A/N: Thank you for all the follows, favs and reviews! :D P.S. I forgot to mention that I decided to put Luna in the same year level as Harry's. ;)

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Chapter 4: The Mission

That night found Harry on his four-poster bed, laying flatly, staring blankly at the ceiling. He was thinking. Every help that he could get from his friends could mean a lot. But what he need the most are opinions from girls. So he decided to inform Luna about his plan as soon as possible. But Luna and Hermione are always together. Then an idea came to him. Hearing no snores from the bed beside him, he thought Ron might not be asleep yet.

"Ron?"

No response.

"Ugh, sleep really takes over him quick." Harry muttered as he shifted in his bed. It's been an hour already since they went up from the common room, so Ron must be tired from his clumsiness. A while ago he'd been running around chasing Ginny because he was trying to peek through her diary, trying to know who this guy she's eyeing on is. But of course, she insisted. Harry smiled, relieved that Ginny was finally over him, and Ron was being the fiendish brother again. He started trying to sleep, then-

Suddenly, Ron's voice came, "Harry? Sorry I was busy daydreaming about - ehmm - you know."

Harry immediately sat up, pulled his bed curtain sideways to see Ron peering out of his bed despite the unlit room. Harry smiled at his friend, knowing it was Luna he was thinking about for the nth time.

"Apologies for my disturbance mate."

Ron grinned, held up a hand and said, "All right, so what is it?"

Harry jumped out of his bed and went to sit to Ron's. He'd want a little privacy because their roommates, Neville, Seamus and Dean, might overhear their conversation though it's almost midnight and they might be all sleeping.

"I've got you a mission." said Harry closing the bed curtains.

Ron was perplexed. "What? What mission?"

Harry beamed and said in a low voice, "Uhm, I want to inform Luna about my plan," he paused for effect then continued, "so I'd like you to tell her my plan and -"

"Eh? Why don't you go tell her? It's your plan after all." said Ron sounding annoyed.

"I thought you might want to have some time with her, alone." said Harry as he moved away from him a bit.

"But that would not make any sense because it's you who's supposed to be telling her about this and it'd be obvious that I like her. Why would I talk to her - alone - when all I'd say is about you and Hermione?" Ron replied softly.

Harry thought about his list of possible reasons. He went silent for a while then exclaimed, "You're one timid guy, mate!"

He laughed heartily as Ron stared at him with his here-we-go-again look. He rolled his eyes and said, "Enough! I'm just not prepared for that. You're giving me a shock, can't you see?"

"Yeah, I figured that out." Harry still laughed a bit. "So, I think you should be the one to tell her because . . . first, you can finally get to know Luna better for I can tell that you aren't feeling comfortable around her when she's with us. Second, you're just going to inform her but I'll be the one to explain further some other time. Third, that'd leave me and Hermione sometime alone together,"

Ron grinned and said, "Just what I thought." Ugh, his best friend using him for his own romantic stuff.

"I'm not using you, okay? You'd benefit from this too." said Harry, smiling as though he read Ron's mind then continued, "Fourth, Hermione might get suspicious if she found out that me and Luna had sometime together, alone. Fifth, or worse she might get jealous. And lastly, it's clear that I'm setting you up for a date!" he snickered at the last part.

Ron stared at his friend for a moment. It was Harry asking Hermione to be his girlfriend, not him engaging into some love affair with Luna. But again, it is Luna they're talking about. He thought maybe he liked the idea. A talk or date with Luna could be great. He'd want to have a chance, really. He didn't want losing the opportunity given so after a few more of Harry's persuasion, he gave in.

"Oh, all right." he finally agreed.

'Oh geez, I need to prepare for this.' he thought.

Harry gave him a pat at the back then said, "That's the spirit mate. Night!"

Harry climbed back to his comfy bed as he saw Ron closing the curtains swiftly and heard a soft "Night" from him. He closed his too. As he turned sideways, he felt a surge of ease. He let out a huge sigh. It's like another problem was solved for him, or he hoped so.

xXxXxXx

Hermione woke up earlier than usual. She peered through her window, and saw leaves falling from trees. There seemed to be a warm breeze outside. The fine weather is what happened to lift up her mood, and it was definitely perfect for their first class.

