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Author's notes: I really have no idea how often I'll update this as I'm working on another story right now too. I don't plan for this to be very long as I started this intending for it to be a oneshot. I couldn't wrap it up nicely though (the pacing was an issue) so I figured I'd extend it. I'm a little conflicted though, because with extending it, I'm not sure how I want it to end now.
I guess I'll just play it loose and see where it takes me. I hope I don't keep you guys waiting too long!
Insert typical disclaimer here, because this is obviously nothing more than fanfiction.
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The Second Wizarding War had been a trying time for everyone. It didn't really get much better after it ended either. Still left with all the loss and chaos, people were thrown about while trying to pick themselves back up. In all the confusion, it was easy to lose sight of one's self and their personal priorities. Miss Hermione Jean Granger was not one of those people.
After a great deal of work, Hogwarts was able to be reopened by the next school year. Deciding that she'd rather not waste her education, the studious girl chose to go back to complete her final year.
For the time being, the young witch thought it wise to leave her parents where they were with their altered memories. There were still quite a few stray Death Eaters out there and she wanted her family to remain safe until she was sure they would not be targeted. She also had much less flexibility to check in on them while at Hogwarts. She believed it an all around good idea to leave them be for now until things were safer and more stable.
She greatly missed them though. She went to watch them from afar to see for herself that they were alright before heading to Hogwarts. She kept a photograph of them on her person at all times. She charmed it so that only she could see her parents with the proper trick while everyone else simply saw a photo devoid of people.
School had been a bit awkward at first as she tried to get back into the swing of things and deal with all the awed stares she'd receive being one of what's been dubbed the 'Golden Trio'. She thought it was ridiculous. Many people had fought in the war, she wasn't special and didn't like all the attention.
The absence of all her old classmates was another thing that made the whole thing feel odd. Since most of her class had already graduated the year before while she was out searching for horcruxes, she was placed with the year below her. It was comforting to at least see two friendly faces as she was now in Ginny and Luna's year, though it was still something to get used to.
Having Ginny in a number of her classes caused her to often beeline towards the younger girl as she knew no one else. The bookworm wasn't the greatest at making new friends and didn't feel inclined to try. The redhead typically didn't mind, though Hermione could tell there were times she wanted to sit with another friend, but didn't want to refuse the older girl. There were many times that Hermione felt like perhaps she no longer belonged at Hogwarts as nothing was the same, though even when graduation comes, she'll be hesitant to leave.
As odd as it may sound, Hermione's favorite classes were the ones with Ravenclaw as every shared Gryffindor-Ravenclaw class she had, Luna was also in it. Luna was always pleased to see Hermione sit next to her or waiting at the same table for her. The little blonde had taken to sitting next to Hermione at the Gryffinor table in the dinning hall as well. They spent a good deal of time in the library together doing their school work or simply learning for pleasure.
The brunette never would have fathomed that she'd come to enjoy the company of "Loony" Luna Lovegood so very much. As trying as it was in the beginning of their shared classes, she came to realize how deeply brilliant the other girl was. The younger girl would often daydream in class and was terrible at taking notes, yet it appeared to make sense in her own mind as she retained every lesson with startling accuracy. Her methods would often frustrate the bookworm, yet somehow the girl always did just as well as Hermione did in class.
She couldn't fight the slight scowl whenever she'd see that Luna had actually done better than her on something. She was accustomed to being the brightest witch of her age and the little blonde's particular ways left her feeling conflicted and confused. Luna did everything all wrong, so how was it that she did so well?
Even though they were so very different and Luna's wording could be a little irritating at times, Hermione had come to really enjoy talking to her. They often discussed what they were learning in class or any extracurricular learning they had picked up.
The only time Luna showed any real passion or enthusiasm was when she talked about something she had learned. The brunette could happily listen to her for hours. Well, she had on more than one occasion actually. The younger girl had once talked and explained for five rapt hours what she had discovered about muggle chemistry. In truth, Hermione didn't know much about it herself as all her muggle schooling ended as soon as she received her letter from Hogwarts. It appeared to greatly interest her friend though.
