Deus Fax Machina

The Big Secret Meeting

'Is Harry meeting you there?' Sophie fastened her cloak. Hermione had run into the dorm a moment before with a letter in one hand and a piece of toast in the other.

'Yes, but it's for a –'

'Secret meeting, I know. Just you and Luna and Harry.' Sophie rolled her eyes. Hermione had been talking about this meeting for a week but refused to give any details. Only that Luna Lovegood from the DA would have to be there, and Hermione had been waiting on the go ahead from the letter she now held.

'How do you think Harry's date will go? I don't see him and Cho working out but good on him!'

'I think Lavender and Parvati are having a greater effect on you than you realise.' Hermione said as she dragged Sophie out of the Gryffindor tower.

'Maybe, but what about you and Ron?'

'What about me and Ron?' Hermione looked around so quickly she kinked her neck.

'You guys were going to go to Hogsmeade today, as friends. Remember?' Sophie grinned as Hermione massaged her neck.

'Oh, yes, well he has practice and I have this –'

'Secret meeting, yes.' Sophie rolled her eyes again.

They were almost at the marble staircase when someone called to Hermione. The voice was dreamy, as if not fully convinced Hermione was there at all.

'Luna. Ready?' Hermione stiffened.

'I would have met you earlier but there were golberfinders blocking all the doors this morning.' Luna Lovegood looked into the classroom she was passing and waved a hand through the open door. 'Safe.'

Hermione rolled her eyes more dramatically than Sophie had been. Luna took notice of Sophie halfway down the staircase. She stopped mid step.

'You're Sophie.'

'Yes. And you're Luna.' Sophie also stopped.

'Do you know about golberfinders? My father says they are a terrible nuisance in the far south.'

'Ah yes, golberfinders. They do seem to be a problem but only in summer. Not sure why.' Sophie continued down the stairs.

'Don't encourage her!' Hermione hissed. Sophie had only heard of Luna's eccentric behaviours from others, she had never had the chance to speak to her. Sophie enjoyed the ethereal presence of Luna and found the stark contrast of Luna Lovegood and Hermione Granger fascinating.

Once they reached Hogsmeade Sophie left Hermione and Luna and made her way to Madam Wilkin's Witches Wardrobe, where she had planned to meet Parvati. Lavender was on a date with a sixth year Ravenclaw, so naturally that was all Sophie and Parvati discussed as Parvati picked out new dress robes. They trawl through shops, Parvati scoffing at all the Valentine themed decorations. As they left a third store with another lavish purchase by Parvati, heavy rain set in. They ducked into Zonko's Joke Shop to see what the crowd of Hogwarts students was squealing about. Not an uncommon sound to be coming from Zoinko's at all.

'Why don't you have a date, Parvati?' Sophie had an inkling Parvati's retail therapy may have something to do with it being the 14th of February. Not to mention the fact that Lavender was on a date and Parvati wasn't.

'No one overly exciting asked me.' Parvati picked up a self-propelling cat toy. Parvati wasn't looking at the toy, nor did she have a cat.