Luna I
Luna often found herself drawn to the peculiar and arcane, an odd sort of solace in things others might shy away from. The presence of the mysterious woman, Echidna, therefore, ignite a wondrous flame rather than fear in her heart. The lesser known always held such beauty in this world. As they meandered through the dense, whispering forest searching for now hidden Wrackspurts, Luna's steps were light, almost dance-like, mirroring her buoyant curiosity.
Echidna was different from the typical visitors Hogsmede received. Echidna's appearance was peculiar, though not nonexistent. Her hair was as white as the first snow of winter, cascading down her back like a frozen waterfall, and her eyes a void of unreachable depths. Even the way Echidna moved differed, she came across as if she hasn't walked in her entire life but still sure footed. "She looks like she could be a character straight out of 'The Tales of Beedle the Bard'," A faint smile came upon Lunas features at the thought.
She neither has the air of a professor, nor does she seem lost. Luna silently wondered what quest brought her to the forest grounds.
To Luna, Echidna was quickly becoming like the riddles of the Ravenclaw common. "Maybe she's here to uncover some hidden magical creature, or perhaps she's tracking down a rare potion ingredient," Luna thought, her imagination blooming with possibilities. "Or could she be on a secret mission? Maybe she's a detective of the magical world!"
The idea of Echidna being involved in some sort of quest of her own seemed to fit perfectly. Perhaps she was researching herbs an extraordinary spell or seeking an ancient magical artifact, Luna continued her train of thought, her mind a whirlpool of fanciful ideas. Maybe she's here to consult the Hogwarts library; it's one of the largest repositories of magical knowledge, after all.
In Luna's world, where the the lines of reality were beautifully blurred, Echidna fit right in. She was another puzzle piece in the grand, intricate webbing of the world, a world where every being had a role in its synergy. .
Luna's gaze rested on Echidna once more, a soft smile gracing her lips. Whatever her reason for being here, I'm sure it's a fascinating one. The Forbidden forest always has room for mystery today was no exception.
She realized she was being forgetful of herself and looks over to the woman again. "Thank you for helping me find my Spectrespecs," Luna said in her dreamy voice, her large silvery eyes reflecting genuine gratitude. "I don't know what I would do without them. They're quite essential for spotting Wrackspurts, you know."
Her eyes, gleaming with a subtle intrigue, studied Luna's Spectrespecs with an analytical gaze. "In my own pursuits of knowledge, I have encountered many peculiar entities and metia, but Wrackspurts are new to me. I find the distinctive magical elements of this realm quite remarkable."
Luna pondered Echidna's words thoughtfully, her gaze drifting towards the canopy of leaves above them, dappled with the golden hues of the setting sun. "Another realm?" she mused silently. The idea wasn't as far-fetched to Luna as it might be to others; though still she assumed the woman simply meant she was coming from another country.
"Perhaps she's a visitor from America," Luna considered, recalling the stories and pictures she had seen in 'The Quibbler'. "Or maybe even a professor from Mahoutokoro." Luna's eyes returned to Echidna, taking in her attire once more. It did have a certain elegance and exotic flair to it, reminiscent of the images she had seen in her Wizarding World History classes. The robes of Mahoutokoro were known for their distinctive style, and Echidna's outfit seemed to somewhat echo that aesthetic.
Her imagination began to weave tales around Echidna, envisioning her as a learned scholar from the esteemed Japanese wizarding school, perhaps on a sabbatical to explore the magical traditions of other cultures. "She must have seen so many wonders," Luna thought, her eyes sparkling with admiration and curiosity.
As they continued their walk, Luna's innate curiosity bubbled to the surface. "If you don't mind me asking, Echidna," she began in her soft, singsong voice, "what brings you here? You have an air of someone from far beyond the hills and valleys of Hogwarts."
Echidna's response was a small smirk, as if amused by Luna's question. Luna, undeterred by the lack of a direct answer, continued, "You see, I've heard about witches and wizards from distant lands from my father, but you seem... different."
Echidna's smile widened ever so slightly, a playfulness filling previously abyssal irises. "Different, you say?" she mused, her voice as smooth as silk. "Perhaps that's because I am not of your world in any respect. I come from a place where magic... Takes on a different form, magic is more a part of us."
Luna listened carefully, her eyes extensive with fascination truly another world? "A different shape of magic?" she echoed, her imagination already painting vivid dreams. "That sounds particularly exciting. Is it like the magic we've got here at Hogwarts?"
"Not quite, at least from the little i've seen" Echidna spoke back, her gaze drifting to the canopy above as if recalling reminiscences from a distant past. "The magic I understand is more... Intertwined with the very fabric of reality. Here there seems to be a greater separation. Where I come from, it's as natural as the air we breathe, an elemental force bound to our souls."
