* * * Starring * * *
Emma Watson
"Hermione Granger"
Evanna Lynch
"Luna Lovegood"
Can't Fight the Moonlight
"The World is Not OK!" Copyright © 2008
Episode Six
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters created originally by Rupert and are copyrighted to him, any reposting or archiving without written permission is an infringement on the copyright of this series. So in other words You damn well better ask before you steal it.
Feedback: Every author in his or her own way makes it a point to ask for feedback when posting a story, well me I don't usually. But there are several reasons as to why a reader should consider taking the time to give it. The simple fact is that giving some form of feedback is truly the most important thing a reader can do after reading and enjoying a story. Hopefully in the process providing that author with at least one viable reason as to what you liked about the story. This small amount of time spent will no doubt inspire the author to write more and possibly at a quicker pace, knowing that they have a fan base who are waiting on their next works. So thanks for the feedback and please keep it comin.
Summary: None
Original Airdate: October 21, 2008 @ 9:00 p.m.
(following an ALL NEW 'Bad Girl')
Story Codes: no sex
Two weeks had gone by since she had broken up with Ron and life had been remarkably similar for Hermione. She worked most of the time and what little free time she had was often spent reading. Somehow Ron had become a very small part of Hermione’s life even before the break-up so it didn’t matter match when they actually broke up for real. She had popped into Ron at the joke shop once to see how he was doing. Their short conversation had been polite and neutral it had ended with the two of them agreeing on being friends. George had been very friendly towards Hermione, maybe even a little too friendly. Hermione had a feeling that he might have asked her out had Ron not been in the room.
While George might be both intelligent and funny, he had no chance of snaring Hermione. She had her heart set on someone else. A person who occupied her mind more than anyone had ever done, Luna Lovegood. Hermione’s thoughts about the blonde were mixed between longing and worry. She had not heard anything from Luna and neither had Xeno (Hermione had asked him on several occasions). Luna had said that she might not be able to write home, but it still worried Hermione.
During the two weeks since the break-up Hermione had finally managed to completely sort out her thoughts. She liked Luna, a lot. And not just in a friendly way either. Every time they touched it felt good for Hermione and she couldn’t help but think that Luna was very beautiful. Luna had delicate and sensitive features. Those big eyes were full of wonder and mystery. Her body was slim, but had developed some very nice curves in the last few years. Hermione had always noticed beautiful women, but Luna was something special. It was something about her that really got to Hermione. Luna had had an air of serenity and inner strength that very much appealed to Hermione.
At the moment Hermione was struggling with some legal documents from work. She was sitting at the kitchen table, sipping a cup of hot chocolate and had a fire going in the fireplace. Today was the first real autumn day. The rain was pouring down outside and it was very dark. It was late in the evening, but Hermione wasn’t very tired. The documents concerned proposed changes in the rights of house-elfs so it was a subject that Hermione found very important. Still she had a hard time concentrating. Thoughts of Luna kept popping up in Hermione’s mind. Deeply immersed in thoughts Hermione was momentarily startled when someone knocked on the door. Hermione got up and opened the door and there she saw none other than Luna Lovegood herself. Hermione was momentarily stunned with surprise.
“Hello, Hermione. I hope you don’t mind, but it would be very convenient if I could sleep here tonight.” Luna explained.
Hermione hadn’t really registered the question, the only thing she could think of was the happiness she felt about seeing Luna again. She pulled Luna into a fierce hug. Holding the younger girl in her arms made a wave of warmth wash over Hermione, but only in the figurative sense. Because Luna was both very wet and very cold. Concern taking over Hermione ushered Luna in and closed the door.
“I’m so happy to see you. You have now idea of how worried I have been.”
Luna firmly ignored Hermione’s statement and repeated her question from before.
“Is it alright if I sleep here tonight? Father is away and it was dark at Ollivander’s.”
“Stay here? Of course it is.” Hermione quickly answered.
“Thank y…” Luna was managed to say before she was interrupted.
“Look at you, you are all wet. You need to get out of those clothes right away.” Hermione said and dragged Luna up the stairs without waiting for an answer.
She took Luna to the bathroom and started to fill the tub with hot water.
“Now you get a nice and warm bath and when you are done you can come down to the kitchen. I will cook up something nice for you. Here’s a towel and one of my bathrobes.” Hermione said eager to take care of Luna.
“Thank you, Hermione. You do take very good care of me.” Luna answered as she started to undress.
For a few seconds Hermione stood still, just watching as Luna undressed her layers of wet clothes. Then she suddenly realised what she was doing and bolted out of the bathroom, heading down to the kitchen. On her way down the stairs she chastised herself for being so inappropriate. Hermione started to make some sandwiches for Luna, trying not to think too much about what had just happened. Unfortunately she failed miserably. The image of a naked Luna soaking in the bathtub kept popping up in Hermione’s mind. Hermione finished the cheese sandwich she was making and poured a glass of milk. She set the table, but thought something was missing. Candles. With the flick of her wand Hermione lit up two candles on the table. It was just the right weather for candles and Hermione could not deny that she did find candles romantic.
“You really do take good care of me” Luna said as she came down the stairs.
Hermione blushed and couldn’t even muster an answer. Luna sat down and started to eat.
“Aren’t you going to join me?” Luna asked.
“Uhh, yes of course.” Hermione answered and sat down.
Hermione had thought about Luna so much during the last month, but especially since she had broken up with Ron. But now that Luna was here Hermione was at a loss on what to say or do. Even though she had accepted that she had feelings for Luna she had no idea on how to proceed. While Hermione was strong and confident in most areas, she felt very insecure when it came to relationships. Instead she simply let her curiosity to take over.
