She was comfortable sitting on the train. It was awfully queer of her to be there in the first place. One of many reasons is that, she's a wizard. She could floo or apparate easily, but she used muggle transportation. Her friends thought none of it, much to her appreciation. They have already gotten used to her weird quirks. Although, it took a lot of hard work and confusion for Luna Lovegood to get the hang of riding the London Metro. Now, however, she could take the train easily to any part of London she wished.
It was pointless to everyone she knew that didn't have any muggle blood in their veins, for her to making herself suffer with muggle transportation. But The Quibbler had gotten more hits once she recorded her experience on the fast pacing vehicle. She felt like a spy, dressing up in muggle clothes and hiding her robes and wand. Not risking to be identified. A note pad and pen in her hand and her surveying eyes gazing at each passenger.
After a few weeks though the story died down. A lot of wizards and other unoriginal journalists tried the tube themselves. It was an amusing sight to see. A group of people wearing long robes and carrying sticks, asking a very bewildered security guard for instructions. An annoying Rita Skeeter once tried it and almost fainted when she noticed all the crowded cars. She kept casting herself a cleansing charm every time someone bumped into her. She clearly thought it wasn't worth it when she went out of the car swearing like Lee Jordan in a very biased quidditch game between Gryffindor and Slytherin. The muggles looked at her as she shrieked herself out into the streets. Luna was glad that Skeeter didn't hex the whole place.
It was a typical Tuesday morning where we find our silver haired witch in lo and behold, a train. She was sitting peacefully, holding a textbook about Nargles in her hand. She scanned the pages idly, waiting for the train to reach its destination. There are some wizards she seemed to recognize using the convenience of the horseless carriage. She greeted the ones who caught her eye. A few muggles were staring at her. Probably transfixed by the cover of her book.
The book looked ancient to those who are not acquainted by the wizarding world. It was bounded in brown leather. It gave off a smell that all old books have. On the cover was an enchanted picture of a witch walking down a forest. A silhouette to be in fact. A young wizard running up and down the cover and the spine trying to catch the magical creature.
Luna didn't know what would the muggles see of her book, but she didn't care. Most of them would shrug it off. Others would just stare at her blankly and with disbelief. She heard a pair of school girls hastily whispering to each other. They were pointing at her and giving each other weird gestures, like one was twirling her finger right around her ear, and a few snickers. Luna thought none of it. She was happy that she elicited those smiles from the teenage girls.
The train started moving and someone's head fell on her shoulder. The head belonged to who Luna recognized was the famous Boy-Who-Lived. She didn't notice him before, she sat. She just saw a tired man that hung his head, asleep. Luna was too transfixed in her own world that she didn't bloody noticed Lord Voldemort's nemesis.
Luna giggled slightly when she realized that Harry was still asleep as he rested his head on her shoulder. He snored lightly, a strong scent of alcohol in his breath. She didn't know which, probably a muggle brand. She widened her eyes as she figured it out. Harry is drunk or at least he was. He was clearly in deep sleep considering that he wasn't jostled awake by inertia. Judging by his stained blue shirt, which Luna thought was the only shirt he owned, and smoke infused brown jacket, he was out on the town getting drunk. Luna thought that if Harry were to be out somewhere he'd have Ron with him or any of his friends. Yet Harry looked alone. Alone and miserable. Even in sleep his mouth was set into a deep frown. He had dark moons under his eyes, telling Luna that he had't slept in a while.
Being the good natured friend she was, she let Harry lean into her more. She shifted carefully, not wanting to wake him. She finally breathed out a sigh when they were both comfortable with their position. She set her book down and looked at Harry, her curiosity piqued. His hair was oily and sweaty, like he didn't wash it for days. His scar was still visible and conspicuous as ever. Harry was branded by Lord Voldemort. The scar was a grim reminder and a ray of hope all at the same time. Reminder where as long as Harry had the scar, trouble will find him everywhere he went. A ray of hope because it signifies that the mightiest villains can be weakened and defeated.
His glasses were askew. Barely hanging from the bridge of his nose. His face was flushed and flecked in dust and dirt. He kept muttering muddled words in a slurry and grumpy voice. He shifted and tucked his head deeper on the crook of Luna's neck that she could feel his deep breaths on her skin, making her hair stand up on edge. His hair tickling her nose making her scrunch. She took in a breath and involuntarily, she sneezed. It wasn't loud or boisterous. The sound she made was a mix of a cat's hiss and a mouse's squeal.
Harry awoke with a jolt. He momentarily forgot here he was or what was happening. He whipped his head from left to right. His eyes wide and his body rigid. He reached for his wand until Luna's warm hand stopped his from reaching his pocket.