"In the Forbidden Forest?" Luna asked, her question flowing more naturally. "I've always felt the magic there is older, wilder, more intrinsic. Is it like that?"
Echidna nodded slightly. "Similar, yes. This Forest does have a more ancient, untamed magic. But even that pales in comparison to the raw, primal energy that permeates everything in my realm."
Luna's thought Echidna's answer was strange she always heard the magic here was the same as the magic societies around the world. The same must be true even for another world if her words rang true. "What was it like, experiencing such a shift in magical energy when you arrived here?"
Echidna paused, considering her response. "It was disorienting at first. The magic here is like a different language, one I am still learning to understand. But there's a beauty in its complexity, a rhythm and order… to see such pointless displays of pride however is unbecoming."
Luna furrowed her brow slightly, Echidna's description of the magic here puzzling her. She had always understood that magic, in its essence, was a universal language, though its expressions varied across cultures. The mention of "pointless displays of pride" in particular set Luna's thoughts adrift. She recalled instances where her classmates in Gryffindor, and sometimes even those in Slytherin, would cast spells that were more about showmanship than substance.
"What do you mean by pointless displays of pride?" Luna asked, her voice tinged with genuine curiosity. She thought of the spells that were often more flash than function, wondering if this was what Echidna referred to.
Echidna's eyes held a reflective quality as she answered. "Take, for example, the Daily Prophet paper I came across. Its magical presentation of words flowing in myriad directions, changing fonts seemingly at whim – I found it disorienting and unnecessary. It felt more like a showcase of magical prowess than a means of effective communication. Though there is a certain greed in such a display I can respect"
Luna tilted her head, considering this perspective. The Daily Prophet had always been a part of her world, its dynamic and animated pages a norm in the wizarding community. "I suppose I've never thought of it that way," she admitted. "It's always been like that, ever since I can remember. Even the older editions my father has shared carry the same style."
She paused, pondering Echidna's viewpoint. "I can see how it might be confusing to someone not used to it. It's very different from the muggle newspapers. But you're not a muggle, are you? Your nature seems far too... intricate for that."
Echidna offered a faint, knowing smile."Indeed I suspect whatever a muggle is to you I am certain not one" she responded with a tone of gentle inquiry. "However, I find myself curious. What exactly is a muggle?"
Luna's eyes lit up at the question, eager to share a piece of her world though also curious how different it must be to not have "Muggles". "Oh, a muggle is a human who doesn't have magic," she explained, her voice taking on the cadence of a storyteller. "They live in a world quite separate from ours, often completely oblivious of the magic that exists all around them. It's a term we use in the wizarding community to describe non-magical people."
"A world without magic..." Echidna mused, her expression reflective. "It must be a vastly different experience, living without any awareness of the magical forces that permeate existence."
"Yes, it's quite different," Luna agreed, her tone soft and dreamy. "But muggles find their own kind of magic in the world, in things like science and art. It's not the same as casting spells or brewing potions, but it's still quite wonderful in its own way."
Echidna's expression shifted to one of understanding, a faint glimmer of realization in her eyes. "Ah, I see," she said thoughtfully.
Luna's mind lingered on Echidna's revelation of being from another world, a concept that stretched the boundaries of her already vast imagination. The idea that someone could come from a place entirely separate from their known world was the stuff of the fantastical tales she loved. Yet, there was something about Echidna – the ethereal quality in her demeanor, the depth in her gaze that seemed to hold ancient secrets – that made Luna consider the possibility. "Could she truly be an exception to what we understand about magic?" Luna wondered, her thoughts swirling like leaves in a mystical dance.
As these thoughts danced in her mind, Luna's eyes caught a subtle movement. The butterfly pin in Echidna's hair – a beautiful, intricate creature of green and black – seemed to come to life, gently fluttering it's wings. Luna watched, mesmerized, as the butterfly took flight, leaving Echidna's hair and dancing through the air.
Curiosity getting the better of her, Luna asked, "How did you come to be here, in our world?"
Echidna's answer came with a reflective tone, as if she were recalling a dream. "It was purely accidental," she explained. "In my realm, I had willingly entered a deep slumber, awaiting someone to awaken me. But it seems the one who came did far more than merely rouse me from my sleep. They somehow brought me here, beyond the great waterfall of my world." She chuckled softly to herself, the sound carrying a mix of bewilderment and curiosity.
"The great waterfall..." Luna echoed, her mind painting images of colossal cascades in mystical lands. Her gaze drifted to a wrackspurt floating nearby, visible only through her Spectrespecs. She pondered on asking Echidna about this great waterfall but decided to keep her focus on the present task.
Just then, a butterfly, identical in appearance to Echidna's hairpin, fluttered past Luna's right eye. She glanced back at Echidna, only to notice the pin was no longer there. "Could it be her familiar?" Luna thought, a sense of wonder filling her. An insect familiar is quite unusual, but then again, so is almost everything about her. The idea of a butterfly familiar, so delicate and free, yet so integral to its witch, seemed fitting for Echidna.
