Luna was awake. The air felt cool against her skin as she emerged from the confines her bedspread. She slipped on a sweater and tiptoed around her roommates, who were fast asleep in the other four-posters. The door creaked as she opened it, so she hurried through. The common room seemed oddly deserted, even though it was late into the night. As Luna made her way out of the portrait hole, she felt the need to venture outside. She needed fresh air. She turned to walk to the quidditch pitch. As she stepped outside, the warmth of the night air greeted Luna, as well as the bright light of the full moon.
Luna stepped into the grass, wet from the day's storm. The sky had cleared, but the moon outshined most of the stars. Luna made her way to the broom shed, a dusty space, and retrieved a battered looking Cleansweep. As if to prepare for flight, Luna sprinted across the field with abandon, arms wide, blonde hair whipping back behind her, reveling in the quiet moonlight. Finally Luna picked up the Cleansweep and sped off into the air. As she sped through the pitch, flying this way and that, Luna marveled at how free she felt, so much like a bird. When Luna landed, she noticed a movement near the bushes. Stealthily she moved around the bush, until she saw the hiding spectator.
"Good night, Harry Potter." Luna extended her hand to shake Harry's.
"Luna, shouldn't it be good evening?" Harry, confused, took Luna's hand and stood up, still red faced from being found.
"But it's not evening Harry, it is night." Abruptly Luna turned and pointed to the grass. "Have you felt the grass? It's wonderfully soft beneath my feet."
Harry looked even more puzzled, but answered, "I'm wearing shoes."
"Why? Take them off." Luna motioned to her own shoeless feet and wiggled her toes. Harry laughed, took his shoes and socks off, and wondered at how soft the ground really did feel.
"So," he started conversationally, "Why are you up so late?" Luna shrugged her shoulders and bent down.
"I don't know," she said. "I didn't want to sleep."
"Well, I couldn't sleep," replied Harry.
"Of course you can sleep," Luna stated matter-of-factly, still busy with something on the ground. "It's a question of wanting to or not." Luna straightened, held up a blade of grass, twirled it between her fingers, and skipped off, humming to herself.
Harry stayed for a moment, pondering the encounter. With one last glance at Luna, Harry strolled into the castle and hiked up the stairs to his four-poster. It beckoned to him, and so he complied, drifting off into a peaceful slumber.