Luna ran panting down the corridor towards the charms classroom, her footsteps echoing though the deserted halls. The stairs had been particularly temperamental that morning, it had taken her ages to get even close to charms. The majority of the students who had stayed for the holidays were studying in the library, so there was nobody around to ask her where she was going. This at least, she was glad about. Charms had never been her best subject.
She stopped abruptly in front of the heavy oak door, her heart pounding in her chest. Hastily tucking runaway strands back into her collar she listened for any sound in the room to suggest Hermione was already there, but heard nothing. She found herself hesitating and closed her eyes. 'Don't be pathetic Luna' the voice in her head retorted. It was just a door, only a door. she sighed, and pushed the door open a couple of inches. Hermione was sitting on the left side of the classroom, the light from the wide windows behind the blackboard caught her profile and made her look heavenly. She was leant over a book, her expression peaceful. At the creak of the door she looked up, and smiled brightly.
"Hello Luna" there was a pause, and Hermione nervously bit her lip, trying to look friendly. It wasn't an expression she was used to "Do you...wan't to come in?" Luna shuffled inside trying not to stare, and at Hermione's gesture came and took a seat next to her. "Well, I thought we'd start by taking a look at confundus charms" Luna took out her wand, and Hermione showed her the correct gesture and made her practise. "Remember, focus with intention" she instructed. Luna made a few successful tries, but even so couldn't keep her focus from drifting to Hermione's voice, every now and then.
After half an hour Hermione leant back against the bench and sighed, dark circles apparent under her eyes. "Did you not sleep well last night?" Luna asked
"Not amazingly, no" Hermione replied, her lips pursed. Her face broke suddenly, and glancing at Luna she pushed a smile "but you are getting much better. Do you want to take a break?" Luna nodded, and Hermione took some biscuits out of her bag she'd stolen from breakfast. They ate them in silence. Luna gazed at the floor, slipping back to the voices in her head again. They were softer, Hermione still taking the majority of her attention. She was maybe one of Luna's first real friends, so important...Luna let her gaze slide to her right watching Hermione eat. She ate daintily, taking small bites.
"You're very pretty Hermione" the words were out before she realised she was saying them. Every limb of her body freezing over her eyes stretched wide as she resisted the temptation to clap a hand over her mouth. Hermione turned to look at her suddenly, a soft blush rising in her cheeks.
"Um...thank you. you too" there was another long pause, before hermione got to her feet, determined to regain composure. "Well...lets get on. I'm...I'm going to write some charms on the board, and I want you to practise pronouncing them correctly" Luna followed her to the board, and with a flick of Hermione's wand the chalk began to move on its own.
"Oh look there it is" Luna said airily, pointing over Hermione's head "Nargle mistletoe" hermione looked up and saw the wreath of mistletoe but no tiny creatures. Seeing Hermione's confused expression, Luna tried to explain "Their invisible, you see, which is why most people don't believe..." her voice trailed off, hermione gazing at her intently "uh..." she was aware of being too close, but didn't want to move away, she was leaning forward...
there was a crash from outside and both girls jumped, hermione stumbling back. Luna burned, not being able to stand Hermione's staled look, not wanting to hear her questions. "I'm...I'm so sorry" she fumbled, walking at first, and then running past Hermione, grabbing her bag. She'd barely heard Hermione shouting for her to wait before she'd slammed the door after her.