Disclaimer: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is owned by Hasbro and Harry Potter is owned by JK Rowling.

"Hello"-Normal Speaking

"Interesting..."-Nightmare Moon speaking

'Huh.' -Normal thoughts.

'All mine...' Nightmare Moon's thoughts

---

Walking back into the room, Harry takes a moment and climbs down into his trunk. He smiles as he sees Luna lounging on a slightly beat-up, but still comfortable recliner chair near the middle of the room while Nightmare is
Looking over a parchment. "Enjoying yourself Luna?"

Cracking one eye open, she stretches with a sigh before giving Harry as smile. "Very much so Harry." She then pats the recliner. "This is so comfortable. Much better than the wooden throne that me and Celly always had to use."

Nightmare looks up revealing the small pair of glasses perched on her snout and nods. "True." She then smirks. "We simply must get one for our personal chambers when we return."

Harry frowns for a second before hiding it. Luna catches it though and makes her way over before hugging him and nuzzling his neck as Harry reciprocates the hug. "I promised you that even if me and Nightmare managed to return to Equestria that I will find a way for you to join us."

Nightmare climbs up onto Harry's shoulders and looks at him over the rim of her glasses. "The Little Princess is quite correct Child." She then snorts. "In this, for a change, me and the Little Princess are in complete agreement."

Harry swallows a bit before nodding, blinking rapidly and tightening the hug with Luna. "Thanks you two." Taking a moment, he then let's out a breath as he looks around, taking in the look of the room. Along one wall are several bookshelves with a desk the middle. A good number of the books are second-hand, but still in good condition while being a mixture of mundane (which all three of them prefer to calling it muggle) and magical. On the opposite wall is a table with a stereo, a gramophone, and a small shelf unit containing a mixture of cassettes and vinyl records. And on the third wall is another self unit where Harry, Luna, and Nightmare have stored the nic nacs that they've gathered (Luna's and Harry's favourite being an orb that with the tap of a wand and a command phrase will play various nature sounds like night time in a woodland meadow). Beside it is a crate containing Harry's "Practice Materials" that he uses in his magical exercises. In near the middle of the room is the recliner with a small table beside it. A bit in front of that is a mat where he practices his magics. "It's looking quite nice."

Luna nods. "It is looking better now." She then sighs a little as she waves a hoof at a bare patch of wall. "Could use a little something to add some color."
Harry nods a little before smiling. "Actually..." He then turns to Luna. "The train to Hogwarts is tomorrow, right?" Luna nods a little unsure only for Harry to clap his hands. "Well then, time for me to treat you then."

Luna's eyes widen as she waves her hooves in front of her. "Oh! Harry, you don't have to do that! I can-"

Harry cuts her off was he waves her concern off. "I already treated Nightmare, now it's your turn."

Luna blushes a bit as she hangs her head a bit as she bites her lip. "You're not going to let this go, are you?"

Harry shakes his head in the negative. "Nope."

Seeing his grin, Luna sighs as she knows that she already lost the battle. "Oh, fine then." She follows Harry as he leaves before stopping and looking back at Nightmare. "You coming?"

As Harry turns towards her, Nightmare waves both off. "Not particularly interested in the moment actually." She then shrugs. "I got some reading I want to catch up on. Besides..." She gives them a look. "I am getting tired of being stuck in that backpack all the time."

Luna just shakes her head as she sees Nightmare pick up a book of Edger Allen Poe's works and begin reading in the recliner. "Your loss." Nightmare just grunts as she settles down some more and turns the lamp on the table beside the chair on. Shrugging, Luna flaps out of the trunk followed by Harry climbing up the ladder before he closes it, causing it to lock automatically. She then looks over at Harry as they make their way down the steps. "So where are we going?"

Weaving past a family with a brown haired girl his age who's talking animatedly with her parents about something she read, he walks out the front door to Luna's surprise as he talks under his breath. "I saw a shop near here that might have something." He then shrugs. "Might as well check, right?"

