After they had finished their lunch in a leisurely manner, Hermione suggested they simply walk to her apartment, as it was close by, to finish the interview.

Once settled in her living room, with more tea brewing, Xenophilius pulled out his scroll and quill, and turned to her, his list of questions ready.

Before he could open his mouth to speak, Hermione's big mouth interrupted him,

"I have a question of my own."

He gazed at her, his bright blue eyes widening and she could have bitten her tongue.

"I'm sorry. Forgive me. What were you going to say?"

He shook his head, his wild hair falling in his face, impatiently he brushed it aside,

"Please finish your thought, Hermione."

She looked down at her lavender carpeting, and bit her lip before speaking,

"I was wondering, that afternoon, once I finished reading the story, what was going through your mind? Did you still want to turn us in? Or were you merely trapped in the chain of events?"

Xenophilius sat back against the couch cushions, his mind suddenly coming to an abrupt halt. Any possible questions he was expecting disappeared in a virtual cloud of smoke. This line of questioning had blindsided him.

"Ah, well. You see, I was of two minds. I knew you were all Luna's closest and dearest friends, and I did not wish to hurt you, but at the same time, I knew that the only way I could know she was safe, was to turn you in. I had little choice in the matter. However, to this day, it is something I deeply regret. I do wish there had been a better choice."

Hermione was floored. His response was completely and exactly the right one. Spoken like a true father. When it came to choosing between those who you loved and those who your beloved did, it was always the one you loved. Hard as it had been, she could not be angry with him. Not that she had.

She stood up from the chair in which she had been perched across the small table from him, and went to sit beside him, placing her small hand atop one of his much larger ones,

"Thank you for being honest with me. I know it was hard."

Xenophilius nodded, unable to hear what she said, though he could see her lips moving. For some reason, all logical thought had left his mind, and the only thing he could focus on was the touch of her hand on his. It was warm, soft, and very fragile next to his. He heard her say something else, but could only stare at her, beginning to lose himself in her warm brown eyes. It was as if a Knargle had flown into his ears, muffling all sounds but the beating of his and her heart.

Hermione meanwhile was merely trying to speak with him, but having no luck. When she raised a hand to wave it before his eyes, they suddenly focused again, and his free hand shot up to grip hers.

She glanced at it, and before his grip turned painful, she looked up to meet his gaze,

"Are you alright?"

"Yes. For once. I know what I must do." His voice was deeper, had lost the dreamy quality that Luna's shared, and had grown husky.

She had only a few seconds to think about what he could possibly mean before he used her hands to propel her into him, and he captured her mouth with his.

His arms snaked around her waist, and she was flush against his chest, feeling the erratic heartbeat through his thin cotton shirt, and she could swear her own skipped a few beats.

All she could think was,

'What is happening?'

His hands slowly moved up from her waist to caress her cheeks, his thumbs stroking the tops of her closed eyelids. They were as gentle as butterfly's wings, and Hermione felt as if she was awakening from a dream as she pulled away, and her eyes gradually opened.

Xenophilius' eyes scanned her face, searching for any sign or indication she disliked what had occurred. Nothing of the sort was visible.

Hermione cleared her throat suddenly, and sat up straight,

"I think the tea is ready." She managed to say, before quickly exiting the room.

Xenophilius blinked twice. Her reaction was that of a skittish wild animal. However he sensed that she had wanted to stay, and perhaps say something completely different.

Hermione stood, frozen, hands hovering over the teapot, slightly shaking. She had been kissed many a time. Whether at Hogwarts, during forth year by Victor, or during the last months before the battle of Hogwarts, by Ron. Never had they been out of the blue, or so unearthly. She had been blindsided. That moment, the moment in time spilt seconds before he kissed her, she could have sworn she felt a slight fuzziness in her brain. As if some of the creatures he and Luna were always talking about had overtaken her senses.

A/N: I know Luna seems absent from the story, but that's just how it happened. I kinda would think she would probably be okay with all of this. in her own way, i think she would even encourage it.