Harry was a little lost now that he was back at Hogwarts. He didn't know what to do now, without an escaped madman terrorizing the school or Malfoy getting sliced up by Buckbeak. He found his classes to be too easy. Sirius still bought him the Firebolt, which he thought a nice piece of luck. The only real change was getting space from Ron and Hermione. It was easier than he expected. Ron got jealous about the Firebolt, so he stormed off and Hermione was so focused on her doubled schedule that she hardly knew what day it was.
Logically, he knew that he should reach out to make other friends. He found it hard to relate with his classmates. At thirteen their worries were about dating, quidditch, and gossip. Harry did notice that he caught quite a few interested looks from girls, but that felt wrong. Mentally, he was in his thirties. There was the option of dating older students. Again, it was a bit hard to connect. Sixth and Seventh years were the youngest he was willing to go.
Instead, he just focused on learning. And Quidditch. He had forgotten how much he loved the game. Without the Dementors the Gryffindor team went undefeated. When he wasn't in the library he was on the field. He even managed to slip his way in the air when the other Houses were practicing. They weren't happy about it at first, but then he started teaching all of the Seekers how to improve their game. They didn't stand a chance against him, but it made for some amazing games between the other houses.
In a way that was way too fast and somehow excruciatingly slow, the year came to an end. Harry found himself waiting in line to get on the Express. He had made it to the early rush, just after breakfast. There was still a couple of hours before departure. A good portion of the students were in a last-minute panic of packing. This put Harry among the group that were actually prepared to go which gave them the first pick at open cabins.
He was halfway down the first cabin when he found Luna. She was sitting cross-legged on a seat reading. Harry knocked on the door before sliding it open.
"Hello, Mister Potter." Luna smiled up at him.
"Miss Lovegood." Harry returned the smile. "May I join you?"
"Of course." She scooted over on the seat and patted the spot beside her.
Harry slid his trunk onto the basket above before taking the offered spot.
"How was your year?" Harry asked.
Luna thought for a moment. "Different."
"Oh?" Harry asked.
"I can't say how, but what happened this year wasn't what happened this year." Luna swung her legs over his lap, using the wall as a backrest. "No ripped paintings, the dementors were scared of you, and no one thought to cuddle Mrs. Norris."
"Does she like cuddles?" Harry asked.
"She likes to be scratched behind her left ear, not her right." Luna nodded.
"I'll keep that in mind." Harry noticed she was barefoot. "Where are your shoes?"
"In my trunk." Luna replied. "The year was not this year because of you."
Harry nodded. "Yes. Are you alright with that?"
"Yes." She went back to reading. "This year was definitely better than this other year."
Harry leaned his head back. "Can I tell you something that I should have told you before?"
"Before this year or before you were you now?" Luna asked, she titled the book just enough to see him.
"Something I should have told you last time." Harry met her eyes.
"I'm not that Luna." She shrugged. "I can still listen, but she won't hear you."
"I know." Harry started to rub her feet absently. "I missed you."
"I'm sure I missed you too." Luna wiggled a bit higher, so her feet were on his lap. "Luna understood, just like I understand."
"How much do you know about where I come from?" Harry asked.
Luna scrunched up her face in thought. "It's gone now. When you came back here the there was no more."
Harry closed his eyes and let out a long breath. "That hurts. Should it hurt? There were so many lies."
"Sometimes I see Luna who didn't lose her mother." Luna patted his leg with her foot. "She's not me, but she is Luna. That Harry was you, but the Harry you are now is also him. That's not something I can answer."
"Thank you, Miss Lovegood." Harry found his voice coming out a bit rough.
"You are welcome, Mister Potter." Luna tipped the book back up. "You'll get the map soon."
"I had completely forgotten about it." Harry laughed.
The words had barely left his mouth before the door to the cabin opened. Fred and George popped their heads in.
"Luna." One said. "Harry." The other said at the same time. "You two know each other?" Their voices mingled as one.
"Of course." Harry scoffed.
"Harry fixed my clothes and gives excellent foot rubs." Luna didn't looked up from her book.
The twins stood in the doorway for a moment. They looked at each other, sharing a silent conversation.
"May we join you?" Fred asked. "For a moment that is." George continued. "There is a matter we would like to discuss with you Harry." Fred finished.
"Moony and the map." Luna tapped Harry's leg with her foot. Harry replied by tickling her toes. Luna dropped the book and glared at him. "Mister Potter."
"Don't tickle Luna." George clicked his tongue. "We learned that the hard way, right Fred?" Fred shook his head.
"You're Fred, he's George." Harry pointed to each twin. "Miss Lovegood, stop poking me with your feet and I won't tickle you."
"Deal." Luna's expression dropped back to her normal dreamy setting. "I've lost my place."
"What are you reading?" Harry asked.
"Stephen Kings' North-Eastern American Creature Study." Luna replied nonchalantly.
"Please promise me you aren't going there this summer." Harry said.
"Of course not." Luna shook her head. "We went last year."
Harry shook his head. He turned his attention to the twins. "Moony and the map?"
"Right." They said in unison. "You were right." Fred sat down across from them. "Lupin was Moony." George sat down as well, copying Luna's position, putting his feet on his brothers lap. "His name is Wolf Wolf, not Moon Moon." Fred corrected. "Bit sloppy of you, mate." George pointed his foot at Harry accusingly.
"My translation was wrong, but the answer was the same." Harry shrugged. "A map?"
"You already know about it." George returned his foot to his twins lap. "You said so last year." Fred added. "We solemnly swear we are up to no good." They said at the same time.
Harry smiled broadly. "I couldn't help myself."
"Tell us what you know and the map is yours." Fred pulled the parchment from George's pocket.
"Again." Luna added.
The twins looked to Luna. "What?"
"That map will be his, again." Luna repeated.
"That's our Luna." George said. "Always knows more than she does." Fred gave her a proud look.
"She's not 'your' Luna." Harry arced an eyebrow at them.
"Oh?" Fred asked. "Is she your Luna?" George motioned to her feet.
"If she would have me." Harry turned toward Luna.
"You're a bit old for me, Mister Potter." She giggled.
"You." Harry squeezed her foot. "Are worth the wait."
"I think we walked in on something here, Forge." Fred said. "Agreed, Ged." George looked from the duo to his twin. "Little Luna has enchanted poor Potter."
Harry laughed and shook his head. "You want to know what I know. Lupin is Moony, Sirius Black is Padfoot, my father was Prongs, and Wormtail was Peter Pettigrew."
"The Marauders." The two said in a hushed tone saved for words of praise.