There was nothing uncomfortable about this meal. All three of them were comfortable together, even if they hadn't eaten as a group at this table. When Harry caught her eye for the second time she knew he wanted her to speak. This was supposed to have been his task but the look on his face told her that he didn't know how and was becoming genuinely upset. Thinking for a moment, she placed her fork gently down and met his eyes squarely.

"Miss Greengrass." Her tone was polite and friendly but the use of her formal name brought the dark haired witch's attention to her with a startled jerk. Her eyes showed uncertainty and maybe even apprehension. Merlin, not a good start. Had the witch not known her so well, none of that would have shown. Harry stiffened beside Astoria and knew he had noticed it too.

"House Potter wishes to offer the first formal token of our desire to forge strong and lasting bonds between our families." The words were pompous but her tone made clear their sincerity. The witch froze and then after a moment her eyes snapped to the wizard who looked grimly determined. Inwardly, she rolled her eyes in good humoured exasperation. Maybe eventually they wouldn't expect the worst, it hadn't happened yet.

"Harry?" She asked quietly and he reached for her hand. Hermione felt as if she shouldn't be watching something so private and did her best not to stare.

"You must know that I love you." Her friend blurted out and she admired his honesty. "This was my grandmothers. They had the same house backgrounds as us and were happy together from what we have been able to learn. I want that with you. To raise a family and have a home that others speak of with a smile. The love and warmth clear to those who come in. Please accept this. Accept me, and let me show you how good we could be together. I'll do my best to make you happy." Unwilling to make a movement, Hermione just let the tears slide silently down her face. Never had she heard such honest words.

Astoria too was crying and that was surprising. It was upsetting her friend, the witch normally wouldn't display so much openly.

"Yes. Of course. In the Home of your Family. Oh Harry." Then Hermione stood and walked out of the room. A wand wave cleared the meal and one of Yaxley's chocolate mousses appeared with two spoons on a tray. She would know when they left and so she decided it was fine to leave.

"The rookery." She called softly into the floo and vanished.

"Luna?" She called into the lit kitchen.

"Up here!" She heard her friend call back, and began climbing the circular stairs up the round rook like structure.

The top floor was her bedroom but the girls had turned her fathers into an office. It wasn't usual at all but it worked for Luna and the building out back was used for the creatures she wouldn't bring indoors. Cages and tables with papers and drawings. A chest of maps and several on the walls. It was uniquely suited to her friend and she smiled seeing the blond head behind the desk. A stack of scrolls obscuring all but her face.

"Was it hard? To watch?" She asked, in a curious tone.

"No. And yes. Not very much though. It was beautiful and Harry spoke so openly." Letting her tone convey the depth of emotion.

"Beautiful." Luna breathed and then her face fell and her shoulders slumped.

"Can I be selfish for a minute?" Her tone was small and Hermione nodded. Sitting in a chair beside the desk.

"First Harry. Then you eventually. I want a turn. My own fairytale." All of her friend's sorrow was clear in her tone and posture.

"Oh Luna. I feel that way too, sometimes. When I think further ahead than today or next week." Admitting it to Luna felt like lessening its weight and she hoped her friend felt the same.

"You love him." She spoke with certainty and Hermione could only nod at the bowed blond head before her. Of course the witch didn't need to see her to know.

"I think it will be okay. For you. Sometimes when he looks at you I can see the endless seeming quality to it." That was a typical Luna description. She decided to think it over later.

"For you? You seem better." Hermione watched her friends face come up and was again stricken by the devastation.

"I think it about as likely as not. I am lonelier and emptier but more steady and less stretched." The light blue eyes were direct and she saw no prevarication. Deciding to just do what she wanted to, she stood and hugged her friend. Hard and long.

"Does he know?" She asked quietly into the silvery blond fall of Luna's long hair.

"Yes. He doesn't believe." That was interesting. Doesn't believe.

"Would you be okay if I asked Finn a few questions? I won't tell him anything if you don't want me to. That's fine but I don't know Rabastan well, haven't for long enough to estimate his actual thoughts." Trying to explain she let her friend pull away and look her over. Having nothing to hide, she just steadily let her friend read her.

