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The hour was late and the night was cold as Harry Potter wandered through Hogwarts’ labyrinthine corridors. His invisibility cloak protected him from being spotted by wandering ghosts, nosy paintings, and cantankerous caretakers.
His thoughts were heavy, weighing on his mind as his feet led him through familiar pathways. Being chosen as the fourth Triwizard Champion against his will hadn’t been surprising. The last three years at Hogwarts had been amazing, but he wouldn’t call them safe.
At least the threat was obvious this time. Just a tournament so dangerous that it was canceled centuries ago. He didn’t care how many assurances Minister Fudge gave about the new security measures, his competitors had several years schooling and experience on him. Everyone was too focused on the glory and gold offered to the winner to care about his complaints about participating. If he did not want to compete, why had his name come out of the goblet? Even Ron had gotten it in his head that Harry wanted the money and fame.
Night’s chill crept through the stone floors and walls, sending a shiver down Harry’s back. He tugged at the edge of the Weasley sweater he had thrown on over his shirt and jeans. The stitching was bare and some of the edges frayed from use, but it was thick and warm.
It was like second year all over again, but worse. It drove him to avoid people, wandering alone at night to escape the stares and whispers.
He considered stopping by the kitchen. Dobby would be happy to see him and the Hogwarts’ house elves wouldn’t let him leave without a snack and a hot drink. The perfect way to end this night’s brooding.
He pulled a torch from the wall until he heard a click. A secret passage appeared next to the torch and he climbed the revealed stairs. A simple corridor, paintings on the walls, and knight statues flanking both doors with windows to one side greeted him when he slipped out the other side.
He stopped at the window to reorient himself, staring at the half moon reflected in the Black Lake. Hogwarts had many secret passages and corridors, but they didn’t always lead to the same places. The castle liked to mix them up every few months.
From the angle and location, he surmised he was close to the Ravenclaw common room. It was farther away from the kitchen than when he started, but it was a straight shot to the main staircase from here.
The door opposite him creaked open and Harry watched a short, blonde girl wearing a simple night dress and no shoes skip into the corridor. She curtsied to the knight statues and started fluttering around. She inspected all the paintings, waving at the curious inhabitants.
Harry recognized her when she waltzed past the wall he was leaning against. Luna Lovegood was a year underneath him and a friend to the Weasleys. Harry had met her a couple times, but the late hour and strangeness of the situation had dulled his mind.
He watched her as she walked up and down the corridor, looking behind vases and under the windows. Her nightgown wasn’t nearly enough in this weather and he could see her shivering.
Harry swept the cloak off his body, stuffing it into a pocket. “Good evening, Luna.”
“Good evening, Harry,” Luna replied, turning towards him with a smile. If she was frightened by his sudden appearance, she didn’t show it. “What brings you out this late at night?”
“It’s quiet,” Harry said. “You?”
“Some nargles got into my room and stole my clothes,” Luna said calmly, stepping up to the window next to Harry.
“Does that happen often?”
“Often enough.”
Harry frowned and looked at her blue toes and shaking hands. “What’s a nargle?”
She turned her wide eyed gaze to him and tilted her head. “An invisible creature attracted to mistletoe. They like to cause mischief when no one is looking.”
Harry stood up from the wall and took off his Weasley sweater, handing it to her. She shimmied it over her head, the hem dropping a few inches past her nightgown. Sitting down, she curled against the wall and covered her feet and hands under the home-made clothing. Harry slid down the wall next to her and she looked at him.
“Could you help find my clothes?” she asked.
“Of course, Luna,” he replied. “Dobby!”
With a crack, a wide eyed house elf popped into existence. Large, floppy ears poked out from underneath five nightcaps. The entire stack swayed dramatically and only stayed atop Dobby’s head because of the suspenders tied into his three pairs of shorts.
Luna looked down and observed Dobby wearing an open toed sandal on one foot and three socks on the other.
“Great Harry Potter has called for Dobby?” The house elf’s tone was mixed between happy and awed.
“Luna’s clothes have been stolen by nargles,” Harry explained. “Can you find them and bring them back to her?”
Dobby straightened up and snapped a salute, sending his hat wobbling dangerously. “Dobby will not fail the Great and Generous Harry Potter!”
With another pop, the progressively dressed house elf vanished. After a few moments of silence, Luna giggled.
“I like him,” she said. “Is he your house elf?”
Harry shook his head. “No, he is my friend. Dobby is a free elf that works at Hogwarts after I rescued him from the Malfoys.”
“I can see why you called for him, specifically.”
“Oh?”
“His acute fashion sense.”