//------------------------------// // The Shadow // Story: The Moon's Tear // by Luna Sapphire //------------------------------// Unlike what Luna expected, the last month of vacation passed quickly. She still couldn't help but miss her sister and her world every day, but she had adapted quickly to her new life here. Without any guide who could teach her about the magical world, she devoted some time to read her school books or even go to the bookstore. Moreover, Jacklyn and Rebecca were even willing to teach her everything, not only about the Muggle world, as wizards referred to the non-magical world - although there was technology and, to Luna, it was just a different form of magic, because Luna didn't see another way for humans to create and control lightning to make all those strange devices operate - as they also taught her about things common to both worlds. Luna was devoted mainly to learn how to do things without magic, with the justification for her friends where she was from others always did things for her, which for certain things wasn't anything from the truth, while for others, not so much. Rebecca was acting much like Celestia in the role of "big sister", although the two were very different, which didn't help much that Luna felt the absence from home, so she avoided her older friend as much as possible, which wasn't easy since Rebecca accompanied Jacklyn almost everywhere outside their home. Finally the morning of September 1 arrived and Luna felt ready to face the new adventure that would be the school. Luna looked in the mirror. She wore her white shirt, dark blue jeans and jacket, all with the moon symbol, which Star Gate had sent her, a black cap that Rebecca had bought her, embroidered in the same way and black boots with silver details, also a present from Rebecca. But how would she carry her trunk to the station? Magic was out of the question and there were so many things in there... She went down to the floor below and got help to carry the trunk to the outside of the bar, then she had an idea. She searched in her pockets for the rest of her Muggle money left from her last visit to the arcade. It seemed her lucky day, which was news to her. There were four coins. She picked one and ran to the nearest pay phone. Luckily Rebecca taught her how to use them. They were faster than using letters, but more expensive and less safe. In ten minutes there she was on the way to the station, in the back seat of the car that Rebecca had borrowed from her parents. Luna found a letter from Star Gate next to her stuff. Now, in the car, she opened and read it. Just writing to wish you good luck, Princess. I hope you have a good trip. P.S: One thing I forgot to tell you; passage onto the platform. The wall between platforms 9 and 10 is nothing but a spell of illusion. Just don't let the Muggles see you. P.P.S: The Headmaster knows about you, don't trust this secret to anyone else. May the stars light up your way, Princess of the Night! Letters from Star Gate were getting weirder. Luna folded it and put it in her pocket. Rebecca was still a novice driver. Luckily they had left early and managed to get to the station a little before time. Luna said goodbye, while Rebecca helped her put the trunk in a cart. Then she ran to the platform, trying to pass as unnoticed as possible and crossed the barrier hoping nobody would notice. She was still not sure about trusting Star Gate, but at least she was being useful. If something bad were to happen, it was at Hogwarts where she would have to be careful. She walked down the train looking for an empty compartment but all seemed to be already occupied. Maybe she should just hit one and try to make some friends, when she found the door of one compartment open and a boy smiling at her: Harry Potter. "I saw you coming." He commented. "I thought you'd want a quieter place to stay." "Away from people asking questions that I might not want to answer?" She asked, laughing. "It's a great idea. Thank you." Harry didn't move from the compartment door, giving her a brief look, then finally went in and sat down. "You've changed." He said in explanation to his look. "Sounds more like if you belonged here than an alien planet. Wish I could say the same of me." He muttered. "Come on, you belong here. You're a normal kid." But at that moment they heard a voice from outside the train. "Hey, Mum, guess what? Guess who we just met on the train?" Harry sank into the seat, but Luna approached the window to see three boys and a girl with their mother at the station. The speaker was one of the twins. "You know that black-haired boy who was near us in the station? Know who he is?" "Who?" The mother asked. "Harry Potter!" The twins answered. "Okay, I take that back." Luna replied. "Oh, Mum, can I go on the train and see him, please…" The girl asked. "You've already seen him, Ginny, and the poor boy isn't something you goggle at in a zoo. Is he really, Fred? How do you know?" "Asked him. Saw his scar. It's really there — like lightning." "Getting attention wherever you go..." Luna said, sitting in front of Harry. "And who spoke is the girl with the..." He hesitated for a moment. "... Pony ears." Luna added. "Yeah, right, you got me." "About the ears..." Harry began, not knowing if he should ask. "My sister accidentally bewitched me. Nobody ever managed to undo it." She replied, removing her cap. "What was she trying to do? Transform you in a pony? Is that possible?" "Something like it. I think. Nor do I know if this is possible, but I think so." Then the compartment door opened, revealing the younger redhead. "Is anyone sitting here?" He asked, pointing to the seat next to Luna. "The rest of the train is full." Harry shook his head and he sat down. He looked at Harry, then at Luna, then turned to the door, pretending he hadn't looked. "Hi Ron!" Said three voices and the twins and a redheaded girl. She wore her hair slightly longer than Luna and wore a hairpiece done in the colors of the rainbow It looked so natural on her Luna would swear her hair was stained that color if she couldn't see it was attached to a cloud-shaped hairclip. "So the boys told the truth. Are you Harry Potter?" She smiled. "I'm Roxanne Dare. Those are Fred and George. And it seems that you have met their youngest brother, Ron." She looked at Luna. "And you are?" "Luna Stars." "So, anyone out there brave enough to come with us?" She asked. "We go to the middle of the train. Lee Jordan brought a giant tarantula." "I will!" Luna offered, full of curiosity. "See you later, boys." And waving, she walked out with the triplets into the hallway. "So where are you from, Luna?" Roxanne asked. "Far away. I'm not sure." "Cool. Liked the clothes. Quite style-" "Fred, George, Roxy!" A boy called, diverting their attention from Luna, before Roxanne could say whatever she was about to say. "There you are!" The boy had to be Lee Jordan. Luna thought. He carried a large box and several other children followed him. He was headed for them next. "Anyone brave enough to open the box?" He asked. "I am!" Luna offered, but another girl had said it at the same time. She was slightly older than Luna, but younger than Roxanne. She wore a black tank top with the drawing of a silver wolf howling at the moon, blue jeans and white sneakers. Her hair was red, short and rebellious and she had a white scar over her right eye. "Two courageous girls!" Lee analyzed Luna. "And a first year. What a surprise!" "Have you ever seen a giant tarantula, Luna?" Fred, or maybe it was George, Luna couldn't recognize them, asked. "No. But I've seen much scarier things." She thought she had no problem admitting. "Well, one more for Carla's club." The other twin laughed. "What kind of things?" The girl, who Luna supposed to be Carla, asked. "Trolls and Goblins of ice, Snow Spirits, a Manticore; specters of Nightmares..." She shrugged. "Giant tarantulas should be a breeze for you then." Carla opened the box and a black, large and hairy spider came out. Most students shouted and ran off, others climbed the seats, frightened. Luna was calm and didn't move when the spider moved toward her. Then it was as if everything froze and darkened, the spider seemed to grow the height of the car, glowing red eyes and fangs menacingly gleaming silver. She smells the darkness in you. It's not real, but a false step and it can be. Said a voice in the air. In a flash everything was back to normal and Luna found herself lying on the ground, the spider moving up to her, but Carla jumped in front of her and... growled at the spider? The spider returned to the box, which Lee Jordan quickly closed while Carla left the car. She looked strange. "What happened?" Luna asked. Only she, the twins, Roxanne and Lee remained. "I don't know." said the four in unison. "One moment everything was normal, the next Carla was stopping the spider from biting you." One of the twins said. "Everything was strange and I heard a voice..." Luna said. "I don't know, but it's better you return to your car." Roxanne replied.