A/N: Harry Potter and his world belong to J.K. Rowling, Warner Brothers and anyone that has received licensing rights. I am grateful she gives us the privilege of playing in her world.
Chapter 26
June 13, 1994
Godric's Hollow, England
Luna had fallen asleep clutching the necklace from Harry. The black shadow was still lurking. Mrs. Potter had been very explicit they should sleep in separate rooms. She didn't like that. Only since last summer had she required that. Growing up they had been allowed to share the same room, most times the same bed. She wasn't sure what was the difference.
It took her a while to fall asleep.
Now, she felt quite different. She felt what felt like her Harry against her right breast. It was quite pleasant as it rubbed against her as she breathed. It was pleasant enough that she thought he was touching her. It was something that thrilled her more than anything as she felt him close by.
When she felt the soft fingertips brush her cheek, a whole different tingle went through her. These were the softer touches of a female. A female that excited her just as much as Harry.
To feel Harry touching her breast and the soft touching of someone pushing the hair back from her neck, she sighed and shifted. A warmth grew in her that was very pleasant.
The shadow ran, finally leaving her be. She shifted and the feel of Harry brushed her nipple and she moaned.
The fingertips on her neck stopped. Her dreams had them drifting lower.
"Luna," a soft voice called to her.
She smiled. "I love you," she whispered. This dream was one of the best she could remember lately. Did she usually feel damp...
Astoria chuckled. "Should I leave you be?"
Luna's eyes snapped open. Astoria was laying next to her, over the covers and in a blouse. She found her hazel eyes and found the center she wanted the other day. Harry and her were touching her. Quickly she moved and pecked Astoria on the lips. The feeling was exquisite. Astoria's eyes opened wide. Luna's body was aroused. She just kissed Astoria. She was not dreaming.
Astoria looked shocked. Luna actually felt the heat in her rise to have her Astoria so close.
"I missed you," she told Astoria. It didn't matter they had seen each other less than two days ago. Why would she feel this way? Maybe she wasn't as centered as she thought.
"I missed you too," she said slowly. Astoria just looked at her in a way Luna liked before shaking her head. "How about you get dressed? Harry is in the Sitting Room already working on something," Astoria said getting up. Luna liked the blouse she wore today.
"What time is it," she asked sitting up, letting the sheet fall around her waist and rubbing her eyes before stretching her arms over her head. Eira shifted at her feet as she moved them.
Astoria's face flushed immediately, her eyes widening and she looked away. "Let me shut the door," Astoria said and quickly got up.
Luna didn't understand.
"Luna, you up yet," Harry said from the hall.
"Harry, stay out," Astoria said in a panic, making it to the door just as Harry looked up from something in his hands. The door shut just as his eyes lit on her and they started to grow large. Astoria looked mortified. "I didn't know. I never would have left the door open."
Luna looked down, putting her arms down. She was only in her knickers and shorts. On warm nights she usually slept this way with just the sheet over her. She didn't see anything wrong. Maybe she would like slightly larger breasts, but this was her and she was still growing. She looked at a still mortified Astoria. "Is there something wrong," she asked. Luna looked back down again. She knew she shouldn't expose herself, but Astoria and Harry were her mates. Or they would be.
"Luna, you don't have a shirt on," Astoria said looking around and taking her night shirt off the chair at the desk.
"I know. It was hot last night," she said as Astoria threw her shirt to her. Luna did not like this rejection from Harry and Astoria. "Do I not look nice?"
Astoria's face took on some color. After a moment, she said lowly, "I don't think that is the issue."
Luna scrunched her forehead before she understood. It was not that they did not like to look at her, they just were not ready. Sighing, she put her shirt on. She could wait until they were ready. She did need to get changed. Her thoughts of her dark hair girl and her black hair boy had been rather pleasant. She didn't feel the black shadow at all right now.
"Why don't you get dressed and I will wait with Harry," Astoria told her.
A little bit later she walked into the kitchen. "Are you hungry, Luna? It's getting close to lunch or I can make something for you now."