Shaking her head, Luna smiles. "Thank you." Harry just nods as they start walking (well he does, Luna flies above him) through the crowds. As they do so, Luna takes a moment and looks around with a thoughtful look. 'Who would have thought that things would turn out like this? Fate must have an odd sense of humour. I... created? Became? Whatever. Nightmare Moon came to be due to me being lonely. And then...' A sad sigh escapes her. 'Then my own sister was forced to banish me. And I thought that I would be friendless forever. But just when I was at my lowest...' She glances down at Harry and smiles. 'How odd that such circumstances would have me meet my first true friend outside of Celly. Me and him, we're so alike and yet so different. Both in pain caused by loneliness. Both wanting and needing friends. We each are orphans of sorts and have issues with our surviving relatives. And we each can use magic.' At that point, she becomes thoughtful. 'And yet... that's all that's similar, isn't it? We're different species and come from different worlds.' Catching herself, she chuckles. 'Both literally and figuratively.' She then takes a sigh as she smiles. 'Alike and yet different... maybe that's why our friendship is so strong?' Seeing Harry look up at her from in front of a store, she swoops down with a raised eyebrow. "Yes Harry?"

"Well, we're here." Luna nods and is about to say thank you when Harry without turning as he opens the door speaks up. "You're welcome."

Luna blinks for a moment before shrugging as her and Harry have begun to understand each other without speaking at times. Looking around, Luna's eyebrows raise as she realizes that the store is for pictures, paintings, and posters. She then looks at Harry with a shocked look. "Harry...?"

Harry just smiles before whispering under his breath. "I know you like art. So..." Shrugging, he softly chuckles. "I figured that you might like this."

Blinking some wetness away, Luna nods with a large smile. "Thank you..."

Her and Harry being to walk around looking at the different items. Finally, Harry turns to her. "Luna? Can I ask you something?" She nods. "Was art in your time anything like this?"

Chuckling a little, she shakes her head. "Not quite. It was more like the stuff from the this world's Middle Ages. Though I suppose shortly before my... fall happened, we might have been entering something akin to the Renascence that humans went through." She softly sighs. "It was a time of great creativity unmatched since the time before Discord." She then frowns as she looks slightly downward. "There was so much healing to be done after his reign of terror that art fell by the way side. Everything was focused on repairing the damage he had wrought as well as preserving what had survived." Her frown slowly becomes thoughtful. "A few years before my fall when the arts became something more than a simple past time, I tried to fund several artists."

Seeing her wince, Harry looks around, and seeing no one, softly runs his fingers through her mane. "They didn't accept them, did they?"

Luna shakes her head with a sigh as she leans into his touch. "No, they didn't. I suppose that Discord had something to do with that as the nightime hours were when he had his... special fun. I realize now that may have tainted my part of the day." Luna scowls for a moment before continuing. "After the first few times, I decided to simply fund them anonymously. It worked. And the arts began to flourish." Suddenly she stops in front of a replica of Starry Night by Van Gogh and chuckles. "Sometimes I wish that ponies were more like humans."

Harry blinks for a moment as this is new to him leading him to raise an eyebrow before responding with sarcasm. "Always fighting? Prejudicial against those who are different?"

Luna chuckles for a bit. "Oh no, ponies grew out of that a while before what happened." Seeing Harry's wild-eyed look, she smiles. "Remind me to tell you of Hearth's Warming at a later point. Before then, the three types did not get along... and that's putting it mildly. And ironically the Chaos Times just brought them closer together." She then turns back to the replica and motions a hoof at it. "To ponies, Night was something to be feared. To humans... while they fear it, they also love it and it fascinates them. Humans have so much to deal with the night. To some, it's darkness can be suffocating. To others, it's a warm blanket. So much creativity has used it as an inspiration." A sad expression crosses her face as she sighs. "I just wish that mine and my sister's little ponies could have seen it the same way..." Shaking her head, she looks at Harry. "Anyways... enough of that. Let's go and find something."

