Luna and the "Hair Potion"

It was another ordinary day. After finishing his classes, Scott pushed open the door to his dormitory.

"Good evening, Scott."

Eddie was the only one in the dormitory. He was putting on a huge backpack.

"Milton went to the Classical Music Club, and Roger has a date with another girl," Eddie told Scott.

"And you're going out to swindle people again," Scott said.

Eddie gave him an ingratiating smile. "Don't give me away, Scott. I'm just trying to earn a little money for my efforts."

Scott shook his head. "I'm not going to go out of my way to expose you. But I should remind you that I'm not the only one who can tell that the Baruffio's Brain Elixir you sold last school year was actually Doxy dung."

"Oh! Of course, lots of people can tell real potions from fake ones," Eddie said eagerly. "But business is all about strategy and choosing your customers. I target little wizards who have their heads in the clouds and are desperate enough to try anything to prepare for exams."

He took the backpack off his shoulders again and set it on his bed, opening it as he continued, "Besides, your information is out of date. Baruffio's Brain Elixir was just a product for exam season. What I've brought this time is something completely new!"

He took a small glass bottle out of the backpack and shook it in his hand. Proudly, he said, "Special hair potion! Say goodbye to dry, frizzy hair!"

Scott took the "potion" from him, opened it, and sniffed it. "I can tell you for certain this is just a Muggle brand of ginger conditioner, because my mum uses it," he said, unimpressed.

"What do you think? I paid a lot for this one. It's in a completely different league from Doxy dung. At least it really does something," Eddie said smugly.

"I think lots of Muggle-born little witches know about this." Scott handed the glass bottle back. "If someone sees through you and gives you a beating, I'm not going to rescue you, Eddie."

Eddie put the bottle back in his backpack, unfazed. "It doesn't matter. I told you, business is about picking your customers. This time I'll sell my 'hair potion' to little witches who know nothing about the Muggle world or never pay attention to cosmetics."

"Suit yourself."

Scott shook his head and took a copy of An Intermediate Guide to Transfiguration from the bookshelf beside his bed.

"You know, ever since the dazzling Professor Lockhart arrived at Hogwarts, some of the little witches who are infatuated with him have awakened to the importance of looking beautiful. They're especially keen on hair care."

Eddie never knew when to stop talking.

"Especially some of the little witches from Gryffindor and Hufflepuff. But they can't afford the Occamy Egg yolk shampoo Professor Lockhart advertises, even though he keeps boasting that it can 'lock in shine.'"

He put his backpack on again and patted his chest.

"That's where I come in. Eddie Carmichael, Ravenclaw's underground merchant, here to save their hair and their love of beauty!"

"Enough, Eddie. Please be quiet. I have to go to Professor McGonagall's Transfiguration Club," Scott said. He didn't want to listen to Eddie's sales pitch any longer.

"Oh, all right. Want me to give you a few bottles?" Eddie looked at Scott's short, glossy black curls. "They'd at least make your hair smell nice."

"No, thanks."

Scott refused outright. He picked up his books and wand and headed for the door, shooting Eddie a wary look as he went.

"Don't use my name in your advertising! I don't want to suddenly get a weird reputation."

"All right, all right." Eddie gave him a regretful look and followed. "Wait for me. I'm going out too."

Even after they left the dormitory, Eddie kept talking.

"But it's fine. Milton has already accepted my gift. Besides, his long, smooth hair is more convincing than your short, natural curls."

"I bet Milton has no idea what you're up to. He was just happy to accept a gift from a friend!" Scott couldn't help looking at Eddie with disdain again.

Eddie grinned shamelessly. "What's the harm? It's mutually beneficial."

Scott couldn't be bothered to say more, but he warned him, "You'd better not sell this stuff in Ravenclaw. Otherwise, I can't promise you'll have an easy time in the house."

"Of course! I'm not that stupid!" Eddie swore.

But as soon as the two of them passed through the Common Room, he rushed over to a little witch sitting alone by the window.

"Good evening, Luna!"

Eddie greeted her warmly.

"Good evening, Eddie."

The little witch had dark golden-brown hair and spoke in a drifting, airy voice. She didn't look at Eddie as she spoke. Instead, she sat motionless, wearing a strange pair of glasses as she gazed out the window.

Luna Lovegood was another of this year's new Ravenclaws.

She was a little witch who didn't fit in, and even Scott had once heard someone call her "Loony."

But Scott hadn't noticed her only because she was a named character in the "original story."

According to Eddie's latest information, among the younger Muggle-born girls in Ravenclaw, Luna was the only one who hadn't yet fallen in with Jasmine Travers.

Of course, that only made the other girls isolate her even more.

"Oh, Luna, you might not like what I'm about to say," Eddie said with feigned sincerity. "But I have to be objective: your hair is a little frizzy."

Luna turned at his words and took off her glasses.

"Really?"

She ran a hand over her hair, revealing carrot-shaped earrings.

"I think it's all right."

Her eyes were a little bulging and her eyebrows were very pale, giving her a perpetually surprised expression.

"But I think it could be better!"

Just as Eddie was about to pitch his product to Luna, Scott walked over with an amused smile and grabbed the straps of Eddie's backpack.

"Eddie."

He shot Eddie a warning look, then said to Luna, "Don't listen to him, Miss Lovegood."

"I know you. You're Scott Trollope. I really like the drawing you gave Professor Flitwick." Luna gazed at Scott with a dreamy look. "May I call you Scott?"

"Of course." Scott smiled. "By the way, Eddie here likes to sell harmless little things that don't actually do anything. You'd better not believe a word of his sales pitch."

"Hey! Scott!"

Eddie stared at Scott in disbelief, his eyes full of accusation.

[Didn't you say you wouldn't give me away?]

[Didn't you say I shouldn't sell things in Ravenclaw?]

Scott gave him a meaningful look.

"Hehehe..."

Just then, Luna suddenly began to laugh rather dramatically.

"You two are so funny," she said. "You can call me Luna too, Scott."

"All right, Luna. But we have to go now. Goodbye."

Scott waved the book in his hand.

"Goodbye."

Luna waved, then turned back to the window and put on her strange glasses again.

"Let's go."

Scott dragged the aggrieved-looking Eddie out of the Common Room.