Yule Ball

Although Tierra had promptly subdued Peeves, for some reason, word still got out that Harry had asked Luna to attend Professor Horace Slughorn's Yule Ball.

Luna's popularity immediately became precarious—

The girls who had once shared their hearts with her, been as close as sisters, and sworn eternal friendship all turned cold at once. Not only did they stop speaking to her, but they also began calling Luna by her old nickname behind her back. Only this time, in addition to "Loony," they added "scheming bitch." It seemed that many girls resented Luna Lovegood for winning Harry's favor.

Fortunately, Tierra's academic standards were rigorous, the school spirit strict, and the rules stern. Those girls might have ostracized Luna Lovegood, but they only dared gossip behind her back and ignore her when they met. For the time being, no one caused Luna any real trouble, such as hiding her schoolbag, textbooks, clothes, shoes, or socks, or deliberately cutting her hair.

Harry even went out of his way to apologize to Luna—

After all, Luna would never have had to go through any of this. Harry had only wanted someone to help him dodge trouble, and he had ended up dragging Luna Lovegood into it.

"It's all right, Harry." After listening seriously to Harry's apology, Luna smiled and said without concern, "They never liked me anyway."

But before long, the resentment in their hearts vanished completely—

Because Tierra appeared.

Or rather, the Tierras appeared. They had finally emerged from the various Chambers of Secrets created by the Room of Requirement.

More than fifty Tierras seemed interested in attending Professor Horace Slughorn's Yule Ball, and once they cast their nets wide with invitations, there were suddenly more than fifty additional places—

Naturally, no one kept obsessing over Harry Potter's invitation anymore.

Even so,