Harry nods for a moment before glancing back at the replica and following. 'Hmm...' Following her through the small store, Harry gathers the pictures she's chosen. Some are astronomical showing things such as stars and nebula taken through telescopes. And some are nature scenes. When pressed by her to chose some as well, he decides on a few fantasy ones causing them both to chuckle. Finally, Harry begins to head towards the cash register before turning to her. "Um, Luna? Could you do me a small favour?"

Blinking a bit, she nods with a smile. "Of course Harry. What is it?"

Harry gestures with his head. "Could you go next door and check up on the art supplies?" Seeing her quizzical expression, he shrugs. "Gives me the ability to do something if I get bored or need a break. Also, it means that if you ever want, you can go into the trunk and do some painting."

Luna smile grows and she hugs him. "Thank you!"

She then leaves as Harry watches with a smile. Harry then walks towards one particular item and takes it before going up to the cash and paying for them. He does get an odd look from the casher who then shrugs and goes back to reading her magazine as he leaves.

---

A few hours later finds them back at the trunk with Nightmare watching as he pulls bags out of his backpack. Smirking, he pulls one out and hands it to Luna who opens it and gasps. "Ha... Harry?" She shows it revealing that the picture is the Starry Night replica. "When did you..."

Harry chuckles a little. "Remember when I asked if you could go have a look for me at the art supplies?"

Luna begins to nod before stopping. She then shakes her head in amusement before coming up and giving him a half hug. "Thank you."

Harry hugs her back while whispering. "You're worth it." After a few moments Nightmare clears her throat causing them both to look at her to see her smirking. A moment later they let go. Harry looks at the backpack for a moment before looking back at Luna. "By the way Luna, can I ask what you had me gather all those branches for? You did say that we going to use them when we got back."

Luna nods with a smile. "As a matter of fact we are." She then grins. "Time for your next lesson."

Nightmare raises an eyebrow for a moment and then nods. "So you're teaching that spell to him then?" Glancing at the pictures, and poster she nods. "I suppose that in this case it would be useful."

Rolling her eyes, Luna sighs with some exasperation. "Just because I don't teach him flashy spells all the time does not make them useless." Nightmare just shrugs with a bored expression causing the lunar princess to once more her eyes before turning back to Harry. "Anyways... This is going to be a group of spells you understand. However, they all interconnect." Gesturing with her hoof at the backpack, she asks that he brings out the branches they collected at a nearby park. After a few moments, a pile of them (most being twigs) are on the floor. Sitting, Luna motions for Harry to follow. "Now, the following spells are craftspony spells. Remember what I told you about Earth Ponies and the crafts?"

Harry nods. "They're good at building and creating things."

Smiling, Luna gives him a nod. "Correct. Now, some Unicorn Ponies discovered that their particular talents lay in the crafts as well. They created some spells to help themselves out and that I am going to teach you here." Grabbing a twig, she holds it in front of her using some magic. "Now, the first one I am going to teach you is one that will take the bark off a piece of wood." Slowing explaining the steps, she eventually hands the one that she is holding to him. "Now. Go ahead and give it a try."

Harry does so, but all that happens is that it splinters into pieces. He does this to a few more and is starting to get frustrated when he stops. 'Okay... remember what Luna said.' Closing his eyes, he takes several deep breaths to calm down before opening them and examining the one he currently is holding. 'Now... how to do this...'

Both Luna and Nightmare look on in pride as Harry continues to examine it. Luna, especially, has quite a bit of pride in her friend/apprentice. 'That's it Harry. Don't get frustrated.' Seeing him look at her, she raises an eyebrow. "Yes?"

Harry gives her a looks before sighing. "You didn't tell me everything I needed to know."

Luna just chuckles at this. "I told you all the steps for the spell. But not everything needed to make it work." She then gestures at the twig. "Can you tell me what I missed? Consider this a test of sorts."