"If you think it will help. Could help. You can speak to him, if you want. I can't. Just can't speak of it to him. I'm a coward." She laughed lightly at Luna's dramatic statement.

"You are nothing of the sort. To you it feels as if this is your only chance for happiness. The future I'm sure you've dreamed in times of freedom and times of captivity. There is nothing wrong with being afraid." The two spent a further ten minutes together before Luna told her that she had to go and observe a dragon egg but they would meet for a chai latte in the next few days.

Walking to the cabin, she mused that it held the men of their dreams. That was fanciful but Luna always added an element of that to her life. The lives of anyone she touched personally. It was a gift and something that Hermione treasured.

Standing outside the door, she leaned against a tree and thought through what she had been thinking of asking Finn and then what she knew was the bottom line. Rabastan, not Finn. What he thought his friend felt or would decide was of little actual importance to the outcome. It was interesting to her and she was sure Luna as well, not relevant though. Not really.

That decided, she rapped three times on the door and waited. Finn answered it and after a quick smile he assessed her carefully. Her more formal witches robes and determined expression. After a moment, seeming not to know what she intended, he gestured her in and indicated Rabastan was in the kitchen. She nodded and went to sit on a chair that would fit only her. This time she sat in their living room as Luna's friend and not Finn's, whatever he called her. That was another thing for another time.

Eventually Finn sat in the opposite chair and realizing that she hadn't come here for him, waited. He didn't seem anxious but curious and watchful. As her eyes snapped to the chestnut haired wizard when he entered, she could feel the bright blue eyes watch her watch his friend and he straightened.

"Rabastan. Do you have a moment for a frank and private conversation?" Her tone was even and she wasn't pretending. Forthright but not confrontational. When he gave her a nod and looked to Finn she answered the question.

"That is up to you." Perhaps he knew why she was there or just wanted his friend's presence because after a penetrating look to her, he gestured Finn remain and sat.

Seeing his readiness, she pulled her wand and added what she considered secure wards. It was probably overkill but this wasn't her business and she would take no chances with the secrets of her friends. His eyes were watchful and steady though his hands were tight on the chair. She relaxed her posture as much as she could and set back. Hands open and wand away. Of course this made no real difference in his level of danger but she knew that people who had been abused magically often associated the tool. It was one of the things she had noticed about him. One of his scars.

"I am sorry to be so direct. Of course this will not leave here. Even what I tell Luna will not be your words. Merely the decision you have made." He straightened and now looked at her with some challenge. She waited him out and eventually he nodded.

"Will you ever be ready? In her way, she indicated that you know how she feels but don't believe it. She seems unable to comprehend why but I can more easily see why this might be. How the two things could coexist." Her tone was softer and thoughtful. Perhaps they were the two who knew Luna best in the world and so could more readily understand such a thought process.

Of course he didn't reply. Just looked his turmoil at her and she couldn't help reaching for his hand. He flinched and her heart hurt for the kind man who had been so broken. Been through too much. He needn't carry on though, the way he had been. Could actually heal. Luna was sure and that was enough for Hermione. If she could see the fractures and actually observe some mending then it wasn't permanent.

Deciding that he had to speak, she couldn't do all the talking so she waited calmly and patiently. It paid off eventually though it was minutes later. She resolutely didn't look at Finn. Not wanting their relationship brought into this.

"Someone else. She deserves everything." His words were quiet but fierce and it was somewhat comforting to her that this man seemed to view her friend as she was. Value her for all that she was, most didn't. Couldn't see the brilliant witch and loving woman under her eccentricities.

"Happiness and security?" She asked him and he nodded.

"Certainty and true affection." Now she wasn't asking but staring and he just nodded once firmly.

"The life she wants with the man she has chosen." Now her tone was challenging and he nearly nodded before he caught her eye, like she had been trying to trap him. She wasn't. Just wanted him to see, even let the possibility take root in his mind.

"She doesn't understand." He sounded hopeless now and she lifted her chin.

