Halloween Treat for Xenadragon_ xoxo
Gift for: xenadragon_xoxo
From: author_by_night
Title: Not Such a Leap
Pairings/Characters: Ginny, Luna, Hermione
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I do not own anything in Potterverse, nor am I pretending to. JK Rowling owns the characters, including the amazing Luna Lovegood.
Summary: There's some truth in every legend.
Notes: Set in October 1998; according to an interview with JK Rowling. Hermione redid her seventh year at Hogwarts, which is why she's there.
The story is inspired by a certain urban legend set in Victorian England and Scotland.
Luna and Hermione were concerned once they realized that Ginny hadn’t yet joined them at The Three Broomsticks, but she suddenly bustled in, looking stunned.
“What's wrong?” Hermione asked.
“A man sprung out at me, laughed, and leapt away!”
“Did he have claws?” Luna asked.
“How'd you-”
“You saw Spring-Heeled Jack!” Luna gasped.
“Who?”
“It's a myth, Luna,” Hermione said with forced patience. “Even if he existed, he'd be dead by now.”
“Not necessarily,” Luna countered. “Maybe he's immortal.”
“How could that be?”
“No one knows, do they?” Luna asked. “Let's find out.”
The girls walked into the woods where Ginny had been; Hermione still seemed skeptical.
“I don't think we're going to find anything,” she began, but Ginny put her finger to her lips and pointed.
A man was sitting on a rock; he wore red shoes. His ears were pointed, and his hands were clawed.
Hermione put her hand to her mouth.
The man looked at them. “Blasted curse,” he grumbled. “Condemned to hop around like an idiot for two centuries!”
“What... for?” Luna asked slowly.
“Stealing a horse. Isn't there a little more dignity in hanging?”
Hermione looked at Luna. “I suppose that wasn't such a leap after all."