Thinking it over for a moment, Harry's brows scrunch together. "I need to be completely calm and focused in order for the spell to work..." Harry sees Luna smile and nod before continuing. "And... I shouldn't be trying to take it off all at once?"

Luna raises an eyebrow as she tilts her head to the side. "You tell me."

Taking a breath, Harry nods. "I don't take it off all at once." Thinking it over, he blinks before looking at Luna. "I should peel it? Like an apple?"

Clapping her hooves, Luna nods with a smile. "Very good Harry." She picks a twig up with her magic and then unwinds the bark from it leaving only the wood. She then turns to Harry. "While I could explain every little bit of the spell, I find it much more rewarding, for both me and I think for you, for you to figure out some of it. A much better way of learning then to have every little bit explained."

Nodding, Harry points something out. "But what if the spell is dangerous? Isn't it better to explain everything then for the student to get hurt trying to figure it out?"

Closing her eyes, Luna sighs. "It is indeed." She then opens them as she gives him a soft look. "However, when dealing with something that will not hurt the student, it's better to leave them question some of it in order to build a better knowledge base. After all, you will have a better understanding of the spell if you figure some out yourself rather then have to have it told to you verbatim."

Giving her that, Harry still gives her look. "But that method does not work with everyone though."

Luna nods acknowledging the point. "True. But for you, it's the perfect method to teach." Gesturing to the pile of sticks and twigs, she smirks. "Now then, get peeling. Chop! Chop!" Rolling his eyes, Harry nonetheless does so. Soon, there's a pile of peeled bark and another of bare pieces of wood beside him. Reaching for another piece after wiping his forehead free of sweat, he's stopped by Luna. "That's enough Harry." Seeing him about to protest she pokes him in the chest with her hoof. "You're exhausted. Time. To. Stop."

Her last three words are each punctuated with a tap causing Harry to sigh. "Fine..."

Shaking her head, Luna moves to his side and drapes an her foreleg around his shoulder. "Harry, you're still young and for whatever reason your magic seems to need a lot of work to do these spells. That's probably why your people use wands, their magic being to... turbulent to easily be controlled like this. From what I can see, it takes more work for you to do this without a magical foci of some sort." She then looks a bit haughty. "Good thing that I know how to teach Unicorns that have had similar issues with casting magic."

At this, Harry looks at her. "There's Unicorns like that?"

Luna slowly nods. "There are. They're rare, but not so much that they don't exist." She then leans in conspiratively. "I personally blame inbreeding among those idiot nobles myself. Ever since they've begun having foals with the other Pony types and the 'Lower Classes' the issue has been cropping up less and less." She then leans back. "Oddly, like wizards, they would sometimes use a foci known as a Horn Ring."

Blinking, Harry looks at her questioningly. "'Horn Ring'? What's that?"

Taking a breath, Luna tilts her head some. "A Horn Ring was made of a magically conductive metal. Most were silver or Electrum for the less powerful nobility and gold for the higher ones. The highest used Platinum. Most were decorated with gems to make them seem ornamental." Rolling her eyes. Luna looks at the ceiling in exasperation. "It was an open secret among Unicorn Ponies that they hid so that they would not seem weak way back when. Though they are also used when a Unicorn is performing extremely powerful magic..." She stops for a moment in remembrance before shaking herself out of it. "The usage of them was dying out though when I left Equestria." Seeing his tired look, she closes her eyes before channelling her magic into Harry causing him to relax. After a moment, she stops and lets out a deep breath. "There we go. Feel better?"

Harry nods. "Thanks." Getting up, he leans back before looking at the scraps of bark. "I should be getting rid of this though."

Luna shakes her head. "No, keep them, we'll be needing them later." Glancing at the watch on his wrist, she nods. "We should be getting to bed anyways. It's starting to get late and we need to be up early tomorrow to get everything ready." The three head to bed and the next morning finds Harry sipping a mug of tea as he watches Luna go all out. "Okay, let's go over this."

