The corridors of Hogwarts buzzed with chatter as students moved to their classes. Your friends lingered by the staircase, their laughter sharp and cruel, aimed at Luna.

“She’s probably chasing Nargles again,” someone sneered, sending ripples of laughter through the group. You stayed silent, the knot in your stomach tightening. Months ago, you would have laughed, too. You used to care too much about your image being popular, being untouchable. But Luna had changed the way you saw the world and yourself.

"You'd blew it all for Lovegood?" Marissa sneered, arms crossed as she glared at you. The group watched, waiting for your answer.

"You wouldn't understand," you said firmly, your voice cutting through the noise.

Marissa scoffed, her laugh icy. "No, I don’t understand! We're talking about Loony Lovegood! A nut job who thinks Crumple-Horned Snorkacks are real! She's completely mental!"

"Shut up!" you snapped, shoving her as anger surged through you. Stunned silence fell over the group, but you didn’t care.

"Have you flipped?! What’s the matter with you?" Marissa yelled after you. Ignoring her shouts, you stormed down the hall, leaving them behind.

A moment later, you found Luna where she always was, leaning against the castle wall, her hands playing with a Butterbeer cork necklace.

"Everything all right?" she asked, looking at you with her wide, silvery eyes. There was no judgment, only genuine curiosity.