The Way The Truth Came Out (HarryxLuna)

Chapter One

                                                                                   ~Harry Potter~

          I glared around me, noticing the odd looks I was receiving from those in the compartment on the train. I may have killed the basilisk and it may have been proven I wasn't the Heir of Slytherin, but that didn't mean that people trusted me again, which bothered me immensely. It was also incredibly annoying that everyone was crowding around Ginny, who was in the compartment with Ron and Hermione that I had just left-I wasn't in the mood to deal with those looks the entire train ride.

I stopped in front of a nearly empty compartment with only what looked to be a first year blonde girl-a ravenclaw, by the look of her robes.

I knocked lightly on the door of the compartment and she turned to look. I slid the door open and asked nervously, "Do you mind if I sit in here with you?"

A dreamy smile spread across her face as she stated, "You're welcome to come in, Harry Potter."

I went in, sitting down across from her, and asked, "What's your name? You're a first year, aren't you??"

She nodded, "I'm Luna Lovegood. Most people call me Loony, though. I think the Nargles caused it."

"What are nargles?"

We spent the rest of the train ride, aside from alternately leaving the compartment so the other could change, talking about the creatures that she and her father believed exist, despite the majority of the wizarding world disagreeing. Personally, I figured that since we lived in a world that to muggles didn't exist, how did we know they didn't exist? They could live in another secret world among us.

Ron and Hermione only came to look for me once, and once they saw that I wasn't alone nor upset, they gave a disgruntled look and left quickly.

When the train pulled into the station, Luna and I stood up, gathering our things, and I said, "Can-can I write to you, Luna? This summer?"

Another smile was sent my way as she nodded and said, "Daddy was going to take me to Switzerland to look for Crumple-Horned Snorkaks, but I'm sure I'll still be able to get your letters, and I'll reply as quickly as I can."

I smiled back and said, "Hedwig could always wait for your reply, I'm sure she'd enjoy the rest. That way you wouldn't have to worry about finding an owl to reply with."

Luna smiled and nodded and said, "That would be lovely, Harry. Daddy is waiting, though, so I should be going." We hugged briefly, then followed the other students off the train.

Uncle Vernon was waiting for me on the muggle side of the station, looking rather impatient. Silently, I followed him out to the car to find Dudley and Aunt Petunia waiting in the car, both looking disgusted with the situation.

The car ride back to Little Whinging took ages, and it was mostly silent, other than Dudley's handheld video game, and Aunt Petunia occasionally telling Vernon a piece of gossip she'd heard about the people in the neighborhood. When we were pulling into Privet Drive, Vernon began speaking, "Boy, Marge is coming for the summer, and she needs a place for her dogs to sleep. I told her you wouldn't mind giving up your room-you'll be going back to your cupboard. Don't think I've forgotten what you freaks did last year. If you argue, you can consider yourself homeless."

Before I could speak, Aunt Petunia added, "And you'll have all your freakish things in there with you, but you won't be needed to do any chores. You won't be leaving it, I'll bring you a meal in the morning before Marge gets up, and you'll use the bathroom at the same time, and I'll bring you a meal when Marge goes to sleep, when you'll also get a bathroom break. We told her you had asked to stay at St. Brutus' for the summer. You'll not make a noise, boy."

I shook my head and said, "I can't do that, Uncle Vernon. It's impossible! My trunk barely fits in the cupboard, how am I meant to fit with it??"

Vernon turned to look me in the eyes and spoke one word at a time, "You. Will. Manage."

I shook my head, "No, I can't stay like this. I can't. I won't. I can't do it. I'll go, but remember, this means that you won't have that bloody protection that you keep me around for. Oh yes, Aunt Petunia, you messed up having me clean the attic. I found Mum's journals, your parents things, and most importantly, the letter from Dumbledore!"

We had pulled into the driveway by now, and I noticed Aunt Marge sitting in her car, but I ignored it, getting out and grabbing my trunk and Hedwig. Uncle Vernon made a grab for me, but I dodged his grasping hands and snarled, "No! I'm leaving, Vernon. I won't sleep in a bloody cupboard ever again!!"

I began walking away, until Aunt Petunia spoke, "Come home, Harry. We'll-we'll talk about it."

I didn't even turn around, "That place was never my home. Hogwarts is the closest thing I've ever had to a home."

I made my way to the playground, finding a bench and sitting down. I hardly noticed the approaching animal because of my racing thoughts, but I was pulled out of it when a wet nose touched my hand.

I jerked my hand back on instinct, noticing the skinny, more like starved, looking black dog pull back with a flinch, like it was expecting me to hit it. Slowly, I reached my hand out, gently patting the dog on the head and murmuring, "Don't worry, boy, I won't hit you. I know too much what it feels like. What are you doing here? I've never seen you before. The people in this neighborhood wouldn't risk their social lives to starve their dogs."

The dog whined, headbutting my hand, and I said, "I've got to find a place to stay...I don't know if I can bother the Weasley's...Ginny has been through enough, she needs time with her family to recover."

I leaned on my trunk and mused, "Maybe there's a place in Diagon Alley I can stay..."

The dog whined again, and I sighed, "I don't know if they'll let me keep a dog, but if they do, I'll take you with me, okay boy?"

The dog let out a low woof, and laid down at my feet. I sat there for a bit before standing and stretching, the dog copying my movements, and I said, "It's quite a while to London...But I don't know any other place to go."

I pulled out my wallet, noticing the meager amount of pounds in it that I earned trimming the neighbors yard the summer before my first year-I hadn't had the time or ability to spend it, in all the craziness since then. It had been my last real summer since entering the wizarding world. I sighed, looking at the dog, and said, "It'll be a long walk, how about we stop for some food and then work on a name for you?"

A soft yip was reply enough for me, so I headed towards the exit of the playground, grateful Hermione had put a weightless charm on my trunk. I opened Hedwig's cage and said, "I haven't really any idea where you can go yet, Hedwig, but I don't want you to be cooped up the whole walk there."

Suddenly, the dog grabbed my wand from my pocket, shaking it about like a stick, and letting out a slight whimper as sparks emitted and struck him on the nose. I grabbed my wand off the ground, sticking it back in my pocket just as a large, purple double decker bus came roaring to a stop in front of me.