She eventually realized why when she had learned more about Luna's mother. The woman had been a potions genius, adding in aspects found in muggle chemistry to her experiments. Unfortunately, one of those very experiments is what took her life, though it didn't deter her daughter's interest in the subject. In a way, Hermione believed it may have actually been what caused the other girl to be so interested in learning all she could about it.
Like her mother, Luna had a real talent for potion brewing. She always, without fail, received full Outstandings in Potions. Hermione never had that class with her, still paired with Slytherin like she had been before. She couldn't help but wonder how the smaller girl looked as she went to work. Does she get that look she does when she talks about something she finds interesting? Does her scraggly blonde hair begin to frizz standing over the boiling cauldron? Does she take those awful scattered notes filled with doodles all over the page like her other classes?
They were seated together in their usual corner of the library as the bookworm pondered these things, studying the other girl out of the corner of her eye. The younger girl appeared to be deep in thought as she read through the book before her, lightly trailing the feathered tip of her quill back and forth across her nose. Hermione had noted that it was an unconscious habit her friend had while she worked silently. She couldn't help but smile slightly as it took away from the serious expression on the little blonde's face.
"You've been staring at me for quite some time now, Hermione. Is there something you wish to ask me, though are unsure of how to word it? Even if it comes out a bit strangely, you may ask me either way," Luna said airily and without looking up, though after so much silence her voice was a little startling.
"A-Ah, no. I was just... thinking really," the brunette replied somewhat awkwardly. That was another thing that tended to frustrate her. Luna made her feel foolish and awkward in a way she never had with anyone else. She couldn't really explain it, but sometimes she felt like the other girl could look right through her and it was unnerving.
Gently placing her quill down, the younger girl looked up to stare evenly at her friend sitting across from her. She was doing it now. The way she looked at Hermione made the girl feel like she was being read as easily as the words on a page. After a moment of scrutiny, the blonde's face broke out into an easy smile and she lightly prodded with, "May I inquire as to what you were thinking about?"
Sighing faintly, the older girl knew that Luna wouldn't pry if she asked, though not saying anything at all would be strange. How could she say that she was thinking about Luna without it sounding weird though? Instead, she cleared her throat and leaned forward in her seat a tad, beginning a slightly exaggerated story, "Well, you see... I have this potions exam coming up, I'm sure you do as well, and I must say I'm a little flustered. I've been practicing, though some of the potions I brew don't turn out exactly... grand. They're alright, though I believe they could be better. I'm not sure how to improve on them though. I've read and reread the book a dozen times, and it's always the same result."
Hermione felt herself grow hot all over, surely turning quite red at the sound of the other girl's light laughter. Now she felt silly for saying anything at all, though Luna's warm smile quickly helped the feeling fade. Her blush did not.
Vaguely shaking her head as if to gather herself, the blonde continued to smile as she looked at the girl opposite her, "And that is your problem. You rely too heavy upon your books to give you all the answers."
Furrowing her brow, the brunette should have expected something like this. All she could think was, 'Here we go...' Leaning even further forward in her seat, Hermione said somewhat hotly, "And what other purpose would books have if not to teach us things? It is a text book! Of course it should have all the answers!"
Placing her hands on the table with fingers gently laced, Luna also leaned forward slightly, though with a look of light amusement. Hermione hated that look. It's the look she gave when she knew something the other girl didn't. It frustrated her.
"Can a book teach you to love?" was the simple reply that sent the older girl reeling. What the bloody hell did that mean? What did that have to do with anything? She must be scowling at this point as the blonde's eyes twinkled with mirth.
She continued on with, "Can it teach you happiness? Can it teach you to fail? Can it teach you true sorrow? Can it teach you to live?"
Jerking away and faintly slamming her back against her seat in frustration, the brunette groaned, "Please, tell me where you're going with this, Luna."
"You can read all you like, but the only way to truly learn is to try."
Practically growling now, the bookworm let out, "Haven't you been paying attention? I said I have tried. My potions are satisfactory, though I wish to improve."