"It's okay Harry." she said, her voice soft and lulling. His green eyes met blue and Harry was still clouded in confusion. Was he with Luna the whole time? Why did he feel like crap? Harry rubbed his forehead and looked away, for a growing headache suddenly appeared. Harry wasn't aware that Luna's hand was still in his. Her warmth seeping through his cold callous hands. Did something happen between them?
"No. Nothing happened between us Harry."She laughed as if she read his mind. She squeezed his hand and let go. Harry already felt the absence of warmth. Luna fished something from her bag until she pulled out a thermos.
"Here. It'll help." She offered to him. He took it reluctantly, him still being confused and up in the air. He hardly recalled last night, and add in Luna and being in the train to the equation, its just a big massive blur.
"Don't worry. I just happen to sit next to you. You accidentally slept on me but judging from what you look as of the moment, you really needed it so I complied. I don't know how you ended up here but I guess you'd know." She said. Her eyes warm and inviting, complimenting her smile.
Harry gulped in, what he believed was tea. Knowing Luna, he hoped it was tea. the warm substance relaxed his tense muscles. Harry surveyed his surroundings. The memoried going back to him bit by bit. To Harry's dismay it wasn't just a regular night in town.
He scowled at the bitter memory. He was down in a muggle pub down in main street. Chugging down as much shots of whiskey as humanly possible. The bartender asked an inebriated Harry to leave once he couldn't pay back the drinks he ordered. He then walked drunkenly through the streets of London. Aimlessly and devoid of purpose. Like a moth to a flame, the lights of the train station were probably the one that lead him to sleep on the train like a homeless person.
Harry gulped down on the last drop of Luna's tea. Once he realized this, a splash of colour spread around his cheeks. Luna simply took the thermos with her and gave him a sandwich. Harry guessed it was her lunch for the day. Harry felt ashamed for making Luna give her food away like he's some stray dog begging.
"Take it." she offered. Harry was shocked still at how she read his face and movements. How good was Luna in Divination?
His hunger that he only now felt took over and he took the ham sandwich and devoured it slowly. Tasting it and appreciating it than wolfing it down. He gave a gratifying smile to Luna to which she replied with her sing-songy voice.
"Now, care to tell me why you ended up here?" she asked, a smirk on her face.
Harry stopped chewing and contemplated on what he was going to say to her. He wasn't going to pour out his feelings to her, especially here in public. He wanted to tell her though. There was something in her that made him feel welcomed. The way she could read his face and body language that he didn't need to say anything for her to know what was going through his head, he loved it. He straightened himself in a moment of self consciousness. Luna giggled as she noticed. Harry's heart leaped a little. A smile curved his lips as he chewed.
Suddenly the train stopped moving and Luna's smile fell. "I'm sorry Harry this is my stop." she said as she held her bag tighter and stood up. A moment of disappointment washed over Harry and he stood up too quickly, making him lose balance and lean over Luna.
"Oh, I'm sorry." he apologized quickly. She propped him up and fixed the lopsided glasses on his face. Her hands ghosting over his cheeks, Harry stood still. He was paralyzed by her touch, or the absence of it.
Luna rested her hands on her side once she was satisfied. She beamed a smile at him again and Harry felt his heart skip. She was shuffling against the wave of people and was apparently waiting for Harry to say something. For the life of him, he didn't know what. He wanted to invite her to dinner, or lunch or anywhere. He just wanted to be with her.
"How about you owl me, yeah?" she offered, a little irked by his lack of response. He nodded slightly, still gazing at her eyes. She leaned down and pecked on his grimy cheeks. Goosebumps started to spread like wildfire.
"Bye Harry." She said. She then became part of the sea of people. Inching her way out of the train, occasionally bumping into someone. A few seconds later she was out and about. The doors closed and Harry remained standing there. Still paralyzed and locked into position. He didn't know what had happened. All he knew was that he needed to see her again. Her silver hair that made her blue eyes pop. Her soft and gentle hands fumbling over a book about some bizarre creature even Harry didn't know about. He needed to her that voice of hers. That voice that made him feel like he was included into her little bubble of queerness. Of course their time together have been brief. During his time in Hogwarts he only spent a huge amount of time with her during a party. Even then he was distracted and wasn't really paying attention to her. What was happening now that really attracted him to her? Was it just a desperate attempt by his recently shattered heart? Probably. But as a brave Gryffindor he was ready to throw caution at the wind yeah?
Harry closed his eyes and sighed, running his hand on his hair. A hint of disgust was o his face when his hair felt oily and unclean. He heard snickering and found some teenage girls, looking at him and blushing. Whispering to each other about what had happened. Great.
Author's Note:I thought about this a lot and just wanted to write it out. How much this story progresses depends on the reviews this is getting. I know that this is an unusual ship at that but eh.. I like it. Read and review please i cannot stress it enough. review the hell out of this. negative or positive whatever. P.S. if there are any errors I am sorry in advance. When I upload the file words keep missing. hmm..
