Ginny Weasley was fed up. Her brothers; Fred, George, Ron, even Percy, were just too much. It seemed like they lived to annoy her. Whether it was teasing her, pranking her, or just leaving her out of their adventures, Ginny had had enough. So, one sunny afternoon, she decided she would run away.
With her small backpack slung over her shoulder, she stomped out of the Burrow, determined to find some peace. She didn’t go far, only into the nearby woods, but she felt a sense of freedom nonetheless. Wandering deeper into the trees, she came upon a small, sunny clearing. Sitting cross-legged on a flat rock in the middle was a girl around her age with long, pale blonde hair and a dreamy expression.
“Hello,” the girl said without even turning to look at Ginny, as if she’d known she was there all along.
“Er, hi,” Ginny responded, suddenly unsure of herself. “What are you doing here?”
The blonde turned her head and gave Ginny a serene smile. “I’m looking for Wrackspurts. They make your head go all fuzzy, you know.”
Ginny blinked. She’d never heard of Wrackspurts, but something about the girl’s gentle tone made her curious instead of dismissive. “I’m Ginny,” she said, stepping closer. “What’s your name?”
“I’m Luna. Luna Lovegood,” the girl replied, patting the rock beside her. “Would you like to sit with me? Sometimes, if you’re very quiet, you can hear them.”
Ginny, intrigued by the odd girl, plopped down beside her on the warm rock. They sat together in the silence for a while, and soon, Ginny forgot all about her annoying brothers. Instead, she was fascinated by Luna, who told her about strange creatures, mysterious places, and magical wonders Ginny had never imagined.
From that day on, Ginny found herself visiting Luna almost every afternoon. They would explore the woods together, inventing games, telling stories, and laughing until their sides hurt. Luna didn’t seem to mind Ginny’s fiery temper or her occasional sulkiness, and Ginny found Luna’s quirks charming. In Luna, she had found a friend unlike anyone she’d ever known.
Before long, they were inseparable. They had sleepovers at each other’s houses, with Ginny’s room filled with laughter and Luna’s house full of delightful oddities. They stayed up late whispering about Hogwarts, their dreams, and their secret fears. Luna shared her hopes of one day proving her father’s strange theories, while Ginny confided how she often felt overshadowed by her brothers. Luna never judged her, only offering quiet reassurances in her dreamy voice that Ginny was special, no matter what.
When they both received their Hogwarts letters, their excitement was palpable. Finally, they were going to embark on the adventure they’d always dreamed about. They promised to stick together, to be best friends forever, no matter what.
But something changed in Ginny during that first year.
At first, everything seemed perfect. They’d sit together at meals, meet between classes, and giggle in the library. But then Ginny started pulling away, acting distant and distracted. Luna, ever perceptive in her own way, could sense something was wrong. There was a shadow in Ginny’s eyes, a heaviness that hadn’t been there before.
One evening, Luna found Ginny sitting alone by the lake, staring blankly into the water. Luna approached, her soft voice breaking the silence.
“Ginny… something’s wrong,” Luna let the words hang between them. “This isn’t you!”
Ginny stiffened. For a moment, it seemed like she might burst into tears, but instead, her face twisted into a cruel smirk. Her voice was low and cold, unlike anything Luna had ever heard from her.
“You don’t know anything about me,” Ginny spat, standing up. “You’re just a weird little girl who believes in made-up creatures. No one takes you seriously, Luna. Not even me.”
Luna’s eyes widened, her heart aching at the venom in Ginny’s words. “That’s not true,” she whispered. “We’re friends…”
Ginny’s laugh was sharp and hollow. “Friends? Why would I be friends with someone like you? You’re strange, Luna. You’re always talking about ridiculous things. People laugh at you, and I don’t want to be part of that.”
Luna’s lower lip trembled, but she kept her voice steady. “This isn’t you, Ginny. I know it isn’t. You wouldn’t say these things.”
Ginny’s face twisted with fury, and for a moment, there was a flicker of something, something dark, something not quite her. “Go away, Luna. I don’t want to see you again.”
Luna felt tears prickling at the corners of her eyes, but she didn’t move. She knew something was terribly wrong, and no matter how much Ginny hurt her, she couldn’t abandon her. Still, the weight of the words stung, each insult like a thorn digging into her heart.
“I’m not leaving you,” Luna said quietly, her voice full of the gentle determination that had always defined her. “You’ll come back, Ginny. I know you will.”
But Ginny only stormed off, leaving Luna standing alone by the lake, the wind rustling the trees around her. Luna wiped her eyes, taking a deep breath. No matter what had happened, she believed in her friend. And she would wait, as long as it took, for Ginny to return to her.
Because that was what best friends did.