“So, Luna. How was Africa?”
Luna looked up from her sandwich and looked into Hermione’s eyes. Hermione felt a chill go down her spine as she looked into Luna’s eyes. Something was different. Somehow Hermione could see profound sadness in Luna’s eyes. Luna just sat there silently looking at Hermione.
“You do see it, Hermione. I have seen things and it has changed me.”
All thoughts of romance were gone. Luna was in deep pain and Hermione could feel it just as if it was her own pain.
“What happened? Did something happen to you?” Hermione asked.
“I am fine, but the world is not.” Luna answered.
She sounded it almost hollow and it practically ripped Hermione apart to hear Luna speak in such a voice. Luna’s face was completely blank, but Hermione felt tears well up in her eyes.
“I am sorry that I have made you sad.” Luna said.
This time her tone was sincere and Hermione felt a fleeting moment of relief that Luna was not completely changed.
“It’s alright. I just want to help you feel better.”
“There is profound cruelty in the world, Hermione. Evil doesn’t always look scary like Voldemort.”
“Please tell me Luna. I have to know what you saw.”
And then Luna started to tell her story.
“The trip was nice for the most part. I travelled all over Africa, learnt a lot of things and met a lot of interesting people. I travelled through deserts and jungles, small villages and big cities. You do remember that spell I showed you in the car? I t was very useful and it helped me meet a lot of people.” Luna started.
As she spoke she was very clear and focused, very much unlike her normal self.
“In the end of the trip, not more than a few days ago I came to Cape Town. I was going to spend a few days there before I flew home. I was walking down the street, with the Lanterna Magica spell in full effect and then I saw the glow. It wasn’t a person however, it was diamond. There was this elegant women walking down the street and she had a very fancy ring with a huge diamond. And that diamond was glowing with magic. The spell only works with souls, Hermione. It wasn’t just some magic diamond. It is a soul in that diamond.”
Luna walked over to her beg, looked through it, took out a ring with a diamond and put it on the table.
“You stole the ring?” Hermione asked in shock.
“Yes, no one should own a diamond with a soul in it.” Luna answered sternly.
“Of course not. You’re right. How did you steal it?”
“It was simple, really. The woman wearing it was a muggle. I simply confounded her and took it.”
“You could have got caught. What if you had ended up in prison.”
“I switched the ring with another ring. It was a plastic ring, but I put a temporary glamour in it too look like this one.”
Hermione was impressed by Luna’s cunning, but she couldn’t help feeling worried about Luna stealing expensive rings. The ring looked mighty expensive and the diamond was huge. It was the most beautiful ring Hermione had ever seen. She took it up and studied it closely.
“It is very beautiful, but it is a work of evil.” Luna said.
Hermione dropped the ring in fear, but Luna picked it up.
“Don’t worry, it is not dangerous. The evil lies in the making of the diamond.” Luna explained.
“How?”
“It isn’t a real diamond. It is made by capturing a soul. The more beautiful, the soul, the more beautiful the diamond.”
“Capturing a soul?”
“Yes, the body and destroyed and the soul is forced to reside forever in this diamond. No eternal peace, just being trapped in a stone.”
Hermione was starting to understand what Luna had been talking about. Not only killing someone, but forever capturing their soul in order to make a diamond really was the worst kind of evil.
“Who, could possibly do something so horrible?” Hermione asked.
“Miller and Post.”
“Who?”
“It is a company in Cape Town. They make the diamonds and other gemstones as well. A soul can turn into any kind of gemstone. Like I said, the more beautiful the soul, the more beautiful the gemstone turns out. It means that they only go after good people.”
“How do you know all this?”
“I asked.”
“Who?”
“Her.” Luna answered and tapped the diamond with her wand.
At first there was a mist coming out of the diamond. Then a figure formed in the mist. It was a woman, seemingly in her thirties. She had a pained expression on her face, but didn’t look disorientated or lost. Hermione had seen ghosts before, but she was still very much shocked.
“This is Joanna Porter. She was a nurse in Soweto, working for the Red Cross. But she was captured, killed and then her soul was captured in this diamond.” Luna explained.
“It is true.” Joanna confirmed and then sunk back in the diamond.
“It is very painful for her to be drawn out of the diamond, I’m afraid. I just had to show you. I know you have to have proof.”
Hermione suddenly felt very guilty, but Luna was quick to notice.
“It is understandable that you want proof. Especially in a case like this. Because this is a matter of life and death.”
“What are you saying?”
“Hermione, I am going to bring this company down. And I want your help. I expect it to be dangerous, but I have to do it.”
Hermione sat awestruck. She had rarely seen Luna so determined and she immediately understood that there was no way to talk Luna out of it. Not that she’d want to anyway. She was just as horrified as Luna and she knew very well that she couldn’t go on living with the knowledge that such a business existed. But that wasn’t all that went through Hermione’s mind. She realized now that she really did love Luna. Not just as a good friend, but as an incredibly brave witch who was willing to risk her life in order to bring down this force of evil.
“I will help you Luna, but we’ll need to be well prepared and we’ll need help.”
XXXcellent story!
Written by
Rupert
Tuesday Night on...
(Fall 2008)
* * 8:00 * *
My First Time
* * 8:30 * *
Bad Girl
* * 9:00 * *
Can't Fight the Moonlight
* * 9:30 * *
When Cyber Meets
Real Life