Nightmare rolls her eyes, but still nods with a sigh as she places her pair of glasses on her snout and picks up a roll of parchment and a pen. "Ready." Hearing nothing, she looks to see Luna facehoofing. "What?"

Massaging her forehead to ward off the coming headache, Luna gives her a deadpan look. "Why the Hay are you wearing those glasses?"

Nightmare looks at her uncomprehendingly. "Because they make me look quite intelligent and distinguished." She then gives Harry an innocent look. "Do they not Child?"

Chuckling, Harry nods. "Quite."

Nightmare nods her head haughtily and gives a disbelieving Luna a smug look over the rim of her glasses. "See?"

Luna just scowls and shakes her head for a moment. "Never mind that." Clearing her throat, she looks at Nightmare. "Ready?"

Rolling her eyes, Nightmare sighs dramatically. "Quite ready to get a move on."

Grumbling for a moment, Luna just continues. "Right then. Hogwarts text books?"

Looking over at the bookcase, Nightmare turns back to her list and makes a mark. "Check."

Luna begins to pace. "Parchment, quills, ink?"

Nightmare checks and continues to make marks. "Check, check, and check!"

Harry continues to listen in as the two check items off the list until he hears one from Luna that he's been wondering about for a while. "Mundane Textbooks?"

As Nightmare checks them off, Harry decides to satiate his curiosity. "Why did you buy those anyways Luna?"

Luna stops her pacing and scowls deeply. "Because those idiots at Hogwarts don't seem to have any non-magical courses!" She throws up her hooves into the air in exasperation. "How the Hay their students are supposed to function in the real world I have no idea! You need to understand math if you are to manage your finances correctly!" She then looks at Harry directly. "There is no way in Equestria that I am going to let you fall behind in your non-magical studies!"

Harry just raises an eyebrow. "You do know that I'll never graduate from mundane school... right?"

Luna rolls her eyes. "We'll get to that when we get there. Besides, I'm sure that if need be there is some way for you to sit for your grade level." Shaking her head, she turns to see Nightmare rolling up the parchment, laying the pen back in its place, and taking off her glasses. "We're done already?"

Snorting, Nightmare rolls her eyes. "Of course we're done. And about time too." Walking over to Harry, she lets him pick her up and set her on his shoulder before continuing. "Anyways... we should go and grab something to eat. And maybe something for lunch later depending on how long this train ride takes."

Nodding, Harry looks to Luna. "That's a pretty good idea I think." getting agreement, the three leave the trunk and head downstairs. Still early, there's not many around though with all the people having come to the tavern/pub the night before they know it won't be that way for long. Sitting down in a private booth, Harry orders their breakfast and once it arrives him and Luna begin to eat. At one point though, Harry looks down to see a piece of bacon missing and whipping his head around sees Luna pop it into her mouth. "Luna? I've been wondering something..." Still chewing, Luna gestures him to go on. "Horses don't eat meat... and yet you sometimes eat some."

Luna stops chewing for a moment as if suddenly realizing what she just did. After a moment though she continues to chew. Swallowing, Luna takes a sip of tea before answering. "And you're wondering why I take it?" Harry simply nods as she leans back for a moment. "While Celly was usually diplomatic, there were those times that made her extremely uncomfortable. Usually it was when she had to deal with carnivores. That was where I came in." Taking another sip, she sets the cup down. "I had never had much issue with meat eaters unlike sister and so I was placed in charge of diplomatic meetings with them. For example, the griffin clans in the mountains to the north of Equestria. Remember what I told you about them?"

Harry nods. "Yeah, they were originally serfs to the 'Royal' Gryphons in the Southern Desert. They used the distraction of Discord's arrival and managed to escape into the mountains while their former masters were nearly killed off."

