The Lion and the Eagle {Huna}

Chapter 19

Luna's POV

I woke up in a place of darkness and a state of confusion.  

It took me several seconds to come to my senses, for a while not realising where I was or remember the events that had led up to it. My eyes snapped open and I sat up straight, patting my body for my wand. But the wooden stick wasn't there to help me. Taking several deep breaths, I tried to calm my racing mind. I wasn't afraid... yet.

Where am I? Where am I? Where am I? The question spun around through my whirling mind and I searched my memories for clues. I slowly reopened my eyes but it was hardly any help. There was no light in this place, nothing except darkness. My breathing began to speed up as I was heaved back in time to my days locked up in Malfoy Manor. What if I am in Malfoy Manor? I thought desperately, what if I never left? Had the end of the wizarding war been a dream? What if I was mad and had imagined a fantasy world where good triumphed over evil. 

But I've always been mad... I've known that since the day I stepped foot into Hogwarts and I had accepted it. I've always been mad and I've never imagined anything as big as what I was suggesting. So I couldn't be in Malfoy Manor. Think Luna! I groaned and was glad to hear a sound even if I made it. 

I began to try and figure out where I was. I slowly stood up, my hand above my head to make sure I wouldn't bump it on a low ceiling but my hands met nothing, just the black air. I slowly walked to the side, my hands outstretched and was relieved when, after several steps, my hand brushed on something cold and hard. The surface was rough and stretched on in all directions. A wall. 

Leaving my hand on the wall, I walked on, following it until I got to a corner. Then I followed this and found a new material under my hand. I guessed it was wood and after feeling around for several seconds, I realised that this must be the door and my exit. I continued past the door and found myself at a second corner, I realised with a sinking feeling that this must be a very small room. Only about five steps were needed to get from one wall to another, the idea of being so cooped in made my breathing unsteady once again but at least I wouldn't get lost in the space.

Finding my bed was a relatively easy task but I didn't sit down. Was this the only piece of furniture in the room? I groped around but couldn't find anything more, it seemed me and the bed were the only things in this room. 

Finding a wall, I followed it until I found the bed again and sat down on the flat, hard mattress. Whoever my captors were, they hadn't spared any money to keep me comfortable. I frowned, that statement had raised the most pressing issue in my mind. Who was keeping me locked up in this cell (which is what I assumed it was) and why. 

My mind wandered back to the Quidditch game and I suddenly realised I had no idea how long I had been asleep for. Had it been an hour since the game or had it been days? Weeks even? Harry had played so well in the game, I had arrived somehow knowing it would be important to be there. There was a second question, why had Harry been playing in the first place? He was only the reserve seeker after all. I don't know why he was the reserve, he was the best seeker I'd ever seen play and I fondly remembered the years at Hogwarts watching him play. I had liked him even then but had known that he thought I was a little odd, plus he hung out with Ron and Hermione one of whom openly scorned my father's work and the other who called me Loony. Everyone used to call me Loony, except for Harry, Ginny and Luna. Of course, I quickly found out that Ron and Hermione were really the loveliest people in the world and were just as nice, talented and funny as Harry. I vividly remember the holiday I painted those portraits, each one taking over a week to create but with the aliveness that had meant so much to me. I also remember the day I found they had been destroyed in the blast... But at least it was the pictures and not my friends. 

I realised I'd been letting my mind wander, a problem I had faced many times in school, so I gave myself a stern talking to and went back to recounting the facts. I had arrived at the grounds late but had enjoyed the bits of the game I had seen even if I don't know much about Quidditch (though I was told I was the best commentator by Ron). Then, when Harry had caught the snitch and was lapping the field, he had seen me. The moment our eyes locked, it was like molten sunshine was running through me. I was light and warm and incredibly happy. He passed by smiling and waving to me, obviously surprised and delighted I was there. That made me feel all mushy inside, of all the people in the crowd to be happy to see, Harry Potter saw me. 

Then the arm had come from behind me, grabbing me around my torso and my stomach, pinning my arms to my sides. I had struggled and screamed but the action had been fruitless and before I knew it I was being spun on the spot and taken away. 

And then where had I been? I remember seeing wide gardens illuminated by sunshine, far off mountains, water gurgled somewhere to my side and hot bricks under my feet but then... Then the potion had been forced down my throat. Of course, how could I forget! The cold, thick liquid oozing down my throat as my nose was blocked. That must have been what had knocked me out.

Wide gardens... mountains... flowing water... and hot bricks.