Chapter 100:
At the end of the feast everybody was still gossiping about Ginny’s outburst and Harry could see the even the twins were looking at their little sister with slight incomprehension. He hoped that their obvious reaction showed they were not in on the plan to get him, and would be willing to join him.
The other shock for the students was Gilderoy Lockhart. Harry watched with amusement as the students found out and Lockhart made his grand entrance. The hall was spilt in their reactions; half obviously excited and the rest clearly disgusted. Harry was happy that 90% of the Ravenclaws looked exceedingly putout and upset with the news. They had obviously read his book and realised what a load of rubbish the man spouted.
Harry actually felt bad for the 5th and 7th years, they would have to work exceedingly hard to pass their OWLs and NEWTs.
Once all of the news was done and Dumbledore had passed on some words of ’wisdom’, all of the students were dismissed. Harry walked with Luna up to the common room but left her so she could do the first year initiation with the prefects. Sitting with his year mates, Harry asked about their summers while they waited for the 1st years.
After a few minutes they trailed in with Luna at the front, who quickly danced over to Harry.
"I fear that my classmates are all infested with nargles," the blonde said, looking around the room. "Actually, a lot in the house of intelligence and wit seem to have a nargles problem."
Harry tilted his head and thought about what he had learnt about Luna and her creatures before he realised she was worried about bullies. He remembered how much of a tough time she had had in her earlier year and vowed that he wouldn’t let it happen. He was surprised when he thought about it, as last year they had been almost threatened to not bully their own, but he supposed there was always an exception.
"If any of the nargles-infested do or say anything, you let me know, Little Moon," Harry said. "I won’t let them upset you."
"Thank you, my Lord," Luna said, her usual soft and dreamy voice once again making Harry wonder about what she could See.
Eventually the new 7th year prefects came forward and gave more or less the same speech as last year, once again outlining what Ravenclaw stood for, their unofficial rules, and their study policy with the notice boards and Flitwick. After their speech was done, Harry left Luna to get sorted and meet her roommates while he went to sort out his own things. Although he had initially been close to Terry last year, he hadn’t really spoken much to the boy over the summer and was feeling bad about that now. So he spent the night talking to him and asking about his summer.
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