Chapter 31: Drunk

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"Quibbler! Quibbler!"

I looked up from my book, Advance Rune Translation, to see Luna at the door of car on the train. I couldn't help but notice the pair of red and blue cardboard glasses covering most of her face. Upon her entrance, I noticed Ron began to shift uncomfortably in his seat and seemed suddenly fascinated with Harry's invisibility cloak.

"Hello, Harry." She smiled. "Hermione."

"Hi, Luna." Harry responded. "What you got there?"

"Copy of the Quibbler. Great article on Wrackspurts."

Ron scoffed. "What's a Wrackspurts?"

She avoided his gaze and organized the pile in her hands. "They're invisible creatures that float in your ears and make your brain go fuzzy."

"I'll take a copy, Luna." I stated, getting my money out and depositing it in her hand.

She smiled and turned to continue down the corridor. I gave Ron a pointed look and continued with my reading. Something was going on between Luna and Ron but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. I had never seen Luna look so uncomfortable. She is usual oblivious to peoples view of her and yet Ron's actions seemed to get to her. Thankfully, Harry broke my repertoire before I could delve further into it.

"It was a ceremony. An initiation."

"Stop, Harry." I sighed. "I know where you're going with this-"

"It happened. He's one of them."

Ron looked between us seeming confused. "One of what?"

"Harry is under the impression that Draco Malfoy is now a Death Eater."

"You're barking. What would You-Know-Who want with a sod like Malfoy?"

Harry wasn't going to drop it. "So what's he doing in Borgin and Burke's? Browsing for furniture."

"It's a creepy shop. He's a creepy bloke." Ron shrugged.

"Look. His father's a Death Eater. It only makes sense." Harry knew we weren't buying it and rose from his seat and snatched the cloak from Ron's hands. "I need some air."

And just like that he left the train car and disappeared. And just like that I reached over and slapped Ron on the arm.

"Ouch!" He screamed as he rubbed at his arm. "What was that for?"

"What did you do to Luna?"

He held his hands up in defense- no doubt expecting another hit from me. "Nothing! I swear!"

"I'm watching you, Ronald! I don't know what happened between the fight in the Department of Mysteries and now but if I find out that you've hurt her..."

"I didn't." He hold makes a cross over his heart. "Cross my heart."

"Good."

I put my feet under me and stared defectively out the window. Then with a loaded sigh I looked down and continued my light reading.
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I craned my neck around the Great Hall, looking for Harry. He hadn't been seen since his exit from the train car earlier and I was beginning to get worried. Ginny and Neville were hovering over a copy of the Quibbler giggling over some random article. I looked towards Ron who was stuffing his face with pudding and glared.

"Don' you worry." He mumbled. "He'll be 'long soon 'nuff-"

I stole the Quibble from Ginny and Neville, rolled it up, and reached across the table to whack Ron with it.

"Will. You. Stop. Eating! Your best friend is missing!"

"Oi!" He screamed, holding a finger out past me. "Turn around, you lunatic."

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