Finally Luna's eyes spotted a wrackspurt. Its flight was erratic and whimsical, a dance of the unseen that only she could appreciate. A great excitement bubbled within her. "Look, Echidna, a wrackspurt!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with the thrill of the chase. "Let's follow it; they often lead to interesting places." She didn't wait for a response, her feet carrying her swiftly along the creature's flight path, guided by the invisible yet palpable presence of the wrackspurt.
Echidna, clearly unaccustomed to such an impromptu and whimsical pursuit, followed with earnest determination. Her movements, though graceful, lacked the carefree agility Luna displayed. As they navigated through the dense underbrush. Echidna's pace begin to lag, lines of perspiration marking her brow and arms, evidence of her effort to keep up in unfamiliar territory.
Their chase led them deeper into the forest, where the canopy above meshed the evening suns glow and the forest thick leaves. The elusive wrackspurt finally seemed within reach.
Suddenly a stern and authoritative voice resonated through the trees, halting their pursuit. "Miss Lovegood, what are you doing in the forest at this hour?" Luna, slightly startled, turned to see the familiar figure of Professor McGonagall approaching, her expression etched with both concern and anger.
As McGonagall's gaze shifted to Echidna, her stern demeanor wavered, leading way to suspicion and worry. "And who might this be?" she inquired, her voice maintaining its firmness but with a sharpened edge. The lines on her face, usually set in authoritative composure, now betrayed a hint of unease as she regarded the unknown woman standing beside her student in the secluded forest.
Echidna, meeting McGonagall's gaze, stood with an air of calm respect, an unspoken acknowledgment of the professor's authority in her posture. The depths of her eyes seemed to momentarily deepen, before she gave a slight nod.
"I am Echidna," she introduced herself, her voice remaining smooth and even. "I find myself here by accident, and I am just as curious about your world as you are about my presence."
McGonagall's gaze remained fixed on Echidna, her eyes sharp and penetrating, trying to decipher the truth behind her words. "I see," she replied, her voice still edged but now couples with undercurrents of confusion. "I must insist that you come with me. Your presence here is highly unusual, and we need to ensure that Hogwarts' safety is not compromised."
"Of course, . I am eager to learn more about your world as well." Echidna's response was marked by a faint smile of genuine interest, not dissimilar to the demeanor of a scholar intrigued by a new subject of study. Just then, the butterfly familiar, having briefly explored the night air, fluttered back to Echidna, seamlessly resuming its guise as a hairpin in her hair.
"And who might you be?" Her tone carried a hint of curiosity, recognizing the Professors commanding presence.
McGonagall, her skepticism palpable, introduced herself with a brief, stern reply. "I am Professor Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, " she stated, her voice conveying an unshakable will. Her gaze continuing to scrutinize every detail of her features.
"Miss Lovegood, you and... Echidna," she said, emphasizing the name as if testing its truth, "will come with me to my office. We must discuss this matter further."
Her tone left no room for argument, echoing with the authority that came from years of stewardship over the students and secrets of Hogwarts. "There will be no exceptions," she added sternly, her eyes commanding.
As she spoke, McGonagall's gaze warily returned to Echidna, no doubt mind filled with unspoken questions and suspicions. "It is imperative that we gain full comprehension of your presence here," McGonagall continued, her tone becoming protective.
Echidna, seemingly unperturbed by the severity of the situation, nodded in acknowledgment. "As you wish, Professor Mi- … McGonagall," she replied, her voice briefly unsettled as she cuts herself off, Luna found herself wondering what could have caused such a composed and mysterious woman to momentarily lose her poise. "Does the name 'McGonagall' mean something more to her?" Luna thought, her mind teeming with possibilities. The night air seeming to still around them, the forest holding its breath as two worlds, each mysterious in its own right, met under the watchful eyes of the trees leaving even the nargles mute.
A.N. Its been 84 years, apologies for the long wait on the update I got busy with school then got invested in ff16 (may write a fic for that one day) and then focused on my fitness and self development over summer, then school again, then a older family member along with myself got covid well right before I was finishing the semester. THroughout it all I admittedly was more focused on getting more chapters out for my Nier/ASOIAF fic "A Song of Bards and Maso" . Though I never intended to leave people hanging on this fic this long. I'd say im a much more disciplined person when it comes to writing and getting things done these days. All the same writers block still happens but I aim to start updating my 3 priority fics (this being one of them) a lot more regularly.
Also been looking at videos for outlining and writing advice and such. Which definitely is helpful to make the planning phase a lot more coherent.
This story does have a general outline theres still plenty of in between moments I have to figure out.
Anyways hope everyone enjoyed this chapter. Curious what everyone thinks of both Lunas POV if it seemed in character along with the other canon character that appears here.