Author's Note: What can I say about writing Luna? We all know she is kooky, she isn't afraid to say what she is thinking, she is brave and intelligent. She's also a teenage girl who has been through a lot in her life. I tried to fit all of that into 2000 words and I hope I did her justice.

Also, I really try to proofread these many times before I publish. I know there are sometimes grammar and spelling mistakes and I apologize. This chapter has a lot of intentional run-on sentences due to it being in Luna's POV. I just imagine her thinking in run-on sentences, if that makes sense.

Thanks again for reading and reviewing! I love looking at the traffic map and seeing what far-off places my story is being read. I know Harry Potter isn't mine, but it's such a fun hobby and I really appreciate that other people can get enjoyment from it as well.

***As I said above, I do not own Harry Potter***


May 9- Revelation

Luna

"Daddy I'm off!" called Luna from the bottom floor of the dusty and cluttered circular house. She could hear him upstairs, hammering something together. Repairs were still underway but the house was now livable again. Luna was optimistic that they wouldn't have to camp in the backyard tonight.

It had taken a few days, but Luna and her father had finally settled back into their old relationship. At first, she had been so relieved to see him she totally forgot what she knew about him trying to turn Harry, Ron and Hermione in to the Death Eaters. They had cried and hugged and relaxed with each other in the room he was renting at the Leaky Cauldron. The next day, when they Apparated to their destroyed home, some of the magic of the reunion had worn off.

Luna felt betrayed by her father, who had been her only parent and best friend for almost a decade and he had destroyed their house and betrayed the saviors of their world. He tried to explain, to apologize, but she couldn't bear it. She stayed at the Leaky Cauldron again that night, trying not to think about her father, alone in their ruin of a home, missing her.

Four days ago, she'd been having lunch with Harry, Ron and Neville. Neville had told them about his visit to see his parents and she knew she'd have to come home. She was so lucky that they both made it out alive and she had to fix it.

After lots of talking and going through the motions of repairing the house, Luna realized that she was no longer feeling angry at her father anymore. She thought about what she would've done to get him back if he had been taken by Death Eaters instead of her and that understanding helped to heal her heart.

She saw her father pop his head out onto the stairwell, "Are you leaving my dear? When should I expect you back? Are you sure you don't want me to come along?"

It had been this way all week. Every time Luna would try to go off and do something alone her father would barrage her with questions and requests. She was not annoyed, as this was quite a logical reaction following the events that had taken place over the last few months.

"Yes, Daddy, I'm sure I don't want you to come. I'm meeting Neville, remember? I'll be back by supper!" she blew him a kiss and he reached out to catch it, smiling, though still looking harried.

Luna skipped down the stairs and walked out past the number of protective spells she had placed on the house since arriving home. Then she turned on the spot and disappeared with a 'pop'.

When she arrived at the lake, she was surprised to find Neville already waiting under the tree she described to him in her letter. He had laid out a blanket, which he was currently kneeling on, and a long cloth that seemed to hold a variety of plant life.

"Hi, Neville!" she called, skipping over to him and placing her bag next to his blanket. Neville's head whipped around at her arrival. He took a minute to reply as he stared at the periwinkle sundress she had chosen for the day. She wanted to ask him if he liked it, but she liked it, so that's all she really cared about.

"Oh, hi, Luna," he said distractedly, "Come have a look at this." She saw the he was cradling something small and wet in his hands. She knelt down next to him and smoothed her skirt over her bare thighs.

"I think it's a kind of piscisalgarum," he said, cradling the flopping plant. Luna did not know much more about herbology than what she was taught at Hogwarts but she was excited to share in Neville's enthusiasm for this tiny plant-like creature.

She watched him as he perused a page of the large textbook in front of him; comparing the photos to the specimen he was currently holding. He was dressed in a short sleeved collared shirt and a pair of black slacks. His arms were covered in wet mud up to the elbow and his trainers were also caked. Luna thought he looked especially handsome like this and wondered if the opportunity to kiss would arise on their date.

"It doesn't seem to match any of the other species in the book," Neville said now, looking to her as if she'd have some insight. Her heart swelled at his look. No one ever wanted the opinion of 'Loony Lovegood'.

"Maybe you've discovered a new one?" she suggested, scooting closer to him to get a better look at the plant, which was long, thin and neon green with purple veins that ran vertically from its wriggling roots. "This area is full of many undiscovered plant and animal life, I wouldn't be surprised if this type of piekey…"

"Piscisalagarum."

"Yes, if this one has never been seen by anyone before," she finished.

Neville smiled at her, "Do you reckon? Oh wow, Luna, that'd be brilliant!"

He placed the plant onto the long cloth and waved his wand. The plant stopped flopping and seemed to be attached to the paper.

Seeing her curious expression he told her, "Collecting charm. Good for cataloging plants."

She nodded, "What are you going to name it?"

He shrugged, "I dunno. What do you think?"

"How about, Piscisalgaram Nevillus," she suggested. He laughed, "I can't name it after myself, Luna."

"Why not? You discovered it?"

"Thanks, I guess you're right, I mean, I don't even know if it really it a new species, but that'd be really cool." He went to touch her arm and then pulled back, "Oh, sorry. I didn't realize I was such a mess." He pointed his wand at himself to clean off the muck but Luna said, "That's ok. I plan on getting rather dirty looking for plimpies."

She looked at him sideways and she began unloading her supplies and thought she saw him blush. She tried to remember everything Ginny had told her about dates and flirting. Blushing was good? Or was it bad? All she could remember was Rule Number One: Be Yourself.