Her stomach grumbled. "Can I have a fried egg," she asked.
Astoria and Harry sat at the table, both of their heads were down. Astoria still had a little color to her while Harry looked abashed. "One or two?"
"Two please."
Mrs. Potter looked at her son and Astoria. She looked ready to laugh. "Not sure what you did to these two, but they haven't said much since they came downstairs."
Harry looked up and met her eyes. She felt the excitement at his guilty look. He had liked seeing her. Feeling better she sat across from them. "Why did you come over? I thought we weren't to see you until tomorrow?"
Astoria looked up. She had a guilty look like Harry. Luna smiled.
"Mother wanted a letter to go to Mrs. Potter and I offered to take it."
"Luna, your father would like you home for a few days. After lunch he would like you to floo home," Mrs. Potter said
She nodded. It was quiet. Mrs. Potter put two fried eggs and toast before her. "Eat up. Can I trust you three not to get into trouble? I am going into my lab for a while."
"Yes, mum," Harry spoke up for them.
When Mrs. Potter left, it was quiet as she finished her eggs. She was adding jam to her toast when Harry spoke. "Luna, I wasn't trying to spy on you."
She smiled at him. She was never one to hold back on her thoughts. "It was hot last night. You did nothing wrong."
His green eyes were torn between guilt and a need that she liked. "Sure."
"I will check next time," Astoria said.
Luna shrugged. "There is no shame in our bodies." Her mother and daddy used to tell her that when they went on vacations in France. Some of the beaches required very little clothes. Most raised in their world did not seem to go to places like that though.
"Right. Uhm, do you want to go down to the old Church? Maybe see if the sprites are around," Harry asked her.
She looked at the clock on the wall. It was close to eleven. She had slept in late today. Eira jumped up on her lap and sat. "I think that would be nice." Spending time with Harry and Astoria would be good if she would not see them for a few days. It was nice to have Eira following or exploring around them.
By the time she was saying goodbye, Astoria and Harry were back to normal. They had filled Astoria in on everything Mrs. Potter had told them, as well as on her new gift. Though, Luna didn't feel like it was new, just that she had connected with things she had always felt in a new way. Astoria seemed surprised and bothered by her prophesy.
Astoria didn't have much to tell them. Luna felt the girl was sad.
They were all to meet at Greengrass Manor Saturday and start their summer sessions June twenty-seventh. Mrs. Potter told them they needed to rest for a week or two, and not to do any summer assignments for Hogwarts until then.
Harry and Astoria did not look as pleased but agreed. They would not find out which of them was top of class this year until Friday, when the exam grades were posted. Harry kept saying Astoria would have it again, but Luna knew Harry did this year.
She liked that Harry hugged her like he always did. He kissed her on the forehead before letting go. She would have preferred on her lips, but she would take what she got. It was nice he cared for her so much.
Astoria hugged her as well. It was a tighter hug than normal, which made Luna bite her lip for a moment before letting go.
It was going to be a long five days without them, but she wanted to spend time with daddy.
-oOo-
Godric's Hollow, England
Harry was absolutely dumbstruck. He had been sneaking peaks at Luna for weeks. Both girls actually. It was hard not to notice how they were developing or that his body reacted, typically at the worst times.
To see Luna topless, even if it was only for a second, had been a huge shock. One his body responded to immediately.
When the door slammed, he wasn't sure what to do. He had taken Luna's moth to enhance the enchantments last weekend. He had finished it before... before he had another very bad day. He wanted to return it.
The image of her blonde hair over her shoulders, her arm stretched straight up in the air, flat stomach and small perky breasts was more than he ever bargained for.
A moment later, Astoria came out of the room and looked at him.
He felt the guilt as she looked at him. Her hazel-eyes weren't exactly reproachful, he would say more guilty like his. "Luna is getting dressed and will join us downstairs," she said in a voice that betrayed an emotion he thought he was feeling himself. It was an insane amount of attraction towards their blonde friend.