Luna smiles before nodding. "Yes. Oddly that was one of the few things that Discord was responsible for that were good." Shaking her head, she sighs. "Anyways... after Discord's defeat, we didn't bother with them for about three hundred years. Mainly because we had other issues to deal with. But once raiding parties came into Equestria in search of resources, in particular gold and gems, we had to act." Luna shrugs a little. "Celly was uncomfortable around them so it fell to me to deal with it with as little bloodshed as possible. So with a small entourage of pegasi, due to the area being mountainous, I went and began meeting the various clans and began to work out agreements. Both with us and between the clans. That took several years and one of the things the griffins would do is hold massive feasts. Of course..."

As she trails off, Nightmare takes over. "They were carnivores mostly though they could eat plants. Being in the mountains though limited the amount of agriculture. So that meant that at their feasts it was almost all meat of various kinds from fish harvested from the alpine lakes to a small, rabbit like animal they used as livestock."

Luna once more takes over as Harry bites into a hash brown. "They never had anything truly... objectionable like a Equestrian cow or pony thankfully. But just the same..." Sighing, Luna shakes her head. "While the rest of my entourage could get away with not eating any meat, I, as the leader on the other hoof, could not. Not if we wanted peace as not doing so could be seen as a sign of both weakness and as a insult to the griffins." Taking a piece of toast, Luna munches on it a little before continuing. "At first I had to force myself to eat it. Hay, I even had to force myself not to get violently ill." She takes another bite and swallows. "But, after so many years, I got used to it to such a point that it didn't bother me anymore and I didn't honestly really take notice. Sometimes I would even grab a piece or two out of habit which I guess I'm still doing." Seeing Harry's look, she chuckles. "Harry, I know that the various animals that are intelligent in Equestria aren't here, hence why it doesn't bother me that you eat them."

Nightmare snorts as Luna begins to eat some eggs. "Though you eating meat really didn't help your reputation any."

Looking at Nightmare, Luna rolls her eyes. "Honestly. You would think that some of them would think that since I could or would eat meat that I might eat a pony for Equestria's sake." She then shrugs. "Helped out though when I had to deal with the Diamond Dog packs in the east though."

With that the three continue their meal while making small talk until they're finished. Once done, Harry walks up to Tom and pays for the meal before asking him about possibly getting something to eat later to which Tom chuckles. "As a matter of fact Mr. Potter, I have just the thing."

Reaching under the bar, he pulls out what looks like a cardboard box causing Harry to raise an eyebrow. "What is it?"

Smiling, Tom gives a chuckle. "I call it a 'Hot Box'" Not noticing Harry's deadpan expression, he continues. "I took Runes in my Hogwarts years and got the idea from a Muggleborn part timer about two years ago." He opens the box to reveal that inside there are a few markings. "See, these Runes create a combination Heating Charm and Stasis Charm. I place food into it and it keeps it fresh and piping hot. I also have a version that replaces the Heating Charm with a Cooling Charm."

Harry's eyes raise at that. "Wow! That actually must be pretty expensive."

Tom shakes his head however and decides to let Harry in on it since he's gotten to know him over the Summer. "Not expensive at all. The box costs almost nothing and the runes are written using ink. They're not made to last more than twenty-four hours so they can be ready made." He then shrugs. "I always have some on hand as not many want to use them or need to really." He then grins. "So then Mr. Potter. What shall you have?"

Giving his order, Harry pipes up as Tom turns to collect it. "You know, you could make a killing if you sell them to other Hogwarts students that pass through to the train."

Stopping for a moment to think it over, Tom nods with a small smile. "You just might be onto something there Mr. Potter. I might just do that, thank you."

After Harry collects his order and walks off, a woman who was listening in speaks up. "Quite the large order for a lad that size."

Cleaning a glass, Tom nods. "Aye. And yet he never seems to gain a lot of weight." Tom then leans towards the witch and winks. "I know more than a few wizards who would wish they could do the same." This causes the two to begin to laugh...