She went to the bathroom for a quick shower and then put on her school robes. She went back to her dormitory to get her books, parchments and quill for her morning classes. It was early but just in time for breakfast. The common room was quite deserted and she noticed that Harry's and Ron's school things were gone from their table. This could only mean that they headed straight to the Great Hall without her, again. She headed for the portrait door and opened it. She almost ran into the person right outside the door.

"Luna! Why d'you keep doing that?" Hermione exclaimed, grabbing Luna's arm to balance her self up. "You're not even sure that it's me who'd appear right in front of you!"

Luna giggled as she helped Hermione stand properly. There was a time when a second year student started cursing loudly after he fell out of the door because Luna avoided him bumping into her. Professor Snape was going down through their staircase at that time and he thought that it was him the student was cursing. The student ended up cleaning Snape's dungeon for an hour while Hermione kept apologizing to him and offered to help him with his homework to make up for what happened. She almost found herself not talking to Luna but she can't just help it.

"Good morning, Hermione!" Luna greeted her cheerfully.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Good morning."

"Oh come on, I'm sorry! If you'd tell me the password, that would help," said Luna.

"Okay okay. Why so early?" asked Hermione flatly.

"Well it's thursday and I didn't forget that our first class is Care of Magical Creatures, so how about a breakfast with you, Harry and Ronald?"

Then Hermione remembered that their schedule for this class was changed so they were now with Ravenclaw instead of Slytherin, another reason for her to love it. She finally beamed. Of course she wouldn't let Luna's early playfulness ruin her mood. So she, together with a skipping Luna, went down to the Great Hall.

xXxXxXx

Harry glanced through the door of the Great Hall then found himself smiling. Hermione and Luna has just entered the hall and were now heading to their table. Ron was happily munching lamb chops when Harry nudged him. When he saw who were arriving, he quickly set down his fork, drank some orange juice and wiped his mouth with a table napkin. He looked up to see Hermione and Luna now standing across them.

"Good morning!" greeted Harry cheerfully, and then chewed a sausage.

"I can see you two are so happy that you forgot to wait for me." said Hermione with a raised eyebrow.

"Apologies Hermione, I'm starving!" said Ron. "Why don't you sit down first and eat as well?"

Hermione seated across Harry then remembered Luna wants to join them and said particularly to Ron, "So Luna wants to join us this morning."

"You won't mind, will you Harry, Ronald?" asked Luna.

Harry just smiled then continued eating. Hermione and Luna started filling up their plates then Hermione noticed that Ron stopped eating. He was staring . . . watching Luna. "Hey, I thought you were starving!"

Ron was startled, hurried for more food then said, "Oh yes. I'm just thinking."

Harry and Hermione looked at each other. They tried their best not to burst out laughing. Then Harry remembered his talk with Ron last night. This is his chance to bring up the topic.

"Luna, when would you hang out again with us?" asked Harry.

"Well, I'm planning to invite you guys over our house for Christmas holiday." said Luna. "Daddy agreed, but he said for the first week only."

"That's all right. It's a good idea. We'd love to come!" said Hermione excitedly.

"Yeah, of course Luna." agreed Harry. "No problems with you Ron, eh? Your house is near theirs right?"

Ron received another nudge from Harry then nodded, "Yeah, we're almost neighbors. And I'd come Luna. I'd be glad to." He had a hard time stopping himself from blushing. "Err—Luna? I'd like to ask you if—. If you wanna have lunch with me sometime?"

Ron was surprised with his sudden confidence but he wasn't sure if he'd feel happy or ashamed about it. Harry gave him a quick glance, shook his head then grinned.

"Of course, Ronald. How about on Saturday? It's a Hogsmeade weekend and I'm free." Luna said, smiling at Ron.

Ron was not completely shocked that she agreed, in fact they're friends. But he didn't expect it to come this early. This Saturday? He needed time to think, to prepare and to gain courage.

"Sure." Ron finally said and let out a sigh.

He'd be completely out of his mind right after they leave this table.

A/N: I'll try to make an update quickly. :) I'm not really satisfied with this chapter but, thanks for reading anyway! Suggestions would be great. :D