.:. Part One .:.

.:. The Set-up .:.

Astoria wove through the crowd, catching up to her target as she left the Great Hall. "Lovegood, a moment, if you wouldn't mind."

The blonde turned to look at her, studying her with wide eyes. "Do you need something?"

"Could I have a word with you? In private?" Astoria added as an afterthought, since her plans didn't involve standing in the middle of the Great Hall when she asked. She held her hands still, determined not to fidget while she waited the response. When the older girl gave a nod of consent, Astoria fought back a sigh of relief and led the two of them to a nearby abandoned classroom.

Once the door was shut and they verified they were alone, Lovegood leaned in and asked in a low voice, "Is this about the army of heliopaths that Fudge had when he was Minister? We haven't been able to figure out what happened when Scrimgeour took office."

Astoria wasn't sure what heliopaths were, nor if they actually existed, but she played along, not wanting to make an enemy of the person she was trying to get to help her. "No, I haven't heard anything either. Should I be worried?"

Lovegood nodded her head very solemnly. "Oh yes, very worrisome. Why then, are we here?"

Astoria took a deep breath and tried not to think about the words she was about to say, lest she panic and back out. "I know that you're friends with Ginny Weasley and I was hoping that you could help set me up on a date with her."

Lovegood studied her silently and as the moments stretched on without her saying anything, Astoria grew more and more nervous, finally breaking into her habit of twisting her hands around one another. Lovegood's eyes flicked downward at the movement, then back to her face, and Astoria silently cursed herself for breaking her Pureblooded training and doing as her mother always scolded her for. When Lovegood finally spoke, Astoria jumped, having adjusted to the silence and nearly forgetting she was in a conversation with someone as she berated herself. "Ginny has been known to date several boys and not voiced any indication that she had any interest in girls. What makes you think she'd want to go on a date with you?"

Astoria tried not to smirk at Lovegood's choice of words and wondered if Lovegood had seen the same signs of denial that she had. "As for going on a date with me specifically, I am not sure she'd be willing, that's why I'm asking you to help. As for not dating girls in general, I've seen the way her gaze lingers and the way she always seems to be forcing herself into a relationship as soon as one ends. She is merely in denial of her real feelings, and I hope I can give her that nudge into acceptance."

Lovegood studied her calmly, walking around her and sizing her up. "You've never given any indication of interest in her before. Why start now? Are you sure the Wrackspurts aren't just making your head fuzzy?"

Astoria heaved a sigh, wishing she could sit down and talk move comfortably, rather than standing here with an inquisition. She settled for rolling the hem of her sleeve between two fingers to distract herself from the discomfort of the situation. "It's not a Slytherin attempt at advancing myself in society, if that's what you're asking. I understand that she's highly regarded due to her and her family's role in the war, but that really has little influence on my part. I had my first crush on her years ago, but I was young and unsure, scared to make the first move and be rejected, knowing she likely wouldn't accept the idea that I was right. Since then, I've grown, and even dated a few boys to get the idea of important points of a relationship, so that I'm in a better position to make this work. This isn't the idea of a fling to gain standing for myself, I'm looking for a long-term, sincere relationship."

Lovegood tilted her head with a bemused smile and Astoria wished that Lovegood would show some of the uncertainty that she had. The older girl hardly seemed rattled by anything that occurred and Astoria couldn't read her like she could read much of the general population to know what was coming next. "'Dated a few boys'... You haven't given an indication you're interested in girls either."

Astoria shook her head. "I'm truly bi-sexual, not lesbian. Most of the girls in Slytherin don't catch my attention. They're too busy focusing on being the perfect Pureblooded ladies their mothers taught them to be, and they seem so shut off from reality. I want someone who's not afraid to show their emotions, who will get angry, or upset, or giddy and express exactly what she's feeling, rather than play the Slytherin power struggle of trying to know as much about your partner without letting them know anything about you in return."

Lovegood hadn't moved, with her head still tilted and that smile only grew. "Prove it."

"Pardon me?"

"Prove that you are attracted to girls. Or are my looks not appealing enough to you?"

Astoria's widened, completely thrown off guard by the older girl. Without being able to get a read on her, the request had surprised her and it took her a moment to get her bearings. She studied the other girl for a long moment, taking in her features. She'd certainly not consider dating Lovegood, since she disliked her inability to figure out anything that was going through the Ravenclaw's mind, but she was certainly pretty. "N-no, I think I could."

Lovegood straightened her head and took several steps forward before leaning her head in toward the Slytherin. "Then do it," she said softly.

Astoria hesitated a moment longer before closing the distance between them and moving her lips against the other girl's. Things were mellow for a moment, and then Astoria felt Lovegood's lips move against hers and Astoria parted her lips, allowing the tip of her tongue to explore against Lovegood's. She snaked a hand up, tangling it in the long blonde hair while she put the other on Lovegood's hip to pull her closer, losing herself in the moment of soft lips and delicate curves.

There were hands on her shoulders and Astoria blinked in surprise as Lovegood took a step back, breaking the kiss and separating them with the bloody smile on her face again. Feeling cross at her lack of control of the situation, Astoria commented, "You would think you would have believed me without all that," the subtle jibe about Lovegood's beliefs crossing her lips before she had time to contemplate her words.

They didn't take the smile off her face though, leaving Lovegood as calm as ever. "It's one thing to believe something for yourself, and another thing to believe it for someone else, especially when it could lead to a friend being hurt." Astoria chose not to comment, recognizing the wisdom in Lovegood's words, torn between apologizing for the harsh words and not wanting to apologize, since she had only stated the truth, when Lovegood broke the silence by speaking again. "Did you have any idea how you wanted to arrange this date?"

Astoria settled for shaking her head and supplying the truth, too out of place in the situation to try to manipulate control. "No. The boys always set up the dates I was in, so I never had to plan anything."

Lovegood was silent for several long moments again, and right as Astoria was getting impatient enough to say something, finally responded. "I think you should meet me at greenhouse one on Saturday morning, perhaps about eleven o'clock. That should be enough time to take you to the spot I know and to go get Ginny and bring her to the same spot for a noon date. It will leave you alone for a bit, but I really think it's best to surprise her so she can't back out. That spot will give you plenty of privacy, also, in case things get loud."

Astoria's eyes widened. "I wasn't planning on doing that," she hissed at the older girl.

Lovegood gave another tilt of the head and Astoria was getting ready to throttle her if the kept it up. "Yes, I'm sure you're not interested in yelling, but I thought Ginny might, at least until she gets over her denial."

A painful blush filled her cheeks as she realized her mind had jumped to ideas that Lovegood hadn't alluded to. "I-I'll be there then."

"Good." Lovegood drifted toward the door. "Of course, although I'm not sure Ginny would be ready, if things do progress to that level, you'll have privacy then too."

She was out of the room before Astoria could respond, so the Slytherin just heaved a sigh and sat limply in a random chair. She wasn't sure if she should be happy that the date was arranged or seriously confused by the strange girl that was Luna Lovegood.

Disclaimer: I am not J. K. Rowling, and I do not own Luna or Astoria, no matter how much I adore them.