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A Few Unwanted Truths and Mental Images
NOTES: I wrote this in the fridge at work one day. True story.
Harry's twenty-second birthday party was held in Hogsmeade, in the park by the edge of the lake, under the bright summer sun. Luna wore a hat, and sat in the shade, and let the others come to her. She didn't mind. She liked watching the Gryffindors at play. Harry blew out the candles on his cake, using his wand to extinguish the stubborn one that lingered. Luna was reminded of a rumour she'd heard, about enchanted candles being laced with illegal or dangerous potions, and sold on the open market. She would ask Professor Snape about that, she decided, and wrote a reminder note on her arm in royal blue ink. Harry was tackled by the Weasley twins, carried kicking and shouting down to the lake, and thrown in the water. One of the Creeveys laughed and followed, pulling Parvati Patil in with him. Luna wondered if it would be prudent to question the twins about rumours that they had once blackmailed a Ministry official. She decided to let it wait until another day. A figure appeared at the top of the hill on the Hogwarts side of the lake, heavily cloaked in spite of the heat. Ron sat up and scowled. "What's he doing here, then?" "Beats me," said Fred. "I reckon he's wondering if he can hex Harry from this distance and get away with it," said Zacharias. "I mean, he's not exactly trustworthy, is he? Even now." "He wouldn't do that," said Ginny. "Not Snape." "Oh yeah? How would you know?" "Harry told me." Ginny gave Zacharias an unfriendly look, and moved to sit beside Luna. Zacharias followed. "Well, what guarantee is that?" he asked. "Let's face it, Harry's a bit..." Ginny raised her eyebrows. "A bit ... what?" Zacharias glanced down at the wand she was casually gripping. "Nothing," he muttered. "The Ministry doesn't trust Professor Snape," said Luna. "He offended a lot of people when he was spying for Dumbledore. There's an unofficial campaign to push him out of Hogwarts, but he says he won't give him the satisfaction." Ron had drawn closer; Luna could see him flush with irritation when Zacharias said, "How do you know? Research for your next exposé? Greasy Bastard Gets His Due In Unprecedented Poetic Justice Shock?" "He told me." "What," said Ron, "like ... in a conversation?" "Well, actually I was going through his mail while he was getting dressed, and he was rather annoyed about it, but the point is, I know--" Ron and Ginny had taken on the same look of disbelief. Hermione just looked amused; Zacharias appalled. "When you say..." Ron closed his mouth, then opened it again, looking at his sister. She shook her head, obviously visualising something she'd never wanted to see. Zacharias shook his head. "I should never have come, you know that? I should have just said no to secret Defence classes. I should have gone to a different school. You people are sick." Ron abandoned his shock for the more traditional stance of baiting Zacharias. Luna settled back in the shade to watch proceedings, and smiled.
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