He would be thirteen in a month, and the hormones and attractions Uncle Remus had warned him about were definitely appearing. They had been for months.
Astoria would not meet his eyes, and he wasn't sure he wanted her to as they walked downstairs and joined his mum in the kitchen. He still had the lunar moth hair piece in his hands and he stared at it.
"You two look guilty. What trouble did you get into," his mum asked looking up from a book and notebook she was using.
He tried hard to keep his body from reacting. "Nothing," he told her.
Astoria had sat next to him, back straight and hands on her lap. Harry hoped she did not look towards his own lap. "Luna will be down shortly," Astoria said.
His mum eyed them for a long moment. "Harry, what did you do," his mum asked.
"Harry didn't do anything," Astoria said. He snuck a look at her. Her neck betrayed her. Why would she be flush to see Luna like that. He had to tamp the thought down hard that he would like to see Astoria too.
"Right," she said not believing them. "When you are ready to talk, I won't ground you too bad."
It was a joke that he did not smile at. He didn't say anything, too afraid of what might come out of his mouth.
After a moment, his mum pulled over the cloth ribbon to mark her spot in her notebook and closed the other book. "I am going to clean the dishes and get the stove ready if Luna is hungry. You know the boundaries if you decide to go outside. Astoria, you are welcome to stay as long as you like. Willow volunteered to return the message."
"Yes, Mrs. Potter," Astoria said.
It was very quiet between them. Neither of them seemed to want to talk about what happened, nor did they want to talk about anything else. His mum busied herself about the kitchen until Luna came in.
He liked how she just seemed to waltz in, carefree and bouncy. It was the first time in a few days he had seen her like this. Her golden hair was better combed than most days, but still had that devil-may-care look that made her feel half-wild. He really liked her like that.
The tension between them seemed to last a while until the three of them found themselves in the woods and talking. He did not forget that golden image of her in her room, but he did all he could to push it back. He did not like feeling so odd around her
It was a relief that she didn't say anything, or seem to care, when he hugged her goodbye. He noticed curves touching him he never had before.
After she left, his mum went back into her lab and he was left standing in their sitting room with Astoria. She was looking at him in the intense manner she did. Harry was holding her eyes, afraid she would see his thoughts of what it looked like when the two girls hugged and Astoria had kissed Luna on her forehead.
What was wrong with him today?
"Are you going back home," he asked her. He was already missing Luna, and he had missed Astoria more than he thought he would the last few days.
"I was hoping to stay for a little bit. Mother has told me I am to relax for a few days."
He nodded. "Would you like to go sit on the hill? I won't say anything if you want to take a book or anything."
"Will you go over Latin with me," she asked.
"Sure."
They picked out two Latin books from his bedroom and walked back over the hill. He had taken a blanket this time. They sat and Astoria moved to sun herself by leaning back, her arms supporting her. She liked to do that when it was just them. He took up one of the books. His thoughts were not pure today to see her blouse pulling tight as she arched her back like a cat.
For a little while he went over intermediate words, conjugations and she tried to talk in Latin.
"Harry," Astoria asked after a bit. He put the book down, not really in the mood to do more.
"Yes, Little Aster," he said.
She smiled. "Are you alright? You and Luna seem off."
'You mean besides the show this morning,' he wanted to say. Instead he shrugged. "I'm better when you and Luna are around."
She smiled. "I am too."
They sat for a few minutes. "Harry, are you alright? I know what you told Luna and I. I feel like you left things out."
Harry took in a big breath. He had. He hadn't even told Luna yet. Only his mum and Uncle Remus knew everything. He had not wanted to talk to the Aurors, but they had encouraged him.
"Harry, what really happened?"
He lay back and closed his eyes. "Turns out Sirius Black is innocent and he tried to save my father, not kill him."
"Father told me. There is more. I see it in your eyes, Harry. Do you just not want to talk about it or is it because you haven't told Luna yet," she asked.
"Luna is upset enough. You didn't see her after she made her prophesy. Whatever it was she saw spooked her."