"Don't lie. To you or me. Both of us know that she sees more than we would like." Her tone brooked no argument and eventually he conceded and looked desolate.

"If you know she sees you as you are, with nowhere to hide, then why fight it?" She was curious and wanted to know. He didn't answer but Finn shifted and put a hand on his friend's shoulder. She appreciated his worry and support for his friend. She too only wanted them both to be happy. Together or separately.

"I will ruin her." His reply was sudden and nearly roared at her. Finn stood in response but she didn't. Letting him tower over her. The man who had done horrible things and seen many more than he had caused, there he was. The slightly manic look wasn't like Yaxley's, it was far more unrestrained.

"So should many of the creatures she loves and nurses back to health. So should her experiences." She asserted back. Unwilling to have her friends supposed fragility be the reason. No response, just a heaving chest.

"I didn't come here to fight with you or tell you what to do. If you will never consider yourself enough for her then there is no point. No point in her waiting or hoping. No point in you watching her wall herself off from you so that you don't see all of her feelings. The broken dreams for a home and family. The life she thinks and speaks of. I had no idea the prince was real, until you were getting out. The way she spoke of you was, well I can't really explain it. You are so much like him, but he encouraged her. Showed her that there was light in the darkness. Even humanity in a place there should have been none. Love in a place of hatred. Those are her words. Her prince." The last was spoken softly. His eyes having softened, she didn't reach for him when he began shaking. It was slight but she knew that it was overwhelming.

"I can't." He nearly moaned and sat down heavily. She didn't nod. Not wanting that to be his answer. Not willing to accept it. This was her friend's happiness. It seemed to be her only chance at it and Luna didn't make pronouncements like that very often at all. The thought of never watching her friend glow with happiness or become a mother made her tear up and she felt overwhelmed. If she did then so did he.

"You can't right now. I understand." She stopped speaking and held his gaze when it snapped to hers. Almost instantly he calmed down, right in front of her. She waited and then he spoke.

"I want to though. Never. It was never something. A home. Family." It was clear what he meant. Never something he had allowed himself to think much of or dream of for himself. He wanted to though. As she thought that over, she felt herself smile and then begin to tear up.

"That's enough for now. I know it's enough for her." She bit her lip, wiped her eyes and thought for a moment. What she could say. How she could phrase her request. Formal courtship seemed an actual option and she looked down, thinking about it.

"Would some form of tangible potential help?" She hoped he understood. He didn't but Finn shifted again and she let herself glance at him.

"Like a pre courtship consideration agreement?" He put in.

"Those are never used anymore." He protested and she snorted.

"Who cares. No one needs to know anyway. Just something for both of you, with a time to stop and guidelines." He liked to know what was allowed or expected. Needed the boundaries. This could help in several ways. He looked thoughtful and Hermione tried not to get her hopes up but when his eyes met hers she felt her heart rate speed up at the sheer longing in his eyes. Oh Luna, to be loved like that and not be able to respond. That would be a unique hardship for her empathic friend.

"Will you ask her? You are close enough to her, with no paterfamilias."

"Of course. Would you..." She stopped and then decided to barrel onwards. Luna would need something and maybe this could be it. "Could you write her something now? Whatever you think and then maybe weekly or something. She needs it. It's just hard for her to have nothing to hold on to." She hoped that wasn't too much, too revealing, but really these two seemed to know that their feelings for each other weren't the problem. It was other things.

"Yes, yes, I'll write her. I don't send them but I do write her. Just, will you wait?" He stopped by the door to look back at her, having moved so quickly and with such eagerness that she just smiled her agreement and when the man disappeared down the hallways she stared at the empty doorway. That had been uncomfortable and important, in a nauseating kind of way. Two deep breaths and then she felt Finn's eyes on her. Meeting them, she got a surprise. What she had expected, wasn't there. He looked as if he had never seen her before and she couldn't help crossing her arms reflexively. Neither spoke in the minutes that followed and she didn't look at him again either. Now wasn't the time.

When Rabastan brought a rolled scroll of parchment she just took it and then hugged him gently. Without catching his eye, she leaned down and kissed her wizards cheek before walking to the floo.