With a spring in each of her steps after a hearty lunch, her blonde hair bobbing up and down with each hop and skip she made, Luna Lovegood held several pieces of parchment and leather-bound books to her chest. The parchment was for, of course, writing down notes on what to cover on the newsletter, whilst the books were to provide some interesting reading material on the previous Tri-Wizard Tournament Trials. The third year student was most keen to start writing for the newsletter, and had been doing her own little research into the subject of the competition, haven taken several books out of the library to make sure she was fully prepped for the meeting. Filius Flitwick, the Head of Ravenclaw, had made it a point to tell her that at least one Fourth Year, Hermione Granger, would be assisting in writing for the columns which only just made the younger student gleeful - She didn't know someone else was just as interested in this year's grand event like she was. Especially the trials. Luna couldn't wait to see what manner of magical creatures there would be. Perhaps Nargels? Or Crumple-Horned Snorkacks? She hadn't seen one of those before! Off in her own world as she dreamed of how such a beast as elusive as the Snorkack might look, she heard a few students clad in the green of Slytherin call after her.
"Loony Lovegood!" "Loony!" "Your father's a Lunatic, Loony!"
Luna clicked her tongue, her eyes losing their innocent gleam for a second as her thoughts were cut off by the same old insults. Oh how she wished the Slytherin's were creative enough to come up with some new material. It had gotten dull to be called Loony Lovegood everyday for the past two years, and it would seem the third year was of no exception. Continuing on, she pushed open the large doors and made her way out, her curious eyes falling to both a student and a teacher, the teacher clad in black, as well as the student whose robes were trimmed with green. Her eyes moved on upwards to see the blonde hair. Oh, so that must be Draco Malfoy. Her father had mentioned once or twice about Lucius, and how that 'snake of a man' had made many problems for The Quibbler. But she hadn't really met the Malfoy's only son, or even seen him much for that matter. Taking a thoughtful pause, she stopped and went to write something down. Inspiration! Apart from talking to those of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, she could inquire as to what each house thought of the Tournament! It would also be quite enlightening to see who was rooting for whom within the houses, and to see who would become the champion...
Would they be from her own house Ravenclaw? Highly unlikely, they were more cut of the academic cloth, but there was still a possibility. After all, they had a Quidditch team like any other house, and they were just as strong as any other team. Perhaps Hufflepuff. They could use the glory, unlike houses like Gryffindor or Slytherin, who practically made a rivalry that affected both her own house and the Hufflepuffs, as they were often in the limelight. But only time would tell. Luna was just the sort to ponder on the unknown, and make a wild guess as she was doing at this moment in time. She lifted her head up, giving an almost distant look as her grey eyes met with first Professor Snape, focusing when he called her name and gestured to Draco. Her gaze fell down to the blonde student whose cheeks were still tinged red from embarrassment. Whatever he had done, it obvious that the Head of Slytherin had caught him in the act of causing trouble. However, her lips twitched and curved into a gentle smile as the Potions Professor explained that the Slytherin Student was to contribute to the newsletter alongside her. With a sweep of his robes, the teacher draped in black turned on his heel and departed into the dungeons nearby, leaving the Fourth Year with the younger student.
"Draco is it? Or do you prefer Malfoy? You can call me Luna or Miss Lovegood, it's all the same to me," She finally spoke, her tone being just as soft spoken as her innocent demeanor. She gave another smile before gesturing him to follow her up the stairs. "What do you need to do...? Well, there's at least one of student who wishes to contribute to the newsletter. She's from Gryffindor. Her name is Hermione Granger, or at least, that's what Professor Flitwick has told me. She's only doing it voluntarily though, same as me," The blonde began to ascend the staircase, considering her next words. She decided against bringing up the obvious rivalry between the Lions and Snakes - It would just add some fuel to the fire, but better to at least inform Draco of who will be there. "As for what you'll be doing, I think you can assist me in the first article, which will be to interview the students of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang. I'd like to hear their honest opinions on the trials, as well as who they think will become their champion," She then paused, writing that down and sighing somewhat. Her quill had barely ink left on the tip, so she resigned to stopping with her notes for now. Placing the quill and rest of her belongings in her own messenger bag, she flattened the contents down before shutting the cover over, and looked to Draco as they stood still, waiting for the now moving staircase to return back on the right track.