"I'm sorry I couldn't be there." She sighed. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"Not really." He felt bad for not confiding in either of his best mates. Astoria shifted, pulling away. Harry didn't want her too. "Do you know what it feels like to be under the Cruciatus curse?"
He looked down and away. This was something he could share. The bad feel of the man...
Harry hadn't told them last year about the curse either. It had been in his worst dreams since then. Last night he had woken with the dream again where he watched Luna and Astoria screaming as a faceless man tortures them. His mum had come to him as he tossed in bed. At least Luna had slept.
"Harry," she sounded aghast. "Tell me that man didn't..."
He shut his eyes tight. His skin tingled in a bad way to remember. "I can tell you it hurts."
It was all he could really say.
Her hands were on him and she pulled him in. "I am here for you."
His head was cradled to her shoulder. His eyes felt watery, but he had shed to many tears the last few days when no one was looking and he felt he needed to be stronger for Astoria and Luna. "Since last year, I dream of you and Luna. It hurts more than when Tom put me under for the first time."
Astoria clutched him to her. He felt her heart thudding in her chest. Her hands brushed through his hair. How she must think him weak.
"Luna and I are safe. Don't you worry," she said thickly.
The warmth of her kissing him on the top of his head chased away some of the fear and angst.
After a few, he pushed up. "I'm sorry," he told her.
She took his face in her hands, gently pushed his face up and held it there until he looked up at her. Her bright hazel eyes were watery. There was little doubt she was one of his two best mates. He could talk to her in a way he could not with Luna, just like there was a way he could with Luna but not with Astoria.
"You have nothing to be ashamed of, Harry. You saved my life last year. You saved our Luna this year. Who knows what would have happened if the basilisk had been set loose or those people had made it into the castle? You are a brave man, Harry Potter, but even my father has his days when it gets too much. Luna and I will be here if you need us."
He didn't feel brave. That was until she leaned forward and pecked him on his lips. "That is for saving me," she said pulling back enough to look in his eyes.
He sat there stunned. A moment later, she leaned in again. This time their lips met for longer and he pressed his into hers. "That is for saving Luna." She sat back on her knees.
Luna had kissed both of them. Twice now. He had only kissed Astoria once on Christmas, and he thought it was only because he had a glass or two of champagne.
After a few, he shook himself. "What does this mean," he asked her.
She looked as confused as he did. "I don't know."
He licked his lips. They had done nothing more than touch lips, but his fear fell back and he felt clean for the first time in days. He leaned over and pecked her this time.
Astoria didn't move as he sat back. She looked sad. "Harry, I don't want to be between you and Luna. I see how she looks at you. You are both my best friends."
How was he to tell her he felt the same way for both of them? He was saved answering by his Uncle Remus. "Harry, Astoria," he called out before coming over the hill.
"Can we talk about this later?" He needed to talk about this. He needed Luna there to talk about it. Or to talk to her before he talked to Astoria again?
She nodded.
His Uncle walked up to them as Astoria picked up the books and he folded the blanket. "Afternoon, Uncle Remus," he said. He was happy his voice was not cracking as often now.
"Afternoon Harry. Astoria," the man said bowing his head.
"I didn't realize you were coming over," he said to his Uncle.
"I was around the area and thought I would stop by. Your mum wanted you both to come back to the house. Looks like we might have some storms in a bit," he said looking at the skies.
Harry looked in the same direction. There were dark clouds on the horizon to the west.
"Maybe I should go home," Astoria said.
"Sure."
She walked a good foot or two away from him. It was not the normal touching arms that they usually did. When she left, she didn't even give him a hug. He looked at the fire for a few minutes. He had intentionally kissed one of the two girls that meant the world to him. She had intentionally kissed him.
Then she left looking sad. It was not a feeling he liked to make her sad.
Harry was at a total loss what to do. He wanted both of them.
"You alright," Uncle Remus asked leaning against the doorway.
"Uncle Remus, is it this confusing when you kiss mum," he asked.
His Uncle blinked at him. The man's easy demeanor stiffened. "Harry, I don't know what you are talking about."
