they have some scheme that looks innocent enough to rope in Andromeda?"

Hermione noted with satisfaction that the other girl appeared devastated.

Luna was deep in thought. I practically begged him to take me to the festival.

"I'd like to skip this side story, but the muse just suggested a way to connect the plot lines, and I can't ignore it," said Biff.

"We are but slaves to our craft," agreed Theo.

The hooded figures were, once again, ending the day in a dark corner of a pub but, this time, with some joy in their hearts.

"Our sources tell us there's a bit of commotion in the halls of officialdom."

"It seems some lady is suspicious of a stranger."

"Nothing else is happening. It's got to be him."