"I think it would also be a good idea to see who is the favourite to become champion in each house... I mean I'm sure there has to be several fifth years or higher who want to join from each house," Luna added, before she started walking again - The stairs had finally stopped at their right destination, so it was best to keep on moving. "What about Slytherin? Would you say there's anyone from Slytherin who you know whose willing to join the tournament?" She asked, out of curiosity. "Either way, it's definitely a priority of mine to see what students of the different houses think of the Tournament and the trials. Oh, and later on when the trials actually start up, we'll be able to interview the selected Champions and see just what they think they'll be facing later on," Luna smiled, and waited for Draco to catch up to her, before she pushed open the library door for them both.
Harry said nothing, being sat in the next to Hermione where he gazed almost half longingly out of the window. This summer at the Dursley's was almost worse what with knowing he had family capable of looking after him in the magical world, someone who didn't treat him like a slave labourer, and even though he had spent the last half of his summer at the Weasley's home, The Burrow, there was still a sense of longing for spending time with his friends. He continued to watch both the twin brother's seemed to be teasing their younger brother, whilst Ginny looked on, laughing at the trio of red heads enjoying themselves. Watching them, Harry found himself smiling, but a part of him on the inside may of been slightly bitter within. Or better yet, bittersweet. He knew, that the Weasley's had welcomed him with open arms and hearts, even more so when Molly Weasley had heard of the events of his second year when he rescued Ginny from the Basilisk. Every year in Summer, he never heard the end of it.
"Oh, you saved our poor Ginny! How can we ever thank you?"
"Harry, dear, if we can ever do anything for you, let us know!"
However, the thought of a doting mother didn't make him cringe the way it did to his best friend, in fact, he perhaps slightly envied the relationship the Weasley's had within their family. They were a large family, no doubt about it, but there was no denying that there was plenty of love and warmth from every single one of them, enough to spare for people outside of the Weasley name. He gave one last glance out the window, before Hermione's voice snapped him out of his thoughts, and he turned to look at his other best friend - One of the smartest students in the whole of his year, brewing Polyjuice Potion before they even reached their Third Year, and even finding the ways and means to attend more than one class at the same time during the whole of last year. Truly, she was a shining academic, and sometimes Harry wondered why someone like Hermione wasn't sorted into Ravenclaw. Of course, he knew better than to question the Sorting Hat, even if he himself had begged the enchanted hat to not place him in Slytherin. He tapped his own fingers on the desk, taking a second glance at the stack of parchment. Hermione had a knack for making him do his homework, whether he wanted to or not.
"Yeah...It's no problem," He answered, looking to the girl sat in the chair next to him. Harry listened to her as she read out facts about the Tri-Wizard Tournament, and smiled somewhat as she went onto to state facts about the previous Tournaments. "So...The other schools...They are Durmstrang and....Beauxbatons," He raised an eyebrow, hoping he got both school names right. If not, he was going to look like a bit of a fool otherwise. "Durmstrang are from the Northern Regions of Scandinavia, whilst Beauxbatons is situated in France...Am I right?" He asked, checking the text book in front of him. After a quick flick through the first pages on Wizarding Schools Throughout the Ages, he got an answer and smiled to himself. At least this studying of sorts was actually sticking with him. He took a moment to read through another section in the leather-bound book that Hermione had pushed between them, reading the passage that she had found interesting enough to share with him. He nodded in response, before continuing to read. He himself found that he was enjoying the idea of just being able to relax this year and watch the tournament. For this year, he was content with just being with his friends and studying for his O.W.Ls next year.
As if she was reading his mind, Hermione made a comment on how she too, hoped that their fourth year could be less eventful than their First, Second and Third years. He nodded in agreement once more, mumbling a quiet yeah as he looked down and away. Even if it had been three years, the time had flown by so quickly, that by the time it came round to getting back on the Hogwarts Express, he was never ready to leave to return back to his normal life with his Aunt and Uncle. As Hermione mentioned that it was a long time a go, he smiled, looking to her.
"Yeah. It feels like it were only yesterday that you walked in the carriage me and Ron were sitting in, looking for Neville's Toad..But it really was a long time ago, if you think about it... Four years is a long time. But here's to hoping for an uneventful year," He added, giving a nod before he tilted his head. "So...Shouldn't this Luna Lovegood be here soon? And she's in Ravenclaw?" He questioned, before pausing, trying to recall if he'd met her. Briefly, he remembered Ginny introducing a girl in charcoal black robes with a blue hem, the blonde having a day-dreamer's aura about her. Eventually, he stopped talking, and looked up as he saw the library door open. Yes, that was Luna walking in, but why was she with Malfoy, of all people?
"Is...Is Malfoy going to be helping with the newsletter?" Harry asked, his voice hushed. The dotty Ravenclaw student and the Slytherin were only at the door and of course, no where near their table yet, but he still would rather they both not hear his question towards Hermione.