Harry closed his eyes. "Uncle Remus, you ask me not to lie to you. Please don't lie to me. I saw you and mum at Christmas. Luna and Astoria saw it too. Is it this confusing when you kiss mum?"
Uncle Remus let out a big breath. "I am a werewolf. I shouldn't be involved with anyone. I can be dangerous."
"You have never been dangerous to us." He had never felt like he was in danger with is uncle. He had always been there for them when needed. "Mum loves you, you know. When she speaks of you, it sounds like when she speaks about my father. Can you like two people at the same time in the same way." He finally turned to his Uncle.
Uncle Remus was looking at him. Harry couldn't read the emotion on his face. "I think it possible. Your mum and I..." Uncle Remus ran a hand through his hair. "Your mum didn't want you to know yet. I don't think this is a good thing."
"You two should be happy," he spoke over his Uncle. "She is all alone when I am at school. Please don't force her away like you try to do. I miss you when you aren't around and I would like those I care for to be around more," he told his Uncle before walking past him.
Uncle Remus didn't move.
As he went to go up the stairs, Uncle Remus called to him, still looking into the sitting room. "Harry." He stopped on the second step and looked to the man. "I don't want to replace James as your father. I won't endanger either of you. You should talk to her."
"I never knew my father. How could you replace him? I only have stories and people telling me I am like him at times. You taught me as much as mum so far," he told his Uncle. He went to continue up the stairs.
"Astoria and Luna," his Uncle said. He looked at him again and Uncle Remus turned. "You can feel the same way for two people. Don't let that confuse you if you truly like them. You don't need to do anything rash or anything anytime soon, but just think about it. It is apparent they both think of you the same way."
He nodded. He was going to be thirteen soon. He knew that was the age many of the Old and Pure bloods started to be paired or encouraged to find a mate. His mum would never be that way. He still knew how his peers talked and he felt some of that pressure from them.
He was too young to think of marriage, but he liked those two girls. He liked them as more than friends.
"I will think of it."
His Uncle nodded.
"Uncle Remus?"
"Yes, Harry."
"If you hurt mum, I will hunt you down," he told his Uncle in a flat tone. He loved the man. He had been the only man to really be in his life. He would not see mum hurt again though.
His Uncle nodded. "I won't stop you."
He nodded and went up to his room.
-oOo-
Outside Ottery St. Catchpole, England
Luna stood on her bed. Her hands were covered in charcoal as she sketched the outlines of a boy's face on her ceiling.
She smiled.
It was the maturing face of a boy that was going to be handsome. He already was. She did her best to capture the intense green eyes that would be behind the glasses. His hair was disheveled, like it always was. She liked running her hands through it. The power in his growing body could not be totally contained and his hair responded.
Luna liked the boy. More than liked. It was a feeling that made her feel warm. It also made her worry for him. She had never really worried before. Her mum and daddy always said things would just be as they were. There was no reason to worry.
She had seen it though.
Her mum had worried when Luna had been very sick as a young girl. Her father worried about her after hearing what happened this year. He had not let her leave the house for three months after mum died. As much as her parents encouraged her to be carefree, and had been most of the time, she found she still worried about this boy.
Her Harry.
She smudged some lines to capture his essence the way she saw him in the light. He had dark shadow showing the strong face he had.
Sitting on the bed, Luna cocked her head to the left, then the right. Then she turned around to do it while looking at him upside down.
It was an outline that she would paint over the summer. That way she would never be without them.
It covered the ceiling half over her bed.
She did not care for it that she was not in the same house or bed as him.
When she was satisfied, she stood up, not noticing the large charcoal marks on her shirt, jean shorts or duvet. It was time to add the girl that was just as important. Her little Aster would look over her just like her Harry.
She did not care for it that their Little Aster was not here either.
-oOo-
Rotterham, England
Daphne found her in her bedroom. She was hugging one of her large pillows to her, wishing it was someone, not the down filled bag.
Daphne looked at her. Astoria didn't care if she looked silly. This was their house, her room and she did not have to act here. She did not have to act when she was with Luna or Harry.
