Title: The Ca-atinas Are Attacking
Summary: Luna is determined to keep the Ca-atinas away.
Pairing/Characters:Harry/Luna
Rating:K
Warnings: N/A
Notes:Written for Lily MJ Fae
Written for: Hogwarts School COMC: Write about someone taking excessive precautions to protect themselves against something that others would find strange.

A pillow flew past Harry's head. He followed it with his eyes until it landed with a soft thud against the hardwood floor. Harry turned his eyes to where the pillow came from and only just managed to dodge another pillow flying at his head.

"Um, Luna?"

Luna barely looked at him. Her arm was half buried in the couch and her head was looking straight up with a small frown. Her lips were moving at a rapid pace but no sound was coming out of her mouth.

"Luna, what are you doing?"

Luna still didn't reply. She kept up her frantic search until her eyes lit up and she pulled something from the couch. "I found it," she cried, spinning around and holding up a small, dusty cracker for Harry to see.

Harry crinkled his nose when the piece of food was held so close. "That's . . . great," Harry said eventually.

"Oh, it is," she said. "It is very, very good." Luna turned away from Harry, taking the cracker with her, and threw it out the window. Then she knelt on the ground and peered under the couch.

"Umm, why is it so good?" Harry couldn't help himself. He knelt down next to Luna and peered under the couch as well. There were a few small dust bunnies, but otherwise, it was clear of any mess.

Luna seemed to agree. She stood from the couch and then looked at Harry. "What are you doing on the ground?"

Harry sighed and stood as well. He stepped forward to wrap an arm around his fiancé's waist, but she danced out of reach. He frowned but pushed that to the side for the moment. "I was copying you. What were you doing?"

Luna's confused frown turned into worry and then a frantic panic. "I haven't got them all," she said with slight hysteria seeping into her voice.

Now Harry was worried. Luna was odd—more than most—but she was always calm. At least, Harry thought as he watched Luna practically dive into the arm chair, she usually is. "Luna, what's going on?"

"We have to get rid of all the crackers in the house, and then we have to paint the doors orange, and then we have to get rid of all the yellow carnation flowers and replace them with purple heather lavenders because they are what we need in this house, then—"

"Luna!" Harry shouted over his fiancé's frantic words.

"Harry! We have to make sure the ca-atinas stay away!"

Harry's stared at Luna without blinking for a few moments. He assumed the ca-atinas were a creature that Luna believed in, but he'd never heard of them before. Luna loved to talk about all the creatures she believed in, and Harry remembered every single one.

"I don't think you've told me about those yet, what are they?"

Luna seemed to deflate. Her eyes lowered to the ground and all the manic energy she seemed to be holding onto seemed to seep out leaving her looking exhausted. "You're not meant to talk about them because it invited them into your home, but we probably already have them, so I don't think it matters."

Harry frowned and moved forward. He moved to wrap an arm around Luna's waist, and this time, Luna let him. She collapsed into him and buried her face into his neck. "What are they?" Harry asked again, leading them to the couch before gently lowering them both onto the seat.

"They bring rejection and heartache," Luna murmured. "If you are in a happy relationship they make sure that you separate."

Harry tightened his hold around Luna. "What are you saying?" he asked with a forced calm. He was starting to panic himself. Did Luna want to break up with him? Stop being ridiculous, he scolded himself. She was trying to keep them away.

"I don't want you to leave me," she said, pushing her head further into Harry's neck. "Please don't leave."

Harry closed his eyes and lowered his head until it was leaning on Luna's. "I will never leave you, I love you too much."

Luna shook her head. "It's okay, you don't have to love me," she said in a soft voice. "Just don't leave."

"Luna," Harry said, his voice firm. "Look at me."

Luna looked up with blood-shot eyes and a miserable expression plastered on her face.

Harry leaned forward and captured Luna's lips in a chaste kiss. "You're right, I don't have to love you."

Luna's face seemed to crumble, but she nodded and tried to pull away. "I und—"

"I don't have to love you," Harry said again, speaking over the top of Luna. "But I want to, and I do. I love you so much." He leaned forward and pressed his lips against hers again. He pulled her close and made sure to express all his love and emotions into the kiss.

When he finally pulled back, his cheeks were wet with Luna's tears. Luna's eyes were puffy, and her face was a mess, but her lips were curved into a bright smile. "I love you too," she said with so much emotion in her voice.

Harry nodded. "I'm glad." He looked around the living room that looked like a tornado had swept through it. "Do you think we could not worry about the ca-atinas?"

Luna tilted her head to the side like a curious puppy. "What do you mean?"

"Well," Harry said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Could we put the living room right and leave the doors how they are?"

Luna pursed her lips, and her eyebrows drew together. "Can we swap the flowers around?"

Harry chuckled and leaned back against the couch, pulling Luna with him. "Sure, but tomorrow, okay?"

Luna snuggled into Harry's chest. "Okay, but it must be in the morning. Ca-atinas don't like the morning sunlight."

Harry closed his eyes and let out a content sight. "Of course, Luna," he said. "I love you."

"I love you too."

(w.c 1,007)

WolfWinks –xx-