Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (Challenges & Assignments): Assignment 9

Archaeology: What A Find!

Task #10: Farm!AU - Alt: Write about an unexpected discovery

Love Returned

"Well, I bet you a hundred Galleons that the Crumple-Horned Hornstack or whatever it's called doesn't exist!"

"I bet you a hundred Galleons that the Crumple-Horned Snorkack does exist!"

Ron grinned. "Shake, Luna?"

Luna Lovegood smiled. She accepted Ron's outstretched hand, and said in her normal dreamy voice, "Shake."

"Honestly, do you two not have better things to do other than betting on whether Crumple-Horned Snorkacks exist?" Hermione asked, looking up from her book.

At the same time Ron said "No.", Luna responded, "Yes!"

Hermione looked amused. "I'm not joining in," the war heroine said hurriedly. "No, definitely not."

"Of course not, Hermione." Luna said cheerily.

"Hey, is Harry coming?" Ron asked.

"No, he's not." Luna responded. "He's on an Auror mission. Didn't he tell you that?"

"Erm..." Ron frowned. "Maybe."

"Do you know that Harry -" Hermione caught herself. Luna frowned mentally. Were they keeping a secret from her?

"Harry!"

Luna smiled as she walked towards him, her radish earrings swinging.

"Luna!" Harry quickly closed the magazine he was reading and shoved it behind his back, smiling in a would-be casual way. Luna wondered what that magazine was, but she respected privacy. She wasn't going to pry.

"Nice to see you here," Luna said happily. "I love dances, don't you?"

"Erm - um -" Harry blushed.

"They're just so lovely, don't you think?" Luna continued. "Everyone's happy and there's music."

"Erm - um -"

"Do you want to dance?" Luna asked, suddenly shy. She had a tiny crush on Harry, not that he knew. She was pretty sure he fancied Ginny.

"Erm - um -"

Luna waited patiently, hand outstretched.

"Yes!" Harry burst out.

"Wonderful!" Luna beamed.

"Let me just - just go to the toilet first, okay?"

Luna nodded. "Of course!"

The third song ended and everyone began to go back to their tables. Harry led Luna to theirs with one hand on her shoulder.

"You know, Harry, I think I'll go to the toilets." Luna said.

Harry nodded, looking a little dismayed. "Alright."

"Thank you, Harry!" Luna smiled at him, and exited the ballroom.

She ran to the toilets, not sure how much longer her bladder could hold up. She was a meter away from the women's toilets when she noticed a little green book lying open on the floor.

She looked at the back cover and realised that this was Harry's. He must have dropped it when he was coming in or out of the toilet.

Luna was about to close the book when she noticed her name written in the open page.

I love Luna.

I realised that when the war was over, but -

Luna didn't read more. Her full bladder momentarily forgotten, she gasped.

Harry liked - no, loved - her.

This must have been what Hermione had wanted to say that day Luna and Ron betted on the existence of Crumple-Horned Snorkacks.

It was an unexpected discovery, but it was completely welcome.

Coming to this dance was worth more than Luna had originally thought.

Word Count: 493