Setting: Wednesday afternoon, Luna convinces Cho to take a break from studying and go for a walk around the lake.
Cho groaned and tossed down her quill to massage her temples, this upcoming Transfiguration test was going to be the death of her. On top of that she had to find time to schedule those team tutoring sessions Cedric had mentioned a few weeks ago. She felt a smile creeping up on her as she remembered that day and how she finally met Luna- really met her. Just then, almost as if the girl could read her mind, Luna dropped into the chair next to her.
"Hi Cho, needing a break yet?" she sang out in a quiet voice.
The raven-haired beauty nodded her head and smiled at her friend, "Yea, I'm at my limit here. What did you have in mind?"
"It's a beautiful day out, why not go for a walk? I know a wonderful trail that leads around the lake, care to join me?" Luna offered.
"I'd like that," Cho answered, pushing her chair back from the table. The pair stood up and left the Common Room. As they walked down the stairs and out the front door, Cho noticed that once again, Luna was barefoot. "No one took your shoes again right?"
Luna shook her head, "No, I knew I'd be going for a walk, and I love to feel the grass between my toes. My shoes are still by my bed, and no one has been taking them since, well, since that detention. Thank you."
Cho bit her lip as they went out the front door, "Well I'm glad my friend's have backed off. No one in the other houses is bothering you either right?"
"No, things have been fine now," Luna admitted, skipping lightly as they made their way towards the lake. "I've even said hi to Draco in the hallway the other day."
"And he said hi back?" Cho asked, laughing lightly.
Luna nodded, "yea, Pansy said hi as well, it was very nice. Oh, this is the spot!"
Cho looked around as her friend stopped, she'd never really ventured to this side of the lake, it was really rather peaceful. There was the perfect piece of shore that they could lay out on before the tree line picked up and it gave them the most beautiful view of the castle.
"How did you find this spot? I've never even gone further than the Southern bank, right near the school."
"I'm always out wandering. They say the forest is forbidden as well but I've made friends with the Thestrals living near Hagrid's hut. I've even seen a Unicorn once, but only from afar. I love being out in nature, I find that it's easier to focus," Luna explained. "I've been around the entire lake, this is my second favorite spot. My favorite is a little far so I saved that trip for another day."
The two of them sat down and enjoyed the sun for a few moments; Cho had quickly shed her robes and rolled up her sleeves. She turned to her companion, "Thanks for sharing this with me. It's nice knowing that other students won't just see us sitting here and join us. And we can't hear the noise from the castle so it's actually peaceful."
"You're a very good friend, I'm happy to share this with you," Luna smiled.
Cho smiled back but felt a twinge in her chest. It had been a few weeks since detention, and they'd hung out almost every day since then. Sometimes she'd just been too caught up with studying and practice to see her; other times Luna was nowhere to be found (although now that Cho knew about one of her study spots, she'd be sure to check it). Her feelings for the younger witch hadn't changed at all though. She cleared her throat, "Luna, can I tell you something?"
"Of course."
"Well, it's just that… -sigh- I like you Luna. Like really care for you. I've never seen you with anyone, and you've never mentioned a special someone… I just… Luna, would you go on a date with me?" Cho blurted out. Smooth, real smooth. She wasn't even sure if Luna was into girls!
Luna blinked a few times, "You'd like to take me on a date?" Her friend nodded. "That would be lovely. Maybe we can go into Hogsmeade this weekend? If you're not too busy studying of course."
"Really? That, that would be great! I'll make sure to get all my studying done during the week."
"I can help with that too. I know you're taking higher classes than I am but, I can help organize your schedule if you'd like."
"Luna, you're amazing you know that? Let's head back, so we can get started on the studying then." The older witch stood up and offered her hand to her companion. Luna accepted it and continued to hold her hand as they made their way to the castle. Cho was floating on clouds as they finally approached the castle doors but then her mood was shattered when Malfoy and his usual gang made their way outside. She had half a mind to drop Luna's hand- they looked at her like she was weird enough so she didn't want to add to the ridicule.
"Draco has turned over a new leaf, it will be fine," Luna promised, as if she could read Cho's mind. She gave a reassuring squeeze as the Slytherins slowly made their way towards the girls.
Of course Draco was the first to notice, "Hey there Luna, I should have known I'd see you out here." He started to smile but then he noticed that it was Chang that accompanied her. They'd only seen each other on the pitch since detention so of course they'd been nasty to each other. He wasn't entire sure how she'd take his presence right now.
Thankfully Pansy was the one to break the silence, "Chang, I thought you'd be inside studying for your test?"
"You know about my test?" Cho asked, taken by surprise.
"It's all Hayley has been complaining about since McGonagall mentioned it last week," Draco cut in. "She's actually the reason we left the Common Room, she was snapping at anyone being too loud."
"Oh right, Hayley Quentin, I didn't even realize. I was studying but um, Luna here suggested I take a break. We were heading back in though." She cleared her throat and made to move past the Slytherin group, glad that Malfoy really had stuck to his word about being more polite. As she passed though, she felt a hand snake out and grip her wrist.
"Seems like I wasn't the only one that that detention helped out eh?" Draco whispered with a quick glance down to her interlaced fingers.
"Not sure yet, we've only just agreed to go on a date," she admitted. It had really surprised her that him and Hermione had been hanging out lately, although they had gotten very close that day.
"Good luck then, but I know she likes you," he finished with a wink.
He hurried off to catch up with his friends and Cho let herself be pulled along by Luna. She wondered just how often Draco and Luna talked with each other now. But surely his admission was a good sign- she'd be sure to be on her best behavior this weekend. Luna deserved to be impressed after all.
A/N: Wow, long time no post; I've been sitting on this one for awhile. I loved the idea of Luna being the one to keep Cho from getting in over her head and proposing break times. I know it's a little short but I'm slowly getting back into my Harry Potter mood so hopefully that means I'll be able to update! I picked a random Slytherin character from one of the games to fill in. Her actual year isn't stated so I figured it didn't matter much since we don't have too many Slytherins to choose from in only the books.
**Update** Just made a Twitter for myself if any of you out there want to follow me and ask questions about my stories just search for TweakerWolf =D