So she asked, "Why are you blushing?"

Neville started, "I-I'm not." Now he was really blushing.

"You're face is all red."

He looked really uncomfortable now, "I-I-I dunno. Maybe sunburn? What's all the stuff?" he asked, changing the subject.

Luna looked down at the tools, "They are for detecting and catching magical creatures."

"But I thought you said plimpies were just a type of fish. Can't you just use a summoning charm?"

Luna was used to people like Ron asking stupid questions in order to make fun of her but Neville actually seemed curious.

"Well, regular plimpies prefer to be caught with a net, but amorphous plimpies cannot be caught, summoned, trapped or even seen, except with special glasses and only when they have just eaten and are very full."

She looked up at him with a smile, which he hastily copied.

"So first, we'll catch their food, then we'll feed them and then we can watch them with these." She picked up two large helmet-like objects with funny goggles attached.

Neville laughed but then shrugged him shoulders. "Ok, I'm in, let's go!"

They passed the afternoon hunting and feeding the invisible creatures. Luna was having a great time with Neville but she knew deep down that he didn't really believe her. She appreciated the company but also felt a little sad to be with someone who was simply humoring her, until…

"I see one! Luna! Is that it?"

She whipped her head around to look that the place he was pointing and she saw them. They looked like a mix between a catfish and a salamander; their little feet-like protrusions grabbing the tiny iridescent lightmites they had collected earlier. Neville looked incredulous and was laughing happily as the now-visible creatures swam around his emerged feet.

Luna couldn't help but return his laughter and walked over to join him in the plimpie pond.

"So what do you we do now?" he asked her as she put her toe out to tickle a plimpie. "How do we catch them?"

"We don't catch them. They are just to enjoy. As far as I know, this is the only lake that still has amorphous plimpies. Hopefully one day they'll be able to figure out how to encourage breeding before they go extinct."

They watched the creatures for a little while longer before Neville's stomach made an involuntary grumble.

"Er, sorry" he said, "Fancy some lunch?"

She nodded and removed her helmet. When she pushed her hair out of her face she managed to smear a large clump of mud across her forehead. "There's a nice café over in Ottery St. Catchpole or we could just go to the Leaky," she offered. She noticed that he was blushing again and looked nervous. She usually didn't care at all what other people thought about her but right now his behavior was making her feel unsure of herself.

"Actually, I packed us something, if that's alright?" he said, taking her hand to remove her from the muddy lake.

Now? Do I do it now? I want to do it now. Should I wait until after we eat?

"Neville," she said, and he looked up from cleaning himself off. She walked a little closer to him and he looked terrified. No, not now, now is bad. "That's really sweet. I'm glad you packed lunch."

Then she waved her wand over each of them and they were suddenly clean and dry.

Neville had brought a very nice lunch of different sandwiches, crisps, some fruit and a salad. They talked about all sorts of things as they ate. Even though it had only been a week since the battle, they were both content to talk about any else but that. Neville mentioned his upcoming work with the Auror Department and a Herbology workshop that he was planning on attending in August. Luna told him about the trip she was planning with her father to see their relatives in the Swiss Alps and the book she had gotten signed the week earlier. After lunch Neville vanished all the dishes and then pulled out a large piece of apple crumble from his bag. He passed Luna a clean fork and said, "I know pudding is your favorite."

She didn't even have to think this time. She leaned over and gave him a light kiss on the lips. When she backed away he was redder than Ron Weasley. "It-It's just pudding, Luna."

She laughed and took a bite.

"Well, it's quite good."

He laughed now too and scooted back to lean against the tree looking very content as he watched her devour the crumble. When it was almost gone she said, "Aren't you going to have any?"

He shrugged, "It's ok. I tried a bit this morning after I baked it."

He baked this, for me?! Wait, out loud, Luna.

"You baked this? For me?"

"Well, I suppose. I mean, I guess I baked it and brought you a slice."

Luna pushed aside the plate and stood up. She took a few steps and then kneeled next to him.

"No one's ever brought me a slice of something they baked before," she said, leaning towards him slightly.

She heard Neville exhale deeply as if steadying himself, "No one's ever taken me to see amorous plimpies before," he replied, leaning slightly into her.

"Amorphous," she whispered as their mouths met.

Luna had kissed one other boy before. Justin Finch-Fletchley had kissed her under the mistletoe in her fourth year at Hogwarts. It had been a tight-lipped kiss but she was enjoying it until Justin stopped and said "You can't tell anyone about this ok?" She had nodded but then turned and left before he could see the tears in her eyes.

This kiss was different. Neville's mouth was moving against hers as if they were talking. She could taste butterbeer and strawberries and strong cheddar, which she thought should've been gross but instead made her want to kiss him more. She felt his hand come up to hold her face as he gave her one last firm kiss.

They looked at each other for a minute before Neville blurted out,

"Doyouwannabemygirlfriend?"

Luna beamed at him and nodded, "I'll be your girlfriend Neville."

"Cool," he replied, leaning back against the tree.

Luna turned and leaned against him so that they were both looking out on the lake.

"But as your girlfriend," she said, "you should probably know that I prefer treacle tart."


Author's note 2: I like writing Luna, even though I feel like a crazy person while I'm doing it!

Pleasepleaseplease review as you read. I try to respond all reviews and PMs, especially if they involve questions. I love discussing the HP world with fellow fans.

Tomorrow (oh and when I say 'tomorrow' I mean in the HP world, not IRL) is Fred's funeral. It was a sad, meaningful chapter to write and I really look forward to sharing it with all of you!