Her sister, already in her night dress, sat on the bed next to her.
Mother and father had removed Daphne from Hogwarts when they took her home Sunday. Daphne was not as pleased to leave a week early. Astoria was. Two years in a row Harry and Luna had almost been killed. She wasn't sure she wanted to go back to give it three tries.
Daphne looked at her. As stiff as her sister was, she cared for Astoria. "You have been very quiet since you got home from Hogwarts and you look miserable since coming back from the Potters. Do I need to go and take care of him?"
Astoria laughed as she shook her head. "Harry is the perfect gentleman. I would be rather upset if you hurt him."
Daphne smiled. "Good. I don't find him that annoying anymore."
Astoria smiled before frowning again.
Daphne reached out to take her hand. "Tori, what's wrong?"
She let out a breath. "Harry kissed me today."
Her sister's brow rose into her hair. "Did he try to press himself on you?"
Astoria shook her head. "I don't even know if he knows what that would mean. Daph, I kissed him first."
The shock on Daphne's face would have been funny if she wasn't so glum. "You did what?" She sounded shocked.
Astoria let a wistful smile onto her face. "I kissed him," she repeated more to see Daphne's still shocked expression than anything else. "I was thanking him for saving me last year and Luna this year."
Daphne just looked at her, her eyes still wide and her mouth slightly open. It was comical to see her like that. Daphne was rarely caught off guard. After a moment, Daphne licked her lips. "What was it like?"
She reached up to touch her lips. "Tingly. Nice. His lips still tasted of the honey cakes Willow made for us."
Her sister closed her eyes and shook her head. "I never thought my sister would have her first kiss before me."
Astoria's wistful smile grew. "It wasn't my first kiss."
Daphne blinked a number of times. "What do you mean it wasn't your first kiss," she asked, her brow furrowing.
She sighed and the frown fell on her face. "It was my fifth, sixth and seventh kiss."
Astoria did laugh, even though she was sad, to see Daphne's eyes bulge. "He's kissed you that many times? Tori, why didn't you say so? I could have forbid you to spend time with him as your Chaperone."
"I want to spend time with Harry. And it was only my second, third and fourth kiss with Harry," she said.
"Astoria Greengrass, that is not proper," Daphne scolded. "You should not be with multiple boys like that. Who else are you snogging?"
"I am not snogging anyone," she told Daphne angrily. "I am not going to be a loose woman."
Daphne sat back at her anger. They did not often get angry at each other.
"Would you please get out. I really don't feel like talking about this."
After a moment, Daphne moved closer again. "I am sorry, Tori. I did not mean that." Her sister sighed. "I know you would not be that way."
A knock came at the door. "Come in," she said.
Their mother poked her head in. "I saw lights and heard voices. Is everything alright?"
"Yes. Tori and I were just talking."
"Can I join you?"
"Please," Astoria said. She needed to talk to her mother. She had no one else and she felt ready to explode with all the feelings swirling in her. Her mum sat on the bed next to Daphne.
"Is this sister talk or can I be involved?"
Daphne snorted. "A little of both, mother."
Their mother had always been open to talk with them, and the sisters had learned to confide in her growing up. Father was good, but he was not always around and he did not get how little girls thought at times.
"Is this about how upset you were after coming back from the Potter's?"
"Yes and no," Astoria said. When they both looked at her, she rested her chin on the top of the pillow. "Harry and Luna kissed me today."
Daphne gasped. She had not told her sister that yet.
Their mother didn't look surprised. "How do you feel about that?"
"Miserable." She wasn't sure if she should say how giddy it made her as well. The way her mother raised an eyebrow, she suspected her mother knew.
"I would be too if a girl kissed me," Daphne said.
This brought all the guilt she felt for what she had done to Luna. She couldn't keep the tears from coming to her eyes. Daphne was right, she shouldn't feel this way towards Luna.
She couldn't like Harry. Astoria would not stand between them.
