054. Air
"Don't fall asleep on me," Fred laughed as he nudged Luna's head with his shoulder.
As usual the two were on top of the Astronomy Tower waiting for two o'clock. It had become something they were used to over the years and unlike the other times the weather was calm and there was no rotting stench in the air. This time Luna was nodding in and out of consciousness.
"I won't," she yawned.
Fred gave her a skeptical glance before wrapping an arm around her shoulders and pulling her even closer to him. Nuzzling into his side, Luna fought to keep her eyes open. The day hadn't gone that well for her. There had been a fifteen roll parchment essay due in Defense Against the Dark Arts and she had come up very short. Professor Umbridge was already rude to her, but with this on top of it she was just downright cruel.
Luna didn't have a clue why the new professor would single her out, but she refused to let it get to her. This was Fred's last year at Hogwarts and she was going to make sure it was the best one yet.
"This is the last time we're ever going to do this," Luna stated.
"Yeah, but I'll be staying up with you next year too," he assured. "Just not right next to you."
"That's a nice thought, but it won't be the same," Luna sighed.
The two sat in silence for a few more moments until Fred glanced at his watch and showed it to Luna. Only five more minutes until two o'clock, then Luna could sleep. This was usually the time when they talked about something very important and Luna found her mind going back to the topic she had been anxious to discuss with him. It was hard to bring it up though. What if he was convinced that they were together officially and she insulted him by asking?
So, Luna thought it best to ask another question.
"Do you think Harry Potter is telling the truth when he said that You-Know-Who is back?" she asked.
"Definitely," Fred said grimly. "I know for a fact. I wish I could tell you more, but I've been sworn to secrecy."
"I believe you," Luna said. "I believe that he's back as well."
"Too bad the Ministry doesn't," Fred said. "Then we could get a decent Defense teacher instead of that old toad who's teaching us nothing."
Luna let out a small giggle. He was right though, the only useful thing Luna was learning in Umbridge's class was how to perfect her doodling skills. It was good to know that Fred had the same views as her on that topic, but there was still the other one at hand. Taking a look at Fred's watch, Luna noticed that there was only one more minute until two o'clock. It was now or never.
"Fred, I have one more thing I need to say," Luna said. "There's something I need to know that will help me clear the air on a certain topic."
She took a deep breath at the same exact moment Fred looked at his watch and turned to her.
"Your parents just met," he announced as he flashed his watch at Luna.
"I'm in love with you," Luna said not paying any attention to his watch and looking him directly in the eyes.
Fred looked from his watch to her with his mouth open slightly. He looked significantly dumbfounded before a huge smile took over his face.
"Finally," he sighed. "I didn't think you were ever going to say it."
"Well, I wanted to," Luna said quickly. "I was always interrupted whenever I-."
This time it was Fred doing the interrupting as he cupped her face and brought her lips to his. Lightheadedness and a pounding heart weren't present that time, only a warm feeling surging throughout her body. She could finally say without any hesitation that she was in love with Fred Weasley. Soon Fred was pressing her back against the cold stone floor of the Astronomy Tower and her hands were clutching the fabric of the back of his t-shirt. Eventually lightheadedness overcame her again, but this time for a very different reason than usual.
"Air!" Luna gasped as she pried her lips from his. "Fred, I need air."
"You need to learn how to breathe through your nose," he laughed as he stood up and helped Luna to her feet as well.
Rolling her eyes, Luna took a deep breath and was finally going to address the topic when Fred clamped a hand over her mouth.
"I know what you're going to ask, and the answer is no," he stated. "We were never together. We aren't together, even now."
All of the air Luna had been holding was still staying occupied in her lungs. She had never been dating Fred Weasley. Even now they weren't together. It was easy to admit that this was the last thing she wanted to hear. His answer had basically ripped her in two.
It appeared that Fred had completely understood her feelings at that moment. He stepped toward her and undid the clasp of the necklace he had given her for her birthday. Taking the necklace from around her neck he shoved it in his pocket before looking down at her with a half smirk on his face.
Without a moment's hesitation Fred got down on his left knee and took the necklace out of his pocket and held it out in front of her.
"Fred, what are you doing?" Luna asked.
"After knowing you for three years and being madly in love with you for a very large portion of that time I thought it would be best if I did this formally," he said. "Luna Lovegood, would you do me the honor of becoming my girlfriend? Officially."
"That's a bit serious for you, isn't it?" Luna asked as she stifled a giggle.
"I just wanted my intentions to be perfectly clear," he said, giving her an easy smile. "So, what do you say?"
Luna pretended to think about it before returning his smile. "I would be honored to have you as my boyfriend, Fred Weasley."
Standing up, Fred motioned for Luna to turn around. She did just that and watched as the heart-shaped pendant with the sleeping hare on it lay against her heart. Fred brushed her hair aside to one shoulder as he clasped the necklace back together. Turning back around, Luna was about to propose they head back to the Astronomy Tower when she noticed the expression on Fred's face. It was one of peace and calmness; two things Luna had never seen from Fred before. The air trapped in her lungs escaped as she took one of his hands in hers.
"I can't believe you're actually mine," he said. "I've wanted you for so long and now, finally, you're mine."
"I've always been yours," Luna said as she took a step toward him and wrapped her arms around him. "Now just promise me one thing."
"Anything," Fred said.
"Never act this serious again," Luna said.
Fred let out a loud laugh and Luna knew that he hadn't turned into some kind of over-the-top romantic. He was still her Fred and that was all that mattered.