Vaguely shaking her head once more, the blonde reached out and splayed her fingers just before Hermione's tense ones. Her tone was soft, "You did as the book told you. Over and over, you repeated the same process and expected a different result," she added in a little absently, "Some call that madness you know..."
Looking in the clearly irritated eyes of her companion and lightly brushing her fingertips against the other's, she tried to sooth the girl as best she could while trying to explain what she meant. Tilting her head to the side, she continued again, "To me, that is not trying. It's simply following directions. That's no way to learn and grow. It's simply living within the shadow of another. You must find your own way. Try things differently. Experiment. Sometimes the book method isn't always the best method. But you'll never know if you don't try."
Hermione closed her eyes and felt her body relax, focusing on the other girl's fingertips. The blonde's initial wording of these little "lessons" she takes it upon herself to teach her friend often angered her at first, only calming once it began making more sense. The bookworm was far more logical, organized and literal. The little daydreamer was typically confusing to her until she elaborated and confusion lead to irritation for her. She reached forward and gently grasped those fingers in her hands, unsure of what to say as her frustration receded.
"There are some things a book simply can't teach you. They could be used as guidelines, though the only way to really learn is to get out there and try," the younger girl stated, studying the hands holding her own as if they were the most interesting thing she had ever seen.
The brunette opened her eyes and found herself smiling at the girl before her who stared at their hands almost confused. She had never seen such an expression on Luna before. It wasn't the first time the little blonde had tried expanding Hermione's views and it certainly wasn't the first time Hermione grew irritated with her. It wasn't the first time she reached out to try and sooth the older girl's frustrations either. But it was the first time she reached back.
All of the negativity washed away as soon as it came and Hermione began laughing at the look on the other girl's face. Quickly looking up to meet her eyes, the blonde's brows were slightly raised in further confusion. Smiling warmly, the older girl laced their fingers and watched as Luna sharply looked back down at their hands once more. She had never seen the blonde blush before and it sent a certain thrill rushing through her.
"Perhaps," the brunette began, "you may be right. As you said, the only way to know is to try. Do you think you'd be willing to help me then?"
"Of course, Hermione," was the immediate reply as the other girl looked up again.
She wondered briefly if this was how Luna looked at her as she examined every inch of the girl's face. It wasn't that the blonde had never shown much emotion before, just that it was often very subtle. Her face looked so open and vulnerable now that Hermione wanted to drink it in before the airy girl drifted away again.
Face flushed and eyes full of uncertainty, Luna had never looked more beautiful. It stirred something in the older girl that she couldn't quite place.
Hermione lightly squeezed the other girl's fingers, then retracted her own. She noticed the small look of loss that crosses the younger girl's face as she begins packing up her things. The blonde looks confused and a tad worried as she watches on, asking, "Hermione?"
Smiling, the girl in question replies, "It's gotten awfully late and I've finished all my assignments already. I'm holding you to your word. You'll be helping me with potions tomorrow," after a moment, she adds on, "I'm sorry if I sounded rude earlier."
Shaking her head, Luna's face relaxed to it's normal, easy expression. The brunette missed the "vulnerable Luna" already. Her voice was light and breezy, "I assure you that I'm quite accustomed to it. You're a rather hostile creature by nature, though you often mean well. I wonder if it's perhaps a common Gryffindor trait. Many Gryffindors are like that, though not all of them. All the Houses tend to have fairly common traits among it's students, though they don't necessarily apply to every single one of them."
Sighing faintly in amusement over the younger girl's rambling, Hermione stood and slipped the strap for her bag over her shoulder, sliding the bag itself around to her back. She nodded her head towards her seated friend and said somewhat softly, "I'll see you at breakfast."
"Goodnight, Hermione Granger. I will see you at breakfast," the blonde replied easily. Smiling slightly, she continued with, "And I will gladly assist you with your potions studies after classes end tomorrow."
Lightly gripping the strap to her bag, the older girl smiled once more, "I'll meet you here then."