"Daphne Marie," their mother scolded. "There is nothing wrong with that."
She buried her face into the pillow to hide her tears. "I shouldn't like witches," she said into the pillow.
Her mother rubbed her arm. "You like a certain wizard as well. Don't you, Little Aster?"
She shook her head. She couldn't like either of them.
"My Swan, can you give us a few minutes," their mother asked.
"Yes, mother. I'm sorry, Tori. I do not want to see you cry."
She didn't lift her head and a moment later Daphne left, closing the door as quietly as she could.
"My Little Aster, you said both Luna and Harry kissed you today? Why does that make you sad," mother asked.
It took her a few minutes to calm enough. "Luna loves Harry. You can see it. Harry feels the same towards her. I won't stand in the way of them. They are my best mates."
Her heart felt like it was twisting and constricting in her chest. How was she going to give them up?
Her mum shifted and pulled her in. Astoria melted into her lap and cried into the pillow as mother started to stroke her hand through her hair. "Does Harry or Luna not have feelings for you? Did you force them to kiss you today?"
"Luna surprised me when I woke her this morning," she said.
Her mother continued to stroke her hair as the tears came out as large slow wellings. "Did you enjoy it?"
She knew her face flushed. "I shouldn't like witches."
"Do you like all witches or just Luna?"
That was an easy question. "Just Luna."
"Did you enjoy her kiss?"
She buried her face further into the pillow in her mother's lap. She returned a soft muffled, "Yes."
"Did Luna enjoy it?"
Astoria thought about the satisfied smile Luna had on her face. "I think so."
"So, if you didn't force yourself on Luna and you both enjoyed it, I would say there is a mutual attraction."
The gears started in her head.
"Did you enjoy the kiss Harry gave you?"
Her face burned even more. It was a good thing her face was buried in her pillow. "I kissed him first," she told her mother. Should she be confessing all this?
"I trust you did not force yourself on him?"
She still was not sure what had possessed her to kiss him. "He was not expecting it."
"I see. Did he kiss you before or after you kissed him?"
"After I kissed him. Twice," she said. Maybe she should stop now? Who else would she talk to about this though?
Her mother chuckled. "I kissed your father four times before he kissed me," she said.
Astoria felt shocked and twisted to look at her mother. "You did not," she asked, totally forgetting her own issues for a moment.
Her mother was smiling. "It may have been five, but one of those times was twice."
Her mouth was open.
"I will assume Harry enjoyed your kisses if he kissed you back. What is the issue if they both seem to like you," her mother asked.
"It's indecent," she said.
"It is not common," her mother corrected. The smile on her face faded and became serious. "Astoria, do you have feelings for Harry and Luna? If you do, that is perfectly acceptable."
She turned to look away from her mother. Her emotions were still all over the place.
"Little Aster, I would never press and will always respect your decision, but if you ever wanted to carry on the Greengrass name, I do not think you could do better than Harry and Luna. I think you would find much love there," her mother said kissing the top of her head.
She sniffed. Tears were still welling in her eyes.
It took her a moment for her to realize what her mum had said.
Love?
She wasn't in love. Harry and Luna were her best friends. Her mates.
"Just think about it. Don't shut them out. I saw that look in your eyes," she said as Astoria twisted again to look in her mother's eyes. Her mother leaned over and kissed her on the forehead.
"Why don't you lay down. It's almost eleven."
"Yes, mother."
Astoria could not remember the last time her mother helped her into bed. As she lay down she asked, "Could you please pass me the black box on my vanity?"
"You would like the necklace Harry gave you?"
She nodded.
"A boy does not make something like this if he does not like you."
Astoria sat up, allowing mother to put it around her neck. She felt Harry as it rested near her heart.
"Nor does a girl make a bottle cap necklace if it isn't for someone special." Her mother handed it to her and Astoria clutched it. "Good night, my Little Aster."
When mother left after kissing her on the forehead. She moved Harry's necklace under her night shirt. It rested between her breasts and over her heart. She fell asleep with Harry's magic touching her and Luna in her hands.