Chapter 7: In which Luna tries something

The caring of Newt continued for a few days before David's letter. Every day Rolf would wake up, give his team instructions and then head off to Luna's base. Luna would normally still be asleep but the little dragon would be awake and normally Rolf would have to put out the little fires that Newt produced in excitement any time he saw Rolf. Luna would awaken and they would give Newt food from whatever Rolf had brought that day. Then they would talk to each other: normally about various creatures that they wanted to discover or their views on the current naturalists or sometimes just about Hogwarts and Luna's adventures. Luna did tell him about her battles that she had fought and what she had seen. She told him about Neville Longbottom and Ginny Weasley, her two comrades and best friends. Rolf felt guilty any time she talked about what she had seen and what she had done. Especially since she told in such a matter of fact way. As if it had been the normal for her to be tortured or watch people die.

He thought her the bravest person he had ever met and told her so. She smiled often at that. Newt would sometimes join in with his own tales of what he had seen from the prison of the clear white shell. Luna would sit there translating everything so that Rolf could understand. He talked of the shadowy figures that he had seen. Once or twice he mentioned a man that Rolf though could possibly have been his grandfather.

On this particular day, however, two weeks since they had found Newt, they were sitting eating on chairs that Rolf had brought and were talking about Hogwarts. It was just Hogwarts in general not about Luna's horrendous sixth year.

"What was your favourite part of the school then, Rolf Scamander," Luna asked. She had a habit of staring at him for a little too long. It should have made Rolf uncomfortable but for some reason it did not.

"It was probably the Forbidden Forest, Luna Lovegood. Or Hagrid's house. That was where I always used to spend most of my time. Did you ever meet Hagrid?"

"Oh yes. Originally I thought him a little bit of a joke." Rolf prickled at this but Luna did not notice. "I changed my mind in that sixth year. His hut provided the only escape from the Death Eater teachers or from Snape. Especially his 'Support Harry Potter' parties. Do you know, apparently he used to own a dragon."

"That wouldn't surprise me. It was always one of his dreams to own a dragon. It was how we got to know each other, I think."

"You wanted to own a dragon?"

"Of course," Rolf smiled as he looked at Newt who was swooping across the rocks that lined Luna's base. "Just didn't expect it to be so hard."

"Hard?"

"Yes, hard. Look at him Luna. He's getting bigger every day and we won't be able to keep him here forever. Besides David still hasn't written back to me."

"I suppose," shrugged Luna. "It is not as if we can stay here forever."

"Well no. I was due back a few days ago. The conference in which my team are producing my discovery is only a few day away. Yet I could not leave and so they refused to as well."

"You could have left."

"Do you want me to?"

Luna looked shocked at this.

"Of course not Rolf Scamander! Why on earth would you think that?"

"Just wondering."

Luna nodded at this. She turned her head sideways to look at Rolf, as if she were examining him.

"Luna Lovegood?" Rolf asked.

"Was that another of your dreams then? To won a dragon."

"Yes."

"You didn't tell me that."

"No I suppose I didn't," he shrugged. "Suppose it just felt a bit silly."

Luna smiled at this.

"I don't think it is."

"Yes but you believe in Crumple Horned Snorkacks, so." Rolf said but grinned at her. Luna sighed.

"I did believe in them. I think, Rolf Scamander that I have just wasted my time. I have travelled the globe looking for them in this year, and yet whilst I have found the unknown creatures I dreamed of, I never found them."

"Don't lose hope Luna Lovegood."

"Oh?"

"No." Rolf showed her the cord he wore around his neck. "Do you know what this is?"

"Of course," Luna said, as if it were obvious. "It is unicorns' tail hair. The only known repellent of the Wrackspurts."

"Yes they are. However, they were also a present from Hagrid to bring me luck. Sometimes, whenever I have lost hope in whatever I am doing, I hold them and they bring me luck."

"Oh yes? Do they always work?"

"I think so," Rolf looked at Luna who was looking intently at him. "They brought me to you, after all."

Luna smiled widely at him. Her expression then changed to one of hesitance.

"Rolf Scamander, could I try something?"

"What?"

"See I have only done this once and I don't if I did it right. However, for a while, I have wanted to try it out. Is that okay?"

"If you want to, Luna Lovegood. What is it?"

Luna did not answer him. Instead she leant over and kissed him. Rolf was initially shocked but he relaxed into it. He realised that this is what he had been missing. This felt almost entirely felt.

Thoughts left his head as soon as they had arrived and all he could think was Luna Lovegood. How soft her hair felt, how pretty she looked, how amazing this was. They only brought apart when Newt set Luna's tent on fire.

"Aqua Eructo," Luna mumbled pointing her wand to the blaze and the icy water shot out and left only a small black charred hole in the tent. Rolf could not take his eyes away from her and she kept looking back at him and smiling. Newt seemed a little put out by the way that they were ignoring him a little and landed on Rolf's arm.

"He wants to know what is going on," Luna told Rolf keeping her wide eyes trained on him.

"Tell him I have no idea but I like it."

Luna laughed at this. They leaned over and kissed each other. Newt flew up again, perplexed by whatever they were doing and nipped Rolf's arm. Rolf cried out as the pain. Luna was startled and Newt flew up.

"What is it?"

"Nothing. I just think Newt forgot how sharp his little teeth are now. Or how heavy he has become."

"Look at that," Luna fussed over the cut a little. "I'm afraid Newt destroyed my magical aid kit but I think I know a spell."

"Don't worry. I need to go back anyway." Rolf and Luna looked up at the sun that was sinking below the rock lined walls.

"I'll help you get home. Newt, do not move!"